More than £45 million will be provided to primary and secondary schools in 2017/18 to help close the poverty-related attainment gap, Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced today. Nine local authorities and an additional 72 individual schools have been allocated funding from the Scottish Attainment Challenge, for education initiatives and projects targeting Scotland’s most deprived children. Continue reading Schools: £45 million to close attainment gap
We have been working with the West Pilton Parklife Friends of the Park group to develop a number of activities this summer. These include family fitness activities starting Thursday27th July which involve hula hopping, fun bootcamp and family yoga sessions.
There will also be a Herbal Garden tidy up and a Herbal Medicine workshop which will involve local families working around the footprint area on Sunday 30th July. A regular bootcamp will be starting on Thursday 17th August and will continue until the October holidays and then run for a further 6 sessions. For more information contact info@elgt.org.uk
Previous planting workshops at the footprint
For more information about West Pilton Park click here
STV and STV2 promise to bring viewers the best of this summer’s Edinburgh Festival, broadcasting live from The Dome in the city’s New Town every weekday from Wednesday 2 August and throughout the Festival.
The extensive line-up of programming, presented by Jennifer Reoch, David Farrell and Ewen Cameron, with roving reporters George Ward and Zara Janjua, will showcase the very best on offer in music, theatre, comedy and arts, bringing that festival feeling to homes all over Scotland.
This year’s Edinburgh Festival coverage on STV and STV2 will include:
Edinburgh Festival 2017 Live: Every weekday at 1700 on STV2, this one hour programme is the ultimate guide to the festival with the biggest guests, best chat, live performances and top ticket tips, all from the heart of the capital with Jennifer Reoch and David Farrell.
The Edinburgh Festival Late Show: Ewen Cameron brings his tongue-in-cheek late night chat show to the festival to get up close and personal with this summer’s top guests, weeknights at 2230 on STV2.
Edinburgh Festival 2017: Jennifer Reoch and David Farrell present highlights from the week’s coverage, showcasing the very best from the world’s greatest arts festival every Monday and Friday at 2000 on STV, starting 7 August.
As well as a dynamic mix of guests and performances, viewers of STV and STV2 will see the return of popular features including Shameless Punts, where performers are given a chance to promote their acts on screen, and Rickshaw Live, where George Ward is joined by one of the festival’s many thousand performers for a very entertaining ride round the Scottish capital.
The extensive programming builds on the success of previous years’ festival coverage on STV, with top guests including actor Brian Cox, actress Juliette Binoche, impressionist Rory Bremner, authors Alexander McCall Smithand Julia Donaldson and comedians Patrick Kielty and Jason Byrne. In 2016, STV’s festival coverage reached over half a million viewers.
Paul Hughes, Head of Programmes, STV, said: “The popularity of last year’s festival coverage created an unparalleled platform for the city and the festivals. This year we’ll bring viewers even more of what the festivals have to offer, from live guests and performances to features and reviews.
“Our coverage will set out to reflect the Edinburgh Festival the way that audiences experience it, capturing not only the broad spectrum of shows on offer but also the fun and unbeatable atmosphere of this world famous event.”
STV2 is available on Freeview channel 8, Sky channel 117 and Virgin channel 159. The channel is streamed online and available for catch-up via the STV Player.
Sunday 30 July
2 – 3.30pm Starbank Park
The Scottish SPCA is delighted to support local Edinburgh man Liam Law while he takes on the epic 880 mile Iceland cycle challenge. Continue reading Liam and friends take on Iceland cycle challenge
Local MP Deidre Brock has urged the UK Government to intervene and allow an acclaimed children’s illustrator from Iran to appear at the Edinburgh Book Festival. Continue reading Festival appearance at risk over visa refusal
Have your say on road repairs
A consultation on proposals to raise standards and improve the quality of road works has been launched. The consultation, announced by Transport Minister Humza Yousaf on Thursday, aims to develop the regulation of road works in Scotland.
The Scottish Government wants to hear the views on proposals to raise standards and improve the quality of road works, enhance enforcement and provide additional powers for the Scottish Road Works Commissioner.
The consultation includes recommendations from Jim Barton’s independent review in 2016 of the Office and Functions of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner.
Mr Yousaf said: “The planning and coordination of road works in Scotland, is already streets ahead of the rest the UK. We have a single register for all utility road works which covers the whole of Scotland. We are unique in having the Scottish Road Works Commissioner to oversee the planning and coordination of road works, promote good practice, and ultimately consider enforcement action.
“However, despite having many strengths, we recognise there is still room for improvement.
“Road works are often where our busy lives intersect with our reliance on utility services. Our expectation is that where there is an unforeseen interruption to our water, electricity, gas or broadband services, the necessary repairs will be carried out quickly, and disruption to road users will be kept to a minimum.
“Our road network is an important national asset and we need to be confident that we have the right measures in place to ensure that those digging up the road, reinstate the road properly and get it right first time.
“We have worked closely with key stakeholders including Angus Carmichael the current Scottish Road Works Commissioner, to develop these proposals and I would like to thank Angus, those representing road authorities and utility companies for their input.”
Angus Carmichael, the Scottish Road Works Commissioner said: “During my 21 months in post, I have been particularly welcoming of the opportunity to work in partnership with roads authorities, utility companies and the Scottish Government on input to this important consultation on improving the regulation of road works in Scotland.
“This process provides a rare opportunity for the road works community to help further improve the regulatory framework and ultimately the management of road works across Scotland.”
Members of the public can access the consultation via the Transport Scotland website until 12 October 2017.
Police officers executed three warrants across North Edinburgh during searches for stolen property yesterday.
Three males, aged 15, 18 and 19-year-old were arrested in connection with house-breakings which took place over the past week in Kirkliston, Pathhead, Penicuik and Musselburgh.
Property including jewellery and electrical goods was recovered at addresses in Clermiston Park, Colonsay View and Granton Mill March.
These latest arrests are a result of the renewed commitment by officers under Operation Soteria and the Stronger North 2017 initiative to gather intelligence and tackle housebreaking, vehicle theft and related disorder in the North West of Edinburgh.
Chief Inspector Jimmy Jones, North West Area Commander said: “Our communities have told us that anti-social behaviour and youth disorder is a priority and we have renewed our commitment to tackling it in North West Edinburgh.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their assistance so far. Support from our communities is vital in tackling such offences and I can assure them we will act on the information we receive.
“Anyone with concerns can speak to a local officer, contact Police Scotland on 101 or report information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Saturday 29 July, 1.30 – 11.30pm at The Corn Exchange
Police Scotland will deploy an innovative and very effective policing tactic designed to deter, detect and disrupt criminal and terrorist activity in the lead up to and during the course of the Edinburgh International and Fringe Festival 2017. Continue reading Project Servator: Police gear up for Edinburgh Festival
