Sign up for an online information evening on Tuesday 29 November at 7.30pm to find out how to become a volunteer with the Scouts.

Edinburgh North East Scouts has almost 100 young people on a waiting list to join, and, they need new helpers to support their 14 Scout Groups in Portobello, Craigentinny, Craigmillar, Duddingston, Calton, Joppa, Stockbridge, Pilrig, Broughton, Trinity, Leith, Newhaven, Wardie and Willowbrae. 

Demand by young people to join Scouts in the Edinburgh North East area is good with youth waiting lists growing. However, they need new adult volunteers to reduce the waiting list and enable more local young people to benefit from Scouting.  Edinburgh North East Scouts is appealing to the local community and organisations to help change the lives of local young people. They are appealing for help to reduce the youth waiting list and support 100 more young people to benefit from Scouts. 

Scouts is only possible thanks to superstar volunteers – ordinary people making an extraordinary difference in young people’s lives. They are looking for new adult volunteers to assist their existing leader and executive team. So please think about what you can do and if you know anyone who may be willing to get involved and ask them to join the virtual event too. It may be possible for volunteers to job share if that is of interest.

District Commissioner, Rob Whitelaw, said: “This isn’t a job application, and you certainly don’t have to be an adventurer like Bear Grylls to get involved with Scouting and in fact not many of our volunteers are! Do you have first aid knowledge? Are you good with numbers? Handy in the kitchen? Or are you a DIY whizz? We all have useful skills and you can volunteer and help in many ways. Are you ready to inspire a generation of young people to experience fun, friendship and real adventure? The opportunities to volunteer with us are flexible. Think of something you’d like to do and chances are it’s just what we require. Whatever your skills, experience and interests, we can find a role for you.”

Scouting has a reputation for helping young people to develop resilience, a positive character, respect for others, good community skills, as well as physical and mental fitness.

FACT 1: There are 14 Scout Groups in the Edinburgh North East area and they all want to provide more Scouting to more local young children.
FACT 2: You do not need to have any specific skills or be Bear Grylls to lend a hand.
FACT 3: ENE Scouts have a collective youth waiting list of almost 100.
FACT 4: For anyone who becomes a volunteer as a Leader Scouts will consider how your child could get automatic entry into their preferred Scout Group.
FACT 5: You do not require previous Scouting experience to get involved. 

As a District, ENE Scouts want to offer your child and other local children across the Edinburgh North East area the chance to participate in all the fun experiences and adventures they do in Scouting week to week such as, camping, fire-lighting, climbing and abseiling, and yes, learning how to tie and use knots (Scouts confirm these will come in handy in later life). 

• Are you passionate about seeing local young people succeed?
• Are you a team player with a positive, can-do attitude?
• Do you enjoy fun activities?
• Do you want to do more in your community?
• Are you more of a ‘behind the scenes’ person?
• Do you have a skill or hobby you can share?
• Then this event is right up your street.  Scouts offer the opportunities – just show up, get stuck in and make memories for life. 

We all have the power to help young people to realise their potential.  It is not essential to have been a Scout when you were younger. You do not even need to know how to put up a tent. The door is open to people of all ages, genders, races and backgrounds, and Scouts are only able to change lives because volunteers lend a hand. There are many ways to become more involved with Scouts as a parent, carer or family member. From helping out occasionally on a family rota or as part of their Executive Committee to stepping up as a leader, their volunteering activities are as varied as the volunteers.  Volunteers shape what they do and the time they give.

Scouts happens when a lot of people give a little.

Most of the volunteers work directly with young people aged 6-18 through their Beaver, Cub and Explorer groups – helping young people gain skills for life through fun activities.

Sign up for the online information evening on Tuesday 29th November at 7.30pm here.

Or contact Kirstie Armsworth, Scouting Support Officer, South East Scotland Scouts, kirstie.armsworth@sesscouts.org.uk

Scottish Ballet’s spectacular production of The Snow Queen returns to the stage, after its sell-out tour in 2019, from Saturday, November 19 to Saturday, December 10.

Choreographer Christopher Hampson, the CEO/artistic director of Scottish Ballet, has made some changes to enhance the narrative, and he believes audiences might enjoy it even more.

The production is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale – which was also the basis for Frozen – and is set to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov performed live by the full Scottish Ballet Orchestra.

On to pantomime now and from Saturday, December 17 to Sunday, January 22 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs takes the stage.

A magical mirror, seven friendly dwarfs, a beautiful princess, a handsome prince and plenty of audience participation and you have the perfect recipe to outwit the Wicked Queen and let love prevail in what is billed as a “festive treat for all ages”.

Allan Stewart will be Nurse May, Grant Stott as The Man in the Mirror, Jordan Young as Muddles alongside Clare Gray as Princess Lavinia and Liz Ewing as the Wicked Queen. Francesca Ross will play the title role of Snow White and appearing as her heroic Prince will be Brian James Leys.

Dwarfs are Jamie John, Josh Bennett, Scott English, Andy Herd, Kyle Herd, Fergus Rattigan and Craig Salisbury and the panto is sponsored by McQueens Dairies. 

Barrowland Ballet and Capital Theatres present The Gift which is a festive show for two to five-year-olds in The Studio at The Festival Theatre from Saturday, December 17 to Wednesday, January 4.

A shiny new toy. A mountain of discarded wrapping. A lonely child. Have you ever wondered why packaging and cardboard boxes are the most fun? Is the true gift the joy that can come from the imagination?

This is a story reversing the idea that it is the wrapping paper, the cardboard boxes and the bubble wrap that should be discarded, and reveals that playfulness, creativity and imagination are the true gifts.

This piece was commissioned by Aberdeen Performing Arts, Capital Theatres and Eden Court and is funded through Creative Scotland’s Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund.

Tickets are available from the box office on 0131 529 6000; groups of eight-plus and schools ring 0131 529 6005. Website capitaltheatres.com

PICTURE: Pantomime headliners enjoy a refreshment courtesy of McQueen Dairies, sponsors of the panto this year

Sinbad voyages from Fisherrow, over the sea, searching for fortune and finding romance with a runaway Princess-in-disguise during The Brunton pantomime this Christmas.

His interfering mammy follows in hot pursuit. Along the way there is nail-biting drama, dastardly pirates, riding on the back of a giant whale and ferocious creatures guarding hidden treasure. 

Sinbad the Pantomime is a new production, produced by The Brunton, written and directed by award-winning, professional writer and theatre maker John Binnie.

John’s writing and directing has proved popular with Brunton audiences following Jack and the Beanstalk in 2018, Cinderella in 2019, Rapunzel the Pantomime family film in 2020 and the Hansel and Gretel the Pantomime in 2021.

The pantomime creative team includes set and costume designer Robin Mitchell, musical director Tommie Travers and Amy Robinson as choreographer. The costumes are being made by students of BA (Hons) Costume Design and Construction at Queen Margaret University.

Auditions took place in September to recruit the talented young chorus from across East Lothian and 24 young performers join the professional cast which sees the return of familiar faces Graham Crammond, Ross Donnachie, Isabella Jarrett, Wendy Seager and Eilidh Weir.

The new production includes local references, much-loved songs, outrageous costumes and shout outs and is said to be suitable for all the family from ages 4 to 104. It runs from November 23 to December 31 and tickets are available from 0131 653 5245 or thebrunton.co.uk

PICTURE: Graham Crammond, one of the stars of Sinbad

The week began with both Nicola Sturgeon and Rishi Sunak at the UN climate talks in Egypt as the world’s glaciers melt. It ended with them meeting at the British Irish Council as the United Kingdom is in danger of falling apart.

And on Sunday they will stand at their respective war memorials with the rumbling sound of war in Europe in the background. There is a lot to talk about.

Nicola Sturgeon was first off the mark at Sharm El-Sheikh, calling on rich nations to contribute to a “loss and damage” fund for poor countries suffering from climate change. Scotland made a first contribution of £2 million last year at the conference in Glasgow and Ms Sturgeon announced another £5 million this year.  Rishi Sunak arrived a day later – having changed his mind on going at all – to pledge £90 million towards preserving the rainforest in the Congo basin and £65.5 million for clean energy schemes in developing countries.

Climate campaigners have derided these figures as small and hypocritical, compared with the billion pound cuts being made at home on clean energy production and home insulation. And of course they go nowhere near the sums needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and keep global temperatures below a catastrophic 2 per cent rise.  As the UN Secretary General has put it: “We must answer the planet’s distress signals with action……or we will be in climate hell.”

For the first time in 15 years a British prime minister is attending the British Irish Council, set up under the “Good Friday Agreement” which ended the troubles in Northern Ireland.  It looks as if the Westminster government is finally waking up to the “Irish question” and the “Scottish question”. The question being: why are we here?  Why is the Brexit “protocol” issue still not resolved and Northern Ireland without a government? And why should Scotland not become an independent country? 

For Rishi Sunak it’s his first meeting with Nicola Sturgeon since he became Prime Minister.  She’s made no secret of her message to him: you must allow a second independence referendum next year and do not impose another round of austerity in next week’s financial statement.

In particular, there is the pressing issue of a series of strikes over pay threatened by nurses, teachers and railway workers in the next few weeks. The Scottish Government cannot make any higher offer than the 5 -7 per cent on the table without an increase in its grant from Westminster. For the nurses, it’s the first time in the 104-year history of the Royal College of Nursing that its members have voted for strike action. They want a 17 per cent rise, to compensate for previous low pay settlements and to keep up with the current 10 per cent rise in the cost of living.

The Scottish health minister Humza Yousaf is now scrambling around the local health boards making arrangements for emergency cover – which the nurses themselves have pledged to provide. But he has warned that the effect of a strike will be “catastrophic” on all non-emergency services.  As if things are not bad enough, with waiting times already at record lengths in accident and emergency units, ambulance services and queues for routine surgery.

Even the Marine Conservation Society was surprised when the results of the Great British Beach Clean in September were published this week. The amount of beach litter collected by 1200 volunteers in Scotland increased by 42 per cent compared with last year, for no special reason.  It’s just that we are continuing to throw plastic bottles, crisp packets, cotton buds and wet wipes into the sea. The MCS is calling on The Scottish Government to ban plastic in wet wipes and get on with its much-postponed plastic-bottle-return scheme. 

Getting back to climate change, it’s been a week of unusually mild weather, up to 18C, but with a strong wind blowing away the last of the autumn leaves. It’s in line with the World Meteorological Organisation’s warning this week that the past eight years have been the hottest on record and that we can expect alarming sea rises, due to melting ice everywhere, from the Alps and the Himalayas, to the polar ice caps.  

And there’s a poignant example here in Scotland as we come to Remembrance Sunday.  The cemetery on the isle of Lewis containing the graves of victims of the Iolaire disaster during the First World War is in danger of being washed into the sea. 200 men, returning from the war in 1919, drowned when the Iolaire struck rocks as it came into the harbour at Stornoway.  An appeal has been launched to raise £200,000 to protect the cemetery from serious coastal erosion. 

Even our past is in danger of being washed away, never mind our future.

Jamie Hepburn, the Minister for Youth Employment and Training, paid a visit to the annual Careers Hive, a free event at the National Museum of Scotland presented by Edinburgh Science

Initially developed in 2016, Careers Hive inspires S1-S3 pupils to pursue a STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and maths) career through hands-on activities, discussions with STEM professionals and workshops to equip them with skills and confidence to progress in their chosen field.

Careers Hive also addresses the rising tide of young people not choosing STEM subjects by encouraging and showcasing where this subject engagement will lead.

Jamie Hepburn said: “STEM plays a vital role in guiding the world through the Covid pandemic and will continue to be crucial in the subsequent economic recovery.

“The Scottish Government is committed to improving education and training in STEM subjects to ensure that Scotland continues its global reputation for research and innovation.

“I’m thrilled to see the work being done at Careers Hive in keeping young people enthused by the wonder of STEM subjects and careers.”

On between 7 and 11 of November at the National Museum of Scotland, Careers Hive can be accessed by pre-booked school groups only with an Open Day for public on Saturday, 12 November.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) have remembered their former head gardener, William McNab. by planting bulbs at his grave to provide a colourful display in 2023 marking 175 years since his death.

Kirsty Wilson is the Botanics’ Herbaceous Supervisor and she helped to plant a carefully curated collection of bulbs, tubers and corms. The first flowers scilla and crocus are expected to be in bloom in January 2023. Each month there will be a different species flowering with tulips in April and crocosmia in August, and snowdrops expected to flower on 1 December 2023 which is the anniversary of McNab’s death.

William McNab was the Superintendent or Head Gardener at the Botanics, and was highly thought of by King George III. He received a diamond ring from the Tsar of Russia. He was an innovator and was responsible for the removal of thousands of plants from the site where the garden used to be on Leith Walk to its new and current site in Inverleith. He built a tree transporting machine enabling him to move large shrubs and trees successfully through the streets to the new location. This was mentioned by Sara Sheridan in her novel The Fair Botanists.

The flowers are expected to continue blooming annually at the grave in New Calton Burial Ground which lies on a deep south facing slope looking down to Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament. It is in this graveyard that Robert Louis Stevenson is buried.

Bottom club Forfar Athletic entertain misfiring Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday and it’s another vital match in cinch Scottish League Two for the Midlothian men.

They lost 3-2 at home to fourth-placed Elgin City last Saturday to slip to seventh with 13 points in the ten-strong table, but Rose are only two points ahead of Forfar.

Eighth-placed Annan are also on 13 points with second bottom Albion Rovers on 11, the same as Forfar.

So, it is pressure time in the basement area of the table and Rose manager Robbie Horn is desperate to lift his men up the table after recording only one win – a 2-0 success over fellow-strugglers Annan Athletic at New Dundas Park on October 8 – in their last eight league games.

Sixth-placed Stranraer have 16 points with Stenhousemuir on 19 points and in fifth spot. Elgin also have 19 points and they are fourth with third-placed East Fife on 21 and then a gap to former pace-setters Stirling Albion on 27. Dumbarton lead the table with 29 points and all clubs have featured in 13 games.

Rose can, however, take heart from the 2-0 win over Forfar at New Dundas Park in late July with Kevin Smith and Scott Gray on target. The home side dominated the shots, 12 against four, with six on target against none from the Angus-based side. Rose also had 56 per cent of possession against 44 per cent,

Forfar have lost three of their last five, winning one and drawing the other and Rose have scored 17 goals against 12 from the Station Park combine, but have leaked one more, 22, against 21 from Forfar.

The New Dundas Park side are entering a tough phase as they travel to Stenhousemuir on November 19 and then host the top side in the table, Dumbarton, on December 3 (15.00).

Then they travel to East Fife on December 10 (15.00), Annan Athletic on December 17 (15.00) and close the year with a home joust against Stranraer on December 23 (19.45).

Travel note, for those making the journey to Angus on Saturday, kick-off is at 3pm. The address is 10 Carseview, Forfar DD8 3BT and the phone number 01307 463576.

PICTURE: Rose warming-up before last Saturday’s home defeat by Elgin City by Nigel Duncan

To mark Robert Louis Stevenson Day on 13 November, there are special talks, workshops and live music planned at Museums & Galleries Edinburgh.

Some of these events to celebrate the life of one of our famous writers born in the capital are drop-in sessions at the Writers’ Museum (where there is a permanent exhibition of rare works and artefacts belonging to Stevenson) and at the City Art Centre.

Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting these special events to celebrate Robert Louis Stevenson Day. One of Edinburgh’s favourite sons, this represents a fantastic opportunity to learn more about this important figure in our literary history and the fun family drop-in sessions will hopefully inspire younger generations to read his work.

“Writers such as Stevenson underpin the cultural fabric of our city and their words continue to influence, excite and teach hundreds of years later.

“Our Stevenson collections speak to the life and experiences of this great writer, both as a young boy and his later days spent in the South Seas and I hope they can be enjoyed by many this weekend.”

Jeremy Hodges, RLS Day co-ordinator for the Robert Louis Stevenson Club, said: “Once again we are delighted by the City of Edinburgh Council’s strong support for this annual celebration of the life and work of one of Scotland’s best-loved authors in the city of his birth. The events on offer at the Writers’ Museum and the City Art Centre are central to the wider programme and reflect Stevenson’s enduring popularity today.”

Margaret Findlay, Learning and Public Programmes Manager at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It is always a great pleasure for me to develop activities annually for RLS Day and work with the Robert Louis Stevenson Club and other partners in the city. Stevenson remains such a pivotal Scottish writer, and his influence lives on today through contemporary Scottish writers. This year we are thrilled that Katelyn Lothian who is currently on a Promising Young People Placement funded by the Young Person’s Guarantee is developing and delivering the family activities at the City Art Centre as part of her experience. We are also pleased to be showcasing new research by Edinburgh and Chester Universities focused on adaptations of Stevenson’s Pacific fiction in consultation with Hawaiian, Samoan and Scottish communities.”

Events programme

David Balfour In Love
Saturday 12 November, 11am
Free at Writer’s Museum
Join members and friends of the Robert Louis Stevenson Club for an hour of romance set in the turbulent times of Scotland in the wake of Culloden. The group will read from his works and bring to life one of Stevenson’s most romantic figures.
When a fresh story by Robert Louis Stevenson first appeared 130 years ago, it marked a new development in the work of the great Scottish novelist. The tale that began serialisation in Atalanta magazine for young women was his first true love story. Following on the Boy’s Own adventure success of ‘Kidnapped’, he now allowed his hero David Balfour to fall in love – with the beautiful and brave Catriona Drummond. The result was the work he regarded as his finest, yet ‘Catriona’ is still less well-known than the ever-popular ‘Treasure Island’.

https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/david-balfour-love

Robert Louis Stevenson Poetry and Art Workshop
Sunday 13 November, 11am – 1pm
A free family drop-in session at the City Art Centre
Come and join us at the City Art Centre with Katelyn our Learning and Programmes Assistant for a new and exciting workshop looking at the poems of Robert Louis Stevenson. We will be sharing the story of Robert Louis Stevenson and how he become one of Scotland’s best-known writers. Create fun, colourful illustrations inspired by his poems for you take home and treasure. This workshop is open to anyone who is looking to learn more about one of Scotland’s much-loved writers. This workshop is designed for families working together to reflect on his life and writings. There might be some poems or novels you know!

https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/robert-louis-stevenson-poetry-and-art-workshop

Music begins where words end…
Sunday 13 November, 2pm- 4pm
A free drop-in session at the Writer’s Museum
Join us for a fun free afternoon of music & words also inviting audience members to participate with reading a short poem/literary extract by their favourite writer, marking the birthday of Robert Louis Stevenson, the 400th anniversary of Lady Stair’s House, and Remembrance Sunday.

Performances will feature ‘The Poets’ Fiddle’ made by local nature conservationist /luthier Steve Burnett to mark Robert Louis Stevenson’s 170th anniversary in 2020, along with the ‘Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon violins’, endorsed as Envoys for Peace, Reconciliation and Respect made from a living Edinburgh sycamore that still grows in Craiglockhart, the former shell shock hospital where famously in 1917, the two WW1 anti-war poets met.

Music by award-winning musicians, Scottish fiddler Alastair Savage and cellist Alice Allen, along with brother & sister violinists 14 year old Viktor and 12-year-old Klara Seifert.

https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/music-begins-where-words-end…

Remediating Robert Louis Stevenson’s Pacific Fiction Michelle Keown, Shari Sabeti, Simon Grennan
Sunday 13 November, 7pm
Online lecture
A new research team from Edinburgh and Chester universities will introduce a major project with partners in Hawai’i, Samoa and Scotland. The project will produce the first ever multilingual graphic adaptation of the three stories from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Island Nights’ Entertainments (1893), commission new poetry by indigenous Pacific authors, and develop a set of accompanying teaching resources for use in Samoa, Hawai’i and Scotland. In addition, it will produce the first ever documentary film exploring contemporary Samoan perspectives on Stevenson. Be among the first to hear how the team fared in their recent field work in Hawai’i, Tahiti and the Tuamotu Archipelago, this July.

https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/remediating-robert-louis-stevensons-pacific-fiction-shari-sabeti-and-simon-grennan

The Fudge Kitchen which has a branch here in Edinburgh has raised about £10,000 for charity in the last eight months.

Their online and in-store fundraisers support local and global charities providing help to those in need.

The fudge makers have teamed up with a social enterprise B1G1 which encourages a global business giving movement.

The social enterprise works with businesses to achieve real impact by dedicating revenue from everyday business operations. Money donated is then traced to micro-impacts all leading to a more sustainable future.

The type of projects which The Fudge Kitchen supports in this way include clean water and energy in disadvantaged areas, planting trees, feeding rescued wildlife in Australia and education for children on the importance of healthy environmental practices.

The business has also raised money for the humanitarian crises in Pakistan and Ukraine. Their limited edition fudge was sold with all proceeds dedicated to Direct Relief an organisation working on the ground in Ukraine. The lemon meringue fudge coloured yellow and blue raised just over £3,000 in a week.

https://www.fudgekitchentrade.co.uk/giving-a-fudge

The Edinburgh Christmas Childline Concert is back for the first time after the pandemic at Central Hall on 25 November.

The concert is a fundraiser for the charity to help children and young people all over Scotland. All proceeds from tickets and the raffle sales on the night will go to the NSPCC Childline service. This is a 24-hour support line for children and young people providing a safe and confidential way to talk about their worries. It is the only service for children 24/7 over the festive period.

It starts at 7.30pm on Friday 25 November and you may buy tickets here.

Caroline Renton, supporter fundraising manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “This concert is a wonderful Christmas tradition and the perfect way to kick-start the festive season.

“Many people look forward to this event each year so it’s wonderful to welcome it back again.

“As well as a great night of entertainment, the concert supports our vital Childline service which is a genuine lifeline for children and young people around the country.

“At the NSPCC, we know that for children suffering abuse and neglect, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time and we want to be there for them through their darkest hours. 

“We can only provide this support at Christmas and the rest of the year with the aid of public donations, so this concert is hugely important to ensuring children in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland can receive support when they need it most.”

Councillor Joan Griffiths, Convener for Education, Children & Families, at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Childline is a vital service which provides help and support to children and young people from all over the country.

“I am delighted that the City of Edinburgh Council are continuing to support The NSPCC through our Instrumental Music Service Childline Christmas Concert on 25 November. 

“Now in its 26th year this concert is one of our festive highlights and will have over 200 young people perform in orchestras, bands and ensembles from schools across Edinburgh.”

Tickets for the 2022 Childline Christmas Concert cost £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s.

Tickets can be bought here: https://giving.give-star.com/event/nspcc/childline-christmas-concert

Help for children and young people
Call Childline on 0800 1111

Tigerlily are going all out with their decorations this Christmas.

The special Christmas display created by Wild flowers, is made up of around 10,000 Christmas baubles.

Along with Herradura Tequila, Tigerlily have released four special seasonal serves, and what better way to get in the Christmas spirit than enjoying one of the new cocktails in amongst the colourful new Christmas interior.  

Book now.

PURE Spa & Beauty have treated the team at Leuchie House to a day of pampering by their therapists as a reward for their hard work providing respite breaks to people living with neurological conditions.

As one of four headline sponsors of a prestigious fundraising event on behalf of the charity later this month – the Leuchie Long Lunch – the beauty salon wanted to go that extra mile to support the team at Scotland’s National Respite Centre near North Berwick.

A trio of therapists was sent along to provide relaxing massage sessions for the Leuchie team, which includes nurses, care assistants, cooks, housekeepers and administrative staff.

Mark Bevan, CEO at Leuchie said: “The team here have all said how much they appreciated the gesture, and we can’t thank PURE enough – not only for giving their time and expertise in this generous way, but for the significant support they have shown for the Leuchie Long Lunch.

“The lunch is a new annual business event, aimed at raising Leuchie’s profile across Scotland, raising funds, and improving our corporate engagement. We are thrilled to forge new links with a business as vibrant as PURE and this visit has ensured that our partnership has got off to the best possible start.”

Leuchie provides vital respite breaks to families affected by conditions such as multiple sclerosis, MND, Parkinson’s and the effect of stroke, a cause which PURE – which has locations across Scotland and England – was eager to get behind.

Becky Woodhouse, CEO of PURE Spa & Beauty, explained: “We are delighted to be partnering with Leuchie House and sponsoring the Leuchie Long Lunch. 

“At PURE, our core purpose is to improve lives through happiness and wellbeing. We share this core purpose with Leuchie House, who provide respite support and short breaks to people living with neurological issues and their families. 

“Helping to bring happiness to another human being is the foundation of a happy and healthy society and one that we at PURE and our partners at Leuchie House, feel passionately about. 

“We hope that by working together and helping to raise awareness of the amazing work they do at Leuchie House, we can continue to help and support happiness and wellbeing to sufferers of MS and other life changing neurological conditions.”

Opening on Saturday 12 November at the City Art Centre, a new exhibition, Glean, features 125 photographs, eight films and 35 related artefacts by 14 women who worked in Scotland in the early 20th century.

The work is drawn from 17 archives ranging from Galloway to Shetland. This exhibition shows how the women responded with their cameras to life in Scotland’s rural communities and cities. It is the first time their work is on display together, and it uncovers a previously untold story within the history of Scottish photography and filmmaking from this period.

The women present different versions of life in Scotland and the exhibition shows the breadth of their photography and filmmaking, and offers a critical analysis of their work. The films include a black and white one of Edinburgh with its recognisable landmarks which runs for ten minutes. It is a fascinating record of Edinburgh in the 1930s.

The exhibition is curated by Jenny Brownrigg, Exhibitions Director at The Glasgow School of Art, and is a partnership project with City Art Centre who spoke to us about the exhibition here:

• Capturing Scotland shows how the women captured the shift from traditional to modern life in both urban and rural contexts.
• Recording Community looks at the works of two of the women in particular, Margaret Fay Shaw and Dr Beatrice Garvie, who lived for long periods of time in the communities they were recording.
• Women and Society looks at how, as photographers and filmmakers, they portrayed the role of women in rural and urban societies.
• From rural Scotland, there is a portrait of Shetland by Jenny Gilbertson, Margaret Fay Shaw’s portraits of sisters Màiri and Peigi MacRae and their life in the small village of North Glendale, South Uist, and the wanderings of M.E.M. Donaldson in her walks with her camera across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

In a time when islanders and highlanders were represented purely as ‘type’, the work of these women presents them as real people and equals, an intimacy afforded by living in their communities over a long period of time.

Through their lens the issues of the time are brought to the fore, from the recording of protest marches by Helen Biggar and Christina Broom, to the housing conditions of the lower classes through Ruby Grierson and the interwar years in Marion Grierson’s films.

Rural and city work, industry and trade are represented in particular by Violet Banks, Margaret Watkins, Margaret Fay Shaw and Jenny Gilbertson. Isabell Burton MacKenzie was The Highlands Home Industry travelling organiser from 1911-14.

Using a Kodak Vest Pocket camera as an aide memoire, she visited the homes of islanders involved in craft, to encourage them to sell their work directly through exhibitions on the mainland through The Highlands Home Industry initiatives. Dr Beatrice Garvie, who was the medical doctor for North Roaldsay, Orkney, for 15 years, recorded the work and significant community events in the island.

The exhibition alludes to the different contexts the women were working in, from those who were independent to those working in or with industry. This was, of course, during a period when only some women over 30 were awarded the vote in 1918, with all women over 21 being granted the vote in 1928. The early women photographers and film-makers were forging a different path to that expected of their gender. Banks and Broom sustained their own commercial photography studios, and the Grierson sisters worked through their brother documentary maker John Grierson’s national government and industry financed film initiatives.

There is a programme of events accompanying the exhibition which brings together other researchers, gallerists and archivists who have championed the work of these women.

Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Val Walker said: “Glean promises to be an empowering exhibition that looks back on the wonderful work of female photographers and early filmmakers who were creating an important legacy in a male dominated field. The women featured played a huge part in the photography history of Scotland and Glean invites viewers to find out more about these inspiring women and it’s fantastic to see the accomplishments of these extraordinary practitioners.”

City Art Centre Curator, David Patterson said: “The City Art Centre is delighted to be staging this exhibition in partnership with Glasgow School of Art Exhibitions Director, Jenny Brownrigg. We were really intrigued by Jenny’s original proposal to tell the story of these pioneering women, and to bring their work to a wider public. The proposal also fitted so well with other photographic exhibitions being staged at the same time, providing a national and historical context to the two other displays which have a definite Edinburgh focus. We are confident that visitors will find the exhibition of real interest, as well as the accompanying events programme which enables a deeper exploration of the work of some of the artists.”

Jenny Brownrigg, the curator of ‘Glean’ said: “I am delighted to be working with City Art Centre for this exhibition and am grateful to all the lenders. I hope that the exhibition shows the women’s different motivations for making their work. Seen together, their photography and films show different stories about Scotland.”

More information here.

Discover The Square Route of Edinburgh Through One Square’s new cocktail menu

New cocktail menu pays tribute to nine squares in Edinburgh

One Square, The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa’s bar, will serve an innovative new cocktail menu designed to pay tribute to the Hotel’s local neighbourhoods. Each cocktail has been curated to pay homage to nine squares in Edinburgh.

From Charlotte Square to George Square, and many in between, the new menu draws inspiration from each square’s influence on Edinburgh’s modern-day and historic culture. One Square’s expert mixologists have spent months researching both flavour and infamy to curate this desirable line-up of cocktails.

This ambitious new menu launch marks the 10th anniversary of One Square Bar which has long-delighted guests with its gin speciality and unique gin-tasting masterclasses. Situated within the Sheraton Grand Hotel, One Square hosts over 120 varieties of gin and counting, including a range of Scottish, British and International Gins as well as their very own One Square Gin, distilled in partnership with local Edinburgh spirits company Summerhall Distillery.

The menu includes ‘Festival Square’, a taste sensation reflecting a modern home to arts and culture in the city. With the cocktail representing the spectacular variety of international talent Festival Square welcomes every year.

Also included in the exciting new menu is the St Andrew Square which, like its location, is one of the most desirable and fashionable drinks on the menu. Served in a vintage-style cut champagne coupe, this drink embodies the squares standing as a focal point of high-end luxury within the city. The elegant ingredients match, with this champagne-based tipple a must-try for locals and visitors alike.

Nick Durham, Director of Food and Beverage at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, explains: “With a bar and terrace that boasts enviable views of the city, it was only right that our new cocktail launch explored what the city has to offer – in somewhat of an alternative story than those told in the past! Our guests can be transported around our world-famous city from square-to-square, with each varying cocktail having a personality of its own and a personality that matches the square’s place in Edinburgh’s day-to-day life. We’re excited to see which square proves most popular!”

The new menu is available from Thursday with the bar located just off Festival Square itself on Lothian Road.

https://www.onesquareedinburgh.co.uk/

Well-known sea match angler Ian Campbell hosts the second in the eight-leg Edinburgh Shore Angling Winter series on Friday, November 11. The venue is Newhaven (pictured by Nigel Duncan) and registration is at Western Harbour EH6 6PG from 6.15pm to 6.30pm, Fishing is from 7pm to 10pm.

The best five scores from the eight rounds will count and Campbell would love to see some new faces there. Information has been posted on Facebook sites including The Scottish Shore Angling Match Group and Sea Fishing Scotland.

Campbell was pleased with the response from anglers for the first leg on Portobello Beach two weeks ago when, of the 22 who fished, 19 caught 55 fish.

David Cooper from Edinburgh won with seven fish for 193cm with Steven Barrett second also with seven fish for 183cm and Ryan Venters third with five fish for 105cm. Barrett caught the longest fish, a 31cm coalfish. 

Campbell added: “All the winners were from pegs towards the Portobello end of the beach, but there were fish everywhere. Looking forward to seeing new faces for the next one. League placings will be the best results from five of the eight matches so there is plenty of opportunity for new entrants to win the Edinburgh Angling Centre vouchers.” 

24 Royal Terrace and Graystone Gallery are staging their first Winter Exhibition from 11 November until 2 January 2023.

The hotel and gallery have joined forces to create a unique experience for art lovers. Their innovative and exciting Winter Exhibition features 20 artists with deep ties to Scotland, showcasing a wide breadth of new talent at attractive prices.

Supported by a series of exclusive luxury events, the Winter Exhibition provides the ideal opportunity to enjoy and own original Scottish art. From the dreamlike visions of Damian Tremlett to Gill Knight’s semi-abstract seascapes, there is something in this new exhibition to inspire any taste and budget.

One of the artists is Wendy Helliwell whose work Vogue Lips is included in the exhibition.

At 24 Royal Terrace Edinburgh EH7 5AH from 11 November to 2 January 2023.

graystonegallery.com

A new development for a mixed Build to Rent and creative workspace scheme has been approved by The City of Edinburgh Council.

The scheme will include 205 Build to Rent homes, which includes 52 affordable homes, alongside a creative workspace and a new public courtyard called Maker’s Yard.

This development in Canonmills will replace an existing warehouse with a contemporary scheme and as well as delivering new homes for the area, the developer says the creative space will be increased by almost half.

Tom Valente, Development Manager at HUB, said: “We are hugely excited to be moving forward with one of our first developments in Edinburgh. It’s a fantastic city which has a long-established creative scene, and prides itself on its wealth of small, independent businesses. Our plans for Beaverhall will maintain the site’s status as a hive of creativity by placing studios and maker spaces at the heart of the development, alongside high quality, sustainable homes for local people.

What we are doing here demonstrates the potential to create lively mixed-use communities on urban brownfield sites, and this is a model that we want to champion both in Edinburgh and elsewhere across the UK.”

Simon Ringer, Partner and Head of Property at Bridges, said: “For Bridges and HUB, people and planet are central to the design and planning of all our new developments. By building high-quality, sustainable lower-cost housing, coupled with enticing public spaces that reflect the needs of local people, we can create highly attractive developments that really deliver for the local community. Beaverhall will be a perfect example of this; and we’re particularly delighted that we’ve also been able to reflect the site’s heritage as a creative hub in the design. We can’t wait to see it come to life in the months ahead.”

James Spencer, Associate at shedkm, said: “We’re really excited to be working with HUB to preserve this creative heart in Edinburgh, while improving the built environment for the local community. We look forward to bringing our longstanding experience in regenerating areas across the UK, to create a modern, sustainable place that builds upon Edinburgh’s industrious heritage and remains a key piece of the city.”

Notice has been served on Edinburgh Trams by Unite the union warning of strike action which will begin on 17 November and will last for ten days.

Unless agreement is reached between the union and the company then there is a threat, according to Lyn Turner, Regional Officer at Unite the Union, that strikes could go on into the new year.

The tram company and the union have already struck an agreement on pay which has been implemented, but the stumbling block for the union is over sick pay. Unite asked for six months full pay and then six months half pay for those members of staff who are unfortunately off sick for a long time. Edinburgh Trams have told The Edinburgh Reporter that they thought the negotiation process was ongoing, while at the same time explaining that the improvements to sick pay are unaffordable for the network as it continued to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

Lyn Turner, Regional Officer at Unite the union, said: “Strike action will be discontinuous until midnight on 27 November. This will affect the SRU Autumn Test series and the start of Christmas activities in Edinburgh.

“We have an agreement with Edinburgh Trams signed by both parties in late July, early August this year which is a wage deal. Part of that deal was the review of long term sick pay to six months full pay and six months half pay.

“Basically we entered into that agreement in good faith and we have now been informed that they will not be introducing any review and we can speak to them next year when we have further negotiations for 2023 to see if they can introduce it then.

“This was not an issue during the wage negotiations, it was a given. It was never a stumbling point. They knew they were up against it as we had balloted our members for industrial action. The negotiation was conducted by George Lowder CEO of Transport for Edinburgh. Lea Harrison was not involved in the discussions.

“By withdrawing from that part of the negotiations that our members were balloted on and had accepted, is unacceptable and therefore our only redress for that is for our members – who are incensed by this – is to take industrial action.

“I have always said that I stand ready to find settlement but Edinburgh Trams are not talking to us. I talk to our senior reps every day. If we are going to enter into discussions whether direct or with ACAS we have not heard anything from Edinburgh Trams. So we stand ready to take industrial action.”

The union would like the company to sit down with them and review the sick pay arrangements. At present Mr Turner said that Edinburgh Trams have simply said they will not now review it.

Mr Turner said the company has been dismissive. He said: “I have suggested an insurance company to them. They have never meaningfully sat down and said this is what the cost is going to be and discussed whether it could be phased in.

“They moved from the question about what the definition of what long term sick means – suggesting it would be 13 weeks and not four as it is in most other companies, and this after the deal was signed. So we are not playing on a level playing field. The goalposts keep moving.

“The membership that I represent has had enough. And if there is no action then I will serve notice of further strike action.”

Mr Turner admitted that the company had kept to part of the deal by which additional payments were made and backdated to 1 April 2022, including a headline payment of £2,300 to all staff.

But he said: “There are other elements of the deal that they have reneged on. Our members like tram drivers and ticket sales assistants don’t get to work from home but if you are unwell and you work in an office then you can say you’re working from home. Our members don’t have that luxury. In this cost of living crisis, sick pay should be there to protect the individual who is genuinely unwell. For some reason Edinburgh Trams think they’re going to get 150 Unite members phoning in sick going long term. That is not the case.

“There is a policy in place which manages sickness. What we agreed and signed was for the genuine people who are longterm ill or unwell with serious critical illness to be protected with six months full and six months half pay. This is needed especially during a cost of living crisis.

“And this is a municipal tram company here. Lothian Buses pay six months full pay, six months half pay. We are asking for Edinburgh Trams to support its employees at genuine times of longterm sickness.”

Mr Turner says he recognises the importance of the tram to public transport network. He said: “Trams are the flagship of Edinburgh at the moment with the tram extension and all the investment in that. I am disappointed to say the least that the company has reneged on our deal. We will be back in January with a new pay demand.

“We should be focussing on testing the new line and setting up rosters and rotas for the new line and discussing new starts for the new line. At the moment we are still talking about something we thought was agreed months ago.”

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Trams said that their position remains the same: “We are sincerely disappointed that Unite has decided on this course of action, having previously accepted a generous pay increase and enhancements to terms and conditions that were overwhelmingly accepted by colleagues.

“As promised, we have been in further consultation regarding the additional points for review, and we have made progress in all areas. However, the Union is now demanding further improvements to sick pay that are simply unaffordable for the network as it continues its recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Despite these unrealistic demands, we will continue to talk to the Union and colleagues with a view to reaching an amicable agreement that will avoid unnecessary disruption for our customers.”

Fife Flyers won both Challenge Cup games against Scottish rivals Glasgow Clan earlier this season and now they travel to Braehead on Friday (face-off 19.30) on Viaplay Elite League business looking to maintain recent form.

It’s a key clash at the bottom end of the ten-strong table, Clan propping up the league with Flyers in the eighth and final play-off position with eight points from 14 games.

Todd Dutiaume, Flyers’ coach, said: “We have been playing some pretty good hockey over the last month or so but it has not been translating into results which, for the fan base, the playing staff and coaching staff as well, can become very frustrating.

“We have to take heart that we have been playing through a number of key injuries and still being able to maintain a decent level of play and if we trust the system and continue to push on the results will come for this team.

“The big positive at the weekend is that we pushed ourselves into a play-off spot and now we have that we have to refuse to let it out of our grasp and to look at the teams directly above us and start picking away.” 

Looking back through the club’s November fixtures, Fife have lost 7-4 at Cardiff Devils, who are fourth, 2-1 after overtime at home to current league pace-setters, Guildford Flames, 3-0 at The House of Steel to Sheffield Steelers who are third in the table.

They travel to Aspray Glasgow West-sponosred Clan, who have five points from 14 games, minus unlucky Sean Cameron who arrived at the start of the season looking to open a new chapter in his playing career in Europe, but has suffered a cruciate ligament injury which rules the Canadian forward out of the rest of the season.

Dutiaume said: “It is a huge blow for Shawn himself, obviously, and we thought he was going to have a huge impact on our line-up, it is also a blow for the club, a guy who was going to come in and provide a pretty much guaranteed level of offence. It is bit skates to fill. We feel for him and we will give him the support he needs but continue to push on with our league as play in this league stops for no man.”

The experienced Canadian was heartened that the medical room was not filled with players after the club’s tough weekend which included a home clash with Guildford and a trip to Sheffield.

He said: “The guys stood up to it well. We have a couple of concerning niggles which we are keeping an eye on but hopefully nothing that will keep anybody out of the line-up.”

PICTURE: Clan v Flyers earlier this season courtesy of Viaplay Elite League and taken by Al Goold

American international Malik Tillman slotted after 66 minutes to separate Rangers and Hearts and keep the Ibrox men seven points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic in the cinch Scottish Premiership title race.

Ryan Kent set up the chance, beating three defenders with great footwork on the left hand side of the box, before passing to Croatian defender Borna Barisic. He squared the ball the on-loan Bayern Munich player who slid in unmarked in the centre of the penalty box to net Substitute Alfredo Morelos then missed a chance from close-range to make sure late-on.

The visitors, minus Jorge Grant whose appeal against the red card received in the first-half against Motherwell on Sunday at Tynecastle, worked hard throughout, their best chance coming on a breakaway and involving Josh Ginnelly (pictured by Nigel Duncan) following a fine pass from Robert Snodgrass. Alan McGregor rushed from his goal to the edge of the box to put pressure on the Englishman.

And Ginnelly was heavily involved in another chance, sending the ball into the Rangers’ box from the right, but Andy Halliday just failed to connect. He dropped to his knees in frustration.

However, Tillman’s goal was enough to secure the points for the under-pressure Rangers side who have 32 points from their 14 outings and it proved a vital win for the Glasgow combine as Celtic edged Motherwell 2-1 at Fir Park to move onto 39 points.

Hearts are fifth in the table with 20 points from 14 fixtures and are only two points out of third position which is currently held by Aberdeen with fourth-placed Livingston also on 22 points.

Robbie Neilson told BBC Scotland Sport that he felt his men worked hard. They tried, he said, to impose themselves on the game and the manager added: “There were periods of the game we were on top, as always against the Old Firm, there are periods when Celtic or Rangers are on top.” 

His opposite number, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, felt his men started well but was disappointed that the space they created was not translated into goals.

He added: “I am happy that we won the three points. The title race us still on. We give everything we have to win the game. We had to be really focused the whole game and. in the last 20 minutes, we did not give anything away.

“I am happy to get the three points for the team and for the club. It is important to get three points on Saturday (against St Mirren at Paisley) then we have a break of five weeks before we play our first competitive game after the World Cup. We can rest a bit, we can recover and prepare for the second phase.”

Overall, Rangers enjoyed 54 per cent of possession against 46 per cent from their opponents and had 17 shots, six of them on target, against seven from Hearts, none on target, who host a Livingston side boosted by their narrow midweek win over Aberdeen at Tynecastle on Saturday (15.00).  

The Edinburgh Highland Reel & Strathspey Society is delighted to present an evening of music to celebrate St. Andrew’s Night.

The orchestra, under the baton of well known Scottish fiddler Yla Steven BEM, is sure to entertain the audience and get their feet tapping with a variety of marches, strathspeys, reels, jigs and slow airs.

In addition to the orchestra, the concert will include a few songs from Satunum McElroy.

Founded in 1881, the society was the first of its type, set up to preserve the traditional style of fiddle playing. Its members are proud to continue that tradition in the 21st century. In 2022, in addition to this St. Andrew’s Night Concert and the Annual Concert in the Queen’s Hall, the orchestra gave charity concerts in Blackford and in Bathgate.

There will be an enthusiastic start to the 2022/23 season in Craiglockhart Parish Church.

EHRSS St Andrew’s Night Concert : Reid Memorial Church : Friday 2 December at 7.30pm.

‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’ charity show in aid of Leukaemia Care and Lupus UK will be performed at the Church Hill Theatre in Morningside from 22 to 26 November.

The show is a song and dance extravaganza directed and choreographed by Janice Bruce.

Act 1 is about a wedding, the reception and the honeymoon with a short story running through it.

Act 2 includes individual numbers, vibrant costumes with a circus or Moulin Rouge theme.

Janice said: “My mum died in 2010 and as I’m a thespian I brought all my singer and dancer friends along to help put on a charity show.”

Tickets, which you can buy at the link below, include an event programme and raffle ticket.

The raffle prizes on offer include dinner, bed and breakfast at the Marine Hotel in North Berwick and dinner for two at the Black Ivy in Bruntsfield.

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/edinburgh/church-hill-theatre-edinburgh/lets-face-the-music-and-dance/e-zdxvpj

Scotland’s only luxury floating hotel, Fingal, has been crowned one of the top 25 five-star hotels and restaurants in the UK and Northern Ireland by the internationally recognised Automobile Association (AA). 

Berthed on the waterfront in Leith, Fingal has sailed into the AA’s prestigious list of hotels and restaurants for the first time after being awarded the top five-star rating for the hotel and two AA Rosettes for its Lighthouse Restaurant. 

Fingal joins an exclusive list of only 43 five-star hotels with two AA Rosettes across the whole of the UK and Northern Ireland and is only one of 25 hotels around the country with an overall quality assurance score of 87% or above.  

Following two full days of assessments, the AA inspectors praised Fingal for the exceptional quality of the ship’s interior design, meticulous attention to detail, maritime heritage, outstanding customer service and fine dining experience.  

The AA inspectors said: “The condition and quality throughout is excellent. Notable features such as the engine room on display, the bridge, lift and function space are all fascinating. The design features and detailing also impressed.” 

“A very intimate and exclusive feel maintained through the hotel which has been created from a working vessel – the heritage of which is very well established and promoted to guests.” 

“Highly individual set of rooms which offer a special experience.” 

The former Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) tender was launched as a luxury hotel in 2019, and is owned and operated by the team at The Royal Yacht Britannia. Fingal is now a foodie destination with all the glamour and style of a super-yacht, but with an air of old-world Art Deco luxury ocean liner elegance.  

Open to non-residents for Afternoon Tea, dinner and cocktails, Fingal’s Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar offers a choice of eight self-contained private dining booths for small pre-booked groups. Fingal’s 23 luxury cabins are each named after Stevenson lighthouses, inspired by Fingal’s rich maritime heritage. The ship is now the ultimate in luxury accommodation and dining with a nautical twist. 

Britannia’s Hospitality Director and Fingal’s General Manager, Andrew Thomson, said: “We’re extremely proud to have been recognised by the AA for our commitment to offering a world-class visitor experience for all our guests with the top five-star quality assurance rating for the hotel and two AA Rosettes for our Lighthouse Restaurant. 

“The inspectors paid particular attention to the exceptional quality of the ship’s stylish interior design, our meticulous attention to detail, unique maritime heritage, outstanding customer service and fine dining experience in Fingal’s Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar. 

“Prestigious accolades like this are a real testament to our dedicated team of hospitality professionals who are passionate about delivering only the best guest experience.” 

For more information on Fingal, visit www.fingal.co.uk

Capital chocolatier offers festive chocolates flavoured with real pine needles.

The 2022 Festive Selection from award winning chocolatier Sebastian Kobelt will spark evocative festive memories with Baileys by the fire, the smell of pine needles, freshly cracked nuts, and, of course, Christmas pudding.

Sebastian, who has spent many years working in some of the world’s most prestigious hotels and Michelin starred restaurants, has added a twist to traditional festive flavour combinations, whilst also referencing his German heritage.

The Dominostein is Sebastian’s version of the traditional German confection served at Christmas time, which is gingerbread layered with marzipan and a red berry jelly, then covered with dark chocolate.

Marzipan, another German festive favourite, is paired with sea buckthorn to create one of Sebastian’s chocolates. And in a homage to the smell of a freshly cut Christmas Tree, the Douglas Fir chocolate is made by infusing real pine needles into fresh cream which is then mixed with single origin milk chocolate to create a rich ganache. The chocolate is encased in a dark chocolate shell.

Sebastian said: “Every chocolate in this collection is handmade from scratch with real love and attention to detail. We very much hope that our passion shines through and our customers enjoy our Festive Collection.”

Other chocolates in the collection include Cranberry & Vanilla, Orange & Coriander Seed, Butterscotch, and Hazelnut & Miso.

The Festive Chocolate Collection, available to buy online now is priced from £11 for the nine chocolate box, with a sixteen chocolate box costing £20.50, and the twenty five chocolate collection at £30.50.

Order online from 1 December here.

Early proposals for Edinburgh council service cuts next year have been revealed amid a deepening financial crisis.

The council now has to find £76.5 millon to set a balanced budget in February, an increase of more than £10 million since  the start of the year – and rising to £158.6 million in 2024 to 2025.

This is on top of £123 million due to be cut from the council’s fund for financing infrastructure projects, which is likely to impact the city’s 10 year school building programme.

A report showing proposed savings to the revenue budget, which sets aside funding for council services, reveals education could face further cutbacks with pupil support and speech therapy set to lose hundreds of thousands.

The report said: “These proposals are likely to involve increasingly difficult choices about the council’s priorities, including service reductions, across all service areas to maintain expenditure in line with available income.”

Under the plans drawn up by officials, which will go before councillors on Thursday, there will also be reduced funding for the Taxicard scheme for helping people with disabilities to get around and a £1 million cut to cultural grants over the next four years.

Along with other financial mitigations proposed – which include using left over emergency cash set aside during Covid-19 and handing out less money to people struggling though changes to eligibility of no recourse to public funds – the savings would shrink the funding gap to £21.2 million.

Suggested initial cuts to the 2023 to 2024 revenue budget, of which all would be recurring for the next four years, are: promotion of online services (£165,000); council staffing savings (£1.173 million); management savings (£223,000); ‘salary sacrifice’ savings (£225,000); review and realignment of pupil support (£900,000); speech and Language Therapy (£850,000); multi-system therapy service (£500k); wellington school former monies (£340,000); review of contracted spend (£904k); Taxicard (£120,000) and non-core cultural grants (£250,000).

The report said: “The council continues to face significant financial pressures resulting from increased demand for services, inflation and legislative reform, as well as the ongoing financial impacts of the pandemic.

“These factors are set against a backdrop of core grant funding (accounting for around three quarters of the council’s overall income) that is not increasing.”

by Donald Turvill

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Scotland face New Zealand this weekend in a sell-out rugby international, and Edinburgh Trams is responding by putting on more trams to Murrayfield.

This match could be the highlight of this year’s Autumn Internationals at BT Murrayfield right beside the tram stop, and is a chance to put right the dramatic loss in 2017.

Edinburgh Trams confirm the service will run every three minutes and there are ticket deals for adults and children online here edinburghticket.com.

Edinburgh Trams’ Managing Director Lea Harrison commented: “As thousands of people flock to the city this weekend to witness this hotly anticipated clash between the Scots and the strong All Blacks, we want to ensure that fans enjoy the best possible match-day experience.

“As well as saving money and the hassle of finding a parking spot in the city centre, by taking the tram they can avoid the inevitable congestion around the ground. Anyone travelling from beyond Edinburgh can leave their cars at Ingliston Park & Ride, which offers plenty of parking spaces, before enjoying a swift and convenient journey to the Murrayfield tram stop.”

On Sunday Scotland will be looking to achieve a first win over the New Zealanders following a dramatic lose during the Autumn Internationals in 2017, and further details can be found here.

Rio Residential lists ideal holiday cottage in Port Appin

Edinburgh-based Rio Residential, the “extremely connected to market” estate agency has secured its first listing in the West of Scotland.

The agency, headed up by property professional, Judy Shields, is selling Old Smithy Cottage in Port Appin, a stunning three bedroom property enjoying expansive views across the Bay. Priced at offers over £465,000, this charming cottage is marketed as a possible holiday home.

Central features are the large open plan kitchen/dining room, together with the spacious living room with its exposed ceiling beams and open fire. The cottage has three bedrooms, including master bedroom en-suite. It also has a wet room main bathroom, utility room, and conservatory. The large private garden is another attraction of this home.

Judy Shields said: “I’m delighted to have secured the listing of this characterful property in the most beautiful setting of Port Appin, the first move into the West of Scotland for Rio Residential.”

Just has worked in the residential property sector at a senior level for the last eight years. Latterly she was Senior Associate Director with Strutt & Parker in Edinburgh, having also spent time with McEwan Fraser as a Residential and Commercial Property Surveyor.

Her career has also seen her fulfil the role of Client Relationship Manager (Restructuring) with KPMG, and Area Director for Clyde Property in Stirling.

Judy continued: “I expect Smithy Cottage to go very quickly indeed, due to its sought after location, amazing views, and high level of presentation.”

Rio Residential covers all aspects of residential sales, including redevelopment projects, property sourcing, and off market.

An independent company, it sits within The Fusion Group of Companies, a Stirling based business predominantly working within the hospitality sector. Commercial property agency, Drysdale & Company, which brings hospitality businesses who wish to sell, to market, also sits within the Fusion portfolio.

Rio Residential has listings underway across Scotland.

Judy can be contacted on 0131 526 3154, email Judy@rioresidential.co.uk

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/128723057#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rioresidential.co.uk/property/2168/

Two apprentices have been recognised by The Scottish Parliament for winning the Roofing Apprentice of the Year Award, as part of the NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) Scottish Roofing Contractor of the Year Awards.

Sarah Boyack MSP submitted a parliamentary motion in recognition of the achievement of Aaron Struthers-Semple and Kyle William Stoddart, apprentices with Edinburgh-based firm Compass Roofing.

The motion recognised that the Award had been given in recognition of Aaron and Kyle’s work with Build Your Future in Edinburgh, delivering mini-masterclasses to children in schools and promoting the industry as a career of choice, and praised them as ‘role models’ for the next generation. The motion wished them both the best for their future careers, and said that they were ‘richly deserving of this accolade’.

Aaron and Kyle initially received the Award at the NFRC Scottish Roofing Contractor of the Year Awards which were held in Glasgow on Friday 28 October, hosted by comedian and presenter Fred MacAulay.

Barry Dawson, Customer Engagement Manager at CITB Scotland, said: “The NFRC Roofing Apprentice of the Year Award is a great accolade for Kyle, Aaron and their employer. These awards are recognition of their commitment, high standard of work and involvement within initiatives such as Build Your Future. It is important to recognise the quality of apprentices within the roofing industry—the award winners of today represent potential employers and industry leaders of the future. CITB wish Kyle and Aaron well with their respective careers.”

Police Scotland has released images of two men they believe may hold information which might assist them in relation to an assault in Edinburgh.

The incident happened at around 1.20am on Friday, 28 October 2022 in the Clerk Street area.

The first man is described as aged 17-22, 6ft, medium/heavy build, with short brown hair, and was wearing a maroon Hearts football top, dark trousers and trainers.

The second man is described as aged 17-22, medium build, with light brown hair and was wearing a dark jacket with white sleeves and dark trousers.

Detective Sergeant Kimberly Tennant, from Corstorphine CID, said: “I would urge these men or anyone who knows who they are to get in touch with us. Anyone with any information is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting Incident 0214 of Friday, 28 October 2022.”

A Ukrainian teenager who has come to live in Edinburgh is showing his talent on the tennis courts.

Arsenii Opryshko is 13 and arrived in Scotland with the help of The Scottish Government’s Super Sponsor scheme, along with his parents Vadim and Olga. The family are hosted by retired police sergeant, Mark McCool and his husband in Broomhouse.

Arsenii was a pupil at Gymnasium Number 13, a secondary school in Kharkiv. He holds a national ranking in his chosen sport of tennis and as a talented tennis player undertook three hours of tennis coaching per day. 

Arsenii is currently a member at Hatton Sports Club, which has tennis, padel tennis, squash and racketball facilities and is situated on the A71 near Kirknewton. Caroline Newton, one of the committee members at Hatton, and a fellow Ukrainian host, secured free membership of the club, with the cooperation of her fellow committee members.

Recently he has beaten other talented junior tennis players by winning the LTA Scotland Tour, Grade 5, Boys U16 event – coming first, which took place in Broughty Ferry and also came second in a similar event at Dalgety Bay on 14 October and more recently won the U16 boys event in Kelso.

Since 2016 Edinburgh Leisure has delivered their Relocated People Access programme in partnership with the The City of Edinburgh Council’s Migration and Refugee Team. Through the project, Edinburgh Leisure give relocated people access cards, which allows them free use of their facilities for six months while they are settling into their new city. Edinburgh Leisure now supports around 2,000 people from countries around the world including Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Syria.

More recently the sports body has also started providing children who are new to the city with free use of their facilities, places on their children’s sports coaching programmes and places on their holiday sports camps over the summer to help them enjoy the active childhood they deserve.

Realising his tennis talent, Mr McCool, along with the support of Mandy Fairnie, Operations Manager at Edinburgh Leisure’s Craiglockhart Tennis Centre, has managed to secure coaching from various sources, including coaches at the Edinburgh flagship tennis centre, and East of Scotland tennis clubs and through Tennis Scotland. 

Mark said: “There’s no doubting the tennis talent of this young lad, especially in taking the overall trophy for the Under 16 Boys Singles competition, when he is only 13 years.  Yet it shouldn’t be underestimated the hoops this family have had to through just to get to this stage.

“Like many of their fellow countrymen, none of them have chosen the journey they have all been on, but they are making the best of a bad situation.  I’m so grateful to everyone that has supported the family so far to help progress their son’s talent.  But then again, participating in tennis doesn’t come cheaply.  And while everyone has given of their time freely until now, there are always the hidden costs associated at competing at such a level, including rackets, balls, shoes, entry costs etc.”

HOLIDAY TURNS INTO EVACUATION

The family had left Ukraine to go on their first family holiday in three years to Egypt, a country they had been longing to visit for 10 years. It was a holiday that would combine rest and relaxation with a business opportunity that Vadym was developing and a business meeting with a new partner – not knowing that this would be the same week that Russia would invade Ukraine.

After the skies around their country were closed to all air traffic, the family were stranded in an Egyptian hotel with three suitcases full of summer clothes, sandals, and flip flops.

The family’s circumstance was very quickly recognised by other guests in the hotel and those guests, all of whom were on holiday, clubbed together and funded one of the German families to take Vadym, Olga and Arsenii home with them to southern Germany.

Before long Vadym, Olga and Arsenii found themselves surrounded by many Ukrainian refugee families who had themselves fled the regions worst hit by the Russian invasion.

In Germany, Vadym and Olga’s personal and professional experience was quickly recognised by the German authorities and Vadym, a fluent English speaker was recruited into a refugee support position by the Mayor’s office in the German village of Bad Schonborn, 80km from the city of Stuttgart. Olga meanwhile found herself working in, and ultimately running, an already established kitchen that was now feeding a wave of refugees, over and above their normal duties in providing for the existing community.

As Mark McCool explained: “Despite the magnitude of the developing situation, Vadym and Olga’s main desire was to provide as normal a life as possible for their teenage son, which was made possible by the German community who quickly offered Arsenii a place in a school and who they also enrolled in a local tennis programme.”

Unfortunately for the family though, their time in Germany was short-lived.  As Vadym’s family had come to Germany from Egypt, a country seen by the German Government as a safe country, they refused to identify Vadym’s family as a refugee family. The German Government assessed Vadym’s family position as that of a non-EU family entering their country as tourists on a tourist visa which only gave the family a limited period of stay. Their visa application was therefore rejected, and the family were given until 31 May 2022 to leave Germany, although an extension was granted until November, as they had not secured anywhere to go by the initial date. During this time Vadym discovered the Scottish Government’s Super Sponsor scheme and arrived in Scotland on 15 July after Mark McCool and his partner agreed to sponsor the family’s application to come to Edinburgh.

Vadym Opryshko, father to Arsenii said: “As a family, we couldn’t have asked for a more supportive welcome from so many different people in Edinburgh.  Like any parents, we just want the best for our child and for Arsenii, it’s to continue developing his natural tennis ability, despite the challenges we have experienced since leaving our homeland.”

Concluding Mark McCool said: “My partner and I, along with so many other members of the local and tennis community have welcomed this displaced family into our hearts.  Arsenii is one talented individual when it comes to playing tennis, and we couldn’t be prouder of his achievements over the weekend. 

“We just hope we can continue to find support to nurture his talent while he is a guest in Scotland.”