New Drop-in Alert
Join us for an open and friendly Community Police Drop-in session! This is your chance to meet our local officer, discuss any concerns, ask questions.
When: 26th of August
Where: Pilton Community Health Project, 73 Boswall Parkway, EH5 2PW
What Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
No appointment needed, just drop in.
Whether you want to share your thoughts, seek advice, or simply say hello, we are here to listen.
The UK has announced new funding to work with DRC to bolster the regional African response to outbreaks of mpox and cholera in the country.
During a visit to the Institute National de Recherche Biomedical (National Institute of Biomedical Research) in the DRC, Lord Collins announced £3.1m of UK funding for a new partnership with UNICEF that will benefit over 4.4 million people in affected communities as well as help preventing the further spread of mpox to neighbouring countries.
This funding announcement follows a declaration from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the upsurge of mpox in the DRC and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
The Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury said: “Working together, with our partners and using the expertise and dedication of Congolese scientists, including those at the world-leading research centre I have visited in DRC, our support will play an important role in ensuring global health security for all.
“By protecting the health and well-being of communities across DRC, and by helping contain these outbreaks, we reduce the risk of diseases spreading further afield. This will ultimately benefit us all.”
The UK remains in regular contact with the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on developments of the outbreak and is supporting the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa to respond to this health emergency.
The UK Health Security Agency is closely monitoring the situation, working with international partners including the World Health Organisation, European, US and Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and national public health agencies.
As the largest flexible donor to the WHO globally the UK is also helping it to allocate resources where most needed through vaccines and treatments. As the second biggest donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance – providing £1.65bn over the 2020-2025 period – the UK is also working closely with them on ensuring access to mpox vaccines for low and middle income countries.
Professor Christian Ngandu, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator at DRC’s National Public Health Institute said: “The UK’s support to the DRC, in partnership with UNICEF, on the mpox response, will contributed to saving the lives of affected populations by aligning with the DRC’s national mpox preparedness and response plan.”
The announcement came as Lord Collins visited DRC this week to bolster bilateral ties between the UK and DRC and drive forward the bilateral relationship in key areas, including climate and trade and investment.
The Minister announced £6m of new UK funding to provide clean drinking water and sanitation to some 200,000 displaced in partnership with UNICEF and SAFER, helping improve access to clean water for all.
In meetings with key government ministers including the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, Lord Collins welcomed the UK and DRC’s strong partnership and underlined the UK’s commitment to strengthening collaboration in areas such trade, investment, climate and combatting sexual violence in conflict.
Following the successful UK-DRC Trade and Investment Mission in April, the Minister met with UK-linked businesses to discuss how the UK can play a constructive role in supporting improved supply chains of critical minerals in DRC and assist British businesses entering the DRC market.
The Minister also welcomed an announcement by British International Investment this week to invest up to $35 million (£27 million) into the development of Banana Port, a $300-400m project led by Emirati company DP World, that will help transform DRC’s economy.
In addition, he welcomed the UK’s new £90m Congo Basin Forest Action programme which will look to improve economic livelihoods whilst preserving forests and nature.
Lord Collins also discussed the UK and DRC’s long-standing collaboration to combat Conflict Related Sexual Violence, meeting with government ministers and civil society to understand more about this issue.
On the conflict in eastern DRC, Lord Collins welcomed the ceasefire agreement between DRC and Rwanda, recognising the important role played by Angola.
He expressed UK support for President Tshisekedi’s commitment to bring an enduring regional peace to the east and underlined the UK’s condemnation of the actions of all illegal armed groups in eastern DRC, including the UN-sanctioned M23.
The UK is delivering a three-year humanitarian programme in the east of DRC, providing life-saving emergency assistance and increasing the resilience of crisis-affected communities affected by the conflict.
A total of £1.5 million funding in 2024-25 is supporting 12 projects to continue providing direct and personalised support to patients with cancer.
The Single Point of Contact (SPoC) pilots provide patients with ongoing contact to support them, putting them at the heart of all decisions and actions involving them throughout their care journey.
The NHS Lothian SPoC uses a centralised digital hub delivering telephone communication and support to patients with a range of cancer types.
Around 40% of calls are diverted away from Clinical Nurse Specialist workload, which has led to improvements in the quality of their telephone contacts. Patient engagement work carried out by NHS Lothian and Healthcare Improvement Scotland has indicated high satisfaction with the service.
Confirming the funding, which is included in the 2024-25 Budget, as he met nurses at Edinburgh Cancer Centre with experience of the service, First Minister John Swinney said: “We are fully focused on improving cancer survival, and delivering excellent and accessible care is at the core of how we do that.
“The Single Point of Contact Service meets requirements identified by Boards to deliver improvements in communication and support for patients with navigating cancer care.
“By taking in the region of 2,000 calls per month and providing person-centred support to those patients throughout their care journey, the Edinburgh Single Point of Contact project provides consistent access for patients to have conversations about their care, freeing up capacity for specialist staff to focus on the most complex cases.”
Katie Gibson, Neuroendocrine Tumour Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how the SPoC service has transformed our ability to care for cancer patients.
“The centralised system streamlines communication and allows us to spend more quality time with those who need it most.
“As a result, patients are aware of who to contact for the support and advice they require from diagnosis , treatment and beyond.”
Over £1.5 million will support 12 pilot projects across Scotland to deliver a single point of contact to people diagnosed with cancer.
Funding has been delivered in response to needs identified by individual Boards and proposals submitted by them, pilots vary by cancer type and location:
Health Improvement Scotland is currently carrying out a scalability assessment of all 12 projects in order to identify best practice and how best to scale and expand these pilots.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has teamed up with airline Jet2.com for its new 2025 fly-cruise programme.
Between October and November 2025, Fred. Olsen’s smaller ship Balmoral will play host on a range of Mediterranean sailings, with Jet2.com to operate chartered flights from London Stansted and Manchester.
With cruises ranging from seven to 12-nights, guests will have opportunities to take in the charming cliff-top towns of Cinque Terre and the Amalfi, the beautiful Bay of Kotor and the enchanting Greek islands. Ashore, they can discover the origins of Flamenco dancing, sip Jerez sherry, wander the Dalmatian markets and witness Krka Waterfall.
Clare Ward, Director of Product and Customer Services at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We are really excited about this new partnership with Jet2.com for Balmoral’s 2025 Mediterranean fly-cruise programme.
“They are renowned for their customer service, and as such will complement the high standard of service that our guests come to expect from us. This collaboration highlights our commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences for our guests, before they even step foot aboard one of our ships.
“A fly-cruise is perfect for guests who want to maximise their time ashore, by reducing the time in sailing from the UK. Plus, guests can tailor their holiday by booking onto consecutive fly-cruises for those looking to enjoy a longer autumnal break in the sunshine.”
Fred. Olsen’s fly-cruise fare includes economy flights and transfers to and from the ship, a luggage allowance of 22kg, plus 10kg of hand luggage.
Balmoral will be operating six fly-cruise sailings in the Mediterranean in 2025, as follows:
Balmoral’s 10-night L2524 ‘Spanish Colours and Cultures’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 17th September 2025. Prices start from £1,599 per person.
Experience Ibiza’s renowned sunset from the decks of Balmoral
Enjoy authentic Spanish cuisines, such as tapas and Jerez sherry
Visit the iconic landmark of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral
Itinerary: Southampton, UK – La Coruna, Spain – Cadiz, Spain – Ibiza, Spain – Cruising by Benirras Beach at sunset, Ibiza, Spain – Barcelona Spain – Valencia, Spain (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2524 ‘Spanish Colours and Cultures’
Balmoral’s 10-night L2525 ‘Colourful Cliffside Towns of the Amalfi Coast’ cruise, departing from Valencia, Spain, on 27th September 2025. Prices start from £1,799 per person.
Marvel at beautiful Cinque Terre, Bonifacio and the Amalfi Coast
Experience ‘la dolce vita’, Italy’s culture of enjoying life’s pleasures
Savour limoncello, scialatielli pasta and Italian pizza
Itinerary: Valencia, Spain (overnight port) – Cruising by Benirras Beach at sunset, Ibiza, Spain – Mahon, Menorca, Spain – Propriano, Corsica, France – La Spezia, Italy – Salerno, Italy – Cruising Amalfi Coast and Capri, Italy – Naples, Italy – Sorrento Italy, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2525 ‘Colourful Cliffside Towns of the Amalfi Coast’
Balmoral’s 10-night L2526 ‘Bays, Mountains and Islands of the Dalmatian Coast’ cruise, departing from Civitavecchia, Italy, on 7th October 2025. Prices start from £1,799 per person.
Experience the beauty of the Dalmatian Coast from Balmoral
Visit Lake Bled, Lokrum Island and Krka Waterfalls
Immerse yourself in authentic Croatian culture
Itinerary: Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy (overnight port) – Cruising by Stromboli, Italy – Cruising the Strait of Messina, Italy – Cruising Bay of Kotor, Montenegro – Kotor Montenegro – Koper, Slovenia – Cruising St Anthony Channel, Croatia – Sibenik, Croatia – Split, Croatia – Cruising by Mount Biokovo, Makarska Riviera, Croatia – Dubrovnik, Croatia (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2526 ‘Bays, Mountains and Islands of the Dalmatian Coast’
Balmoral’s eight-night L2527 ‘Greek Island Odyssey’ cruise, departing from Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 17th October 2025. Prices start from £1,599 per person.
Explore the idyllic island of Santorini and Zakynthos’ coastline
Indulge in authentic Greek cuisine and watch traditional dancing
Visit the renowned ruins of the Acropolis in Athens
Itinerary: Dubrovnik, Croatia (overnight port) – Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece – Cruising Zakynthos coastline, Greece – Kalamata, Greece – Piraeus (for Athens), Greece – Thira, Santorini, Greece – Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece – Rhodes, Greece (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2527 ‘Greek Island Odyssey’
Balmoral’s 12-night L2528 ‘Discovering Turkish Treasures’ cruise, departing from Rhodes, Greece, on 25th October 2025. Prices start from £1,999 per person.
Explore a multitude of renowned European landmarks
Embrace local Turkish traditions, and enjoy the fragrant local tea
Delve into the winding streets of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
Itinerary: Rhodes, Greece (overnight port) – Bodrum, Turkey – Kusadasi, Turkey – Istanbul, Turkey – Valletta, Malta – Malaga, Spain (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2528 ‘Discovering Turkish Treasures’
Balmoral’s seven-night L2529 ‘Mountain Landscapes of Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar’ cruise, departing from Malaga, Spain, on 6th November 2025. Prices start from £1,099 per person.
Explore the mountainous landscapes of Iberia
Experience flamenco dance and soulful fado music
Embrace cuisines such as gazpacho, sardines and pasteis de nata
Itinerary: Malaga, Spain (overnight port) – Gibraltar, Gibraltar – Cruise Mouth of River Tagus, Belem Tower and Discovery Monument, Portugal – Cruising by the Monument of the Discoveries, Portugal – Cruising by Cristo Rei and Abril 25 Bridge, Portugal – Lisbon, Portugal (overnight stay) – Southampton, UK
For more details: Visit L2529 ‘Mountain Landscapes of Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar’
For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ fly cruises, visit the website www.fredolsencruises.com/fly-cruises
Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 215 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.
The Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR) for Scotland’s latest annual report shows that Scottish Water’s compliance with the stringent standards for drinking water remains very high, although continued investment is needed to ensure it stays that way in the face of a number of challenges.
Matt Bower, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator said: “Our drinking water in Scotland is amongst the finest in the world; however, ageing water treatment assets and changing source water quality mean that we cannot take this for granted.
“We must ensure that the scale and pace of investment in the maintenance and replacement of water assets is sufficient to safeguard the consistently high quality of our drinking water for future generations.”
Parents have less than 2 weeks to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) their 16-19 year-old is continuing education or training or their Child Benefit payments will stop.
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers will decide on their future this week as they receive their GCSE results on Thursday (22 August 2024).
For parents of 16-19 year-olds who haven’t yet extended their claim, Child Benefit payments will stop after 31 August. If their child is going to continue in approved education or training, parents can continue receiving Child Benefit and HMRC is urging them to extend their claim now.
To make sure they do not miss out, parents can quickly and easily extend their Child Benefit claim online on GOV.UK or via the HMRC app. More than 270,000 parents have extended their claim digitally so far, with the changes applied to their record without the need to wait on the phone.
Parents should keep their claim details up to date, even if they’ve opted not to receive Child Benefit payments due to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. Parents who want to opt back into receiving Child Benefit payments, can do this quickly and easily online on GOV.UK or in the HMRC app.
Child Benefit is worth up to £1,331 a year for the first or only child, and up to £881 a year for every additional child.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Child Benefit is an important financial support for many households and we don’t want to see any eligible family miss out.
“You can extend your claim quickly and easily online or via the HMRC app, just search ‘Child Benefit when your child turns 16’ on GOV.UK.”
Victoria Benson, CEO of Gingerbread, the charity for single parent families, said: “Child Benefit is valuable to families and particularly single parent families, who are forced to make ends meet on a single income.
“It’s really important, with the 31 August deadline fast approaching, that parents whose children are going into further education and training extend their claim as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this crucial financial help.”
Child Benefit can continue to be paid for children who are studying full time in non-advanced education, which includes:
Child Benefit will also continue for children studying on one of these unpaid approved training courses:
If a child changes their mind about further education or training, parents can simply inform HMRC online or via the HMRC app and payments will be adjusted accordingly.
Parents can check the status of their claims at any time by viewing their proof of entitlement in the app or online.
Parents will need a Government Gateway user ID and password to use HMRC’s online services. If they do not have one already, they can register on GOV.UK and will just need their National Insurance number or postcode, and 2 forms of ID.
Scotland’s leading Armed Forces charity, Poppyscotland, has put out a call for volunteers to step forward and make a difference across Edinburgh.
Every year, Poppyscotland runs the iconic Scottish Poppy Appeal, which provides the nation with the national symbol of Remembrance, the four-petalled Scottish Poppy.
Hundreds of volunteers step up annually to help organise the Scottish Poppy Appeal in their local area, volunteering their time to help distribute poppies and collecting tins, and arrange collections at supermarkets, shopping centres and other key locations.
This year, volunteers are needed in the capital to help organise the Appeal, with dedicated support from the Poppyscotland team. The charity is seeking members of the community, a community group, school, local business, or anyone who wishes to make a difference to Scotland’s Armed Forces community in the city.
The money raised during the Scottish Poppy Appeal goes directly to Poppyscotland’s Welfare services, supporting veterans, those still Serving and their families at times of need. This could include, for example, providing an emergency grant to stop a veteran losing their home, funding housing adaptations so that a disabled veteran can continue to live with their family, and much more.
Current Poppyscotland volunteer, Eilidh, said: “It has been really interesting getting to meet people who have Served or have had family Serving. They provide the most incredible stories. People just want to talk to you when they see you volunteer with Poppyscotland, so it never gets boring.
“Poppyscotland are amazing and have supported me with every step. Any time I have a slight worry or confusion, they’re there to help me out and they are some of the friendliest people I’ve met. I’ve loved everything about my experience to date.”
Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, Gordon Michie, said: “Every year, we are so grateful for the generous support of the public. But our volunteers are the strength behind the Scottish Poppy Appeal. Their tireless dedication and professionalism means that the national symbol of Remembrance can be found across the nation.
“We have a dedicated team that look after our volunteers. This makes volunteering for Poppyscotland easy and stress free. But we need you to step forward so that we can continue to change lives for the better.”
To find out more about volunteering for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, contact Poppyscotland’s Volunteering team on 0131 550 1597, email:
volunteer@poppyscotland.org.uk
or visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/volunteer
The UK’s leading meningitis charity Meningitis Now is calling for students to recognise the disease as an emergency and ‘sound the alarm’ if they spot its signs and symptoms.
20-year-old University of Manchester student Sophia Speirs nearly died from meningitis in 2023, but says her life was saved thanks to her mum and her university flatmates who sounded the alarm by calling the emergency services who rushed her to hospital.
The student who is originally from Hertfordshire is joining forces with Meningitis Now to call for more people to recognise the disease as an emergency which needs swift action.
Sophia says, “I had just celebrated my 19th birthday and five days later I was fighting for my life in intensive care.
“I woke up feeling incredibly achy, which quickly turned into violent sickness. I was telling people I had a sick bug but I knew something was really wrong – I just didn’t want to believe it.”
Meningococcal meningitis is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be fatal and can kill within 24 hours. Its early symptoms can be mistaken for the flu or even a hangover so it’s vital for students to know when to seek help and ‘sound the alarm’.
Sophia added, “I woke up the next morning feeling even worse. I heard my mum ringing me to check I was ok, but she quickly realised I was unable to speak properly. I was slurring my words. She got me to text my flat mates asking for help.”
“Two of my flatmates then came rushing into my room. My parents also called campus security who came straight away.”
Sophia spent three nights in intensive care in Manchester Royal Infirmary, another nine days in a high dependency unit and a final three days on a regular ward.
The 21-year-old had emergency surgery for a septic joint in her hip, and had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), as well as permanently losing hearing in her right ear.
Sophia says, “I am grateful to be alive and although I feel unlucky, I know that compared to others I got off lightly! I am really keen to spread awareness. It’s so important that university students know what to do in a case of meningitis.”
Meningitis Now’s student awareness campaign urges parents, universities and students to know how to recognise the signs and symptoms of meningitis, to act fast if they suspect meningitis and seek urgent medical help.
Meningitis Now Chief Executive Dr Tom Nutt says, “Meningitis is an emergency so we’re asking students to make sure they know when to sound the alarm.
If you or a friend are ill and getting worse, it could be meningitis. Sound the alarm by calling 111 or your GP – you could save a life.”
Universities are also being encouraged to order Meningitis Now’s free awareness materials, with the charity aiming to have materials in every UK university over the next five years. Parents can also request a free student meningitis awareness pack at www.meningitisnow.org/students
Symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, vomiting, muscle pain, dislike of bright lights, and a stiff neck. In cases of septicaemia (which can occur simultaneously), a rash that does not fade under pressure may also appear.
Dr Nutt added: “It’s really important that everyone is aware of the risk of meningitis because it can affect anyone at any age.
“Teenagers and young people are at an increased risk. This is because they are more likely to be carrying the bacteria that cause meningitis in the back of their nose and throats.”
“Vaccines are available to prevent some types of meningitis and most of these are available as part of the UK routine immunisation schedule. However, not all types of meningitis can be prevented by vaccines. Make sure you know the signs and symptoms and seek urgent medical help if you are concerned.”
For further information about the signs and symptoms of meningitis visit:
and if you have been affected by meningitis, contact the Meningitis Now nurse-led Helpline on 0808 80 10 388 or email helpline@meningitisnow.org.
Unfortunately, David Mamet can no longer attend his event tomorrow (Thursday 22 August) at 3.15pm. However, EIBF are delighted that Steven Moffat (aka Doctor Who) will join us instead!
Steven Moffat: A Journey through Screen and Time
Steven Moffat has been one of the UK’s most prominent and creative screenwriters and producers for almost 40 years.
From his origins working on the cult teen drama series Press Gang, becoming showrunner and head writer for five series of the revived Doctor Who, his iconic reworking of Sherlock for the BBC, to his most recent series, Douglas Is Cancelled, Moffat has created, or evolved, some of the most iconic characters in modern TV history.
His work has won countless awards as well as millions of fans around the world, and he joins us to reflect on his remarkable career, and how TV can not just survive, but thrive, in the streaming era.
A new outdoor exhibition of photographs by five local photographers has gone on display in Edinburgh’s busy urban thoroughfares.
Living Spaces, commissioned by Places for People Scotland, part of the UK’s leading social enterprise, has been installed in five different locations across the city, all of which were identified as vandalism hotspots following numerous repairs and treatments by the Places for People Scotland team over the years.
After identifying the locations, Places for People Scotland brought local photographers on board, who suggested various images which they believed would work well across the sites.
The artists and Places for People Scotland recognised the importance of resident participation in this project – as these are ‘living spaces’ – and customers living in the area were invited to select the final images to go on display using an online poll.
The chosen photographs vary from moments of calm within the natural world, to colourful snapshots of interior and exterior life around the city.
Katie Smart, Director of Places for People Scotland said: “We are delighted to see this project come to life, our goal with this project was to transform living spaces across the city that had been victim to vandalism for both our customers whose homes are in the area and the wider Edinburgh community.
It was important to us to involve our customers in the decision process, it feels extra special knowing that the artwork has been chosen by those most affected whilst being able to provide incredible local photographers with a platform for their work.”
Christina Webber, participating photographer and Director of AGITATE, said: “It’s such a joy to see this project realised and AGITATE are proud to host a version of the work at 6WS during the Festival season.
“We love the August buzz and to be able to platform local artists to a visiting international audience is a really important opportunity.
“As a photographer, exhibiting work in alternative spaces with so many people passing each day is really exciting. Engagement with photography is so often digital, having the chance to be part of people’s everyday journeys is a privilege.”
Smaller scale versions of all the works are on display at 6 William Street (6WS) throughout August, alongside a Festival ‘rest space’ and a short programme of drop-in workshops to complement the work.
The artists whose work is included in the project are:
Dave Ferrie
Everything that exists in cities is of interest to Dave, but particularly the areas where old and new meet, and the spaces where nature and man-made structures coexist.
Dave loves exploring urban environments and photographing the moments, places and sights which grab his attention.
Kat is a graduate of both Stevenson College (now Edinburgh College) and Edinburgh Napier University, where she graduated with first class honours, and has over 15 years experience in the photography industry.
Kat specialises in events, portraiture and live performance. As well as commercial photographic work, she teaches photography, and is an exhibited photographic artist and a published writer on the subject.
Zoe is a photographer from Co. Antrim, now living in Edinburgh.
She is interested in the relationship between humans and the environment, as well as the systems of classification that we use to make sense of the world around us.
Jack Low
Jack Low is a lens-based visual artist based in Glasgow, having studied Photography and Film at Edinburgh Napier University.
Drawn into photography at a young age through an interest in technology, he has produced works critically examining modern culture, social media and the human condition through means of installation pieces and typologies.
Christina Webber
Christina is a visual artist who loves pictures, words, and their potential when put together. She completed a First Class BA (Hons) in Photography & Film from Edinburgh Napier University in 2015, and works as a Freelance Digital Communicator for a variety of clients.
Additionally, Christina is Co-Director of AGITATE, a hub for photography based in Edinburgh’s West End.
