August 2023 – Page 28 – The NEN

Funding to improve digital inclusion in mental health and housing

Supporting access to online services

Projects across Scotland have been awarded funding as part of the Scottish Government’s Digital Inclusion Programme aimed at helping people to access online support services, initially in mental health and housing services.

The thirteen projects, which bid to be one of the ‘Digital Pioneers’, will develop, test and implement programmes to help people access the services they need online to support their health and wellbeing.

The £600,000 first phase of the programme is being delivered in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. It will benefit more than 1,500 people by building skills and confidence, as well as devices to support access to digital services in mental health and housing.

It is expected that following the programme, which will run for two years, a shared understanding and learning of how best to support digital inclusion in mental health and housing will be created.

Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Michael Matheson said: “Supporting people to feel more digitally confident so they can access the services they need online is absolutely vital and it is one of our long-standing commitments.

“This programme will see models tested that will help so many people gain the skills they need to improve their own health and know how to access the support that is available to them.”

The Digital Inclusion Programme launched in March 2023, is led by the Digital Health and Care directorate and delivered in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and Connecting Scotland.

The programme, backed by £2 million of funding, focuses on two areas: digital inclusion in Mental Health (supporting people with a mental health condition (s)) and digital inclusion in Housing (supporting customers or tenants in social housing, the private rented sector or owner-occupied housing who are most at risk of digital exclusion).

List of organisations awarded funding with overview of their project:

Organisation	Amount	Project Overview	Anticipated number of direct beneficiaries
Aberdeen Foyer	£54,867	Aberdeen Foyers Housing Digital Support project will work with young people in Aberdeenshire at risk of experiencing homelessness. Funding will allow them to expand their current services to provide devices, connectivity and digital inclusion support to improve access to supports and services and to reduce isolation. The project will support 22 staff and volunteers and 75 young people.	75
Blackwood Homes and Care	£55,000	Blackwoods Digital Buddies project will work with older people in supported living accomodation, in rural areas in Scotland. Funding will allow them to expand their current digital inclusion model across newly acquired supported living accomodation. The project will provide digital training to upskill 76 staff and volunteers and provide connectivity, devices and digital skills support to 130 older residents.	130
Simon Community Scotland	£54,982	Simon Community Scotland’s Get Connected Housing project will work with people experiencing homelessness. Funding will allow them to embed their existing digital inclusion approach within their Housing First & Housing Support Services within Edinburgh. The project will provide devices, connectivity and one to one digital support to work with people transitioning from homelessness and temporary accommodation to sustained tenancies. The project will work with 65 staff and 130 participants to build digital skills and confidence and improve access to services.	130
Prospect Community Housing Limited	£31,310	Prospect Community Housing’s Link Up project works with people with a disability or long term health condition in Wester Hailes. Funding will allow them to continue to work in partnership with WHALE arts to deliver digital drop-ins and one to one support to improve digital skills and confidence. The project will support 5 staff and volunteers and 70 participants.	70
Shettleston Housing Association Limited	£54,980	Shettleston Housing Association’s Shettleston Does Digital project works with older adults who are not in work or are retired. Funding will allow them to expand their existing digital inclusion work in partnership with Fuse Youth Cafe to deliver digital drop-ins and digital skills training to improve digital confidence and increase access to services and support. The project will work with 10 staff and volunteers and 160 participants	160
Link living	£50,268	Link Living’s Digital support service supports young people and people with moderate to severe mental health conditions across Edinburgh to improve digital skills. Funding will allow them to continue delivery of their Digital Support Service providing connectivity, devices and one to one support to improve digital skills and confidence. The project will support 1 staff member and 130 participants	130
Queens Cross Housing Association Limited	£42,753	Queens Cross Housing Association’s Digital Spaces in Community Places works with mutiple digitally excluded groups across communities in Glasgow. Funding will allow them to continue delivering digital sessions inlcuding coding for young people, digital cafes for older people and structured course content across 4 community facilities in Glasgow.The project will work with 50 staff and volunteers and 190 participants to build digital skills, confidence and increase access to support services.	190
Carr Gomm	£54,677	Carr Gomm’s Connected Lives project builds on the learning from their previous Digital Inclusion Research Project (DIRP). Funding will allow them to expand their digital inclusion support across Glasgow’s Integrated Services and enhance support through establishing a safe, online peer network to facilitate improved wellbeing through meaningful community connections. The project will support 40 staff and 60 service users to build their digital skills and confidence.	60
Saheliya	£54,773	Saheliya Digital Pioneers project works with marginalised New Scots women in Edinburgh and Glasgow to increase their digital skills and confidence. Funding will allow them to continue to deliver digital inclusion and language sessions to improve skills and confidence to access further supports and services to improve mental health and wellbeing. The project will support will support 10 staff and 72 New Scots women.	72
Moray Wellbeing Hub	£54,982	Moray Wellbeing Hub’s Digital Mental Health Capacity Building project aims to establish a digital mental health hub in to improve digital skills and access to services in Moray. Funding will allow them to build on current work with Health and Social Care Partnership Moray to offer online and in person digital support to improve digital skills and confidence and social connections. The project will work with 30 staff and 300 participants to reduce digital exclusion.	300
Scottish Association for Mental Health	£51,270	The Scottish Association for Mental Health’s Enduring Digital Accessibility project works with people in supported living settings to enhance their digital skills and confidence. Funding will allow them to expand and formalise their existing digital inclusion activities in Edinburgh, Perth and Glasgow and increase access to online supports and services. The project will also enhance staff and participants access with their care management system to improve peoples engagement within their individual care plans. The project will support 25 staff and 100 people in supported living settings.	100
Cyrenians	£36,244	Cyrenians Digital Inclusion project works with people facing long term unemployment, transitioning from hospital care and living in residential care. Funding will allow them to expand their current digital inclusion activities and provide a digital hub at their Farm, one to one support and indepth digital skills support in Edinburgh and West Lothian. The project will support 37 people.	37
Just Bee Productions	£54,229	Just Bee’s Just Breath project works with people to reduce mental health inequalities, assessments and waiting times to access services. Funding will allow them to deliver a variety of digital inclusion activities with people in crisis to improve their digital skills and confidence to access services and supports to support their mental Health. The project will support 4 staff and 80 participants experiencing moderate to severe mental health conditions.

More animals killed on M9 than any other road in Scotland

Almost 6,000 roadkills have been reported across England, Scotland and Wales since 2022

New data reveals how England accounted for 68% of all reported roadkill incidents.
The animals most likely to be hit by drivers were deer, badgers and foxes. Domestic animals like cats and dogs were also high on the list, accounting for 591 reports.
Over 1 in 3 (36%) UK drivers say they’ve hit an animal while driving in the past. But only 1 in 7 (15%) have reported it.
And hitting an animal could cost more than you might think. On average, roadkill is costing motorists £291 for damages to their vehicle.
Louise Thomas, motor expert at Confused.com car insurance explains what drivers should do if they hit an animal when behind the wheel.

More animals were killed on the M5 motorway than any other road in the UK last year, new data reveals.

Since 2022, there were 5,976 roadkill reports across England, Scotland and Wales. But the M5, which stretches 162m miles from West Bromwich to Exeter, accounted for 345 (6%) on its own. This makes it the most notorious road for roadkill incidents by vehicles across all 3 countries.

The data was obtained by Confused.com through a Freedom of Information request to Highways England, Transport Scotland and Transport Wales. The request asked each authority to state the number of dead animals found on roads between January 2022 and June 2023.

In England, the total number of animals reported dead to Highways England was 4,122. This makes up 68% of all roadkill reports in comparison to Scotland and Wales.

In Scotland, there were 1,521 reports of dead animals, while Wales accounted for 333.

But although England may seem the most notorious, its drivers in Scotland that could be most likely to hit an animal when driving.

That’s as Scotland has around 2.5 million registered vehicles(2), so around 1 animal is hit every 1,600 cars. In Wales, this is 1 animal in every 4,800 cars. And with around 28 million cars in England, 1 animal is hit in every 6,800 cars.

When looking at the particular roads that had the most reports, those topping the list were all found in England. In particular, the M1 and M6 had 282 and 273 reports, respectively.

In Scotland, the M9 was the worst for roadkill with reports showing 162 animals were found dead on this road last year.

But in Wales, figures were much lower. The worst road in Wales was the A55, most famously known as the North Wales Expressway, which had 105 reports.

When looking at the types of animals that are most common to be killed on roads, deer topped the list. Since 2022, there have been 1,924 reports of deer being killed. This was most common in England, with 1,084 reports.

In Scotland, 820 were reported and in Wales, just 20.

Badgers were second most commonly reported, with 846 reports in total, followed by foxes with 846 reports. Domestic animals were also among some of the most killed animals. That’s as 382 cats were reported dead last year and 209 dogs. This accounts for almost 10% of the overall figures.

The totals for domestic animals may be surprising for some, as they may expect to see higher roadkill numbers in residential areas. But the data collected from the Highways agencies primarily look after motorways and other large roads. This could be a reason why some reported animals are bigger than others.

And further research gathered by Confused.com backs this theory. The latest data suggests that there could be many other animals that actually top the list instead. In a recent survey of 2,000 drivers, 1 in 3 (36%) admit to previously hitting an animal when driving.

And when asked which animal they hit, the most common answers were:

Birds (35%)
Pheasants (23%)
Rabbits (21%)
Cats (15%)
Dogs (12%)

The difference in findings could be surprising, but this could be down to the legalities around reporting roadkill.

The UK law states that drivers have a legal obligation to call the police if they hit the following when driving:

Dogs
Horses
Cattle
Pigs
Goats
Sheep
Donkeys and mules

For animals like badgers, foxes and otters, they should be reported to the council rather than the police. But for other animals, such as cats and birds, these don’t need to be legally reported.

This could be why data reports for these animals are lower than expected. Although no matter the animal, it’s still recommended to report any that are hit when on the road. This is because they could cause obstruction and danger to other drivers.

But rules around reporting roadkill seems to be a confusing matter for drivers. That’s as almost 9 in 10 (87%) drivers admitted to not reporting an animal after they’d hit it with their car.

When asked why, more than half (52%) said they either thought or knew that they didn’t have to report it. But almost 1 in 5 (17%) said they either didn’t know how to report it, or they weren’t aware that they had to report that type of animal. A further quarter (26%) said they weren’t sure what to do if they hit an animal. So it’s clear that there’s some confusion among motorists around the best action to take.

Although the M5 motorway was the most common road for roadkill based on reports, it seems country roads are actually the most notorious for collisions.

That’s as almost 7 in 10 (68%) drivers said they’d come into contact with an animal on a country road or residential area (26%). But these types of roads are also where animals such as birds, pheasants and domesticated pets are most likely found.

And although country and residential roads could be most common for roadkill accidents, they could also be seen as less of an obstruction than motorways. So this could be the reason why roadkills are less likely reported on these types of roads.

But one thing that all roadkill incidents have in common is that the end result could be pricey. That’s as 1 in 5 drivers said their vehicle has been damaged after hitting an animal. And this left them out of pocket by £291, on average.

Hitting an animal when driving isn’t pleasant. And while it might feel like a sensible idea to swerve when danger is in sight, it’s not always possible. And 2 in 5 (44%) admitted that they wouldn’t swerve for an animal if it put other road users at risk. But that’s up for debate, as around 3 in 10 (29%) said drivers should try to avoid hitting an animal at all costs.

So it’s clear that there could be some confusion on what to do if you hit an animal while driving. But no matter if they’re a legal requirement or not, it’s always a good idea to report it to the appropriate authority anyway. This means the animal can either be treated or removed from the road correctly, and roads are kept clear for other road users.

Louise Thomas, motor insurance expert at Confused.com car insurance comments: “It isn’t nice for any drivers to hit an animal when on the road. It can be a shocking experience for yourself, your passengers and other road users. But sometimes contact can’t always be avoided.

“Whether you’re obliged to legally report it or not, you should always inform the police or your local council. That’s because it could cause an obstruction for other drivers. That way, the road can be cleared and the animal can be disposed of correctly. Unless absolutely necessary, you should avoid moving the animal yourself as this could risk your own safety.

“If you’ve hit an animal and your vehicle is damaged, it’s always worth getting a quote and having the damage assessed. In some instances, you might feel it’s worth making a claim on your car insurance.

“But for smaller claims, sometimes it’s also worth seeing if you can cover the costs yourself, rather than going through your insurer. Making a claim of any size could impact your premiums in future, with claims a common reason for increased cost.

“If you do hit an animal when driving, our guide on common motoring myths explains what to do.”

New Annual Police Plan 2023-24

Police Scotland’s Annual Police Plan (APP) has now been launched.

Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone QPM presented the plan to the Scottish Police Authority Board in March. It was then laid in the Scottish Parliament as required under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.

Our APP uses strategic outcomes and objectives to describe the impact that Police Scotland aims to make to the lives of people across Scotland. This aligns with the Joint Strategy for Policing, Policing for a Safe, Protected and Resilient Scotland, and our strategic planning framework.

It was developed with colleagues from across the service and describes how we will prioritise our resources towards the issues that cause the most harm to people and communities.

Progress will be reported across all the activities featured to describe and demonstrate the impact of policing on Scotland’s communities. Police Scotland’s Performance Framework is being refreshed and as in previous years, will fully align to the strategic outcomes and objectives set out in the Joint Strategy and the APP.

You can also download a PDF version here.

annual_police_plan_23_24_10991_23_ar-final Download

Policing for a Safe, Protected and Resilient Scotland

In 2020, the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland agreed and published our Joint Strategy for Policing (2020), Policing for a Safe Protected and Resilient Scotland. This strategy describes our ambitions for the future of policing in Scotland framed around five strategic outcomes.

Good progress has been made in developing our service since that point and the time is right to review our strategy. The Vision for Justice was published in 2022, and Scottish Government has recently reviewed and confirmed their Strategic Police Priorities for the next three years.

We are now keen to engage with our partners, stakeholders and members of the public to gain feedback on the draft document before we finalise it later this Spring.

The Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland have now launched a public engagement exercise on the draft Joint Strategy for Policing 2023-26.

The engagement exercise launched on 11 March 2023 and will run until 23 April 2023.

To find out more and to give us your feedback, please click here.

Aldi recruiting in Edinburgh

Aldi is currently looking to recruit over 20 new store colleagues across Edinburgh.

In a welcome boost to the local economy, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket is looking for people of all levels of experience to fill roles at its stores across the region including Hermiston Gate, Gilmerton Road, Oxgangs, Commercial Street, and Portobello.

This includes both full-time and part-time positions including Store Management Apprentice, Stock Assistant, and Store Assistant, all the way up to Deputy Managers.

The recruitment push forms part of Aldi’s nationwide expansion drive, with the supermarket set to open an average of one new store a week across the UK between now and Christmas.

Kelly Stokes, Recruitment Director at Aldi UK, said: “As we continue to invest in new stores, we’re looking for more colleagues to join our incredible teams across Edinburgh.

“Working at Aldi means a great working environment and real opportunities to progress within the business and we look forward to welcoming even more people to be a part of our success in the future.”

Starting pay for Store Assistants at Aldi is £11.40 per hour with the supermarket also paying for breaks.

Those interested in applying for jobs can visit www.aldirecruitment.co.uk.

Sashay your way to Virgin Hotels Edinburgh for a Drag Brunch at Eve

EVE, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s all day dining destination, is hosting a showstopping Drag Brunch tomorrow, Saturday, 5^th of August, with Queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race fame.

Kicking off at 12pm, guests will be able to enjoy death-drop worthy brunch classics that will satisfy every craving, from tasty crispy chicken burgers to sweet treats including wholesome granola bowls and pancakes, fabulously paired with pick-me-up martinis and mimosa cocktails, all accompanied by a live DJ set.

In partnership with Gilded Balloon and Klub Kids, legendary Queens Anita Wigl’it and Baga Chipz will have guests voguing like Madonna as they take to the stage to give a fierce preview of their respective Fringe shows, which are running from 4^th – 9^th August at Gilded Balloon Teviot.

The spectacular brunch event is free to attend, with guests only required to book a table to enjoy the experience in the glamourous surroundings of Eve – that are fit for a Queen.

David Moth, Virgin Hotels Vice President of Operations and Interim General Manager of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh said, “As part of an exciting new collaboration, we are thrilled to be working alongside Gilded Balloon and Klub Kids to start the Edinburgh Fringe Festival off right, with laugh-out-loud performances, live music and delicious brunch classics at Eve.

“Virgin Hotels is no stranger to fabulous live performances but we’re ready to raise the bar with two icons of the international Drag scene. The Fringe is all about bringing communities together and what better way to do so than with two of RuPaul’s most loved divas, hailing all the way from Australia and the UK.

“To mark our first year of being an official Fringe venue, we’re ready to get Cowgate up and dancing with this special Drag Brunch. For the rest of August, guests can expect top-notch entertainment up on our spectacular roof terrace as well as show-stopping performances in our classically restored Greyfriars Kirk.”

Brunch reservations are available to book from 12pm with the entertainment starting at 1pm. For more information and to reserve a table please visit:
https://virginhotels.com/edinburgh/event/drag-brunch/

The Drag Brunch is just one of many events hosted at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh. To stay up to date with the latest news and events, follow along on social media here:

Instagram @eveedinburgh @virginhotelsedi
Twitter @virginhotelsedi

SEPA urges businesses using water to stay vigilant after swing in weather conditions

New statistics highlight the contrasting conditions impacting Scotland’s water environment this summer, prompting a plea from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for businesses to stay vigilant.

Some areas that were experiencing significant water scarcity at the end of June, including the Rivers Annan and Nith, have now recovered in just a few weeks after nearly double the normal amount of rainfall for July according to new figures from the Met Office. Scotland as a whole received around 50% more rain than average for the month.

This is in contrast to a very dry April, May and June for Scotland, with May in particular only recording less than half (44%) of the average rainfall.

The latest water scarcity report, published today by SEPA, shows a positive picture with most of the country now experiencing normal river and groundwater levels.

However, parts of the north-east around Morayshire and northern Aberdeenshire are recovering more slowly, with just average or below average rainfall for the previous month. This means a possibility remains of conditions worsening in these areas if August isn’t wetter than usual.

water-scarcity-report-04-august Download

Kenny Boag, Head of Environmental Performance at SEPA, said: “I’m sure many would agree it feels like we often experience all seasons in a single day in Scotland, and the country is in fact famed for its unpredictable weather. The difference between the situation facing Scotland’s water environment in June compared to July is stark.

“While this keeps locals and tourists alike on their toes, there’s no doubt it proves challenging for industries that rely on the environment to operate. Farms, whisky distilleries and golf courses are all examples of businesses that need a consistent supply of water.

“That’s why it’s crucial they’re aware of the conditions impacting sources like rivers and burns and reduce their reliance on them. We’re asking businesses to monitor how much they’re using, review techniques and best practice, and invest in improvements where needed. They should adopt a longer-term view to prepare for these dynamic conditions, rather than waiting until levels reach a critical state.

“SEPA works all year round, not just in summer, to support users and foster a culture of sustainable water management. This will not only reduce environmental impacts during dry periods but can also lead to cost savings and improved efficiency for businesses.”

At the end of June this year, SEPA varied water abstraction licences, requiring a number of farmers to reduce the amount of water they were taking from the environment to allow levels to recover.

Water abstractors and irrigators in all parts of Scotland are advised to manage water wisely to minimise the need for future restrictions:

Check SEPA’s water scarcity reports regularly to keep up to date with the water situation in your area. 
Regularly check abstraction equipment to make sure it’s in good condition and fix any leaks straight away.
Where possible, reduce the volume and rate of your abstractions.
Have a contingency plan for if restrictions or suspensions are put in place

More information, guidance and advice can be found at

www.sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity.

Bin man turned drag queen adds sparkle to Edinburgh streets

As Edinburgh enters its busiest summer festival season since the Covid pandemic, a Cheshire bin man has brought his extravagant performance to the capital to support keeping the streets clean.

To celebrate (?) the City of Edinburgh Council announcing the deployment of additional waste and cleansing resources over August in the city centre, Joe Leather treated Council Leader Cammy Day, cleansing staff and passers-by to a lively performance yesterday.

And Joe was very vocal in getting behind the message ‘bin your litter or take it home with you’ to make sure the world’s festival city is kept looking its best for residents, businesses and visitors this summer.

An additional team of 15 cleansing staff are now out in force targeting the busiest streets in the city centre each day. The 350 litter bins across the city centre will continue to be emptied overnight and there will also be a dedicated vehicle with cleansing crew emptying litter bins during the day.

In addition to this, an extra four waste vehicles will be out clearing up any areas where waste has built up and extra litter bins have been placed in busy ‘hot spot’ areas at Cockburn Street, High Street and the top of the Mound.

The Council also works with Out of Hand to make sure areas in the city centre outside the pedestrianised section of the High Street, looked after by the Fringe, has managed advertising space and is kept clear of fliers and other litter.

Alongside this, temporary changes have been made to some road layouts in the Old Town to create a safer, more inviting atmosphere for residents and visitors. By making it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle on key streets in the area during the busy festival period this will reduce pressure caused by increased footfall. This builds on the successful pedestrianisation of Cockburn Street and Victoria Street as part of Travelling Safely.

This year the Council has also brought back the popular ‘We’ll bin our jokes, if you bin your litter’ campaign, which urges residents and visitors to help keep the Capital city in shape.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “It was great to meet Joe and get a sneak preview of one of the acts which will bring colour and culture to the streets of the Capital in the coming weeks as the festival season gets into full swing.

“This is our first restriction-free summer festival season since the Covid pandemic and there’s already a fantastic buzz building across Edinburgh. We’re also hosting a leg of the UCI World Championships road race and with all this activity it will be great to see residents and visitors out and about, soaking up the sights and sounds, and maybe some sun!

“That’s why we’re deploying extra waste and cleansing staff and I’d like to thank them as well as those from the Fringe, Out of Hand and other partners who will be working tirelessly in the background day and night to make sure Edinburgh continues to look its best. It’s important to recognise that we all have a part to play in keeping Edinburgh clean and I would ask you all to take pride in your city by binning your litter or taking it home.

“If you’ve larger items always remember to use our special uplift service or book an appointment at one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres to dispose of your waste responsibly. And if the weather improves and you’re out enjoying the sunshine and having a barbecue, please remember to protect the grass in our parks and other open spaces.”

Book Festival: Greta Thunberg event CANCELLED

THE Edinburgh International Book Festival has announced that Greta Thunberg’s event, which was due to take place on Sunday 13 August, will no longer go ahead.

Greta Thunberg said: “I am unfortunately unable to attend the Edinburgh Book Festival. As a climate activist I cannot attend an event which receives sponsorship from Baillie Gifford, who invest heavily in the fossil fuel industry.

“Greenwashing efforts by the fossil fuel industry, including sponsorship of cultural events, allow them to keep the social license to continue operating. I cannot and do not want to be associated with events that accept this kind of sponsorship.”

Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“While I am disappointed that Greta will not be joining us on the 13 of August, I fully respect her decision. I share Greta’s view that in all areas of society the rate of progress is not enough.

“However, in applauding Greta for standing by her principles, we too must stand by ours.

“The Book Festival exists to give a platform for debate and discussion around key issues affecting humanity today – including the climate emergency. As a charitable organisation, we would not be in a position to provide that platform without the long-term support of organisations such as Baillie Gifford.

“We strongly believe that Baillie Gifford are part of the solution to the climate emergency. They are early investors in progressive climate positive companies, providing funds to help them grow. While they acknowledge there is still work to do, we have seen them make rapid progress throughout our 19-year relationship.

“I apologise to all the people who bought tickets and were keen to meet Greta – and especially to the hundreds of young climate campaigners who we had invited to come along because of their hard work to change the system in Scotland. We will of course refund all ticket-buyers in full.”

Baillie Gifford said: “We are not a significant fossil fuel investor. Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. This compares to the market average of 11%. Of those companies, some have already moved most of their business away from fossil fuels, and many are helping to drive the transition to clean energy.

“We are investing on behalf of our clients to grow their savings and retirement funds. When we invest in companies on their behalf, we do so over long time periods – typically 10 years or more – so this has naturally led us away from traditional fossil fuel firms. Currently, 5% of our clients’ money is invested in companies whose sole purpose is to develop clean energy solutions.

“We believe in open debate and discussion which is why we are long-term supporters of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.”

Princess Royal attends Tattoo rehearsal at Redford Barracks

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended one of the final rehearsals of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo ahead of its official opening night tonight (Friday 4 August).

All performers from this year’s Show, Stories, took part in tyesterday’s rehearsal at the Redford Barracks, giving Her Royal Highness an exclusive preview of their stunning musical and cultural showcases and military precision.

Over 800 performers from across the globe are taking part in this year’s production. Stories is a celebration of sagas, myths, and legends, transporting audiences on a journey of ideas – from the earliest campfire stories through to the world stage.

HRH The Princess Royal met with performers from countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Switzerland, Australia, Norway and The United States of America.

Building on last year’s successful return Show, Voices, audiences from around the world will gather at Edinburgh Castle this summer, from 4 August – 26 August, for the cultural spectacular.

Fringe: Skywalker Gibbon opens House of Oz

House of Oz opens today as Lisa Roet’s Inflatable ‘Skywalker Gibbon’ joins the Edinburgh Fringe Skyline

Everyone associates certain sights with the Edinburgh Fringe such as the iconic Udderbelly, and now a new creature is set to ignite the imaginations of Fringe audiences: Artist Lisa Roet’s “Skywalker” – a massive inflatable of a Skywalker Gibbon which will take pride of place above House of Oz.

In addition to its visually arresting look, visitors can also listen out for the peculiar love call of the gibbon which will be played between show times at the venue.

Roet is an Australian artist, based in Melbourne, whose previous work has graced locations from Beijing to Inverleith House, although this year will mark her first visit to Edinburgh. The structure will be not only an exciting visual for audiences to spot throughout August but is also a firm statement for environmental sustainability.

The venue, located at King’s Hall in Newington, was voted Edinburgh Fringe’s best venue in 2022, its debut year, and is back bigger and better this year, presenting eight of Australia’s most exciting new artists.

Celebrating the best in Australian creativity, from site-specific immersive theatre to family entertainment, as well as the best in the worlds of comedy, cabaret and circus, there is truly something for everyone at House of Oz.

This year’s venue is also set to be one of the most exciting hub spaces at the Fringe, offering an array of delicious food and drink options, including a Daisy Green pop-up café in the “Outback” garden bar.

This year’s programme champions original and boundary-pushing work, such as immersive audio experience Two Strangers Walk Into a Bar… the Adelaide smash-hit by award-winning actor, writer and director Tilda Cobham-Harvey that invites audience members to forge connections with a complete stranger.

A breakout theatrical success from festivals across Australia, Jonny Hawkins transforms into “working class glamour queen” Maureen as they celebrate the indomitable voice, wisdom and passion of dames who defy invisibility.

Blending circus and contemporary theatre, Common Dissonance from Melbourne-based Na Djinang Circus explores modern Australian identity and asks if there is space for the acceptance of indigenous spirituality in 21st Century Australia.

In the world of comedy, audiences can look forward to the UK debut of one of Australia’s most exciting, rising stars in Anna Piper Scott – Such an Inspiration. As both a trans woman and comedian, Anna grapples with a volatile conversation that has touched some of the biggest names in comedy like Hannah Gadsby and Dave Chappelle, about how to make fun of yourself whilst retaining a foundational respect for who you are.

Younger audiences won’t be left out this year, with shows for all the family to enjoy. Beetle, a new work from acclaimed physical theatre artists Legs On The Wall, is a heartwarming story that brings the magic of the Australian bush to life through the company’s trademark physical storytelling, alongside beautiful animated illustrations by beloved children’s author and illustrator Freya Blackwood.

Making their 10^th Fringe appearance, family Fringe favourites The Listies return with Make Some Noise, a joyous musical mishmash of sketches, songs and clowning that have brought fun and laughter to gazillions of ‘kidults’ around the world.

Audiences can be sure to revel in an evening at the House of Oz that is filled with music and cabaret. Michaela Burger traverses her family’s past in a new, original musical tribute A Migrant’s Son. Featuring a live band, including piano and bouzouki, Michaela pays tribute to her Greek migrant family and hard-working, fun-loving larrikin father Luke who defied all odds.

Armed with stilettos and a four-octave range, Leather Lungs: Higher Love is set to raise the roof of the House of Oz, as the queen of falsetto storms into Edinburgh with a heart-stopping celebration of liberation and exploration, featuring powerhouse anthems from Queen and Abba performed as you’ve never heard them before.

House of Oz is located at Kings Hall, 41A South Clerk Street Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9NZ, and is open every day from 10am to 11pm, with late-night shows on Fridays and Saturdays and later opening on Sundays and Thursdays.

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