Scotland get their UEFA European Qualification campaign off to a flyer in Slovenia last night winning 3-0 at the Ajdovšcina Stadion thanks to a hat trick from Kim Little.  The Seattle Reign’s midfielder opened her account with a fine chipped goal just before the half-hour mark after some nice build-up play through the middle by Rachel Corsie.

Minutes into the second-half Scotland doubled their lead. when Jane Ross’ ball was controlled by Little who rounded the keeper and blasted in for her second of the game.

On 59 minutes Little claimed her hat-trick and Scotland’s third goal of the game. Crichton sent a fine pass through the Slovenian defence that found Little who, again, rounded the keeper and made no mistake with the finish. 3-0 to Scotland.

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Little’s hat trick means she has now scored 44 goals in 109 games for the National Team – the most of any player in the current squad.

Next up for Scotland is a home tie with Belarus on October 23rd followed by a trip to FYR Macedonia four days later.

After the game Kim said: “Its nice to score three goals but more importantly we’ve not played together for a while so for us it was all about getting the three points. There are lots of things we could have done better but we all know that. We came here and we did what we had to do.

“You always want to get off to a good start. There are lots of things we’ve got to do better when we face teams that are a bit higher ranked. But it’s a good platform to build from and I’m sure there’ll be more wins to come.”

“It was quite tight around the area and I thought we played some nice combination play beforehand. Rach scooped it over to me and the keeper came out so that kinda made the decision for me to go over her.”

Scotland | Fay (GK, C), Dieke, Love, Lauder, Little, Crichton, Evans, J.Ross (L.Ross 81) Corsie, Beattie, Brown. Subs not used: Lynn (GK), Smith, Weir, Murray, Arnot, Clelland

Balerno Music Festival: the eighth Balerno Music Festival starts today, with a packed programme of concerts, films, cabaret, workshops, children’s events, folk music sessions, the Festival Busk and a jazz party. Tonight’s opening event is a Dinner Discussion with Paul Stubbings, Musical Director of St Mary’s Music School; a renowned organist and music master, Paul took up his post at St Mary’s in 2012 and on his appointment was described as ‘a first rate performer at St Martin-in-the-Fields …….. having an absolute passion for education’. Come along and hear about Paul’s career highlights and what drives his passion for teaching excellence in music. The evening will include a delicious two course meal provided by MacKenzies (of Colinton) with complimentary wine or soft drinks. A friendly and warm welcome is guaranteed. 7.30pm, St Joseph’s Hall, Balerno. Tickets cost £17 and may be purchased from Balerno Parish Church Office (9am-12 noon, Monday to Friday), Balerno Farmers’ Market, by post or online; for full booking information click here. The festival ends on 11th October 2015.

World’s Biggest Coffee Morning: with cake! 11am, Drumbrae Library Hub, Drumbrae Drive. All welcome. In aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Donations of baking much appreciated – these may be taken into the library on Tuesday 22nd or early today.

Black Cube Collective Annual Show 2015. The Edinburgh arts organisation brings together more than fifty emerging artists from around the world for its third Annual Show, with contemporary art ranging from installation and film to painting and ceramics. Exhibitors include Rory Laycock, who was recently selected for entry into the 9th International Arte Laguna Prize; other artists from Pakistan, Hong Kong, the United States, Austria, Russia and many other countries will join graduates of Edinburgh College of Art and Glasgow School of Art. The work shown will cover topics as diverse as hyperplasia, gender reassignment and the use of online technology. A public live performance event by artist Jean-François Krebs will take place on Saturday 26th September at 2pm. 10am-5pm, Gayfield Creative Spaces, 11 Gayfield Square. Ends 30th September 2015.

Nothing Ever Happens Here Presents Joanna Gruesome: ‘These sublime pop noiseniks provide a masterclass in controlled aggression. Edgy and intense…they pound and pout through violently melodic two-minute songs about satanic rites and psychotic episodes’ (The Guardian). For over 18s only. 8pm-late, The Dissection Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £10 and may be booked by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1580 or online here.

Meet Graham Hancock: the Edinburgh-born author, who specialises in unconventional theories about ancient civilisations, will be signing copies of Magicians of the Gods, the long-awaited sequel to his seminal work Fingerprints of the Gods. 12.30pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. For more information please call 0131 226 2666.

Jandy Nelson: the San Francisco-based YA author will discuss her new book,  I’ll Give You the Sun, ‘a radiant novel that will leave you laughing and crying all at once’. 6pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. Free tickets are available from the shop. For more information please call 0131 226 2666.

LGBT Gay Men’s Book Group: an inclusive group where you can meet new people and read and discuss interesting books. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact info@gaybookgroup.co.uk.

LGBT Bi Visibility Icebreakers: celebrate this year’s Bi Visibility Day at Icebreakers, with an opportunity to find out about local bisexual related resources, groups and meet ups. Most of all, come along for some celebratory fun, whatever your sexuality. If you want to meet new people, are just coming out or maybe don’t feel confident going out on the ‘scene’, Icebreakers is an informal, fun and friendly social group for LGBT people and anyone questioning their sexuality or gender identity. Suitable for those aged 18 and over. 7.30-9.30pm, Regent Bar, 2 Montrose Terrace.  For more information please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, the global financial system, food chains and much more. Today’s film is Casablanca Calling (12A) (in Arabic with English subtitles): in Morocco, a country where over 60% of women have never been to school, a new generation of women have started work as official Muslim leaders. They are called Morchidat or spiritual guides. The profound story of a quiet social revolution in Morocco, Casablanca Calling follows three Morchidat – Hannane, Bouchra and Karima – as they set out to change their country, starting at street level. Their mission is to teach an Islam based on compassion, tolerance and equality, and to separate its original teachings from prejudice, misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Their work takes them into mosques, schools, homes, orphanages, prisons and out in the countryside; they support the education of women and girls, campaign against early marriage and encourage young people to build a better Morocco rather than dreaming of life in the West. An intimate portrait of three female leaders, a society in transition, and a mission to educate a nation. Plus short: Give. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary. The screenings will be followed by conversations with Dr Ebithal Mahadeen, Jordanian feminist and Chancellor’s Fellow, University of Edinburgh, and Dr Kathy Galloway, practical theologian, campaigner, writer and head of Christian Aid Scotland.

Sofi’s Clothes Swap: it’s green and it’s fun! Clear out your wardrobe and get some new clothes for free. 7pm onwards, Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street.

Ben MacDonald Quartet: fronted by one of Scotland’s foremost guitarists, this 4-piece brings intricate, gripping and melodic original compositions influenced by modern jazz while incorporating concepts from folk and rock. Featuring some highly accomplished musicians, all of whom have performed at international level, Ben is with Adam Jackson (sax), Pete Johnstone (organ), and Doug Hough (drums). 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.

Edinburgh’s Christmas

School Streets

Leading up to Doors Open Day 

Are you one of Edinburgh’s Healthy Helpers?

William Y Darling Award

With three months to go to the big day when Santa comes down the chimney you might be forgiven for thinking that it is a bit premature to think of what’s happening at Christmas in the capital, but there are others who think differently! Those are mainly Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood who are Underbelly, and are responsible for all the bright ideas for celebrating Christmas in the city.

This year there are many highlights, principally as the whole theme is Lighting Up Edinburgh.

There will be 60,000 lights strung over arches erected betweenThe Tron Kirk and the City Chambers on the High Street in a move which will ensure that the Old Town feels included in the festivities.

But the biggest news of all is that Susan Boyle will switch on the Christmas lights on Light Night which is 22 November 2015. So put that in your diary and read about all the other delights in store for you and your family this Christmas over here.

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School Streets is now underway. This means that some streets around some schools will be closed to traffic.

Read more here.

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Doors Open Day is this weekend. Read the online guide here and decide now what you might want to do. It pays to look ahead as you may need to book.

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The search is on for Edinburgh’s Healthy Helpers: the unsung family food heroes who are making a real difference to their family’s diet and lifestyle.

Local people who can inspire and motivate others to make healthier choices are being sought for the Scottish Government’s Eat Better Feel Better campaign.

Eat Better Feel Better launched earlier this year to help parents and families find quick, easy and affordable ways to make healthier changes to their diet.

Applications to become a Healthy Helper – a voluntary ambassador for the campaign – are now open at www.eatbetterfeelbetter.co.uk/healthyhelpers.

***

The Sir William Y Darling Bequest for Good Citizenship for 2014/15 will be awarded to Stephen Seaman in recognition for his 45 years of charity work with LifeCare.

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Donald Wilson will make the presentation on Monday afternoon (21 September) during a reception held in the City Chambers.

The Award, which is made annually to a citizen or citizens who, in the opinion of the City of Edinburgh Council, “has or have done most for the City’s Honour and Welfare”, was instituted by the will of the late Sir William Y Darling, Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1941–1944.

In being nominated, Mr Seaman was praised for his dedication to the LifeCare (Edinburgh) organisation which provides services to support the wellbeing and independence of older people in the Capital, including those with dementia and people who are housebound.

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In an effort to showcase the beauty and complexity of the human body, Scottish arts collective Naked Aye have announced the followup exhibition to their successful pop-up show this past spring.

For two weeks between 3rd-18th October, St Margaret’s House on London Road will act as the host of Naked Aye’s ‘Shapes that Shift Desire‘ – an exhibition and programme of events that highlights how artists and audiences respond to the human form.

Speaking of the collective’s intentions behind the event, co-curator Marcin Krupa said:

“The human body is uniquely inspiring and challenging subject and one that has fascinated me for years. There has been a growing interest in traditional life drawing and painting recently – and I wanted to bring together artists from different disciplines interested in the human form as a subject to share inspiration and ideas.”

The programme of events includes paintings and performance, installations and film, spoken word and drawings, sculpture, photography and music to name but a few. Acclaimed poet Kevin Cadwallader will act as the event’s poetry curator, and film lecturer James Mooney will host a creative film screening. Artists Alan McGowan, Aine Divine, Juliana Capes and Leigh Chorlton will also showcase their work.

In an effort to bring a widely passed over group to the forefront of the art world, LGBT youth group Beyond Gender, a group for young transgender, non-binary and intersex people, and their friends (age 13 – 25) will be hosting a workshop as well.

Naked Aye aim to provide a platform for the vibrant resurgence in figurative art during the fortnight long event.

Shapes that Shift Desire runs from October 3rd to 18th at St Margaret’s House on London Road. For a full rundown of the event’s programme, head to Naked Aye’s website.

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.jsThis year there will be more lights than ever before, more free events and just the biggest and brightest Christmas festival that the UK has ever seen! That is what Underbelly promise the capital, and yes they have great ideas to prove that this will be delivered.

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On the High Street there will be over 60,000 lights stretched along the Royal Mile from the Tron Kirk to the City Chambers, and there will be two light shows per day all set to music.

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Susan Boyle will be called upon to switch on the Christmas lights this year, ensuring that there is real star quality on hand! The ceremony takes place on George Street where Light Night takes place and around 1300 local performers are due to take to the variety of stages there with an expected audience of over 20,000.

There will be ice rinks in St Andrew Square, the Big Wheel and the Star Flyer along with an even bigger Santa Land and the double decker carousel.

The Winter Windows programme is a carry over from last year and is supported by Scottish Gas and national charity Shelter. This will involve 25 primary schools in the area.

The Paradiso Spiegeltent will again be sited in St Andrew Square with a wide and varied offering of circus, comedy and cabaret which will include Frisky and Mannish who almost had us all singing Christmas carols in September.

All residents within the EH postcode area will receive a 20% discount on all shows rides and events. Last year almost 100,000 people took advantage of the discount.

But the festive season gets underway on St Andrew’s Day 30 November. when there will be free performances by the wonderful Dean Owens and the Blazin Fiddles who entertained with some great tunes as the press gathered this morning for the launch.

Edinburgh’s Christmas runs from 20 November 2015 to 4 January 2016.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTDNe4kyQ_I?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-GB&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=696&h=392]

The council launched School Streets this morning, an initiative to close streets around schools to traffic at the start and end of the school day.

Councillor Lesley Hinds chose to celebrate with the pupils at Colinton Primary School where cyclists and walkers gathered at the front gates today on newly car-free streets. She said: ” I am delighted to see School Streets in action  and that so many pupils have taken this opportunity to walk, use scooters and ride their bikes safely into school.”

There are six schools in the scheme which aims to reduce congestion and pollution in the area. The first couple of weeks will be education/raising awareness before enforcement begins.

Chief Inspector Stevie Dolan, from Police Scotland, said: “We are committed to working alongside our partners and the public to ensure the safety of all road users, including schoolchildren.

“Whenever a complaint is received in relation to motorists driving within the prohibited areas, without a valid reason for doing so, our officers will respond accordingly.”

Six primary schools are included in the first of two phases – Abbeyhill, Colinton, Cramond, Duddingston and St John’s RC with Sciennes starting in October.
The second phase of the pilot will not begin till next year when the streets around Towerbank, St Peter’s, Clermiston and Bonaly Primary Schools will be closed to all traffic except residents living nearby. If this affects you then you must apply for the necessary permit online.

Nicola Benedetti is undoubtedly the most famous violinist of her generation. What her fame does not always account for is the development of this player over the eleven years since she won BBC Young Musician in 2004, aged just 16. Now in her late twenties, Benedetti has grown from a precociously talented youngster to a musician and philanthropist of exceptional poise. A fierce champion of musical education, her work with the Sistema Project and the BBC’s Ten Pieces initiative have put her fame to good use, whilst her on-stage charisma continues to fill concert halls around the world. Her ‘Italy & The Four Seasons’ Tour, which arrived at the Usher Hall on Saturday night, is a display of another of her passions- chamber music.

The Vivaldi concertos ‘Il Grosso Mogul’ and ‘Le Quattro Stagione’ are wonderful, fizzy pieces, as refreshingly classic as a glass of Pimms in the middle of summer. They are, however, fiercely difficult to play. Benedetti and her string ensemble, drawn from musicians she has worked with in the past, presented a performance of clarity and precision. The communication within this accomplished group was also a joy to witness; what fun they seemed to be having. The addition of lutenist Elizabeth Kenny added much to the ensemble in terms of breadth of sound. It is a shame that the cellos – led by Benedetti’s partner Leonard Elschenbroich – failed to judge the restraint and tact demanded of a Baroque continuo line and at times the balance was too bottom-heavy. Leader Ilyoung Chae led the ensemble with aplomb, keeping the electricity from bubbling over the surface with a steady hand.

We returned from the interval to a new commission from prolific composer Mark-Anthony Turnage. The five short movements of ‘Duetti d’amore’, written for and performed by Benedetti and Elschenbroich, perhaps revealed why there are so few unaccompanied duets for violin and cello. The instruments are just too similar in texture. Surprisingly cold and with little to say for itself, the commission hit the evening’s only dull note, despite Benedetti and Elschenbroich playing well. As the American gentleman behind me noted, it was not unlike watching one of Woody Allen’s later films- superficial and slightly uncomfortable.

Of the original ensemble, a sextet regrouped for the evening’s finale, Tchaikovsky’s ‘Souvenir de Florence’ Op. 70. Here the concert returned to form. Marvellously rich and fun, Tchaikovsky wrote the main theme for this work whilst visiting Florence in 1890. The sextet produced a gloriously rounded sound, almost reminiscent of a brass choir at some points. Credit for this is due in part to a wonderful viola section, filling out the texture and giving it a heart in that understated way only violists can. Elschenbroich seemed far more comfortable with this material than the earlier Vivaldi works, and his duet with Benedetti in the second movement revealed the understanding between the two musicians that Turnage had failed to communicate in his work.

The Tchaikovsky provided an hypnotic end to what was a surprisingly intimate recital. Whilst it strayed slightly from its Italian theme and hit the odd dull note, the concert provided an enjoyable evening of chamber music played by some of very fine string players.

I believe it might have worked better in a smaller venue, such as The Queens Hall., however, there is no denying that Benedetti can fill any venue and will no doubt continue to do so throughout this tour of the UK and Ireland. When she’s on stage you just don’t want to watch anyone else. It must be hard to play second fiddle (or cello) to that.

Nicola Benedetti ‘Italy & The Four Seasons’ Tour will run throughout the UK and Ireland until September 30th. Benedetti appears in association with Raymond Weil Watches. 

Local funeral directors, Thomas Marin, of St Mary’s Street has donated funds to help support Edinburgh South Cricket Club, a local community sports team.

Paul Reddish, Chairman of Edinburgh South Cricket Club, said: “We are delighted that Thomas Marin Funeral Directors has chosen to help financially support Edinburgh South Cricket Club’s junior section.  The club is operating right across the community in South of Edinburgh and has expanded from small beginnings to a 70 strong junior section in just three years.  This support will help us purchase the equipment needed to support the growth in youngsters now taking part in cricket in the area.”

Thomas Marin Funeral Directors have been arranging and conducting funerals in and across Edinburgh since 1926. They provide a 24-hour service and are part of Dignity Funerals Ltd, a British company that has funeral directors in towns and cities all across the UK.

Two men responsible for the sexual assault of a young boy and the distribution of indecent images have today been jailed.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Richard Gallagher and Scott Sinclair were sentenced to seven and 12 years in prison respectively.

Both Gallagher, 29 and Sinclair, 30 were responsible for the abuse of their 15-year-old victim sometime in 2014 during which time a number of graphic images and videos were taken.

These were then shared with others around the country using a ‘What’s App’ account.

Following intelligence, Police Scotland conducted a thorough investigation to identify the source of these images and both were charged in September 2014.

Detective Inspector Brian Stuart from Police Scotland’s Cybercrime Unit said: “Richard Gallagher and Scott Sinclair were responsible for a horrific level of sexual abuse on a young male, whose suffering was compounded further when the footage of this abuse was then shared with other individuals.

“As a result of the vital intelligence gathered we were able to link the pair to this offence and ultimately ensure that following today’s sentence, both will spend a number of years in prison.

“Police Scotland is committed to protecting vulnerable people from harm and bringing anyone responsible for the online sexual exploitation of these individuals to justice.

“Anyone wishing to report criminal activity of this nature should contact us on 101 or make an anonymous report through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

A documentary about Scottish  football icon Jim Baxter will air for the first time on Thursday 24th September at 9pm on BBC ALBA. It is presented by broadcaster Alex O‘Henley and produced and directed by Margot McCuaig. 

The hour-long factual entertainment documentary is an intimate portrayal of the life of Jim Baxter, and examines the man behind the headlines both on and off the pitch. The film is peppered with humorous archive footage of the man himself as well as interviews from those who knew and loved him the best, including his parents and his partner Norma Morton.

Major football stars appear in the programme including Denis Law, Pat Crerand and Davie Wilson, iconic players sharing fascinating insights into what it was like to know and play with Jim Baxter.

Earlier today Raith Rovers legends Jim Thorburn and Denis Mochan turned out in support of their participation in new documentary,

To help promote Jim Baxter, the former players  met the media to chat about their contribution to the documentary and discuss their memories of the Scotland and Rangers icon. 

 purpleTV are the team behind the highly successful documentaries Honeyballers,Gothenburg ’83, and Tartan Pride, as well as the award winning Jock Stein which won the Royal Television Society Scotland award for Best Sport Film in 2015.

Director of ‘Jim Baxterr’, Margot McCuaig said: “Jim Baxter was a working class hero and his story is an integral element of Scottish popular life and is embedded in our cultural consciousness. His story is both inspiring and tragic, and I am sure that the story of his life will have an impact on the BBC ALBA audience.”

purpleTV is an independent production company, creating innovative digital media content and distinctive network and international television.

The company is based at Film City, Glasgow, in the dynamic media district of Pacific Quay, and thecreative team is experienced across all genres. 

The Muirhouse Community Shop has had an incredible response to its appeal for clothes and toiletries for Syrian refugees.

Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP) and  Spartans F.C. both acted as collection points as well as the shop. The bags have now been taken to Edinburgh Direct Aid (EDA) who will transport them to the Lebanon.

One particularly poignant bag had everything for a young baby in it along with a handwritten card. Clearly this was donated by someone who knows what it is like to have a youngster to care for, and who empathises with the ultimate recipient.

This will be EDA’s 4th container for the 80,000 Syrian refugees in Arsal, Lebanon.

It will be loaded with winter clothes, school things, toiletries, underwear; and 30 Sewing machines, fabric and wool for women’s sewing groups and vocational training.

An EDA spokesperson said: “The public response to the appeals that we and others have made has been superb – we have been inundated by donations of every kind, and it is only with the help of Edinburgh Council making an overflow space available to us that we have been able to cope.”

Colin Keir MSP for Edinburgh Western joined community volunteers at the Muirhouse Community Shop on Monday to help collect and sort donations of clothing for Syrian refugees.

Mr Keir said “I was overwhelmed by the support for this initiative from the local community in Muirhouse. It shows that Muirhouse cares for the plight of Syrian refugees and as winter approaches these donations will be much appreciated by those in need.

This is a great partnership between the local community, its community organisations and Edinburgh Direct Aid to provide some comfort to those refugees now living in very difficult conditions in refugee camps.

Once again I am humbled by the generosity and humanity of the local community in reaching out to help those in need.”

Police  are appealing for information following an incident in Barn Park Crescent, Wester Hailes where three men with knives forced their way into a house.

The incident happened in the early hours of Monday morning

The suspects are described as being in their early twenties, wearing grey or black hooded tracksuits.

They ran off in the direction of Barn Park Crescent or Clovenstone Road.

Officers are now asking anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Robbie Wallace said: “Thankfully no-one but this was a frightening experience for the occupants of the house.

“We are keen to speak to anyone with information that can help us trace these individuals.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

How can you take part in this cost saving exercise? Well if you are reading this we presume you are already using either a computer or a mobile.

So now it is an easy step to go to the council website and for example pay your council tax…… 

The drive is part of the council’s transformation programme which aims to save £5.9m from the revenue budget in two years. There will be a series of online adverts to highlight the service.

Councillor Aasdair Rankin who is the Finance Convener wants to encourage residents to use the online payment facility wherever possible as it costs the council much less than it does to man an office and deal with customers face to face.

The move has already received some attention from the public. The number of online payments or enquiries being dealt with has risen to 2,500 per week. It is not just your council tax that you can pay online. You can order a new bin, enquire about bin collections and report a problem with a streetlight all by visiting the council website here.

Councillor Rankin said: “We know that internet use is increasing, from people shopping and doing their online banking to booking their next holiday. It presents an opportunity for the Council and we have responded by moving many of our more popular transactions online – with more to follow next year. The online service benefits us both as residents and as council tax payers – enabling the Council to invest the saved money in improving the city. We will however, continue to provide services for people, who for whatever reason, can’t or don’t want to access services online.
“We’re the first local authority in Scotland to offer a fully integrated online customer experience, with faster response times, automated transactions and quicker answers for customers.

Hibs meet Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup Third Round clash on Wednesday evening  at Easter Road.

Tickets are available to purchase from the Ticket Pods before the game, but it is advisable to purchase in advance.

Ticket information:

Tickets can be purchased, 24hrs a day, online and now WITH NO BOOKING FEE at and select the Print at Home option to get your tickets instantly, alternatively you can collect from the Ticket Office on the day of the match.

You can also come into the Ticket Office in person during normal opening hours or tickets can be purchased via the Telephone Hotline on 0844 844 1875 0844 844 1875 option 1.

Note: There is a booking fee of £1.50 per ticket, applicable to both adults and concessions when purchasing by phone.

Ticket Prices:

Adult – £20.00

Concessions: £10.00 (Age 65&over/Full-time Students with a valid matriculation card/12-17years old

Child – £5 (0-11 years old)

Disabled: The disabled person pays the price of the group they are in and the carer, where required is admitted free of charge.

The Cup Top Up is included for all Season Ticket Holders who purchased this.  Fans are asked to use your Season Card to enter the Stadium for this fixture.  The Cards are already activated with the Cup game and will provide holders with entry.  Fans with queries or are unsure if they  have Cup Top Cup should contact the Ticket Office direct on 0844 844 1875 0844 844 1875 option 2.

Any Season Ticket Member without a Cup Top Up and who wishes to purchase a ticket can do so by the following methods;

Online at www.eticketing.co.uk/hibernianfc, or by going  into the Ticket Office in person during normal opening hours NO BOOKING FEE will be applied

Alternatively by phoning 0844 844 1875 0844 844 1875 option 1 where BOOKING FEES STILL APPLY. In each case you will be offered the following choice:

Fans wanting their own seat are advised that their card will be activated and the game will be added to their  Season Card which can then be used at the gates on the day. (No postage or collection necessary).

Fans purchasing any other seat will need to select collect and will receive a printed ticket which can then be posted out or collected from Ticket Office.

Fans purchasing after the reservation date whose seat is unavailable are advised that their new seat can be added to their card and an e-mail confirmation will be sent  with the new seat details on it or they will receive a printed ticket which can then be posted out or collected from the Ticket Office.

Fans should note that Season Cards are not valid for this game unless you have a Cup Top Up, or you have purchased your own seat as above.

The results of a pilot scheme to provide enhanced out of hours mental health care to people who come into contact with the police have been so impressive the project is to continue.

In the pilot, police officers were given out-of-hours telephone access to Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) who provided professional support to people in distress.

The project – the Community Triage; NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Crisis Out of Hours CPN Service – ran between January and June this year within Greater Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire (G, K Divisions and LA Sub – Division).

CPNs provided advice to officers or a telephone consultation to the individual about whom police are concerned. Where necessary, a face-to-face assessment was carried out, and if needed, hospital admission was arranged.

Working with mental health professionals, frontline officers were making more informed decisions regarding vulnerable individuals and providing them with the support they needed at that time to keep them safe.

Between January and June this year, officers in the pilot areas came into contact with 234 individuals in distress and or suffering from mental health issues out of hours. A total of 96% (225) of those persons were fit and well enough to remain at home after being assessed by the CPNs and in no need of further intervention at that time. 92% (215) of those individuals were seen in a private place, such as their own home, or the home of a friend or family.

Only nine people during the course of the pilot were admitted to hospital. Just six people were reported for offences, after being found to be fit and well by the CPNs.

Chief Inspector Rosie Wright, Local Development and Support Team, said: “Police officers come into contact with people in distress on a regular basis. The Community Triage service provided valuable guidance and professional support to keep people safe out-of-hours, and on the vast majority of occasions within their own homes.

“The CPNs thereafter made referrals to the most appropriate daytime services, ensuring ongoing support is provided to those who need it most, in order for them to manage their own situations at home

“Police Scotland’s Community Triage partnership work with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Crisis Out of Hours CPN Service has had a very positive impact on the service we deliver to vulnerable members of the community.”

Linda Mackay, MHHDART Manager, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said:
“The CPN Crisis Out of Hours service has been operational since January 2001, but prior to this development, the service was not routinely accessed by police officers.

“By working together, we have been able to ensure vulnerable individuals in mental health crisis can access an overnight mental health service and receive the support they need quickly and effectively to manage their situation at home. The outcome and experience for the patient is more favourable and ongoing support can be arranged with day services should this be required.

“The results of the partnership working continue to be positive for both the patient and front line officers that require professional support from the CPNs.”

Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said: “This collaboration is an excellent example of different bodies working together to help people who are experiencing distress. We will all do better in engaging with distress if we are compassionate and have a common understanding of the best ways to help people. If we do that, the evidence tells us that people in distress are more likely to engage with or stay connected to services or support that may help them over time.”

Police Scotland’s work with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Crisis Out of Hours CPN service is a successful example of partners working together to provide better outcomes for at-risk people.
Furthermore, the partnership work meant the overwhelming majority of these vulnerable persons got the required support in a timely manner, avoiding lengthy waits in A & E Departments. This also meant police officers were returned to front line duties as quickly as possible.

The service is continuing across Greater Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire. A further pilot has now started at weekends in Edinburgh, E Div, in partnership with NHS Lothian, with several other areas across the country showing interest in developing similar services.

The success of the Community Triage NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Crisis Out of Hours CPN was discussed at a major conference at the Police Scotland College, Tulliallan, this morning (22 September 2015).

The “Distress Innovation – Improving Our Response” event brought together partner organisations including Police Scotland, Scottish Government, local authorities and NHS representatives from across Scotland, academic institutions and voluntary organisations to debate best practise, projects and distress response focus.

The event was opened by Deputy Chief Constable (Local Policing) Rose Fitzpatrick, and Jamie Hepburn MSP, and closed by Dr Catherine Calderwood, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland.

Firefighters responded to an incident yesterday where an 11-year-old boy had become trapped on an island due to fast flowing water as a result of a recent storm.

Crews were called by Edinburgh’s operations control at 3.43pm yesterday to respond to the incident at the River Almond at Livingston.

The specialist water rescue team from Bathgate attended and were supported by crews from Livingston. Firefighters in dry suits rescued the young boy using a ladder and assisted him to the riverbank.

Thankfully he was uninjured and was checked over at the scene by paramedics.

A man has been arrested and charged following a serious sexual assault, which took place within an Edinburgh cemetery in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 24-year-old is scheduled to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

Police Scotland have issued a statement thanking the public for their assistance during this investigation

RZSS Edinburgh Zoo celebrated World Rhino Awareness day on Saturday ahead of the worldwide celebration today.

World Rhino Day aims to raise awareness about the plight of rhinos in the wild, as well as to raise funds for the much needed conservation of this threatened species.

The main event of the day at the Zoo was a tug-of-war between the RZSS Zookeepers and the Broughton FC Women’s rugby team as you can see.

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Tiny Tales: Hills and Glens. In a wee little house way up in the glens lives Janie Mells, with her cat and her hen… Ailie Finlay shares stories about Janie Mells and her animal friends, including Marjory the snow-hare. Come and listen to cosy tales and old rhymes from the hills and glens. Lots of toys, puppets and joining-in! For children aged 1-3. 10am or 11.30am (40 minute sessions), Storytelling Bothy, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5 per child, accompanying adult free, and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Please remember to book a free adult ticket for yourself in addition to purchasing your child’s ticket.

Leith Conversation Cafes: a new initiative for you to meet others from all over the world while learning more about what’s going on in your local community. Today’s topic, chosen by volunteers, is ‘If you could meet the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, for five minutes, what would you tell her?‘ 3-4.30pm, Punjabi Junction, 122-124 Leith Walk. Everyone welcome!

Fact and Fiction in the World of Art: A Conversation between Philip Miller and Sir John Leighton. Philip Miller, writer, poet and award-winning Arts Correspondent for The Herald, has recently published his first novel, The Blue Horse, an acclaimed literary noir set in the contemporary art world. John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, has just published his selection of 100 Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland. The two authors interview each other about their recent books and reflect on issues of truth, fiction and the imagination in writing about art. 6-7.30pm, Hawthornden Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

How Do We Create A Fairer Scotland? The Scottish government wants people to have conversations about how we make Scotland a fairer place to live. What are the issues that concern you? Work, health, community, jobs, safety – what changes can the government, local councils and we ourselves make in our communities? Come along and have your say – your opinions and ideas will be fed back to the Scottish government. Coffee, tea and cake in the morning and lunch at 12.00pm when the event finishes! 10am-12.30pm, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court. All welcome but please RSVP via the event’s Facebook page here to assist North Edinburgh Time Bank with catering numbers.

Cameo Silver Screen: if you are over 60, join the Silver Screen Club (it’s free to join – ask at the Box Office) and get tickets for just £5, plus free tea, coffee and biscuits, at these special weekly screenings. Today’s films are Everest 2D (12A) showing at 1.40 and 3.40pm, Legend (18) showing at 1pm and 4.15pm, and 45 Years (15) showing at 1.30 and 3.50pm.  Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online. Non-members are also welcome at these screenings but will be charged standard ticket prices.

Get Organised: Music by Elgar. This programme is totally devoted to music by Elgar, the main work being his colourful Severn Suite in an organ arrangement by Edinburgh-based musician Jeremy Cull.  The concert will also include the Chanson de Matin, Chanson de Nuit, the exquisite slow movement from the Serenade for Strings and ‘Nimrod’ from the Enigma Variations. 1.10pm, Usher Hall, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 and may be obtained from the Usher Hall Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, the global financial system, food chains and much more. Today’s film is Food Chains (15): in a story whose after-taste is global, producers Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and Eva Longoria chart the inspirational fight by migrant US farmworkers to bring supermarket giants to the table over fair wages. Supermarkets have tremendous power over the agricultural system, reaping $4 trillion globally every year, yet countless farmworkers in the EU and US continue to live in poverty and are forced to work in subhuman conditions. Focusing on an intrepid group of tomato pickers, this is a powerful story of justice trumping greed. Plus short: Nasi Lemak. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary. Presented in association with Unison Scotland. The screenings will be followed by conversations and opportunities for effective personal action with discussion guests, including author and journalist Joanna Blythman (Swallow This: Serving Up the Food Industry’s Darkest Secrets, Shopped: the Shocking Power of British Supermarkets).

Scrum Down Scotland: a workshop to mark the 2015 Rugby World Cup.  See a selection of the many items on Scottish rugby held in the National Library’s collections; subjects covered include the Calcutta Cup, the Five Nations, club rugby, women’s rugby and great Scottish players. Among the highlights is ‘The rugby football internationals roll of honour’, which includes biographies and portraits of the Scottish rugby players who died in the First World War. 10.30-11.30am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking is required and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here. Free. Also 2.30-3.30pm on Thursday 24th September 2015.

Cafe Ceilidh: Changing Seasons. Join Linten Adie and friends from the Scots Music Group for a free afternoon of songs and music in the Storytelling Court. 2-4pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free and unticketed.

Future Options for Primary Schools in South Edinburgh: the number of children in south Edinburgh’s primary schools is now higher than it has been for 30 years. Local schools are under pressure to find space for all of their pupils. The biggest problem is at South Morningside Primary where pupils are split across three sites, but this consultation looks at options that could ease problems at schools in the wider area. A summary paper with general information about each of the options, plus more detailed information in the full consultation paper, can be accessed via Edinburgh City Council’s website here. Tonight’s meeting is one of four being held during the consultation period. 6.30-8.30pm, Bruntsfield Primary School, 12 Montpelier. The final meeting will be held at St Peter’s RC School on 29th September 2015.

The Stand Comedy Club Gorgie City Farm Benefit Gig: a night of comedy with Keir McAllister, Gus Lymburn, Daisy Earl, Gareth Waugh and host Liam Withnail, in support of this brilliant local charity. Gorgie City Farm is a free entry community resource supporting young people and adults with additional support needs while educating the public about farming and food production. 8.30pm (doors open 7.30pm), The Stand Comedy Club, 5 York Place. Admission £5 on the door, or book in advance by calling the Box Office on 0131 558 7272.

Strengthening Connection: One School’s Story. Headteacher Jennifer Knussen tells the inspiring story of one school’s journey, which grew out of their understanding of the science of connection. In 2013, the staff at Pitteuchar East Primary School in Fife found themselves changing the way they talked about children. They altered one simple phrase in their vocabulary, replacing the common term ‘challenging behaviour’ with that of ‘distressed behaviour’. This single change allowed mindsets to open, empathy to grow, and trust to flourish. Come and hear their story. 7pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free but tickets are required and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here.

Passionate Windows: get together to colour three stained glass windows in these preparatory workshops for the 2015 Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. 1-4pm, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. All welcome. Also at same times on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September. For more information please contact Maxwell Reay, NHS Mental Health Chaplain, on 0131 537 6734.

Leith Folk Club: Sheena Wellington. Scotland’s leading traditional singer, Sheena Wellington was born in Dundee into a family of singers and factory weavers. Sheena’s repertoire covers everything from Burns to ballads to the best of contemporary songwriting, drawing from the rich Scottish tradition passed from musician to musician through the ages. She also sang at the opening of the Scottish Parliament. ‘..she can lay fair claim to being chiefly responsible for the seriousness with which her branch of the arts is now taken ..’  (The Herald). 7.30pm, Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £7 and may be reserved by completing the online form here or texting the club’s dedicated booking line on 07502 024 852. Reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30pm on the night.

Blackout Productions Presents Proof: Catherine has sacrificed her education and social life to care for her brilliant but unstable father, Robert, during the worst of his mental degeneration. On the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, Catherine must deal not only with the arrival of her estranged sister Claire, but also with the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father who hopes to find valuable work in Robert’s 103 notebooks. As Catherine confronts Hal’s affections and Claire’s plans for her life, she struggles to solve the most perplexing problem of all: how much of her father’s madness or genius will she inherit? Proof explores the unknowability of love, the mysteries of mathematics, the elusive nature of truth and the fine line between genius and mental illness. Gabrielle Pavone-Clark plays Catherine; Nick Hayes directs. The David Auburn script was winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and the 2001 Tony Award for Best New Play. 7.30pm, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Dalry. Tickets cost £10 and are available from Blackout Productions: blackoutproductions@live.co.uk. Also at same time on 23rd, 24th and 25th September 2015.

Old Chain Pier Quiz Night: with prizes! 9pm, Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent. £5 entry for a team of up to 5.

Henry’s Cellar Bar Folk Club: the third instalment of Edinburgh’s monthly showcasing of folk, roots, trad, and songwriting talent. This Month: Newcastle-based progressively folky sextet Pons Aelius (winners of the Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Award) plus Siannie Moodie, Note to Self and Gillespie & Wolfe. 8-11pm, followed by jam session 11pm onwards, Henry’s Cellar Bar, 16 Morrison Street. £3 on the door.

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#‎StrongerNorth‬

Street League Edinburgh – more than just football

Edinburgh Leisure gets funding for Active Lives

Absolutely on the Radio!

Maggie’s Culture Crawl

The Community Safety Team are holding a surgery on 30th September 2015

From 11am in the community room of Birnies Court on Muirhouse View.

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Are you out of work and aged 16 – 24? Do you Love Football?

Street League Edinburgh helps change lives through football. They specialise in helping young people progress through their unique football and education programme into employment, education and training.

If you are interested in taking part in one of the courses below please speak to your Jobcentre Plus Work Coach.

Street League are running two 12 week courses starting on 28th September.

The Stage 2 Programme will be held at Spartans Community Football Academy/Wardieburn Community Centre. There will be Group-work & football/fitness every day. You will work towards   SQA Personal Development Award (SCQF Level 3) – achieved through creation of multi-media project. Work tasters will be arranged where appropriate

Stage 3 Programme will be held at Sighthill Powerleague and will provide group-work & football/fitness every day. You will be able to works towards the SQA Steps to Work (SCQF Level 4) & SQA Employability Award (SCQF Level 4). The programme also provides 4 weeks Work experience with partners including Jewson, Debenhams, Holiday Inn, Nike, Poundstretcher, amongst others

Taster sessions are running every Wednesday (1pm-3pm at Spartans CFA) and Thursday (11am-1pm at Sighthill Powerleague) up until the programme begins.  Come along to these sessions to find out more and see what it is all about.

For more information about Stage 2 call Tom Scott – 07580 995 478 or email tom.scott@streetleague.co.uk

For more information about stage 3 call Ally Davidson – 07887414262 or email Alistair.davidson@streetleague.co.uk

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Active Lives, an Edinburgh Leisure project that aims to offer opportunities for adults (45+) to be more active in their local Edinburgh Leisure venue, has been awarded £70,000 from the Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund to extend and enhance the project.

Currently funded by the City of Edinburgh Council until January 2016, Active Lives encourages and supports inactive adults 45+, living in areas of multiple deprivation to improve their health and wellbeing through physical activity. Since 2013, it has received 1,800 referrals.

Read more here.

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Maggie’s Culture Crawl Edinburgh, sponsored by Brodies LLP, is a 10-mile night walk with a cultural twist as walkers get out-of-hours access to some of Edinburgh’s well-known landmarks and best-kept secrets – and online registration for the event is open until Wednesday 23rd.  It will still be possible to register on the night, but only cash payments will be accepted.

The event is inspired by the important role that art and design play in Maggie’s Centres and the programme of support that they offer: in the buildings and gardens and the art inside the Centres, as well as in the creative writing and art classes which are part of the programme of support delivered by Maggie’s professional staff.

Maggie’s Culture Crawl Edinburgh is taking place on Friday 25th September 2015 and will take in 10 miles of the city with exclusive access to a number of landmarks including Parliament Hall, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and Dovecot Studios before finishing at Maggie’s Edinburgh; all whilst raising as much money as possible for Maggie’s Edinburgh to continue to support people with cancer and their family and friends.

To find out more about Maggie’s Culture Crawl Edinburgh or to register to take part and to order a fundraising pack please visit www.maggiescentres.org/culturecrawl/find-event/culture-crawl-edinburgh or get in touch on 0300 123 1801 or email at culturecrawledinburgh@maggiescentres.org.

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When Jane Alexander was a little girl, the highlight of her country holidays was the annual treasure hunt; she loved it so much she even asked her Dad to set one up back in their Aberdeen garden – in a blizzard. Jane still likes treasure hunts now (although these days she calls them geocaching), so when she wanted to write a story that looked at success and failure, collaboration and competition – the many aspects of long-standing friendships – she realised that her childhood obsession was the perfect vehicle. At the Central Library earlier this month, Jane spoke about her new novel The Last Treasure Hunt, ‘a modern media morality tale’.

As a child Campbell Johnstone spends summers in Glenelg on the Kyle of Lochalsh with his brother, his cousins – and Eve, daughter of Jasmine, and Campbell’s biggest fan. The feeling is not reciprocated;

‘From the time we used to play together as children, Eve was a wee dog yapping round my heels.’

When Jasmine organises the annual treasure hunt, Campbell wants to win at all costs – even if that means accepting Eve’s help to cheat then taking all the credit;

‘The thing is, I won.’

Twenty years later, Campbell is thirty, working behind a Glaswegian bar and sharing a flat with his research student cousin Roddy. When Roddy decides to take up a fellowship in the US, Campbell starts to realise that just about everyone he knows seems to have made more of their lives than he has, and when he finds out by chance that little Eve has become a film star, he can’t resist a touch of internet stalking. Nothing wrong with that – we all do it, don’t we? But then Eve turns up in Glasgow and Campbell decides to take it just a little bit further. What happens next – and more importantly how Campbell deals with it – allows Jane to explore issues of celebrity, truth, self-delusion and social media whilst telling the fast-paced, gripping story of an inadequate man who still wants a prize. Ultimately, she asks, what does winning mean?

When people asked Jane what her new work-in-progress was about, she wanted to say ‘failure’; she quickly learned what a conversation-stopper that one was, so she told them it was about ‘success’ – but it’s failure that interests her more. Children are constantly told they are ‘special’ and can achieve anything; they can’t, and as adults we can’t all win. How we deal with this in, an age when social media allow – even encourage – us to present curated shop-window versions of our lives, is a subject that fascinates Jane. Can we ever stop comparing ourselves unfavourably to others? Personally I don’t even read my college’s year book; everyone (or at least, everyone who gets a mention..) seems to be rich/famous/powerful, and although I have no wish to be in the hot seat of some mega-corporation, I still can’t help wishing I’d been asked. So although you may be shocked at what happens – or what Campbell allows to happen – in The Last Treasure Hunt, you’ll also wonder what choices you might have made.

Jane started her career as an artist; one of her worries when she started writing was whether her work was ‘clever’ enough. A University of Glasgow Creative Writing course helped her shake this off, but it still took a while for her to feel comfortable with her own ‘voice’. She wanted her the story to be vivid and immediate, her characters to sound like Scots; it is important to her that The Last Treasure Hunt can be read as a straightforward story – it’s up to the reader to see, or to ignore, what’s going on beneath the surface. There isn’t, Jane says, so much Scottish literary fiction around – her own favourites include Iain Banks, though she also a fan of the Canadian writer Emily St John Mandel and says that her next book is edging into near future, speculative fiction. The Last Treasure Hunt moves between Glasgow, London, Perthshire and the Highlands, and one of Jane’s many skills is the ability to convey a sense of place in few words. Campbell wanders around Brick Lane;

‘the bleak and tangled concrete of the Old Street junction…passing alley-mouths, locked doors, shuttered windows that might still have been hiding…old haunts.’

At an after-party girls are ‘packaged like sweeties, bright and shiny’. In a charity call centre we see;

‘…the crowd of twenty-somethings. All their scrolling and sorting and sharing. Their selecting and responding – it was like tending a fire. Feeding it, building it, keeping it alive…’

In many debut novels it is frustratingly hard to tell one person from another, but Jane knows how to keep her writing sharp – from Campbell’s long-suffering friend, the steadfast, slightly cynical Eilidh to Chris, the scarily determined journalist, every character is well-rounded and real. A childhood scene with Duncs, Campbell’s older brother, is a wonderful example of adolescent attitude and angst;

‘All that smirking every time Mum opens her mouth and rolling  his eyes and ignoring what she says…he rolls his eyes at me too, like, You wouldn’t understand…but I’ve seen Mum and Dad giving each other secret looks like they’re laughing too, at him, and that’s even more annoying…if they’re laughing at him, they could be laughing at me, too.’

She may always have been brilliant at character and setting, but Jane found plotting difficult; writing good sentences was one thing, but making readers want to turn the page was something else. She’d written several unpublished novels before The Last Treasure Hunt; they were, she acknowledges, unsuccessful because ‘I couldn’t craft a story’. The cure came in the form of screenwriting; some writers fear a screenwriting course will make their work formulaic, but Jane thinks that’s rubbish – it gave her the tools she needed and she recommends it highly to would-be authors. Any other advice for those still  languishing in the slush pile? ‘Read, read, read; keep going; accept constructive criticism.’ Now a teacher of creative writing (at the Open University) herself, Jane finds that the successful students are usually the ones who are prepared to learn. ‘Writing groups, or even ‘trusted readers’ are very valuable’.

Is Campbell lacking in self-awareness because he’s a man? No, says Jane, it’s just him; there’s a huge gap between what he sees and what other characters see. Some readers have loathed Campbell, some identify with him, and Jane freely admits that there’s a little bit of her own character in there somewhere., ‘We all have the capacity to act in a selfish way’.

Jane enjoys geocaching because ‘it encourages you to explore places you might not have noticed before’; in The Last Treasure Hunt, this accomplished writer encourages us to explore parts of society, and of ourselves, that we might try not to notice, but ultimately cannot ignore.

The Last Treasure Hunt by Jane Alexander is published by Saraband. This talk was part of Edinburgh Libraries’ new series on debut writers: #edinburghreads.

On Thursday (24^th September) Edinburgh councillors will decide the future of Bridgend Farmhouse. A local charity and its supporters are hoping the council will support their bid to own and renovate the derelict farmhouse on Old Dalkeith Road so that they can win a lottery grant to restore the building and open it as a community centre for “learning, eating and exercise”.

The historic farmhouse stands on the edge of Craigmillar Castle Park. The idea is to create a “gateway” to the park as well as build a series of training workshops and open a community kitchen and café.

The community group behind the plans, Bridgend Inspiring Growth (BIG), has already been running a programme of activities, events and classes for the last two years, both at the farmhouse and in the surrounding communities. These have included; cookery courses; forest workshops for children; traditional stone-wall restoration, a DIY project with Crisis the homelessness charity; heritage work; art and craft classes with social work; local school educational sessions; exhibitions;  and a weekly Sunday drop-in session for volunteers. They’ve been starting work on the restoration of the farmhouse and taking part in skills-based workshops. Edinburgh council has already funded many of these projects but it has one more decision to take.

Next month the Big Lottery will decide on BIG’s application for a £1m grant but it can only do so if the council continues to show support by ‘transferring the asset at little or no cost’ (Big Lottery funding requirements). BIG is hoping councillors on the Finance and Resources committee on Thursday will agree to sell the farmhouse to BIG at little or no cost to help bring in the £1million grant.

“We know the council are facing incredibly difficult decisions over cuts and public service finances at the moment,” said BIG chair Will Golding. ” However we are calling on the council to be brave on this decision  and help bring in this investment in social services to the communities surrounding Bridgend.

” We hope this will benefit everyone, at a time when key services are having to be cut. This project is worth far more than the value of the building. It’s about giving local communities the power to create their own services and be in control of their own resources. The financial benefit of providing long-term services and facilities with a sustainable social enterprise model has been calculated to far outweigh the financial benefit of a one-off commercial sale of the land.

“We have been in discussions with various partners and together we would be offering educational and training opportunities for unemployed young people, adults with learning disabilities, and working with homelessness agencies in the city.

“The farmhouse would

www.bridgendfarmhouse.org.uk