Local groups in Edinburgh and Lothians to receive support for their green space as part of national initiative
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, has revealed the community and charity groups across the UK that will receive support to help transform, restore or start their indoor or outdoor green spaces this year, including Silvermills for little dobbies Stockbridge and Newtongrange Community Garden in Midlothian for the Edinburgh store.
Over 660 groups applied to Dobbies Community Gardens when it opened in March. Each Dobbies store selected their local project to support from the nominations that were made. Nominated projects from Edinburgh and the Lothians were invited along to the in-store Grow How session on Saturday 4 May when the winners were unveiled.
Silvermills and Newtongrange Community Garden will now receive a one-on-one session with Dobbies’ colleagues in the Stockbridge little dobbies and Edinburgh store to kick-start the activity, and the team will support the winning group right the way through their project. In addition to receiving products, tools and plants, there will be volunteer hours allocated to help bring the project to fruition and keep their outdoor space blooming.
Silvermills is a local community group that plans to rejuvenate an unused area of Stockbridge with colourful flowers and plants to brighten the space and create a place for the neighbourhood to come together.
Newtongrange Community Garden hopes to use Dobbies’ expertise and support to expand the garden and provide more accessible beds to the growing area to make the garden more inclusive for those looking to grow fruit and vegetables.
The group’s aim is to help those in the local area suffering from food poverty and improve social isolation by bringing people together.
Recent research* from Dobbies by Censuswide found that 71% of Brits say being close to nature helps them relax, highlighting the importance of initiatives like Dobbies Community Gardens to help green spaces thrive.
Dobbies’ colleagues are passionate about gardens and plants, championing garden living all year round to create experiences that bring people and communities together.
Nick Anderson, Dobbies’ Operations Director, is thrilled with the response to Dobbies Community Gardens. He explained: “We are really pleased to have had so many community groups get in touch looking for support with their green spaces.
“The Stockbridge little dobbies and Edinburgh store had the responsibility of picking a community group to back this year, choosing Silvermills and Newtongrange Community Garden as its winners.
“We’re looking forward to seeing these outdoor green spaces flourish over the year.”
For more information about Dobbies work in the community and to see this year’s Dobbies Community Gardens’ winners, visit dobbies.com/community-gardens
*The research was conducted by Censuswide with 2007 natrep consumers in UK 16+ between 22 March-25 March 2024. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society, which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council.
Dunkirk veteran marks ‘little ships’ anniversary on 1st June with historic cruises on the Forth
A vessel which rescued hundreds of soldiers from the continent during the famous evacuation of Dunkirk in World War II is still in service on the Firth of Forth.
The Forth Princess was one of almost 900 ‘little ships’ which crossed the channel to assist the Royal Navy in evacuating 338,000 troops during ‘Operation Dynamo’.
While the heroic role of these small craft in evacuating allied troops from the continent in May and June 1940 is now acknowledged as one of the nation’s finest hours, the memory remains tinged with sadness at the thousands of comrades who were left behind.
In late May 1940, the little ships came in their hundreds: tugs, towing dinghies, life-boats, small motor yachts, motor launches, drifters, Thames barges, fishing boats and pleasure boats. Among them the craft now known as the Forth Princess was just one of a flotilla of some 861 vessels – of which 243 were sunk.
The 76ft-long Forth Princess was under the command of Sub Lieutenant S D Ward, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and sailed from Dover on May 13, 1940 in the company of Skylark 6 and the trawlers Brock and Fyldea. The Brock later returned to Dover and the Skylark 6 was abandoned when her engines broke down.
They arrived off Dunkirk on 1 June and proceeded to the beach at Bray Dunes located one mile east of Dunkirk. The beaches and the town were under German air and artillery attack as Britannia began to ferry men from the beach to waiting ships. Between 1pm and 6pm the ‘Britannia’ ferried some 200 troops to the Fyldea and other waiting ships.
At 6.15pm the Fyldea ran aground, and Britannia went to her aid. With the Fyldea refloated, both vessels left for home and made for Dover, arriving there at 0255 on the morning of June 2, where 139 troops disembarked. A total of 338,226, British and Allied troops were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk.
Following the evacuation, Britannia served as an inshore minesweeper with the Royal Navy until 1945, when she was returned to her owners and was back in her ‘civvy’ role carrying holidaymakers again by 1946.
Today, the Forth Princess operates on Forth Boat Tours’ popular Blackness Castle Cruise, which visits the historic medieval stronghold which featured in the popular TV drama ‘Outlander’.
Passengers can view the famous trio of Forth Bridges en route for Blackness – enjoying an indulgent afternoon tea of sandwiches and scones with jam and cream as they cruise past the imposing 15th Century Fortress.
Forth Boat Tours sales, marketing and development manager Alastair Baird said: “The rescue of so many of its men, ensured that like a phoenix, Britain rose from the ashes of defeat to gain a great and lasting victory.
“We were delighted to be given the opportunity to add such a historic vessel to the Forth Boat Tours fleet and she has become a firm favourite with both our crews and passengers.
“We are proud to be keeping the spirit of Dunkirk alive and well on the Forth and while eternally grateful to those men and women who crewed the little ships, we will never forget those who did not return home.”
Vote for your favourite Scottish Charity Awards finalist!
Nine Edinburgh-based organisations have been named as finalists for this year’s Scottish Charity Awards.
Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Charity Awards celebrate the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector.
This year’s shortlist includes 39 individuals and organisations from charities and voluntary groups across the country. While a judging panel will determine the winners under ten distinct categories, members of the public can have their say by voting for their favourite overall entry in the People’s Choice Award – by visiting scvo.scot/vote – before 5pm on Friday 24 May 2024.
The nine Edinburgh-based organisations and individuals who have been shortlisted are:
The Yard – Our Kids Won’t Wait – Campaign of the Year
Grassmarket Community Project – Kevin Radzynski – Employee of the Year
Forth Rivers Trust – Climate Impact
Edinburgh Tool Library and LGBT Health and Wellbeing – Partnership of the Year
Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans – Michael Craig – Trustee of the Year
Cancer Card – Jen Hardy – Trustee of the Year
Lead Scotland – Digital Difference
Fischy Music – Charity of the Year (turnover under £500k)
Edinburgh Women’s Aid – Charity of the Year (turnover over £500k)
Winners will be announced on 20 June 2024 in a celebratory awards ceremony hosted by broadcaster Sally Magnusson at the Raddison Blu in Glasgow.
Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive, SCVO said: “We’re very excited to bring you the 2024 Scottish Charity Awards. It’s been another record-breaking year with nearly 500 entries, so arriving at the 39 finalists has been really difficult.
“The finalists demonstrate just how essential the voluntary sector is to Scottish society, with dedicated organisations and individuals going above and beyond to make a positive and often life-changing impact in their communities.
“The public has the chance to celebrate each of our finalists through the People’s Choice vote which is now open, so don’t miss your opportunity to get involved and get behind your favourite finalist by voting!
“I’d like to wish all our finalists the very best of luck and look forward to shining a light on their essential contributions at our awards ceremony in June.”
The full shortlist is:
Campaign of the year
The Yard – Our Kids Won’t Wait
Aberlour Children’s Charity – Cancelling School Meal Debt
Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre – Never Allowed
Diabetes Scotland – Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait
Volunteer of the year
Mary Osei-Oppong – African and Caribbean Elders in Scotland
Mary Hepburn – Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre
Lauren Boag – Scottish Huntington’s Association
David Corstorphine – RNLI
Partnership of the Year
SOHTIS (Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland)
Edinburgh Tool Library and LGBT Health and Wellbeing
Larkhall & District Volunteer Group and Heart of Africa
Special Olympics Grampian Area, Special Olympics GB and Inclusive Skating
Employee of the Year
Vicki McGrain Rae – Asthma and Allergy Foundation
Amanda Fleet – Highlands and Islands Students’ Association
Janice Lee – Ardgowan Hospice
Kevin Radzynski – Grassmarket Community Project
Community Impact
Feeling Strong
National Ugly Mugs (NUM)
Fersands and Fountain SCIO
Creatovators CIC
Climate Impact
The Volunteer Tutors Organisation
Forth Rivers Trust
R:evolve Recycle
Trustee of the Year
Ken Brown – Bridge Community Project
Michael Craig – Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans
St James Quarter marks Mental Health Awareness Week with a host of wellbeing activities
A Listening Space will open in Quarter to make mental health support accessible
The activities will fundraise for St James Quarter’s two charity partners, Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Health in Mind
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, St James Quarter is hosting a programme of wellbeing activities in partnership with Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid to support the community in the capital.
Making mental health support and guidance more accessible for people living in Edinburgh, Listening Spaces will open in the Quarter from 16th May. Launched by Health in Mind, the space will offer guests one-to-one time with a trained expert to talk about their mental wellbeing and receive compassionate advice, support and resources.
The free, weekly sessions will initially run for a six week period and be delivered from 2pm to 4pm in the Guest Services Lounge.
On Wednesday 15 May, Everyman Cinema will transform into a calming haven with a free mindfulness experience. Hosted by Health and Mind, the session will explore the body and bodily sensations as a source of mindful awareness. This session will end with mood and energy-boosting tips from Neom Wellbeing, leaving guests feeling relaxed and in tune with their minds. There’s limited spots which can be booked at bit.ly/3JSVbor.
In a bid to brighten guests’ days during Mental Health Awareness Week, local magician, Grant Mitchell, will be sprinkling some magic in the Quarter with mood-boosting tricks that are guaranteed to put a smile on faces on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th May. Talented musician, Dan Collins, will also entertain guests with feel-good tracks on Thursday 16th May.
The team at St James Quarter continues to show its commitment to its charity partners. On Friday, 16 members of the team will put on their walking boots to climb Ben Chonzie in support of Mental Health Awareness Week, and to raise funds to support its two charity partners, Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid.
Kerry Girdwood, Senior Services Manager (North) at Health in Mind, who will be managing the new drop-in Listening Space, said: “Around 1 in 3 people in Scotland are struggling with their mental health, and with added pressures like the cost-of-living crisis, the fallout from the Covid pandemic, pressure on public services, and conflict around the world, that number is only climbing.
“We’ve run Listening Spaces in communities around Scotland, where people can chat through their mental health difficulties, access resources, and get connected to services. Thanks to this new pilot with St James Quarter, we’ll be doing all that in one of Edinburgh’s busiest community hubs.”
Jennifer Laseen, Hospitality Director and CSR Committee Chair said, “We know how hard it can be to make the first step and reach out for support, and sometimes you just don’t know where to start.
“At St James Quarter, we’re perfectly positioned to make mental wellbeing support more accessible in the city centre and we’re really excited about this opportunity to offer a Listening Space with Health in Mind.
“The Quarter is a welcoming and supporting place for all our guests and however you’re feeling this Mental Health Awareness Week, I encourage you to join us for a mindfulness session, enjoy some feel-good entertainment, or meet the team from Health in Mind.
“It is a privilege to have two brilliant partner charities and every donation to Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Health in Mind supports them to provide valuable services in the city.”
To keep up to date with events happening throughout the Quarter, visit the St James Quarter website or download the St James Quarter App.
Activities taking place during Mental Health Awareness Week:
Monday 13 May – Magic from Grant Mitchell
Tuesday 14 May – Magic from Grant Mitchell
Wednesday 15 May – Mindfulness Session with Health in Mind
Thursday 16 May – Listening Spaces with Health in Mind & Music from Dan Collins
New rules meaning over 180,000 Universal Credit claimants will have to look for more work have come into force today (Monday 13 May), as the Westminster Government helps people progress in work and off welfare.
Universal Credit claimants working less than half of a full-time week will have to look to increase their hours, benefitting from extra work coach support.
400,000 to receive more help to progress in work, as Mel Stride says “I want to help thousands of people on their journey off benefits”.
Changes come as the PM announces once a generation welfare reforms to help people find work, boost their earnings, and grow the economy.
Before 2022, someone could work only nine hours a week and remain on benefits without being expected to look for more work.
The latest rise in the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) means someone working less than 18 hours – half of a full-time week – will have to look for more work.
These Universal Credit claimants will move into the ‘Intensive Work Search group’, meeting with their work coaches more regularly to plan their job progression, boost their earnings and advance the journey off welfare altogether.
Combined with previous increases, 400,000 claimants are now subject to more intensive Jobcentre support – and with that the expectation that those who can work must engage with the support available or face losing their benefits.
The move comes as last month the Prime Minister announced a once in a generation package of welfare reforms to help thousands more people benefit from employment, building on the Government’s £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan providing extra help to over a million people to break down barriers to work.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Welfare should always be a safety net, and not a lifestyle choice which is why we’re ushering in a new era of welfare reforms to help more people progress off benefits and into work.
“Today’s changes will help more people on Universal Credit move into well paid jobs and progress towards financial independence – which is better for them and for the economy.”
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said: “We will always back those who want to work hard, and today we are radically expanding the support available to help people progress in work.
“With the next generation of welfare reforms, I want to help thousands of people on their journey off benefits and towards financial independence.
“Our plan is making work pay, with people in full-time work now £7,000 better off than on out of work benefits, and our tax cuts putting £900 back in the pockets of millions of workers across Britain.”
The AET determines how much support an individual will receive to find work based on how much they currently earn and how many hours they work.
Together with the accelerated rollout of Universal Credit, even more claimants will benefit from the dedicated employment support offered through our Jobcentres like CV support and skills training, so people can take up better paid, higher quality jobs.
This builds on the significant steps already taken to break down barriers to work, with almost four million more people in employment compared to 2010.
The UK Government is clear those who can work to support themselves, should work, and they should feel better off for doing so.
That’s why the Government is getting tough, putting work at the heart of welfare and enforcing a stricter sanctions regime.
The PM recently announced a package of welfare reform measures, including exploring legislation to close the claims of those who don’t comply with conditions set by their Work Coach after 12 months.
With over 900,000 job vacancies in the economy, the Government ‘makes no apologies for helping people achieve financial security through work, as we grow the economy and help people build a better life for themselves’.
National Theatre of Scotland and Grid Iron Theatre Company present
June Carter Cash: The Woman, Her Music and Me
Written and performed by Charlene Boyd, directed by Cora Bissett
Music performed by Harry Ward, Ray Aggs and Amy Duncan
Set and Costume Design – Shona Reppe,
MD, Composer and Sound Designer – Pippa Murphy
Lighting Designer – Elle Taylor
Movement Director – Laura Fisher.
Premiering at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Dissection Room, Summerhall from 6 to 24 August with preview performances from 2 to 4 August 2024
Touring across Scotland from 28 August to 22 September 2024:
Opening night and press performance at the Dissection Room, Summerhall as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Tuesday 6 August at 4:00pm
Barn, Banchory; Òran Mór, Glasgow; British Legion, Dunfermline – Outwith Festival; Cochran Hall, Kirkcudbright – Kirkcudbright Fringe; Millenium Centre, Stranraer in association with Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival; Brodick Hall, Arran in association with Arran Theatre and Arts Trust; The Rockfield Centre, Oban; Ullapool Village Hall in association with the Ceilidh Place, and Forres Town Hall, Forres – Findhorn Bay Festival.
Part of the 2024 Made in Scotland Showcase
Charlene Boyd,one of Scotland’s leading actors shares the story of one of country music’s most iconic voices: June Carter Cash.
Directed by the multi-award-winning Cora Bissett, June Carter Cash: The Woman, Her Music and Me opens at the Dissection Room Summerhall as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe ahead of a tour of Scottish cultural venues and festivals in August and September 2024.
June Carter Cash was a country singer, songwriter and dancer. She played guitar, banjo, harmonica and autoharp, winning five Grammy awards across her career. She came from a family of country singers and was the second wife of Johnny Cash. Their relationship was celebrated in the Oscar-winning 2005 film, Walk the Line. A new documentary about “June”, received its TV premiere on Paramount+ in 2024. This is the first stage play to premiere about June’s life and music in the UK.
More than a simple biography of June’s life and music, this play with songs, sees Charlene explore her own relationship with her musical heroine and their shared experience as performers and working mothers. A powerful, personal journey of discovery stretching across the Atlantic, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Glasgow high-rise flats, their tale is one of empowerment, endurance and perseverance.
Charlene Boydtravelled to Nashville and across the Appalachian Mountains to research this play. She visited places that held special significance in June’s life and interviewed friends and family of June Carter Cash, alongside contemporary American country singer-songwriters.
The show will feature live music and will be staged in a cabaret style setting, inspired by Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café. Charlene Boyd gets to grips with a life less ordinary in this raw yet uplifting piece of intimate gig theatre.
Charlene Boyd, writer and performer said: “I’ve sang in a band as June Carter Cash for over a decade but knew nothing about her really. I thought she was the pretty backing singer who sang along with Johnny Cash, then married him.
“It wasn’t until I started to dig that I realised how incredible June was in her own right, as an artist, woman and mother. I am proud that my first play shines a light on working class women artists and their struggle to be given their rightful place.”
Charlene Boydis a Scottish actor and writer, born and raised in Glasgow. June Carter Cash: The Woman, Her Music and Memarks her debut as a playwright.
As an actor she most recently undertook the UK tour of 2:22 A Ghost Story and appeared in The Macbeths at the Citizens Theatre, for which she was nominated for Best Actress at the CATS Awards in 2019.
Charlene has previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland on the productions Men Should Weep, Empty and The Miracle Man.
Her television work includes Mayflies, The Trial of Christine Keeler, Crime S2, River City and Scots Squad. She also performs, as June, with Jericho Hill, in a Johnny Cash tribute band.
Cora Bissettis a Scottish theatre director, playwright, actor and songwriter. Previous work with National Theatre of Scotland includes the hit political musical Glasgow Girls, Rites, Adam, Interference and Orphans.
Other theatre work includes Emma Donohue’s Room, which toured to London, across Scotland, Dublin and Toronto, the hit rock-music production Janis Joplin: Full Tilt and autobiographical gig theatre production What Girls Are Made Of, which won a Fringe First and Herald Angel award.
From 2014 until 2022, Bissett was an Associate Director with the National Theatre of Scotland.
Founded in 1995, Grid Iron is a multi-award-winning Edinburgh-based new writing theatre company who specialise in site-specific and location theatre, although they have also created work for conventional stages.Grid Iron have previously collaborated with National Theatre of Scotland on Roam, a site-responsive production staged in Edinburgh Airport.
Grid Iron have worked previously with Charlene Boyd on Barflies, Letters Home and The Devil’s Larder and with Cora Bissett on Clearance, The Bloody Chamber, Fierce and Yarn.
The Cash family has connections to Scotland. Johnny Cash claimed his ancestors were from the Kingdom of Fife and was very proud of his Scottish ancestry. Cash visited Fife on more than one occasion, recording a television special there, Christmas in Scotland, in 1981. June’s daughter Carlene Carter made a special appearance at Celtic Connections in February 2024.
Both National Theatre of Scotland and Grid Iron have a longstanding relationship with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. National Theatre of Scotland has presented 18 shows at the Fringe since 2006, with previous shows including Black Watch,Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour and Adam.
Grid Iron have appeared at the Festival Fringe 15 times since 1997 with offerings such as Decky Does a Bronco, Doppler, Barflies and The Devil’s Larder.
In 2024, National Theatre of Scotland is producing a programme of three shows at the Edinburgh Festivals. Alongside June Carter Cash, The Woman, Her Music and Me, Gary McNair’s Dear Billy is showing at the Assembly Rooms and David Ireland’s The Fifth Step premieres at the Royal Lyceum Theatre as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue and dates: Dissection Room, Summerhall from 02 to 24 August, 4:00pm
Previews: Friday 2 August to Sunday 4 August, 4:00pm
Press performance: Tuesday 6 August at 4:00pm
Performance time: Doors and bar open at 4:00pm, performance begins at 4:20pm
Touring Scotland from Wednesday 28 August to Sunday 22 September 2024:
Barn, Banchory (Wed 28 Aug)
Òran Mór, Glasgow (Fri 30 Aug – Sun 1 Sep)
British Legion, Dunfermline – Outwith Festival (Tue 3 Sep)
Level of opposition falls from 41% to 20% if new homes affordable for local people
Support for new homes on brownfield land 20 points higher than for those elsewhere
This polling supports CPRE’s campaign for the redefinition of ‘affordable’ housing in line with local incomes and its calls for a brownfield-first national housebuilding policy.
New polling by YouGov, commissioned by CPRE, the countryside charity, has revealed that half of people who object to new housing in their local area would support them if the homes were affordable to people on average local incomes.
Whereas 41% said they did not want to see the construction of more homes close to where they live, that proportion fell to 20% if those homes were locally affordable.
So-called ‘affordable’ housing, which can currently cost anything up to 80% of market rates, is usually anything but. CPRE is calling on the government to redefine the term in housing policy and link it directly to local incomes.
The results of the poll, carried out by YouGov, show that this change would encourage many people to support developments to which they would previously have objected.
The poll also showed an increase in support for new homes from 50% to 71% if they were built on brownfield land. There are enough ‘shovel-ready’ brownfield sites in England for 1.2 million new homes.
Building them could provide people with genuinely affordable housing – close to where they already live, work and go to school – and protect the countryside at the same time.
This is a major endorsement of the brownfield-first house building policy, which is critical to reducing the need to build on Green Belt land that could otherwise support nature restoration and other environmental benefits such as flood defences.
Developments in the Green Belt have been shown to underdeliver on affordability, while research published by CPRE in 2023 showed social homes accounted for less than 5% of those built on Green Belt land.
“The Green Belt is the countryside next door for 30 million people in the UK. It should be improved and protected to help us tackle the major environmental challenges we face, not covered with large, car-dependent ‘executive’ homes that local people neither want nor can afford.
CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock said: ‘The results of this poll tell us that people want new homes to be affordable for local people and built on brownfield sites. Both are possible with enough political will and we want to see all parties make strong pledges to deliver that.
‘We need to move away from the idea that people in the countryside are against development. They want the same things as everyone else: housing on a scale and at a cost that’s appropriate for their local community that respects environmental limits.
“Land is this country in a finite resource and our countryside is working harder than ever to meet the multiple environmental and social challenges we face.
“For new housing we should prioritise inner-city brownfield development, urban densification and regeneration of towns, delivering the homes we need today while safeguarding the countryside for future generations to enjoy.’
I was delighted to join my friends from Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Citizen Writers group at North Edinburgh Community Festival at West Pilton Park on Saturday, and the sun split the skies once again – that’s the third year on the trot!
Congratulations to the organisers and the entertainers who made it such a special day, and also a big thanks to the young festivalgoers who took part in our Citizen Big Board Game!
Looking forward to next year already!
There are lots more pictures on the North Edinburgh News Facebook page
Be inspired by stories of collaboration, creativity and rebellion in Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990 at Modern Two in Edinburgh.
The first of its kind, Women in Revolt! is a major survey of feminist art, celebrating the women whose radical ideas and rebellious methods changed the face of British culture.
Come and discover the powerful and often provocative work of over 100 women artists and collectives, forged against the backdrop of seismic social and economic change over two decades.
Tickets are on sale now from the National Galleries of Scotland website.
Curated by Linsey Young, Curator of British Contemporary Art at Tate Britain, in collaboration with the National Galleries of Scotland and The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Women in Revolt!will take over the entire Modern Two gallery in Edinburgh from 25 May 2024 until 26 January 2025.
Following its debut at Tate Britain in November 2023, the exhibition will bring to Edinburgh a select range of works from the London show, drawing from public and private collections across the country in what will be the only chance to see this landmark exhibition in Scotland.
Women in Revolt! spans two decades of art and activism, charting a range of themes and social issues that influenced and impacted on women artists.
Topics such as the Women’s Liberation Movement, maternal and domestic experiences, Punk and independent music, Greenham Common and the peace movement, the visibility of Black and South Asian women artists, and Section 28 and the AIDS epidemic will be explored in six thematic galleries platforming the creative contributions, ideas and activism of a diverse set of communities living and working in the UK throughout this period.
The exhibitionwill highlight the ways in which women challenged societal norms through their creativity, both collectively and in isolation, using their lived experiences to create art and fight injustice.
Women in Revolt! is a timely and urgent exhibition celebrating the women who paved the way for future generations through their creativity and activism. The power of their work continues to resonate with audiences today.
About the exhibition:
Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK from 1970-1990
The UK Government has funded 350 additional medical school places in England for the academic year 2025/26 in latest step to deliver NHS Long Term Workforce Plan
The Government has funded 350 additional medical school places in England for the academic year 2025/26
This is the next stage in delivering the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan commitment to double medical school places by 2031
The places have been allocated to medical schools across the country but targeted to address disparities in the distribution of places and support under-doctored areas
The Westminster government has allocated an additional 350 medical school places, to deliver the future workforce the NHS requires.
Last year, the NHS set out its Long Term Workforce Plan, backed by more than £2.4 billion in government funding. It outlines how the NHS will recruit and retain hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years – delivering the biggest training expansion in the health service’s history.
One of the key commitments is doubling the number of medical school places in England to 15,000 by 2031, and levelling up the geographic training of places to help tackle unequal access to services.
In the next step to deliver this commitment, the Office for Students (OfS) has now allocated 350 places in the academic year 2025/26 to medical schools across the country.
Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “Thanks to the Government’s plan for a faster, simpler and fairer healthcare system, the NHS now has record funding, and a record number of doctors.
“I want to make sure that we will have the medical professionals we will need in the years ahead.
“That’s why we are delivering the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, and doubling the number of medical school places, so we can train the next generation of world-class doctors to offer patients the highest-quality care.”
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “Our frontline health workers do tremendous work in serving the nation every single day and ensuring all of us receive the care we need.
“I know what a popular career medicine is among young people, and it’s so important they have the chance to pursue their ambitions.
“With this expansion of places – alongside our new doctor degree apprenticeship – the opportunities for a career in medicine are greater than ever.”
Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England said: “This is a hugely important moment for the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and marks one of the first steps towards our ambition to train more doctors in England than ever before – the record expansion will help us boost care for patients right across the country.
“The ambitious blueprint for our workforce, is a once in a generation opportunity to put NHS staffing on a sustainable footing, particularly as we continue to adapt to new and rising demand for health services.”
Dr Katie Petty-Saphon, CEO, Medical Schools Council said: “The Medical Schools Council welcomes the announcement of 350 additional student places from 2025.
“Medical schools are committed to widening participation to the profession and particularly important is the need for local recruitment in under-doctored areas.
“We will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that the NHS has the staff it needs to deliver high quality patient care.”
Places have been provided across the country, but the OfS has used analysis of geographical distribution provided by NHS England to target under-doctored areas in its allocation of the places.
This includes substantial increases to medical schools at universities in Sunderland, Leeds, East Anglia, Anglia Ruskin, Plymouth and Surrey. The University of Surrey is also receiving government-funded places for the first time.
This is the second year of expansions to deliver the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. Delivery started a year early, allocating 205 additional medical school places for the 2024/25 academic year, including providing Government-funded places to three schools for the first time.
This builds on the 25% expansion of medical school places in England that the Government completed in 2020, taking the total number of places to 7,500 per year and delivering five new medical schools.
A combination of the additional medical places this year and next, along with medical apprenticeship places, puts us on track to exceed current plans.
Through the allocation of places for 2026/27 and beyond, the Government and NHS England will work closely with partners including medical schools, NHS trusts and the General Medical Council to deliver ambitious reforms to medical education set out in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.
Responding to the announcement the Government is to fund 350 further medical school places for 2025/26, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Adrian Boyle said: “This latest news detailing the uplift of med school places is welcome. Medicine remains one of the best, rewarding – and, I hope, – still attractive careers.
“But medical school places can only ever be part of the picture. They must also be accompanied by the educators needed to teach and mentor these students, and enough dedicated specialty training places for them to move on to when they have qualified.
“However, it is pointless investing in the next generation if the Government does not also look after the current workforce – morale is at rock bottom, stress levels are sky high, and attrition is a serious problem.
“Medicine is a vocation which starts the day you step through the doors of Med School and lasts a lifetime. Proper government support is nothing less than these dedicated professionals need and deserve.”
