A FCZ is a specified area within a local authority. Under the legislation it is a criminal offence for a member of the public to use a firework within a FCZ. Organised public displays will still be permitted.
Communities can ask for a FCZ to be considered for the following reasons: misuse of fireworks, injuries from fireworks, impact on vulnerable groups, environmental protection, and animal welfare.
Community groups have until June 30, 2024, to submit their FCZ applications.
Applications will then be reviewed by the Council in conjunction with Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Following these reviews, there will then be a community consultation period within the proposed areas. The full decision list on FCZs in Edinburgh is due to be announced in October 2024.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’m really pleased that we’re reaching the next stage in implementing Fireworks Control Zones here in Edinburgh. We all remember vividly the shocking and unprecedented scenes we saw in Niddrie last year with emergency services being attacked and I’m determined to do everything within our power to prevent similar occurrences this November.
“Whilst these powers from the Scottish Government are welcome, I’ve been clear that we need to go further on the issue of fireworks and ban their public sale, such is the current risk to public safety and order.
“Alongside these measures, it’s more important than ever that we supplement these new powers with our ongoing community work. Over the coming months with our partners, we’ll be undertaking targeted engagement and intervention work in our schools, youth associations and wider communities.”
Are you ready for it? In honour of global pop sensation Taylor Swift’s Eras tour hitting Edinburgh this summer, Le Petit Beefbar is launching ‘Taylor’s Version’ of its renowned cocktail menu.
The Taylor’s Version menu will be available from the 13th May, when fans and cocktail enthusiasts alike will be able to enjoy a carefully curated selection of drinks inspired by the chart-topper’s iconic discography.
From the nostalgia of Fearless and Speak Now, to the delicate storytelling of The Tortured Poets Department, the menu has something for everyone and every era.
Lovers of a sweet spritz can try Champagne Problems, made with Edinburgh Gin, fresh lemon and topped with Moët Rosé and a cloud of candy floss, and for a quick pick me up, the Bad Bloody Mary customised with your choice of spirit, is sure to hit the spot.
The Lavender Haze is the vision of summer with flower syrup, gin and homemade Lillet Rosé soda, and for those partial to a mocktail, the Anti-Hero combines delicious Amarena Juice and sparkling Nosecco.
To celebrate Taylor’s most recent album drop, the team have transformed their Beefbar Espresso Martini into a cocktail strong enough to spark the genius of any tortured poet.
While enjoying a pre-concert cocktail, Swiftie’s can also take advantage of the delicious bar snacks on offer, from the 45-day cured croque sando, to the baby quesadillas with Kobe karasumi and coveted tempura insane rock corn accompanied by sriracha mayo. All will be sure to set up concert goers for an evening of dancing until midnight.
Independent Arts Projects (IAP) in association with National Theatre of Scotland present
Shō and the Demons of the Deep
Written by Zoë Bullock, adapted from the work by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko
Directed by Shilpa T-Hyland
Designer – Claire Halleran, Lighting Design – Kate Bonney, Composer and Sound Design – Niroshini Thambar, Movement Director – Mele Broomes, Design Assistant – Morven McLeod
Cast: Itxaso Moreno,Christina Strachan and Rebecca Wilkie
Touring Scotland in April and May 2024
Coming to Edinburgh International Children’s Festival on Monday 27 – Thursday 30 May.
Independent Arts Projects (IAP) in association with National Theatre of Scotland present Shō and the Demons of the Deep, a timely new production for younger audiences aged 8 and over, written by Zoë Bullock, touring across Scotland in April and May 2024.
Shō and the Demons of the Deepis a visual adventure story about overcoming fear, and how the actions of one generation can affect the next. The production is inspired by the powerful picture book of the same name by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko.
“A dream. A dream of a hand reaching into the future and shaping it. A dream of change”
Shō’s city has been plagued by nightmares for as long as she can remember, but hers are the worst of all. One day, Shō had enough. She throws her nightmares away into the river, where they wash out to sea. Soon people start copying her; the city is rid of its nightmares, and everyone is delighted. But sixty years later, when the river becomes poisoned, to save her home, Shō’s granddaughter Hana must face her greatest fears.
Sho’s story unfolds through a magical mix of movement, music and miniature worlds, taking the audience from big cities to the ocean floor on a very big adventure!
Shō and the Demons of the Deepis a perfect story for the times we are living through; about young people dealing with anxiety and how to be a small brave person in a big scary world.
Zoe Bullock, writer, said: “Shō and the Demons of the Deep is a hopeful, joyous show about how we can work together to confront what scares us.
“It’s based on a beautiful picture book, and we’ve worked hard to do that justice and make something magical.
“Creating it with a wonderful team and the support of the NTS has been an absolute pleasure, and I can’t wait to share the story with people across Scotland.”
The production was supported through a National Theatre of Scotland Develop Residency in 2022.
Zoë Bullock is an award-winning writer based in Glasgow. Her writing for theatre includes The Listening Tree (Imaginate/Eco Drama, Edinburgh International Children’s Festival), Puss in Boots: A Solar Punk Pantomime (Hopscotch Theatre), Island Chains (New Earth Theatre, New Stories Festival), Octopus (Alpine Fellowship Award finalist). Her short films include: The Air We Breathe (Short Circuit, Grand Prize winner of The Script Lab Free Screenplay Contest 2023), Granny Fenella (Imaginate), Little Spoon’s Big Adventures (Visible Fictions), and the VR/360 experience Chamber 404 (Vroom Theatre/Camden People’s Theatre).
Shilpa T-Hyland’s directing credits include Wickies: The Vanishing Men of Eilean Mor (Paul Morrissey, Christopher Wheeler, Molly Morris), Kissing Linford Christie (Catherine Wheels, co-director), The Guns of Johnny Diablo, The Prognostications of Mikey Noyce and Oscar (A Play, A Pie and A Pint), Revolution Days (Bijli), We’ll Meet in Moscow (Traverse) and Miss Julie (Horsecross). She previously worked with NTS as an Associate Director on Burn and The 306: Dusk (NTS, Horsecross).
Itxaso Moreno trained at Bizkaiko Antzerki Ikastegia in Bilbao, Basque Country. Theatre includes Sleeping Beauty (Platform), The Tempest (Tron Theatre), Low Pay? Don’t Pay! (Glasgow Live/Tron Theatre) and has previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland on This Restless House (a co-production with The Citizens Theatre) and Home (NTS).
Christina Strachan has appeared in Forever Home by Pauline Lockhart, the critically acclaimed one-woman show Rose (Òran Mór and Milan), Department Q (Netflix), Payback (STV), Ghost Crew (Hex Media).
RebeccaWilkie graduated from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, winning their prestigious James Bridie Gold Medal award. Her recent theatre credits include Everything Under the Sun (Army at the Fringe) winning a Scotsman Fringe First award, The Infernal Serpent (A Play, A Pie, and A Pint) and Nightlands & Fallen Angels of the Moine (Dogstar Theatre).
Independent Arts Projects (IAP) works with some of Scotland’s most talented and innovative artists and theatre makers to develop, produce and tour a programme of productions, arts projects, events, and opportunities for people across Scotland and beyond.
Shō and the Demons of the Deep is supported by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund and Federation of Scottish Theatre. Development has been supported by Imaginate and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland.
Touring in 2024 to Platform, Easterhouse, Glasgow (Fri 12 & Sat 13 April); Lemon Tree, Aberdeen (Wed 17 April); Mareel, Shetland (Wed 24 April ); Mull Theatre (Tue 30 April); Dunoon Burgh Hall (Fri 3 May); Birnam Arts Dunkeld (Wed 8 May); Melrose Corn Exchange (Sat 11 May); Lyth Arts Centre, Wick (Fri 17 May) The Bridge, Dumfries (Tue 21 & Wed 22 May); Edinburgh International Children’s Festival (Mon 27 May – Thurs 30 May); Eden Court Theatre, Inverness (Mon 3 June) and Byre Theatre, St Andrews (Wed 5 June).
Opening Performance on Friday 12 September at Platform, Easterhouse, Glasgow
Tour information and full cast and creative biogs and access info here.
AT ROYAL SCOTS CLUB COFFEE MORNING, SATURDAY 18 MAY 2024 at 10:30am
Illustrated talk about a controversial Scottish Society family and their historic golfing links by Richard Blake, author of Sugar, Slaves and High Society: The Grants of Kilgraston, on 18th May 2024, at The Royal Scots Club, starting at 10:30am.
Blake’s book follows three generations of an upwardly mobile Scottish family and describes how fortunes were made, wealth squandered, lives lost at home and abroad, and two brothers made knights of the realm.
More than an account of a Scottish Society family, this is an exploration of opportunism, fortune, hypocrisy and tragedy, all viewed against the backdrop of the slavery in Jamaica that generated the wealth.
Blake’s talk at The Royal Scots Club will be about three Grant brothers and their shared passion for Golf.
Captains of three Royal Golf Clubs and winners of medals at St Andrews, Blackheath, Perth and North Berwick, John is pictured in the centre of arguably the most famous painting about early golf, a famous portrait by Sir Francis, the only Scottish President of the Royal Academy hangs in the Big Room of the R & A and a golf hole is named after General Sir Hope. The brothers had strong connections with the famous East Lothian golf courses: Muirfield, Archerfield, Gullane Links and North Berwick.
The literary coffee morning with author Richard Blake will be held on Saturday 18th May 2024 at The Royal Scots Club, 29-31 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6QE starting at 10:30am.
The event is free and is open to all, members and non-members alike, with numbers limited by venue capacity only.
Reservations should be made by via Eventbrite or by emailing The Royal Scots Club on events@royalscotsclub.com
Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase from the author on the day.
Around 730,000 tax credits customers have started receiving their annual renewal notices.HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said tax credits claimants will receive them between 2 May and 19 June 2024.
The vast majority of claims will be automatically renewed. Notices with a black stripe are automatically renewed while claimants receiving a notice with a red stripe need to renew.
Fewer than 10,000 customers will need to check their information and renew their claim by 31 July, but failure to do so means they risk having their payments stopped.
The quickest and easiest way for customers to renew their tax credits is via GOV.UK or via the free and secure HMRC app, which allows them to track their claim and find out when they can expect payments.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Tax credits are valued by many families for their essential contribution to the monthly family budget, so to avoid payments being stopped please respond to HMRC by the 31 July deadline. For more information search ‘manage my tax credits’ on GOV.UK.”
Customers must report certain life changes which could affect their claim to HMRC. These include:
· relationship changes, such as moving in with a new partner, getting married or divorced
If customers fail to renew by the deadline, they risk their payments being stopped and having to repay any overpayments. The 2024 to 2025 tax credits notices may show predicted payments for the tax year 2025 to 2026 – these are automatically generated and should be disregarded.
Tax credits are ending on 5 April 2025 and are being replaced by Universal Credit. There is information about this at GOV.UK.
Customers will receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions, or the Department for Communities if they live in Northern Ireland, explaining what happens next. This letter is called a Migration Notice and customers are urged not to ignore it.
Criminals use deadlines to trick people who might be expecting to hear from HMRC into sharing their banking or other details.
If a phone call, text or email is unexpected, don’t give out private information or reply, and don’t download attachments or click on links.
Are you interested in organising events and arts projects? Want to have your say about activities on offer in North Edinburgh and be a part of a new creative group of young people?
Come along to the NEA Young Programmers free taster sessions held on Thursday evenings between 9 May and 20 June at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
Sessions will take place on:
Thursday 9 May, 5.30pm – 7pm
Thursday 16 May, 5.30pm – 7pm
Thursday 13 June, 5.30pm – 7pm
Thursday 20 June, 5.30pm – 7pm
Attend one or as many sessions as you wish and enjoy fun activities, games, and snacks.
To mark the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE DAY), BBC ALBA is giving viewers an exclusive opportunity to unravel the story of A Bear named Wojtek with a special Gaelic broadcast of the award-winning animation.
Airing on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday 8 May, this is the first opportunity for UK audiences outside of the film festival circuit to explore the true story of Wojtek the Bear.
The half hour animated film, dubbed in Gaelic with English subtitles, tells the epic journey of an orphaned Syrian brown bear who was adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II, becoming a beacon of hope and an emblem of their fate.
The story begins with a platoon of Polish soldiers trading rations for a small orphaned Syrian bear cub that Piotr Prendys, a member of the 22nd Artillery Corps of the 2nd Polish Army, names Wojtek – ‘happy warrior’. To Piotr, the bear comes to represent his lost homeland, needing protection and care to become strong and independent again. To Wojtek, Piotr and the soldiers become his only family.
Tragically, the realpolitik of the war’s outcome ultimately force Piotr and Wojtek to become refugees in Scotland, with Wojtek confined in Edinburgh Zoo.
Directed by Scottish filmmaker Iain Gardner, and produced by Iain Harvey and Wlodzimierz Matuszewski, Mathan Leis an Ainm Wojtek / A Bear named Wojtek is a love story for one’s homeland; and an important subject in times of refugees, nationalism and xenophobia.
Producer Iain Harvey said: “This is an emotional story, not just because it is true – though the film makes no pretence of being a documentary – but through the extraordinary parallels of recent events: the Covid pandemic restricting movement, and then the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The agony of losing loved ones and the plight of refugees is symbolised by the history of Wojtek the Bear.
“Coupled with the beautiful artwork and the haunting music by Normand Roger, it is a film that will never lose its appeal.”
Piotr’s experience echoes that of many Polish people, who would become the biggest losers of the War as their land is bargained off to the Soviet Union. Despite feeling abandoned and betrayed, the Polish fortitude continues today via Wojtek: still a celebrated legend and symbol of hope.
Co-produced by Filmograf in Poland and The Illuminated Film Company in the UK, Mathan Leis an Ainm Wojtek / A Bear named Wojtek was financed by the Polish Film Institute, Screen Scotland, and the UK Government-supported BFI Young Audiences Content Fund.
Mathan Leis an Ainm Wojtek / A Bear named Wojtek will premiere on BBC ALBA and BBC
iPlayer on VE Day, Wednesday 8 May, at 7pm (in Gaelic with English subtitles). Watch live or on demand: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001z24r.
Education Convener Councillor Joan Griffiths has welcomed the announcement that an Edinburgh primary school has been shortlisted in the annual Times Educational Supplement awards.
Cllr Griffiths said: “Congratulations to the dedicated staff, pupils and the whole school community at South Morningside Primary who should all take great credit for this recognition.
“As a Gold Rights Respecting School they focus on the individual learners and in their recent inspection they were praised for being sector leading for their tailored support for each child and the tracking of pupils to ensure they are all successful.
“It’s a great honour for them to be in the running for the best primary school in the UK and they are the only Scottish entry in that category. Their accolade follows on from Firrhill High School being nominated in last year’s awards and demonstrates the high quality of learning and teaching in our schools.”
Grant Gillies, Head Teacher at South Morningside Primary School, said: “We are so excited to be shortlisted for the TES Primary School of the Year.
“A good school is not one person, it is a community working together to support generations.
“South Morningside Primary is at the heart of a very vibrant community with a fantastic team and this represents their hard work and efforts. Like all schools in Edinburgh , we have high aspirations for our children and families. “
National Galleries of Scotland is celebrating an incredible half a million visitors to the new Scottish galleries in Edinburgh, just seven months after opening.
The Leckie family were thrilled to be the 500,000th visitors through the doors on Friday 3 May. Victoria Leckie along with Ella, 8, and William, 7, were welcomed to the new galleries with balloons and goodie bags.
Victoria said: “I can’t believe it! I thought you were joking! We have just moved to Edinburgh from South Africa a month ago, so it feels even more unbelievable.
“We came to explore the gallery and take the kids to the Family Friday event, so this is all very exciting and unexpected.”
The highly anticipated new Scottish galleries at the National opened to the public on 30 September 2023 to rave reviews, showcasing the very best of historic Scottish art from 1800 to 1945.
A free experience for everyone to enjoy right in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, the new spaces have been a roaring success, transforming the visitor experience and making the National more accessible than ever before.
Prior to the opening of the new Scottish galleries only 19% of visitors to the National gallery made their way to the former Scottish wing. However, since the opening of the new Scottish galleries this has increased to an amazing 62% of people now enjoying the exceptional artworks on display.
With 12 breathtaking galleries to explore, visitors can dive into dramatic landscapes, encounter iconic images and be wowed by art.
Spectacular views over the city entice visitors to come in and discover their national collection of art and the pioneering Scottish artists that created them.
Whether immersing themselves in the highly Romantic paintings of the Scottish Highlands, on a day out with the family, or just enjoying the views, all are welcome to come and discover their national collection.
Controversy rages over whether the proposed north-south tramline should use the Roseburn path or an onroad route via Orchard Brae and Dean Bridge.
The speakers at our June 5th public meeting will present the two cases, then the pros and cons of each option for cycling and walking, and for wider public health. Followed by our always-stimulating one-hour QA and panel discussion.
Speakers:
The case for tram using Roseburn path and not using the road route:
Lesley Hinds, Former Transport Convenor & North Edinburgh resident.
The case for tram using the road route and not using Roseburn path:
Time Starts 7.30pm, Ends 9.30. Doors open 6.45 for coffee, stalls and chat, including a special stall to join Spokes or renew your membership
Questions Questions for the panel, can be emailed (at least a day in advance) to spokes@spokes.org.uk. However, questions in person from audience members are likely to have greatest priority on the night
Online We hope to live broadcast on our youtube channel – confirmation nearer the time – and make the recording available soon after
Calling local young creatives ages 11-13
