SATURDAY 18th JULY 1 – 3pm at FETLOR CREWE ROAD SOUTH
Our Young Volunteers would like to remind everyone that our community day will be this Saturday on the 18th!!
This will be a cash only event with the option to donate online to support our young volunteer programme and the firefighters charity 
Businesses, charities and innovators are being invited to compete for a share of up to £60 million to transform how disabled people and those with health conditions are supported into work, the Government has announced today [14th July].
The Government’s Pathways to Work Innovation Fund is a ‘call to action’ for the private, voluntary and public sectors to come forward with the most ambitious, creative ideas to help disabled people and those with health conditions get into and on at work.
The Fund will open for bids in September, with organisations across the UK invited to compete for funding to test genuinely new approaches to employment support.
With 2.8 million people currently out of work due to ill-health, and the Keep Britain Working review estimating economic inactivity caused by health conditions costs the UK economy £212 billion a year, the Government is looking to work alongside business, charities, tech innovators and disabled people themselves to tackle the issue and improve employment support.
The Fund forms part of the Government’s commitment to break down barriers to opportunity for disabled people backed by £3.5 billion in tailored employment support. This includes intensive, one-to-one job help from specialist advisers in their own communities, meeting people where they are, alongside a joined-up work and health offer.
https://twitter.com/DWPgovuk/status/2075852621819064804/video/1
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “We inherited a welfare system which has locked too many disabled people and those with health conditions out of work.
“We’re determined to ensure no talent is left behind, and that people are given the support they need. Through our £3.5 billion Pathways to Work employment support offer, we’ve seen that personalised support can be life-changing.
“Now we’re calling on business, disabled people and charities to work with us, and bring forward their ideas to transform employment support.”
An expert panel – including Paralympian Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson – will help shape the fund’s design and advise on which bids should be funded, ensuring the voices and experience of disabled people are placed at the very heart of the process.
It comes as the Department is embracing innovation by using technologies including AI and machine learning to deliver more efficient services, modernise systems and support more people into work, including a new tool to help people into jobs.
Paralympian and Member of House of Lords, Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson, said: “I am delighted to be joining this expert panel at such an important moment. Finding and sustaining work matters enormously – not just for individual wellbeing and independence, but for society as a whole.
“We know that with the right support, disabled people can and do thrive in the workplace.
“The world is changing rapidly, and the systems that support disabled people must keep pace with that change. This Fund is a real opportunity to back the bold, creative ideas that can make that happen.”
To mark the launch, the Work and Pensions Secretary will today visit TechUK, the UK’s leading technology trade association, where he will meet with their members at a tech and innovation showcase to see cutting-edge innovation in action and discuss how technology can help transform people’s working lives.
The new approach comes alongside wider Government action to help people into work and fulfil their full potential, as part of reforms to the broken welfare system this government inherited, including:
Antony Walker, Deputy CEO of TechUK, said: “The announcement that the Department for Work and Pensions is investing into an Innovation Fund is very welcome. Thousands of disabled people and those with health conditions are locked out of the workforce, not for lack of talent, but because of barriers that persist across many careers.
“Our members are already developing and deploying innovative technologies that are breaking down those barriers, helping people to find work, stay in work and thrive in their careers.
“This investment has the potential to build on that success, accelerating the adoption of proven solutions and supporting even more disabled people to access rewarding employment while helping employers tap into a wider pool of talent.”
The Pathways to Work Innovation Fund will open for bids in September 2026. Full details on how to apply will be published in due course.
Assembly Festival has announced the return of its hugely popular Local Residents discount for 2026 with reduced tickets now available to Edinburgh locals for some of the Fringe’s biggest and best shows.
Over 175 shows will offer £8.25 tickets for residents across Edinburgh and the Central Belt including Jason Byrne, Afrique en Cirque, Jess Robinson, Susie McCabe, Ten Thousand Hours, Scaramouche Jones and more.
Edinburgh locals in EH postcodes will have access to discounted shows, plus the scheme opens up to Fringe fans across the Central Belt in Glasgow, Falkirk and more. Music shows and food workshops taking place at Edinburgh Folk and Food Festival from 24 July – 02 August will be included.
Inviting locals to take a chance on something new and discover even more at the Fringe, discounted tickets will be available from 10am 14 July until 11.59pm 26 July (or until allocations run out) for Assembly Festival Fringe performances from 05 – 09 August for residents in EH postcodes FK, G, KY, ML and DG.
Residents across the Central Belt can take advantage of the discounts with postcodes in Glasgow, Kirkcaldy, Falkirk, Stirling, Motherwell and Dumfries and Galloway all included in the scheme.
Tickets available via www.assemblyfestival.com using promocode LOCALAF26.
(T&Cs: 2 tickets per performance, max 6 tickets per transaction. £8.25 includes £1.25 booking fees Subject to availability.)
Edinburgh locals can take advantage of the offer in the Fringe’s opening days, meaning they can be amongst the first to take in shows from Ndlovu Youth Choir, Superbowl Salsa, Mythos: Ragnarök, Susie McCabe and more.
Encompassing shows across comedy, cabaret, circus, dance, theatre, family shows and more, thousands of tickets will be available within the scheme.
Comedy fans can see the hottest rising stars including award-winners from Australia Lizzy Hoo, Scout Boxall and Noah Szto making their Edinburgh debuts, plus some of the UK’s biggest comedy stars from Jason Byrne to Frank Skinner, Susie McCabe, Mike Wozniak and more.
Irish comics Grace Mulvey and Gearóid Farrelly are sure to impress, whilst cult hits ‘Underground Monk Show’ and ‘Police Cops in Space’ are all included.
Locals can bag discounted tickets for some of the Fringe’s most impressive theatre shows including ‘Scaramouche Jones’ directed by Olivier award-winning Guy Masterson, ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’ starring David Westhead and directed by acting legend Stockard Channing as well as up-and-coming theatre ‘Prophets’ and ‘BearGirl’.
Families can enjoy the last days of summer holidays with reduced tickets for all the family including the Fringe debut of ‘Ndlovu Youth Choir’ whose fans include Tom Holland of Spiderman fame and Simon Cowell, as they perform hits from ‘Circle of Life’ and ‘Waka Waka’ to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Higher Love’.
For bigger kids, families can check out jaw-dropping contemporary circus ‘Ten Thousand Hours’ and ‘By A Thread’.
Music fans can pick up discounts for hit shows ‘27 Club’, diving into the legend and lore of famed musical icons like Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain and more whilst ‘Joni Mitchell: Take Me As I Am’ is a must for fans of the Canadian singer-songwriter and more.
For the best of the Fringe, check out ‘Frisky’s Remix Roulette’ and her incredible live band, or Reuben Kaye’s brand-new show. And for mind-bending magic enjoy discounted tickets for the Festival’s most acclaimed magicians Ben Hart, Kevin Quantum and more.
Plus, Edinburgh Folk and Food Festival events including family-friendly shows ‘Circus The Show’ , ‘Explosive Science Show’ and ‘Comedy Club 4 Kids’ will take part in the scheme as well as folk gigs from An Dannsa Dub, Breabach, Dlù and more.
For a full list of shows included see here.
Marking the Edinburgh company’s 45th season at the world’s biggest arts festival, Assembly will return to six venue hubs with over 245 genre-spanning shows featuring international and homegrown acts from 05 – 31 August 2026. Assembly will operate across: George Square Gardens, Assembly Rooms, Assembly Hall, Assembly Roxy and Dance Base, plus Shedinburgh takes over Checkpoint in a new partnership for 2026.
Tickets are now available at www.assemblyfestival.com.
Sign up to the Assembly Festival mailing list for more information, exclusive offers, and all the latest news.
Halfway through the first 100 days of the Scottish Government formed in May, the rollout of an expanded 10-year £50 million Homelessness Prevention Fund is underway.
£1 million is being made available for a second year to enable social landlords and third sector organisations to support tenants to stay in their homes.
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Homeless Network Scotland are administering phase two of the Upstream Homelessness Prevention Fund. This will provide a range of support to households in Glasgow, including assistance with rent arrears, repairs and furniture costs alongside initiatives to prevent people becoming homeless.
The fund is in addition to the £9 million invested to mitigate the impact of the UK Government’s decision to freeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates in 2026-27. It forms part of the commitment to spend £50 million on homelessness prevention activity over the next decade.
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth will visit Sanctuary Housing Association’s offices and development in Toryglen, Glasgow.
Ms Gilruth said: “Preventing homelessness is not just the right thing to do – it is the most effective way to end it for good.
“For too long, the system has been geared towards responding to crisis rather than stopping it happen.
“So in our first 100 days in government, we are rolling out funding which will help to change that.
“This fund will help build up capacity of communities and public services to act earlier, supporting people before situations become critical and embedding prevention across organisations that interact with those at risk.
“Homelessness is devastating, but we know that most of it is preventable. That is why sustained, long-term investment in prevention is central to everything we are doing.”
Director of External Affairs at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Paul Bradley said: “The Upstream Homelessness Prevention Fund has had a transformative impact in preventing homelessness for hundreds of people across Scotland, so we wholly welcome its extension.
“This funding is further proof that prevention works, and that housing associations, working alongside government and partners, can reach tenants long before a crisis.
“The greatest way to tackle homelessness is to prevent it in the first place.
“Prevention funding running alongside a strong supply of safe, warm and affordable homes gives Scotland the best chance of a true step-change so no one has to face losing their home.”
Homeless Network Scotland Chief Executive Maggie Brunjes said: “Preventing homelessness starts where people live.
“This second round of the Upstream Prevention Fund is a vital investment in Glasgow. Housing associations are ideally placed to prevent homelessness through their strong community roots and close partnerships with local charities.
“Homelessness charities play a key strategic role too, bringing deep knowledge of the issues people face and how to tackle them early.
“Working with SFHA and local partners, we will build on the success of the first round to help more households stay in their homes and make prevention and joined-up support a real priority across the city.”
Do you know a young person that’s started a new job this summer?
Job Start Payment is a one off payment of £331.95 available to young people in Scotland who are on qualifying benefits, and need help with the costs of starting a new job.
If the person has a child, they could get £531.10.
For more information or to check eligibility: https://www.mygov.scot/job-start-payment
Registration is now open for PCHP’s Community Flow Yoga Class which will start back on Thursday the 20th of August 1pm – 2pm.
These afternoon classes are open to all women, no experience needed.
Spaces are limited due to room size, please email me ASAP if you’re able to commit to coming along on a regular basis.
Maximum per class is 4
Please contact; julesryan@pchp.org.uk or pop along to PCHP and have a chat.
The Financial Conduct Authority has announced it has conducted secret analysis, using evidence supplied by Citizens Advice Scotland.
Being without a bank account is the ultimate form of financial exclusion.
We’ve been working to raise awareness of the barriers banks create for so many people across Scotland and why more needs to be done.
Now, nine major banks have committed to improving their service in this area.
Read about our work on this here:
Post-punk guitarist and singer-songwriter Malcolm Ross has been honoured by Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) for his remarkable career in music.
Malcolm shot to fame in the 1970s and 80s as a member of Josef K, Orange Juice and Aztec Camera, bands which came to define the new wave sound of independent Scottish label Postcard Records.
His music career saw him perform and record alongside numerous artists, while also releasing three solo albums.
Beyond his early years in the industry, Malcolm went on to work across music, film, theatre, sound installation and interdisciplinary arts practice. His film work included a role musical consultant on the Beatles biopic Backbeat and he contributed original music to the soundtrack for the Jonny Depp film Chocolat.
Born in Malawi and raised in Edinburgh, Malcolm was formally made a Doctor of the University during an ENU graduation ceremony at the city’s Usher Hall.
Reflecting on his honorary graduation, Malcolm Ross said: “It’s special. I’m getting near the end of my career I suppose, and it’s lovely and flattering to receive some recognition from an institution I’ve always admired.
“I didn’t really expect to be offered something like this. I was surprised, but pleasantly surprised.
“Because I grew up in Edinburgh, Napier was always in my awareness, even when I was still at school. So it has brought back memories.
And his advice for ENU’s new cohort of music graduates? “Make music you’d like to listen to, always. Make music you’d like to listen to.”
Presenting Malcolm with his doctorate, Zack Moir, Professor of Music at ENU’s School of Arts and Creative Industries, said: “Malcolm’s career reminds us that our professional lives rarely follow a singular path.
“They are shaped by collaboration, adaptability, and a willingness to remain open to new ideas and opportunities.
“At a time when our turbulent world increasingly needs more creativity, imagination and human connection, Malcolm Ross stands as an example of what it means to sustain a lifelong commitment to creative practice.
“His contribution extends beyond the wonderful music that first brought him recognition. It can be found in the collaborations he has fostered, the projects he has helped realise, and the opportunities he has created for others to participate in and benefit from the arts.”
ENU’s summer graduation ceremonies were held at the Usher Hall between 8-10 July.
Housing specialist, Lovell, currently building a mixed-tenure development in partnership with Sanctuary Scotland and Sigma Capital at The Crossings in South Queensferry, upgraded the cycle path at Echline Primary School to give pupils a safer space to build confidence on two wheels for the summer holidays.
The work was completed in time for the end of term, giving children a dedicated space to learn to ride and forms part of the ongoing commitment by Lovell to deliver social value in communities where it builds.
Over the course of six days Lovell staff members, along with partnering supply chain, cleared overgrown areas, resurfaced and repainted the cycling track so pupils could practise safer riding in a realistic layout. The team also refurbished the school’s sensory garden and pond area with new plants and small trees.
Together, Lovell and their partners provided around £2,000 of materials for the cycle path and garden.
Tony Rankin, Regional Managing Director at Lovell in Scotland, said: “At Lovell we’re proud to be delivering much-needed housing in South Queensferry and committed to helping to create a thriving, sustainable community.
“Our team were glad to give their time and skills to upgrade the cycle path at Echline Primary School and we hope pupils feel more confident getting out on their bikes safely this summer.”
Sarah Macauley, Senior Project Manager, Sanctuary Scotland, said: “Great housing is about far more than the homes themselves. It’s about strengthening communities and making sure people feel the benefit for years to come.
“That is exactly why Sanctuary Scotland is proud to partner with Lovell, who share our commitment to building communities. The work to improve the cycle path and garden at Echline Primary School is a perfect example, giving local children a better and safer place to learn.”
Laura Marshall, Sustainability Lead and Eco-Schools Co-ordinator at Echline Primary School, said: “At Echline we want every child to feel safe and secure so they can grow in confidence.
“We are very grateful to Lovell for donating their time and skills to upgrade our cycle path to give our pupils a brilliant space to practise and become more independent on their bikes.”
The Crossings will deliver 398 homes, including 100 for social rent in partnership with Sanctuary Scotland, 185 homes for private rent through Sigma Simple Life, 113 private homes for sale by Lovell Homes and 14 commercial units. The development will also support more than 300 local jobs.
For more information, visit www.lovell.co.uk
Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin to return with exciting series of fascinating lunchtime outdoor talks presented in collaboration with The Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, in partnership with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, is set to stage A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin, their popular series of fascinating talks featuring leading Scottish experts from science and the arts.
This year’s talks will open on Tuesday 21 July, in Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s picturesque outdoor Amphitheatre, with Prof Penny Fielding FRSE who makes a welcome return to Pitlochry to host a talk about the history of the spy novel in Scotland. From Scottish literary greats like Walter Scott and John Buchan to contemporary authors, hear how writers have woven surveillance, secret intelligence and carefully crafted misdirection into their stories.
Later that week on Friday 24 July, Prof Jennifer Smith FBA FRSE will be exploring the history and diversity of the Scots language. Hear how this living, evolving language is being used in everyday speech, in the creative industries, in writing, and what it might look like in the future as we move further into an increasingly AI-dependent world.
In August there will be two further talks in the amphitheatre. On Friday 21 August theastrophysicist Dr Anne-Marie Weijmans, a member of the Young Academy of Scotland, will take her audience on a journey through the Universe and the remarkable space objects within it.
Together, they will explore questions like: Was there ever life on Mars? Why is Pluto no longer a planet? And what are the oldest objects in the Universe?
The following week on Friday 28 Augustthe author Kenneth Steven will be presenting a talk on his book Atoms of Delight which comprises ten essays inspired by the natural world.
Kenneth’s book describes pilgrimages in Scottish nature: climbing to high lochs to encounter black and red throated divers; discovering hidden river pools in summer for swimming; walking to St Columba’s Bay at the south end of Iona to find serpentine pebbles.
The idea of A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin came from Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Alan Cumming HonFRSE, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was inspired by the widely celebrated A Play, A Pie and A Pint.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh recognises, supports, and mobilises expertise from across academia, business, and public service for the benefit of Scotland and the wider world.
All tickets for A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin will include a beer and a bap (vegetarian / vegan options and non-alcoholic options available).
A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin is part of Alan Cumming’s inaugural season as Artistic Director in this the Theatre’s 75th anniversary year.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre Artistic Director Alan Cumming HonFRSE said: “I’m so excited for the return of A Beer, Bap and a Boffin, our open-air lunch time lecture series. And what a line-up we have!
“To paraphrase Buzz Lightyear, we go to Scotland and beyond! We explore our language, the subterfuge in our literary heritage, the hidden wonders of our beautiful landscape, before blasting off into space – and all done from the safety of our garden’s amphitheatre!
“What better way to spend an hour this summer?”
RSE’s Vice-President, Public Engagement, Professor Martin Hendry FRSE, said: “It’s brilliant to see A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin return for a second year.
“It’s a testament to the success of its first year in 2025 and we’re delighted to be able to work with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, through our Honorary Fellow Alan Cumming, making the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s knowledge useful for public good.
“A refreshing drink, a bite to eat and a blether with an expert in their field in a superb setting, what more could you ask for this summer?”
For tickets and further information visit online at pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com or call the Box Office on 01796 484626.
