Hibs head coach David Gray praised his side’s character when responding to adversity as they came from behind to beat Ross County at Easter Road yesterday. 

The Staggies took the lead in the opening 10 minutes of the game, however goals from Dwight Gayle, Elie Youan and Josh Campbell saw Hibs take all three points. 

When speaking to Hibs TV after the game, Gray said: “I’m delighted with the three points; that was the most important thing today.  

“The performance wasn’t where it’s been in recent weeks, and credit to Ross County because they made it difficult for us and started better. 

“My challenge to the players was to win the game today because of the opportunity of leapfrogging them in the table, and we found a way to win the game. 

“We probably could’ve taken chances earlier to make it comfortable, but we came through it, showed character and ability to defend the box and that was very pleasing. To score at the end and put the game to bed was pleasing for everyone.” 

It was a disappointing first half display, however an excellent moment of quality between Junior Hoilett and Dwight Gayle saw us equalise right on the half-time whistle. 

Gray explained how that changed his message to the players are the break. 

“That goal was very important. How we started the game was poor and we came into the game at the end of the first half, but it was decision making or the final ball that wasn’t quite right. We were well below where we needed to be in terms of competing at times. We lost too many second balls, and struggled to deal with them coming forward. Their centre-forward caused a lot of problems. 

“To go in 1-1 knowing we could improve the level of performance was pleasing. It definitely helped the team talk because you know how you can adjust and tweak things knowing we will get better. The players reacted well from that. 

“We started the second half on the front-foot, had good chances, then we had the penalties. Ideally, I’d have liked to have killed the game off, but on another hand, it shows that we can hold out and go on and win a game.” 

 Hibs move off the bottom of the table and into eighth place with a 3-1 victory over Ross County at Easter Road. 

Hibs head coach David Gray makes three changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Celtic last weekend. 

Chris Cadden replaced Lewis Miller at right-back, while Junior Hoilett and Dwight Gayle also come into the starting XI, with Jordan Obita dropping to the bench and Mykola Kuharevich missing out entirely through injury. 

Photos by Ian Jacobs

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Hibs legend Alex Edwards who sadly passed away earlier this week. 

The visitors started on the front foot and in the opening minute Jordan Smith made a tremendous save to deny Ross County forward Noah Chilvers. 

Then from the resultant corner Scott Allardice’s header bounced off the post, and Eli Campbell was on hand to nod home the rebound from a tight angle. 

A lengthy VAR check for offside ended with the referee pointing to the centre spot. 

Ross County continued to press forward and were unlucky not to extend their lead before Junior Hoilett almost grabbed an equaliser coming in at the back post but his effort went wide. 

At the other end Smith turned Josh Nisbet’s powerful left-footed strike round the post, before a short corner from the visitors was unconvincingly cleared. 

With the Hibs fans getting ready to boo the side off at the break, Gray men found an equaliser when Hoilett floated a ball to the near post and Dwight Gayle headed into an empty net. With Jack Hamilton caught in no-man’s land. 

Hibs had the chance to take the lead when George Harmon dragged Gayle to the ground and conceded penalty. 

After another lengthy VAR check Nicky Cadden took responsibility, but Hamilton saved his powerful effort. 

Moments later Hibs were awarded a second penalty when Ryan Leak pulled substitute Josh Campbell’s shirt right in front of the referee. 

Elie Youan took the resultant penalty and sent the ball into the corner of the net to the relief of the home supporters. 

The game was almost wrapped up when a back pass took a bobble and Hamilton sliced the ball which spun behind him and trickled inches wide of the post. 

Ross County pressed for an equaliser but late into stoppage time Youan won possession high up the field and set up Campbell to score the third. 

The win sees hibs move from bottom of the table to 8^th place. 

After the final whistle Gray told BBC Scotland: “I’m delighted with the win. That’s the most important thing. Would I have liked us to play better? 100%. We’ve played better this year and not picked up points. 

“Credit to Ross County. They started the game far better than we did. Once we settled down a bit, I thought we came into the game. 

“The goal just before half-time was huge for us. It makes the team talk slightly different and the players reacted really well to that. 

“We started the second half on the front foot, we created numerous chances – still lacked a bit of quality – but managed to get ourselves in front. 

“That’s three penalties we’ve missed this season. Elie steps up and says he wants to take [the second one], which shows courage. From that moment, we had to defend a lot, but did it well. To then score on the break came at an important time. 

“The character’s definitely been questioned, and the result was the most important thing today. It definitely looks much better with three points on the board. 

“If we don’t kick on from here, it can go in the other direction. The next four games will be difficult, but it’s teams round about us. Hopefully this is a turning point in the season.” 

Hibs: Smith, C Cadden, O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, N Cadden, Triantis, Newell, Youan, Hoilett, Gayle. 

Substitutes: Bursik, Levitt, Doyle-Hayes, Boyle, McKirdy, Kwon, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Campbell. 

Ross County: Hamilton, Brown, Wright, Lopata, Campbell, Harmon, Allardice, Randall, Nisbet, Chilvers, Samuel. 

Substitutes: Amissah, Telfer, Leak, Efete, Loturi, White, Hale, Reid, Denholm. 

Police Scotland update: Levi Robertson, 27, reported missing from Leith, Edinburgh, has been traced safe and well. Thank you to everyone who shared and responded to our appeal.

Police are seeking the assistance of the public to trace 27-year-old Levi Robertson who has been reported missing from Leith. 

He is described as a white male, 5’10, stocky, brown hair with a moustache.  

When last seen he was wearing a light-coloured jumper and jeans, also possibly wearing a headband/bandana.  

Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts should call 101 quoting incident reference: 3957 of 13/12/24. 

The City of Edinburgh Council will be asked to approve the appointments recommended by the Recruitment Committee to two important roles in the council.

The first is that Jackie Reid will become Director of Education, to take the place of Lorna French who has retired. Ms Reid will work under the Executive Director of Children, Education and Justice Services, Amanda Hatton.

The second is that Christine Laverty will become Chief Officer of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, succeeding Pat Togher who has moved back to Glasgow after just a year in the capital.

These are executive positions and are still subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.

The EIJB is a partnership between the City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian, managed by the Integration Joint Board. We work together to provide health and social care services like Adults social services, older persons care and primary care services. The EIJB next meets on Tuesday 17 December to assess how to balance its budget which has a deficit of around £50 million – but it looks unlikely that the new Chief Officer will be in place until after the New Year.

The EIJB Chief Officer position attracts a salary of around £180,000 per annum.

The Town Hall Rich List published in April 2024 disclosed that Ms Hatton earned £171,237 with pension benefits taking her total salary to £210,220.

West Maitland Street was closed for several hours following a crash this afternoon, Saturday, 14 December, 2024.

The crash took place at 1.45pm and involved a bus and a male pedestrian.

The 34-year-old man was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Hospital for treatment.

Officers say that their enquiries are ongoing.

Eight Scottish care homes are celebrating after winning a prestigious national award.

Care UK’s Scottish homes, including Edinburgh-based Cairdean House, Lauder Lodge and Murrayside, as well as Caledonian Court (Larbert), Cathkin House (East Kilbride), Mowat Court (Stonehaven), Tippethill (Bathgate), and Tor-Na-Dee (Aberdeen), are jointly rejoicing, after their patch picked up the Region of the Year award at the Residential Care Services (RCS) Stars Awards.

The awards recognise individual and team excellence at more than 150 care homes nationwide, across Care UK’s RCS division. The ‘Region of the Year’ award recognises both the leadership of the Regional Director Michael Doolin and the nine award winning homes across Scotland.

The win comes just months after Murrayside, in Edinburgh, was rated ‘very good’ by the Care Inspectorate and crowned ‘Best for Nursing Care’ in the Care Home Awards 2024. Murrayside was also recently shortlisted in the ‘Management Team of the Year’ and ‘Scotland Care Home of the Year’ categories at the Caring UK Awards 2024.

Care UK’s Lauder Lodge, in Edinburgh, was also recently rated “excellent” and “very good” in two key areas—residents’ wellbeing and the team—during an unannounced inspection by the Care Inspectorate.

The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Quality Hallmark Award accreditation has also been recently awarded to Care UK’s Murrayside, Lauder Lodge, and Tor-Na-Dee, highlighting exceptional nursing care for residents in their later years of life, and support for their families.

Regional Director Michael Doolin commented on winning the award, saying: “This feels amazing – it’s all about the team. I’m so proud of the home managers – they’ve done an amazing job over the last couple of years – as well as the support teams who have played a massive part in Scotland’s journey to where we are now.”

Scotland’s Care UK homes have been specially designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. 

careuk.com/scotland

An Edinburgh clinic will become the largest private practice of its kind in Scotland with new additions to its team.

A specialist mental health clinic operating from Edinburgh’s New Town has grown its team to 13 clinicians to form the largest private practice of its kind in Scotland.

The Anchor Practice, which specialises in psychotherapy and clinical psychology, has secured the services of four highly experienced clinicians to add to its roll-call of experts.

All new appointments have trained in core CAMHS mental health professions and have spent considerable time working within NHS and public health before joining The Anchor Practice.

Co-founder Paul Bell, believes that the practice can play a key role in providing crucial mental health services, specifically psychodynamic psychotherapy (typically under-represented/hard to access in current NHS services where brief treatments are offered in a climate of cost-saving), amid major pressures on public sector services and a mental health crisis.

He said: “Currently, young people and families face a myriad of complex pressures, and mental health support is too often focused on quick fixes and box-ticking.

“This is ultimately failing patients, which is in turn seeing pressure on the health service continue to grow which only exacerbates the ongoing mental health crisis.

“Word of mouth referrals built very quickly as people who had benefitted from more in-depth psychotherapy recommended us to their own networks. We were keen not to rush to expand the clinic or change what we offer but have rather prioritised recruiting highly trained clinicians who share our vision for depth-oriented psychotherapy.

“We are now in the fortunate position to be able to welcome Dr Renata Bakker, Dr Juraj Kralik, Ms Molly Verheyden, and Mrs Pei-I Yang who all are going to bring incredible experience and expertise to our practice.

“The team share a commitment to offering robust, accessible mental health support that considers the complexities of each individual as well as the latest advances in psychotherapy research. Many of the team hold academic posts alongside their clinical work and teach on a variety of clinical training programmes.

Specialist Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists, Dr Renata Bakker and Dr Juraj Kralik, both hold doctorates from the renowned research and training organisation, The Anna Freud Centre (linked with both University College London and Yale University), and worked for many years in various NHS CAMHS services in London.

Molly Verheyden, an Art Psychotherapist and Mentalisation Based Treatment Practitioner has joined the team one day a week bringing her unique skills and experience. She also Leads the Arts Psychotherapies team in CAMHS and children’s services in a Scottish NHS Health Board.

Mrs Pei-I Yang, a specialist working with families of adolescents and holder of four master’s degrees from Scottish universities has also joined the practice. Pei-I is an accredited Family and Systemic Psychotherapist, and prior to joining the team at The Anchor Practice, she led a Multi-Systemic Therapy team providing therapeutic interventions to high complexity families and young people.

The expansion of the team follows the clinic’s move into a dedicated townhouse building in Edinburgh’s Forth Street in 2023.

This decision was taken by Paul and co-founder Dr Jo Guiney after careful consideration was given to the physical space to aid patient’s comfort and tranquility.

Paul added: “Our new colleagues bolster our expertise and allow us to expand our service offering and take on new patients. We are also able to offer support in a wide variety of languages including English, Italian, Polish, French, Czech, Slovak and Portuguese.

The Anchor Practice also aims to make high-quality mental health care accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances.

Currently, all its clinicians ring-fence time for low-fee and pro bono sessions, with further plans in place to explore other methods to reduce barriers.

It has worked in partnership with several of Edinburgh’s fee and state schools, including Cargilfield Prep School, where it provides in-house child mental health services and consultancy, and is open to working alongside other educational establishments to seek the very best outcomes for children referred to the practice.

The Anchor Practice is a multi-disciplinary clinic, offering a range of evidence-based treatments, but also specialises in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy – a well-researched treatment for a variety of common mental disorders in children and adults. Contemporary psychodynamic psychotherapy is far from the often-caricatured navel-gazing of psychoanalysis of the past – it is firmly rooted in high quality research and informed by contemporary understandings of neuroscience and developmental psychology.

Delivered by highly trained and regulated clinicians, psychodynamic therapy can provide sustained results, promoting deep, lasting change beyond symptom management.

The Scottish Government has announced that all Scottish councils will share a “record funding settlement of more than £15 billion subject to passing of the 2025-26 Budget”.

The government says that the 2025-26 Local Government Settlement includes a £289 million increase in funding to be used by councils to meet local needs and £120.5 million additional funding for pay deals. This represents a 4.7% increase to the local government budget.

The Budget has a provision for a one-off payment of £40 million to help councils respond to the climate emergency, and additional funding to support free personal care, teacher numbers and island communities.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “Our Budget is laying the foundations for Scotland’s future success, with investment to help improve the public services that people rely on.

“Local authorities provide some of the most important services to our communities – from schools to social care – which is why we’ve increased their funding by more than £1 billion compared with last year’s Budget.

“The settlement is the result of meaningful budget engagement with COSLA and Councils. While council tax decisions are a matter for individual local authorities, with record funding of over £15 billion there is no reason for big increases in Council Tax next year.

“This is a Budget that will deliver increased funding for schools, social care and other vital council services. But this funding will only reach communities if the Budget passes, so I am asking Parliament to unite behind it.”

The Scottish Parliament will debate the terms of the Scottish Budget announced by the Finance Secretary after the New Year. The government is an SNP minority administration so will need support from one or other of the other parties to get the budget terms passed. Those are likely to be the LibDems with their four MSPs, the Greens or Alba. There may have to be some changes to allow that to happen, but the three parties are not all pro-independence so it may take a bit of horse trading.

The details of the Scottish Budget are here.

The charity Bike Station is crowdfunding to help it move to new premises after what it described as a “dramatic increase” in rent at its Causewayside location.

The Bike Station is known for its work in tackling inequality and empowering grassroots communities through programmes like the Wee Bike Library and Hero Bikes, but it now needs public support as they are faced with a 158% rent increase.

The organisation is appealing for donations as they look for a new place to work from with more than £3,000 of their £10,000 target raised so far.

Sasha Taylor, Chief Executive of The Bike Station, said: “Whilst we understand the need for commercial businesses to make a profit for their shareholders, the continued rise in rental costs at our Causewayside branch have made staying in our decade-long home unsustainable.

“Grassroots charities need security of premises to be able to enrich our communities.

“We have been embedded within the community for over 20 years and whilst it will be change for our customers and supporters we are excited at the prospect of a new venture and working with landlords who value our work beyond their own gain”.

Alastair Lees, Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Bike Station, said: “Over the 20 year history of The Bike station Edinburgh we’ve had several setback but each time we’ve come back stronger and renewed in our determination to keep Edinburgh cycling and health.”

Causewayside has been home to The Bike Station’s bike refurbishing workshop as well as grassroots community programmes for many years. A user of the Wee Bike Library, just one of The Bike Station’s trailblazing initiatives, said it had a profound impact on their lives. The user said: “We have triplets and so new bikes at Christmas would have been a huge financial burden on us had it not been for Wee Bike Library. This is a fantastic service and it should continue and grow!”

Another beneficiary of The Bike Station’s work, a participant of ‘Shifting Gears’ described the impact the charity has had on their mental wellbeing. They said: “I cycle everywhere now, this bike has given me a new lease of life. Whenever I feel low I go out on my bike, which always makes me feel better.”

The Bike Station is known for its work in promoting active travel, sustainability, generational change and making Scotland’s communities more connected. The charity is asking local supporters, cyclists, and anyone who believes in grassroots change to help them find a new home and keep that mission alive.

The crowdfunding campaign is available here, where donations can be made directly to support the cause.

Hibs striker Mykola Kuharevich will miss today’s clash with Ross County.

The Ukrainian was forced off with a suspected groin injury during the first half of Hibs defeat to Celtic last weekend.

Unfortunately, further scans have revealed that the 23-year-old will be out for a number of weeks.

Head coach David Gray provided the latest update on the player at the pre match press conference on Friday.

He said: “Myko picked up a little bit of a groin issue, which we saw at the weekend which forced him off the pitch.

“Unfortunately, he will be out for a couple of weeks – it is nothing too serious, which is positive – but he will miss this game for sure.

“We have got strength and depth and players that can play in that position, so it gives someone else the opportunity to step in and play in that area.

“Apart from that, it will be a similar squad to last weekend.”

Swamplesque is a burlesque and drag parody that has captivated audiences across Australia and makes its Edinburgh debut this year.

A celebration of queer and plus-sized performers, Swamplesque ingeniously weaves the narrative of the original Shrek films into a magical spectacle that empowers and entertains.

A riotous homage to the iconic ogre and his fantastical world, Swamplesque offers a smorgasbord of performance and artistry. Audiences can expect a fusion of burlesque, drag, and comedy, all set against the backdrop of Far Far Away. This show has a celebration of body diversity at its core, with a focus on showcasing performers with a wide range of body types while sticking two green fingers up at the traditional, narrow, and often inaccessible aesthetics of burlesque.

Swamplesque is a rebellion against the proscriptive demands of traditional burlesque – which tends to highlight a single type of body, just as pre-Shrek fairytales used to highlight only one kind of handsome Prince and helpless Princess. Shrek was the original storybook anti-hero and Trigger
Happy Productions have assembled a cast of world-class performers who bring his irreverent
spirit to life while challenging stereotypes and inviting audiences to revel in their own
uniqueness.
In Australia, Swamplesque received critical acclaim and accolades, winning the prestigious Best Cabaret Weekly Awards at both the Adelaide Fringe and Perth Fringe World festivals.
Creator and Director, Ben Trigger ha enjoyed more than 15 years in the live theatre industry taking him to the helm of Swamplesque. With a background spanning drama, dance and musical theatre,
Trigger’s vision breathes life into the production, and he prides himself on presenting unique acts
that wow audiences and push boundaries.
As well as producing Swamplesque and The Stripsons
(yes…a burlesque Simpsons show), Ben is also an award-winning performer with such titles as
King of Boylesque at New Zealand Burlesque Festival & Mr Boylesque Australia 1st Runner-up.

Tickets here

Seb and Max Jellema, from south Edinburgh, have been awarded the Eric Liddell Community Hero award for charitable fund raising efforts.

Since 1 January 2023 and 2024 respectively, Seb and Max have been running 3km a day, raising money for charity.

They ran 100km throughout September as part of The Eric Liddell Community‘s Olympic Year “Flying Scots” Challenge, to raise awareness and donations for the campaign.

With family also present the brothers received their award from local MP The Rt Hon Ian Murray, who is pictured third from the left.

The tallest knitted Christmas tree stands in the Heart of Newhaven – and anyone can go and see it until 22 December.

Volunteer Pat Wilson cut the ribbon at the official opening when the Newhaven Choir sang.

The leaves were crafted by an army of knitters from all over the world
The tree has 6,257 leaves and is 17’7” high or 536cm.

A spokesperson said: “The Tree and Jeannie can be seen until 22 December when the Heart is open and if you come on a Wednesday or Saturday morning the kettle will be on.”

The Torchlight Procession is presented by the organisers, UniqueAssembly who have joined forces with EventScotland to begin the four days of Hogmanay festivities with a river of fire which will weave through Edinburgh’s streets.

On the evening torches will be carried in aid of local and national charities: One City Trust, When You Wish Upon A Star, and local charities working to end homelessness, Social Biteand Simon Community Scotland.

Around 20,000 participants will blaze a trail through the Old Town starting from The Meadows where guests will enjoy a host of entertainment from Edinburgh’s Beltane Society.

The family friendly event will welcome locals and tourists alike to a carnival atmosphere in the Meadows from 6pm with live street theatre, fire performers, pipe bands and drummers, before the procession begins at 7.30pm, with a fiery finale underneath Edinburgh Castle between 8.30pm – 9pm. 

Hibs head coach David Gray sees tomorrow’s William Hill Premiership game against Ross County as an “excellent opportunity” to move off the foot of the table. 

If the Hibees come out victorious then they will leap-frog the Staggies who currently sit 8^th in the league table. 

When speaking to Hibs TV, Gray re-iterated how important Saturday’s match is. 

“This weekend is an excellent opportunity because of the rewards for getting three points; that’s been the message this week. 

“We were very disappointed to lose the game last weekend, but when we came back in, I quickly changed the attention to Ross County and made the players aware of what they’ll face. 

“Ross County are currently 8^th, and if we win the game, at home, in front of our crowd, we have the opportunity to go above them. 

“ There’s obviously other games and results, but we can currently go above a team that’s sitting in 8^th, and that has to be the full focus and only mindset going into the game. 

“The players have been really bright in training, and they see they opportunity. It also shows the players how quickly things can change, and how a narrative can change. 

“If you strip it back, and if we get three points this weekend and you look at the last four fixtures, the points return will then be a good return. That gives you the belief and confidence to kick on from there over the Christmas period. 

“The focus is fully on Ross County and the opportunity to get three points.” 

Ross County are still looking for their first away win of the season, having lost four of their seven games on the road. 

Gray, though, believes it’ll be another difficult test. 

“We didn’t play them too long ago away from home and it was a tough night. You know the challenge you’ll face. 

“They have a lot of energy in the middle of the pitch that you have to match, and they have energy all over the pitch to be honest. You need to match their effort and endeavour. 

“Our game plan is around how we believe we can hurt them. Hopefully we can do that.” 

Watsonians and Melrose will be contesting a new trophy on Saturday, 14 December, when they meet at Myreside (kick off 3pm) in the Arnold Clark men’s rugby premiership.

As well as league points at stake will be the honour of claiming the first-ever Breadalbane Cup which will also secure £500 for the winning club’s charity, donated by Breadalbane Finance.

Breadalbane Finance, a trusted commercial finance broker and proud sponsor of both Watsonians and Melrose, has introduced the trophy to mark the teams’ second clash of the 2024-25 Premiership season. 

When the teams met earlier this season Watsonians ran out 31-5 winners in the Borders.

 If victorious again Watsonians will continue fundraising efforts for the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity,while Melrose Rugby aims to support the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in memory of rugby legend Doddie Weir who died of Motor Neurone Disease in November 2022.

 Jamie Lindsay, Managing Director at Breadalbane Finance, said: “We’re very excited and proud to launch the Breadalbane Cup, between two clubs we are very proud to support and be involved with.  The two clubs embody our values and vision, as we look to support and grow the game across the country.

We are honoured to be able to offer a charitable donation to the winning side. Along with the chance for the teams to get their hands on some silverware and lift the Breadalbane cup.”

For Watsonians the Breadalbane Cup represents an opportunity to further their 2024 mission to raise £10,000 for the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity. The club has been organising events throughout the year and is closing in on its ambitious target. The upcoming match provides another platform to rally support while playing for a cause that is important to the Watsonian community.

 Alistair Hamilton, General Manager of Watsonians, added: “We couldn’t be more excited to launch the Breadalbane Cup here at Myreside. Not only does it give the two clubs something tangible to fight for twice a season, but the added charitable donation certainly adds a new dimension to the matches.”

 Doug Crawford, General Manager,  Melrose Rugby, said: “Melrose Rugby are very grateful to have Breadalbane’s backing across the whole club and especially as the principal partner of our new Rugby Academy.

 “Breadalbane’s commitment to growing club rugby in Scotland goes above and beyond, so it’s great to be able to celebrate their support with this new trophy.”

Barrowland Ballet return to The Studio with their award-winning show – back by popular demand!

Performers from Barrowland Ballet’s The Gift enjoyed Taylor’s of Edinburgh’s Helter Skelter at East Princes Street Gardens.

The attraction is part of Edinburgh’s Christmas.

The Gift is being performed at The Studio at Festival Theatre in Edinburgh from 14-31 December.

This is a story reversing the idea that it is the wrapping paper, the cardboard boxes and ribbons that should be discarded, and reveals that playfulness, creativity and imagination are the true gifts. This beautiful production celebrates the art of play, taking ordinary objects making them extraordinary and magical. 

This festive show will ignite a playfulness, inspiring children and their families to find new games together when it’s their turn to open gifts! 

Tickets here.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal crash in Edinburgh according to police.

The incident happened on Whitehouse Road around 8.20am on Friday, 1 March, 2024 and involved a schoolboy and a bin lorry.

Emergency services attended but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man has been charged with a road traffic offence and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

He is expected to appear in court at a later date.

A West Lothian entrepreneur is planning to climb the highest mountain in Africa using a coat as a sleeping bag to help raise fund for a design that has helped hundreds of rough sleepers. 

John Keogh’s Ootsider firm was established to provide warm clothing to rough sleepers. 

He created the all-weather Ootsider – an all-weather coat sold to wild swimmers and other outdoor sports enthusiasts which can convert into a warm sleeping bag – and has now reached the milestone of donating more than 300 to charities helping people sleeping on the streets. 

And now he plans to use it to keep himself warm during an ascent of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. 

John decided to set up the Ootsider after an encounter with a rough sleeper on the rain-soaked streets of Glasgow just days before Christmas three years ago. 

Profits from the sale of the coats which sell for around £150 are ploughed into making coats to be handed over to charities. 

 John initially distributed coats he’d had made by himself. He raised money to make the initial coats through charity events like sponsored sleepouts before setting up the Oostider as a Community Interest Company. 

Outlining plans for the Kilimanjaro trip which aims to raise funds for The Ootsider brand and awareness of the issues around rough sleeping, John says the climb will be as much as about product development as fundraising. 

“I’d like to design a Kilimanjaro coat,” he said. “I want to go to Kilimanjaro and not take a sleeping bag. How possible is that? I don’t know because it’s freezing, but if someone can sleep in it on Kilimanjaro, they can sleep out in a sleeping coat.” 

The coat has been upgraded using newer, more insulating textiles since the first was made just over two years ago. The line has also expanded to include sweatshirts and Beanie hats. 

The latest donations – to an Edinburgh convent which works with rough sleepers – included the 300th coat to be handed over.  

But John is keen to develop the coat and other ideas as much as he can. He has also established links with local schools, speaking to primary and secondary pupils about rough sleeping and seeking ideas from pupils about ways which can help solve the issue. 

“We are not going to solve things overnight,” he says. “It’s about raising awareness about rough sleeping and homelessness, I’ve developed these coats but are there there any great ideas that the kids can have.  

“People rough sleeping are not bad people and it’s about raising awareness with the kids.  If we can raise awareness with them, they might be the generation who can do something more positive. I want to do more about that.” 

 You can see the work of the charity at  https://theootsider.co.uk/  

Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Images revealing the shocking state of reclaimed West Lothian council homes have been revealed amid concerns about delays bringing them back into use. 

These are the shocking scenes West Lothian housing officers have found  when they have taken back the keys to council homes. 

The pictures, taken by West Lothian housing officers, show living rooms knee deep in rubbish, a bathtub with weeds growing in it and a kitchens destroyed by ex-tenants that have vacated their home. 

Officials say more than half council homes are now left in this condition for Building Services staff to make good before they can be let to the many desperate families on the council’s waiting list. 

Local councillors branded the photographs eye-opening, while Conservative councillor Alison Adamson said they were astounding. 

“What we are looking at is criminal damage,” she said. “This is someone who has deliberately gone about wrecking a house for someone else who desperately needs it. This didn’t just happen overnight.” 

Councillors have complained for years about the length of the void times – the gap between one tenant moving out and a new one moving in – and the pictures were included in a report to explain what was causing the delay. 

The average number of days a void property takes to re-let peaked in March 2024 at 119 days as the service worked through the backlog of voids from the severe weather event of later 2022 & early 2023. 

Building Services has spent £3.7m on returning mainstream properties to   rent and £650,000 getting temporary tenancies back. 

All of the homes pictured are termed Category C – 50% of void homes are in this condition and need major refurbishment. The average cost to return these homes to a standard for relet is £10,000 per house.  

Next are category B which account for 44% of void houses. These require a spend of £3,500 to bring them up to standard. 

Only 6% of homes returned to council are Category A-requiring the minimal work – and a spend of £1,000- before they can be relet.  

Performance is now showing an improved trend – October was up due to a number of longer-term voids being let – and it is expect this to continue throughout the remainder of this year with the number of days taken to return a property to let around 60. 

Grant Taylor, Building Services Manager told a recent meeting of West Lothian Council’s Housing Services PDSP that at the end of November Building Services had completed refurbishment 1,143 mainstream and temporary tenancy homes in the 24/25 financial year- an average of 33 a week.  

Of those 990 have now been let. Building Services received 936 new voids during the same period to 30 November. 

Bathgate saw the highest number of voids returned to let with 179 followed by Whitburn (168) Armadale (142) and the Breich Valley (137). 

Mr Taylor told the meeting: “It’s averaging just over £10,000 for the council to return and repair a category C property. That £10,000 per house also puts pressure on the housing revenue account. 

“You can see the amount of additional work and in some instances these properties go out to an external company to come in and do the basic cleaning and removal. This is one of the major reasons that we have not been getting properties returned within the previous timescales.” 

“We are working hard to try to overcome these issues.” 

Labour’s Tony Boyle asked if it was down to mental health  or anti-social behaviour issues. 

Alison Smith, Housing Management &. Community Safety Manager said that Housing Officers could face difficulties getting access to homes and that some tenants did face mental health or addiction issues. Some tenants just destroyed property. She said it could happen within weeks that tenants let properties go into disrepair. 

Chairing the panel Councillor George Paul paid tribute to the work of front-line staff for their work. 

And  Councillor Adamson said: “I can only sympathise with the staff who have to deal with this on a day-to-day basis. It shows the sort of pressures that everyone is under in the whole housing situation. It must be extremely depressing. I can only say thank you for the work that you do.  I really hope we can make some inroads into this.” 

A new team has been formed in the housing department which aims to speed up the void process. 

Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Plain clothes officers were out in the Old Town again this week as part of Police Scotland’s ongoing efforts to tackle drug activity.  

A further two males were arrested and charged with organised drug activity offences, a search warrant was executed at an address in north Edinburgh, where an amount of substances and other items were seized as part of the enquiry.  

Officers have now arrested ten people over the festive period for involvement in organised drug activity around the High Street vicinity of Edinburgh; substances, cash and other items have been seized.  

Members of the public have been thanked for their support. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We thank the public for your support and will, of course, continue to act on your information using both high visibility and plain clothes officers.  

“Remember you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.” 

Social Bite founder, Josh Littlejohn, MBE, and Danny Campbell from HOKO designs, presenter and judge on Scotland’s Homes of the Year, were at The Pitt on Thursday evening to talk about the Social Bite village projects, and demonstrate a VR Social Bite village as designed by HOKO.

Josh Littlejohn said: “It was great to welcome donors and supporters to The Pitt last night and share the village model with them. HOKO Design’s 360 VR experience really brings the village concept to life. It helps to capture imaginations and illustrate our vision in a way that hasn’t been possible for Social Bite before.

“The accessibility of a VR experience means that wherever Social Bite’s supporters are, they can take part in a village walkthrough and feel inspired by the possibilities of what a donation to the project could create. It’s an invaluable tool for building support whilst also building the villages, and we’re so grateful to HOKO for all the work they put into creating the simulation.”

Danny Campbell said: “Everyone deserves a home, but moreover, everyone deserves a home which is safe, warm, and built for purpose. The Social Bite Villages and Nest Houses are exactly that -they have been built with the people who will live in them in mind, offering each person a sanctuary of their own within a community that isn’t just functional but designed to help people thrive. 

“Working with Social Bite to create a Virtual Reality model showcasing the vision for the Social Bite Villages has been an honour. The care, attention to detail, and high level of quality of these villages will go a long way in providing people experiencing homelessness with a home and a community they can be proud of, contribute to, and that will help them break the cycle of homelessness.”

The Pitt is Edinburgh’s newest community, enterprise and social hub. It is more than twice the size of its previous location on Pitt Street and features a permanent global street food market, retail units, a large and heated indoor seating plaza, family and community spaces, two permanent saunas from Soul Water Sauna and a 700 capacity events space all from a spectacular location on the Firth of Forth. 

For a relaxing weekend away from the Christmas buzz, a week’s holiday in a friendly comfortable setting, or just an extended lunch and a tranquil day out, the Karma Lake of Menteith Hotel has everything covered.

The hotel is situated in the Trossachs National Park, easily accessible from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and there is lots to see and do. 

ACCOMMODATION

The first impressions on approach are of an unassuming country house, but upon entering a pleasant surprise awaits. There is a welcoming reception with exceptionally warm and knowledgeable staff who do everything they can to set you up for an enjoyable visit. There could be room for confusion over where the main entrance of the car park is, but when you get there it is spacious and also has several electric charging points. 

The Karma Group work on a points system and you can use them in any of their hotels. For £2,995, guests can enjoy three weeks accommodation over a three year period in any Karma Group hotel, or in certain participating Marriott Group hotels. All of their properties offer different individual experiences, which is in keeping with the ethos of the company. 

The rooms are clean and well maintained, decorated in Scottish country house style, with lovely touches. For example, the coffee and tea facilities offer Tunnock’s Teacakes and Caramel Wafers. All prices vary depending on the room chosen and the facilities you pick for non-members. 

The hotel is also dog friendly with comfortable dog beds and treats provided for your pooch. The only area off limits for dogs is the main restaurant, but otherwise they are welcome in the cosy bar in front of a roaring open fire. 

FOOD AND DRINK

Visitors to the hotel are spoiled for choice with three separate menus, all of which are available in both the restaurant and in the bar. The bar menu has everything one would expect from soup to burgers, and fish and chips. The main menu focuses on local produce wherever possible and there is a menu developed by the Head Chef who learned his skills at the original Karma group venue in India. It is possible to mix and match from all three menus wherever guests choose to dine.

The wine list is extensive with a selection of wine either by the glass or bottle. For whisky lovers the whisky vault offers 138 whiskies, and tastings for wine or whisky can be arranged. The Karma Group also have their own wines, whisky and gins which are inspired and produced from their properties across the globe. A wide range of well-known Scottish brands are available for those looking for something more familiar. 

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Each room has a detailed directory for guests with all the information about holding events and activities at Karma Lake of Menteith. For the newly engaged looking for an intimate wedding venue this could be the right place. There is a church beside the hotel for the ceremony and the bridal couple and their guests can have exclusive use of all the facilities.

At Christmas there is a “12 days of Karma” experience, which includes a host of daily events with a traditional ceilidh and fireworks at Hogmanay. Be quick to secure a booking to attend Christmas and New Year 2025, as this year’s event already sold out on 7 January 2024.

There is a trout fishery immediately adjacent to the hotel where there are boats for hire for fishing or pottering around the lake. Lessons can also be arranged for those who are not seasoned anglers. Alternatively, if guest prefer to have someone else take the helm, Historic Environment Scotland run ferry trips to Inchmahome Priory on an island in the middle of the lake during high season. 

There are nature and dog walking trails nearby, or for the more adventurous there is hill climbing in the area. 

With community at the centre of Karma’s ethos, locals are involved in activities around the hotel including a wild swimming group and evenings with music by a local band on the last Friday of every month. A local artist offers seasonal painting classes and a local florist leads wreath making classes.

There is a games room on site with pool table, dart board, a variety of board games, and a record player with a selection of vintage LPs. The hotel also has a small library and outside seating/barbecues for use during the better weather. 

THE FUTURE

There are plans to have yoga classes on the lawn in the spring and summer season, and negotiations are underway for a sauna and a couple of hot tubs on the property. It is hoped that part of the adjacent church may also be used as a community space.

Whatever guests want to do with their free time, the Karma Lake of Menteith hotel has something to appeal to everyone.

It is a commonly held belief that there are more statues of animals in Edinburgh than of named women. The jury is out on that and it may well change in time, but looking back at the history of the city there are some notable women.

 As the city celebrates the 900 years since it became a royal burgh, a consortium of Scottish digital and visual talent are working hard to shine a light on the lesser-known stories of some of these trailblazing women.

Castle of Light, a collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland, is at the heart of Edinburgh’s Christmas festivities for a fifth fantastic year, and this time promises to tell the stories of Edinburgh’s tenacious women with all-new storytelling projections.

The light show spans the 12th to 21st century, and includes the stories of eight inspiring women, with connections to Edinburgh, that you can expect to meet throughout Edinburgh Castle’s after-dark walking trail.

 Marie Maitland

Marie Maitland is the brave writer behind some of the first lesbian poetry on record. Her works appear anonymously among a manuscript of other poems she compiled, telling us – in Scots language – about her life and love as a lesbian woman in the 1500s.

She continues to inspire queer poets today, and her poetry has recently formed part of the world-first launch of LGBT inclusive education in Scotland in 2021.

Mary Sommerville

Scottish science pioneer Mary Sommerville was born back in 1780, and you may recognise her from the Royal Bank of Scotland £10 note. She predicted the existence of the planet Neptune, and her work formed the backbone of the first science curriculum at Cambridge.

A true force to be reckoned with, as a kid she refused to eat sugar to protest slavery and was the first person to sign John Stuart Mills’ unsuccessful petition for votes for women.

Queen Margaret

Fondly referred to as the ‘Pearl of Scotland’, Queen Margaret arrived in Scotland by accident, but went on to fund a ferry service for pilgrims across the Firth of Forth, giving North and South Queensferry their names. Deeply religious, she carried out many charitable acts and, after passing away in Edinburgh Castle, she was canonised as a saint.

Edinburgh’s oldest building, St Margaret’s Chapel, which sits within the walls of Edinburgh Castle, is named after her and now happens to be looked after by a group of women – all named Margaret!

Isabella Bird

An explorer, naturalist and photographer, Isabella Bird wrote eighteen books about her adventures in the 1800s, the most famous being ‘A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains’. Brilliantly outspoken, she co-founded a hospital in modern-day Kashmir and was the first woman elected as a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

She died in her Melville Street home in her 70s, with a suitcase packed ready for her next roundtrip.

Sophia Jex-Blake

Sophia Jex-Blake was one the ‘Edinburgh Seven’ – a collective of the first women ever enrolled at a British university, studying medicine at Edinburgh in 1869. Male students rioted when the group sat their medical exams, and Sophia’s degree from Edinburgh wasn’t officially awarded until 150 years later. 

But that didn’t stop Dr Jex-Blake from founding a small hospital offering low-cost care to poor women and children, and later establishing the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women.

Nannie Brown

There was no shortage of suffragists and suffragettes in Scotland. Nannie Brown, born at 125 Princes Street to a father who was himself sympathetic to suffrage, was a mighty figure within the movement, organising a historic march from Edinburgh to London in 1912.

Beyond this, Brown was an active participant in and promoter of amateur dramatics in Edinburgh, writing several stories, lectures and plays.

Elizabeth Wiskemann

Elizabeth Winkelmann spent World War 2 working in the media, while secretly gathering intelligence. When Britain learned that Hungarian Jewish people were being deported to concentration camps, she insisted that the allies bomb the railway, but they refused.

So, she sent an unencrypted telegram containing the addresses of Hungarian officials, leading to house raids that put a sudden stop to the deportations.

Dr Kesaveloo Goonam

Kesavaloo was a South African doctor and anti-apartheid activist who graduated from Edinburgh in 1936. Ten years later, in South Africa, she became one of the founders of the Passive Resistance Campaign against racism, having faced discrimination denying her entry to hospital jobs.

She also stood up for the rights of women and will forever be remembered as ‘the first Black woman doctor and freedom fighter’.

Castle of Light is taking place at Edinburgh Castle until Saturday 4 January 2025, packed with immersive installations to guide you through Edinburgh’s colourful history.

Ticketed entry slots will run every 15 minutes between 4.30pm and 7.30pm each evening, with last entry between 7.30pm and 7.45pm. The event closes at 9pm. Concession rates, family tickets and discounts for Historic Scotland members are also available.

For more information and to get your tickets, visit www.CastleofLight.scot. Advance booking is required.

Scotland have been drawn into Group C for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. 

The draw took place in Zurich this morning, with Scotland drawn into a four-team group alongside Greece, Belarus and the defeated side in the UEFA Nations League Quarter-Final between Portugal and Denmark. 

As Scotland are in a four-team group, the qualifiers will begin in September, with all group matches concluding in November 2025.  

The fixture and ticket information will follow in due course. 

Scotland Men’s National Team Head Coach Steve Clarke: “I always just take the draw as it comes and I’m not one to overthink it but there’s lot of interesting matches. We know the Pot 1 game is going to be difficult but I think we’ve shown over the past few games that we can handle teams at that level.  

“Looking at Denmark, that victory at Hampden in 2021 was a memorable night. We lost in Denmark and we then won by the same scoreline so we know what to expect from them. 

“Obviously we played Portugal recently in the Nations League matches. We did well to get a point off them at Hampden and we played well over there. 

“We will now play Greece four times in 2025 so we’ll get to know them very well and the March games now take on a slightly different meaning, with both teams having a close look at each other ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. 

“It’s funny how it happens that you don’t play a team for so long, then you end up playing them a number of times. It’s just one of the quirks of the draw. We know they will be good games. Greece went to Wembley and won – not many teams do that. We respect them a lot but we look forward to the games. 

“Belarus is a team we’re not quite as familiar with but by the time we play them they will be a team we make sure we know everything about. For me it’s about getting to know their players, getting to know their tactics and hopefully we can take the points that we require. 

“When I spoke after the tournament in the summer, I said that one of my main remaining ambitions is to go to a World Cup with my country. These qualifying games give me an opportunity to do that and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got and I’m sure my players will do the same. 

“We’ve played teams at the highest level recently and we’ve seen that we have to be right at the top of our game to get points from them. It was a difficult year but we finished it well. We showed that we can compete against the top teams and that’s what we will have to do if we want to get to the World Cup 

“The fact we have already seen so many supporters renewing their memberships, it shows that the supporters buy-in to this team and what we’re trying to achieve. 

“The players are desperate to do well for their country and I think the supporters appreciate that. We want the supporters to be involved as much as possible because we saw in Germany that when the Tartan Army are in full voice, they are a force to be reckoned with. 

“1998 was a long time ago and when it comes to World Cups, there’s no extra motivation required. The squad is full of players who want to go to the World Cup so now is the time to do it.” 

Since The Scottish Government changed the law in 2014, there have been more than 10,000 weddings in first decade of same sex marriage.

Scotland’s Registrar General today congratulated the same-sex couples who will be celebrating their tenth anniversary later this month. 

After the legislation was introduced the first ceremonies took place at the end of December that year. We interviewed some couples down in Leith just ahead of the legislative change.

Between then and the end of September this year 10,138 couples have gone on to marry.

Registrar General Alison Byrne is Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland. She said: “I’m delighted to send congratulations to the couples who are shortly to celebrate their 10^th anniversaries having been among the first to marry under the new law.

“These figures show how the collection and analysis of routine statistics allows us to tell the ever-changing story of Scotland’s people.”

Analysis of the figures up to the end of September this year shows that same-sex marriages have taken place in all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities. 

The council area with the highest number was Edinburgh with 1,853. Glasgow came second with 1,402, while Dumfries and Galloway came third with  1,379 thanks to the attraction of Gretna Green. July, August and September topped the tables as the most popular months for a wedding.

Fixing our roads and pavements and making them safer for all.

In my experience as a local politician the overriding issue that comes up time and again on the doorstep is the condition of our roads. This was also reflected earlier this year in Phase One of our Budget Engagement where over half of respondents flagged roads as a key issue.

This is an area that we have committed increased funding to in successive budgets, with £11million in 2023/24 and £12.5million in 2024/25. I am delighted to say that we are now seeing the results of this investment. 

The Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey (SRMCS) is an independent survey carried out on behalf of all 32 Scottish local authorities. This survey provides all councils with their Road Condition Indicator (RCI) which signifies the percentage of roads that should be considered for investment.  

Edinburgh’s latest RCI for 2024 is 29.8% which showed a 4.5% positive shift when compared with 2023’s figure of 34.3%. This represents the largest single year improvement on record for our city in the survey’s history.  

The greatest improvement in road condition came in our unclassified roads network, which are mainly made up of residential streets. The increased funding we have put in place has allowed us to significantly increase preventative treatments to combat road deterioration. This is in conjunction with record levels of surfacing – and over 400,000 square metres laid down this year. 

Alongside residential streets we have also undertaken major resurfacing and placemaking works on London Road, Lasswade Road, Burdiehouse Road at Kaimes, Niddrie Mains Road along with the A1, A8 and A90 carriageways. Patching improvements are another important area of work and we have been using the “Pothole Pro” to great effect. We are also continuing with record investment in pavement renewals, incorporating new prioritisation weightings so that our work is targeted in the areas of the city which need it most.

Whilst this improvement in road and pavement condition is welcome news, I am acutely aware that there is still a large percentage of our network that requires attention. We are just getting started with this work and we will continue to invest in improvements across the network.

We are committed to fixing our roads and pavements and making them as safe as possible for all road users. I am glad that the Transport and Environment Committee approved two reports on Thursday on reducing speed limits for vehicles across the city. 

Managing vehicle speeds on our roads is important to make sure our communities are able to travel safely. Speed limits on all of our urban 40mph roads will be reduced to 30mph over the spring and summer next year and Thursday’s decision will add over sixty more 20mph streets to the network. The evidence on traffic calming and reducing speeds is clear in terms of reducing collisions, deaths, and serious injuries. Since the roll-out of the original 20mph network in March 2018 to 2022, there was a reduction of over 30% in both collisions and casualties in the 36 months following the rollout compared to the 36 months before. Every collision avoided is a positive achievement. 

As a councillor for one of the more rural wards in our city I am conscious that blanket national speed limit restrictions often do not recognise the nuances of roads in these areas. I am proud that this has been addressed by reducing speed limits in a number of areas. We have consulted with colleagues at Police Scotland on these measures and have their support, as well as with West Lothian Council on the roads which border their local authority. Again, there is an undeniable link between the speed at which incidents and collisions take place and the likelihood of injury or death. I am confident that these measures will have a positive impact in terms of road user safety once they are implemented. 

Fundamentally, having a better maintained and safer network creates an environment which supports sustainable travel choices for all. Whether you prefer to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport, we all stand to benefit from these measures, and this is reflected in the wider evidence around traffic calming and speed reduction. This in turn contributes to our wider climate goals and obligations which we will continue to take forward.  

I am clear that we will continue to do everything within our power to make Edinburgh as safe, sustainable and accessible a city as we can. 

Councillor Stephen Jenkinson is a member of the Labour administration and is Transport and Environment Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council.

Leading expert to lead major acting programme.

Scotland’s leading performing arts institute is set to reach new heights after announcing the appointment of a leading dynamic acting specialist to oversee one of the nation’s most dynamic acting programmes.

The Scottish Institute’s (The SI) acting programme is set to enter an exciting new phase under the leadership of Will Cowell as its new Head of Acting.

With extensive experience in directing, acting and creating original work, Will, brings invaluable professional and educational expertise from prominent institutions such as Performers College Birmingham and LIPA College (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts).

Known for combining a strong academic foundation with real-world expertise, the programme is focused on equipping students with the tools they need to succeed in a competitive industry.

Will said: “This programme offers a unique blend of practical training and creative freedom, which is essential for the educational development of aspiring actors and actresses.

“I’m excited to bring together my skills and industry experience to enhance the program and help prepare our students to excel in their careers.

“I was drawn to The Scottish Institute because of its incredible focus on creativity, strong industry connections, and top-notch facilities—it was, without question, the perfect fit for me.

“The institution and I share the same passion for innovation in actor training and I’m eager to get to work with our talented students and staff.”

The acting programme at The SI offers students access to top-tier training, including performance opportunities at Howden Park Theatre and in professional-grade studios.

Staffed by experienced industry professionals, the programme ensures students receive mentorship that reflects the realities of the performing arts world.

Mark Langley, Principal of The Scottish Institute, said: “Will is an immensely experienced and talented individual who is going to bring an incredible amount of value to our students, ensuring that they are well prepared to start their careers.

“This is an exciting time for us, and we are incredibly fortunate to have world class professionals guiding our students, ensuring they graduate with the skills and confidence to succeed in their chosen paths.”

With ambitious plans to expand enrolment and elevate the programme’s profile, The Scottish Institute continues to strengthen its position as a leader in performing arts education.

The Scottish Institute (formerly the MGA Academy) is Scotland’s only fully Council of Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT) accredited performing arts institution, also holding accreditations from Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), and Imperial Society for the Teachers of Dance (ISTD).

For more information about The Scottish Institute, visit: https://www.thesi.co.uk/

Hearts travel to Kilmarnock on Sunday (kick-off 15.00) in the William Hill Premiership looking to shake off their Euro blues after suffering their third straight defeat in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Yes, Copenhagen were awarded a controversial penalty kick in the second-half which put the Conference League clash out of sight for the Jambos at 2-0, but the Tynecastle team failed to retain possession and lacked punch up-front against a quality outfit who dominated.

Amin Chiakha after 48 minutes and a Kevin Diks penalty in 78 minutes secured the deserved win for the Danish side in front of a crowd of 24,207, including around 3,000 fans from Scotland.

Hearts hopes now rest on Thursday’s final league-stage match against Moldovan combine, Petrocub, at Tynecastle (20.00) and they lost 1-0 at home to Real Betis in the same competition on Thursday.

Neil Critchley has a big job to prepare his side for the trip to Kilmarnock and the head coach was frustrated at the penalty award but admitted to Hearts TV: “It was a very difficult game for us.

“They proved that this was our toughest game. They were very good opposition. They are good at playing around you and through you.

“We tried to take the game to them and we kept going to the end. At 1-0 you are still in the game. They were the better team and deserved to win but a poor decision has taken away a chance for us to have a real go at the end of the game.

“You have to hold your hands up sometimes and say the better team won. They played the game at a different level. They had enough answers.”

Craig Gordon, Hearts’ goalkeeper, told BBC Sport Scotland he was frustrated at the penalty award but stressed: “We have to take it one game at a time and we’ll head down to Kilmarnock trying to win the game and then look forward to an all-of-nothing game (against Petrocub) at Tynecastle next Thursday.”

Frankie Kent was helped off the pitch in the first half forcing Hearts to reshuffle their back division and Critchley said he was feeling his quad but it was too early to say how bad the injury is.

Looking at the Kilmarnock fixture, Critchley admitted: “They will be rubbing their hands together that we played on Thursday, but it is always a tough place to go to. We can’t dwell on this game. Kilmarnock is the game and we have to be ready.”  

Youth organisation launches new inclusive and accessible mental health support.

An Edinburgh-based youth mental health charity has unveiled an ambitious new strategy designed to create meaningful and accessible support spaces for young people across the city.

U-evolve, which has supported over 200 young people aged 11-21 each year since 2015, is marking a pivotal moment in its mission with the launch of its comprehensive 2025-2028 strategy.

The charity offers tailored services such as mental health coaching, counselling, art therapy, drop-in sessions, and specialised workshops, breaking down traditional barriers to mental health support. The new strategy focuses on creating both physical and metaphorical spaces where young people can feel supported and empowered to take control of their mental well-being.

Earlier this year, the charity made the move to Norton Park, Edinburgh’s first office complex dedicated to charities and social enterprises, operating from the carefully restored Victorian school building.

Susie McIntyre, Chief Executive of U-evolve, said: “Our new strategy is about creating space – both physical and metaphorical – where young people can feel genuinely supported and empowered to take control of their mental health.

“Our move to Norton Park provides the ideal foundation for this transformative approach. The environment here inspires collaboration and innovation, enabling us to focus our resources and energy where they’re needed most- supporting the young people of Edinburgh.”

With a strong emphasis on listening to young people and involving them in decision-making, the strategy reflects a commitment to inclusivity, kindness, and continuous learning.

Part of this is done through Young Voices, a focus group centred around listening to the issues that matter to young people.

A young person benefitting from U-evolve’s work said: “I think Young Voices helps U-evolve realise the struggles that young people have today with Mental Health.

“Being a part of Young Voices Team, has improved my confidence and especially around talking about mental health. It has helped me reflect and look at some problems that other young people have that I would not think of otherwise.”

The charity’s move to Norton Park symbolises a new chapter of growth and innovation. By reducing operational costs, U-evolve can invest more resources directly into supporting young people’s mental health and is now better positioned to extend its critical mental health services with renewed momentum.

Keith Robertson, CEO of Norton Park said:  “We’re proud to provide a professional home that enables organisations like U-evolve to focus entirely on their crucial mission. This strategy demonstrates the potential of charities when given the right support and environment.”

u-evolve.org