Day: August 21, 2023

Delilah Films announces Spiked premiere in Scotland on 23rd August

The short film in partnership with Scottish spiking charity Spike Aware UK will screen at The Old Well Cinema in Moffat this month

21st August 2023, Scotland: Today film production company Delilah Films announces the premiere of its debut short film Spiked will take place in Scotland on Wednesday 23rd August at The Old Well Theatre in Moffat. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

When single-mum Becky suspects she’s been spiked, she seeks frenemy police officer Andrea’s help in getting tested. Spiked is a short film set in the North-East of England.

An image from the film is available here: https://we.tl/t-xXpIClV1ag (L: Phoebe Lorenz, R: Emma Zadow)

Spiked was co-created by Delilah Films’ founder Phoebe Lorenz and BBC New Creative Emma Zadow. The film was created with support from Scottish charity Spike Aware UK, and in association with Northern Fortress Films.

It was directed by Alex Shipman (Female, Fifty and Fighting: Bam Bam).

Spiked has already been selected for numerous BIFA-qualifying festivals including Women X and Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 2023.

Spike Aware UK is a registered Scottish charity covering England, Scotland, Wales & NI, and is a group who want to raise awareness of young people having their drinks drugged or spiked at social events.

It is the first registered charity and support network for victims of drink and needle spiking in the UK, and it organises, cooperates, supports and campaigns locally and nationally to spread awareness.

The event will also screen short film A Victim’s Story made by local filmmaker Rachael Ovens, and Still (also directed by Alex Shipman), an experimental documentary using real testimonies from women about their experiences in night clubs, visualised through an interpretive dance piece.

Phoebe Lorenz, founder of Delilah Films, says, “Having the premiere of this film in Scotland, timed just at the end of Edinburgh Film Festival, is a testament to our phenomenal partners at Spike Aware UK.

“The team behind Spiked want this film to make as big of an impact as possible for victims of spiking and to raise awareness of the issue, and we are really looking forward to the event.”

Colin Mackie, founder of Spike Aware UK, says, “We at Spike Aware UK are delighted to have played a part in bringing Spiked to the screen.

“We have been impressed by the professionalism and the enthusiasm of all involved in the project and hope this production will help highlight what is a growing problem.”

Spiked’s creator and founder of Delilah Films Phoebe Lorenz is a British-German actor, writer and producer. She co-wrote/produced award-winning film I’m Still Ethanin 2020 with Freida Films’ Amelia O’Loughlin and starring BIFA-Winning actor Dave Johns (I, Daniel Blake). 

Co-creator of Spiked Emma Zadow is an actor, writer and BBC New Creative. Her short film JIGGING, commissioned by BBC Arts & Screen South, won Best Short and Best Actress at Seattle Independent, Sydney Australian, Hong Kong Indie, Hollywood Boulevard and Red Moon Film Festivals.

Alex Shipman is a Director and DOP across documentary and fiction content. She works as a DOP for EPK/Behind the scenes content on Warner Brothers and Lucas film productions. As a director her short films have been selected for Cannes Film Festival (as part of the Straight 8 Challenge) and her last short film about women’s experience in nightclubs screened at the BFI Future Film Festival.

Northern Fortress Films was founded by Louisa Rose Mackleston in January 2021. Louisa is a Director, Writer & Producer from Bradford. Her production company aims to convey socially conscious stories through factual and narrative formats and has received funding from organisations such as UNESCO, the NHS & Bradford Council.

Amazon donates to mental health charity

A mental health charity in Fife has received a £1,000 donation from the team at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline.

Express Group Fife provides mental health support to people living in Fife by running self-help social groups, one to one work and social events like meals and various activities. The charity offers a safe space for people struggling with their mental health to talk to someone.

The donation from Amazon will go towards staff training to enhance the provision to service users.

Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “We are pleased to support Express Group Fife. Mental health is such an important aspect of our lives and Express Group Fife provides a great range of services to support the Fife community.

“We hope that with this donation, the team can continue helping those who need them.”

Gary Guichan, Express Group Fife Service Manager, added: ““On behalf of our staff and volunteers, we would like to thank Jamie and the team at Amazon in Dunfermline for their support.

“Donations like this ensure we can continue supporting the community across Fife and I would urge anyone in need of support to get in contact.”

The donation to Express Group Fife was made as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities around its operating locations across the UK.

Guard of Honour for world’s most prestigious penguin!

A Guard of Honour for Sir Nils Olav – the most famous king penguin in the world – as he is promoted at a prestigious award ceremony at Edinburgh Zoo 

His Majesty the King’s Guard Band and Drill Team of Norway, who are performing at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this year, visited the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo to promote and bestow a unique honour upon the resident king penguin, Sir Nils Olav.  

The world-famous King penguin, who is already a Brigadier, now has the grand title of Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands and official mascot of His Majesty the King’s Guard of Norway. 

Following a carefully choreographed parade past His Majesty the King’s Guard Band and Drill Team of Norway, Sir Nils was awarded his new badge of honour at a special ceremony at the wildlife conservation charity’s Penguins Rock. The ceremony was attended by over 160 uniformed soldiers of His Majesty the King of Norway’s Guard who are taking part in The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Show, Stories. 

Jason Barrett, Chief Operating Officer at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “The theme for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this year is Stories and what better connection to our Show than the story of Sir Nils Olav and his rise through the ranks.

“His Majesty’s Kings Guard of Norway bring a rich history, honour, and tradition to our cast and have been a fan favourite for years. Having acts like the Kings Guard showcases the cross-cultural component found within the Tattoo and is what makes it so unique among entertainment offerings. On behalf of the entire cast and crew of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, I am delighted to congratulate Sir Nils Olav III on his promotion to Major General.” 

David Field, Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “We are honoured to host His Majesty the King’s Guard Band and Drill Team of Norway once again as they return to Edinburgh Zoo to bestow this prestigious new title upon our king penguin, Sir Nils Olav.

“It is a very proud moment and represents the ongoing close collaboration between our two countries, Scotland, and Norway.” 

Staff Sergeant Fredrik Gresseth from His Majesty the King’s Guard Band and Drill Team of Norway added: “Sir Nils Olav is the mascot of His Majesty the King’s Guard and was adopted during one of the Band and Drill team’s participation at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

“Te tradition of sending Nils Olav and his family fish, Christmas cards and visiting him during the unit’s participation at the Tattoo have been an important part of the Battalion’s history.

“His promotion this August, for good conduct and for being a superb example for the rest of the penguins at the Edinburgh Zoo, is a milestone in his career as mascot for the guard. The guardsmen of the Drill team look forward to this rare occasion of being inspected by their own mascot, while the band will set the atmosphere worthy of a knighted King Penguin!” 

The regal, black, white and yellow bird is the mascot of His Majesty the King of Norway’s Guard, and his very own story dates back as far as 1972, when a king penguin at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo was named after two people: Major Nils Egelien, who organised his adoption by RZSS Edinburgh Zoo in 1972, and the then-King of Norway, King Olav.  

The Guardsmen visit Sir Nils at the zoo every few years while they are in the city performing at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and give him a promotion.

Since his adoption in 1972, he has worked his way up the ranks, starting at Mascot, before being promoted to Corporal in 1982, Sergeant in 1987, Regimental Sergeant Major in 1993, Honourable Regimental Sergeant Major in 2001, Colonel-in-Chief in 2005, Knighthood in 2008, Brigadier Sir in 2016 and now General Major in 2023.  

Tickets are still available for the Tattoo, that runs until 26 August 2023 and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188. Tickets for the 2024 Show, Journeys, will be on general sale from 28 August 2023.  

Local sports clubs in with a chance to score £2500 funding from Aldi

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has returned for its eighth year in a row, and local sports clubs can now apply for a share of £50,000. 

The Sports Fund was launched by Aldi Scotland to encourage people of all ages and abilities to take part in physical activity within their local communities. The fund offers sports clubs up and down Scotland the opportunity to bag some essential funding. There are a range of funding tiers available, with one club in the area guaranteed to secure a £2,500 funding boost. 

Since launching in 2016, over 530 clubs across Scotland have benefitted from a funding uplift of £340,000 through Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund, helping to achieve its goal of improving community access to sports across the country. 

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation that meets the application criteria. In 2022, Aldi supported a selection of sports clubs across Scotland, including Ayrshire Speed Skating, Currie Star Football, West Lothian Handball, Edinburgh Pony Club, and Coatbridge Indoor Bowling Club. The additional funding helped clubs fund training sessions and purchase new equipment. 

Richard Holloway, Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, said: “Since launching in 2016, Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has given a range of local clubs access to essential funding to help them invest in much-needed equipment and resources. 

“Sports clubs across Scotland have faced a really challenging time over the last few years, and I am proud that Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is able to give these clubs a helping hand to continue the fantastic work they do in their communities. 

“Every year we are blown away by the volume of applications we receive, and very much look forward to welcoming more in 2023. I’d wholeheartedly encourage any sports clubs across Edinburgh and The Lothians to apply and take advantage of this excellent funding opportunity.”  

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is part of the retailer’s wider commitment to help local communities in Scotland, which it also does through its Neighbourly partnership and Supermarket Sweep. 

Sports clubs located across Edinburgh and The Lothians have from Monday 21st August to Sunday 24th September to apply for funding. One applicant will be selected to receive £2,500 of funding, two applicants will each receive £1,000 of funding, while several other applicants will each receive £500 of funding towards their sports club.

Applications can be made via a form found on:

https://www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund. 

The Aldi Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria. 

All applications will be considered by the Aldi judging panel and entrants will be notified of the outcome of their funding application within four to six weeks from the region’s deadline. 

Please see the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund FAQs and Terms & Conditions for more information. 

Cramond care home hosts show-stopping summer party for residents

Dementia care specialists build on party success with another great event

PENSIONERS enjoyed a sizzling summer party filled with music, food and performances at one of Scotland’s leading care homes in dementia care.

Building on the success of last year’s seasonal extravaganza, Cramond Residence’s Lifestyle Team pulled out all the stops to create a day full of fun for residents and their families.

The luxury care home has ran summer parties in the past which have proved to be popular and plan to return next year with another.

Elaine Vallance, head of the Lifestyle Team at Cramond Residence said: “We always aim to deliver events that will put a smile on the residents’ faces, and it was great to see that with the Summer Fete this year we achieved this again.

“It was a lovely day meeting the residents’ families and welcoming them into our care home to spend time with their loved ones.

“Last year we held a Wild West themed party which was extremely popular with our residents and carers, so we knew we had to come back with something great again this year. 

“Everyone had a great time, though I suspect the residents enjoyed it just a little bit more seeing as they got the chance to throw wet sponges at our Lifestyle Team at the end of the day.”

Residents enjoyed a day full of delicious BBQ food, live music, a variety of shows, balloon modelling, a raffle and tombola.

Client Liaison Manager Christian Daraio said: “Elaine and her team consistently deliver vibrant and exciting events for our residents that brings a lot of joy to their lives. 

“I have to say, thanks to Elaine and her team – who worked tirelessly to ensure that the day ran smoothly – all who attended had a great time.

“We’re already looking forward to next year’s summer party, and of course the residents are looking forward to all the upcoming events Elaine has up her sleeve for the rest of the year.”

Cramond Residence prioritises the residents’ needs and offers a tailored activity programme that combines a luxury hotel ambiance with the comfort of home living.

The residence was purpose-built for £8m and opened in October 2018 and adopts a small-group living philosophy with a major emphasis on socialisation.

Cramond Residence offers a wide variety of dementia care services within the general home environment or in a specialist area, which has been carefully designed for those at a more advanced stage.

The home provides a range of activities specially designed to give those living with dementia a richer and more satisfying life, with specialist facilities and trained staff on hand to provide support & relief.

West Lothian Zoo set to sparkle with Christmas magic

West Lothian’s Five Sisters Zoo will shimmer and sparkle once more when its ever-popular illuminations bring some Christmas magic to this year’s festive season.

The attraction, at Gavieside, West Calder, will light up from November 17 right through to December 23, offering a spectacular yuletide experience for all the family.

Thousands of lights and Christmas decorations will glitter around the grounds. There will also be a light show projection, a tunnel of light, a festive market with crafts and gifts, food and drink stalls selling a range of goodies including crepes and doughnuts, plus marshmallow toasting.

Youngsters will also get the chance to enjoy a spin on the children’s rides while grown-ups will appreciate the heated bar area serving mulled wine and cider and much more. And, of course, there’s the chance to see all the animals in the zoo’s collection.

For visitors with Additional Support Needs there will be a dedicated evening to suit their requirements on Sunday, November 26.

The illuminations are open from 5-9pm every Friday and Saturday from November 17 to 25 and from 4-9pm every evening throughout December, up until the 23rd.

Tickets are on sale now with free admittance for babies under a year old.

A group of animals with lights Description automatically generated with medium confidence

“This is always a magical time for us at the zoo and we’re thrilled to be staging our fantastic illuminations once again,” says co-owner Brian Curran. 

“Children just love Christmas and animals so it’s always such a winning combination and we’re anticipating another busy festive season.”

For more information and to book tickets go to https://fivesisterszoo.co.uk/zoo-illuminations-2023/

Fringe: One Last Week

A whole new batch of shows at theSpaceUK!

It’s not over yet: hidden gems galore, more new musicals, and juicy comedies are hitting theSpaceUK stages for one last rip-roaring week of shows.

Week 3 is here: bringing you one last knockout selection of shows. Fascinating ancient tales, energetic music bands, and frogs improvising in a box: it’s all go as we plunge into a fantastic final week at the Fringe.
 
Here’s a just a sample of the new shows gracing theSpaceUK from 21st – 26th:

Dive into ancient China
Legend of the White Snake (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 21-26)
A classic love story portrayed in traditional Kunqu opera form. Rarely performed in the West, Kunqu is one of the most ancient forms of opera in the world and the North Kunqu Opera Company is one of its leading ambassadors. Sung in Chinese, with English surtitles.

Get ready for a Musical Fiesta!
David Rivera la Båmbula (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 21-26)
David Rivera and La Båmbula will make you dance with their Caribbean sounds from Puerto Rico and Cuba. The 13-piece band is the first-ever Puerto Rican band to perform at the Fringe.

Croaky laughs guaranteed
Improv Comedy with Box of Frogs (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 21-26)
Box of Frogs, Birmingham’s premier improv group, brings you a helping of high-octane improvised comedy nonsense, based entirely on your suggestions. Expect the unexpected as quick-witted players conjure up hilarious, spontaneous songs, sketches and scenes on the spur of the moment!

Yes, you’ve already seen this show!
Good and Gaslit (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 21-26)
Good and Gaslit. A young director launching her career. A less-than-young TV executive performing her first one-woman show. It’s gonna be a gas! Come see the rehearsal, I mean, the show.

Is impostor syndrome even real?
this is a scam. (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 21-26)
Fake it ’til you make it. Lean In. How far can you stretch the truth in the name of self-optimisation? When does charisma, boldness, and self-promotion become fraud? This play aims to find out.

There’s a first time for everything
Does My Fanny Look Big In This? (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 21-26)
The anxious sex-ed class you never got in school. An exploration into the sexual world through spoken word, uncomfortable noises, an inflatable sex doll, (bad) singing, anxiety and a limerick.

An insightful play
A Night With Me, Myself and Bipolar Brenda (theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 21-26)
A captivating one-woman show, based on the critically acclaimed Amazon bestseller Me, Myself and Bipolar Brenda. Former Coronation Street actress and current Bipolar UK ambassador Natasha Rea smashes down barriers and raises awareness of bipolar, drawing on her own real-life story in this hilarious but heart-wrenching solo production.

Monsters, Inc (but it’s children)
Vida Slayman in Comedy of Terrors (theSpace on the Mile, 21-26)
Sold out at the Adelaide Fringe, now in Edinburgh! After fleeing two wars, Vida Slayman was prepared for anything life could throw at her. But then she faced a battle she couldn’t flee.

Razzle Dazzled
Las Vegas in Edinburgh (theSpace on the Mile, 21-26)
At this show, a sleight-of-hand spectacle bringing a little Vegas to Edinburgh. Marvel at the two magicians’ mind-bending illusions, brilliant comedy and incredible stage presence at the Fringe premiere on a stunning night of entertainment.

A night with a movie star
Call Me Elizabeth (theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, 21-26)
Fresh off her 1961 Academy Awards triumph and a recent brush with death, Elizabeth Taylor is struggling with her hardest role yet: herself.

Therefore AI am
Ctrl (theSpace on the Mile, 21-26)
Eager to stand out from the crowd, a group of teenagers turn to the assistance of AI. But what starts as a fun experiment soon turns to alarming obsession. Co-written by AI, this play questions reality and creativity.

Sailing through the high C’s
The Impresario (theSpace @ Venue 45, 21-26)
It’s 1930 and “talkies” are taking off – a film producer has the daunting task of bringing opera to the masses through the silver screen, made more challenging by diva two sopranos who both insist on top billing!

Wedding night gone wrong
Blueballs (theSpace Triplex, 21-26)
One bedroom. Two 20-year-olds. Just married and strangers until hours ago – now they are alone for the first time. A twisted version of the twisted tale Bluebeard, Blueballs is a thrilling, 40-minute tequila-shot of theatre in free verse.

Craigmillar Park incident: Police urge Good Samaritan to come forward

POLICE are appealing for a man who took an injured man to hospital in Edinburgh on Saturday (19 August 2023), to contact them.

Around 6.20 pm, a 17-year-old seriously injured youth was assisted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by the man who left before any details were taken by staff.

The man is described as white, in his 50s, had receding hair and was wearing glasses, a blue Adidas top and was carrying a rucksack.

Detective Sergeant Keith Morrison said: “At this time, we don’t know how the young man sustained his injuries, so it is imperative that we trace the man who took him to hospital so we can find out what he knows.

“From our enquiries, the injured man was at an event in Craigmillar Park the previous evening and had become separated from his friends. They were unable to get a hold of him, and it was only when he was admitted to hospital that his family were made aware of where he was.

“If you are the man described, or have any information that may assist our investigation, please call officers at Gayfield CID via 101, quoting incident number 2960 of Saturday, 19 August 2023. Alternatively, details can be given in confidence on 0800 555 111.