With Rock ‘n’ Roll stars Oasis arriving in Edinburgh next week, the city council has released advice for residents, businesses, and visitors:
The sold-out shows taking place at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Friday 8, Saturday 9 and Tuesday 12 August mark the band’s first appearance in the Capital since 2009 and are expected to draw Supersonic crowds of up to 210,000 fans over the three nights.
And we won’t just Roll with it. To keep the city running smoothly for everyone, planning has been underway for some time in collaboration with our partners. There has also been regular engagement with residents, particularly in the Murrayfield area to plan ahead and address any concerns.
As the fans Slide Away, we will be making sure key areas surrounding Murrayfield will be tidied up all three nights after each show. We will be dedicating extra litter collectors for Roseburn Park too.
City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cllr Jane Meagher, said: “Excitement is building in Edinburgh for Oasis Live 25 as it’s our turn to witness rock history. With all of our partners in the city we’ve been planning for this for some time to make sure we’re ready to welcome thousands of Oasis fans over three nights.
“There will be extra trains, trams, and buses to accommodate concert goers, along with those attending our summer festivals. With this in mind we urge you to plan ahead.
“We are keen for everyone to have an enjoyable experience, not only at the show, but on their way before and after. Whilst we relish hosting the biggest and best events and want everyone attending to truly enjoy themselves, it’s important that we remember our residents. We’ve had regular engagement with those living near Murrayfield to plan ahead and address any concerns.
“We ask that visitors are considerate and respectful of them whilst enjoying our fantastic capital city. We’re urging people to only travel to Murrayfield and the surrounding area if you have a ticket.”
To find out more, and for helpful information in the lead-up to the concerts, visit our dedicated events webpage.
Stakeholders and organisations have gathered at a roundtable in support of Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack’s Member’s Bill as it aims to put an end to short-term thinking in policy development.
This meeting comes as a consultation has been launched into the bill by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.
Ms Boyack’s bill would create a clear and legal definition of wellbeing and sustainable development and embed those into the decision-making process.
It would also establish a Future Generations Commissioner to ensure public bodies and government are complying with new national outcomes as well as these newly established duties.
Ms Boyack hosted the roundtable alongside representatives from Carnegie.
Commenting on the roundtable, Sarah Boyack said: “It was great to host such a positive and constructive discussion about my Member’s Bill with so many stakeholders.
“I am glad to see such widespread support for my bill among the sustainability and wellbeing sectors.
“I hope that this consultation will lead members of the committee and Parliament to support this bill and implement it into law.
“We have the opportunity to truly imbed long-term thinking into the decision-making process and create a more just and sustainable Scotland for decades to come.”
As pupils across the city await their exam results, Gordon Macdonald MSP has highlighted the support offered by the SNP which ‘allows all those seeking further education opportunities to seize them.’
From August 1st, tuition fees in England and Wales have risen to £9,535, with the average debt for students graduating now an eye-watering £53,000.
In Scotland, the SNP made university tuition free for all Scottish students, with tailored support for care experienced students worth up to £11,400.
In addition, there is more than £100 million funding to support Modern and Foundation Apprenticeships with around 400,000 apprenticeship opportunities provided to young people across the country since 2008.
Gordon Macdonald MSP said: “In Labour-run England and Wales, tuition fees and student debt are mounting.
“But here in Edinburgh students can attend university for free, with extra support for those who need it as well as funding for alternative pathways.
“We are making more opportunities available to young people while the Labour Party lumps costs on the next generation.
“That’s the difference made with the SNP in government.”
Anime fans are in for a treat this summer as a trio of visually stunning films head to the big screen ahead of tickets going on sale for the most anticipated anime movie of the year, Demon Slayer – The Movie: Infinity Castle.
Landing on 12 September, the eagerly awaited sequel sees demon slayer trio Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke return to face their most harrowing trials yet, in a film that blends heart-pounding action, emotional intensity, and breathtaking animation.
For fans that can’t wait until September for their anime fix, Vue Edinburgh Omni is showing two titles from visionary director Mamoru Hosoda: Summer Wars and Wolf Children. Both films have been newly remastered in 4K, offering both longtime fans and new viewers the chance to witness these classics as never seen before.
Arriving on 3 August, Summer Wars tells the story of a shy math genius who unwittingly unleashes a rogue AI threatening the world’s digital infrastructure.
As he races to fix the chaos, he’s drawn into the turbulent but loving world of his friend’s extended family. Hosoda’s dazzling animation, pulse pounding virtual sequences, and timely message about connection and technology make this re-release a must see on the big screen.
Returning on 17 August is the emotional tale of love, loss, and growing up, Wolf Children. It follows the journey of a young woman raising two children who are half–human, half–wolf. Spanning over a decade, the story captures the challenges of motherhood, identity, and acceptance.
The remastered edition enhances every frame of Hosoda’s heartfelt masterpiece, bringing new depth to its themes and visuals.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can’t Sing will hit screens on 31 August. In this bold new chapter of the Hatsune Miku phenomenon, fans are introduced to a version of the iconic virtual idol who has lost her ability to sing.
Set in a world where music shapes reality, Miku must rediscover her voice through friendship, creativity, and emotional resilience. Blending vibrant musical performances with a moving narrative, this is an unforgettable cinematic experience for both longtime Miku fans and newcomers alike.
Robert Smith, General Manager at Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: “The anime fandom continues to grow here in the UK, and we’re proud to be part of that community.
Studios put their heart into every frame – from the breathtaking animation to the thoughtful scripts, musical scores, and emotional depth – and we recognise that watching anime isn’t just about the visuals on screen; it’s about the atmosphere, the sound, and the feeling of being completely immersed in a story.
“That’s why we’re so excited to be screening these films as they were meant to be seen – on the big screen.”
Scottish Green Lothian MSP and current party Co-leader, Lorna Slater has officially announced she is running for re-election in the party’s internal election process.
“I am re-standing to bring my years of experience of countering the anti-immigrant, anti-trans, and climate denial rhetoric, to the debates ahead of the Holyrood and local authority elections,” Ms Slater said.
Lorna Slater has been co-leader since 2019 with MSP colleague Patrick Harvie who is stepping down from the role after 17 years. She believes this leadership election is pivotal and will shape the future of the party in the upcoming election years.
She said: “We are on track to win the largest numbers of MSPs and Councillors ever, and with that we can secure the policies and values we believe Scotland deserves.”
Slater’s leadership experience is built on a foundation of tangible achievements. As one of the first Green Government Ministers in the UK, she has led transformative changes including the national upgrade to Scotland’s recycling infrastructure and the creation of the groundbreaking Nature Restoration Fund, which is restoring natural habitats across Scotland.
Ms Slater said: “It was my work in Government that ensured that every organisation in receipt of Scottish Government grants, has to pay the living wage, increasing the wages of thousands of workers.
“My experience as a Minister makes me especially effective, because I know exactly how to press Ministers on their decisions and to follow up when the Government drops a commitment.”
Looking ahead, Lorna Slater notes the issues important to her and the Greens: “In the next term I intend to hold the Scottish Government to account on the cost of living, housing, climate and LGBT+ issues.
“I will continue work to reform Council tax and give Councils more powers, including those to raise funds for infrastructure and tackling the housing emergency.”
Ms Slater concluded: “ It has been my privilege to represent the Scottish Greens in our Parliament since 2021. We can build on our successes and build the Scotland that we want to see.”
Votes open to members on 13th August and will close on 22nd August.
The new co-leader term will start on 1st September.
This August, theSpaceUK presents a provocative and powerful programme of political theatre that tackles urgent issues with creativity, wit and fire.
From global crises to local unrest, these bold productions interrogate the systems we live in and ask: how did we get here – and where do we go next?
Politics in America – Up Close and Personal
Gun control, community trauma, and the fragility of democracy come to the fore in Acts of Kindness, a compelling docudrama from University of Redlands. Inspired by real interviews in El Paso following a devastating mass shooting, it’s a raw and humane portrait of a divided America, where stories of resilience illuminate the possibility of healing.
Meanwhile, Atomic Cabaret, a nuclear-age musical from Lynda Williams (AKA The Physics Chanteuse), delivers a subversive and hilarious takedown of atomic politics, blending science, satire and showtunes in a benefit for Scottish CND. Expect sass, smarts – and maybe even a Nobel Prize shout-out.
Generational Voices and Local Resistance
Burnley is the backdrop for Buried, a visceral piece from FirstByte Theatre, where young people grapple with political apathy, collapsing futures, and the fight to be heard. Across generations, timelines fracture and converge as they ask: when did it all go wrong? Dissonance by Lund finds its conflict closer to home – a school music club forced to reckon with the politics of their performance. Through live music and sharp dialogue, it’s a fresh take on belief, conformity, and what happens when youth hits a moral fork in the road.
History, Legacy and Living With the Past
In Kaddish (How to be a Sanctuary), Sam Sherman conjures conversations with his WWII veteran grandfather – and a mischievous Yiddish creature – to reflect on resistance, family, and inherited courage. In UNCLE TOM’S WAR: Haiti and the Whipping Machine, David Lee Morgan turns revolutionary history into blistering spoken word, connecting past uprisings to the fight for freedom today. Expect rage, humour, and poetry with a political punch.
Modern Power and Political Parody
For those drawn to the theatrical absurdity of real-life government, The General Will is a tragicomic fever dream of political theatre. Think clowns in crisis, Gen-Z disillusionment, and a Prime Minister in freefall.
Equally sharp, Yellow reimagines Twelfth Night’s Malvolio as a disgraced spin doctor, exploring the murky ethics of ambition and spin. Written by a senior political insider, it’s a biting look at the compromise of ideals in today’s corridors of power.
Through a tapestry of voices – from Golda Meir to a Palestinian mother – Laub navigates the complexities of Zionism, liberalism and loss. Honest, human and unflinchingly personal, it’s a courageous call for understanding in a world too often defined by division.
Dystopias, Dilemmas and Difficult Questions
Set in a near future where climate catastrophe has redrawn the rules, The Trials(Bede’s Company) asks a chilling question: who deserves to survive? This abridged version of Dawn King’s play is performed with taut urgency by a cast that delivers both passion and precision.
In Loveless, Tapped Theatre dissects modern intimacy, misogyny and online culture in a surreal, episodic satire that is as disturbing as it is funny – a warped mirror to our digital lives and relationships.
Urgent, fearless and fiercely creative, political theatre at theSpaceUK is essential Fringe viewing.
We are proud to support National Play Day on Wednesday, August 6, which has the theme of ‘Spaces for Play’, highlighting the vital importance of spaces for children to play and explore.
It’s crucial for young people to spend time connecting with their friends, and children have the right to play, as stated in the UN Convention on Rights of a Child.
However, Play Scotland has revealed startling figures within the School Grounds in Scotland Report.
It says 15 per cent of schools have lost outdoor space in recent years and nearly half of schools consider their grounds as ‘low utility’ for supporting learning, play, and sport.
This Playday we are supporting calls for spaces for play that are welcoming, accessible and inclusive of children and young people of all ages and abilities.
And we are encouraging families, carers and communities to come together through play across the generations.
The NSPCC has a set of fun and evidence-based resources for new parents called Look, Say, Sing, Play, that provide activities to be enjoyed with babies and toddlers to help encourage higher quality interactions and build stronger bonds.
Together we can create a more playful world where all children can grow, thrive and feel a stronger sense of belonging.
Visit www.nspcc.org.uk or search online for NSPCC Look Say Sing Play.
How new laws that keep children safe on the internet work
Keeping children safe
The way children experience the internet has fundamentally changed, as new laws under the Online Safety Act have come into force to protect under-18s from harmful online content they shouldn’t ever be seeing. This includes content relating to:
pornography
self-harm
suicide
eating disorder content
Ofcom figures show that children as young as 8 have accessed pornography online, while 16% of teenagers have seen material that stigmatises body types or promotes disordered eating in the last 4 weeks.
To protect the next generation from the devastating impact of this content, people now have to prove their age to access pornography or this other harmful material on social media and other sites.
Platforms are required to use secure methods like facial scans, photo ID and credit cards checks to verify the age of their users. This means it will be much harder for under-18s to accidentally or intentionally access harmful content.
It’s clear in Ofcom’s codes that we expect platforms to ensure that strangers have no way of messaging children. This includes preventing children from receiving DMs from strangers and children should not be recommended any accounts to connect with.
Data privacy
While people might see more steps to prove their age when signing up or browsing age-restricted content, they won’t be compromising their privacy.
The measures platforms have to put in place must confirm your age without collecting or storing personal data, unless absolutely necessary. For example, facial estimation tools can estimate your age from an image without saving that image or identifying who you are. Many third-party solutions have the ability to provide platforms with an answer to the question of whether a user is over 18, without sharing any additional data relating to the user’s identity.
The government and the regulator, Ofcom, are clear that platforms must use safe, proportionate and secure methods, and any company that misuses personal data or doesn’t protect users could face heavy penalties.
Services must also comply with the UK’s data protection laws. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has set out the main data protection principles that services must take into account in the context of age assurance, including minimising personal data which is collected for these purposes.
Virtual Private Networks
While Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are legal in the UK, according to this law, platforms have a clear responsibility to prevent children from bypassing safety protections. This includes blocking content that promotes VPNs or other workarounds specifically aimed at young users.
This means that where platforms deliberately target UK children and promote VPN use, they could face enforcement action, including significant financial penalties.
The Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA) reports that there has been an additional 5 million age checks on a daily basis as UK-based internet users seek to access sites that are age-restricted.
Legal adult content
Online Safety laws do not ban any legal adult content. Instead, the laws protect children from viewing material that causes real harm in the offline world, devastating young lives and families.
Under the Act, platforms should not arbitrarily block or remove content and instead must take a risk-based, proportionate approach to child safety duties.
Protecting freedom of speech?
As well as legal duties to keep children safe, the very same law places clear and unequivocal duties on platforms to protect freedom of expression. Failure to meet either obligation can lead to severe penalties, including fines of up to 10% of global revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater.
The Act is not designed to censor political debate and does not require platforms to age gate any content other than those which present the most serious risks to children such as pornography or suicide and self-harm content.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: This marks the most significant step forward in child safety since the internet was created.
“The reality is that most children aren’t actively seeking out harmful, dangerous, or pornographic content – unfortunately it finds them. That’s why we’ve taken decisive action.
“Age verification keeps children safe. Rather than looking for ways around it, let’s help make the internet a safer, more positive space for children – and a better experience for everyone. That’s something we should all aspire to.”
Support for the Online Safety Act
NSPCC Chief Executive, Chris Sherwood: “We regularly hear from children who have suffered sexual and emotional abuse online, or who have been exposed to harmful and dangerous content.
“These experiences can have devastating impacts both immediately and long into the future. While the Online Safety Act can’t erase this pain and anger, it can be a vehicle for significant and lasting change.
“Thanks to this piece of ground-breaking regulation, algorithms are now being redesigned. Age checks are now in place. Harmful material that promotes eating disorders and suicide should no longer proliferate on social media platforms.
“This will – without a doubt – create safer, more age-appropriate online experiences for young users across the UK.”
Barnardo’s CEO, Lynne Perry: “These new protections are an important stepping stone towards making sure that children are safer online.
“They must be robustly enforced.”
Internet Matters: “Today marks an important milestone for children’s online safety […] towards ensuring that online services are designed with children’s safety in mind – from limiting children’s exposure to harmful content to creating age-appropriate experiences.
“This milestone matters because the risks children face online remain high. Our latest Internet Matters Pulse shows that 3 in 4 children aged 9-17 experience harm online, from exposure to violent content to unwanted contact from strangers.
“With the Codes now enforceable, Ofcom must hold platforms accountable for meeting their obligations under the law.”
Three-year funding commitment supports expanded play and family support
THE YARD, A charity that supports disabled children and young people and their families can provide 300 more places throughout the year after opening new premises in Glasgow for the first time.
The dedicated play centre, supported with £500,000 from the Scottish Government, joins existing premises in Edinburgh, Dundee and Fife where The Yard supports disabled children and young people, and their families.
The new facility provides children with a sensory room, play hall and outdoor space, while also providing a meeting room for parents and carers to receive family support.
The Scottish Government funding is part of a £2 million commitment over three years from 2024-25 to support The Yard to grow its services, including tailored support, and expand its spaces for disabled children and young people to play and socialise.
Children and Young People’s Minister Natalie Don-Innes officially opened the new facility and joined a family session as part of The Yard’s school holiday programme.
Ms Don-Innes said: “Working with charities is vital to improving outcomes for disabled children and their families. Our three-year funding will help The Yard to continue to grow and support more families across Scotland.
“This wonderful new facility, backed by £500,000 Scottish Government funding, has allowed the Yard to expand to new premises in Glasgow for the first time. The smiles on the faces of the children and families who rely on The Yard for support show what a difference this service makes to their lives.”
Celine Sinclair, CEO of The Yard said; “We are incredibly proud to launch our new Glasgow service, building on the success of our centres in Edinburgh, Dundee and Fife.
“The Yard team provide exemplary, safe, inclusive spaces where children can play, grow and connect, while families feel supported, empowered and included. We are just thrilled to be in the West of Scotland and would like to thank Scottish Government and our funders for helping us realise this ambition.
“Working alongside our partners in Glasgow, this new service builds on our legacy and expands our reach to meet the needs of families and schools. As we continue developing The Yard into a nationally recognised Centre of Excellence, the opening of our Glasgow centre marks a major step forward in our mission to inspire and to help build meaningful inclusion across the country.”
