Business Gateway West Lothian has announced plans for its second ‘connections and conversations’ free ‘start up’ event on Thursday, 5th September at Whitburn Partnership Centre, from 5-7pm, to highlight the support available to help people in the local community get their business idea off the ground.
The ‘Simplifying the Business Start Up Process’ event, which follows on from the success of the first one in February this year, will include presentations from a team of Business Gateway West Lothian advisers, covering everything from planning and financial advice to marketing and HR support.
Various local businesses who have received valuable support in their start up journey will also be attending to share their personal stories in a panel discussion followed by a Q&A, including Paul Stark who founded Livingston-based Sustainable Sport in March.
The company provides expert consultancy support to help organisations within the sports industry achieve their long-term goals whilst minimising their environmental impact.
The support he received included guidance on the different types of legal structures for his businesses, allowing him to select the most appropriate option and also advice on how to source start up funding to assist with initial capital expenditure costs, allowing him to get off to a great start, efficiently and professionally.
Paul said: “Business Gateway was instrumental in helping me set up my business. From supplying information and templates, to providing access to funding, they were with me every step of the way.
“I’m delighted to say that due to the solid foundations that were put in place with the support of the Business Gateway team, Sustainable Sport is now going from strength to strength.”
Claire McGurk, founder of Canine Bodywork Clinic, which provides canine hydrotherapy and clinical massage services will also be talking about the support she has received for her Livingston-based business, which launched in January this year.
This includes help completing a business plan, with detailed financial projections, assistance with funding applications, advice when deciding on the structure of the company, and guidance and signposting on planning consents.
The support enabled Claire to secure the appropriate funding to support the start up of the business, establish a clear and realistic set of financial projections, and create a strategy to help the business achieve its first three year’s objectives.
Claire said: “Without the expert help and advice from Business Gateway, the business plan for the clinic would not be as robust as it is. The financial projections for my first three years were a huge help for me to set my longer-term goals.
Help and support through achieving funding for the business was also a huge boost on getting the business off the ground. The support has been incredible, and I am genuinely so grateful.”
Former teacher, Susan Grieve and pupil support worker Ben Fazakerley, who founded Positive Outcomes LP this month, will also be sharing the story of their start up journey, which began in March this year.
The company, which specialises in offering afterschool care, holiday day care, respite, tutoring, and support for home-schooling to families with children with ASN, is based in Mid Calder Institute Hall Monday to Thursday and on Friday’s at The Polbeth Hub.
Susan said: “We have had an excellent experience with Business Gateway West Lothian.
“Our advisor Jordan McDonald gave us the confidence and encouragement to push forward with our business. We were given expert advice and support throughout our whole journey.
“Jordan helped us to start creating our business plan and was fundamental in getting us some funding which helped us greatly with start up costs.
“We have received a first-class service and are still receiving support from Jordan, even after our business has successfully started up.”
There will also be opportunities for all attendees to network at the event.
Linzi Winton, Team Leader at Business Gateway West Lothian, said: “We are really looking forward to another ‘Simplifying the Business Start Up Process’ event on the 5th September, aimed at anyone who is thinking about starting a business or at the early stages and could benefit from a helping hand.
“It will be a great opportunity for attendees to hear from our guest speakers who will be sharing their start up journeys and the support they’ve received from our advisers, who will also be at the event to highlight the fantastic free resources available at Business Gateway West Lothian to help get your new venture off to a great start.”
Hosting a drop-off point for the Edinburgh School Uniform Bank is a fantastic way to support your community and help ensure that all children have access to necessary school clothing.
All that’s needed is for us to place a basket and signage in your allocated space, we will advertise it and ensure it is emptied regularly.
If you have a business or community space and you’d like to get involved, please contact us:
Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a speech in the Downing Street garden today on fixing the foundations of our country
When I stood on the steps of Downing Street – just over there – two months ago. I promised this government would serve people like you.
Apprentices. Teachers. Nurses. Small business owners. Firefighters. Those serving our community and our country every day.
I promised that we would get a grip on the problems we face. And that we would be judged by our actions, not by our words.
I said before the election – and I say it again really clearly today: Growth.
And, frankly, by that I do mean wealth creation…
[Please note political content redacted here.]
is the number one priority of this government.
That’s why, in our first few weeks, we set up the National Wealth Fund –
because we want every person and every community to benefit.
It’s why we’ve unlocked planning decisions –
Because we are going to build 1.5 million new homes.
It’s why we’ve set up Great British Energy –
To create good jobs and cut people’s bills.
And it’s why we ended the national strikes that have crippled our country for years.
Because I defy anyone to tell me that you can grow the economy…
when people can’t get to work – because the transport system is broken.
Or can’t return to work – because they’re stuck on an NHS waiting list.
[Please note political content redacted here.]
And these are just the first steps towards the change that people voted for.
The change I’m determined to deliver.
But before the election I also gave a warning.
I said change would not happen overnight.
When there is deep rot in the heart of a structure, you can’t just cover it up.
You can’t tinker with it or rely on quick fixes.
You have to overhaul the entire thing.
Tackle it at root.
Even if it’s harder work and takes more time.
Because otherwise what happens?
The rot returns.
In all the same places.
And it spreads.
Worse than before.
You know that – I know that.
That’s why this project has always been about fixing the foundations of this country.
But I have to be honest with you. Things are worse than we ever imagined.
In the first few weeks, we discovered a £22 billion black hole in the public finances.
And before anyone says ‘oh this is just performative’.
Or ‘playing politics’.
Let’s remember.
The OBR did not know about this.
They didn’t know.
They wrote a letter saying they didn’t know.
[Please note political content redacted here.]
Even just last Wednesday, we found out that
[Please note political content redacted here.]
We borrowed almost £5 billion more than the OBR expected in the last three months alone.
That’s not performative – that’s fact.
But as well as the things we’ve discovered, we’ve also seen shocking scenes across the nation.
A mindless minority of thugs – who thought they could get away with causing chaos.
Smashing up communities and terrifying minorities.
Vandalising and destroying people’s property.
Even trying to set fire to a building – with human beings inside it.
And as if that wasn’t despicable enough.
People displaying swastika tattoos.
Shouting racist slurs on our streets.
Nazi salutes at the cenotaph –
The cenotaph – the very place we honour those who gave their lives for this country.
Desecrating their memory….
Under the pretence – and it is a pretence – of ‘legitimate protest’.
Now they’re learning that crime has consequences.
That I won’t tolerate a break down in law and order under any circumstances.
And I will not listen to those who exploit grieving families, and disrespect local communities.
But these riots didn’t happen in a vacuum. They exposed the state of our country. Revealed a deeply unhealthy society. The cracks in our foundation laid bare –
Weakened by a decade of division and decline.
Infected by a spiral of populism…
Which fed off cycles of failures
[Please note political content redacted here.]
Stuck in the rut of the politics of performance.
And I saw the beginning of that downward spiral firsthand.
Back in 2011.
When riots ripped through London and across the country.
I was then Director of Public Prosecutions.
And when I think back to that time.
I see just how far we have fallen.
Because responding to those riots was hard – of course it was.
But dealing with the riots this summer was much harder.
In 2011, I didn’t doubt the courts could do what they needed to do.
This time – to be honest with you – I genuinely didn’t know.
Let me tell you this. Every day of that disorder – literally every day – we had to check the precise number of prison places we had and where those places were.
To make sure we could arrest, charge and prosecute people quickly.
Not having enough prison places is about as fundamental a failure as you can get.
And those people throwing rocks, torching cars, making threats.
They didn’t just know the system was broken.
They were betting on it.
Gaming it.
They thought – ‘ah, they’ll never arrest me.
And if they do, I won’t be prosecuted.
And if I am, I won’t get much of a sentence.’
They saw the cracks in our society after 14 years of populism and failure – and they exploited them.
That’s what we have inherited.
Not just an economic black hole.
A societal black hole.
And that’s we have to take action and do things differently.
And part of that is being honest with people – about the choices we face. And How tough this will be. And frankly – things will get worse before they get better.
I didn’t want to release prisoners early.
I was Chief Prosecutor for five years.
It goes against the grain of everything I’ve ever done.
But to be blunt – if we hadn’t taken that difficult decision immediately.
We wouldn’t have been able to respond to the riots as we did.
And if we don’t take tough action across the board. We won’t be able to fix the foundations of the country as we need.
I didn’t want to means test the Winter Fuel Payment. But it was a choice we had to make.
A choice to protect the most vulnerable pensioners. while doing what is necessary to repair the public finances.
Because pensioners also rely on a functioning NHS.
Good public transport.
Strong national infrastructure.
They want their children to be able to buy homes.
They want their grandchildren to get a good education.
So we have made that difficult decision –
To mend the public finances.
So everyone benefits in the long term –
Including pensioners.
Now that is a difficult trade off.
And there will be more to come.
I won’t shy away from making unpopular decisions now…
If it’s the right thing for the country in the long term.
That’s what a government of service means.
This shouldn’t be a country where people fear walking down their street.
Their TVs showing cars and buildings being set on fire.
This shouldn’t be a country where the Prime Minister can’t guarantee prison places.
This shouldn’t be a country where people are paying thousands more on their mortgage.
Or waiting months for hospital appointments they desperately need.
Where our waters are filled with sewage.
Where parents worry that their kids won’t get the opportunities they did.
Where nothing seems to work anymore.
So, when I talk about the inheritance the last government left us…
The £22 billion black hole in our finances…
This isn’t about a line on a graph.
That’s about people’s lives.
Your lives.
[Please note political content redacted here.]
This government won’t always be perfect, but I promise you this:
You will be at the heart of it…
In the forefront of our minds…
At the centre of everything we do.
That’s why I wanted to invite you here today.
To show that decent, hard-working people who make up the backbone of this country belong here.
This government is for you.
A garden and a building that were once used for lockdown parties…
Remember the pictures just over there? With the wine and the food.
Well this garden…
And this building…
are now back in your service.
[Please note political content redacted here.]
Those things happened precisely because the government itself lost its focus.
on the hopes and ambitions of working people.
During those recent riots, I made huge asks…
of the police and of the criminal justice system –
People already stretched to the limit.
They knew I was making big asks of them.
And I’m not going to apologise for it.
But let me tell you this – they delivered.
They deserve our gratitude.
And that’s why I went to Southport…
To Lambeth…
To Belfast…
To thank them personally. To shake the hands of the first responders who rose up to the ask I made of them.
They deserve a government that trusts them.
Supports them.
And works with them.
That is the sort of government we will be.
One that works with people, not does things to them.
One that believes in hard graft, not gimmicks.
Honest about the challenges we face…
And working tirelessly to fix them.
That is how we will always work.
Now, next week, parliament returns. The business of politics will resume. But it won’t be business as usual.
Because we can’t go on like this anymore. Things will have to be done differently.
We will do the hard work to root out 14 years of rot. Reverse a decade of decline. And fix the foundations.
Between now and Christmas, we will carry on as we have started. Action not words.
We will introduce legislation and take decisions to protect taxpayers’ money.
To take on the blockers by accelerating planning. to build homes and boost growth.
We’ll move forward this autumn with harnessing the full potential of AI for growth and the public good.
We’ll bring rail service into public ownership, putting passengers first.
The biggest levelling up of workers’ rights in a generation to give people security, dignity and respect at work.
And Great British Energy will be owned by the taxpayer, making money for the taxpayer. Producing clean energy and creating good jobs.
That is our focus for the rest of the year.
But I will be honest with you. There’s a budget coming in October. and it’s going to be painful.
We have no other choice given the situation that we’re in. So those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden. And that’s why we’re cracking down on non-doms.
Those who made the mess should have to do their bit to clean it up. That’s why we’re strengthening the powers of the water regulator and backing tough fines on water companies that have let sewage flood our rivers, lakes and seas.
But just as when I responded to the riots – I’ll have to turn to the country and make big asks of you as well.
To accept short term pain for long term good.
The difficult trade-off for the genuine solution.
And I know that after all that you’ve been through – that is a really big ask and really difficult to hear.
That is not the position we should be in. It’s not the position I want to be in. But we have to end the politics of the easy answer that solves nothing.
But I also know that we can get through this together.
Because the riots didn’t just betray the sickness. They also revealed the cure.
Found not in the cynical conflict of populism. But in the coming together of a country.
The people who got together the morning after. All around the country. With their brooms, their shovels, their trowels. And cleared up their community.
They reminded us who we really are.
I felt real pride in those people who cleaned up the streets.
Rebuilt the walls. Repaired the damage.
And I couldn’t help thinking about the obvious parallels.
Because imagine the pride we will feel as a nation.
When, after the hard work of clearing up the mess is done.
We have a country that we have built together.
Built to last.
That belongs to every single one of us.
And all of us have a stake in it.
Our hard work rewarded – a dozen times over.
Because we’ll have an economy that works for everyone.
An NHS not just back on its feet, but fit for the future.
Streets that everyone feels safe in.
No longer dependent on foreign dictators…because we’re producing our own clean energy right here.
And giving every child – wherever they come from. Whatever their background.The chance – to go as far as their talent will take them.
I won’t lose sight of that prize. I won’t lose sight of what we were elected to do.
And most importantly – I won’t lose sight of the people that we were elected to do it for.
With 453 shows, 3569 artists, and 198,000 tickets, theSpaceUK has helped new artists and audiences experience the Fringe
theSpaceUK is one of the largest venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with 19 theatres across 6 venues. Every genre in the Fringe programme is represented and there’s a strong focus on new-writing and new companies with a wide-range of support provided for artists bringing work to the Fringe for the first time.
198,000 tickets were issued for shows at theSpaceUK this year, a 5% increase on 2023, demonstrating both the resilience of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the strong platform of shows at theSpaceUK. This year saw 453 shows featuring 3569 artists at theSpaceUK representing over 40 different countries. Each day of the 2024 Fringe saw an average of over 8300 audience members watching shows at theSpaceUK with an average of 61% of seats filled per show.
Artists at theSpaceUK were recognised for their work, including a third consecutive Fringe First for Xhloe and Natasha, who were part of theSpaceUK’s artists development programmewith their brand new show, A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First. The duo was also awarded the prestigious Broadway Baby Bobby Award and were shortlisted for the Holden Street Theatre Award, The Brighton Fringe Excellence Award and the Fringe Encore Series Award.
Artists at two shows at theSpaceUK won critical acclaim and picked up Theatre Scotland’s coveted awards. Alexander Tait for Kev Campbell Was He, and Fraser Allan Hogg and Lorna Panton for Shotgunned won the Bright Spark award, which is given to Scottish actors or theatre-makers just embarking on their careers. A further three shows were shortlisted for Theatre Scotland’s award, including Lads of the Flies, Man of War: The Secret Life of Nadezhda Durova,and The Shadow Boxer.
Parky Players, a theatre group for people with Parkinson’s, also celebrated after their show, Shaken Not Stirred, picked up the Garry Robson Memorial Award at the Neurodiverse Review Awards, which aims to recognise disabled and neurodiverse acts at the Fringe. Black Bright Theatre company was also celebrating after its new folk horror about the female experience, Birdwatching, won the Edinburgh Horror Festival Spookies award for Best New Writing and was runners-up in the Best Stage Play and Best Poster Design categories.
Speakbeast, a queer/trans-led theatre company, picked up the Binge Fringe Queer Performer’s Award for The Freemartin. The award honours the commitment of performers to furthering LGBTQIA+ representation. Trawled (Eoin Ryna) was nominated for the BBC Popcorn writing award.
Charles Pamment, Artistic Director of theSpaceUK said: “What a year, we are so very proud to have been able to host another fabulous festival at theSpaceUK. Our locations have hosted record numbers with 198,000 audience members attending shows.
“Our unrivalled new writing programme boasts a long line of 5 star reviews and not to mention an array of top awards for our shows, from Fringe First, Best of Scottish Theatre to the iconic Bobbly Awards and award debutantes the Queeries @ Bringe Fringe. We also broke producing records with Xhloe and Natasha winning yet another fringe first to add to their Fringe First awards in 2022 and 2023!!
“We celebrate with all our shows and now look forward to planning our 2025 festival and curating a programme to match that of this year!”
Residents and staff at an Edinburgh care home have joined a fundraising challenge that pays tribute to people with dementia by walking more than three miles around their gardens.
More than a dozen residents and staff from HC-One Scotland’s Murrayfield House Care Home have teamed up to take part in Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk fundraising campaign.
With the aid of frames and wheelchairs, the residents – aged from 77 to 97 – have been walking around the care home’s gardens and along nearby Murrayfield Avenue, gathering donations in local shops along the way.
Led by wellbeing coordinator Margaret Finch, the walkers aim to complete the 5km challenge in stages over a number of days.
They have already raised more than £1,000 and counting – smashing their initial target of £300 – but hope to raise even more vital funds to support dementia care, research and improvements in brain health.
Margaret, 63, from the city’s Silverknowes area, has worked at Murrayfield House Care Home for five years.
She said: “The residents and staff were keen to do the Memory Walk because so many of us have either had support from Alzheimer Scotland or have a loved one who has been affected by dementia. My late mum had vascular dementia so I’ve had first-hand experience of the impact this illness can have.
“Alzheimer Scotland do such important work – funding research and fighting the stigma around dementia – and we are all determined to raise as much money as we can for them.
“Our manager Fiona Truesdale gave us the idea to organise the Memory Walk and we’ve had such great support for it from the whole team, including my fellow wellbeing coordinator Norma Mackie.
“The residents have loved putting on their purple t-shirts and taking part.”
One of the oldest walkers is 96-year-old retired engineer Douglas Lamond. Douglas said: “I like to keep fit by doing exercises every morning, so I was delighted to take part in the Memory Walk and cheer the group on.”
Other walkers included Doreen Hall, 88, who lives at the home with husband David, 88, and Elspeth Braidwood, 80, a former Sunday school teacher who used to work at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
Doreen’s daughter Debbie said: “My mum Doreen has dementia and Alzheimer Scotland have been a great support, not just for her but also for my dad David who cared for her when they both lived in their own home.
“It’s wonderful that they have the opportunity to support the charity through the Memory Walk.”
The Memory Walk campaign allows people across Scotland to take part in organised events throughout September, or to complete the challenge at a time and place that suits them by doing Your Walk, Your Way.
Events are taking place in Inverness, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow. Tickets cost just £10 for adults and children can be registered for free. It’s quick and easy to set up a sponsorship page, which can be shared with family, friends and colleagues.
Every penny raised will help people with dementia and their carers, as well as supporting better brain health for everyone in Scotland.
Lauren Heap, centre manager for Alzheimer Scotland’s Edinburgh and West Lothian Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre, said: “Alzheimer Scotland is proud to support people living with dementia and their families and carers, from our centre here in Edinburgh.
“Scotland’s Memory Walk has always had a wonderful ability to bring people together. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the lives of people with dementia and walk to remember them. Every pound raised helps Alzheimer Scotland continue to develop and deliver vital dementia support.”
To find out more and to sign up for Scotland’s Memory Walk, visit memorywalk.alzscot.org
Scotland’s small business owners say they will band together to help each other thrive
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is among the local authorities, companies and other organisations which have signed the Scotland Loves Local Pledge.
By encouraging its members to support other enterprises in their area whenever they possibly can, FSB is supporting a drive that supporters hope will help drive millions of pounds more into local communities.
The pledge has been signed as Scotland Loves Local Week – seven days of events highlighting the transformational impact of choosing local on the future of businesses, jobs, economies and places – gets underway.
Andrew McRae, FSB Scotland Policy Chair and founder of Elephant House International in Edinburgh,said: “When you think about what you love about your local high street, it is the independent traders who usually come to mind.
“Whether it is your favourite café, a valued shop or a trusted trades person, small businesses play a huge part in making our communities great places to live and give them so much of their distinctive character.
“With 330,000 firms employing 900,000 people across Scotland, small businesses are also critical to creating and retaining local jobs.
“The Federation of Small Businesses was established 50 years ago this September as a way of small businesses working together to support each other. That philosophy remains just as important today. That’s why I’m delighted to sign the Scotland Loves Local Pledge as a sign of our commitment to continuing that proud tradition.”
Individuals are also being urged to sign the Scotland Loves Local Pledge. It states: “We will choose local, prioritising the people and businesses around us at every opportunity.”
Micro and small businesses comprise 98% of all enterprises in Scotland. They employ 900,000 people and turn over in excess of £82bn.
Scotland Loves Local is spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) with support from the Scottish Government.
The initiative urges everyone to think local first to boost local economies and improve places by galvanising support for the people and businesses in them.
STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthriesaid: “Small independent businesses are the lifeblood of communities across Scotland. Their success depends upon us all getting behind them.
“We can all help drive millions pounds more into our local economies simply by supporting the businesses in them more often.
“Not only are we protecting the jobs of our friends and neighbours, but we are providing the foundations from which communities take the confidence needed to innovate and invest – making them stronger, more sustainable and better places to live, work and visit.
“Greater support for local enterprises protects jobs and businesses. And that support underpins the tireless work taking place to help communities adapt to our ever-changing world, seizing opportunities to innovate, invest – making them stronger and more vibrant.”
MSPs and MPs across Scotland will be visiting small businesses in their constituencies – finding out more about their work – as part of Scotland Loves Local Week.
Many of them are signed up to accept the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, through which businesses can support each other and their local economies. More details on that are available here.
OVER 128,912 TICKETS ISSUED AND 2484 PERFORMANCES FOR GILDED BALLOON’S 39TH FRINGE
One of Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s longest running venues, Gilded Balloon, has rounded off their 39th Fringe season, with over 128,912 tickets issued this month.
Operating in three venues including Patter House, the National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh Street Food, Gilded Balloon’s programme hosted some of the biggest hits of the Fringe including Mhairi Black’s debut, a sold out run for Andy Gray tribute Chemo Savvy, and debuts from rising stars like Kim Blythe and Chris Weir.
In a year which saw Gilded Balloon operate without their main venue Teviot Row House due to refurbishment, 2024’s Fringe Festival saw an impressive:
over 128,914 tickets issued in 2024
2484 performances from 31st July – 26th August
3 venues: Patter House, National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh Comedy Social at Edinburgh Street Food
131 shows in 12 sub venues
1213 Support the Artist tickets sold – customers choosing to give an extra £2 per ticket which goes directly to artists
440 sold out shows
over 86 comedy shows, 23 theatre and music shows, plus a mix of kids shows, cabaret, spoken word and more
1 brand new So You Think You’re Funny? champion with Glaswegian Alana Jackson claiming this year’s crown alongside Ciara O’Connor and Ayo Adenekanin second and third place respectively. The three comics came out on top from an impressive 597 original applicants
Khawla Ibraheemawarded theFilipa Bragança Award for her performance in Oliver Butler’s A Knock on the Roof
over 1500 cans of Gilded Balloon’s very own ‘Hiya Pals’ IPA from local brewers Newbarns
1 new pop up bar, Lucky Penny, welcomed some of Edinburgh’s best foodies to the city with pop-ups from Spitaki’s, Alby’s and more
1 new charity partner with this year’s Pink Wednesday charity day raising money for Waverley Care
Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloonsaid, “2024 was another fantastic year, and Gilded Balloon’s 39th, at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
“We welcomed over 128,912 people to our venues to see some outstanding shows across comedy, theatre, musical and kids, as well as sell out runs for Scottish shows including Mhairi Black: Politics Isn’t For Me, Chemo Savvy and Jack Docherty in The Chief. We’ve cemented schemes like Support the Artist, which puts money back in our artists’ pockets and even introduced our own pop up bar this year in collaboration with local brewery Newbarns.
“Our first year in over 23 years without our main venue Teviot Row House has, of course, seen changes to our capacity and amount of shows we could programme, so we’re really looking forward to returning for Fringe 2025. Next year will be Gilded Balloon’s 40th anniversary and we have some hugely exciting plans in the works for returning to a refreshed and refurbished Teviot Row House.
“We’re also so proud to have crowned Glaswegian Alana Jackson as this year’s outstanding winner of So You Think You’re Funny? alongside Ciara O’Connor and Ayo Adenekan in second and third place. From 597 applicants to 10 finalists, it was a fiercely competitive year and, as ever, SYTYF? is a real bright spark for us as comedy producers with so many talented newcomers on the scene.
“However, in a time of constant cuts facing the arts scene, the future of competitions like SYTYF? are precarious and it’s harder than ever for new artists to make their way in the industry.
“We’d like to say a huge thanks to everybody who has supported our artists this year by buying a ticket to their shows this Fringe – it’s more important than ever to support artists where you can, and we’ll see you next year for a pinktastic celebration back at Teviot!”
Gilded Balloon’s 2024 Fringe programme saw debuts from rising comedy stars like Nate Kitch, Kathleen Hughes, Chris Weir, Kim Blythe, and Christopher Hall, as well as mainstays of the comedy scene like Jack Docherty, Michelle Brasier and Grace Campbell.
The month included sold out runs for Mhairi Black’s debut show, Paul Black’s brand new show, and Chemo Savvy, the emotional comedy-play in tribute to Andy Gray. Plus, Fringe stars like Hypnotist Matt Hale and magician Cameron Young entertained audiences throughout August, whilst Gilded Balloon’s legendary Late’n’Live was once against hosted by an all-female and non-binary line-up, welcoming the very best acts from across the Fringe to the late night show
Scotland’s People will launch a refreshed website at midday on 3rd September.
The new website will have a fresh and modern feel. It’s been designed to enhance user experience and accessibility. Searching the records will also be simpler and quicker.
The site is compliant with WCAG 2.2 guidelines and has a double AA standard, which means it’s easily accessible for all users.
This allows a wider and more diverse audience to explore their Scottish heritage.
Customers can log in with their current details and previous saved information will continue to be available.
To prepare for these changes, the website will be unavailable from 00.01 on Sunday, 1st September, to 12.00 on Tuesday, 3rd September.
Thank You
