Scootish Government funding to help impact of wildfire
Businesses affected by the wildfire in the Cairngorms will receive a share of up to £3 million of Scottish Government funding.
The grants will be available through the Highland Council’s support scheme for businesses affected by the Cairngorms wildfire.
Economy and Tourism Secretary Stephen Flynn said: “The wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park has had a significant impact on many businesses, particularly those premises within the cordon that have been unable to trade.
“I want to thank business owners, employees and local residents for their patience and understanding of the necessary precautions put in place by emergency services to tackle the fire and maintain public safety.
“We understand the difficult position that many now face which is why I am pleased to be able to confirm up to £3 million for the Highland Council to support affected businesses directly.
“This will provide immediate relief for impacted businesses but we will continue to work closely with the Highland Council, HIE and Cairngorms National Park Authority on what further support may be required for the area in the longer term.”
The fund will be administered by The Highland Council with a focus on helping businesses recover from the impact of the wildfire, maintain business continuity and support longer-term recovery.
They will release full details of how to apply in the coming days.
Make sure you are getting the financial help you are entitled to:
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment — £331.95 for children aged 2 to 3½
Best Start Grant School Age Payment — £331.95 for children first old enough to start primary school
Scottish Child Payment — £112.80 every four weeks for every eligible child under 16
Families receiving Scottish Child Payment and are eligible for Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment or School Age Payment will be paid automatically, there is no need to apply.
We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you today. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and a delicious pudding.
What’s on the menu today:
Courgette and mint soup
Roast pork and gravy
Seasonal veg
Roast potatoes
Summer fruit crumble – with option of vanilla and nutmeg sauce
Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens. And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out! Do come along and enjoy. Thank you!
A celebration of Scottish identity, international friendship and the power of unity on the world’s most iconic stage
The call has gone out. And it has been answered. This August, more than 800 performers from across the globe have gather at Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2026, A Call To Gather.
From Europe, New Zealand, Qatar and the United States, to Scotland’s own world-renowned military and traditional performers, A Call To Gather will see an extraordinary international cast come together for a full programme of music, dance and spectacle. As the 2026 lead service, the Royal Air Force provides the military heart of the show.
Representing the Narrator throughout the production is The Call 1914 Statue, voiced by acclaimed Scottish actor Richard Rankin. The striking bronze monument in West Princes Street Gardens honouring the Scottish soldiers who answered the call from around the world during the First World War. The statue provides a powerful visual link to this year’s central theme, the enduring call to come together.
This year, as the world gathers once again in the heart of Edinburgh, A Call To Gather celebrates not only the extraordinary talent on the Esplanade, but the enduring connections that have brought the Tattoo and its audiences together for more than 75 years. But the spirit of the show reaches far beyond the Esplanade.
The Tattoo will continue its longstanding commitment to charity, donating money raised from the show its charity partners.
Alan Lane, Creative Director at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “Performers and audiences will come from across the globe, answering the call to join us in Edinburgh, in a celebration of the music, dance and performance.
“The Tattoo is unlike any other show in the world. And every year, we challenge ourselves to delight and move our audience, whilst always honouring the traditions the Tattoo is built on.
“It will forever be the case that the scale, the setting, and the sense of occasion of the Tattoo are extraordinary, and A Call to Gather builds on those foundations with a renewed sense of global connection. There’s never been a more important time to connect with each other through culture.”
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive Officer at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo:“For more than 75 years, the Tattoo has brought people from Scotland and around the world together through the shared language of music, performance, and culture. A Call to Gather captures that spirit perfectly.
“This summer’s show is a powerful reflection of the unique role the Tattoo plays in bringing people together, and how that impact of sharing cultures reaches far beyond the Esplanade. A role never more important than today. Together we gather, connect, and share something extraordinary – so thank you.”
The full line up for 2026 includes: Central Band of the Royal Air Force, the Band of the Royal Air Force College, the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment and the Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra, German Army Band (Heeresmusikkorps) Koblenz, New Zealand Army Band, Qatar Police Academy Band and Drill Team, United States Army Field Band, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Performers, Royal Air Force Massed Military Bands, The 10th Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment Pipes And Drums, 154 (Scottish) Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, The Combined Universities Officer Training Corps Pipes And Drums, Vancouver Police Pipes And Drums, The Pipes And Drums Of The Queen’s Royal Hussars and The Royal Dragoon Guards and 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment.
The spectacular celebration of music, military precision, culture and connection kicks off tonight (Friday 7 August) and runs until Saturday 29 August 2026.
Tickets for 2026 are limited, but remaining tickets can still be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone, 0131 225 1188.
Views sought on changes to restraint and seclusion guidance
Responses are being sought on proposals to improve guidance around the use of restraint and seclusion in hospitals.
The proposed updates to the Code of Practice for the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 aim to strengthen protections for adults and children to ensure that their safety, emotional wellbeing and rights are taken into account with any potential use of restraint or seclusion.
It also seeks to support practitioners, services and Health Boards to deliver safe care, based on the needs of individual patients being treated under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. The draft measures include guidance on:
the clear definitions of restraint and seclusion
the lawful limits of restraint
the use of restraint and seclusion with children and young people
the use of restraint and seclusion in relation to people with learning disabilities or autistic people
the use of restraint during nasogastric tube feeding
Minister for Mental Wellbeing Maree Todd said: “The safety and wellbeing of people receiving mental health treatment and support is at the heart of these proposals.
“These proposed revisions to the Code of Practice reflect the increased concern over the use of restraint and seclusion – and in particular with children and young people, as well as developments to human rights legislation over the past 20 years.
“Revisions will give practitioners clearer, consistent and rights‑based guidance, and help ensure people are treated with dignity and respect.
“I urge people with a stake in this – patients, families, carers and clinicians to respond.”
From 6th to 29th August 2026 we are delighted to be hosting photography exhibition ‘Broon Scots: Snapshots of Scotland’s South Asian Diaspora’.
Led by documentary photographer Hermann Rodrigues, BROON SCOTS has built an extraordinary archive of Scotland’s South Asian communities since the 1990s. Spanning thousands of images and personal stories, the collection offers an intimate look into the vibrant Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani lives that shape the nation today. He was awarded the Best Asian Photographer of the Year by the Asian Media Group.
Through themes ranging from formal portraits and dynamic community gatherings to quiet domestic spaces, restaurants, and public monuments, Rodrigues constructs candid windows into the everyday. By looking beyond superficial narratives, these photographs challenge long-held stereotypes and celebrate the rich, evolving cultural tapestry of a modern Scotland. Broon Scots is not merely a record of the past, but an active, growing chronicle of belonging, resilience, and shared identity across generations.
The exhibition can be visited at North Edinburgh Arts (NEA) on our Mezzanine Gallery, and is accessible to the public during NEA’s usual opening hours:
John Grisham, Diana Gabaldon, Matt Haig, Maggie O’Farrell, Douglas Stuart, Lyse Doucet and David Olusoga among major names reaching audiences worldwide, as free library screenings bring Book Festival conversations to communities across Scotland.
Free library screenings bring Book Festival conversations to communities across Scotland through partnership with 22 libraries
John Grisham in a rare festival appearance reflecting on his extraordinary career and criminal justice reform
Maggie O’Farrell discussing her ambitious new novel Land
Diana Gabaldon celebrating 35 years of the global Outlander phenomenon
BBC’s Lyse Doucet on the frontline of global news, conflict and the human stories behind international events
Matt Haig discussing his highly anticipated new novel The Midnight Train
Douglas Stuart exploring his new, Booker Prize 2026 longlisted novel, John of John
David Olusoga reflecting on his remarkable career and the power of storytelling
Jimmy Wales and Cory Doctorow examining trust, technology and the future of the internet
Philippe Sands marking 10 years since East West Street
Family events featuring Julia Donaldson, Jacqueline Wilson and Katherine Rundell
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is making its 2026 programme more accessible than ever before, with nearly 90 events set to be livestreamed direct from Edinburgh, allowing audiences around the world to experience one of the world’s leading literary festivals wherever they are.
From bestselling novelists to leading thinkers, campaigners, historians, politicians, podcasters and children’s authors, the extensive livestreaming programme opens up the Book Festival to readers, writers and curious minds unable to attend in person – whether due to geography, cost, caring responsibilities, disability or health considerations.
Most streamed events will also remain available to watch on demand after broadcast, creating greater flexibility for audiences across different time zones and making it easier for viewers to enjoy events at a time that suits them.
The expanded programme builds on consistent and increasingly global demand for online access to the Book Festival. In 2025, online audiences joined events from 63 countries worldwide (including Vatican City), generating more than 20,000 online event views, demonstrating the global appetite for Edinburgh’s literary conversations, and the chance to hear from some of the world’s biggest literary stars.
Among the major names appearing as part of the livestreamed programme are legal thriller phenomenon John Grisham, Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart (longlisted once again for the prize in 2026 for John of John, the topic of his Book Festival event), Outlander creator Diana Gabaldon, alongside global literary stars Ann Patchett, Maggie O’Farrell, Elif Shafak, Colson Whitehead, Colm Tóibín, Matt Haig, Kae Tempest and many more.
The programme also features BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet on global affairs, acclaimed political economist Ann Pettifor on the economic forces shaping our future, and bestselling psychotherapist Philippa Perry on relationships, wellbeing and modern life. Audiences can also enjoy conversations with influential public figures and leading commentators including Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, tech critic Cory Doctorow, New York Times diplomatic correspondent Edward Wong and Lewis Goodall of The News Agents, historian and broadcaster David Olusoga, philosopher A C Grayling, and historian Tom Holland.
Families and young readers can also enjoy a rich programme online, with events featuring beloved creators including Julia Donaldson, Jacqueline Wilson, Katherine Rundell, Liz Pichon, Harriet Muncaster, Catherine Rayner and Paul Linnet.
Alongside online access for audiences at home and overseas, 22 libraries across Scotland will host free screenings of selected events, helping bring Book Festival conversations to communities far beyond Edinburgh. Library streaming is emerging as one of the Book Festival’s strongest tools for democratising access, opening up opportunities for audiences across Scotland to take part collectively, locally and free of charge. The screenings build on the Book Festival’s wider work with libraries through initiatives including Paper Trails, and follow strong audience interest in shared viewing experiences, with more than 700 people attending library watch parties during previous Book Festival programmes.
The initiative reflects the Book Festival’s ongoing commitment to ensuring as many people as possible can take part in the conversations, ideas and stories that define each year’s programme.
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“One of the wonderful things about the Book Festival is that our audiences have always extended far beyond Edinburgh. Every year we hear from readers around the UK and across the world who would love to be part of the Book Festival but aren’t able to travel here in person.
“Last year audiences joined us online from 63 countries around the world, demonstrating the global appetite for the conversations that take place here in Edinburgh. This year’s expanded livestreaming programme means even more people will be able to experience the Book Festival as it happens, wherever they are.”
“We’re also delighted that audiences will be able to access events through 22 partner libraries across Scotland. Combined with on-demand viewing for most events, we’re creating more ways than ever before for people to engage with the Book Festival, regardless of where they live or what their circumstances may be.”
Many of the livestreamed events connect with the Book Festival’s 2026 theme, Changing Your Mind, bringing together writers, thinkers and public figures from across continents and disciplines to explore how stories, ideas and conversation can challenge assumptions and broaden perspectives.
Online tickets are available now. The majority of livestreamed events will also be available on demand following the live broadcast, enabling audiences across the world to enjoy the Book Festival regardless of time zone.
A small number of events, including the John Grisham event, are livestream only. Additional events will be added to the on-demand offering throughout the autumn, extending access to Festival conversations beyond August.
Join us for a free event exploring the testimony of Scotland’s Care Experienced community on 17 August.
The Promise sets out that by 2030 every child in Scotland will grow up loved, safe and respected to realise their full potential. Yet, over half of Scotland’s looked-after children live in the most deprived areas, are more likely to have additional support needs, lower school attendance and higher rates of exclusion.
How far has Scotland come in fulfilling The Promise?
The panel also features award-winning actor, producer and author Scott Kyle (best known for his role in Outlander).
Nominations for the 2026 Scotland Loves Local Awards are open until August 14th
Television presenter Sean Batty is urging people across Edinburgh and the Lothians to celebrate their high street heroes.
The STV weatherman launched Scotland Loves Local Week in North Berwick earlier this summer, joining traders at East Lothian Food and Drink’s harbour market.
And now he is calling on residents to nominate their high street heroes as part of the 2026 Scotland Loves Local Awards – before they close on Friday August 14th.
Sean, an ambassador for Scotland Loves Local, said: “The Scotland Loves Local Awards are about celebrating the people and businesses in your community who go above and beyond – as well as the innovation, ambition and determination which is forging a better future for the places we call home.
“Not all heroes wear capes, but the way in which so many people give so much time and energy into making life better in our communities is truly heroic. What better way to celebrate that than nominating them as a High Street Hero?”
A High Street Hero will be named in each Scottish Parliament region, including Edinburgh and Lothians East, as well as Central Scotland and Lothians West.
Nationally, awards will be presented for:
Town of the Year (recognising a town that demonstrates a clear vision, strong partnership working and meaningful progress in creating a vibrant and sustainable place).
Innovation in Place (recognising a specific project or initiative that has delivered meaningful, measurable impact within a town or neighbourhood, celebrating practical work happening on the ground).
The awards are organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) as an extension of its wider Scotland Loves Local campaign, which encourages people to help grow stronger communities by supporting the enterprises, organisations and initiatives in them.
Now in their sixth year, they recognise leadership, innovation and community action that supports thriving local places – from transformational regeneration projects and entrepreneurial community initiatives to the individuals making a difference.
They highlight the impact of place-based collaboration in delivering stronger, greener and more resilient town centres and places.
Award nominations can be made at www.lovelocal.scot/awards-2026/, where full category criteria can also be found. There, you can briefly share the details of your nominee and why you would like to see them recognised.
Nominations close at 5pm on Friday August 14th, with winners announced in October.
Scotland Loves Local is spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership with support from the Scottish Government.
A fundraising walk that pays tribute to people with dementia is returning to Edinburgh. People across the Lothians are being encouraged to book their place for Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk 2026 on Sunday, 6 September.
Those joining the event in Lauriston Castle Gardens on Cramond Road South can walk in memory of loved ones affected by the illness while also raising vital funds to support dementia care, research and improvements in brain health.
The Edinburgh event is the first of a series of memory walks taking place across Scotland in 2026.
Walks will also be taking place in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Perth, Irvine, Inverness and Kirkcaldy. Tickets cost just £10 for adults and children can be registered for free. It’s quick and easy to set up a sponsorship page, which can be shared with family, friends and colleagues.
Every penny raised will help people with dementia and their carers, as well as supporting better brain health for everyone in Scotland.
Scotland’s Memory Walk is also about celebrating the lives of people with dementia and walking to remember them.
Among those taking part is Debbie Magee, 48, a contracts manager from Broxburn. She will be walking in memory of her mum Rosie who passed away in January aged 82, six years after being diagnosed with vascular dementia.
Debbie will be joined by her sister Annie and 15-year-old daughter Jess, and supported on the day by her other sisters Caroline and Jane.
Debbie said: “My mum Rosie was quite a woman. She was the heart and soul of our family and was dedicated to looking after us all.
“Losing mum to dementia was really tough for the whole family, and it inspired me to sign up to Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk in Edinburgh.
“I wanted to do something positive that would help keep mum’s memory alive and also raise funds for such a great cause. I’m really looking forward to the day. Our team name is Rosie’s Forget Me Nots. Those were mum’s favourite flowers, which feels extra poignant in light of her diagnosis.
“Dementia affects every person differently and it’s important for me to raise awareness of that, and of the huge impact it has on the wider family.
“Alzheimer Scotland do amazing work and I hope the money we raise can help them support other families like mine who are affected by dementia.”
Lauren Heap, Alzheimer Scotland’s Day Services Manager for Edinburgh and the Lothians, said:“Alzheimer Scotland is proud to support people living with dementia, their families and carers right from our centres in Edinburgh.
“We are delighted to host this Memory Walk in Edinburgh. It is such a special event and it will be wonderful to walk alongside our supporters again in the local community.
“Alzheimer Scotland relies heavily on fundraised money – now more than ever – and every penny helps us continue to develop and deliver vital dementia support. We can’t wait to see Lauriston Castle Gardens filled with a sea of purple t-shirts.”
To find out more and to sign up for Scotland’s Memory Walk, visit:
