Day: April 4, 2026

A term of musical achievement for Edinburgh’s young musicians

Even more pupils have had the opportunity to perform as part of the Instrumental Music Service’s citywide ensembles and events programme.

Over 5,500 young people in Edinburgh receive weekly music lessons in their schools through the Instrumental Music Service. Over the last month (28 February – 31 March 2026) even more children and young people in Edinburgh have had the opportunity to experience the benefits of live music making, performing as part of the Instrumental Music Service’s citywide ensembles and events programme.

  • At the end of February, 60 young pianists took part in the second annual piano festival, hosted in the City of Edinburgh Music School. Young pianists performed a range of pieces on the Steinway Grand Piano in the recital room.
  • On the 1 March, the Edinburgh Schools’ Classical Senior Guitar Ensemble were selected, from a range of national entries, to perform at the Scottish Young Musician Ensemble Final at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
  • Young jazz musicians have had the opportunity to showcase their talent this term, including on the 10 March at the city’s iconic Jazz Bar. The Edinburgh Schools’ Jazz Orchestra performed an hour-long set, featuring the internationally renowned jazz saxophonist Sue McKenzie.
  • BBC Proms presenter, saxophonist and broadcaster Jess Gillam, delivered an inspiring masterclass for young saxophonists on Thursday 12 March, prior to her Scottish premiere with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
  • On the 15 March, three bands from Leith Academy, James Gillespies High School and Boroughmuir High School performed a sold-out gig at the Jazz Bar as part of Edinburgh Rocks! Festival. The Edinburgh Schools Rock Ensemble took to the stage as the headliner for the festival.

On 23 March, over 600 young musicians, with pupils from the majority of Edinburgh’s schools, took to the stage at the Usher Hall, performing across seven different ensembles.

The first half featured Edinburgh Schools’ Jazz Orchestra, Edinburgh Schools’ Classical Guitar Ensemble and Edinburgh School’s Rock Ensemble.

The first half closed with the inaugural performance of the City of Edinburgh Schools Training Wind Ensemble, with over 120 wind musicians from 17 secondary schools taking part.

The second half opened with over 120 string players performing as part of the Edinburgh Primary String Ensemble – the first public performance for many of these learners. The concert closed with the Edinburgh Schools’ Wind Ensemble performing music from three iconic movie scores and the Edinburgh Schools’ Symphony Orchestra performing Shostakovich’s Festive Overture.

This school session is the first time all Edinburgh’s secondary schools have been represented as part of the Instrumental Music Service’s Usher Hall concert series. In recent years, the Instrumental Music Service has invested in additional resources including instruments, with a focus on equity, to further remove barriers to learning and participation.

Education, Children and Families Convenor, Councillor James Dalgleish said: “We want as many children and young people as possible to have the opportunity to not only learn an instrument, but to make progress, have the chance to play as part of a group or ensemble, and to perform to an audience.

“All of this is hugely beneficial for young people in both the short and long term, helping to build perseverance, self-esteem, communication and creativity. These skills and experiences, together with the sense of achievement, pave the way for better attainment and life chances.

“We are committed to making sure that pupils who may not have had the opportunity to do so before are now taking part in our ensembles and getting to experience the buzz of performing to an audience.

“I want to thank our dedicated instrumental instructors and those who give up their time to coach and lead our ensembles – I am confident that these experiences will stay with our young people well beyond their time at school.

To round off the term, on 31 March, the city hosted their Scottish Young Musician Regional Final, in Portobello High School. The competition featured representatives from 12 secondary schools, all competing for the coveted title of The City of Edinburgh Council Young Musician of the Year.

In the end, it was pianist Joshua Gibson, from Queensferry High School, who found favour with the judges.

With singer Liza Aquado, from St Augustine’s R.C. High School, awarded runner up and guitarist Ivar Mackie, from Portobello High School, awarded the most promising young musician. Joshua will now represent the City of Edinburgh Council, performing at the national Scottish Young Musician Final, at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, in May.

Oscar, S4 pupil at Boroughmuir High School said: “The Edinburgh Schools Rock Ensemble is brilliant fun, I really enjoy it, it’s an opportunity like no other!

“Our teachers and all the young musicians are totally committed to our weekly rehearsals and to all our gigs throughout the year – of which our recent performances at Edinburgh’s Jazz Bar and the Usher Hall were just two.

“I’ve made some really good friends and I cannot wait to go on tour in June!

Calder Gardens attack: Two arrests

Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with an attempted murder in Edinburgh.

The incident happened in the Calder Gardens area around 4.10pm on Thursday, 2 April, 2026, when a 38-year-old man was attacked. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

The men, aged 25 and 21, are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Saturday, 4 April.

Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

NSPCC reveals new survey results ahead of election

NSPCC reveals nine in 10 adults in Scotland are concerned about child abuse – as charity calls on political parties to prioritise children’s safety

  • 87% adults in Scotland are concerned about child abuse and neglect
  • Yet 86% think child abuse and neglect can be prevented
  • NSPCC calling for all political parties in next Scottish Government to work together to prevent child abuse and neglect

Almost nine in 10 adults (87%) in Scotland are concerned about the risk of abuse and neglect facing children but 86% of those who expressed an opinion believe it can be prevented, a new NSPCC survey has revealed.

The Savanta poll of over 1,000 adults in Scotland also found that the majority (54%) believe the risk to children is greater than when they were growing up.

When asked to select the greatest risk facing children, over a third (34%) named online harms and more than one in four (27%) cited poverty and lack of basic resources.

NSPCC Scotland is publishing this data as part of its call to all political parties to work together to prevent child abuse and neglect to improve the lives of babies, children and families in Scotland ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in May.

The NSPCC recognises that Scotland has long aspired to give all children the best possible start in life. Yet too often child protection is only prioritised in response to distressing revelations of abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation and death.

The charity believes that children are being failed by fragmented early years policy, overstretched social work services, rising online harms and inconsistent access to healthy relationships education.

In the charity’s recent survey, respondents’ views on how best to address child abuse and neglect included, improve coordination between police, schools, health services and social care in protecting children, and the following:  

  • Better public awareness to help educate adults about the signs of child abuse and how to report it
  • Better education for children on identifying abuse and knowing how to get help
  • Improve training for teachers, health-workers and other frontline professionals in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse

Joanne Smith, NSPCC Scotland policy and public affairs manager, said: “All children have the right to a safe, happy, and healthy childhood.

“Scotland has long aspired to take a preventative approach, but we haven’t made the sustained investment or put in place the strong, lasting governance that’s needed to lead and coordinate this work and turn our shared ambition for children into reality.

“We now have the opportunity to change that. We need to build systems that identify risk early, support families before crisis, and protect children both online and offline.

“Our 5‑Point Plan for Prevention offers a roadmap that the next government can implement from day one. Preventing child abuse and neglect should be a national priority, and long-term commitment, that we invest in.

“We cannot afford to fail another generation of children.”

The charity’s 5‑Point Plan for Prevention calls for the next Scottish Government to:

Invest in babies and very young children to ensure every baby receives consistent, universal services, with early identification of families who need additional specialist support, re-establish early years as a cross-party priority, with a clear focus on parent–infant relationships.

Strengthen the child protection system to improve support for families who are carrying the heaviest load and listen to frontline social workers to understand gaps and pressures. Develop specialist, multi-disciplinary, preventative child protection teams in every area, and introduce a national digital ‘single unique identifier’ to track decisions and progress and ensure continuity and accountability across services. Also, deliver a National Social Work Agency that gives social workers the time, space, tools and confidence to offer early support to vulnerable families with very young children.

Prevent child sexual abuse by taking a public health approach by improving data on the scale and nature of sexual abuse and exploitation against children in Scotland, urgently address the downward trend in recorded concerns about child sexual abuse within social work statistics and design and resource a child protection system that can identify and respond to child sexual abuse.

Keep children safe online by ensuring early years, education, child protection, the voluntary sector and law enforcement work together with clear leadership from the next Scottish Government on prevention and recovery efforts. Consult with children and use this to design online safety policy. Set up a Strategic AI Advisory Group to provide expert advice to Ministers to ensure child safety and equality in all national activity related to AI.

Make healthy relationships education mandatory – as it is an opportunity to make sure that all children and young people know that they have a right to be treated, and responsibility to treat others, with dignity and respect. It can help pupils recognise healthy and unhealthy behaviour, and it helps protect children and young people from abuse.

For more information, visit NSPCC five-point plan.

NSPCC Scotland is urging any adult that has concerns about a child to contact the charity’s helpline or reach out to the relevant local authorities. Adults who are concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000, or email: help@NSPCC.org.uk

Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.  

scotland-5-point-plan-for-prevention-scottish-parliament-elections-2026Download

Edinburgh College celebrates opening of brand-new Airport Check-In facility

EDINBURGH College is proud to mark the opening of a brand-new airport check-in facility at the Granton Campus.

The mock terminal, located on the Amber Learning Street on the first floor, will allow our students to get hands-on training in a realistic environment, with the space featuring several check-in desks, a luggage size checker, screens displaying departure times and warning signage similar to that found in a real airport.

The exciting milestone was the culmination of a shared vision, with departments from across Edinburgh College coming together to help create an environment which is both authentic and inspiring.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by staff involved with the project, with James Davies, Assistant Principal for the Centre for Care, Health and Wellbeing, doing the honours and officially opening the facility.

He says it’s a great addition to the College: “It was fantastic to cut the ribbon on the brand-new check-in facility at the Granton Campus, and I’d like to offer my sincere congratulations to everyone involved in the project, they should all be very proud of their efforts.

“Realistic working environments are pivotal in helping students develop skills for work, and combined with our aircraft fuselage, these new facilities will be vital in preparing students for their future careers in aviation.”

Essential fuel saving tips ahead of Easter road trips

10 fuel saving tips for drivers  

Drivers are being told that harsh acceleration and braking could be contributing to poor fuel efficiency. 

Experts at LeaseLoco.com are sharing ways to help cash-strapped Brits minimise fuel waste on the road and save money when travelling this Easter.  

As prices continue to fluctuate, adopting more cautious driving habits and reducing unnecessary energy output can lead to significant savings.

Shopping around for the best fuel prices and planning ahead for fuel top ups can make a big difference in cutting costs.

Motorists should plan journeys and try to include well priced petrol stations in their route to prevent unnecessary detours for fuel.

Drivers are also advised to conserve fuel and prevent unnecessary consumption by avoiding excessive engine revs and sudden acceleration.

Other tips like closing windows to reduce drag on a vehicle, and minimising air conditioning use can prevent vehicles from overworking and using fuel unnecessarily.

These tips can also benefit electric vehicles (EVs). EV drivers can extend their driving range and reduce the need for frequent charging by minimising energy consumption, ultimately saving money.

John Wilmot, CEO of LeaseLoco.com said: “Fuel costs are continuously rising but there are a few ways to combat this which can help make a difference to your monthly budget.

“Some common bad habits that cause drivers to waste more fuel than they realise include unnecessary engine revs, harsh acceleration, and idling in traffic with the engine running.

“If you have an older car you’ll want to avoid frequently restarting your engine in brief stops. Those with new models however should definitely consider making the most of their stop-start systems to help reduce fuel consumption. 

“By thinking ahead and driving smoothly, you can make significant savings on fuel by reducing your vehicle’s consumption.”

TEN FUEL-SAVING TIPS:

Shop around 

Checking out where near you has the cheapest fuel, you can use sources such as PetrolPrices.com to help you work this out. 

Accelerate and brake smoothly 

Driving smoothly, with gentle acceleration and braking will help to reduce fuel consumption by minimising sudden spikes in fuel usage.

Reduce engine revs

Revving your engine increases fuel consumption. By reducing revs, you can make your fuel usage more efficient.

Use cruise control 

Using cruise control or driving at a steady, consistent pace, particularly on motorways, will help reduce fuel consumption.

Remove unnecessary weight

The heavier your car, the more energy it requires to move. Reducing unnecessary weight will decrease fuel consumption and improve efficiency.

Top up tyre pressures 

Make sure your tyre pressure is topped up; this will reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. Under inflated tires create more rolling resistance, which can increase fuel consumption.

Combine trips and plan ahead

Plan your trip in advance to find the quickest routes and avoid traffic, especially on unfamiliar journeys. This can help you save time and reduce fuel consumption. If possible, combine trips and car share if you’re taking the same route.

Cut down on air conditioning

Anything that requires energy from your vehicle, such as air conditioning, will consume fuel to operate. To reduce fuel costs, it’s best to minimise the use of air conditioning when possible.

Close windows 

Driving with the windows open can increase drag on your vehicle, requiring more acceleration to reach speed. Particularly on fast roads, keeping the windows closed will help reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.

Turn engine off

When stopped for a few minutes, turn off your engine. In newer cars, utilise the start/stop function. Reducing idling can help lower fuel consumption and costs.

LeaseLoco is the UK’s biggest car lease comparison website, making it super quick and easy for drivers to filter and compare millions of deals from the UK’s leading car leasing companies to best suit their needs.

NHS Lothian provides update on hot water issue in maternity services

NHS Lothian has put a series of temporary, proactive measures in place within maternity services at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) following the identification of an issue with hot water quality in the department.

Medical and infection prevention and control teams have assessed that any risk to mothers, babies, visitors or staff is very low and maternity services continue to operate with some short-term precautions in place.

NHS Lothian’s maternity services operate over two hospital sites and, as per the usual process, patients may be treated at either the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh or St John’s Hospital depending upon clinical need and capacity.

Late on Wednesday afternoon, discolouration was identified in hot water at a number of outlets within the maternity unit and investigations are currently underway to confirm the cause. Cold and drinking water is not affected.

Precautionary safety measures were quickly introduced and will remain in place while further assessments and actions are carried out. Following a risk assessment, the neonatal unit has temporarily paused external admissions and the birthing pools are currently out of use. These measures follow nationally recognised best practice.

Existing infection prevention and control measures – already standard across all maternity departments – remain firmly in place.

Michelle Carr, Chief Officer – Acute Services, NHS Lothian said: “We understand that this situation may cause concern and want to reassure patients, families and staff that health and safety is our highest priority and we are taking a highly precautionary approach while we work through this issue.

“Both NHS Lothian and our estates contractor are working hard to resolve the issue swiftly and the situation is being closely monitored. Enhanced infection prevention and control measures are also in place.

“We are grateful to our patients and visitors for their understanding and cooperation.”

An expert multi-disciplinary Incident Management Team – made up of infection control, water engineers, microbiological and clinical teams – has been established to oversee the investigation and ensure prompt resolution.

Scottish Opera’s Pop-Up Opera journeys to comunities and schools across Scotland this summer

SCOTTISH OPERA’S POP-UP OPERA JOURNEYS TO COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS ACROSS SCOTLAND THIS SUMMER

Scottish Opera’s much-loved Pop-up Opera hits the road from 29 May, with performances of A Little Bit of The Elixir of Love, A Little Bit of Rigoletto, and children’s opera, Be a Sport, Spike!

These 30-minute shows take opera out of the theatre into unexpected places all over the country and are ideal for anyone new to the art form who would like to try a taster of these classics. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or have never seen an opera before, these bite-sized, illustrated shows are designed to be welcoming, understandable, and open to everyone.

Between 2021 and 2025, almost 21,000 people have seen a performance of Pop-up Opera, from Orkney to the Isle of Lewis, across the Central Belt and down to Dumfries & Galloway, at a variety of iconic and surprising locations.  

At last year’s Pop-up Opera tour, one audience member commented that ‘it was great to see and hear world-class musicians and singers in our local environment. It makes it possible for people who cannot travel far.’

Another added that Pop-up Opera ‘was a fun event, the narrator kept the audience involved, musicians were excellent and best of all it was local.’

This summer, audiences can experience opera on a miniature scale at public Pop-up Opera performances at Perth Festival of the Arts and Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, and in Tayport, Peebles, Mull, Connel, Fochabers, Stonehaven, New Stevenston, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Giffnock, Barrhead, Linlithgow, Glasgow and Newtongrange, plus free illustration workshops for children aged 4 to 8, at select venues. 

There will also be free school performances in Perth, Dumfries & Galloway, Mull, Dundee, Aberdeenshire, Moray and North Lanarkshire.

Scottish Opera’s productions use ten specially created illustrations to help the performers — storytellers Marc MacKinnon and Dani Heron, along with singers Holly Teague, Marie Claire Breen, Ross Cumming, Colin Murray, cellist Andrew Drummond Huggan and guitarist Sasha Savaloni— present the story.

Scottish Opera’sDirector of Outreach & Education, Jane Davidson MBE said: ‘This year we are once again delighted to be visiting locations and venues across Scotland, swapping theatres for venues right on your doorstep. We are presenting a trio of Pop-up productions, contrasting the ‘light and the dark’ of the operatic repertoire.

‘Be A Sport, Spike! is being performed this summer just in time for the football world cup, and as athletes from all over the world journey to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games.

“Written for children and their families, we tell the story of Mike ‘The Spike’ McTavish – the world’s greatest all round sporting hero!’ But there is one thing that Spike can’t do – sing! Audiences will join Spike and his friends as he starts to exercise those vocal cords and finds out that a little perseverance can go a long way.

‘Verdi’s most famous revenge tragedy Rigoletto is a gripping tale of deceit and despair, with the title character’s plan to protect his daughter from a villainous Duke going horribly wrong.

‘But love takes many forms in the world of opera – not least in Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love –  a delicately balanced comedy in which a naïve country boy learns that true love is not conjured up with the aid of a magic potion but won through character and perseverance.’

Be A Sport, Spike! was originally commissioned for Festival 2018, the cultural programme surrounding the city’s hosting of the first ever European Championships.

Pop-up Opera, supported by Friends of Scottish Opera,was originally inspired by Japanese storytellers who brought folk tales to villages, just as this tour does.

Tickets are on sale now at www.scottishopera.org.uk/pop-up-opera-2026

You can follow Scottish Opera on Bluesky, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram @ScottishOpera

CAST and CREATIVE TEAM

Storytellers                             Marc MacKinnon & Dani Heron

Sopranos  Marie Claire Breen &Holly Teague

Baritones                                Ross Cumming & Colin Murray

CelloAndrew Drummond Huggan  

GuitarSasha Savaloni

Costume Supervisor              Ailsa Munro

Illustrations by                        Agnes Xantippa Boman, Essi Kimpimäki & Iain Piercy.

PERFORMANCE DIARY

Public performances:

Perth Festival of the Arts, St Matthew’s Church, Perth

29 May, 2.30pm (plus free kid’s art workshop at 1pm)

30 May, 2pm & 4pm

The Larick Centre, Tayport

31 May, 12.30pm & 2.30pm (double bill performance). Free kid’s art workshop at 11am.

Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, Wigtown County Buildings

6 June, 1pm & 3pm

Eastgate Theatre, Peebles

7 June, 2pm (double bill performance)  

Craignure Village Hall, Isle of Mull

13 June, 2.30pm (double bill performance)  

Connel Village Hall

14 June, 2pm & 4pm (plus free kid’s art workshop at 12.30pm)

Fochabers Public Institute

20 June, 2pm & 4pm (plus free kid’s art workshop at 12.30pm)

Venue to be announced, Stonehaven

21 June (free performance) 

New Stevenston Community Centre

25 June, 7pm (double bill performance)

The Royal Scot Club, Edinburgh

26 June, 7pm (double bill performance)

Portobello Town Hall

27 June, 7pm (double bill performance)

Callander House, Falkirk

28 June, 2pm & 4pm (free outdoor trailer performance). Free kid’s art workshop at 12.30pm

Eastwood House, Giffnock

1 July, 3pm & 7pm (double bill performance)

Arthurlie House, Barrhead

2 July, 1pm & 3pm (Free kid’s art workshop at 11am)

Linlithgow Burgh Halls

3 July, 1pm & 3pm (Free kid’s art workshop at 11am)

Stockingfield Bridge, near Brassey Bridge, Glasgow

4 July, 1pm & 3pm (Free outdoor performances using trailer stage)

National Mining Museum, Midlothian

5 July, 1pm & 3pm (Free kid’s art workshop at 11am).

Egg-cellent time for chatting with your kids about what they’re seeing online this Easter

As millions of children enjoy the Easter holidays, the government is stepping up to take the pressure off parents battling to keep their children safe online

  • Parents can access the government’s free ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign, which provides practical tools and conversation starters to help families talk about harmful online content over the school holidays
  • The government is taking tough action to make tech platforms do more to protect children online, with a landmark consultation open until 26 May setting out proposals including minimum age limits for social media and overnight curfews on addictive features
  • New government guidance published last week sets out clear, judgement-free advice on healthy screen time for children under 5

THIS Easter weekend there’s plenty of time for chocolate eggs, family time, and, let’s be honest, a whole lot of screen time.

Parents across the country are navigating that daily balancing act with screens – wondering what their children are seeing, how much time they’re spending online, and whether they’re doing enough to keep them safe. It’s a lot to carry, and it shouldn’t all fall on families.

That’s why the government is preparing to take tough action to make tech platforms take responsibility – and at the same time giving parents the free, practical tools they’ve been asking for, so they feel supported rather than on their own.

The landmark consultation on children’s online safety, which is open right now, sets out some of the most ambitious proposals ever put forward by any government – including minimum age limits for social media, overnight curfews on addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay, and tighter restrictions on AI chatbots for young people.

The government has promised to act quickly on the findings, and new legal powers mean ministers can move within months rather than waiting years for new legislation. The response has already been significant, over 38,000 people have had their say in just the first month since it launched. The consultation closes on 26 May and there are dedicated versions for both parents and young people – so this is a real chance for families to shape what happens next.

Online Safety Minister, Kanishka Narayan, said: “I’ve been hearing from parents and children across the country, and it’s clear this matters deeply to families. Platforms must be held accountable – and they will be. We are taking action to make sure they meet their responsibilities.

“But I’ve also heard that parents want support, not just reassurance. Regulation alone won’t change culture overnight, and that’s why we’re giving families free, practical tools to have those conversations at home. We want every family to feel equipped and confident, not overwhelmed.”

Alongside this, the government is also reminding parents about its ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign, a no-nonsense and free toolkit packed with practical advice to help mums and dads feel confident starting those conversations, without it turning into a row at the dinner table.

Over 120,000* families have already visited the campaign website since it launched in February, with thousands** setting weekly reminders to check in with their children about what they’re seeing online.

With the school holidays here, there’s never been a better time to take five minutes to explore what your children are seeing online. A simple question can go a long way and the government’s free guidance is there to help when you need it.

You can access the free ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ guidance at Help your child stay safe online – Kids Online Safety. The screen time guidance is available at the Best Start in Life website. To take part in the consultation, visit GOV.UK.