The innovative service celebrates a pivotal achievement in advancing patient access to clinical trials
Make 2nds Count, a pioneering charity dedicated to raising awareness and funding research for secondary breast cancer, is proud to announce that – championed by a generous grant from Breast Cancer charity Walk the Walk – their Patient Trials Advocate (PTA) service has so far supported 500 secondary breast cancer patients across the UK, marking a significant milestone and pivotal achievement in advancing patient access to clinical trials.
In a noteworthy collaboration, the Walk the Walk charity – organiser of the iconic MoonWalk London and MoonWalk Scotland fundraising events – has donated £79,434 to the PTA service, which was originally launched in 2021. These funds will be used to finance the full initiative for the next 9 months to a year, demonstrating the collective effort to make a meaningful impact in the lives of secondary breast cancer patients.
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk said:“I am really delighted to share the news of the recent grant which Walk the Walk has awarded to Make 2nds Count.
“This funding will specifically contribute towards the charity’s ground-breaking Patient Trials Advocate Service. This much-needed service is designed to bring together women with breast cancer, who might not otherwise have had access to clinical trials, and for many of whom this is the last resort of treatment.
“By collaborating, charities can make such a huge difference to so many people, and we are incredibly proud to be supporting Make 2nds Count and what they achieve in raising awareness and funding research for secondary breast cancer.
“Whilst Walk the Walk supports its own campaigns, grants like this one are very exciting and wonderful to share with Walk the Walk’s fundraisers – I cannot thank these generous and wonderful people enough!”
Make 2nds Count’s PTA service is the first of its kind in the UK, offering fresh hope to patients by connecting them with clinical trials that have the potential to improve outcomes and extend life.
Since its pilot launch in 2021, the PTA service has provided support to over 500 patients, with a remarkable 100% endorsement from those who have experienced the initiative. Furthermore, 95% of patients expressed their willingness to engage in discussions with their clinicians about the possibility of accessing clinical trials.
Patient Trial Advocate, Senior Research Nurse Vivienne Wilson, expressed her enthusiasm for the service, stating, “I’ve been working with Make 2nds Count for over two years now, and I think this service really is one of a kind.
“I enjoy the opportunity to talk to many secondary breast cancer patients, sharing my knowledge with regards to available trials and guiding them to explore their options.”
One such patient is Margaret Irvine, who was diagnosed 8 years ago with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer after an original diagnosis of primary breast cancer 9 years before that.
Margaret – who is a trained District Nurse and has worked in the community throughout her career -says:“The worst part of being diagnosed was telling my close family – any negative changes are always hard to deal with.
“Finding information is never easy as most of it is very negative or outdated when beginning to research, but I tried my best and the unit I originally attended for treatment was very supportive. As my treatment progressed, I became aware of Make 2nds Count and I started talking to people about the PTA Service.
“Access to the service has given me new hope and support, as well as a new way of opening discussions with my treatment team and allowing myself and others as patients to have more control of the journey we are on. This is the main reason I decided to share my experience with others too.”
Secondary breast cancer, also known as metastatic, advanced, or stage IV breast cancer, claims the lives of 1000 women in the UK each month and is currently affecting 61,000 people, yet it remains a relatively unknown and underrepresented area of research.
The PTA service, which covers the UK with dedicated nurses based in Edinburgh, the Borders, and the Highlands, provides patients with personalised support and information. Patients undergo an initial one-to-one, hour-long phone consultation with specialist nurses who offer guidance on clinical trials, address queries, and assist in searching for suitable trials.
The ultimate goal is to empower patients to discuss clinical trials as a viable part of their treatment pathway.
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk adds: “We could not do any of the special work we do without everyone’s help, so sign up now at www.walkthewalk.org for The MoonWalk London on Saturday 18 May and join this incredible fun-filled ‘Fiesta’ of a night.
“A night which brings people together all putting one foot in front of another to reach their own personal goal of walking a Half or Full Marathon through the night, whilst helping others. Come and see for yourself, it really is breath-taking!”
Make 2nds Count is dedicated to continuing its mission, ensuring that every patient with secondary breast cancer has the knowledge and opportunity to explore clinical trials as an integral part of their treatment journey.
If you are a secondary breast cancer patient who may be interested in clinical trials and the PTA service, please visit our website:
2024 Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards Winners Announced
Celebrating the Most Inspirational Women in STEM
The winners of the 2024 Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards have been announced, celebrating the most inspirational women working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Now in their 14th year, the awards shine a spotlight on the industry’s most exceptional talent from all stages of the career journey, from apprentices to C-suite, from the UK and beyond.
While the technology industry is pioneering, innovative and exciting in many ways, women only make up 26% of its workforce[1]. The absence of visible female leaders and role models remains a critical issue in the drive to attract, develop, retain, and advance the industry’s female talent.
A study of the everywoman in Tech community, in collaboration with Bupa, found that for 39% of women working in technology, the imposter phenomenon and the female role model deficit remained as their top challenges in achieving their career ambition.[2]
The survey revealed that this scarcity of role models is prevalent across the board, with entry-level women recognising this in equal measure to women who have made it to the C-suite. The breadth and diversity of talent that the everywoman award programme uncovers every year continues to address a vital industry wide need.
Maxine Benson MBE, Co-Founder of everywomancomments: ““As everywoman celebrates its 25th anniversary we are reminded that the impact role models have remains as powerful today as when we started.
“Role models serve not just as beacons of achievement, but also as tangible proof that success is attainable, providing a roadmap that others can use to navigate their career progression.
“We congratulate this year’s winners, who are a powerful group of role models that embody what women in tech want to see more of and our male allies who have a critical role to play in changing the landscape of technology.”
The DIGITAL STAR AWARD was awarded toRose Ulldemolins, Tech School Lead at Lloyds Banking Group, fromEdinburgh.
Since being reskilled Rose has done a variety of tech roles, from a full-stack Engineer to Engineering Community Lead and now to Tech School Lead.
With a passion for I&D, she Co-Chairs a 1,700 strong network ‘Women ConnecTech’, whose aim is to improve gender diversity in the industry.
This included running a program to upskill over 100 colleagues to be able to code. Following its success, she is now re-running this for over 250 people.
Rose is relentless in her pursuit of gender equality, and fearlessly shares her vulnerabilities to establish safe and supportive environments where women can share their experiences and strive for excellence.
Yolande Young, CISO at Bupa Global & UK comments: “A huge congratulations to this year’s winners of the Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards.
“It’s testament to their achievements and the positions they hold, not just within technology, but also as positive and inspirational role models and leaders.
“The standard of entries was extremely high, reflecting the wealth of female talent in our industry. Everyone who was nominated should be extremely proud of their achievements. At Bupa we’re committed to ensuring that women are fully supported to fulfil their career ambitions. It was an honour to meet so many brave, caring, and responsible leaders who are working towards a bright future for our industry.”
With this year’s theme ‘Empower. Transform. Thrive.’, the 2024 Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards ceremony and dinner took place at The Park Plaza in London on 14 March 2024, after the annual everywoman in Technology Forum, where they welcomed over 600 tech industry leaders and stars.
To find out more about the winners or register your interest in next year’s awards, visit www.everywoman.com/techawards.
Edinburgh-based artist Bronwen Winter Phoenix is set to unveil her artwork in a solo debut exhibition at granton:hub – based in Madelvic House – over Easter weekend, with opening night on 29th March, 6pm – 9pm.
The 38-year-old artist will also deliver live demonstrations for visitors who will be able to watch her paint within the gallery space throughout the day on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st.
Although this is Bronwen’s first solo exhibition, she recently had four pieces of work displayed at Edinburgh Palette as part of an open call exhibition from Awright Projects. DISCOVERY will showcase new works (images here, as well as some pivotal pieces for Bronwen.
An ex-journalist and Galaxy Award-nominated fiction author, Bronwen is currently studying contemporary art practice (CAP) at Edinburgh College’s Granton campus, and is involved in the local art community there – including being on the committee of student-run hubCAP Gallery.
Bronwen said: “I’m really excited to be showcasing my work in the welcoming setting of granton:hub. It definitely feels like I’ve been on a bit of a journey with my art the past couple of years, and this exhibition is the culmination of that, really.
“Since I started painting again, I’ve been the happiest I’ve felt in my life, and I never want to stop. I feel like this is exactly where I need to be right now, but I’ve only managed to get here with the support of everyone around me, which I’m incredibly grateful for.”
Having been discouraged at a young age from pursuing her art dreams, Bronwen turned to writing instead, and until more recently, it’s how she had earned a living with journalism and her marketing agency.
Bronwen said: “It just goes to show, you should never let ANYONE discourage you from following your dreams.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunities I do now to pursue an art career, and I’m only just getting started.”
Since she first started painting and working with both traditional and digital media, Bronwen has worked with two national charities.
Official description via granton:hub:
Ever since she picked up a paintbrush for the first time in roughly 20 years, Edinburgh-based artist Bronwen Winter Phoenix has been on a journey of realisation and uncensored passion.
DISCOVERY is Bronwen’s solo debut exhibition in which she shares many of her major pictorial and sculptural artworks created on that journey of realisation, predominantly exploring the human condition.
The way we’re fuelled, moulded, twisted and pulled by connection, love, and loss, as well mental health and inner demons. Her work highlights the physical, the moral, and the psychological, with even a bit of whimsy thrown in at times.
Bronwen has so far been commissioned by two national charities, and four pieces of her work were recently displayed at Edinburgh Palette as part of an open call exhibition, where they were well received.
Meet the artist herself, discuss the work at the preview evening or come along over the Easter weekend where Bronwen Winter Phoenix will be hosting a live painting demonstration during the day within the granton:hub gallery space at Madelvic House.
Midlothian has highest mainland annual growth rate in January at 9.9%
City of Edinburgh the largest weighted fall in prices annually
Rising prices in 16 local authorities over year, as in December
2023 total transactions lowest since 2013
Average Scottish House Price now £221,693, unchanged on December, 0,2% up annually
Scott Jack, Regional Development Director at Walker Fraser Steele, comments:“This month saw negligible movement in the monthly house price, with January’s transaction figures telling a story of a market whose home movers are doing so out of necessity rather than discretion.
“This may change as rates settle but for now the impact of prices is clear. The January average house price figure stands at £221,693, which only differs by -£19 from the revised figure for December.
“However, as we have noted before, it is only when we look under the bonnet of the national headline that we can see there has been considerable variation at a local level. Our analysis shows that 16 local authority enjoyed price rises in the month and 16 with price falls, ranging from +9.7% in Inverclyde to -4.2% in Moray.
“From January 2023 to January 2024, Midlothian, Aberdeen City, East Renfrewshire and Stirling account for 50% of the gains which have been made over the year, and all have all seen a reasonably large increase in the average price of detached homes.
“On an annual basis there is a slightly larger movement in values, with prices in January 2024 having increased by £520, or +0.2%, compared to a fall in December 2023 of -£670, or -0.3%, over the year. This positive movement may herald a slightly broader improvement as lower mortgage rates, alongside expectations of Bank of England interest rate cuts in the second half of the year, should help buyer confidence in the short term.”
Commentary: John Tindale, Acadata Senior Housing Analyst
January’s housing market
Once again Scotland’s average house price has barely changed in the current month, with January’s average figure at £221,693, which only differs by -£19 from the revised figure for December. However, as in several recent months, the national average of “zero change” masks considerable variation in prices at the more local level. For example, in January, there are 16 local authority areas with price rises in the month and 16 with price falls, ranging from +9.7% in Inverclyde to -4.2% in Moray.
On an annual basis there is a slightly larger movement in values, with prices in January 2024 having increased by £520, or +0.2%, compared to a fall in December 2023 of -£670, or -0.3%, over the year. Again, on an annual basis, there are 16 local authority areas with price rises and 16 with price falls, the same number as seen in December. The movements in average prices at local authority level for the month and year are shown in Table 2 on the next page.
Looking at the weighted movement in prices, from January 2023 to January 2024, there are four local authority areas that account for 50% of the gains which have been made over the year, namely (with the percentage of the 50% gain in brackets): – Midlothian (+16%), Aberdeen City (+13%), East Renfrewshire (+12%) and Stirling (+9%). The one common feature of the four areas is that they have all seen a reasonably large increase in the average price of detached homes.
Interestingly, over the same twelve-month time period, the City of Edinburgh has had the largest fall in prices, accounting for -18% of the reduction in average values in Scotland on a weight adjusted basis.
The majority of this fall in Edinburgh arises from the drop in average values of terraced properties and to a lesser extent semi-detached homes, while the average price of detached homes and flats has continued to rise.
Terraces in Edinburgh do of course include some magnificent examples of grand Georgian architecture, as evidenced by the highest-priced property sale of the month (as described on page 6), with the average price of terraces in Edinburgh being £360k, double that of the average for Scotland at £180k.
Figure 1.Scotland’s average house price for the period from January 2022 to January 2024
Figure 1 shows how average house prices in Scotland have changed over the two years from January 2022. It can be seen that there was a slight dip in prices over the period from December 2022 to March 2023, which may be about to repeat itself, albeit to a lesser extent, some twelve months later. However, aside from this small dip, average prices have been relatively stable over the seventeen months from July 2022 to November 2023.
Local Authority Analysis
Table 2. Average House Prices in Scotland, by local authority area, comparing December 2022, November 2023 and December 2023
Table 2 above shows average house prices, calculated on a seasonal- and mix-adjusted basis, by Local Authority Area, for January and December 2023 and January 2024, together with the corresponding percentage price changes over the last month and year. The ranking figures are based on average house prices in January 2023 and 2024. Line items are shaded in blue in cases where average house prices in the Local Authority Area have experienced record highs in January 2024.
Annual change
The average house price in Scotland in January 2024 has increased by £520, or 0.2%, over the last twelve months, which is 0.5% higher than the revised rate of -0.3% in December 2023, one month earlier. The revised December 2023 figure of -0.3% is the first time the annual growth rate has been negative since May 2016, some seven and a half years earlier.
In January 2024, 16 of the 32 local authorities in Scotland were reporting a positive movement in prices over the previous twelve months, the same number as in December 2023.
Midlothian had the highest annual rate of price growth in January of all local authority areas on the mainland, at 9.9%, having been in second position in December. In Midlothian, all property types have seen an increase in values over the last twelve months, with detached homes and terraces having the largest influence on prices, with two new-build detached homes selling in Roslin, some seven miles south of Edinburgh, for £715k apiece.
Staying on the mainland, Stirling has the second-highest annual growth rate at 7.4%. All property types – except semi-detached – have experienced average price increases in Stirling, but this month it is flats that have seen the most significant rise, up from an average £145k in January 2023 to £185k one year later, assisted by the sale of a three-bed penthouse apartment in the Bridge of Allan, for £410k.
At the other end of the scale, the area on the mainland with the largest percentage fall in prices over the last twelve months was West Dunbartonshire, at -8.5%. In West Dunbartonshire, all property types saw prices fall over the year, with the largest fall this month being flats, down from an average £100k in January 2023 to £95k one year later. This means that West Dunbartonshire now has the seventh-lowest average price for flats in Scotland’s 32 local authority areas.
Monthly change
In January 2024, Scotland’s average house price fell by just -£19, or 0.0%, which contrasts with the revised -£1,250, or -0.6%, change in prices in December 2023. Scotland’s average house price now stands at £221,693, a level first reached in July 2022.
In January 2024, 16 of the 32 Local Authority areas in Scotland experienced rising prices in the month, the same number as seen in December 2023. The area with the highest increase in its average price in the month was Inverclyde, up by 9.7%. All property types saw an increase in their average prices in Inverclyde, with the largest rise being in detached properties, assisted by the sale of a recently renovated five-bedroom detached home, located in Kilmacolm, some 15 miles to the west of Glasgow, for £1.4 million.
In second place, with a monthly increase of 5.6% is East Ayrshire. All property types, except for terraces, saw an increase in prices in the month, with semi-detached homes rising from an average £143k in December 2023 to £160k in January 2024. The increase in average prices in the month was assisted by the sale of a £767k detached property in Dunlop, some seven miles north of Kilmarnock.
By way of contrast, the area on the mainland with the largest monthly fall in its average price was Moray, down by -4.2% in the month. All property prices saw a fall in Moray in January, with the largest being in terraced homes, down from an average £156k in December to £148k in January – although January tends to be a quiet market, with only 13 terraced sales having been recorded to date in the month.
For interest, the highest-priced residential property to have been sold in Scotland in January 2024 was a four/five-bedroom Georgian terraced home in Great King Street, New Town, Edinburgh, which forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage site – it fetched £2.25 million.
Transactions analysis
Figure 2 below shows the monthly transaction count for purchases during the period from January 2019 to January 2024, based on Registers of Scotland (RoS) figures for the Date of Entry (except for January 2024, which is based on RoS Application Dates).
The first year on the chart, 2019 (light blue line), was relatively “normal” having an average 8,560 sales per month, some 2.1% higher than the total for 2018, but -0.3% lower than 2017.
As can be seen, 2020 (the turquoise line) was more varied, the Covid pandemic having manifested itself in March 2020, with the first lockdown taking place in April 2020, when the market slumped to just 2,637 sales. There was then a slow path to recovery during the remainder of 2020, with a peak in transactions in October 2020 of 13,045 sales, as the benefit of the LBTT tax holiday and the mantras of the “race for space” and “work from home” came to the fore.
There was a second peak in transactions in March 2021 (the brown line), as purchasers scrambled to take advantage of the tax holiday, before its cessation on April 1st 2021. In 2022 (the red line), house purchases returned to near normality, with the first nine months of 2022 seeing an average 8,600 sales per month. However, Liz Truss came into power on 6 September 2022, with her mini-budget, which resulted in the bank base rate being raised to 2.25%. The bank rate was further increased on 3rd November and 15th December 2022, ending the year at 3.5%.
Figure 2.The number of sales per month recorded by RoS based on entry date from 2019 – 2024
This brings us to 2023 (the yellow line) – the relatively high bank rate of 3.5% had an adverse effect on property transactions, with only 5,915 sales for January 2023 – the lowest January total since 2013. Although the housing market in 2023 did enjoy the spring bounce in transactions that occurs traditionally in March, the bank base rate was increased a further five times in 2023, reaching 5.25% on 3rd August 2023 (the current rate). Over the twelve months of 2023, sales have amounted to some 91,200 properties, which is 12.0% down on 2022 and is the lowest annual total since 2013.
Sales for January 2024 are still being processed, but early indications are that total sales will be even lower than January 2023.
Scotland transactions of £750k or higher
Table 3. The number of transactions by month in Scotland greater than or equal to £750k, January 2015 – January 2024
Table 3 shows the number of transactions per month in Scotland which are equal to or greater than £750k. The threshold of £750k has been selected as it is the breakpoint at which the highest rate of LBTT becomes payable.
There were 59 such transactions recorded by RoS during January 2024. Currently, this is the fourth-highest January total recorded to date, but with RoS processing further data for the month, it may possibly rise to third place in the yearly rankings – this will become evident next month. Following the pandemic, July 2022 had the highest monthly total of 137 sales over £750k, when transaction counts were still “catching-up” with the lost months of the pandemic years.
Looking at the total number of high-value properties sold in each year in Table 3, 2022 is ranked first with 1,231 high-value sales, 2021 is in second place with 1,102 sales, while 2023, with 1,071 sales, is ranked third.
However, there is a clear trend, in that the totals in each month of 2023 are lower than, or equal to a year earlier. In aggregate, the high-value 2023 transactions are currently down on the 2022 total by 13%, compared to a 12% downturn in sales volumes in the market as a whole, indicating that last year’s enthusiasm for the purchase of high-value homes has marginally decreased from a year earlier.
Edinburgh accounts for 474 of the 1,071 high-value sales (44%) that have been recorded by RoS in 2023, compared to 48% in 2022. In 2023, East Lothian finished in second place with 73 such sales, closely followed by Glasgow in third place with 69 sales. Glasgow is currently 9 sales ahead of fourth-placed East Renfrewshire, with 60 high-value sales, and finally we have two authorities in equal fifth position, being East Dunbartonshire and Fife, with 55 sales each.
Sales for January 2024 are still being processed by RoS, with 59 high value sales having been recorded to date, of which 25 relate to Edinburgh (42%).
Peak Prices
In Table 2 above, those areas which have reached a new record in their average house prices are highlighted in light blue. In January 2024, there was 1 such authority being Inverclyde, the same number (although not the same authority) as in December 2023. The movement of prices in Inverclyde in January 2024 has been discussed in the “Monthly Change” section on page 5 above.
Heat Map
The heat map below shows the rate of house price growth for the 12 months ending January 2024. As reported above, 16 of the 32 Local Authority Areas in Scotland have seen a rise in their average property values over the last year. The highest rise over the year was in Na h-Eileanan Siar, at 11.2% growth, with the largest fall in the year in the Orkney Islands at -14.0%.
How Scotland Compares
Figure 3. Scotland house prices, compared with England and Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2005-January 2024 Figure 3. Scotland house prices, compared with England and Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2005-January 2024
Figure 4. A comparison of the annual change in house prices in Scotland, England and Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2020–January 2024
Scotland’s Eight Cities
Figure 5. Average house prices for Scotland’s eight cities from November 2022–January 2024
Figure 6. Average house prices for Scotland’s eight cities January 2024
On Friday 8 March Causey Development Trust welcomed over 200 visitors to The Causey for ‘Our Streets’, an event that transformed the area’s iconic architecture with colourful projected imagery inspired by active travel.
To create the stunning projections, artwork made by the community was animated by award-winning artists Robert Motyka and the Beetroots Collective team and was accompanied by a soundscape designed by Marta Adamowicz.
The individual lino–print artworks created at community workshops, were displayed in an exhibition held in the Southside Community Centre in advance of the event.
Robert Motyka, part of the Beetroots Collective responsible for creating the projections, said: “It was just fantastic to see so many people turn up, despite the cold and wind, to enjoy the Our Streets event.
“Not only that, but to have both Critical Mass and the Infra Sisters finish up their rides at our event – it was an honour, and goes to show that what The Causey is trying to do resonates with people across our local community and across the city.”
On the night the Infra Sisters, a group of women campaigning for night-time cycling infrastructure that’s safe and comfortable for women and girls, cycled into the Causey around 20:45 to huge dramatic effect, before enjoying the final viewing of the evening.
Committed to transforming this soulless traffic island and traffic dominated street in The Southside, into a place that prioritises pedestrians, active travel and the coming together of community, this is just one of a series of upcoming events to be hosted by Causey Development Trust in 2024.
Causey Development Trust hopes that capital works at The Causey will begin in 2025. For more information on the plans, created by local Landscape Architects Ironside Farrar, and how the Causey Development Trust reached this point, reached this point, visit www.thecausey.org
· IMAX FILM FEST TO TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY 20 APRIL
· TICKETS REDUCED TO £3 FOR ALL FILMS, ALL DAY, ONLY IN IMAX
· OFFER VALID ACROSS ALL IMAX CINEWORLD SITES IN THE UK & IRELAND
Cineworld, the UK’s leading cinema chain, will be holding its seventh annual IMAX Film Fest on Saturday 20th April 2024 with tickets on sale now!
IMAX is the world’s most immersive cinematic experience, the special one-day event will give film fans across the nation the chance to catch some of last year’s best movies in IMAX for only £3 a ticket.
For one day only, Cineworld will bring back some of 2023’s biggest hitters including:
The Super Mario Bros. Movie– family favourite with an all-star cast of voice actors including Jack Black as Bowser
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar-winning Spider-Verse saga, fun for all ages!
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes – prequel to the popular series starring Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth formatted exclusively for IMAX. Experience up to 26% more picture, only in IMAX.
Oppenheimer – Oscar winning epic shot with IMAX film cameras and the first film to shoot sections on IMAX black-and-white photographic film. IMAX is the format it was intended to be watched in!
The festival will give guests the chance to experience their favourite star-studded blockbusters with the IMAX difference, where crystal clear images and pulse raising audio will make you feel like you’re in the room.
Stuart Crane, VP of Film Cineworld Group, said: “We’re thrilled to bring back the IMAX film festival for the seventh year in a row and look forward to guests experiencing their favourite blockbusters in this revolutionary format for only £3 a ticket.
“We hope guests enjoy the incredible picture and sound of IMAX, there’s no better time to try out IMAX than the IMAX Film Fest!”
Tickets for this spectacular experience can now be purchased from the Cineworld website or the Cineworld app.
See below from the latest update on the campus. These updates are part of the process agreed in the mediation. They allow us all to see what is happening and to take part in the discussion.
The outcome of the process was a compromise but was thought by those involved and those consulted in open events to be a reasonable one that would get something useful done and provide facilities for the community.
What will be produced is still subject to review and consultation so is not yet fixed, so you have the chance to comment.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society (EFFS) is set to develop a new festival hub after the City of Edinburgh Council agreed a long lease for one of its buildings in the city centre.
The EFFS proposals, funded from an award of up to £7m from the UK Government, would see the building completely refurbished and modernised, with an emphasis on access and carbon reduction, as it is transformed into a year-round resource.
Detailed work is ongoing to identify other venues for the current users of South Bridge Resource Centre – the majority are adult education classes with suitable alternative locations already identified – and further detailed and responsive engagement will take place as plans are finalised.
Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Today’s decision means the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society now has a substantial city centre location for their exciting plans for a new hub.
“The proposals are for a new, year-round space which includes opportunities for local cultural organisations, artists, and communities to use as well as a Fringe Festival home.
“The Council has a vital role to play in ensuring residents have access to creative and cultural opportunities wherever they live in our city.
“We’re committed to regular funding, partnership working, and backing development programmes and projects. By doing this, we can support and facilitate the stability and development of our city’s exceptional array of cultural activities, venues, communities and events at every level.
“As part of the proposals, suitable alternative locations have already been identified for the majority of groups and classes that currently use the building. Further detailed and responsive engagement will take place as we identify venues going forward.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: The Committee’s decision today is an important milestone in the journey towards creating a new Fringe community hub.
“We’re pleased with the decision and excited to move a step closer towards providing a flexible, functional, sustainable and accessible space to bring artists, residents, community groups and the Fringe community together.”
Officers in Leith have seized drugs worth an estimated street value of £46,000 and charged 16 people with drugs offences as part of Operation Elate in Leith.
In response to community concerns, the operation running through March has seen and will see officers focus on tackling drug crime and drug-related harm in the area. This is a partnership initiative dedicated to disrupting the drugs trade while directing vulnerable adults, young people and children to the support they require.
Enforcement, where necessary, has been taking place with 16 people, aged between 15 and 50, charged in relation to drugs offences. Drugs, including Diamorphine and Cocaine have been seized. Intelligence led-searches have also been carried out under warrant at five addresses in the Edinburgh area.
Sergeant Marr of Leith Police Station said: “Removing illegal drugs and targeting criminals who seek to profit from other people’s misery continues to be a priority for us and our communities.
“People involved in the supply of drugs make money out of addiction and vulnerability. They risk people’s lives for their own financial gain, and often, use this to fund other forms of serious and organised crime.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to tackling this type of criminality, officers are carrying out additional patrols in the Leith area and engaging with the community to identify local concerns so the appropriate action can be taken.
“We rely on the support of the public and we would urge anyone with any information regarding drugs in their communities to contact 101. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”
The Scottish Land Commission yesterday welcomed the introduction of the Land Reform Bill by the Scottish Government, which sets out a clear commitment to addressing the challenges of concentrated land ownership.
Commenting on the Bill, Michael Russell, Chair of the Scottish Land Commission, explains: “We are pleased to welcome the publication of the Scottish Government’s new Land Reform Bill, which draws on our research and analysis.
“This landmark legislation is a meaningful and important step forward in addressing the over-concentration of land ownership, which continues to be a central issue in Scotland’s ongoing journey of land reform.
“Our research has consistently shown the pitfalls associated with such a concentration of land ownership, including the impacts that localised monopolies can have on local economic opportunities and communities.”
One of the key measures proposed within the Bill is a new power for Ministers to require the lotting, or dividing up, of larger land holdings in to smaller areas and a requirement to notify communities prior to sale.
Hamish Trench, Chief Executive of the Scottish Land Commission, added: “Scotland’s land is a resource that people need to be able to use to support jobs, housing, climate action and economic opportunities across the country.
“The proposed measures in the Bill, including a new power for Ministers to require the lotting of large land holdings prior to sale, are significant steps towards a fairer and more dynamic approach to land ownership in Scotland.”
“Our research shows that governments worldwide often regulate land markets to safeguard the public interest and support sustainable development. In so doing Scotland would be operating within a widely recognised and accepted approach to land rights and regulation.”
“We look forward to providing further evidence and advice to support the Bill’s consideration in Parliament”
