The NEN – North Edinburgh News – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Police launch Operation Summer City

Police in Edinburgh have launched their annual policing campaign to keep members of the public safe throughout the International Festival and Fringe.

Operation Summer City 2026 will provide a high-visibility police presence within the city-centre between 7 and 31 August, with the Capital’s population expected to double to around one million people during this time.

Local officers from Edinburgh, in particular, the division’s new City Centre Policing Unit, will be supported by colleagues from neighbouring local policing divisions, as well as officers from specialist and national departments, including Road Policing, Intelligence, CID and Public Order.

Police Scotland’s Special Constables will also be deployed throughout the month to support full-time colleagues, while PSYV teams will also undertake various engagement activities and share useful crime prevention and personal safety information with members of the public.

In addition to police undertaking reassurance patrols and responding to any incidents that may arise, a number of Project Servator deployments will take place.

Project Servator is a policing tactic that aims to reassure the public. It targets criminal activity, including terrorism.

Officers utilise a range of resources and also make use of various technology including CCTV cameras and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR). They will speak to people and local businesses to let them know what they are doing, remind them to be vigilant, trust their instincts and report any suspicious or unusual behaviour.

For the duration of the Festival and Fringe Edinburgh Division’s Facebook and X channels will be utilised to provide those who live, work and visit the city centre with useful information on staying safe, as well as giving an update as to the activity officers are involved in.

Superintendent Kathryn Fairfield, Gold Commander for Operation Summer City, said: “The Edinburgh International Festival is the largest festival in the world, given the length of time it runs for, and brings to the city people from all around the globe, all of whom wish to savour the sights, sounds and experiences of the Capital during the summer.

“We’ve been running Operation Summer City for several years now and are fully aware of the demands and challenges this time of year places on the city-centre and as such, we’ll have an appropriate and proportionate policing response in place throughout August to keep people safe and respond to any incidents that may arise.

https://twitter.com/PoliceScotland/status/2085731241987289433/video/1

“The public can assist us with our efforts to maintain safety and reduce criminality by always keeping hold of their belongings and never leaving valuables unattended. Similarly, if you see anything suspicious, please report it immediately so we can respond.

“If you’re enjoying the city’s night-time economy, look out for those in your group. Please also remember that we will utilise our Think Twice bail conditions for anyone charged with an alcohol-related violent offence and this will prevent you from entering a licensed premises during the Festival period until the outcome of court proceedings.

“Don’t let alcohol ruin your summer. Help us keep everyone safe and have a wonderful Festival period. Stay tuned to our social media channels for regular updates and crime prevention advice throughout the month.”

Flooding and water scarcity reflect contrasting conditions across Scotland

Scotland has seen a contrasting picture this week, with Flood Alerts issued due to heavy rain in some areas, while other parts of the country remain at significant water scarcity.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) weekly water scarcity report, published on 6 th August, shows how conditions have improved in several areas following recent rainfall. However, parts of the country remain at Significant Scarcity and others could deteriorate without sustained rain.

Around 50mm of rain fell in some northern and north-eastern catchments this week, causing some rivers to rise rapidly. However, intense rainfall over a short period does not have the same effect as sustained rainfall over time, particularly after prolonged dry conditions.

Many east coast rivers continue to experience very low flows and ground conditions across much of the east remain dry or very dry. Prolonged low river flows can put pressure on river ecosystems, reducing the water and habitat available for fish and other wildlife.

When an area reaches Significant Scarcity, SEPA will temporarily restrict the amount of water that can be taken from rivers and burns to protect the water environment.

At the peak of restrictions, more than 170 authorisations to abstract water from the environment were affected. Restrictions remain on five authorisations where river levels have not sufficiently recovered.

The Lower Don has remained at Significant Scarcity since 27th July, while the River Teviot and Ettrick Water reached Significant Scarcity on 4th August, showing how different catchments are responding to recent rainfall. SEPA officers have been carrying out checks in areas where restrictions were in place, with good compliance seen during visits.

Without sustained rainfall, the Mid Dee from Ballater to Banchory, and the Lower Dee and Water of Feugh could also reach Significant Scarcity within the next week.

Improved conditions have allowed restrictions to be lifted as river levels recover. Lunan Water, Tay Estuary (North), North Fife and Fife (East Neuk) are no longer at Significant Scarcity, with improvements also recorded across a number of other catchments. Businesses whose restrictions are being removed will be contacted by SEPA to confirm the change.

July was much drier than normal across the south and east of Scotland, with many areas receiving less than half the rainfall they would normally expect during the month. When ground is very dry, intense rain can run rapidly over the surface and into rivers rather than soaking into the soil.

River levels can rise quickly, and localised flooding can happen, but those rises can be short-lived and do not always result in the sustained river flows needed for water scarcity conditions to fully recover.

Shona McConnell, SEPA’s Head of Compliance, said: “After the rain we’ve seen this week, people may understandably wonder how parts of Scotland can still be experiencing water scarcity.

“The rain has made a real difference in some areas. River levels have recovered and we’ve been able to remove restrictions where conditions have recovered. But Scotland is not out of the woods yet.

“Water scarcity develops over weeks and months, and a short period of heavy rain does not necessarily result in sustained recovery. We’re only at the beginning of August, so what happens next will depend on the rainfall we see over the coming weeks. We will continue to monitor conditions closely and introduce or remove restrictions where required.”

Further rain is forecast for northern and western Scotland over the coming days, with drier conditions expected elsewhere.

SEPA will continue monitoring river flows, rainfall, soil moisture and groundwater levels across Scotland and will update water scarcity levels as conditions change.

Scotland 2026 – who gets to belong?

FESTIVAL OF POLITICS – SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

MONDAY 17th AUGUST 5.30 – 6.30pm

With growing polarisation, mistrust, and a sense of being left behind for many communities, how can Scotland bring diverse voices together, move from division to empathy, and ensure community voices are at the heart of decision-making?

Come along and take part in this free panel discussion at the Scottish Parliament on 17 August: https://ow.ly/zmb450Zx3oS

(featuring The artwork of Gerard M Burns)

Chair:

Katie Hagmann MSP, Convener, Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Panellists:

Dr Hayley Bennett is Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on the design and delivery of social security, labour market programmes, and anti-poverty initiatives for the working-age population in the UK.

Gerard M Burns is an artist and studied drawing and painting at the Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 1983. Burns has had a successful teaching career, leaving his post as Principle of Art at Glasgow’s St Aloysius College to focus full time on painting. He has completed commissions for a number of private and commercial collections, notably his painting The Rowan which hangs in the Scottish Parliament.

Professor Dr Nasar Meer FRSE is Professor of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow and Academic Chair of the Stuart Hall Foundation. He has been a Commissioner on the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Post-COVID-19 Futures Inquiry, a Member of the Scottish Government COVID-19 and Ethnicity Expert Reference Group. He has previously held a Minda de Gunzburg Fellowship at Harvard University, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the UK Academy of Social Sciences, and a past recipient of the RSE Thomas Reid Medal.

Yuliia Hryshchenko is the founder of SCIO Music & Art Centre Nightingale. After fleeing Ukraine with her three children in 2022, she rebuilt her life in Scotland and turned her family’s journey into a mission to make arts accessible to every child.

She believes creativity can heal, build confidence and strengthen communities.

Have your say on Lottery funding

National Lottery Good Causes: Fund what matters to you

It Starts with Community. And it starts with you.

There are just seven weeks left to respond to the UK Government’s call for evidence, on how the money raised for good causes by National Lottery players should be spent – and they want to hear from individuals and groups across Scotland.

Since 1994, the National Lottery has generated over £53 billion for good causes – through projects that help people connect, grow and build a better future, all across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.

Our priorities, and our strategy It Starts With Community, have been shaped by 18,000 people across the UK who told us what their communities needed. And last year, our funding teams covering every postcode area of the UK funded an idea every 8 minutes.

Find out more and share your thoughts:

https://www.gov.uk/…/national-lottery-good-causes-fund…

Edinburgh residents announce launch of active volunteering group, Goodgym Edinburgh

Launching 11th August 2026
Edinburgh community combine getting fit and supporting local organisations with practical volunteering
Sessions will be free and inclusive of all fitness levels
Funded by Places for People
The new group will combine exercise with practical volunteering.

GoodGym Edinburgh, the first GoodGym group in Scotland, will run weekly sessions to support local charities and organisations such as food banks, schools, community gardens and youth centres.

Residents will run, walk and cycle to sessions, combining exercise and volunteering to benefit themselves and Edinburgh as a whole. As a result, Edinburgh GoodGymers will be improving their local area and their own mental and physical wellbeing.

The London School of Economics found participation in GoodGym sessions led to “extraordinary” increases in life satisfaction, connectedness and belonging.

For the launch, GoodGym will be supporting the Leith Links Community Croft on 11th August with gardening tasks, whilst learning about gardening, food growing, and the concept of an urban community croft.

Each GoodGym session will be providing much needed volunteer support to Edinburgh’s community groups and charities.

Edinburgh GoodGymers will also run, walk and cycle to visit isolated older people, helping with practical tasks they aren’t able to do on their own such as gardening and moving furniture. These visits create crucial social interaction that the GoodGymer and isolated older person wouldn’t ordinarily have.

Kelly Brown, Director, Places for People Scotland, said: “We’re proud to support GoodGym Edinburgh, helping people to improve their health while making a positive difference in their local community.

“This initiative will build connections, reduce isolation and provide valuable support to local organisations.”

Dave Entwistle, GoodGym Edinburgh Area Activator (group leader) said: “Volunteering has played a huge role throughout my life, it has created some of my most meaningful friendships, experiences, opened a lot of doors and helped me feel connected to the communities I have lived in.

“I am looking forward to being a part of creating those same opportunities for others in Edinburgh by connecting people with amazing projects around the city and building our own GoodGym Edinburgh community.”

GATHER Community Arts Exhibition

Gather Exhibition

A Creative Community Hubs Network Event

We are hugely excited for Gather, a new exhibition showcasing work by artists and community members from across Edinburgh for the very first time.

This is a very special exhibition, and we’d love you to join us for it!

Gather Exhibition

Private View: 11th September 2026, from 4:30pm

Main Exhibition: 12th – 26th September 2026

St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road, Edinburgh EH7 6AE

Free. No need to book.

#creativecommunityhubsnetwork

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The Creative Community Hubs Network consists of eight partner organisations based across Edinburgh: WHALE Arts, The Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Granton:hub, North Edinburgh Arts, Duncan Place Leith, The Crannie, Lyra and Craigmillar Now

Support for Cairngorms businesses

Scootish Government funding to help impact of wildfire

Businesses affected by the wildfire in the Cairngorms will receive a share of up to £3 million of Scottish Government funding.

The grants will be available through the Highland Council’s support scheme for businesses affected by the Cairngorms wildfire.

Economy and Tourism Secretary Stephen Flynn said: “The wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park has had a significant impact on many businesses, particularly those premises within the cordon that have been unable to trade.

“I want to thank business owners, employees and local residents for their patience and understanding of the necessary precautions put in place by emergency services to tackle the fire and maintain public safety.

“We understand the difficult position that many now face which is why I am pleased to be able to confirm up to £3 million for the Highland Council to support affected businesses directly.

“This will provide immediate relief for impacted businesses but we will continue to work closely with the Highland Council, HIE and Cairngorms National Park Authority on what further support may be required for the area in the longer term.”

The fund will be administered by The Highland Council with a focus on helping businesses recover from the impact of the wildfire, maintain business continuity and support longer-term recovery.

They will release full details of how to apply in the coming days.

TODAY: Community Lunch at Empty Kitchens Full Hearts

Menu for Friday the 7th of August

We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you today. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and a delicious pudding.

What’s on the menu today:

Courgette and mint soup

Roast pork and gravy

Seasonal veg

Roast potatoes

Summer fruit crumble – with option of vanilla and nutmeg sauce

Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens. And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out! Do come along and enjoy. Thank you!

A Call To Gather: The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo returns for a spectacular summer of connection

A celebration of Scottish identity, international friendship and the power of unity on the world’s most iconic stage

The call has gone out. And it has been answered. This August, more than 800 performers from across the globe have gather at Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2026, A Call To Gather.

From Europe, New Zealand, Qatar and the United States, to Scotland’s own world-renowned military and traditional performers, A Call To Gather will see an extraordinary international cast come together for a full programme of music, dance and spectacle. As the 2026 lead service, the Royal Air Force provides the military heart of the show.

Representing the Narrator throughout the production is The Call 1914 Statue, voiced by acclaimed Scottish actor Richard Rankin. The striking bronze monument in West Princes Street Gardens honouring the Scottish soldiers who answered the call from around the world during the First World War. The statue provides a powerful visual link to this year’s central theme, the enduring call to come together.

This year, as the world gathers once again in the heart of Edinburgh, A Call To Gather celebrates not only the extraordinary talent on the Esplanade, but the enduring connections that have brought the Tattoo and its audiences together for more than 75 years. But the spirit of the show reaches far beyond the Esplanade.

The Tattoo will continue its longstanding commitment to charity, donating money raised from the show its charity partners.

Alan Lane, Creative Director at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “Performers and audiences will come from across the globe, answering the call to join us in Edinburgh, in a celebration of the music, dance and performance.

“The Tattoo is unlike any other show in the world. And every year, we challenge ourselves to delight and move our audience, whilst always honouring the traditions the Tattoo is built on.

“It will forever be the case that the scale, the setting, and the sense of occasion of the Tattoo are extraordinary, and A Call to Gather builds on those foundations with a renewed sense of global connection. There’s never been a more important time to connect with each other through culture.”

Jason Barrett, Chief Executive Officer at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo: “For more than 75 years, the Tattoo has brought people from Scotland and around the world together through the shared language of music, performance, and culture. A Call to Gather captures that spirit perfectly.

“This summer’s show is a powerful reflection of the unique role the Tattoo plays in bringing people together, and how that impact of sharing cultures reaches far beyond the Esplanade. A role never more important than today. Together we gather, connect, and share something extraordinary – so thank you.”

The full line up for 2026 includes: Central Band of the Royal Air Force, the Band of the Royal Air Force College, the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment and the Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra, German Army Band (Heeresmusikkorps) Koblenz, New Zealand Army Band, Qatar Police Academy Band and Drill Team, United States Army Field Band, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Performers, Royal Air Force Massed Military Bands, The 10th Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment Pipes And Drums, 154 (Scottish) Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, The Combined Universities Officer Training Corps Pipes And Drums, Vancouver Police Pipes And Drums, The Pipes And Drums Of The Queen’s Royal Hussars and The Royal Dragoon Guards and 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment.

The spectacular celebration of music, military precision, culture and connection kicks off tonight (Friday 7 August) and runs until Saturday 29 August 2026.

Tickets for 2026 are limited, but remaining tickets can still be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone, 0131 225 1188.