The Scottish Conservative Party leader, Douglas Ross MP MSP, has praised Sight Scotland Veterans for all the outstanding help and support it provides to veterans living with sight loss across the country.
Douglas Ross, MP for Moray and MSP for Highlands and Islands, recently visited Sight Scotland Veterans’ Hawkhead Centre in Paisley to see first-hand the great help and support the charity provides.
He was joined on the visit by local Scottish Conservative MSP for West Scotland Russell Findlay. Sight Scotland Veterans provides free support to armed forces veterans affected by sight loss throughout Scotland to help them regain confidence, restore independence, and make new connections.
During his visit, Douglas Ross was given a tour of the Hawkhead Centre and met many of the staff and volunteers who work there. He also spent time and chatted with some of the veterans the charity helps, discussing the issues they have and what support they require.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “I was delighted to visit Hawkhead Centre in Paisley and learn more about the fantastic work they are doing to support veterans.
“It was truly inspiring to meet many of veterans and hear directly from them about how Sight Scotland is helping them cope with feelings of isolation and loneliness. Many of those being supported at the Hawkhead Centre have overcome many challenges thanks to Sight Scotland and I applaud them for bettering the lives of many.”
Scottish Conservative West Scotland MSP Russell Findlay said: “We must always go the extra mile to support our veterans and those at the Hawkhead Centre in Paisley doing exactly that by empowering veterans to live as independently as possible.
“The spirit of comradeship is uplifting and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of activities. It was great to join Douglas Ross at the centre and I hope to return soon for another chat with the incredible veterans.”
Davina Shiell, Director of Communications at Sight Scotland, comments: “We were delighted to welcome Douglas Ross MSP to our Hawkhead Centre in Paisley.
“As a society we need to look after our vulnerable veterans and Sight Scotland Veterans plays such an important role in combatting social isolation, seclusion, and loneliness.
“We are hoping that having such a high-profile visitor to one of our centres can shine a brighter spotlight on the charity and all great things it does, plus provide a platform to discuss many of the issues facing the vision impaired community, such as increased ophthalmology waiting times, public transport cuts and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
“In simple terms, people living with sight loss across Scotland need more help.”
Sight Scotland Veterans provides support to all veterans in Scotland who are experiencing changes to their sight.
The Hawkhead Centre in Renfrewshire is an activity hub for ex-servicemen and women with sight loss. It’s a warm, welcoming place that brings veterans together. With a variety of activities and outings, the activity hub offers the means and support to adapt to life with sight loss and try new things.
Many veterans who attend the centre say the things they do there and the connections they have made have transformed their lives.
For more information on Sight Scotland Veterans please visit
Frontline workers, including in schools and the NHS, are being given new guidance to help prevent children and vulnerable adults from being drawn into organised crime.
The first document of its kind in Scotland, the ‘Practitioner Guidance on Criminal Exploitation’ stems from work commissioned last year by the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce.
It aims to support a shared understanding of criminal exploitation and to help professionals identify those at risk from serious organised crime.
This includes watching out for signs such as: individuals travelling to different areas or locations they would not usually visit; changes in peer groups; and individuals who may have been groomed by crime gangs appearing agitated and nervous about answering calls, or texts and going out.
The guidance will be made available to all front-line workers – including in social work, policing, the NHS, education settings and the third-sector – who come into regular contact with children and vulnerable adults.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Criminal exploitation of anyone, and particularly the vulnerable is truly abhorrent and can leave victims feeling trapped with nowhere to turn while experiencing violence, intimidation, and threats.
“This new guidance seeks to help end that cycle, giving people who work with children and vulnerable adults the confidence to act, enabling help to be more quickly delivered to those that need it.
“Scotland’s organised crime gangs are not confined to the big cities, and they seek to exploit people across the country, impacting everyone. Understanding this and how this despicable practice can finally be ended is crucial in supporting the strong partnerships we have created to tackle these illegal groups.
“We all pay the price for their callous disregard for the law. This guidance is an important step towards better helping victims of exploitation and stifling the organised criminals of the lifeblood they need to keep operating.”
Paul Carberry, Chair of Serious Organised Crime Taskforce Divert strand, said: “This guidance will give professionals from across multiple agencies more comprehensive knowledge, understanding and develop a wider perspective about criminal exploitation.
“It is essential frontline public professionals, such as NHS, Social Work, and school staff, as well as Police Scotland, recognise the signs and have a shared knowledge of criminal exploitation.
“The work of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce will help Scotland realise a vision where all individuals are free from criminal exploitation. This guidance will take us one step further in that aim.”
Nominations open for Scotland Loves Local Awards to recognise those whose dedication and innovation is making life better and shaping a stronger future
People in Edinburgh and across the Lothians are being urged to celebrate the remarkable work to make the region a better place to live in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Nominations have opened for the 2023 Scotland Loves Local Awards, which will see heroics on the high street rewarded, along with responses to the climate crisis.
Artistic flair, work to create new town centre homes, encourage enterprise, make streets more attractive and digital innovation will also be recognised.
Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the awards celebrate all that’s great about local towns and neighbourhoods and tireless work taking place to secure a stronger future in them.
Among the winners last year was SOLE (Supporting Our Local Community) which took the Digital Towns category.
Scotland Loves Local Awards 2022, organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership. The Digital Award was won by SOLE / Scottish Tech Army. Pictured at the awards are the Scottish Tech Army’s Kirsty McIntosh and Alistair Forbes. Wednesday November 16th 2022. Picture: Jamie Simpson / Scotland’s Towns Partnership
Led by social enterprise Scottish Tech Army, the place-based app and website had provided a platform for local businesses to trade online, supporting enterprises in Dunbar and East Linton, Fa’side, Haddington, Musselburgh, North Berwick and Preston/Seton/Gosford.
Kimberley Guthrie, STP’s Interim Chief Officer, said: “In many ways, the challenges facing our communities have never been greater as we face up to the climate emergency, cost of living and the legacy of coronavirus.
“But many people and organisations in Edinburgh and across the Lothians are stepping up to those challenges. In so many ways, this has brought out the best in our people and places.
“It’s unleashed a desire to make a difference, to create a new future – one which has localism at its heart, with better places in which to live and work.
“The Scotland Loves Local Awards are a chance to shine a spotlight on all of this and so much more.
“To do that, we need you to tell us about the inspiring people and projects whose dedication and innovation is making a real difference in your community.”
The award categories are:
High Street Hero (an individual or organisation making an exceptional difference in their community)
Place Leader Award
Climate and Netzero
Creative Town
Streets and Spaces
Digital Town
Town Centre Living
Enterprising Community
Spearheaded by Scottish Towns Partnership and supported by the Scottish Government, Scotland Loves Local is the movement encouraging people to create a better future for their community by choosing local. This is the third year in which the awards have been held.
Nominations can be made at www.lovelocal.scot/awards, where full category criteria can also be found. There, you can briefly share the details of your nominee and why you would like to see them recognised.
The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Monday, September 4th 2023. Winners will be announced at a celebration being held in November.
Research from a national charity, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), shows that one in four adults in the UK would panic if they saw a stranger had fallen into open water, was having difficulty and might drown.
The charity is asking the public if they would know what to do if they saw someone in difficulty in the water. With a number of high-profile drowning cases hitting the media in the last year, the charity is looking to educate more people on the Water Safety Code to ensure everyone can stay safe around the water.
With the summer holidays just around the corner, the charity’s annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign (17-24 June) will be sharing vital messages with the public to ensure that people understand how to stay safe, and if they do see someone in difficulty, that they know what to do.
The research from the Royal Life Saving Society UK also showed that one in four UK adults would enter the water to try and help a stranger who has fallen into open water and was having difficulty. The charity also noted that a further 25% would not be sure whether to enter the water or not.
Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said: “With June, July, and August proving to be the months with the most fatalities, it is vitally important that everyone has an understanding of water safety, especially during the summer months.
“We might see people heading to the various waterways in the UK and Ireland on warm summer days and entering the water to cool off. We want people to enjoy the waters that the UK and Ireland has to offer but to do so with the right knowledge and to do so safely.
“We often see that people see someone else in difficulty in the water and they try to help by entering the water themselves, this often results in them getting into difficulty too. The best thing to do when you see someone in difficulty in the water is not to panic, call 999 and try to throw them something that floats that they can hold on to. We would then advise to keep talking to the person in the water, keep watching them, and wait for the emergency services to arrive.”
In 2022, 105 people drowned during June, July and August and the charity’s Drowning Prevention Week campaign aims to reduce this figure significantly.
The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has a range of free educational resources available on its website for children, young people and parents and are holding their annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign between 17-24 June to equip everyone across the UK and Ireland with the skills and knowledge to make the right decisions about water safety.
Lee Heard continued: “This year for Drowning Prevention Week we are aiming to educate more people than ever about water safety and give children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.
“We have a range of free educational resources available on the RLSS UK website, including lesson plans for schools and resources for parents, as well as a brand-new animation to allow families to start the conversation about water safety by learning the Water Safety Code.”
Drowning Prevention Week takes place 17-24 June and free resources can be downloaded from www.rlss.org.uk/dpw.
Edinburgh man Mark Agnew is part of an international crew kayaking across the Arctic’s Northwest Passage
Mark and his team of four will follow the route sought by Franklin’s doomed Northwest Passage voyage in 1845
Mark suffered a mental health crisis in 2018 and credits kayaking with helping him to overcome it
Mark plans to raise over £25,000 for Wilderness Foundation UK
This will be the first time the entire Northwest Passage has ever been kayaked, all the way from Baffin Bay to the Beaufort Sea
British adventurer and motivational speaker, Mark Agnew, is attempting a record-breaking Arctic voyage to kayak the 2000-mile Northwest Passage, an expedition that comes after a prolonged mental health crisis.
On July 1, Mark and a team of three others will set off from Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada, and hope to finish 90 days later at Tuktoyaktuk, an Inuit hamlet in Canada, as they follow the historic Arctic route that links the Atlantic and the Pacific.
This will be the first time the entire route has ever been kayaked. It will also be the first time it is completed with just human power alone – no motors or sails – in any type of craft in a single summer.
Mark, who is from Edinburgh and lives in London, has been preparing for his expedition by kayaking on the Thames with the Putney Bridge Canoe Club and training with polar region expedition paddler, Jeff Allen, who has been helping him to build his stamina and hone his kayaking skills at sea. Yoga is also an important aspect of Mark’s training and helps him prevent injuries.
Mark attempted to set the world record for rowing across the Atlantic twice, but didn’t successfully cross the ocean, let alone set a world record.
After two failed attempts to row across the Atlantic, Mark suffered a mental health spiral, with the devastation of failure making him feel worthless and unmotivated.
After 12 months of feeling wretched, Mark researched resilience and realised that it can be trained and learned, so he began to set himself challenges and gradually his mindset began to change.
Mark explained, “After failing to row the Atlantic twice, I felt utterly worthless. I was overcome with feelings of humiliation and failure. It began to seep into every aspect of my life, and I became lethargic. I wasn’t clinically depressed but the feeling of being pathetic became overwhelming.
“Eventually, I decided I needed to drag myself out of my hole by going on adventures again. I realised I had to focus on the experience and not the outcome. I began to focus on camaraderie, discovery of beautiful landscapes and being at one with nature and not just on the aspect of winning or of gaining the world record.
“That said, I’m still motivated by the world first. In the Northwest Passage, pushing ourselves as a team for the common goal of the world first is important to facilitate our camaraderie and experience. These intrinsic goals are far more fulfilling than focusing on a single outcome.”
Mark hopes to raise over £25,000 for Wilderness Foundation UK, a charity offering education and therapy programmes for young people and adults to help them reconnect to society and to themselves through outdoor facilitation adventures, therapy and mentoring.
Mark said, “Getting out into nature and exercising was fundamental to re-finding my self-worth.
“I’ve been lucky my whole life to be able to get into nature. Wilderness Foundation UK helps countless people, particularly people from backgrounds that might not typically have easy access to the outdoors, re-connect to nature and feel empowered through their experience.”
The route Mark and his team will follow is the same route sought by the British Arctic exploration voyage led by Sir John Franklin in 1845 aboard two ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The expedition met with disaster as both ships became icebound and the crew of 129 men was lost. Mark’s team may even pass directly over the wreck of HMS Terror.
Now, 178 years later, the Arctic’s ice conditions have changed with the region at the forefront of global warming, making this world first only possible as the sea ice melts and disappears.
Mark continued, “This is really the ‘voyage that shouldn’t happen’. One hundred years ago the Northwest Passage would have been frozen almost all year-round, but now we are going to be able to kayak the 2000 miles in a single season – a rather devastating example of how much climate change has affected the planet.”
Mark will be joined on the expedition by three Americans – expedition leader West Hansen, Jeff Wueste and Eileen Visser. The team will each consume between 4,000 to 6,000 calories per day and re-supply halfway in Cambridge Bay. Each night they will camp on shore. They will set up a tripwire to let off a bang if they are approached by polar bears as they sleep.
Wilderness Foundation UK’s CEO Jo Roberts, said, “Wilderness Foundation UK has a history of patrons who have been iconic explorers and adventurers.
“Mark is no different to them in the challenges and hardships they endured and survived. His passion to challenge himself and the ocean links him to the greats of this world. By taking on the Northwest Passage, paddling into an unknown both within himself and the environment, he will be inspiring others to face their fears and embrace their inner strengths.
“As a charity we work with children, teens and adults whose fears hold them back from trying, failing and succeeding – and they get stuck.
“Mark will be setting them an example of what it looks like to give life ‘a go’ and we will be following his paddle strokes and courage as he braves one of the most challenging and magnificent passages.
“Please follow and support him on his journey as he supports others who will undoubtedly take inspiration from his spirit of adventure.”
The expedition can be followed online and with updates on social media at https://www.thearcticcowboys.com and @adventureagnew on Twitter and Instagram.
Residents at Strachan House in Blackhall enjoyed an Afternoon Tea and photoshoot with their loved ones on Sunday in celebration of Father’s Day.
With the lovely warm weather residents were able to enjoy meeting up with loved ones in the home’s garden over afternoon tea freshly prepared by the home’s talented chefs.
Throughout the afternoon the residents and their children were then offered a photo shoot session to capture the special moment with a keepsake photo of their day together.
Gordon Philp, General Manager of the home, said: “We’ve all had a wonderful day today welcoming friends and family into the home.
“Occasions like Father’s Day are so important, it was fantastic to have such a lovely gathering with our residents and their loved ones all together enjoying the sunshine.”
Gerry Smith, resident at Strachan House said: “I’ve had a great time celebrating with my daughter,it has been so lovely to see them and spend some quality time together.
“Father’s Day is such a special day, I’m so pleased we were all able to celebrate together.”
Strachan House Care Home’s varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
Jenny Niven, new director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival
Today the Edinburgh International Book Festival announces that Jenny Niven, a leading cultural producer and director who has worked with a range of influential literary festivals in Scotland and internationally, will replace Nick Barley as Festival Director.
Jenny will begin her new role in September after Nick has overseen his final Festival programme, following a hugely successful 14 years.
Nick Barley, outgoing Edinburgh International Book Festival Director, said:“I am absolutely over the moon that Jenny Niven has been chosen to take over from me as the next Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
“Jenny has a stellar reputation in the world of literature and culture, both in Scotland and elsewhere. She is open-minded, dynamic and – vitally for this role – a good listener who knows that running a festival is a team game. On top of that, her creativity, connections and enthusiasm will be a huge asset to the Festival.”
Allan Little, Chair of the Edinburgh International Book Festival Board of Directors, said: “We are very excited to welcome Jenny Niven as the new Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
“Nick leaves incredibly big shoes to fill, but Jenny is no stranger to the Festival or the world of the written word here in Scotland, and indeed further afield, and we look forward to seeing what she brings to this new Book Festival chapter.”
Jenny will join the team as the Festival prepares for an exciting move to its new permanent home at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, a landmark development based on the site of the old Royal Infirmary on Lauriston Place, in 2024.
Jenny Niven, the new Edinburgh International Book Festival Director, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be appointed to lead the Edinburgh International Book Festival as its new Director.
“The Festival has influenced Scottish culture, and shaped the development of book festivals globally, for 40 years. There’s no greater platform to bring together the conversations that we need to have, to celebrate the role of creativity, imagination and story in understanding and reshaping the world around us, and to demonstrate that exploring the world collectively via books and ideas is one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences you can have.
“The opportunity to reimagine the Festival in its exciting new home at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, and to lead the organisation at such a pivotal time for Scotland’s cultural life, is an honour.
“Following the inspirational lead of Nick and his predecessors, I am excited to begin working with the impressive Festival team and board, and the incredible network of partners the Festival has cultivated in Scotland and beyond, to build on the Festival’s stellar reputation and to shape its future.”
Jenny is founder and Director of the award-winning Push the Boat Out, a festival of poetry, spoken word and language; Executive Producer of Dandelion, an epic programme of sowing, growing and sharing across Scotland, and was previously the Head of Literature at Creative Scotland. She was named in The List’s ‘Hot 100’ people influencing Scotland’s arts and cultural landscape in 2022.
For more information on Edinburgh International Book Festival visit:
The Royal Highland Show is gearing up for the 2023 event taking place this week from Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th June at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.
The country’s largest agricultural event returns for a four-day celebration of the very best in food, farming and rural life. Visitors can expect to get nose-to-nose with prize animals, taste an astounding array of artisan food & drink and experience Scotland’s rural life at its most vibrant.
What’s new this year
The Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing and Woolhandling Championships is an exciting addition to the show schedule for this year. Competitors from 30 countries from around the world including New Zealand, South Africa and Chile will battle it out on the stage to claim the championship – this thrilling display of skill is a must-watch on the Saturday and Sunday of the Show.
The Royal Highland Show will also see the culmination of the popular ‘Flock to the Show’ campaign, which saw 38 hand-painted fibreglass sheep travel around Scotland over the last couple of months.
Come and find our flock at the Show, starting at the Macklin Motors stand in the Lifestyle Area, and travel around the Showground to see if you can find all the Flock and the clues attached to them. Enter the competition once you know the winning phrase and you could be in with a chance of winning a year’s supply of Taylor’s Crisps.
The colourful Flock will be auctioned off in September this year to raise funds for the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland’s (RHASS) Bicentennial Fund. The bidding process will be launched at this year’s Royal Highland Show, so make sure if you want to purchase one of the Flock you keep a look out for more information.
Register your interest in an individual flock member here:
The new Agri Innovation Arena, located within the Agricultural Zone, will showcase some of the newest and most innovative products and machinery close up, with live demos and industry talks from leaders across all sectors of the agricultural industry.
We have brand-new poles for this year’s Pole Climbing Championships. These have been donated in kind by Kirkennan Estate, Palnackie which is managed by Scottish Woodlands. In May this year, these 90ft poles were transported from Dumfries & Galloway to our Forestry Arena by Cadzow Heavy Haulage Ltd. Make sure you check out our new poles in action at this year’s Show.
Fantastic food & drink
The Royal Highland Show is a haven for food lovers – from the tasty delights of Scotland’s Larder food area to the huge range of takeaway options throughout the showground, visitors are spoiled for choice.
Scotland’s Larder will be brimming with delicious food and drinks. Some are brand new to the market in Scotland, while others, like Glenkinchie, are global brands. Take the chance to meet the producers and hear first-hand from them why they love their products as much as we do. Don’t forget to check out The Bothy situated in the centre of Scotland’s Larder, with all produce supplied by Mimi’s Bakehouse.
The Show’s Food Charter ensures that only locally produced and ethically sourced food is served at the Show – from delicious venison burgers and tasty fish and chips to a bowl of Scottish strawberries bursting with flavour.
The Food for Thought theatre also offers an interesting schedule of events to attend, including chef demonstrations from names including ‘The Kilted Chef’ Craig Wilson, MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin, award-winning development chef Paul Terris, and head chef of The Crown Hotel in Peebles, Kirsty Elliot. Celebrating how Scottish food & drink has been enjoyed over the last 200 years is a key theme this year, alongside how science has helped develop and progress this industry.
If learning speciality techniques is more your thing, then don’t miss out on Innis & Gunn’s Masterclass with Master Brewer & Founder, Dougal Sharp, and masterclasses in all things meat and butchery from the experts at Quality Meat Scotland.
Innis & Gunn remains the Show’s official brewery partner and principal beer supplier and official sponsor of the Royal Highland Hoolie. This year you can hear from some of the Innis & Gunn team themselves in their beer and brewing masterclass in the Food for Thought Theatre.
This year the Royal Highland Show has launched its own special ‘Golden Shears’ lager with Caledonian Brewing. This will be available in bars across the Showground.
Lovely livestock and competitions
Of course, the stars of the Show are the animals, and there will be over 5,000 of the finest animals competing over the four days. Sheep, cattle, goats, horses – there’s so much to see!
From the adorable Shetland Pony to the majestic Clydesdale, there is so much to delight equine lovers. The showjumping Grand Prix is always a spectacle, as are the exciting Pony Club Games, as well as the incredible sight of the harness, grooming & decoration classes.
The Show offers a unique chance to see top-quality livestock up close, including the iconic Highland Cattle and ‘the world’s cutest sheep’, the Valais Blacknose. Over 5,000 animals will be competing – including 1,044 cattle, 2,089 sheep, 2,087 horses & ponies, and 140 goats.
This year at the Royal Highland Show, 57 Horse of the Year Qualifiers will take place, offering a variety of opportunities to qualify for the prestigious event held in Birmingham.
Alongside the livestock and equine classes, there are numerous other competitions to witness. New for this year, the Scottish Dairy Championships display will be situated in the Food for Thought Theatre.
Step inside the Handcraft Marquee and witness some of Scotland’s finest handcrafts with this year’s competition theme being ‘Rainbow’. The Honey Marquee, located in the Countryside Area is not to be missed, as well as hosting a range of honey and bee related competitions.
Entertainment for the whole family
There is truly something for everyone at the Royal Highland Show. Away from the animal stalls and food tent, there’s plenty to catch your attention – from the thrilling heights of the Pole Climbing Championships, Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations, Axe Throwing and fingernail-biting mountain bike skills in the Forestry Arena.
To the more relaxed Countryside Area, where kids can try out circus skills, take Annie the Alpaca for a walk, get their face painted, learn some traditional woodcraft and wildlife tracking skills and let off steam on the play equipment.
The Agri Innovation Arena is a new addition for 2023 and is designed as a platform for showcasing the innovative machinery and technology that is shaping the future of agriculture. Visitors will see the very latest tech on display and in action – a must for machinery enthusiasts!
Meanwhile, qualifiers for Britain’s Fittest Farmer competition will be taking place on the Sunday of the Show in the Agri Innovation Arena. Launched by Farmers Weekly in 2018, it is a fun way of sparking a vital discussion about the physical and mental health of the nation’s farmers.
Prepare for off-road fun with the Land Rover Experience Scotland, with an adventurous driving experience at the Show. Strap in and be ready for a bumpy ride as expert drivers demonstrate to you just what these fantastic vehicles are capable of.
One of the many hubs for kids at the Show is the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) Discovery Centre, where kids can learn all about the production of food, explore the life of the soil, plant some seeds, bake some scones and even milk Mable, the fibreglass cow all in an interactive and fun environment.
If you can’t visit the Show this year, then luckily the Show can still come to you through the RHS TV, available to watch on the Royal Highland Show website all four days of the Show – with a special Golden Shears channel on Saturday and Sunday. With cameras streaming videos live from the showground, you can tune in wherever you are in the world to join in the action and experience a taste of the Show.
Visitors are also encouraged to make use of the Royal Highland Show App to make the most of their day out – through it, you can view the Show programme, competition schedules and access a handy interactive map of the showground. New for this year, you can search for your favourite trade stand using the search bar in the app, explore the entire Showground at the click of a button, and don’t forget to check out RHS merchandise in the online store as well.
Music & fashion
The Royal Highland Hoolie, hosted in partnership with Farmer’s Bash, is an exciting addition to evening entertainment this year.
Taking place on the Friday and Saturday evenings of the Show, it will showcase some of Scotland and Ireland’s best homegrown music talent.
Skippinish, Derek Ryan, Skerryvore and Lisa McHugh feature in the line-up for what is shaping up to be a fantastic couple of nights. Tickets to the Royal Highland Hoolie are still available and can be purchased on the day or in addition to your Show ticket.
Tickets for the Royal Highland Hoolie can only be purchased by those already attending the Royal Highland Show and have purchased a ticket for Friday 23 or Saturday 24th June. The Hoolie is only for those aged 12 and over, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult over 21.
Fashion lovers are in for a treat with a fashion show by British Wool taking place this year. It will showcase the best of British wool across a wide range of brands including Harris Tweed and Lochcarron of Scotland. There will also be exclusive discounts at the Show across a range of British wool brands.
Across the four days of the Show, we will have a fantastic line-up of traditional ceilidh bands, pipe bands and choirs, including Ian Muir Ceilidh Band who is a frequent visitor to RHS and guest on BBC Radio Scotland’s Take the Floor as well as Pipe Bands from West Lothian, Perth & Kinross and South Queensferry and the wonderful Farmers Choir. Head over to the West Stage where you can hear all of this and more from some of Scotland’s best jazz, folk-rock and bagpipes.
Getting there
A comprehensive travel plan is in place to ensure visitors can get to and from the Royal Highland Show as efficiently as possible.
Hopping on public transport remains the easiest and most sustainable option for getting to the Showground. You can travel by Edinburgh Trams all the way from Leith, through the City Centre to Ingliston Park and Ride where a shuttle bus will take you straight to the Showground.
Travelling by bus, Lothian Buses will have the 97 and 98 services running from Central Edinburgh direct to the Showground. It is best to book your ticket in advance, services for the bus and tram start at 6am.
If visitors do want to take the car, booking your parking tickets in advance is required – there will be no parking tickets available on the day.
The Royal Highland Show is the flagship fundraising event for organisers the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
RHASS Head of Show, David Tennant, commented: “More than just a fantastic day out, the Royal Highland Show offers an invaluable insight into the story of Scotland’s food, farming and rural life.
“There is truly something for everyone, whether you are interested in animals, machinery, food, or music – and you’re always sure to discover something that you’ve never seen before.
“With Friday and Saturday tickets selling out last year and the very last few remaining for this year’s event, we’d recommend purchasing soon if you haven’t already to avoid last-minute disappointment!
Sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 22-25 June 2023.
Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online, with no tickets available to buy on the gate. Tickets are limited in number and it is advised to purchase early – especially with the new addition of the Royal Highland Hoolie music event on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th this year.
Friday and Saturday tickets for the Royal Highland Show have now sold out following huge demand for the event taking place later this week at Ingliston (22-25 June).
Social Care Minister Maree Todd will join the first of a series of events where people can co-design the new National Care Service.
Today’s event at Stirling’s Albert Halls will allow carers, people who access and deliver care, including the workforce, and anyone with an interest to contribute to how a new National Care Service could work.
Since the regional forums were announced last month, more than 600 have signed up to take part in-person and online, with additional capacity already being made for the Glasgow event next week.
Ms Todd said: “We want everyone to have access to consistently high-quality social care support across Scotland, whenever they might need it.
“There are unique demands across the country, which is why we’re going to different areas over the next 18 months, ensuring communities across Scotland can help design a National Care Service tailored to local needs.
“Having listened to people who access and deliver care support – both paid and unpaid – as well as care providers, unions and the third sector during the parliamentary process, these meetings will allow us to work with people who access care support, have a loved one that receives care, or works in the sector to think about how to meet the needs we have heard about. This will help us ensure the legislation reflects what people need and know as it progresses through Parliament.”
“I am pleased that there has been such interest in signing up, Spaces are still available, with online events providing another option for those who want to have their voices heard if they can’t make it in person.
Edinburgh Women’s Aid, (EWA), is marking its 50th anniversary this year with a series of events, including its latest seminar, ‘Changing the Landscape: 50 years of activism and action against domestic abuse’, attended by over 80 guests at Edinburgh University, including Councillor Cammy Day, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council.
The seminar explored the role of research in changing the policy landscape around domestic abuse and looking back on the development of EWA, which has supported tens of thousands of women and children for the past 50yrs who have been able to access the safe accommodation and support, including legal advice and help securing employment.
Guest speakers at the event, which was co-hosted by the School of Social and Political Science at Edinburgh University, in partnership with genderED, included Professors Rebecca and Russell Dobash who began researching domestic abuse in Scotland, shortly after the first refuge in the city opened in 1973 and unveiled a map of refuges which have opened around the world over the past 50 years.
Over the years, they have published 11 books and numerous articles on violence, gender and murder, including their ‘Violence Against Wives’ study into the incidence and nature of domestic abuse in Scotland, later published as Violence Against Wives: the case against the patriarchy (1979).
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Nobody should have to suffer abuse, whatever form it takes.
“Over the last 50 years, Edinburgh Women’s Aid has been unwavering in their commitment to help and support victims and survivors of domestic abuse. We know that there is still a way to go before we live in a world where domestic abuse is history. Our policies, such as the Multi-Agency Domestic Abuse Policy, is designed to provide an understanding and supportive service to those affected by this issue and to those who work to help them stay safe.
“We know that there is more that we can do to offer support, as an organisation and as individuals. As a Council we’re part of the Equally Safe Edinburgh Committee which is working to make the city safe for women, children and young people and recently I became an ambassador for White Ribbon Scotland to encourage men to play their part and stand up and speak out against violence against women. Working together we can make sure we provide the very best safeguards that we can to anyone at risk of harm.”
Professor John Devaney, Head of School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, whose research interests relate to domestic abuse and family violence, said: “Our understanding about what causes and sustains domestic abuse has improved significantly over the past fifty years.
“While the range of effective support available to child and adult victims has improved significantly in that time, unfortunately the level and nature of funding of support services is still too little given the scale and consequences of the issue.
“Edinburgh Women’s Aid are to be commended for the high quality of support they offer to child and adult survivors, and the University of Edinburgh remains committed to working in partnership regarding placement opportunities for students, joint research, and support for students and staff who experience domestic abuse.”
Fran Wasoff, one of the founding members of Edinburgh Women’s Aid, and also a senior lecturer and a Professor of Family Policies in the subject area of Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh, where her research interests were in family law and policy, also attended the event, reflecting on 50 years of domestic abuse in Scotland and how we change the landscape going forward.
The seminar also provided an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have provided support for women and their families over the past five decades in the city.
Linda Rodgers, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Women’s Aid, said: “It felt like a moment in history, bringing together these amazing people who have changed the research landscape and as a result improved policy and practice in relation to domestic abuse.
“I am so proud that Edinburgh Women’s Aid continues to lead the way in supporting research, improving policy and changing societal attitudes to domestic abuse.”
