CAMPAIGNERS have launched a petition to save the Pride Bridge at Lindsay Road.
Local resident Jodie Schofield said: “I’m really concerned an important community space which connects the Leith and Newhaven will be lost, not to mention the fact the ‘diversion’ has a dug up pavement at a busy junction.
“The Council have condemned it (only recently was used as a parking and heavy storage space for the Trams of Newhaven project) and have built an ugly heavy concrete wall across the Lindsay Road end without any community consultation – if the bridge is so dangerous how can it sustain this weight?
“If the bridge is so dangerous how can it be safe to walk and cycle underneath on the Hawthornvale Path? Why did they leave repairs left undone for so long? it’s a disgrace and nearby residents are very unhappy.”
See below for details of the petition:
The Pride Bridge is a community art project and public space. Painted by a diverse group of local volunteers, it marks the boundary of Leith and welcomes visitors with a rainbow that incorporates the colours of both the Pride and Trans Pride flags.
As well as being a much loved LGBTQ monument (the first of its kind in the city), the bridge is an important pedestrian and cycle thoroughfare, connecting the residential area to the main road, shops, public transport and schools.
It is also a much valued community social space, where people can meet in the beer garden and children can play in a safe, pedestrianised area which has been thoroughly weeded and litter picked to remove hazards. The bridge is also an important part of Leith’s industrial history.
The council has earmarked the bridge for demolition due to their failure to maintain it which has led to it becoming structurally unsound. Repairs are possible, and for less than the price of demolition. However, they are currently reluctant to pursue repair as an option, despite support from local Councillors, business owners and the wider community.
Please sign and share, and show your support for maintaining safe community spaces and preserving the first LGBTQ landmark in the city and certainly the only one that is visible from the plane when you fly into Edinburgh.
STARBANK PARK VOTED ONE OF SCOTLAND’s LOCAL FAVOURITES
Earlier this summer you nominated 364 local parks and green spaces for UK’s Favourite Parks. You then voted in your tens of thousands, demonstrating the immense love that we all have for our local parks, and Fields in Trust is delighted to announce that the UK’s Favourite Park 2022 is Penrhos Coastal Park in Holyhead, Wales.
Over 30,000 votes were cast for parks across the UK which represented the wide diversity of green spaces we all use and enjoy, from large country parks to major city parks to small neighbourhood pockets of green. Penrhos Coastal Park emerged as the overall UK winner having attracted the most votes from the public.
Across the Home Nations, Blackpool’s art deco Stanley Park has been named England’s Favourite Park 2022, attaining prestigious ‘National Treasure’ status having now been named as the public’s favourite park in England three times.
In Scotland the national title went to Seaton Park in Aberdeen, whilst Craigavon City Park in County Armagh took the title in Northern Ireland, the second time it has scooped its national accolade.
Fields in Trust are also delighted to announce the parks to have achieved ‘Local Favourite’ status, having placed in the top 20% of the public vote, demonstrating the love that their local communities have for them.
The full list of local favourite recipients can be found here and each will receive a special certificate to denote its success.
Edinburgh’s STARBANK PARK features proudly on the list of Scotland’s Local Favourite parks. Also commended are Aden Country Park in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire; Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline; Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick and Grangemouth’s Zetland Park.
This is the first time that the overall winner of UK’s Favourite Parks has emerged from Wales, with Cyfarthfa Park in Merthyr Tydfil, Roath Park in Cardiff and Pontypool Park in Torfaen having taken the national title in recent years but not the overall honours.
Attracting close to 100,000 visitors each year, Penrhos Coastal Park is near Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey in north Wales.
The 200-acre park has everything from beaches to woodland walks and is extremely popular with both locals and tourists alike. With a rich history dating back to 1553, the green space is also home to several features of historical interest, including original Tudor-era buildings.
Commenting on the announcement of Penrhos Coastal Park as the UK’s Favourite Park 2022, Fields in Trust Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, shared: “We’re incredibly excited to announce that Penrhos Coastal Park in Holyhead has been voted as the UK’s Favourite Park 2022 by those who use and love it.
“It is clear that this park is a very special place to a lot of people, and we are thrilled to officially crown it the UK’s favourite. We’ve had a fantastic response to the competition from all across the UK and I’d like to thank everyone who nominated and voted for parks over the past few weeks.
“The UK is home to such a diverse range of green spaces, and we hope that this award has encouraged people to truly appreciate their local parks. Our work to legally protect green spaces for good means we’re well aware of the threats they face and how important it is value and celebrate them.”
The campaign has illustrated how appreciation of our local parks has grown since the pandemic. As concerns mount over the climate crisis, green spaces have been proven to improve air quality and significantly limit the impact of heatwaves, by lowering urban temperatures.
With the annual Green Space Index revealing that 2.8 million people are not living within a ten-minute walk of a local park and that only 6% of green space provision in Britain is legally protected, the campaign has also highlighted the financial and developmental threats to green spaces.
By demonstrating our love for local parks, we can champion what they mean to communities and in turn help make the case for their long-term protection. Without legal protection our local parks can so easily be lost. And once lost, a green space is lost forever.
You can play your part in this protection of treasured local parks by making a donation to support Fields in Trust’s work.
Police are appealing for information following the vandalism of a headstone and theft in Greyfriars Kirkyard.
The incident happened in Greyfriars Kirk, Candlemaker Row between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Sunday, 21 August, 2022.
Police Sergeant Charlotte Crerar of Gayfield Police Station said: “We are appealing for information following the vandalism and theft of a marble facing stolen from the headstone.
“We are keen to trace a woman who was seen in the area. She is described as being around 5ft 6 inches tall, with red/ginger hair and of slim build. She was wearing a striped purple and white top, black bottoms, lime green socks and trainers and spoke with an American accent.
“The headstone is of historic significance and is irreplaceable and anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 0834 of Thursday, 25 August, 2022.”
As Collective’s summer exhibitions draw to an end, make sure you don’t miss your last chance to see them: Camara Taylor’s backwash and Annette Krauss’ A Matter of Precedents both close on 4 September, and Ruth Ewan’s The Beast closes on 18 September.
As our summer programme draws to a close, we are delighted to announce two new exhibitions opening in the coming weeks, featuring new work by Stephanie Black-Daniels and Katie Schwab.
Position & Attachment | Stephanie Black-Daniels
EXHIBITION
17 September – 20 November 2022
PREVIEW
16 September 2022, 6–8pm
Position & Attachment is a new exhibition by Glasgow-based artist and researcher Stephanie Black-Daniels, a participant in our 2021 Satellites Programme.
The artist draws on her experience of navigating breastfeeding practice in manmade public spaces during lockdown, whilst also reckoning with the medical language used to describe and instruct a feeding journey.
The new performance-based works for Collective build upon two years of performative and collaborative research with a group of women, and consider the potential for breastfeeding bodies to reclaim public space.
Join us for a preview on 16 September 6–8pm, to celebrate the launch of the exhibition.
The Seeing Hands | Katie Schwab
EXHIBITION
8 October 2022 – 5 March 2023
In October 2022, Collective’s City Dome will be a site of play, filled with a large-scale interactive exhibition by artist Katie Schwab, who participated in Collective’s Satellites Programme in 2015.
With a special interest in early-mid twentieth-century design and craft, Schwab’s practice is emphatically hands-on, collaborative and participatory. In the City Dome, she will layer textures, touchable surfaces and sculptures to create an exhibition that will invite tactile engagement and learning through play.
People of all ages are welcome to drop-in to play, look and gather in the exhibition with facilitated sessions during our regular Friday drop-in Play sessions.
Schools, nursery or community groups are welcome to contact Collectiveto book time to experience the exhibition.
This artwork is a joint commission in partnership with Bluecoat (Liverpool).
With 440 shows, 4400 artists, and 155,000 tickets, theSpaceUK has helped new artists and audiences experience the Fringe
theSpaceUK is one of the largest venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with 19 theatres across 7 venues. Every genre in the Fringe programme is represented and there’s a strong focus on new-writing and new companies with a wide-range of support provided for artists bringing work to the Fringe for the first time.
155,200 tickets were issued for shows at theSpaceUK this year, only a 1.5% fall since 2019 (157,700) – a remarkable achievement given this was the first year the Fringe has fully returned since Covid-19. This year saw 440 shows featuring 4395 artists at theSpaceUK representing over 35 different countries.
Artists at theSpaceUK were recognised for their work including a Fringe First for And then the Rodeo Burned Down, a Broadway Bobby award for Trial by Jury, The Carol Tambor Incentive awards for Burn, Hotel Elsinore and The Mistake, who also were awarded the Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe award.
theSpaceUK’s programme saw critical acclaim with numerous shows picking up multiple five-star reviews. Sugar (Mabel Thomas) was a one-hander masterpiece from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate Mabel Thomas and played to rapturous audiences. Assisted (Oxia Theatre) was a five-star smash-hit featuring a next-generation voice assistant alongside an impressive cast and was nominated for the BBC Writer’s Award.
Press and media were instrumental in helping artists achieve their success with over 800 reviews published during the Fringe. An array of reviewing organisations from across both the globe and different media helped ensure that artists were supported at theSpaceUK. We offer them our eternal gratitude.
Charles Pamment, Artistic Director of the SpaceUK said: “We’re delighted by the success that artists & companies have had at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with theSpaceUK.
“Our programme supports new-writing and new artists and is forward looking, building a relationship for the future. We are thankful to the audiences & artists who come to theSpaceUK and experience festival as it’s meant to be.
“There’s a range of reasons that have made 2022 audiences have been broadly in line with 2019. Sensible ticketing prices have meant that shows at theSpaceUK have been affordable to audiences.
“Extensive support with press and marketing have allowed companies to promote their shows and attract audiences. Being one of the few venues to return in 2021 with a full programme meant that strong relationships with audiences and artists have continued develop positively.”
And then the Rodeo Burned Down and The Mistake
About theSpaceUK Established in 1995, theSpaceUK hosts the largest and most diverse programme at the fringe. Companies, both professional & amateur, are given an affordable, supportive and professional platform to showcase their work.
About the venue theSpaceUK operates 19 venues across 7 sites including: theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, theSpace @ SymposiumHall, theSpace on North Bridge, theSpace on the Mile, theSpaceTriplex, the Space @ Venue45.
A ground-breaking gathering of crypto enthusiasts and Bitcoin Angels at Stirling Castle has raised £13,500 – and counting – for cancer charity Maggie’s.
In addition to the £5000 donated directly from artist and organiser Trevor Jones he is also willing to match contributions up to 5 Ethereum, as more continues to come through in donations of the crypto currency.
A fine art graduate and traditional painter, Trevor has worked at the intersection of art and technology for more than a decade, experimenting with QR code paintings and augmented reality (AR). When he invested in Bitcoin in 2017 it inspired a new creative direction, leading to his crypto-themed AR paintings and his emergence as a pioneer of non-fungible tokens (NFT) in art.
He staged the Grand Party at the historic castle last month (July) as a celebration of art, tech innovation and community, bringing together hundreds of NFT art enthusiasts from across five continents.
Billed as the year’s most exclusive crypto event, with an exclusive Special Edition Castle Party 2022 NFT available only at the gathering, it featured acts including magicians, drum and pipe bands, Highland warriors from Combat International, a caricaturist and musicians.
Trevor said: “We’re over the moon that the event already raised £13,500 for Maggie’s cancer charity, a cause close to the heart of the NFT community since the passing earlier this year of the well-loved crypto artist Phillipe Fatoux aka Alotta Money.
“The Castle Party was an unforgettable experience – even the temperamental Scottish weather was on our side with blue skies followed by a beautiful sunset. And we’ve already begun organising Castle Party 2023!”
Anyone who wishes to support the 2022 initiative can donate to Maggie’s or donate through this ETH address until the end of the year.
Mark Cooper, Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s says: “Everyone at Maggie’s is so grateful to the NFT community for their support.
“The funds raised will make a transformational difference to people with cancer and their friends and family living across Edinburgh.”
The event was also supported by a number of sponsors:
NFT whisky marketplace Metacask, Nova Finance digital asset investments, Tokenframe digital screens for NFT artwork, Saga cigars hand crafted in the Dominican Republic, Apollo NFT, a leading NFT consulting firm and production studio, and wilderness foragers and flavour alchemists, Buck & Birch.
Is sustainability your bag? Sign up to Second Hand September and show the world that any outfit looks fabulous when it’s helping to protect the planet!
By shopping only second hand for 30 days with Oxfam, you can give everything from t-shirts to trousers a brand new lease of life.
Plus, you’ll reduce demand for new clothes, help reduce damage to our planet, and raise money to help communities hit by poverty and the climate crisis.
Sign up to get:
Handy tips and tricks on how to revamp your wardrobe sustainably
20% discount code for the Oxfam online shop
The chance of winning front row tickets to the Oxfam London Fashion Week show
Share your eco-friendly outfits on socials using #SecondHandSeptember and tag @OxfamGB
As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, many university students will be looking for ways to cut back.
A recent study by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that a third of students are living on less than £50 a month after paying rent and bills. With the cost of living soaring, 96 per cent of students are cutting back on spending as a result.
Which? has nine tips for students wanting to save money while they study:
1. Choose the best student bank account
Choosing the best student bank account should be a priority. When looking for an account to suit your needs, Which? recommends finding one with a generous 0% overdraft that lasts for the length of your course.
Student bank account providers offer different perks and offers – so it’s worth making sure you get the deal best suited to you. For example, Santander offers a free four-year railcard which is worth around £90 but it doesn’t offer the largest interest-free overdraft and you’ll need to pay in £500 per term.
While NatWest offers one of the largest overdrafts for first-year students, the freebies, such as its one-year Tastecard membership, aren’t as valuable. Other accounts offer cash incentives of up to £100.
2. Consider what kind of laptop or computer you need
Most students find a laptop, rather than a desktop computer, better for university as they’re easy to carry around and don’t take up too much space. Don’t overspend on a laptop that’s too powerful for your needs. Between £250 and £400 should be enough if you’re only going to be researching and creating Word documents.
It’s worth searching for student discounts and deals on laptops. For instance, Lenovo offers up to 30 per cent off for students, but you might need to show a valid student ID. You can often find the best deals direct from manufacturers’ websites. For example, HP offers £150 cashback if you trade in an old laptop for a new one. Buying second hand or refurbished laptops is another way to save.
If you plan to work from home most of the time and you’re on a tight budget, a desktop computer might be a cost-effective option, especially if you already have a computer monitor, keyboard and mouse. Desktops typically have a faster processor, more ports and more RAM and storage, compared to the same-priced laptop.
Most universities have computers around campus for students to use, and some have laptops that can be used in their libraries.
3. Find out what additional support is available
Most universities offer additional financial support, particularly – although not exclusively – to students from lower-income families. The most common examples are bursaries and scholarships to help with some or all of a student’s tuition fees or living costs. Companies, charities and special-interest groups are all common sources of funding, too. Bursaries and scholarships may be awarded based on academic merit (i.e. achieving high grades at A-level), a talent or skill, and extracurricular achievements.
If you have a disability or dependants who rely on you for care or financial support (for example children, or parents you care for), you might be eligible for grants or allowances to help you. Students will be asked about this when applying for student finance, but it’s worth researching what your university, charities and other groups offer, too.
4. Share subscriptions with your flatmates
Lots of student accommodation doesn’t come with a television or TV licence, and many students rely on streaming services as a result. You can cut this cost by sharing streaming subscriptions within a household. Most services have plans that could help users save money, without losing their personalised features. For example, Spotify offers a Premium Duo plan for £13.99 a month for two people in the same household, saving £71.88 a year compared to the price of two individual subscriptions.
For larger households, the Spotify Premium Family plan for £16.99 a month allows up to six users to get premium benefits, saving a whopping £515.40 a year over six individual subscriptions. Amazon Prime also allows users to share benefits with another person in their household, halving the cost of having two separate accounts.
5. Buy books second hand
Students will no doubt be presented with a long list of books that they’ll need to buy as part of their course. Tutors often insist you buy them all, but it might be worth checking how many are mandatory and how many are ‘nice-to-haves’. Find out if any necessary books are available in your library to borrow, or if the relevant bits are available online to download for free. Some departments have their own second-hand book schemes, and many university bookshops sell second-hand copies as well. It could also be worth searching for cheaper second-hand copies on online marketplaces.
6. Find student discount codes
It’s always worth checking if you can pay less with a student discount, whether you’re going out for a pizza with friends or treating yourself to a new pair of jeans. Discounts can range from around 5 per cent to 40 per cent, so there are often big savings to be made. While students can typically use their physical student card in shops and restaurants, there are also online cards and schemes you can sign up for such as Totum, Tastecard, Unidays, Student Beans and International Student Card. Each service offers its own exclusive online discounts, so you’ll get different deals with each.
7. Look for freebies
Several companies offer freebies for students, so it’s worth searching for the best ones. For example, Amazon Prime offers six months free when you sign up to an Amazon Prime Student Trial. Students can also sign up for Microsoft’s Office 365 Education for free with their university email address. McDonald’s also offers a free cheeseburger, mayo chicken, or McFlurry Original when you buy any extra value or wrap meal and show a valid student or Student Beans ID.
8. Save money on bills
While those living in student accommodation will likely have their utilities included, students living off campus usually need to pay for this themselves. Think about ways you could reduce energy use for cheaper bills, such as cooking with housemates, charging your laptop on campus and not leaving gadgets on standby. Students are also exempt from paying council tax.
9. Save on transport
There are several ways to save on transport as a student. For example, the 16-25 railcard gives a third off rail journeys for just £30 per year, or £20 a year if you purchase via the Trainline before 31 August 2022.
You can also buy a railcard with £10 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers. National Express offers a Young Persons Coachcard for £15 that grants a third off journeys as well. It’s worth checking if you can get local travel cards or bus passes – different cities around the UK will have different options.
It might also be cost-effective to take a bike with you to save on transport costs. Some universities have their own bike loan schemes, so it’s worth checking when you arrive.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Senior Shopping and Money Editor, said: “University is already expensive and the rising cost of rent, food, energy and train fares, as well as books and other student essentials, means that many will be feeling the squeeze and looking for ways to cut back.
“There are ways to stay on top of things. Try sticking to a budget to keep track of your spending. Find a student bank account that offers a decent 0 per cent overdraft and perks that meet your needs. You can also save in a wide range of shops and restaurants with student discounts and offers – so it’s always worth keeping an eye out for deals.”
Musselburgh Racecourse’s final hurrah of the summer is set for an invasion of superheroes with next month’s Musselburgh Gold Cup Family Raceday.
Proving that racing isn’t just for the adults, the whole family is invited to embrace Superheroes Day with entertainment celebrating some of Marvel and DC’s most daring characters – from Batman and Spiderman to Captain America and Bumblebee.
Taking place on Sunday, September 11 and marking the last of The Sensational 7 Series of the year, the event invites youngsters to dress up as their favourite superhero or character in costume for a day at the races filled with family fun.
In the words of Spiderman’s Uncle Ben, with great power comes great responsibility – to enjoy yourself … !
Children 17 years and under are admitted free, when accompanied by a paying adult, and can enjoy the Clip Clop kids zone with children’s rides and superhero shows, prizes for the kids in the best dressed superhero or character costume, chill out tepee, bubbles and the ever-popular face-painting – all included in the ticket price. If that isn’t enough, they can also enjoy the day at the kids disco.
Alongside all the family fun, the East Lothian track is hosting an afternoon of equally exciting, top-quality racing and the raceday packages Musselburgh is renowned for, including picnic table reservations, dining at the Harris Tweed Bistro plus Fish & Chips and Gourmet Hot Dog options.
The Musselburgh Gold Cup over two miles, is one of the three feature races carrying £25,000 in prize money. Last year it was won by Haizoom, trained at Carluke by Keith Dalgleish and four out of the last five favourites have been successful.
Dumfriesshire-based Iain Jardine is another trainer from Scotland that has won this staying event which has also gone to horses from Newmarket and Yorkshire in the past.
Aisling Johnston, Commercial Manager at Musselburgh Racecourse said: “We’ve had a fantastic summer season and we want to go out on a high, with an event that brings together the whole family for a spectacular finale.
“We can’t wait. Bring on the invasion of the superheroes, we’re ready for them!”
Tickets for The Musselburgh Gold Cup Family Raceday are now on sale and booking before midnight on the 26th August will save £10.00 off the raceday gate admission price (£30.00). Children 17 years and under are admitted FREE at Musselburgh Racecourse when accompanied by a paying adult.
Concession tickets are available at the gate on the day for £15 per person.
Tickets for the Summer Finale Raceday on Saturday 10th September are also available for purchase. To find out more information about this day and the additional 28 fixtures throughout the year, please visit https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk
