Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at yesterday’s UN Security Council meeting on Gaza:
Gaza has become the deadliest place in the world to be a child. Women and children continue to bear the brunt of this brutal conflict that since October 7 has killed over 40,000 people. Children account for nearly a third of identified casualties. We call on Israel to take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties.
Over 100 innocent hostages remain captured by Hamas in Gaza. Time is running out for them as they remain in captivity subject to unimaginable horror. We call again for their immediate and unconditional release.
President, we’ve heard today that Gaza is on the brink of a devastating polio outbreak. Another deadly threat to a people already facing a multitude of deadly threats: ongoing bombardment, risk of famine and dire sanitary conditions. Meanwhile regional tensions remain high – any attack by Iran would have devastating consequences.
Urgent action is needed, on three fronts:
First, we need an immediate ceasefire. All sides need to focus on the negotiations led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar.
These talks offer a vital opportunity to secure an immediate ceasefire that ends the conflict, gets the hostages out, allows urgent access to aid and de-escalates regional tensions.
We also urge Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah and other Iranian-aligned militia groups to stand down the ongoing threats of military escalation against Israel. All parties need to exercise restraint, as my Prime Minister has made clear in recent weeks.
Second, Gaza stands on the precipice of a polio outbreak with over 640,000 children under the age of 10 in need of vaccinations.
We call on the parties to continue cooperating with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and partners to facilitate vaccine rollouts.
Israel needs to allow safe and unhindered aid access into and across Gaza and to put in place an effective deconfliction mechanism to ensure aid and vaccines can be delivered and administered safely.
Israel’s ramping up of new evacuation orders is causing chaos in Gaza. The humanitarian zone, now just covering 11% of Gaza, is chronically overcrowded with people desperately seeking shelter. It is not safe and it is still receiving fire.
British NGO, UK Med, reports that just last night their residential compound in a humanitarian zone was damaged by Israeli shelling.
Humanitarian actors are being forced to evacuate their offices and abandon warehouses full of aid. If this does not stop, a polio vaccine rollout may become impossible. All parties must comply with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law.
Third, President, settler violence in the West Bank is inexcusable. The violence in the Palestinian village of Jit last week was abhorrent. We call on Israel to take action against these extremists. The UK has sanctioned eight individuals and two entities related to settler violence.
We condemn the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank – it is a clear violation of international law.
Finally, President, my Foreign Secretary and French Foreign Minister Sejourne visited Israel and the OPTs last week.
They conveyed three key messages: that the current ceasefire talks were the only way to avert a full regional crisis; that the humanitarian situation was catastrophic and we needed to see immediate improvements; and that there had to be accountability for the appalling settler violence in the West Bank.
I hope that we can all unite around these three messages today.
PLANS for a Visitor Levy in Edinburgh took another significant step forward yesterday (22 August), as councillors agreed key details of the draft scheme.
It is anticipated that the levy will generate tens of millions of pounds a year to reinvest in the city’s infrastructure and sustainable tourism from summer 2026.
A formal 12-week public consultation seeking further input from residents, visitors and businesses, will commence in the coming weeks. This will inform the final scheme, which will be agreed in January 2025, allowing the 18-month implementation period to begin.
Edinburgh will become the first place in the UK to launch such a city-wide levy, which will drastically help the Council manage the demands of increased tourism while ensuring sustainable investment in the visitor economy, public services, city maintenance, affordable housing and preserving the Capital’s cultural heritage.
Edinburgh Council backed the Lib Dem proposal to split Transient Visitor Levy income, after a fixed Housing investment, between: 55% city operations 35% culture and 10% destination management.
Key highlights of the draft visitor levy scheme include:
Flat 5% charge per night: Visitors staying in accommodation will be required to pay a small, fixed fee per night of 5% of the accommodation cost, capped at seven consecutive nights.
Wide range of accommodation: The levy will apply to paid accommodation including hotels, short-term lets, hostels and bed and breakfasts, but will exclude stays in campsites.
Funding allocation: The levy is expected to raise £45-50 million a year by 2028/29. Revenue generated will be reinvested directly into initiatives that benefit residents and enhance visitor experiences, such as a ‘Well Kept City Fund’, affordable housing, city infrastructure, destination marketing and support for major events and festivals.
Shaped with industry input: The draft scheme has been shaped by many years of engagement with local businesses, residents, and tourism stakeholders including hoteliers.
Expected to launch 2026: When the draft scheme is finalised, early in the new year, the Council will begin working with partners to implement the Visitor Levy and make it live by Summer 2026.
The decision is a victory for Edinburgh housing campaigners and trade unionists:
Council Leader, Cammy Day, said: “We can’t take Edinburgh’s incredible cultural offering and reputation as a fantastic place to visit for granted, and a visitor levy presents an innovative way of sustaining the sector and the city.
“It will significantly increase our ability to invest in the visitor experience and the tourism pressures we face, from keeping the city clean to responding to our housing emergency, so that everyone can continue to enjoy all that the city has to offer. By better supporting these services we can secure Edinburgh’s future as a top global destination.
“These proposals have been shaped by the views of residents, visitors and industry. We’re committed to making sure this is the best levy for Edinburgh and will begin our formal consultation as soon as the Scottish Government allow.
“This is a once in generation opportunity for Edinburgh and I look forward to the many benefits a visitor levy will bring, allowing us to reinvest tens of millions of pounds in sustaining and improving the things that make our city so special – for our visitors and residents who live here all year round.”
Neil Ellis, Chairman of the Edinburgh Hotels Association, said: “Edinburgh Hotels Association welcomes the introduction of the visitor levy for its intended use of improving the experience of all visitors, local, national or international, through additional spending.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to further enhance Edinburgh’s reputation on the world stage as a must-visit destination.”
Christina Sinclair, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage, said:“The visitor levy brings an opportunity to generate crucial funds to invest in our historic city, ensuring its heritage remains authentic and that the UNESCO-designated Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site are protected, enhanced and promoted for future generations.
Charlie Cumming, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, said: “ELGT are in support of the funds raised from the proposed visitor levy to provide additional resource to make improvements to the city’s public spaces. It will be encouraging to see much needed funding for the upkeep of our much-valued greenspaces that provide many benefits to residents and visitors.
“The funding will also provide an opportunity to develop sustainable improvements to help mitigate against climate change and biodiversity loss.”
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh, said:“We welcome the next phase of the consultation by the City of Edinburgh Council.
“The key principle for the implementation of the visitor levy remains, that the money collected and then distributed should be additional to existing Council resources and not replacement funds and be used to finance projects that primarily support the tourism sector.
“We welcome the three potential funding pots which if used appropriately will have a significant impact on how our city looks, and how we can support our crucial heritage and arts/event sectors.
“Importantly, it will also invest in dedicated marketing and promotion, to ensure our successful tourism sector continues to grow sustainably. With an effective public and private partnership driving this work, we are excited that real progress can be made.
“Edinburgh must not take our tourism sector for granted, and if the finance generated through the levy goes towards supporting our tourism sector, then the city will see economic benefits for our business both directly and in the supply chain, employment growth and much needed large infrastructure projects being delivered. This will materially benefit all the residents in the city.
“Essential Edinburgh will continue our engagement with our members, the industry and Council to move forward towards the finalisation of the scheme.’
Every 3 months we review and set a level for how much an energy supplier can charge for each unit of energy and daily standing charge, under the price cap.
From 1 October to 31 December the price for energy for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit will go up to £149 per year. This is an increase of 10% and adds around £12 per month to an average bill.
The new cap is 6% (£117) cheaper compared to the same period last year (£1,834).
You are covered by the energy price cap if you pay for your electricity and gas by either:
standard credit (payment made when you get your electricity and gas bill)
Direct Debit
prepayment meter
Economy 7 (E7) meter
The actual amount you pay will depend on how much energy your household uses, where you live and the type of meter you have.
Energy price cap rates 1 October to 31 December
Electricity rates
If you are on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) and pay for your electricity by Direct Debit, you will pay on average 24.50 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh). The daily standing charge is 60.99 pence per day. This is based on the average across England, Scotland and Wales and includes VAT.
Gas rates
If you are on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) and pay for your gas by Direct Debit, you will pay on average 6.24 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh). The daily standard charge is 31.66 pence per day. This is based on the average across England, Scotland and Wales and includes VAT.
Costs included in the energy price cap
The level of the energy price cap is made up of different costs, for example the wholesale cost of gas and electricity, costs to supply energy on the network and VAT. These costs are split within the energy price cap between the unit rate and the standing charge.
Last year we started a review of standing charges. Our call for input had feedback from more than 30,000 customers, consumer groups, charities and others.
Today we have published an options paper on our ways to reduce standing charges for households, called ‘domestic standing charges’. Standing charges are set by your energy supplier and are also included in the energy price cap. Your supplier will charge you this cost each day, even if you do not use any energy on that day. The charge covers the cost to maintain the energy supply network, take meter readings, and support government social and environmental schemes, like the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The options in the paper could reduce the standing charge by between £20 and £100 per year by transferring parts of these fixed supplier costs to the unit rate (the price paid for every unit of energy used).
We know that if these changes are made it could affect people who cannot safely reduce the amount of energy they use. This could be because of their dependence on life-saving medical equipment or living in a low standard of housing with poor insulation.
We are asking energy suppliers to offer energy tariffs that have no or low standing charges as well as their current tariffs. This will mean that energy efficient households will be able to choose a tariff that rewards them for using less energy. It will also mean that other energy customers can also choose from more tariffs that meet their needs.
You could pay less for your energy by changing your energy tariff. Find out if you can change your tariff and how to switch energy supplier.
The options paper also sets out long-term considerations relating to the assignment of network costs, as a part of a broader review of how electricity and gas system costs are recovered from users.
We would like to hear your views on standing charges. The discussion closes on 20 September 2024. Read our standing charges options paper and feedback your views using our online form.
Support for people with a prepayment meter
We have also extended our initial 12-month allowance to cover increased debt costs associated with additional support credit which we expect to be in place for at least another 6 months. Additional support credit is often issued to people at risk of being cut off from their energy supply because they cannot afford to top up their meter. This decision means that the most vulnerable consumers will continue to be supported and have an energy supply this winter.
Next energy price cap review
We review and set a level on how much an energy supplier can charge for each unit of energy including the standing charge every 3 months. The levels for the period 1 January to 31 March 2025 will be published by 25 November 2024.
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said:“Means-testing Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) when fuel prices are rising by 10% spells disaster for pensioners on low and modest incomes or living in vulnerable circumstances due to ill health.
“It means an estimated 2 million older people in all, will face an even steeper mountain to climb in paying their energy bills and staying warm and well when the weather chills. With pensioners also losing the cost-of-living payments they’ve received over the last two years we simply cannot see how some of them will cope.
“This latest bad news about the Energy Price Cap rising quite significantly makes it even more obvious that means testing WFP with virtually no notice & with no protections to safeguard vulnerable groups was the wrong policy choice and one that is potentially hazardous for some older people.”
“There’s scarcely any time to tackle the long-term under-claiming of Pension Credit – for more than a decade a third of pensioners who are entitled to it have consistently missed out. And the million or so older people whose small incomes take them just above the line to claim are horribly exposed – no take-up campaign can help them.”
“Means-testing WFP in these circumstances this winter is reckless and wrong. The Government must think again.”
Age UK urges any older person living on a low income or struggling with their bills to contact Age UK’s free Advice line on 0800 169 65 65 without delay to check they’re receiving all the financial support available to them.
Alternatively, people can visit www.ageuk.org.uk/money or contact their local Age UK for further information and advice.
National Energy Action has responded: Just now, @Ofgem announced that #EnergyBills will rise 9% from October. NEA Chief Executive @adam_scorer says, ‘There is still time for @Ofgem and UK government to act for those at greatest risk, but without support.’
Major refurbishment of vast site shows large plots and modernised homes
THE FIRST visuals revealing the future of 78 former army homes on Edinburgh’s outskirts have been released, giving interested buyers a taste of what to expect.
Created using a combination of photographic and overlayed computer-generated imagery, the visuals give an indication of how the homes and public space at Craigiehall Meadows will look on completion.
Once a community of military families serving the British Army’s Scottish Headquarters at Craigiehall, each of the 78 homes will be completely refurbished and brought up to modern standards.
The images also demonstrate the development’s large, mature plots, as well as the abundance of greenery across the tree-lined site.
Tzana Webster, Head of Estate Agency with Ralph Sayer, which is managing the sales and marketing for the site has revealed very high early interest in the development.
She said: “My first impression on seeing the CGIs was – wow. These are going to become exceptional homes with large front and back gardens, which is rare across Edinburgh – especially compared to new build developments on the market.
“This will be a perfect base for those who want the outdoors life but within easy reach of the city and it’s great to show those interested, whether buyers or people with a connection to the location, what is coming down the line.
“Interest has been high, including from people who used to live here while it served families from the armed forces. This is an amazing location, and a lot of people have a connection with it.”
Craigiehall Meadows is set in an expansive, tree-lined location linking the River Almond with the 800-acre Dalmeny Estate. It is next to Edinburgh’s prime neighbourhoods of Barnton, Cramond and Cammo.
The homes on offer will include a mix of detached, and semi-detached properties all with modern finishes and amenities.
The history of Craigiehall dates to the 17th century when it existed as a country house and estate before it was requisitioned by the Armed Forces in 1939.
It became the Scottish Army HQ in 1951 and operated as the Craigiehall camp from 1955, housing notable regiments until the base was announced for closure in 2011 as part of the Defence Basing Review.
Mature planting and adjacence to farmland give the location a rural feel, however, there is outstanding connectivity to the city, motorway network and Edinburgh Airport.
Enabling works are now underway, with homes becoming available to the market during the refurbishment process.
The Real Mary King’s Close, one of Edinburgh’s most iconic historic sites, is proud to announce an exciting new experience as part of its 2024 calendar: Meet the Poet: Robert Fergusson. This special event marks the 250th anniversary of the death of one of Scotland’s most influential yet often misunderstood poets, Robert Fergusson.
In collaboration with the University of Glasgow’s research project, The Collected Works of Robert Fergusson: Reconstructing Textual and Cultural Legacies, The Real Mary King’s Close offers an extraordinary opportunity to step back into 18th-century Edinburgh and engage directly with the life and work of the poet who captured the essence of the city like no other.
Guests will begin their journey back in time with a one-hour guided tour of Mary King’s Close, exploring Edinburgh’s only 17th-century preserved street beneath the Royal Mile.
This experience is particularly poignant as Robert Fergusson himself would have walked these very streets, frequently visiting Craig’s Close—located just next to Mary King’s Close—where he was a member of the Cape Club, an after-hours drinking society. Following the tour, guests will be treated to a unique 30-minute “meet and greet” with Robert Fergusson himself.
During this session, Fergusson will recount the story of his short but vibrant life, share some of his most beloved poems, and invite guests to try their hand at writing their own verse, inspired by his work and the rich history that surrounds them. For those wishing to elevate their experience, an optional upgrade is available, including a dram of whisky, to be shared in a toast with Fergusson.
This event is part of a broader initiative by the University of Glasgow’s research project The Collected Works of Robert Fergusson: Reconstructing Textual and Cultural Legacies, which is funded by the Leverhulme Trust.
The project is preparing a new edition of Fergusson’s complete works, due for publication by Edinburgh University Press in 2026. As part of this initiative, they are holding numerous events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Fergusson’s death in 2024.
The project aims to give Fergusson’s literary, textual, biographical, linguistic, medical and cultural legacies the timely recognition they deserve.
Rhona Brown, Professor of Scottish Textual Cultures at the University of Glasgow, explained the significance of Fergusson’s work: “Robert Fergusson (1750-74) is one of Scotland’s most important poets, but he is often misunderstood.
“He is known for his enormous influence on Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, and for his tragic early death in an asylum at just 24 years of age. But there’s so much more to Fergusson than this.
“Writing in both Scots and English, one of Fergusson’s key themes is the ordinary life of Edinburgh, and he depicts the city, warts and all, in his masterpiece, Auld Reikie (1773). His poetry is astute and satirical, funny and razor-sharp. So, although the end of his life may have been tragic, his legacy is anything but.
“At the 250th anniversary of his death in 2024, we have an opportunity to rethink Robert Fergusson and to understand his legacies in new ways. We urge you to read the poems and see for yourself!”
Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close,said: “We are thrilled to be part of the celebration of Robert Fergusson’s life and legacy.
“The Meet the Poet experience offers our guests a rare and immersive experience, where they can not only walk in the footsteps of Edinburgh’s past but also engage with one of its most compelling voices.
“This collaboration with the University of Glasgow allows us to bring Fergusson’s work to life in a way that is both educational and deeply personal.”
The Meet the Poet: Robert Fergusson event is a must-see for those interested in Scottish history, literature, and culture. It offers a unique chance to explore the lesser-known aspects of Fergusson’s life and appreciate his impact on the literary world, all within the atmospheric setting of Mary King’s Close.
Booking Information:
Tickets for the event are now available for purchase on The Real Mary King’s Close website. Due to the intimate nature of the event, spaces are limited, and early booking is recommended.
The events will be held on Friday 20th and Friday 27th of September.
For more information or to book your tickets, please visit:
The relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced the winners of its new prize for feature filmmaking and its new prize for short filmmaking.
The awards were presented at a special ceremony at Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh by Jason Connery on behalf of The Connery Foundation and by legendary film editor Thelma Schoonmaker.
The winner of the inaugural The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence, decided on by an audience vote and funded by The Connery Foundation is THE CEREMONY, directed by Jack King.
Two migrant workers are forced to bury a colleague in the Yorkshire hills. When one demands to perform the dead man his rightful Islamic burial, nerves begin to fray and a righteous power struggle emerges as the long and bitter winter night closes in on them.
Beautifully directed and performed and shot in stark black and white with a vivid sense of visual splendour, this humane and moving film packs quite the emotional punch.
Director Jack King is a self-taught writer/director & film-maker from Bradford, Yorkshire. He started out making music videos for independent and major record labels, and his work has racked up repeated Vimeo staff picks and millions of views online.
He has since made several short films, both publicly funded and independent, including PRINTS which was shot on location in Japan and premiered at Clermont Ferrand in 2019 before going on to play at festivals worldwide.
His most recent short PREDATORS supported by BFI Network was nominated for a UK critics circle award earlier this year after premiering at BFI London Film Festival in 2023.
Whilst working on debut ‘The Ceremony’ Jack has also been developing a handful of features for international collaboration, including SUNBURN which was selected for EIFF Talent Lab Connects in 2022 and SNOWBIRD recently awarded a development grant from the Great British Sasakawa Foundation.
Ten feature-length World Premieres were presented at EIFF as part of the competition with the winning filmmaker being awarded £50,000 to support their future projects.
The other films in competition films were Arash Rakhsha’s urgent documentary ALL THE MOUNTAINS GIVE; Mary Jiménez and Bénédicte Liénard’s richly poetic FUGUE (FUGA); Will Seefried’s haunting queer drama LILIES NOT FOR ME; Daisy-May Hudson’s stirring film LOLLIPOP; Abdolreza Kahani’s subversive comedy drama A SHRINE; Bryan Carberry’s clear-eyed take on artificial intelligence *SMILES AND KISSES YOU*; Nina Conti’s absurdist road movie SUNLIGHT; Kelsey Taylor’s dark psychological thriller TO KILL A WOLF; and Manuela Irene’s delicately moving XIBALBA MONSTER (MONSTRUO DE XIBALBA).
The winner of The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence Competition is MANNY WOLFE, directed by Trevor Neuhoff.
It’s 1947. Manny Wolf is an actor exhausted by Tinseltown. He also happens to be a real werewolf. After nonstop rejection, a chance encounter sets him up to get a role in a major monster movie. Does Manny sacrifice artistic integrity and take the job? Or is there another path?
A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2013, Trevor is a director, writer, producer and occasional actor. He spent almost a decade working for Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey.
He joined Robert on many sets before serving as Co-Executive Producer on Downey Jr.’s Max TV series DOWNEY’S DREAM CARS. He’s made music videos, short docs, and short narrative films that live on the internet and resides in Los Angeles, California.
The short film competition winner was also decided on by an audience vote and is awarded £15,000 to support their future projects.
The other shorts in the competition were Lisa Clarkson’s starkly realist PATERNAL ADVICE; Jamie Di Spirito’s powerful HOMEWORK; Gavin Reid’s quirky and poignant documentary MY DAD AND THE VOLCANO; Liberty Smith’s experimental documentary MY EXPLODING HOUSE; Max Olson’s bold and haunting NICO; Inés Villanueva’s beautiful Argentine comedy SHOAL (CARDUMEN); and Wilma Smith’s JUBILEE which blends live-action with napkin-based stop-motion animation.
EIFF Director, Paul Ridd said: “We are so pleased to be presenting these inaugural awards for excellence in filmmaking to two incredibly exciting films and filmmaking teams.
“These new EIFF awards were set up to support new and emerging filmmakers in their careers. Both these films show immense vision and skill at connecting with audiences and we wish both filmmakers the very best for the future.”
EIFF 2024 is supported by Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, the Industry Programme is backed by EXPO funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, and EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from Thursday 15 to Wednesday 21 August 2024.
The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence
ALL THE MOUNTAINS GIVE (Arash Rakhsha, Iran) World Premiere A powerful documentary about the Kolbari covert goods trades between the Kurdish cities and towns of Iran and borders of Iraq, the film follows friends Hamid and Yasser as they balance fragile work and family lives.
THE CEREMONY (Jack King, UK) World Premiere A fight over stolen property – and a tragic death – brings together two migrant workers as they search for a suitable burial place. Shot in black and white against a rolling Yorkshire landscape, this drama packs a powerful punch.
FUGUE (FUGA) (Mary Jiménez, Bénédicte Liénard, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Peru) World Premiere A richly poetic journey to the heart of the Peruvian jungle, where a lover must be laid to rest. This drama – where we uncover lives of intimidation and violence – has a unique visual and sonic style.
LILIES NOT FOR ME (Will Seefried, US, South Africa, UK) World Premiere Told through elegant flashbacks, two men wrestle with their sexuality in the repressive English society of the 1920s. Exploring a neglected period in queer history, this drama is defined by a haunting mix of romanticism and unflinching honesty.
LOLLIPOP (Daisy-May Hudson, UK) World Premiere
A stirring drama about a mother desperate to maintain custody of her children, following her release from prison. When things seem dark for Molly (Posy Sterling), an encounter with an old friend may spark something new.
A SHRINE (Abdolreza Kahani, Iran, Canada France) World Premiere A mobile religious shrine acts as a get-rich-quick scheme for an ambitious man. But there may be consequences… This subversive comedy drama also offers an intriguing and offbeat window into the diasporic Iranian community in Montreal.
*SMILES AND KISSES YOU* (Bryan Carberry, US) World Premiere The relationship between a man and his life-size AI-animated doll is explored in this moving documentary. A clear eyed and open hearted take on machine learning and loneliness, in an age of algorithmic dating apps.
SUNLIGHT (Nina Conti, UK) World Premiere An absurd, original and darkly comic road movie about a monkey, a man and a dead man’s watch. Written, produced and directed by EdFringe favourite Nina Conti, the comedian stars as a life-size iteration of her stand-up sidekick.
TO KILL A WOLF (Kelsey Taylor, US) World Premiere Reimagining the classic fable Little Red Riding Hood, a young girl is discovered in the snowy Oregon landscapes by a social pariah. This dark psychological drama interrogates trauma, grief and redemption in a dangerous world.
XIBALBA MONSTER (MONSTRUO DE XIBALBA) (Manuela Irene, Mexico) World Premiere A young boy forms an unlikely friendship with an ageing hermit while struggling to make sense of the death of his parents. This delicately moving film explores the circle of life, the human experience and the order of the natural world.
The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence Competition
PATERNAL ADVICE (Lisa Clarkson, Scotland) World Premiere
A starkly realist short from Scottish director Lisa Clarkson exploring tough love and masculinity passed down the generations.
HOMEWORK (Jamie di Spirito, UK) World Premiere
A powerful film about the secrets kept between a mother and her daughters from British director Jamie di Spirito. Director: Jamie di Spirito.
MY DAD AND THE VOLCANO (Gavin Reid, Scotland) World Premiere
Scottish director Gavin Reid explores his relationship with his father and his art in this quirky and poignant documentary short.
MY EXPLODING HOUSE (Liberty Smith, UK) World Premiere
An experimental documentary by British director Liberty Smith investigating her mother’s thirty-year-old memory of their old house being blown up for a television film.
NICO (Max Olson, US) World Premiere
American director Max Olson debuts their unique visual style, in this bold and haunting short about a trans man who reminds an elderly widow of her late husband.
MANNY WOLFE (Trevor Neuhoff, US) World Premiere
A funny and moving spin on classic noir featuring a werewolf actor who can’t catch a break in Hollywood, directed by Trevor Neuhoff.
SHOAL (CARDUMEN) (Inés Villanueva, Argentina) World Premiere Given the task of writing a song about molluscs and existentialism, a young singer works on her entry during a birthday party in this beautiful Argentine comedy from Inés Villanueva.
THE JUBILEE (Wilma Smith, Scotland) World Premiere
Blending live-action with napkin-based stop-motion animation, this Scottish short directed by Wilma Smith explores dementia through a new and potent lens.
Queen Margaret University’s attractive modern campus, which was built in Musselburgh in 2007, is undergoing a significant transformation which will see the development of exciting new teaching and learning spaces.
The Future Spaces project involves the revitalisation of some of the University’s most important learning and teaching spaces to help ensure QMU meets the changing needs of students and staff.
The work also aims to support QMU’s ambitions to refresh, enhance and modernise the campus so that it continues to attract prospective students and supports the growth of the university.
With an investment of £2.1 million, students and staff can expect to see a dramatic change to the Learning Resource Centre and some ground floor classroom areas, which will ultimately expand capacity for self-directed and collaborative student learning and informal teaching activity.
The enhancement and repurposing of spaces will also provide more flexible use of key areas of the building and a wider choice of more comfortable, vibrant, and sociable study space options. Some of the changes will also provide increased capacity for larger practical group work, which will provide greater flexibility with timetabling and support the delivery of high demand courses.
Bruce Laing, Director of Campus Services, explained: “Queen Margaret University already has an attractive, bright, modern campus development, but it’s important that we continue investing in our buildings to ensure they reflect changes in the way students work and developments in the way we teach.
“Essentially, we want to create welcoming and comfortable study and teaching spaces where students want to be, and which will support and enhance their learning. Aside from supporting current students studying at the University, the investment will help us to remain competitive in our ability to attract prospective students.”
A range of stakeholder engagement took place across the university through workshops, surveys and feedback sessions to help shape the plans and deliver attractive, flexible spaces which would inspire, motivate and support students to fully engage in a diverse range of learning opportunities.
The renovation work involves the transformation of the Learning Resource Centre to create spaces which support social learning through collaborative and peer-group projects, and flexible spaces which support a diversity of informal teaching and supervision activity.
Bruce Laing continued: “We are delighted to be working with Morris & Spottiswood in the transformation of the building spaces, and it is hoped that the full first phase of the project will be completed by mid-September, allowing our students to take full advantage of the new spaces in their first semester.
“We are also excited about showcasing our new interior spaces to hundreds of prospective students and their families at our September and October open days this year. More importantly, we are confident that the current transformation of learning and teaching spaces will help us enhance the student experience so that students are well equipped to go out into the world and make a difference.”
David Thorn, Operations Director at Morris & Spottiswood said: “Our aim is to create places where people can thrive, and this project really seeks to deliver such spaces, so we are thrilled to be involved.
“All stakeholders are committed to successful delivery, and we have experienced true commitment to partnership working across our team, Designers ADP Architecture, Project Managers HD Property Consultants and the wider project delivery team.”
Professor David Stevenson, Dean of the School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management and Project Sponsor, concluded: “This is an exciting, creative project for the University which, after two years of work, will now revitalise and improve our learning environment.
“We are pleased that our partner Morris & Spottiswood is providing the excellent support that we need to deliver our vision and that they share our commitment to ensuring the QMU environment is a happy, productive and enjoyable place to be.”
SUPPORT and ADVICE from GRANTON INFORMATION CENTRE
THE Scottish Government has confirmed it will no longer provide Winter Fuel Payments to all pensioners in Scotland. Replicating the recent decision announced by the UK Government, Winter Fuel Payments will now be means-tested, which means only individuals in receipt of Pension Credit and certain other benefits will receive it.
Because Pension Credit is a ‘gateway benefit’, which opens up access to other support including Winter Fuel Payments, it is now more crucial than ever that individuals claim Pension Credit so that they don’t miss out on additional money they are entitled to.
If you’ve reached State Pension age, you can claim Pension Credit if your weekly income is less than:
£218.15 if you’re single
£332.95 if you’re a couple.
Even if your weekly income is higher than these thresholds, you could still claim Guarantee Credit if you meet one of the following criteria:
*you’re a carer
*you have a severe disability
*you have certain housing costs, such as service charges
*you’re responsible for a child or young person who usually lives with you.
If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments this will not affect your Pension Credit. If you have more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.
MANY, MANY, ELIGIBLE PENSIONERS ARE MISSING OUT ON PENSION CREDIT!
To claim Pension Credit, you can either:
*claim online on GOV.UK (if you already claim State Pension and there aren’t any children or young people included in your claim)
*call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 and they can fill in the application for you over the phone (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm).
To discuss your benefit entitlements and to find out what you can claim, get in touch with us at Granton Information Centre.
Our Welfare Rights Advisers are here to help!
Call 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458 or email info@gic.org.uk
