Around the Town: Salmond hails Reformation's learning boost

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond has hailed the educational benefits of the Reformation as vital to Scotland's development.

Addressing a conference at the Storytelling Centre in the Royal Mile to mark the 450th anniversary of Scotland's official conversion to Protestantism, he said: "The educational climate established by the Reformation has been vital to the development of the society we know today."

Web safety is a click away

AN information session for parents on internet safety and how to deal with online and text messaging is to be held in Wester Hailes Library.

On Saturday, November 13, from 10am to noon, parents can learn about cyber bullying and meet a police expert to find out how to protect their children.

Garden gurus are cut above

GARDENING gurus will be on hand to offer tips of the trade as part of an event at a city library.

The session, which is being held at Oxgangs Library from 2pm to 4pm on Tuesday, will see gardeners given help on how to look after houseplants.

Anyone interested in attending should call 0131-529 5550.

Bag a place on park clean-up

FAMILIES and volunteers are being invited to help with a community clean-up this weekend.

The litter pick and bulb planting day takes place in Almond Park, Craigshill, from 10am to noon tomorrow.

The event is open to all.

Women's support centre receives makeover

A SUPPORT centre for women in the city has been revamped thanks to voluntary work by a local real estate firm.

BNP Paribas staff decorated the Link-Up Women's Support Centre in Lochend.

The kitchen was given a facelift while a storage unit for the centre, which offers alternative therapies and counselling for females, was built.

Mark England, chief executive of BNP Paribas Real Estate, said: "It is essential that charitable giving and business involvement in the community continues."

The Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP) is hosting a concert on Saturday to celebrate recovery.

People in recovery, family and friends are invited to attend. The concert will run from 4pm until 9.30pm at Barclay Viewforth Church Centre in Bruntsfield.

Dr David McCartney, clinical lead for LEAP, said: "The concert will bring together the recovery community in Edinburgh and mark the amazing achievements people make."