Edinburgh travels together for the counter demo in Glasgow - Saturday 12th September

Everybody to Kenmure Street, Free Film Screening - Wednesday 16th September

The Edinburgh Local Association of the EIS has organised a free screening of the documentary film Everybody To Kenmure Street, directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra. Special Q&A with the director to follow the film. 

The screening will take place at 5.30pm on Wednesday 16^th September 2026 in the Theatre at James Gillespie’s High School. To secure a maximum of 6 seats for any individual booking, simply register with this Eventbrite link here. 

Synopsis

In May 2021, a UK Home Office dawn raid triggers one of the most spontaneous and successful acts of civil resistance in recent memory. In Pollokshields, Scotland’s most diverse neighbourhood, hundreds of residents rush to the streets to stop the deportation of their neighbours.

Awards

Winner: Sundance World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Civil Resistance

Reviews

“This is a film that will have you punching the air”

— ★★★★★ The Herald

“A spirited and imperative portrait of collective action… a crucial documentary”

— RogerEbert.com

“It’s a morale boosting film”

— ★★★★ The Guardian

“Incredibly energising… Bustos Sierra carefully captures and pays tribute to everyday people coming together to put that power back where it belongs”

— Variety

“Sierra makes visual the power of the people”

— ★★★★ Loud and Clear

“A love letter to peaceful protest… a powerful testimony to a community’s ability to take control of their part of the story”

— Screen International

Edinburgh & Lothians SUTR Counter Demo - Saturday 26th September

The racist and fascist 'Unite the Clans' is planning to bring its hate to the French Consulate in Edinburgh on Saturday  26th September. They say France should be held accountable for "taking our money" and "letting the boats flood in".

UTC is not some peaceful protest organisation. It is seeking to build a street movement opposed to migrant, LGBT+, women's and Palestinian rights. Prominent figures within the group have previously voiced support for Hitler. At a UTC rally in Glasgow in July a section of their protest went on a violent rampage through the city, seeking to physically and verbally attack migrants and black people.

Stand Up to Racism will not let UTC go unopposed. We have called a counter demo assembling 11am, West Parliament Square, St Giles Cathedral.

We urge anti-racists, trade unionists, Palestine activists, community groups, migrant groups and others to join our demonstration to show that:

•⁠  ⁠Edinburgh won't tolerate hate;

•⁠  ⁠Refugees are welcome here;

•⁠  ⁠No one is illegal; and

•⁠  ⁠we won't let the racists divide us.

Bring banners and placards.

POHA Mentorship Programme

The POHA mentorship programme is currently looking for volunteers in several areas and would be grateful if you would consider getting involved.

1. Volunteer Mentors

The restrictions placed on their education mean most Afghan women do not have personalised support when they are stuck on a problem or want help understanding concepts. This is the problem we are working to address.

We are seeking mentors who can support university-level Afghan women in one of the following areas:

• • Subject-Specific Mentors foster their mentee’s interest in their chosen subject by working together initially to create a tailored learning roadmap. Regular meetings are then used for mentees to ask questions about assigned materials, discuss the subject more broadly, and refine the roadmap as her interests and goals develop.

  • English Teaching Mentors support our mentees in developing their listening and speaking skills through conversational practice during regular meetings, and provide reading and writing assignments to help support their learning.

Scholarship Support Mentors to support our mentees in finding scholarship opportunities abroad, providing guidance on application practices and reviewing their CVs and applications.

Mentors are expected to meet with their mentee once per week for a one-hour Zoom session. Current undergraduate students or individuals beyond the undergraduate level (graduates, Masters, PhD, professors), with strong demonstrable subject knowledge, are eligible for this volunteer role.

Mentor Application Form:
 POHA Mentorship Program Application Form – Fill in form

2. Resource Contributors

We are also building a collection of freely available educational resources that can benefit Afghan women seeking to learn new skills or access new opportunities.

We invite volunteers to contribute resources such as:

• • Free or open-access textbooks

  • Educational websites and articles

  • Video lectures or tutorials (eg. YouTube)

  • Free online courses (Coursera, edX, etc.)

  • Revision guides, study notes, or practice materials (non-university content)

  • Case studies, examples, or practice questions

  • Useful learning tools and platforms

Contributions can be submitted through the following resources:

• • Technology Resources

  • English Learning Resources

  • Scholarship Application Resources

  • Business Resources

Certificate of contribution is provided to all mentor volunteers.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could consider getting involved with us! Every mentor, instructor, and contributor helps us expand access to education and create meaningful opportunities for women.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like any additional information about POHA or these volunteering opportunities. Just email pohaprocess@outlook.com 

Living Rent - Sign the Petition on Rent Freeze!

Last week, Living Rent, along with trade union leaders across the country sent an open letter to Shirely Anne Sommerville, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing calling on her to introduce a rent freeze.

Rising rents are deepening poverty and inequality, putting pressure on health and social care and education services, increasing homelessness, and forcing more households into an increasingly unaffordable private rented sector.

In October last year the government passed the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 which gave local authorities powers to introduce rent control areas that limit rent increases to inflation plus 1% up to a maximum of 6%. But it will likely be 2028  before local authorities are able to implement them. In the meantime, landlords have every incentive to push rents up as far and as fast as they can. 

We’ve been here before. Four years ago, the Scottish Government introduced an emergency rent freeze to stop tenants being priced out of their homes. With the cost of living once again soaring, when parliament returns from their summer recess the Scottish Government should act now and introduce another rent freeze - with no loopholes or exemptions - until rent control areas are implemented. Tenants can’t afford to wait.

Ceilidh for Cuba - 9th October 

UNISON Scotland Young Members have organised a Ceilidh for Cuba on the 9th October in the QM, Glasgow. Proceeds raised are going towards a Unison container for Cuba. It looks to be a fantastic night!

It’s a big venue so please share widely - 18+ but otherwise all welcome. 

Tickets here: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/38725/ceilidh-for-cuba