"But we have no slaves in Scotland..."
With these words, over 330 years ago, the Court of Session in Edinburgh rejected slavery...
But slavery still survives
around the world, even in Scotland.

Welcome to the website of the Tumbling Lassie Committee - we exist to raise awareness and funds for charities
fighting
against modern slavery and people trafficking and to help survivors in Scotland and beyond.

If you agree with us that slavery should belong only in the history books, please help us to support charities
 that are working to make that a reality.
2022-2023 PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED!

Forthcoming events:

Saturday 28th October 2023

in the morning -

Tumbling Lassie Seminar, Mackenzie Building, High Street, Edinburgh
A half-day seminar on topics related to the past, present and future of slavery and people trafficking in Scotland and elsewhere, chaired by Eric Robertson, A-D

in the evening -

The Fifth Tumbling Lassie Ball, Prestonfield House, Edinburgh

BALL TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

Tickets to the next Tumbling Lassie Ball, the largest anti-trafficking fundraising event in Scotland,  are now available. This year's theme is a black and gold masquerade. The ticket price includes a drinks reception (kindly sponsored by the Faculty of Advocates) featuring the famous "1687" cocktail, a three course dinner with wine, dancing and live entertainment.
Tickets are £95 per person, with a limited number of discounted tickets available for trainee solicitors and those under 5 years' PQE, at the price of £75 per person.


Tickets can be bought on Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-tumbling-lassie-ball-2023-tickets-601594464237?utm_campaign=post_...

Alternatively, if you would prefer to pay by cheque, please email us at tumblinglassie@gmail.com with your name and contact details and the number of tickets you require.



The first Tumbling Lassie event since the arrival of Covid-19, the performance of the operettas Dandie Dinmont andThe Tumbling Lassie at the Queen's Hall on Sunday 10th April 2022, raised over £1,000 by way of donations from a generous and enthusiastic audience.  Those donations have already been forwarded to our charities. We record here our thanks to Alexander McCall Smith, Tom Cunningham and the performance team who arranged for this excellent production to take place at no cost to the appeal. For a review go to: https://theqr.co.uk/2022/04/11/the-tumbling-lassie-dandie-dinmont-queens-hall-edinburgh/

On Thursday 15th December 2022, we were delighted to host a seminar at the Mackenzie Building, High Street, Edinburgh (by kind permission of, and generously supported by, the Faculty of Advocates), which was addressed by  the Solicitor General for Scotland, Ruth Charteris KC under the title "So we have no slaves in Scotland?"
The Scottish criminal justice system regularly encounters situations where accused persons may have been trafficked and/or forced into criminality. The Solicitor General's address discussed the Crown's response to these complex circumstances and the relative Lord Advocate's Instructions.
The event was followed by a reception with mulled wine and mince pies - a first opportunity for Tumbling Lassie supporters to meet together for more than two years...
The generous donations given on the evening will be forwarded to our charities, to support their essential work.


On the evening of Wednesday 15th February 2023, at the kind invitation of the Colinton Literary Society,  Alan McLean KC, Chair of the Tumbling Lassie Committee  gave a talk on "The Tumbling Lassie case - its context and its modern resonances". The talk was followed by a stimulating Q&A session with the large audience. Generous cash donations given on the evening will be forwarded to our charities.



On Thursday 23rd March 2023, in conjunction with the Scottish Young Lawyers Association, we held an event at the Mackenzie Building entitled  "BUT WE HAVE NO SLAVES IN SCOTLAND...", when Alan delivered his illustrated talk on
the Tumbling Lassie case, its modern resonances and its inspiration of the appeal. The talk was followed by a reception with refreshments. A good and social evening produced many volunteers keen to get involved with the work of the appeal.



To donate to the Tumbling Lassie appeal, with the possibility of gift aid, contact us by the methods mentioned below or go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thetumblinglassie.