Scotland’s Chief Constable welcomed almost 190 new officers into policing and thanked them for their commitment to public service yesterday.
Sir Iain Livingstone QPM greeted 189 new recruits as they were sworn into the office of constable during a ceremony at Police Scotland Headquarters, Tulliallan.
Addressing the officers, Sir Iain underlined Police Scotland’s core values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights, and emphasised the duties of the office of constable.
Sir Iain, who announced his intention to retire this week, said: “Policing is a hugely rewarding vocation in which officers help our fellow citizens every day, right across Scotland.
“Making the Declaration of Constable is a significant day in the lives and careers of those who join this vital public service.
“I thank everyone who makes that important commitment to work for the benefit of others and to keep people safe. I am also grateful to the families and loved ones who support them.”
Of the new recruits, three were previously members of police staff with Police Scotland while five served as special constables. A further five have served with the armed forces.
Applications to become a Police Scotland officer can be submitted at any time. There is no upper age limit for potential recruits, who must have a good level of fitness and be at least 17.5 years old at the time of applying. More information can be found on our website.
Adapted by Isobel McArthur with Michael John McCarthy
Co-directed by Isobel McArthur and Gareth Nicholls
Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
Full cast: Malcolm Cumming, Christina Gordon, Kim Ismay, Danielle Jam, Fatima Jawara, Ryan J Mackay, Grant O’Rourke, David Rankine, Isaac Savage, and Karen Young.
Composer and Music Supervisor Michael John McCarthy Set and Costume Design Anna Orton, Sound Design Clare Hibberd Movement Director Emily Jane Boyle Video Design Tim Reid Lighting Design Ben Ormerod Associate Director Isla Cowan Fight Director Claire Llewellyn Casting by Michael Howell
Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown
Touring the UK from Tuesday 28 March to Saturday 20 May 2023
Opening at the Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock and touring to Theatre Royal, Glasgow; Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; Eden Court, Inverness; Perth Theatre; Northern Stage, Newcastle and Theatre Royal, Brighton, as part of Brighton Festival, from March to May 2023.
Opening Performance at the Beacon Arts Centre on 31 March 2023
Kidnapped,Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure-classic is touring Scotland and England in a riotous new retelling for 2023.
This swashbuckling new production from the National Theatre of Scotland, adapted by Isobel McArthur with Michael John McCarthy, premieres at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock in March 2023 before touring to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Perth, Newcastle and Brighton.
Kidnapped is a colourful new take on Stevenson’s historical novella about David Balfour who leaves home for the first time and must grow up fast to solve a family mystery and take revenge on an evil assailant. This vibrant production is a coming-of-age romcom for today, which celebrates the poetry, humour and heart of Stevenson’s writing.
Co-created by Isobel McArthur and Michael John McCarthy, writer and musical supervisor of the Olivier award-winning Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of), Kidnappedis packed full of 20th century pop music and 18th century romance, all performed by a dynamic ensemble of actor-musicians.
Davie Balfour will be played by Ryan J Mackay, who was most recently seen on stage in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and he will be joined by Malcolm Cumming as Alan Breck Stewart, familiar to Scottish audiences from the acclaimed James IV: Queen of the Fight, (Raw Material and Capital Theatres, in association with National Theatre of Scotland) which toured Scotland in late 2022. Kim Ismay will be playing Frances and is perhaps most familiar to audiences for playing the role of Tanya in the West End production of Mamma Mia, and Madame Morrible in the international and UK & Ireland tours of Wicked.
They will be joined on this adventure by a talented ensemble including: Christina Gordon, who will be reuniting with Isobel McArthur and Michael John McCarthy after her run as an original cast member of Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role; David Rankine who is a Scottish actor most recently seen in the revival of the National Theatre of Scotland production of Rocket Post, which featured song arrangements from Michael John McCarthy; Danielle Jam, who recently worked with Raw Material, Capital Theatres and National Theatre of Scotland as one of the lead roles in James IV: Queen of the Fight and will be reunited with her James IV co-star Malcolm Cumming in Kidnapped; Grant O’Rourke has done extensive work in theatre, television, film and radio, and is most familiar to Scottish audiences for his role in Outlander, and more recently, Shetland;Isaac Savage is an actor, musician and composer who will joining the ensemble as the Performing Musical Director for Kidnapped, and last year was the Performing Musical Director for Cinderella at Dundee Rep; Karen Young is a Scottish actress, recently appeared in Cinderella at Dundee Rep; Fatima Jawara was most recently seen as the titular role in Eastern Angles’ Christmas production of Little Red.
“I don’t believe it……I finally have a chance at a decent future – and my only surviving relative pays to have me knocked unconscious and forced onto a knackered old boat by a load of bloody… Pirates!”
19-year-old Davie Balfour has never left home, never been kissed and never fired a gun. Armed with nothing but a hand-drawn map, he heads off on an adventure like no other – quickly realising that he has a lot of catching up to do. The production follows Davie on a journey of eye-opening discovery as he navigates murderous foes, Jacobite outlaws and the most inept crew of pirates this side of the Atlantic.
This version of Kidnapped reframes the relationship between the central characters Davie Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart as a romance, which is played out through their adventures across the Lowlands and Highlands of a Scotland still reeling from the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion. Robert Louis Stevenson’s wife, Frances, an American writer who supported her husband throughout his writing, also features in the production in the role of a spirit guide to the protagonist.
The music – performed live – is arranged by Michael John McCarthy and will include well-loved songs including denim-clad Americana, late 90s love songs, art rock, protest anthems, 80s synth-pop, Gaelic folk song and more.
Isobel McArthur is an Oliver award-winning actor, director and playwright. Her plays have toured the UK and been performed internationally. Her five-star West End adaptation of the classic novel Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is currently on tour across the UK. Previous work for National Theatre of Scotland as an actor includes Edwin Morgan’s Scots language Cyrano De Bergerac (with Citizens Theatre) and as writer/co-director of The Quiz! (with BBC Scotland) as part of Scenes for Survival.
Michael John McCarthy is a musician, sound designer and composer for stage and screen. He has worked on over eighty theatrical productions and has collaborated on the making of ten Scotsman Fringe First Award winners, most recently The Last Return by Druid Theatre Company.
He is the musical supervisor & co-sound designer on Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play, and his previous work for National Theatre of Scotland includes The Cheviot, The Stag, & The Black, Black Oil, Rocket Post and In Time O’ Strife.
Isobel McArthur and Michael John McCarthy –Kidnappedco-creators said: “In Kidnapped, there seemed to us to be more of Stevenson the man, his beliefs and experiences, than in any other of his works of fiction.
“His deeply romantic view of being human, his attempts to hold onto a sense of innocence and wonder at the world, his lust for travel, his attraction to glamour and physical strength… they are all here! In this novella, Stevenson asks what it is to be Scottish, to be in in love, to be a grown-up – all through the telling of a historical tale, full of humour, heart and song.
“It’s a true adventure story – where body and soul are put through their paces – to, by turns, thrilling, moving and humorous effect. We just couldn’t pass it up.”
Kidnapped was originally written as serialised fiction in the magazine Young Folks from May to July 1886. The novel first appeared in book form from Cassell and Company in July 1886 and has since been adapted several times with numerous versions for film and television.
Edinburgh born Stevenson based many of the characters and events in the much-loved classic on actual people and places. Principal characters Davie Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart are celebrated in a 15-foot-tall statue by Alexander Stoddart situated on the outskirts of Edinburgh near Corstorphine Hill.
Join the conversation: #Kidnapped
Touring to Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock (previews Tue 28, Wed 29, Thurs 30 March) Fri 31 March – Sat 1 April 2023; Theatre Royal, Glasgow Wed 5 – Sat 8 April 2023, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Tue 11 – Sat 22 April 2023; Eden Court, Inverness Wed 26 – Sat 29 April 2023; Perth Theatre Wed 3 – Sat 6 May 2023 and Northern Stage, Newcastle Tues 9 – Sat 13 May 2023.
A Fife charity aiming to boost the representation of LGBTQ+ people in rural areas has received a £1,000 donation from the team at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline.
Pink Saltire provides a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community – especially young people – in smaller, more rural areas of Scotland. The charity offers many services including training, advice and support and launched The Hive LGBT+ Centre in Kirkcaldy earlier this year.
The donation from Amazon will be used to purchase specialist equipment for their new recording studios, which the charity will use to train volunteers to help them produce podcasts and radio shows.
Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “It is a pleasure to make this donation to such an important organisation.
“We are pleased to support Pink Saltire as its work makes such a big impact in Kirkcaldy and beyond.”
Chris Graham, an employee at Amazon in Dunfermline who nominated the charity for support, said: “Some of my close friends have been supported by Pink Saltire – it’s great that Amazon can boost the charity with this donation.”
Stuart Duffy, from Pink Saltire, added: “We really appreciate the support of Jamie and his team, this will make a big difference and ensure more LGBT+ people have the tools to really amplify their voices.
“We hope the work at The Hive will continue to inspire people across Fife and beyond, where sometimes its still difficult to be your true self.”
The donation to Pink Saltire was made as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities around its operating locations across the UK.
Scottish politics is of course a little up in the air at the moment, following the decision of the current First Minister to resign and high drama of the start of the leadership race (writes EMMA CONGREVE, Deputy Director and Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute).
We’re yet to hear too much about the economic policy intentions of her successor, but with nominations closing today (Friday), we expect to hear much more about that in the week ahead.
Aside from the distractions of the SNP leadership contest, here are few other issues making the news this week:
UK – public finances
There was a larger than expected surplus in UK Public Sector Net Borrowing in January 2023. January is typically a year when there is a bump in tax revenues due to the self-assessment tax deadline and these were up £5.5 billion on the same time last year. Energy costs were also lower than expected with the government’s energy price subsidy coming in around £1 billion less than expected by the OBR.
Overall, in the financial year to January 2023, the public sector has borrowed around £30 billion less than the OBR were predicting back in November 2022. This does give some extra fiscal headroom for the UK Chancellor ahead of the upcoming UK Budget on the 15th March, although we wouldn’t expect any big changes given the Chancellor’s stated preference for caution off the back of the turbulence caused by his predecessor.
Scotland – Scottish Budget
In Scotland, the Scottish Budget passed stage three. As we often find at this point in the budget process, there was a little more money to play with due to extra funding (£125 million) coming through the Barnett formula as a result of spending in devolved areas in Westminster. There was also confirmation of an additional £21 million to correct for an error in a previous allocation.
Extra money (£100 million) has been promised to local authorities to help with pay offers for non-teaching staff, which comes off the back of money last week (£123 million) for teaching staff. Creative Scotland also got a boost.
Scottish council’s are now starting to finalise their budgets for the year ahead, with positions on Council Tax increases understandably getting a lot of attention. Already, Orkney have confirmed an increase their Council Tax by 10% with councillors in Aberdeen being recommended by to do the same. Although the very lowest income households are protected from these increases by Council Tax Reduction, many who do face them will of course be concerned over what this means for their household finances.
ONS – financial vulnerability
This week, ONS published an article on groups of people experiencing some form of financial vulnerability who are most exposed to cost of living increases. Whilst the groups cited as being most vulnerable to cost of living increases are what we would expect to see (renters, young people, parents with dependent children, and low-income households) it is great to see ONS continuing to use their data and tools to pull out these insights.
Quantitative data from the ONS does play an important role in policy development, and having data pulled out like this will also help with monitoring the impact of policies to help financial vulnerable groups over time.
The Scottish Parliament has published its draft Gaelic Language Plan, which lays out its commitments to supporting and promoting the use of Gaelic within the organisation.
It is consulting on the plan and is looking for views from members of the public on the proposed priorities set out before a final plan is published later this year.
Announcing the draft Gaelic Language Plan, Presiding Officer The Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP said: “Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland’s heritage, national identity and cultural life.
“Since this Parliament passed the Gaelic Language Act of 2005, public bodies in Scotland have had a legal duty to promote the increased learning and use of Gaelic. This draft plan sets out how we propose to do that over the next five years.”
Members of the public can tell Parliament what they think about the Gaelic Language plan through an online consultation platform. Fluent speakers, and those learning the language, are especially invited to share their views on both the continuing, and new commitments, made in the plan.
The link to the consultation platform can be found here.
The Scottish Parliament’s Gaelic Development Officer, Dr Alasdair MacCaluim, said: “From visible signage around the building, to the provision of a Gaelic email and telephone service for the public to contact us on, we are proud of the prominence that Gaelic has at Holyrood. We’ll be expanding offerings under the new plan as interest in the language grows.
“We invite Gaelic speakers and learners to let us know what they think of our current provisions, and some of the new commitments we’ll be undertaking over the next five years. The feedback we receive will help us to improve the plan and provide an even better service for everyone.”
Tha Pàrlamaid na h-Alba air am Plana Gàidhlig as ùire fhoillseachadh agus tha i a’ sireadh ur cuid bheachdan
Tha Pàrlamaid na h-Alba air an dreachd den Phlana Ghàidhlig aice fhoillseachadh an-diugh, far a bheil i a’ nochdadh a cuid gheallaidhean gus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig an taobh a-staigh na buidhne a chuideachadh is a chur air adhart.
Tha i a’ co-chomhairleachadh air a’ phlana agus i ag iarraidh bheachdan bho dhaoine mu na prìomhachasan a thathar a’ moladh na bhroinn mus tèid am plana deireannach fhoillseachadh nas fhaide air adhart am-bliadhna.
Agus i ag ainmeachadh a’ Phlana Ghàidhlig, thuirt an t-Oifigear Riaghlaidh, am Fìor Urr. Alison Johnstone BPA: “Tha Gàidhlig na mhìr deatamach de dhìleab, de dh`ìomhaigh nàiseanta agus de bheatha chultarail na h-Alba.
“Bho ghabh a’ Phàrlamaid seo ri Achd Ghàidhlig 2005, tha dleastanas laghail air a bhith air buidhnean poblach barrachd ionnsachaidh is cleachdaidh Ghàidhlig a chur air adhart. Tha an dreachd seo den phlana a’ nochdadh mar a tha e san amharc againn sin a dhèanamh thairis air an ath chòig bliadhna.”
Faodaidh daoine innse dhan Phàrlamaid mu na tha iad a’ smaoineachadh mun Phlana Ghàidhlig tron làrach cho-chomhairleachaidh air-loidhne. Tha cuireadh gu sònraichte gu daoine le Gàidhlig bho thùs agus don fheadhainn a tha ag ionnsachadh a’ chànain na beachdan aca mun dà chuid na geallaidhean leantainneach agus an fheadhainn ùra a thathar a’ dèanamh sa phlana a nochdadh. Gheibhear an ceangal ris an làraich-chomhairleachaidh an seo.
Thuirt Oifigear Leasachaidh Gàidhlig Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, an Dr. Alasdair MacCaluim:
“Bho shoidhnichean timcheall an togalaich, gu solar post-d agus seirbheis fòn Gàidhlig dhan mhòr-shluagh gus fios a chur thugainn, tha sinn moiteil às cho follaiseach ’s a tha a’ Ghàidhlig aig Taigh an Ròid. Bidh sinn a’ leudachadh na tha sinn a’ tabhann fon phlana ùr agus ùidh sa chànan a’ fàs.”
“Tha sinn a’ toirt cuireadh do luchd-labhairt agus luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig innse dhuinn dè am beachd a th’ aca air na tha sinn a’ dèanamh an-dràsta, agus air na gealltanasan ùra a bhios sinn a’ cur an gnìomh thairis air an ath chòig bliadhna. Cuidichidh na beachdan a gheibh sinn gus piseach a thoirt air a’ phlana agus gus seirbheis nas fheàrr a thoirt dhan a h-uile duine.”
Cùl-fhiosrachadh
Chaidh Achd Ghàidhlig (Alba) 2005 aontachadh le Pàrlamaid na h-Alba gus inbhe na Gàidhlig a dhaingneachadh mar chànan oifigeil ann an Alba aig a bheil spèis cho-ionann ris a’ Bheurla.
Is e fear de na mìrean bunaiteach ann an Achd 2005 gu bheil ullachadh ann a tha a’ toirt comas do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig iarraidh air ùghdarras poblach Plana Gàidhlig a dheasachadh. Chaidh an t-ullachadh seo a dhealbhadh gus a dhearbhadh gum bi àite aig an roinn phoblaich ann an Alba ann a bhith a’ cruthachadh seasmhachd airson na Gàidhlig le bhith a’ togail inbhe is ìomhaigh a’ chànain agus a’ cruthachadh chothroman practaigeach a bhith ga cleachdadh.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Bernat Klein: Design in Colour Until 23 Apr 2023 Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Free entry
Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer.
Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia.
Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder Until 1 May 2023 Ticketed (concessions available)
Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder features eight zones filled with immersive, hands-on experiences. Travel through the Time Vortex Corridor, discover Sonic Screwdrivers, teleportation technology and much more in a TARDIS Tech room, and get up close with some of the series’ weird and wonderful creatures in the Monster Vault.
Join us for the Scottish premiere of this ground-breaking exhibition. It’s bigger on the inside!
COMING SOON Beyond the Little Black Dress 1 Jul – 29 Oct 2023 Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3 Ticketed (concessions available)
From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.
The exhibition will chart a century of fashion in a series of themed, immersive displays. Iconic early pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Jean Muir will be juxtaposed with recent looks by ground-breaking contemporary designers and brands like Gareth Pugh, Simone Rocha and Off-White.
Japanese Contemporary Design Until 30 Jul 2023 Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 Free entry
From striking statement jewellery to prints and porcelain vases, this new free display considers how Japanese contemporary makers have combined innovative and traditional art, craft and design elements over the past five decades.
The star object is Hitomi Hosono’s A Large Pine Tree Pool, a sculptural porcelain bowl with complex hand-carving made and acquired in 2019. Further highlights include Junko Mori’s intricate New Pinecone Silver Organism, and colourful body adornments by jeweller Suō Emiko’s adapted from metalworking and engraving techniques traditionally used in the making of Japanese sword fittings.
Events National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
A Night of Science and Wonder 2 & 3 Mar 2023 18:30 – 22:30 £18 – £22 including talk and exhibition entry
Two exclusive evenings celebrating our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Our adult-only events will explore the creative innovation and cutting-edge science behind the global hit television series, Doctor Who.
Each night will feature an expert perspective on either space science or Doctor Who, plus themed hands-on activities. Tickets also include entry to our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition.
Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers 4 Mar 2023 14:00 – 16:00 Auditorium, Level 1 Age 14+ Ticketed, concessions available
Inspired by our exhibition, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, join curator Lisa Mason and Dr Anna Nyburg to explore the work of revolutionary émigré textile designers, Bernat Klein and Tibor Reich. This event features an exclusive screening of the 2017 documentary film, Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers. There will also be the chance to view our free exhibition Bernat Klein: Design in Colour before or after the event.
BSL Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder 7 Mar 2023 17:30 – 19:30 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Standard exhibition entry princes apply
Join us after hours for a Deaf-led BSL tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who. Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.
Science Saturday: exploring the science of Doctor Who 18 Mar 2023 10:30 – 16:00 Grand Gallery (Drop in)
Meet scientists whose research might be helping to turn science fiction into science fact! Contributors include University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and National Museums Scotland. From AI and quantum realms to different dimensions and time travel, Science Saturday brings together expert-led activities that explore the real science behind Doctor Who‘s interstellar adventures.
Bernat Klein: Design Matters 28 Mar 2023 Free, with optional donation
Join curator Lisa Mason to discuss the legacy of visionary textile designer Bernat Klein and discover how his design ethos is inspiring designers working today with contemporary designers Kirsty McDougall and Sam Reich to discuss Klein’s legacy as a designer, educator and theorist, as well as his enduring belief in design as a force for good in society.
Audio Described Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder 28 Mar 2023 17:30–19:30 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Standard exhibition entry prices apply
Join us after hours for an audio-described tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who. Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.
Join us as we host two weeks of science-fuelled exploration at the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks and events.
Relaxed Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder 18 Apr 2023 17:30–19:30 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Standard exhibition entry prices apply
Join us for a relaxed after hours visit to Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder for anyone who would prefer a calmer visit to the exhibition. During this opening, numbers will be reduced and wherever possible, sounds will be lowered and light levels adjusted to provide a more relaxed experience. A quiet, breakout space will also be available. A visual welcome guide will be provided in advance to help you prepare for your visit.
National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF Open daily 10:00 – 16:00
Operation Sabotage 18 & 19 Mar 2023 Age 14+ event Ticketed
The year is 1942 and you are stationed at the RAF base at East Fortune. There has been an act of sabotage and one of the aircraft is unknowingly carrying live ordnance with instructions to bomb the town. Solve a series of fiendish puzzles to call off the flight and save North Berwick!
Operation Sabotage is an escape room experience for 4-8 people that lasts up to an hour. Working together as a team, you must race against the clock in two Second World War-themed rooms to decipher the identity of the saboteur before it’s too late.
National Lottery Open Week 25 & 26 Mar 2023 10:00 – 16:00 Free entry on presentation of National Lottery ticket (T&Cs apply)
As a recipient of National Lottery funding, we are inviting players to the museum for free for the weekend, to say thank you for their support. Visitors will need to book a timed entry ticket online for every member of their group in advance of their visit and bring both their admission ticket and lottery ticket or scratch card.
Follow the Wright brothers and design your own aeroplane, drawing inspiration from the collection at the National Museum of Flight. Nearly 120 years ago the Wright Brothers flew the first powered and controlled aeroplane. Take inspiration from our Civil Aviation collection and make your own flying machine.
Project takes inspiration from the country’s most loved storytellers
The famous last lines of iconic Scottish texts Sunset Song, Lanark, Peter Pan and Treasure Island are to feature alongside the song from the last page of Jackie Kay’s The Pink House and Kirsty Campbell’s joyful farewell in Ely Percy’s Duck Feet in an intriguing new collaboration between composer, singer-songwriter Gareth Williams and an array of Scottish fiction luminaries.
In Songs from the Last Page, Williams is drawing directly from the final moments of some of Scotland’s most influential and much-loved works of fiction, and inspiring readers of all ages to re-engage with their favourite stories reimagined through music – a 12-track pop/classical album and Scottish tour.
Williamscomments: “This new suite of songs for voice, piano and string duo captures the moment a reader finishes the last lines of a book and holds on to this feeling for just a few more minutes.
“The album will be a true celebration of the rich musical and literary worlds of Scotland and will include unforgettable and fantastical lines from much-loved historical and contemporary works.
Explaining the origin of the work, Williams said “I’ve always been a big reader and really enjoy working with text. During the pandemic I looked towards my bookshelf for inspiration, delving into the final pages of my favourite works, and dabbling with the notion of using the last lines to create new songs.”
Award-winning poet, playwright, and novelist Jackie Kay commented: “This is a first for me – lines of a story made into song. I’m excited to hear what Gareth Williams makes of the lines from The Pink House.
“The story was originally published in my book Reality, Reality. I love the idea of these lines fashioning a whole new reality through music.”
Some of the stories set for potential inclusion on the album include: How to be Both by Ali Smith, At the Loch of The Green Corrie by Andrew Greig, Lanark by Alasdair Gray, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Duck Feet by Ely Percy, News Of The Dead by James Robertson, Sonny and Me by Ross Sayers, Peter Pan by J M Barrie, Pink House by Jackie Kay and The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Listen to The Song from the Last Page of Lanark (Demo) on SoundCloud.
The full album will be recorded in April this year followed by its launch at a week-long residency at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, where each evening, a new song will be written specially for that concert – taken from a suggestion submitted by the public in the weeks leading up to the Festival.
Songs from the Last Page is among 37 receiving a total of £791,837 National Lottery funding in this latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund awards. At a glance, projects also include:
The return of Page2Stage Edinburgh, an exciting new writing night produced by Michelle McKay and hosted by The Scottish Storytelling Centre.
The 37th annual Glasgow Jazz Festival, running from Wednesday 14th – Sunday 18th June 2023 with multiple music events taking place each day in city centre venues.
Action-packed music sessions in Dundee for school-age children from the Benedetti Foundation.
Paul Burns, Interim Director of Arts at Creative Scotlandsaid: “This month has seen the launch of two new funds: the National Lottery Open Fund for organisations and a new time-limited National Lottery Extended Programme Fund, marking an important step in the delivery of our new approach that will enable even more innovative and exciting creative activity to unfold in the year ahead and beyond, inspiring people of all ages across Scotland.”
Edinburgh parents urged to seek help with employment
A new campaign will encourage families living on a low income to access local support with finances and work.
It encourages people to take the first step towards relieving these pressures with help from the Parent Club website. This can guide them towards tailored support to help them improve their situation by starting work after unemployment, returning to work or improving earnings.
The campaign which includes TV, radio and online advertising, highlights the pressures of everyday life and shows parents feeling the ‘walls closing in’ on them as they juggle family life with bills and other costs.
Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We know that many families in Edinburgh are finding it hard to make ends meet at the moment and are looking for advice on things like finding work and applying for benefits.
“Taking the first step at ParentClub.scot can help find services that offer free, confidential and tailored advice that can really make a difference for families across Scotland.
“For anyone that’s feeling worried, stressed and overwhelmed, but aren’t sure where to start, please know you’re not alone and that help is available.”
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We understand the anxiety and stress, that low-income families could be living with and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis is likely to be making even worse.
“Parent Club can guide people to free and confidential tailored advice from local authority employment services, where they can access support relevant to their own work and family situation.
“It also offers information on how to get help from the Money Talk Team who can advise on areas such as maximising income and dealing with debt. Parent Club also provides sources of support with mental health and stress.
“Tackling child poverty is our national mission. We want to make sure parents know what help is out there and claim any support they should be getting.”
Citizens Advice Scotland CEO Derek Mitchell said: “When times are difficult it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by bills mounting up – but our advice is free, confidential, and impartial.
“The Citizens Advice network is working with the Scottish Government to deliver the Money Talk Team service. We can check to see what payments you might be missing out on or any cheaper deals are available to you. If you are struggling with debt we can help with that too.
“Don’t delay, you could be missing out on money that could make a huge difference to you and your family’s finances.”
Which? is calling on telecoms firms to act on mid-contract price rises, as new research shows millions of mobile customers are trapped in a Catch-22 where they either have to accept exorbitant mid-contract price increases or pay exit fees of over £400 to end their contract.
The Big Four mobile firms – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone – raise prices every April in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or Retail Price Index (RPI) plus an additional 3.9 per cent.
EE, Three and Vodafone use CPI – leading to price increases of over 14 per cent in 2023 – while O2 uses the higher RPI measure, meaning some customers will face hikes of more than 17 per cent this year.
As these price rises are often applied mid-contract, people either have to accept these hard to justify increases or pay costly exit fees to leave their contract early. Shockingly, these inflationary price hikes also mean some providers will arguably overcharge customers for handsets that are part of bundled contracts.
The consumer champion has calculated how much an average EE, O2, Three and Vodafone customer affected by the latest price increases could see their payments rise in 2023 for both SIM-only and bundled contracts.
These price hikes are highest for bundled contracts – where the customer pays monthly for both the handset and airtime. Based on figures from Which?’s latest mobile survey, the average EE customer would see an annual increase of £66.36 while the typical Three customer would see a hike of £56.40 to their bundled contract due to mid-contract price rises.
The same EE customer would face eye-watering exit fees of £424.67 to leave a year early and Three’s customer would need to fork out £379.46 to leave their contract.
For EE and Three bundled customers – plus legacy Vodafone customers – these price hikes are applied to the whole bundled deal. As these bundled contracts are not broken into handset and airtime costs, Which? used an equivalent SIM-only plan to to estimate how much bundled customers will pay for their handset due to these inflationary price rises.
Using the example of an EE customer who took out a 36-month contract for an iPhone Pro Max with unlimited data, Which? estimates the customer would pay an additional £105 for the handset over the next year. A Three customer with the same contract would pay an estimated £86 extra for the handset over the next year. Prices for both providers will rise again the next year, meaning that customers will pay even more just for their handset.
For O2 and most Vodafone contracts, only the airtime part of a contract is subject to inflation – so the level of mid-contract price hikes and exit fees will vary according to the individual contract.
Which? has also analysed pricing data to calculate how much an average SIM-only customer with EE, O2, Three and Vodafone affected by the latest price increases could see their payments rise in 2023.
The average EE customer would see the biggest potential annual increase of £46.20. This is closely followed by O2 and Vodafone customers who would see annual price hikes of £42.72 and £42.36 respectively. The average customer with Three would see the lowest annual increase of £25.20.
EE SIM-only customers would face the highest exit fees of £295.36 if they wanted to leave a year early. This is closely followed by Vodafone and O2 customers who face exit fees of £287.88 and £237.08. Three customers face the lowest exit fees of £169.59 for leaving their contract a year early.
With Ofcom currently investigating mid-contract price hikes and their fairness for consumers, telecoms firms are facing a reckoning on these practices.
Which? is calling on all providers to do the right thing and reconsider any price rises they impose. Providers should allow customers to leave their contract without penalty if prices are hiked mid-contract – regardless of whether or not these increases can be said to be ‘transparent’ – and cancel 2023 inflationary hikes for financially vulnerable consumers.
Currently, Sky Mobile does not use inflationary mid-contract rises – and where prices rise, customers can leave penalty-free. Tesco Mobile used to operate on this model but has now introduced inflationary price hikes for some customers in 2023.
On smaller networks – like Giffgaff, VOXI or Smarty – these types of typical inflation-based rises will not apply, and customers are able to switch without penalty.
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “It’s hugely concerning that many mobile customers could find themselves trapped in a Catch-22 situation where they either have to accept exorbitant – and difficult to justify – mid-contract price hikes this Spring or pay costly exit fees to leave their contract early and find a better deal.
“With many households struggling to make ends meet, it is completely unfair that people are trapped in this situation. Which? is calling on providers to act quickly and reconsider any price rises. Firms should cancel 2023 hikes for financially vulnerable consumers and allow all customers to leave without penalty if they face mid-contract price rises.”
EDINBURGH councillors have passed a budget focused on ‘getting the basics right’ and making Edinburgh a ‘cleaner and greener city’. However that budget was not the one put forward by by the ruling Labour administration – council rejected that, and instead eventually backed a Liberal Democrat budget.
This means a Labour-led council will now be promoting and implementing a budget put forward by the Liberal Democrats, the council’s third biggest party.
Trade unions are concerned about elements within the budget passed by the council – particularly over compulsory redundancies and outsourcing- and some senior Labour figures believe Council Leader Cammy Day’s position is now untenable.
There are calls for him to resign: both from the SNP – the biggest group on the council – and, perhaps of more concern, from within the city’s own Labour group.
The humiliating budget defeat shows the fragility of Labour’s leadership position within the council.
With thirteen councillors Labour needs the support of other parties to run the city.
Labour chose to break their ‘Capital Coalition’ agreement with the SNP and instead joined forces with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats following last May’s local government elections, despite assurances from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar that there would be ‘no deals’.
With 18 councilllors the SNP is the biggest group on the city council by some way. Labour (13) is second followed by the Lib Dems (12), Greens (10) and Tories (9).
Lib Dems, doubtless boosted by their Budget coup, are bullish about their chances of increasing their representation in the City Chambers following a by-election in Corstorphine/Murrayfield on 9 March.
SNP Group leader (and leader of the former ruling ‘Capital Coalition’) said: “What Labour actually voted for: -£600k saving by ending no compulsory redundancy policy NOW. -£500k saving THIS YEAR by privatising waste & cleansing services.
“You can’t trust a word from Labour on this.”
He also tweeted: “Labour “administration” budget defeated – Labour instead backed the LibDem budget in full. If my budget had been voted down as Council Leader I’d have had the integrity to resign.”
While rejecting a series of savings proposals in education and speech and language therapy, councillors agreed to allocate substantial additional money to improve roads, paths and pavements and carry out additional resurfacing works for the long term.
Additional funding will also be made available for the city’s parks and greenspaces, tackling fly tipping, graffiti removal and street sweeping, and additional resource for flood defences and gully cleaning in light of the increasing impacts of climate change.
The Climate and Sustainability Team will also be bolstered, enabling a greater focus on the city’s ambition of becoming net zero by 2030 and the King’s Theatre will also benefit from funding to secure its future, with £3m set aside – a move supported across the council.
Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Kevin Lang said: “I’m delighted that our budget got support from councillors – and that, in the midst of the cost of living crisis, we’ve been able to limit the rise in council tax to 5% for Edinburgh’s residents.
“This is a Council budget that delivers. A budget that stops £5 million of education cuts, injects £11 million extra to tackle our broken roads and pavements, more investment for parks and new money for climate change action.
“Despite continued funding cuts from the Scottish Government, residents still rightly expect high quality local services in return for the increasing amounts of council tax they pay each year, which requires a budget which focuses on essential core services, delivered well.”
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Despite the unique demands of a Capital city, Edinburgh continues to receive the worst grant funding of any local authority in Scotland. Years of local government cuts have now come to a head, forcing us to find close to £80m of savings this year – on top of the hundreds of millions we’ve made already.
“It’s a position none of us wanted to be in and our residents deserve better. Despite this, we presented a positive, fair and responsible set of proposals, aimed at protecting vital frontline services on which our communities and residents rightly depend.
“So, I was deeply disappointed we didn’t secure the backing from other groups, particularly in the manner in which it came about. But, for all that, I remain absolutely committed to leading this council and to working with all other groups to deliver the best for the people of Edinburgh.”
