DIY fashion is having a major moment, with a new generation turning to sewing, customisation and upcycling to create more individual and conscious wardrobes.
With The Great British Sewing Bee currently airing its latest series, sewing is reaching a new generation of makers – with TikTok and Instagram helping to make everything from upcycling tutorials to handmade fashion more accessible and aspirational.
#Sewing has racked up a huge 3.5M searches on TikTok, while Google searches for “sewing” have soared 235% since The Great British Sewing Bee returned in July, compared with the same period last year.
Rather than following fast fashion trends, younger consumers are increasingly looking to make, customise and transform clothing themselves, creating pieces that feel more personal and unique. From styling concert outfits to altering vintage finds, sewing has become another form of self-expression. And with growing interest in extending the life of clothes, upcycling and repairing are also giving sewing a fresh relevance.
For those looking to try DIY fashion for themselves, Hobbycraft has everything from sewing machines, fabric and thread to scissors, patches and haberdashery essentials, making it easy to transform existing pieces or create something completely new.
Whether adding patches to a favourite jacket, altering a garment or making clothes from scratch, the retailer offers a range of products to help makers bring their ideas to life.
To mark its 175th anniversary, Singer Sewing Machines is offering customers the chance to win a spot at an exclusive workshop with Patrick Grant at its London school.
Customers who purchase a Singer sewing machine before 16th October 2026 can enter the prize draw. Winners will be invited to upcycle a garment or accessory of their choice, with support from Patrick and Singer’s sewing experts, making the workshop suitable for all levels, from complete beginners to experienced sewers.
Hobbycraft also offers a nationwide programme of sewing workshops for all abilities, helping budding makers build their confidence and develop their skills.
With The Great British Sewing Bee inspiring new audiences, DIY fashion is proving that creating your own style is the ultimate way to stand out.
EDINBURGH SOLDIER HEADS TO CYPRUS JUST DAYS INTO LIFE WITH THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF SCOTLAND
A young soldier has had a whirlwind introduction to army life, travelling to Cyprus for overseas training less than two weeks after joining his new battalion.
Fusilier Daniel Collier, 24, from Tranent, had only just arrived at 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) when he was given the opportunity to join fellow Jocks heading abroad.
His deployment capped a busy first week. After arriving at Glencorse Barracks on the Sunday, Fus Collier came top of his Company in a five-kilometre best-effort run the following day, before taking part in the Highland Games.
By Thursday, he was in his newly issued dress uniform for the battalion-wide photograph, before beginning preparations to head overseas.
Fus Collier said: “Everything happened really quickly. I had only just arrived, met everyone and started settling in when the opportunity to go to Cyprus came up. I managed to get my name down for it and on my 13th day in battalion, I was off.
“I definitely didn’t expect Cyprus to be the first place I would travel to, especially so soon. The heat was definitely something different, but it was a great experience.”
Major Richard Hill, 2 SCOTS, joked that Fus Collier had probably had “a better week than I’ve managed in 11 years”, such was the pace of his first few days with the battalion.
Once in Cyprus, Fus Collier joined a 2 SCOTS company supporting fellow soldiers from 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS), who are based on the island as the Regional Standby Battalion.
During the week of training, 2 SCOTS took on the role of the enemy, using the Cypriot terrain to stay hidden while 4 SCOTS worked to locate and track them. It was Fus Collier’s first experience playing an opposing force.
“It was completely different from a normal exercise and from what I’d been used to in training,” he said. “We would go out on patrol, try to stay hidden and make it difficult for 4 SCOTS to find us.”
The following week, Fus Collier took part in Exercise CRONOS CLANSMAN, spending time on the ranges and firing a Glock pistol for the very first time.
“In training, you touch on a lot of different things, but this gave us more time on the ranges. If you were shooting too far to one side, the corporals could come over, tell you exactly what you needed to change and help you improve.”
Away from training, the trip also gave Fus Collier an opportunity to get to know his new colleagues, with downtime spent on the beach and taking part in water sports. He also caught up with former training mates who had since joined 4 SCOTS.
“It was a good chance for me to get to know everyone because I hadn’t really had the opportunity yet,” he said. “It was also interesting going to another battalion and seeing how they do things.”
Before joining the Army, Fus Collier had spent six years working at McDonald’s. Wanting a change from the routine of civilian life, he decided to pursue something he had thought about since growing up in East Lothian.
He said: “I had been doing the same thing for a long time and I wanted something different. One day I just decided I was going to join the Army and I’m glad I did. I wish I’d done it sooner.”
Fus Collier joins the Regiment as The Royal Regiment of Scotland marks its 20th anniversary. Formed in 2006, the Regiment is celebrating two decades of service while looking to the next generation of soldiers who will carry it forward.
With his first overseas training already complete, Fus Collier is now continuing his training and preparing for what comes next.
~ Earlier monitoring increased detection and reduced one-year death rate ~
Fitting a wearable heart monitor for 14 days when patients go to A&E with unexplained fainting improves detection of life-threatening heart problems, according to the results of an Edinburgh-led trial funded by the British Heart Foundation and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich.
Using the two-week monitor, which is about the size of a car key fob, more than doubled the detection rate of heart rhythm problems in the study of 2,234 people. After one year, heart rhythm problems were identified in 22 per cent in the monitor group compared to nine per cent of those who received standard care.
The death rate after one year in the two-week monitoring group, at 1.5 per cent, was almost half that of the standard care group, at 2.9 per cent.
Heart rhythm problems, known as arrhythmias, were identified in an average of 22 days in those with chest-worn monitors, compared to 54.5 days with standard care. This included life-threatening arrhythmias like complete heart block, ventricular tachycardia, and a pause in the heartbeat of over six seconds.
As a result of increased and quicker detection, more people who used the chest-worn monitor started treatment for their arrhythmia. The findings are also published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Professor Matthew Reed, Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, who led the study, said:“We were able to begin patient monitoring within 72 hours of people arriving at A&E, much faster than the current standard.
“Continuous data on a patient’s heart rhythm for two weeks is invaluable to cardiologists when they are trying to diagnose an arrhythmia. As the results show, more patients with hidden heart rhythm problems were identified, and their treatment could be sped up.
“We believe that the lower death rate seen for this group is strong evidence that this new strategy can save lives. Hopefully it will be adopted by hospitals across the country, so that fewer people with a potentially life-threatening condition slip through the net.”
The researchers estimate that around 650,000 people visit A&E with unexplained fainting each year in the UK.
Regular unexplained fainting can seriously impact patients’ lives, preventing them from doing day-to-day tasks like driving. Although in many cases the cause is harmless, fainting episodes can be a sign of abnormal heart rhythms, some of which can be dangerous.
Arrhythmias in these patients are hard to diagnose. People who have fainted have usually recovered by the time they reach A&E, meaning their heart rhythm has likely returned to normal, and tests performed in A&E won’t show any abnormalities.
Currently, patients with unexplained fainting are referred for tests such as a Holter monitor – a small wearable device that records the heart’s rhythm – to try and identify arrhythmias. But a Holter monitor is usually only worn for 48 hours, so can only identify an arrhythmia in this small time window.
Patients must also attend an outpatient cardiology clinic first, meaning that monitoring is done at any point from six weeks to two years after they attend A&E.
The new heart monitor is smaller and is worn in the middle of the chest. It can be worn continuously for the two-week period. In the trial, half of the study volunteers who attended one of 45 UK A&E departments with unexplained fainting were fitted with the new monitor. The other half received the current standard monitoring.
Data from the monitors were sent to clinicians after the two-week monitoring period, who then determined whether their recordings showed signs of an arrhythmia and if treatment was needed. If the monitor had picked up a serious arrythmia, the patient’s clinician was alerted within 24 working hours.
There was no difference in the average number of fainting episodes reported after one year – 1.37 in the monitor group compared to 1.58 in the standard care group.
However, improved detection of arrhythmias meant two-week monitoring improved the number of people receiving treatment. For the monitoring group, 10.8 percent were given anti-arrhythmic medication, and 6.8 per cent had a pacemaker implanted, versus 7.3 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively for the standard care group.
The researchers hope that now the new strategy has been shown to help doctors treat more dangerous heart problems, and reduce death rates, it will become standard practice in the NHS.
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the trial, said:“This large trial is a good example of how BHF investment in research can drive life changing innovations in healthcare.
“The study shows that monitoring the heart with simple new technology after a patient has had a sudden collapse can identify potentially life-threatening disturbances in heart rhythm that can be treated to reduce risk of death.
“The results of this trial should certainly help inform future clinical practice when treating patients with sudden unexplained collapse in the future.”
STEPHEN’s STORY
Stephen, from West Lothian, joined the trial after fainting whilst exercising on a cross trainer.
The 68-year-old had been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a common arrythmia that affects the top chambers of the heart and can raise a person’s risk of having a stroke, when he was 49. However, he had never fainted until he did so twice within a week in August 2023.
“The first time came on all of a sudden” he said. “I was sitting in a chair in the front room, and I started fading in and out. I lost consciousness for a few seconds, and I had no idea what had happened. It was so out of the blue that I thought I should go to the doctor.”
Stephen’s doctor sent him to hospital, where he was kept in for the day whilst clinicians did standard checks. These did not flag any issues, so he was sent home and told to return if the symptom happened again.
“The next day, I was on the cross trainer, and I just passed out” he said. “This time, I was in hospital for three days. They kept an eye on me, and they thought it might be exercise related. I was given a stress test on a treadmill, which went alright.”
It was at this point that a nurse asked Stephen if he’d like to join the trial.
“I didn’t need any extra time to think it over. I thought it was a great opportunity to help others who might be in a similar situation. It’s always important to get involved in things like this” he said.
“The device is very user friendly; it goes in the middle of your chest and it’s small enough that it doesn’t get in the way at all. You can wear it whatever you’re doing, even in the shower, and you hardly notice it.”
He wore the monitoring device for 14 days but didn’t experience any episodes of fainting during that time. However, the data from Stephen’s device showed that his atrial fibrillation was not being controlled by his medication.
The condition was causing his heart to beat at 227 beats per minute at certain points, a dangerously high number.
The clinicians caring for Stephen raised his dosage of bisoprolol, a medication that can help control heart rate.
“They advised me on all the different treatment options, and I decided to stay on the medication rather than have a cardiac procedure and see how I go. I’m very glad I took part in the trial and that this was picked up. I haven’t fainted since, it looks like the treatment has been working, so I’m really happy” he said.
“The doctor signed me off and I don’t need regular check-ups, but the door is always open to go back if I need to. Touch wood it won’t happen again, but if it does, I’m definitely in a better place to deal with it now.”
20% increase in footfall, with more than 28,000 people welcomed to the site on each of the Book Festival’s three weekends
Fewer events delivered more ticket sales, with 62% of tickets sold to people in EH postcodes
Changing Your Mind: Book Festival audiences gathered to explore the defining questions of our age, from AI and social media to democracy, culture and the future of society
Biggest-ever sales for the Book Festival’s Waterstones bookshop, with £500,000 worth of books sold
People in 52 countries tuned in online, extending the Book Festival’s international reach
62 schools from across Scotland were welcomed during the National Year of Reading, with every child receiving a free book
217 library watch parties across more than 80 libraries in 22 local authority areas brought Book Festival conversations to communities across Scotland
International artists, writers and cultural leaders came together through Global Ink and Scotland to the World
Val McDermid and Jo Sharp’s This Door of the Seas and Lyse Doucet’s The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan were among the Book Festival’s bestselling books
Edinburgh International Book Festival has concluded a record-breaking year that reaffirmed its position as one of the world’s leading spaces for public conversation.
With a smaller programme but a higher proportion of available tickets sold, the Book Festival brought together writers, thinkers, artists and audiences to explore the defining issues of our time under this year’s theme, Changing Your Mind.
In its third year at Edinburgh Futures Institute, footfall increased by 20% compared with last year, while ticket sales rose despite a smaller programme. Meanwhile, 62% of tickets were sold to people in EH postcodes, underlining the Book Festival’s strong local support.
Alongside major discussions on politics, technology and society, audiences flocked to hear acclaimed fiction writers including John Grisham, Maggie O’Farrell and 2026 International Booker Prize winners Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King.
The programme also brought together leading voices writing in English alongside internationally celebrated authors in translation, reinforcing the Book Festival’s reputation as a global home for literature and storytelling.
Together, these conversations demonstrated the Book Festival’s role as a space where complex issues can be explored openly, while helping connect people of all ages with books, writers and reading.
Jenny Niven, Director and CEO of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“Changing Your Mind was more than this year’s theme. It was an invitation to approach the world with curiosity rather than certainty, and to do that in real life, in the company of other people, has felt both joyful and necessary.
“In the National Year of Reading, it is heartening to see footfall increase, more tickets sold across a smaller programme and our Waterstones bookshop achieve its biggest-ever sales, selling £500,000 worth of books.
“At a time when literacy rates are declining, book festivals have an important role in helping people discover the pleasure, confidence and connection that reading can bring. Our schools programme, free books for every child attending and year-round work with communities are all part of that commitment.
“With 62% of tickets sold to people in EH postcodes, the Book Festival remains deeply rooted in Edinburgh. At the same time, people in 52 countries joined us online. That combination of strong local support and international reach shows a Book Festival that is both determinedly local and open-heartedly international.”
A PLACE TO DISCUSS THE DEFINING ISSUES OF OUR TIME
From artificial intelligence and social media to democracy, culture and creativity, the Book Festival provided a space for audiences to engage with some of the defining questions of our age.
Former technology executive and whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams highlighted the urgency of debates around social media and public discourse, arguing that “it’s really important that we start to build up that offline muscle of disagreement”, and warning that social media algorithms encourage people “to fix our identity in increasingly strident and narrow boxes.”
Professor Daisy Fancourt explored the growing importance of meaning, creativity and culture in an AI-driven world, arguing that “What we’re all inherently going to want more and more in an AI world is meaning.”
Politics and public life also remained central to the programme. Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown considered how citizens can help bring about positive change, while former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin reflected on the challenges and choices that shaped their leadership. Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also joined the programme, bringing audiences into conversations about the political and economic questions shaping public life.
The appetite for new perspectives extended beyond Book Festival events. The Book Festival’s Waterstones bookshop recorded its biggest-ever sales.
Among its bestselling titles were Val McDermid and Jo Sharp‘s This Door of the Seas and Lyse Doucet‘s The Finest Hotel in Kabul, reflecting audiences’ appetite for ideas and stories that help them see the world differently.
YEAR-ROUND IMPACT ACROSS SCOTLAND
The Book Festival’s commitment to access and participation extended far beyond Edinburgh through a programme of free digital activity hosted in communities across Scotland.
This year, more than 80 libraries across 22 local authority areas hosted 217 watch parties, enabling audiences to experience major Book Festival events together in their local communities. People from 52 countries also tuned in online, extending access to the programme around the world.
These free screenings ensured geography and cost were not barriers to participation and demonstrated how the Book Festival continues to use technology to connect audiences with writers, thinkers and ideas.
THE BBC
A new collaboration with the BBC brought Book Festival conversations to wider audiences through programmes including Front Row, Loose Ends and Take Four Books, extending the reach of writers, thinkers and cultural commentators appearing across the programme.
SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF READERS
The Book Festival welcomed more than 62 schools from across Scotland and 21 from Edinburgh, with every child receiving a free book to take home.
Taking place during the National Year of Reading, the schools programme is central to the Book Festival’s commitment to encouraging reading and helping children build lasting relationships with books.
GLOBAL REACH THROUGH GLOBAL INK
2026 marked the third year of Global Ink, supported by Expo, bringing international festival directors from four continents to Edinburgh. The programme created opportunities to exchange ideas, develop partnerships and strengthen Edinburgh’s position as a global meeting place for literature, culture and ideas.
SCOTLAND TO THE WORLD
This year’s Book Festival also saw the continued development of Scotland to the World, showcasing ambitious collaborations between writers, musicians and theatre-makers.
Highlights included India Alba, Ali Smith’s collaboration with the New European Ensemble, Delusions by Len Pennie and Paul Leonard-Morgan, and a Japanese Noh Theatre adaptation of The Song of Rona Island, demonstrating how Scottish stories can inspire new artistic forms and reach audiences around the world.
Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, will support six community projects through its 2026 GreenSkies Community Fund, sharing £23,472 between organisations from the Isle of Lewis to Winchester – and Stockbridge charity LifeCare is one of the recipients.
The fund helps charities, community groups and small businesses across its network reduce their carbon footprints and improve long-term sustainability.
Borve Maritime Museum on the Isle of Lewis receives £5,000 to install a rooftop solar photovoltaic system, cutting electricity use at the community-run venue, while the Community Tree Planting programme, based in Inverness, receives £5,000 to create new woodland and restore habitats through volunteer-led work at sites across Scotland.
In Aberdeen, Beannachar receives £3,757 to replace an ageing electric vehicle charging point used to support adults with learning disabilities across the community, and in Edinburgh, LifeCare receives £2,715 for a charging point that will lower emissions from its community outreach and Meals on Wheels services.
Winchester Cathedral receives £5,000 to fit solar panels to its buildings, generating renewable power and reducing operational emissions at the historic site. On the Isle of Man, the Thie My Shee community orchard receives £2,000 to plant fruit trees and build accessible growing spaces for local food production.
Together the six projects span renewable energy, sustainable transport, food growing and biodiversity across Scotland, the Isle of Man and England.
Rebecca Borresen, director of safety and sustainability at Loganair, said:“The GreenSkies Community Fund sits at the heart of Loganair’s commitment to the communities we connect.
“This year’s projects show what that support makes possible, from solar power on a remote island to greener transport for older people in our cities.
“These six organisations are turning local ambition into measurable environmental change. We’ll keep backing the groups across our network who are building a more sustainable future for the places we serve.”
The GreenSkies Community Fund forms part of Loganair’s wider environmental programme, which includes carbon offsetting, investment in sustainable aviation technologies and a target of reaching net zero by 2040.
Since its launch, the fund has supported community projects and businesses across the UK in adopting greener practices.
ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO TO CELEBRATE THE UNIFYING BOND OF MUSIC IN 2027
Drumming to take centre stage in a spectacular showcasing music, dance and performance
2027 tickets go on sale as current season comes to a close with an almost sold-out run
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the world’s greatest immersive events, has announced the theme for its 2027 Show, The Same Heart Beat, as tickets go on sale – today!
Running from 6 – 28 August 2027, next year’s Tattoo will celebrate the unifying and universal bond of music, with drumming taking centre stage. Developed by Creative Director, Alan Lane, the Show promises an unforgettable international production that features some of the finest military acts from around the world, alongside the best of Scottish and British talent. In a unique display of creative collaboration, participants – both cast and audience alike – will unite to experience the sensation of moving to the same beat.
Today also marks the end of this year’s blockbuster season, which attracted more than 220,000 visitors from across the globe, over 26 performances this August. Titled A Call to Gather, the show honoured the Scottish soldiers who answered the call to serve in the First World War. It was narrated by the actor Richard Rankin (Rebus, Outlander), represented by The Call Statue, one of Edinburgh’s famous landmarks – in tribute to these soldiers’ sacrifice.
Bands from New Zealand, Germany, Qatar and the Unites States joined Scotland’s own celebrated military and traditional performers in a collective celebration of culture, community and creativity. It was enjoyed by famous names, including Olympic cyclist Mark Beaumont; Traitors fan-favourite Matty Hyndman; actors Terrence Rea (Outlander) and comedian Craig Hill; and First Minister John Swinney.
Alan Lane, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said:“The Tattoo stands unique in global performance. It’s an honour to direct this Show and to lead this creative team and cast. The response from our audiences this summer has been overwhelming and positive and a testament to our global cast of performers.
“From the precision drill of Qatar to the Motown of the United States the whole world was on our stage as we celebrated the importance of bringing together to share cultures. I cannot wait to share more about next year, The Same Heart Beat, a new show with the Royal Navy at its core.”
Jason Barrett, Chief Operating Officer of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, added:“As we look ahead to The Same Heart Beat, we are building on the momentum of a landmark year for the Tattoo.
Next year’s Show will celebrate the power of music and performance to bring people together, combining world-class artistry, innovation and military tradition in a way that is uniquely Tattoo.
Following an extraordinary year that saw us perform in Edinburgh, Australia and New Zealand, we remain committed to delivering one of the world’s greatest immersive events while continuing to support military communities and champion Scottish culture through our charitable work.
With demand continuing to grow, I would encourage those hoping to join us in Edinburgh next August to secure their tickets early.”
The 2026 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in numbers:
220,000+ guests
26 performances
26 salute takers
800 tonnes of steel used in set construction
35 miles of cabling
180 pipers
54 drummers
Over 33,000 drinks sold
Tickets are on sale now for the 2027 Show and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188.
A pioneering new Scottish study aims to better understand, and improve treatment, for patients with an aggressive form of bowel cancer associated with some of the poorest survival rates.
Scotland has the highest mortality rates of bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, in the UK. It remains the second most common cause of cancer death in Scotland, claiming around 1,700 (17,700 in the UK) lives annually.*
The new research will focus on the BRAF mutation-caused form of colorectal cancer, which is estimated to affect around 10-15 per cent of bowel cancers.** It will examine how two existing treatments, encorafenib and cetuximab, could be used to tackle the disease earlier.
Dr Mark White, of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre at the University of Glasgow, said:“The ability to analyse tumour samples before and after treatment provides invaluable insight into how cancers adapt and resist therapy.
“By understanding these changes, we hope to identify new strategies to improve outcomes for patients.”
While these treatments have already shown promise in treating advanced colorectal cancer, neither their impact earlier in the disease’s development nor how they potentially change the biology of the cancer, have been fully explored.
The research aspect of the study, led by Dr Mark White of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, will examine the cancer before and after the treatments in patients taking part in the FOxTROT4 clinical trial which will use advanced technologies to assess the cellular adaptions.
FOxTROT4 is part of the FOxTROT clinical trial platform led by the Clinical Trials Research Unit at the University of Leeds and will be among the first worldwide to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this drug combination in patients with BRAF mutant colon cancer before they undergo surgery to remove tumours.
The research will employ breakthrough technology which maps changes in tumour cells with unprecedented precision.
By using this approach, researchers can examine tumours more effectively, offering a unique opportunity to observe how cancers respond in real time.
This new method will also allow scientists to track gene activity across cells and zoom in on individual cells to see what genes are switched on and where they are in the body.
A major focus of the project is uncovering why resistance to targeted therapies develops – a key focus for cancer research. Previous work using sophisticated laboratory models demonstrated that tumour cells can rapidly adapt to treatment by altering their biological state.
FOxTROT chief investigator, Professor Jenny Seligmann of the University of Leeds, said:“This is a valuable opportunity to maximise what we can learn from a clinical trial. By studying tumour samples before and after treatment, we can begin to understand how these cancers adapt, evolve and develop resistance to therapy.
“The commitment of patients participating in the trial, together with the expertise of research teams, will help generate knowledge that could shape future treatment approaches for this particularly challenging form of bowel cancer.”
Previously, tumours in preclinical model were observed to shift between different cell states, as quickly as within three days, even when key cancer-driving pathways were effectively suppressed.
This study will now validate those findings in human samples from patients enrolled in the FOxTROT4 trial, specifically examining whether similar adaptive changes occur in response to treatment prior to surgery.
Cancer Research UK director of research, Dr Catherine Elliott, said:“From understanding cancer’s triggers to developing world-first vaccines and testing anti-cancer drugs in studies like this one, we’re developing more personalised, precise and powerful prevention techniques to stop cancers before they start.”
Ultimately, the findings could help refine therapeutic strategies and lead to more effective, personalised treatments for patients facing this challenging form of colorectal cancer.
The FOxTROT 4 clinical trial funding has been provided by Yorkshire Cancer Research, Pierre Fabre and Merck Serono.
Just a wee reminder, Monday morning the centre is CLOSED for our staff meeting, and we’ll be opening our doors from 12pm. The Sharing Shelf will also be available from 12pm.
The rest of the week is packed with things to get involved in, from little ones to our over-50s, community groups, savings, the Sharing Shelf, Kidz Clubs, Pete’s Playden and more!
Homebaking is available from Tuesday, with prices starting from just £1.50
FOOD DRIVE — 9th September
Please help us help the community!
Whether you’re popping in for a group, grabbing a bargain, picking something up from the Sharing Shelf or just fancy a cuppa and a chat, there’s always a reason to come and see us!
Australian comedian Frankie McNair has won the 2026 Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, for Huge Ass Mindset, a stand-up comedy show about her experiences of complex PTSD resulting from childhood sexual abuse.
Huge Ass Mindset is the first comedy show to win the Mental Health Foundation’s annual Edinburgh award, which has been running since 2017. It is one of six shows to be shortlisted for this year’s award.
The Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award was established in order to highlight and support the most compelling new work about mental health at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The award is currently sponsored by the Cornwell Charitable Trust and offers a cash prize of £3000 plus additional support tailored to each winning artist.
Andrew Eaton-Lewis, arts programme officer at the Mental Health Foundation, said: “Over the past decade the Fringe has increasingly become a place where solo performers draw on extremely personal, sometimes traumatic real life experiences when creating their shows.
“It is a very difficult thing to do well, and safely, and is certainly not for everyone. But Frankie is a performer who has brought an exceptional level of skill and care to the task, having spent many years in therapy preparing herself to tell this story.
“The result is a show that dares to challenge the shame around childhood sexual abuse in a way that is brave, powerful and also funny in a way that few people would imagine is possible when talking about this subject.”
During her show, Frankie McNair takes care to reassure the audience that she has processed her traumatic childhood experiences through years of therapy, encourages them to leave the room if they need to, and provides resources after the show in case anyone is triggered by the material.
Huge Ass Mindset was one of six shows that were shortlisted for this year’s award. The others are:
Bog Witch (Traverse Theatre):
In a fraught summer of heatwaves and flash floods, climate anxiety is everywhere, but remarkably few shows are directly confronting the question of how it’s possible to stay happy and sane when the world seems to be falling apart around you.
One notable exception is Bryony Kimmings’ spectacular and very funny new show, which tells the story of a lonely first year living in a tumbledown cottage in the English countryside, as Bryony attempts to “plug back into nature” while feeling like she’s failing at every turn.
Parasocial Activity (Pleasance):
This new show from Gallus and Silly Mission Productions begins as an extended comic skit about writer-performer Briony Martha’s character, Jenny, meeting her idol, Hollywood actor James McAvoy, in a Glasgow coffee shop, before evolving into something much darker.
It’s an exploration of the recent phenomenon of ‘AI psychosis’, in which people struggling with isolation develop strong emotional attachments to AI chatbots which can become harmful, and, in this case, dangerous.
Giraffe (Pleasance): Abigail Weinstock’s semi-autobiographical show tells the story of Eliana, who grows up believing she is a sociopath, only to discover – with help from a therapist, a court order and an unexpected relationship with a child who seems to be going through something similar – that she should have been diagnosed with something quite different.
Giraffe compellingly illustrates the long-term mental health impact of growing up believing there is something “wrong” with you.
The End Of The World (Gilded Balloon): In Destiny Faith Nelson’s solo show, she plays Desiree, a young, lonely wannabe writer who decides to livestream her own suicide after becoming overwhelmed by the world and her own perceived failures, before realising, too late, that the man she shares a home with but barely knows has been invisibly going through his own mental health crisis.
The End of The World is a deeply affecting story of how social media can isolate vulnerable people from the world around them.
Water Colour (Traverse Theatre): Milly Sweeney’s debut play is the story of two lost souls in Glasgow, a kitchen porter and an art student, who both end up on the brink of suicide for different reasons but ultimately find solace in each other’s survival.
It’s a moving exploration of the complex factors that can push young people to the brink.
The shortlist for the Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award is selected in consultation with The Scotsman newspaper’s team of experienced critics as well as arts and mental health professionals.
Each year’s winner is announced at the Scotsman Fringe First Awards, the biggest theatre awards ceremony at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Since 2023 the award has been sponsored by the Cornwell Charitable Trust and dedicated to the memory of arts journalist Tim Cornwell, who died in 2022.
Tim worked for many years as the Scotsman’s arts correspondent and was part of the judging panel for the Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award, a subject close to his heart as someone living with Bipolar disorder. Tim died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism in June 2022.
Thanks to the Cornwell Charitable Trust, our winner will again be offered a £3000 prize plus a flexible package of support tailored to the needs of the show and its future development, which may include mentoring support and mental health training, support with funding applications and/or a contribution to production costs.
The Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award is part of the Foundation’s year-round arts programme, which also includes the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, one of the world’s biggest mental health themed arts festivals, which celebrates its 20th year in 2026.
The Mental Health Foundation also recently launched Performing Anxiety, a resource for people who want to make audience-facing creative work about mental health. The resource includes interviews with numerous artists who have made Edinburgh Fringe shows about mental health, including Bryony Kimmings, Caroline Horton, Selina Thompson and Amy Conway.
