Together with our partners, North Edinburgh Arts are extremely delighted to invite you all to the opening evening of the Rooted in Community Exhibition on Friday 28 April (6pm – 9pm) at Granton:hub (Madelvic House, Granton Park Avenue).
The exhibition is a celebration of community and diversity, highlighting the unique experiences and diverse cultures of people living in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes. Through their work, the artists explore themes such as community, identity, grief, and mental health, inviting us to reflect on our own experiences and engage with the world around us.
From colourful paintings to representative photography, sculpture, portraits and pencil drawings, we invite you to take a journey through the works on display, each one telling a different story about life in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes.
Come and see the amazing artwork by local artists!
29 – 30 April 2023, 11am – 6pm (daily)
Opening event: Friday 28 April, 6pm – 9pm
Part of Create Community Wealth – a collaborative community wealth-building project, delivered in partnership between WHALE Arts, North Edinburgh Arts, SCOREscotland and Passion4Fusion, that aims to support local people living in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes to explore their creative and enterprising ideas, to tackle social exclusion and improve wellbeing and local economic prospects through creativity.
Imagine being a keen hillwalker who loves the outdoors but then being unable to enjoy it because of sight loss. Fortunately, many veterans of the Armed Forces who have visual impairment can climb their favourite mountains again, thanks to Sight Scotland Veterans.
Jason Turnbull is a centre officer at Sight Scotland Veterans’ Hawkhead Centre in Paisley. The keen hillwalker, who is a former healthcare support worker, has been at Hawkhead since it opened five years ago. A few months ago, the centre’s IT suite installed its first VR headset and already it is having a positive impact on its users.
Jason, who is responsible for organising activities for the veterans, is combining his passion for hillwalking and the power of virtual reality so that many of the veterans at the Hawkhead Centre can experience Scotland’s great outdoors again.
He explains: “I had previous experience with VR headset, so I was very keen to try it at Hawkhead. I watched 360-degree videos on YouTube and thought to myself ‘I can do better than that’. So, I bought a 360-degree camera and took it up the hills with me.
“I then began showing the veterans who are keen hillwalkers, and those who weren’t, the footage and there was a very positive reaction. They said it was ‘like being back on the hills’.”
The centre officer explained that because the VR headset lenses are close to their eyes, the veterans can experience the video footage like those without vision loss.
He adds: “I thought I am on to something here, so I have been going around as many Munros as I can so they can come with me.
I am starting with the centrally located ones, in and around Crianlarich, like Ben More and Stob Binnein. I edit the footage and show the veterans when I come back, and they are saying it is absolutely unbelievable.
“It’s reawakening something in them. It is so rewarding to watch them and see their reaction. Perhaps it has been many years since they’ve climbed that hill, but they realise where they are. The VR allows them to revisit somewhere that was special to them. It triggers all those memories and sparks positive feelings within them.”
Noreen Smith, a former army nurse who has Macular degeneration, who regularly attends Sight Scotland Veterans’ Hawkhead Centre, has always been a great hillwalker but had to give up her passion due to her vision impairment. She explains: “The VR is just wonderful, it is just like you are back there again, it brings back so many happy memories for me. I can see the whole landscape, all the tremendous views, it really is like I am walking up the hills again.”
Brian Wilson, who works in Sight Scotland Veterans’ Linburn Centre, is also seeing, first-hand, how VR is having a huge impact on the centre users.
Brian comments: “In many instances, it enables veterans to see again, which is just amazing. As the screens are very close to their eyes, and includes large, bold images, it helps people with low vision see better and up close.
“Some of them find it quite overwhelming the first time they experience it. It opens up a whole new world to a person with a visual impairment.
“It is fully immersive and allows them to completely forget about the outside world. They can forget about their eye condition or any other problems or stresses they have and just relax and enjoy the experience.”
Dino-sauring into Edinburgh Science Festival 2023’s final weekend, the National Museum of Scotland is hosting the second of the Festival’s themed family weekends: EarthFest.
From prehistoric creatures to the cutting edge of climate science, EarthFest is a t-rriffic celebration of the world around us that offers the chance to learn more about our planet, the animals that live here and how we can take care of it.
Families can build their own dinosaur from giant bones in the Grand Gallery’s drop-in activities zone, and adventure through a world of sustainability in Two in a Barrel.
PICTURED: Thane Elders (age 7) getting ready for EarthFest this weekend at the National Museum of Scotland.
Crown Jewels to be projected onto Tower of London before touring iconic landmarks across the four nations
The move is part of events to mark Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort’s Coronation celebrations which will see more than 100,000 people attend live screenings of the event next month at 57 UK sites
It is also revealed today that 50,000 Coronation Big Lunches to mark the event are expected
A new immersive light and sound show displaying the Crown Jewels on iconic UK landmarks will tour the country as part of plans to tell the story of coronations to thousands of people.
‘Crown and Coronation’, produced by Historic Royal Palaces and Luxmuralis, will explore the history of coronations in an immersive visual and musical show which it is planning to project on some of the country’s most famous landmarks and locations.
The programme will launch by being projected onto the Tower of London in Autumn before touring the length and breadth of the country.
In addition, the Government has today confirmed additional screening sites for the Their Majesties’ Coronation, bringing the total to 57 in locations including Ely Cathedral, Trinity Market in Hull and Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, meaning that more than 100,000 people will be able to watch the Coronation live in their hometowns.
To mark the Coronation weekend, communities are being encouraged to come together for street parties on the Sunday and across the UK more than 32,000 Coronation Big Lunch packs have been ordered with around 50,000 neighbourhood events, attended by millions of people, being planned.
Eighty per cent of those signing up are first-time organisers. Plans include a youth centre Big Lunch in Shetland to community focused celebrations across the water in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. A community carnival is being planned in Morecambe and a Big Lunch paddle board will take place in Bude, Cornwall.
There will also be hundreds of thousands of opportunities to take part in The Big Help Out on the additional Bank Holiday granted to celebrate the Coronation on Monday 8th May.
The project aims to ensure the Coronation leaves a lasting legacy in communities by inspiring and recruiting a new generation of volunteers. Opportunities include the chance to volunteer in your local community, with everyone from the Scouts, Royal Voluntary Service and Guide Dogs to the smallest local volunteering groups already signed up.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “The Coronation marks the beginning of a new chapter in our magnificent national story. It promises to be full of memorable experiences for the whole country, with millions of us bearing witness to a moment of history for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
“Every part of the United Kingdom should have a chance to see and feel the joy of the Coronation, and this giant light projection will give communities the chance to see precious centuries-old Royal treasures up close over the next year.
“With less than a month to go until Coronation weekend, there are countless opportunities for people to be part of it – whether it’s watching the service on a big screen in your community, hosting your own Big Lunch for family, friends and neighbours or volunteering in The Big Help Out to give something back.
The Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort will take place on Saturday 6 May at Westminster Abbey followed by a ‘spectacular’ Coronation Concert held at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May.
On Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, the public are encouraged to come together to take part in celebratory Coronation Big Lunches and in a national day of volunteering as part of the Big Help Out. Events taking place across the country are detailed on the Government’s Coronation map which is available on coronation.gov.uk.
The programme of events will reflect the modern, diverse, multi-faith United Kingdom and promote the themes of youth, community, diversity, and sustainability.
Lindsey Brummitt, Programme Director at the Eden Project, home of The Big Lunch, said: “It’s fantastic to see such an appetite for connection and community across the UK and it is growing every day!
“What makes the Coronation Big Lunch on 6-8 May weekend ‘Big’ is everyone, everywhere doing the same thing on the same weekend – sharing friendship, food and fun with their neighbours and communities.
“You can have a sarnie with a neighbour, connect over a cuppa, host a back garden BBQ or put tables down the street – how you decide to join in is up to you.
“It is a fantastic way to celebrate where you live, be part of history and even fundraise for a charity or cause you care about. Bust out the bunting, knock on a neighbours door and get to know one another a little better over a tasty snack – it’s such an easy way to be part of everything!”
Matt Hyde, CEO of the Scouts, said: “It’s just about a month to go until The Big Help Out – The event will provide so many opportunities for new volunteers to find their passion and to support causes that make a difference in their local communities.
“Research tells us that volunteering is good for you in so many ways so if you have not signed up yet check out the app and get involved and change your life and others lives forever.”
Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “With one month to go before The Big Help Out, there is plenty of time for people to explore the abundance of exciting volunteering opportunities in their area.
“Royal Voluntary Service has a real mix of activities available in the app, from helping to run craft and activity sessions or providing a friendly service in one of our retail outlets, to helping decorate a hall to host a Coronation lunch for 100 people! And that’s just us.
“There are thousands of unique options available from other charities and organisations, big and small, so there is something to inspire everyone to join in and lend a hand.”
Packs to plan for a Coronation Big Lunch can be found here.
You can find events in your local community on the government’s interactive Coronation map here.
Full list of locations hosting screens for the Coronation:
North West
Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester
Parliament Square, Oldham
Eurovision Village on the Pier Head, Liverpool
North East
Keel Square / Park Lane, Sunderland City Centre
Washington Galleries, Sunderland
Hylton Castle, Sunderland
Backhouse Park, Sunderland
Rectory Park, Coalfields, Sunderland
Barnes Park – Sunderland
Times Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
Darlington Market Square, Darlington
Yorkshire and Humber
City Hall, Hull
Trinity Market, Hull
City Park, Bradford
Piece Hall, Halifax
St Peter’s Parish Church, Huddersfield
Dewsbury Library, Dewsbury
Millenium Square, Leeds
Pontefract Castle, Wakefield
Peace Gardens, Sheffield
The Glass Works, Barnsley
South West
Bristol Cathedral, Bristol
Bristol and Bath Science Park, South Gloucestershire
Lower Gardens, Bournemouth
Baiter Park, Poole
The Quomps, Christchurch
The Barbican, Plymouth
South East
Jubilee Square, Brighton
Holland Park, Kensington and Chelsea, London
Valence Park, Dagenham, London
Walpole Park, Ealing, London
East of England
The Commemoration Hall, Huntingdon
Peterborough Cathedral and Cathedral Gardens, Peterborough
Request for judicial review of UK Government use of veto
The Scottish Government will challenge the Secretary of State for Scotland’s use of Section 35 of the Scotland Act to stop the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill going forward to Royal Assent following the Scottish Parliament’s approval of the legislation in December 2022.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has informed the Scottish Parliament that the Scottish Government will lodge a petition for a judicial review of the Secretary of State for Scotland’s use of Section 35.
Ms Somerville said: “The Gender Recognition Reform Bill was passed by an overwhelming majority of the Scottish Parliament, with support from members of all parties.
“The use of Section 35 is an unprecedented challenge to the Scottish Parliament’s ability to legislate on clearly devolved matters and it risks setting a dangerous constitutional precedent.
“In seeking to uphold the democratic will of the Parliament and defend devolution, Scottish Ministers will lodge a petition for a judicial review of the Secretary of State for Scotland’s decision.
“The UK Government gave no advance warning of their use of the power, and neither did they ask for any amendments to the Bill throughout its nine month passage through Parliament. Our offers to work with the UK Government on potential changes to the Bill have been refused outright by the Secretary of State, so legal challenge is our only reasonable means of resolving this situation.
“It is important to have clarity on the interpretation and scope of the Section 35 power and its impact on devolution. These matters should be legally tested in the courts.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed US President Joe Biden to the United Kingdom for a meeting in Belfast today.
The Prime Minister welcomed US President Biden to the United Kingdom for a meeting in Belfast today.
The leaders reflected on the legacy of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, which was signed 25 years ago this week. They agreed that this anniversary is a moment to celebrate the progress that Northern Ireland has made over the last quarter of a century and to recommit to building an even brighter future for Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister thanked President Biden for the role the US people and businesses have played in Northern Ireland’s prosperity, with billions of pounds of investment creating tens of thousands of jobs.
The Prime Minister and President Biden both expressed their sincere hope that the institutions in Northern Ireland will be restored as soon as possible.
The Prime Minister and President Biden discussed the wider relationship between the UK and the US.
They agreed that manipulation of global markets by authoritarian leaders demonstrates, more than ever, the need for likeminded partners to work together to support the economic health and security of our nations.
The leaders said that the thriving trade relationship between the UK and US demonstrates we are doing just that.
They looked forward to discussing the issue of economic security further during the G7 Summit next month and the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington DC in June.
They also agreed on the importance of using global forums like the G7 and G20 to challenge economic coercion and market manipulation, and promote the economic well-being of our countries.
National builders’ merchant Jewson has announced its new official charity partner for Scotland and the North, as Whiteleys Retreat in Ayrshire.
Whiteleys Retreat provides free therapeutic respite breaks and extended support for children, young people and their families with cancer or life altering illnesses and was selected by Jewson employees who have a close connection with the cause.
To launch the new partnership and begin its fundraising efforts for Whiteleys Retreat, members of Jewson’s branches across Scotland and the North will don their walking boots and kilts to join the Kiltwalk in Glasgow on 30th April – and walk up to 23 miles through the city, finishing in the idyllic surroundings of Loch Lomond.
As well as regular fundraising events and activities, the builders’ merchant will also assist with construction projects at the retreat, lending its expertise and working with suppliers to source products and services. Collection tins have been installed at every Jewson branch in Scotland and a new 7-a-side football competition is being organised, which will be hosted at Ayr United’s Somerset Park stadium.
Allan Davidson, Regional Director for Scotland, North East and Lakes at Jewson, said: “We support several good causes across Jewson’s national branches, and we are thrilled to welcome Whiteleys Retreat as our new charity partner in Scotland. It’s a fantastic cause which has touched the hearts of many people in our team and provides a vital facility to local families.
“We have set ourselves an ambitious fundraising target, but we are pulling together as a team and with our partners to make sure we reach it. We are committed to supporting Whiteleys Retreat in every way possible, helping them to continue making a huge difference to those who need it most.”
Maxine Allan, CEO of Whiteleys Retreat, said: “We are extremely delighted to be the chosen charity partner of Jewson, who will help us to raise awareness of our cause across Scotland with collection can distribution in all stores and with vital fundraising events throughout the year.
“They are an energetic and enthusiastic team who really believe in helping their local community. Additional thanks must go to Ayr United for introducing us to Jewson. We are looking forward to a very successful year ahead.”
For more information and to make a donation, visit:
A team of Edinburgh Napier University students have triumphed at a UK-wide game design competition with a creative and original depiction of life in fascist-occupied Italy.
Drawing visual inspiration from Guillermo del Toro’s movie adaptation of Pinocchio, their game concept ‘Aging Like Buildings’ takes the player through a story narrated by a grandfather reliving his harsh experience during the 1940s. Using morally nuanced tales told to his grandchild, a player called Cielo explores ruins and works with partisans to reclaim territory taken by occupying fascist forces.
Developers Jacopo Santarossa, Jakub Mazurek, Keir Bailey, Mitchell MacPherson and Ellie Black chose their concept as a way of demonstrating the horrors of war in an empathetic way.
Jakub said: “We were drawn to the idea of creating a game based on under-explored conflict stories – which led us to the Italian partisans.
“The title ‘Aging Like Buildings’ refers to how during times of conflict, people deteriorate the way structures do after being bombed. The scars left behind by a traumatic event are a visible burden, similar to the outside of an old building.
“Even if buildings and people are injured by conflict, they always remain close by to support whoever needs assistance the most.”
Each team member seized the chance to take part in the IWM Games Jam as a way of adding to their skills, with an eye on working in areas like video game development, 3D modelling, sound design and virtual reality.
Judges praised their creative and original approach to storytelling around conflict – as well as twists and complexities that set it apart from the field.
Over the course of a week, competing teams were tasked with basing their entry around an IWM item, with a violin carved from trees growing on former Western Front battlefields inspiring the makers of Ageing Like Buildings.
Fiona Stewart, Lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, said: “Game Jams are a great opportunity for our students to gain experience working in teams and learning new skills.
“We’re very proud that the team have produced such a strong piece of work and know they will go on to even greater things in the future.”
Fellow lecturer Iain Donald, who helped judge the competition, said: “I was thrilled to see teams from across the country creating novel and engaging ways of exploring the IWM objects and how these were used to challenge our expectations of war and conflict.
“I think all the judges were impressed by how so many entries embraced their creativity, evoked empathy and encouraged diverse stories that you wouldn’t necessarily expect of when you think of war games. It was incredibly difficult to judge!”
Another team of ENU students, from the BSc in Games Development, placed 10th in the Best Playable category with their demo entitled Prisoners Dilemma.
Scotland’s largest conservation charity welcomed 23,822 children to take part in its Easter Egg Trails
Events took place across 32 Trust places throughout the country, with Crathes Castle welcoming 3,363 children, Newhailes 3,251 and Brodie Castle 2,261
The National Trust for Scotland welcomed 23,822 children to its places over Easter weekend, as people flocked to sites such as Crathes Castle, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and Glencoe National Nature Reserve, to take part in its Easter Egg Trails and enjoy the country’s nature, beauty and heritage.
Following the popularity of last year’s Easter Egg Trails, which saw nearly 20,000 children take part in activities at 21 National Trust for Scotland places between Good Friday and Easter Monday, this year even more events took place across Scotland to encourage more families to get outdoors and enjoy some fun-filled activities in the beautiful surrounds of the Trust’s properties. This resulted in an increase in participants of almost 20%.
This year’s Easter trails took place across 32 Trust properties, from Friday 7 to Monday 10 April, where the family-friendly events tasked visitors with collecting clues dotted around the gardens, grounds, hills and woodland owned and cared for by the conservation charity, before solving the puzzle and winning some tasty chocolate prizes.
Certain places across the country saw a remarkable increase in participants this year, with figures at Hill of Tarvit up 155% to 846 children, meanwhile Crathes Castle welcomed 3,363 children (up 51% on last year), Newhailes 3,251 and Brodie Castle 2,261. House of the Binns, which recently re-opened its doors to the public on 1 April, participated for the first year and sold out in advance, with 478 children taking part.
Philip Long OBE, Chief Executive of National Trust for Scotland, said: “Easter is one of the highlights of the National Trust for Scotland’s calendar, giving people and especially families the chance to enjoy nature, beauty and heritage at our fantastic places.
“All over the country, our places were alive with people from across generations spending time together outdoors, while the sun mostly shone. What a great start to spring for everyone who loves Scotland’s special places. This support means so much to our charity and allows us to continue our vital work to care for and protect Scotland’s rich heritage, now and in the future.”
The Easter Egg Trails are just one example of the events and activities the National Trust for Scotland has made available this year, as part of its commitment to making Scotland’s heritage more accessible, as outlined in the charity’s 10-year strategy, Nature, Beauty & Heritage for Everyone.
Focused on caring for, sharing, and speaking up for Scotland’s heritage which doesn’t have a voice, the Trust offers its members and visitors the opportunity to explore over 100 sites, while learning about some of the most magnificent buildings, collections and landscapes in the country.
For more information on the National Trust for Scotland visit www.nts.org.uk.
Array currently tested before deployment this year
Scotland’s first array of floating solar panels will be installed this year as part of a move to generate renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.
First Minister Humza Yousaf toured the manufacturing facility of Nova Innovation in Leith yesterday where the panels are being tested before their launch.
The company installed the world’s first offshore tidal turbine array in Shetland in 2016 and subsequently received £6.4 million from the Scottish National Investment Bank in September 2021 to boost production of innovative renewable energy generators.
It has since established project sites in Canada, France and Indonesia. Its floating solar panels build on its expertise in tidal energy and an official launch of the installation will take place later this year with a multi-megawatt international order already in the pipeline.
The First Minister said: “These panels give a fascinating glimpse into the opportunities for Scotland’s future energy system and are the first step towards harnessing our significant potential for floating solar.
“The investment by the Scottish National Investment Bank in Nova Innovation helped expand its manufacturing base here in Leith and aligned strongly with the Scottish Government’s priority of supporting innovative technology that will help us achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045.
“Scotland is already one of the most advanced hubs in Europe for the testing and demonstration of marine energy technology and I look forward to seeing where the panels will be launched in the near future.”
Chief Executive of Nova Innovation Simon Forrest said: “With record-high energy prices and growing concerns over security of supply, there is an immediate need for Scotland to focus on homegrown energy from our abundant natural resources.
“Scotland is at the heart of the tidal energy revolution and Nova continues to lead the sector with proven technology and unrivalled reliability. With the addition of floating solar to our portfolio, we are ideally placed to help drive the race to Net Zero.
“We were honoured to welcome the First Minister to discuss the economic benefits, job creation opportunities and the part Scotland can play in the global supply for renewable energy.”
