The Scottish Ambulance Service is expanding our TRUST campaign Scotland-wide
An initiative to encourage young people to call 999 in a drug-related emergency is being expanded following a successful pilot, the Scottish Ambulance Service has announced.
The TRUST initiative – Take it Seriously, Ring 999, Use first aid skills, Stay with them, Tell us what they’ve taken – aims to educate and support young people who may avoid or delay phoning for an ambulance when they or their friends experience a drug-related emergency due to perceived fear of repercussions. It also covers what an emergency situation may look like and what to look out for.
Following the successful pilot in some Fife and Glasgow secondary schools, SAS will be expanding the campaign across Scotland where TRUST resources will be embedded into local drug education offerings, providing young people with the chance to also hear first-hand from emergency staff about their roles.
Kira Watson, Clinical Effectiveness Lead for Drug Harm Reduction – East, said: “The TRUST initiative has been designed to show young people that the Scottish Ambulance Service is here to help them.
“As summer holidays and festival season continue, drug related incidents increase, and we want to make sure young people aren’t afraid to quickly seek help when they or their friends need it. Once they have received treatment, we can also make the appropriate referrals for on-going support, information and advice.”
Christina McKelvie, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, said: “I welcome the expansion of the TRUST initiative, which can save lives by supporting and educating young people involved in a drugs emergency.
“Through our £250 million National Mission on drugs, we are taking a wide range of measures to reduce harm and save lives – including supporting the opening of a Safe Drug Consumption Facility pilot, widening access to Naloxone and delivering drug-checking facilities which will enable us to respond faster to emerging drug trends.”
If you think TRUST would be of benefit to your local school or community space, email sas.drug-harm@nhs.scot for more information.
TRUST Campaign leaflet and poster are available for download here.
With the summer festivals season fast approaching, we’re making temporary changes to the way some of our streets in the Old Town operate between 15 July and 30 September 2024.
We know that residents, businesses and visitors face challenges in the Old Town during the busy summer festival period.
To make the streets easier and safer to walk around, we are putting in place temporary arrangements between 15 July and 30 September 2024.
You can find more information on roadworks and travel disruptions by following Edintravel on
There will also be short-term restrictions for other events. Information on those restrictions will be published on street and at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/edintravel as and when they are available.
If you have any questions about these closures, please email us. This mailbox will be monitored regularly during working hours and we will respond as quickly as possible.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Whilst we’re rightly proud to be welcoming performers and visitors from all over the world for our summer festivals, we need to make sure this influx is managed safely and properly.
“We’ve made temporary successful changes to streets in the Old Town during this period for a number of years and I’m sure this summer will be no different.
“I’d like to thank our residents and businesses for their understanding as we get ready to showcase Edinburgh as the world’s cultural capital once again.”
Blue Badge holders
Blue Badge holders can park at all Pay and Display, Shared Use, yellow lines (without loading prohibition) free of charge and without time limit. Blue Badge holders can also get a free residents’ parking permit if they do not already have one.
Home deliveries
If you are planning any shopping or other deliveries to your home, you should organise for them to arrive when the streets are open. Outside these times, and in some closed streets, delivery drivers may need to park some distance away from you. We would be grateful if you could make sure that your delivery drivers/companies are aware of the changes. Goods delivered by bike or on foot will not be affected.
Loading and servicing for businesses
You will need to make sure that your business waste collections are completed before the affected streets close. You may have to place your waste collection in an alternative location.
We have contacted trade waste companies to make them aware of these changes.
The changes also mean that loading and servicing must take place during the period the streets are open, generally overnight between 7pm and 10.30am.
Outside of these times, and in some closed streets, suppliers and delivery drivers may need to park some distance away from your location to make deliveries.
Please make sure that your supplier or delivery drivers are aware of the changes and the potential impacts on their delivery schedules.
Places of worship
If you need closer access for worship or ceremonies during vehicle-free hours, email us in advance to let us know what you need. Our team will work hard to try to help wherever possible.
Special arrangements
We realise there may be a few specific, one-off reasons where you may need to arrange for vehicle access – for example if you are moving into a new property and need access for a removals vehicle. In these instances, please email us in advance.
We recognise that these changes may impact on your daily activities and we are extremely grateful for your patience and support with making Edinburgh a welcoming city.
If you have any questions about these closures, please email us at:
As a result of analysis of routine samples, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have indicated a high bacterial result in the water at Portobello Beach.
SEPA are temporarily advising against bathing and paddling, at Portobello Beach from Pipe Lane to Joppa Rocks, due to the potential risk to human health. SEPA have activated electronic signs and the Council is arranging additional signs to be posted to support this.
SEPA are working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Water to investigate and will continue to monitor the situation.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “We’re aware of SEPA’s current advice against bathing and paddling at Portobello beach and I’d request that people follow the advice.
“The matter is currently under investigation, and we’ll continue to liaise with SEPA and our partners to monitor the situation.”
New Edinburgh East and Musselburgh MP Chris Murray said: “Horrible to see Porty beach is closed due to a threat to human health.
“Please take care in the coming days and stay out of the water. As the local MP, I will be pushing to get this issue dealt with.”
Further information on Scotland’s Bathing Waters is available on SEPA’s website.
The Traverse’s Autumn 2024 season stages home-grown and international performances exploring issues of social justice.
Traverse 1 highlights include Enough of Him by May Sumbwanyambe, To Save The Sea by Isla Cowan and Andy McGregor and The Tailor of Inverness by Matthew Zajac.
Traverse 2 highlights include The Brenda Line by Harry Mould, Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz by Nathan Queeley-Dennis and Piece of Work by James Rowland.
A Play, A Pie & A Pint returns for a six-week run under the new leadership of Brian Logan.
Music at the Traverse programme continues to grow with fourteen acts confirmed and on sale.
As we prepare to dive into the joy and excitement of TravFest24, we wanted to take some time to look ahead to our Autumn season – as there’s no slowing down for us come September! Performances tackle social issues head on, see many of our valued partners return and bring big laughs to our stages in a season packed with captivating and compelling work.
Following on from the success of a sold-out run of Maggie & Me, the National Theatre of Scotland are back in October with the revival of May Sumbwanyambe’s Enough of Him which won the 2023 CATS Award for Best New Play. This co-production with Pitlochry Festival Theatre is an incisive and emotive new play based on the true story of Joseph Knight, directed by previous Traverse Artistic Director Orla O’Loughlin.
As well as Enough of Him, we are delighted to also welcome Pitlochry Festival Theatre with The Brenda Line by Harry Mould and directed by Ben Occhipinti. Based on the lesser-known history if the Samaritans in the 70s and 80s as well as the lived experience of Harry Mould’s mother, this is a story about women, love and listening.
Sleeping Warrior Theatre Company will highlight the urgency of the climate crisis with their latest musical, To Save The Sea by Isla Cowan and Andy McGregor. Inspired by a real-life 1995 protest, the makers of Battery Park and Crocodile Rock will bring this epic adventure story to the Traverse for three nights as part of their Scottish tour.
Also returning to the Traverse Dogstar Theatre’s The Tailor of Inverness by Matthew Zajac and directed by Ben Harrison, which presents an unforgettable and moving story of displacement and survival in war-torn Europe; particularly powerful in light of the current war in Ukraine.
Having received rave reviews during its run at the Paines Plough Roundabout during the Edinburgh Fringe 2023, NathanQueeley-Dennis brings Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz directed by Dermot Daly to Traverse 2 at the start of November. Ruckus, an award winning, compelling one-woman thriller by Jenna Fincken which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, explores the suppression and destruction caused by coercive control.
The first week of November sees two distinct new productions directed by Tessa Walker. In Traverse 1, Run, Rebel is an electrifying adaptation of Manjeet Mann’s acclaimed novel for audiences of 11+ combining physical theatre, mesmerising visuals and a talented ensemble cast, setting the stage for a transformative story of revolution, empowerment and courage. In Traverse 2, Bright Places by Rae Mainwaring is a darkly funny and deeply honest autobiographical story about growing up in the shadow of chronic illness.
We are also in for a treat with a handful of one-night delights this Autumn. Star of The Office (Australia), Felicity Ward returns with her new show I’m Exhausting for her first national tour in six years. Fresh from their appearance on BBC Three’s RuPaul’s Drag Race UK VS The World, Choriza May hits the road with their first ever solo theatre show extravaganza; The Choriza May Show. Award-winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams brings his chaotic, audience-led poetry event, Search Party,a unique interactive experience where the boundary between artist and audience blurs into a dynamic act of creation.
For audiences looking for something more experimental we are pleased to be welcoming back James Rowland with his new show Piece of Work which will feature his distinct mix of storytelling, comedy and music. Arán & Imby Manchán Magan will see the performer baking sourdough bread while offering insights into the wonders of the Irish language.
Our six-week run of A Play, A Pie & A Pint will return this Autumn with six new plays taking to our stages, as part of our first season collaborating with new Artistic Director Brian Logan.
Continuing on from the success of the inaugural season of Music At The Traverse we are delighted to be presenting in excess of fourteen gigs within our upcoming Autumn season. Including crowd-pleasers Espen Eriksen Trio and RANT as well as innovative newcomers Ryan Young and Amy Hollinrake, these one-nighters are sure to bring music to our ears and warmth to our souls as the nights get colder.
XL Bully dog owners are reminded to apply for an exemption certificate before the 31 July deadline so they can continue to keep & legally own their dogs.
Otherwise, you’ll be committing a criminal offence.
This year’s project is inspired by the World Premiere of The Outrun, based on Amy Liptrot’s best-selling book
Edinburgh International Festival devised a new exchange programme for young creatives to connect young people from Edinburgh with peers from another national or international location. Each year, the project will be connected to an artist or performance within that year’s programme.
This year’s Festival sees creatives aged between 16 and 18 in Edinburgh (from Lyceum Youth Theatre) and Orkney (Kirkwall Grammar School) exploring themes of home, nature and identity in connection with The Outrun, directed by Vicky Featherstone and written by Stef Smith, based on a book by an Orkney-born author Amy Liptrot. They are supported by local artists and the artists from the production.
The groups have met separately over the last few months and recently came together in Orkney (28-30 June) and are scheduled to meet again in Edinburgh between 9 and 11 August. The project will culminate during the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2024 where the groups will attend a performance of The Outrun and view an installation of their creative work presented in the Church Hill Theatre throughout August as part of the Festival.
Clara, a young participant from Edinburgh said: “I’m really excited to see The Outrun in August on stage. I haven’t read the book, but I think I’m a very visual person, so seeing it on stage might inspire me to read it afterwards.
“Being in Orkney and seeing what all of this has been based on will be really cool. All the themes of home, some of the like scenes of Orkney, and how she feels about it – I’ll be able to picture somewhere and really connect with it.”
Izzy, a young participant from Orkney said: “I haven’t worked with people in like a big group creatively outside of like school class so it’s nice to do it in a more relaxed environment.
“I’ve got to work with people who have different experiences to me which has made me reflect on my own perspectives. And then you listen to them write about their experiences and what I can take from that and put into my own writing.”
A man has been jailed for seven years for violent and sexual offences on two women in the Paisley and Edinburgh areas.
Charles Morrison, 27, was found guilty of the offences spanning four years at the High Court in Paisley on Wednesday, 12 June, 2024. He was sentenced to seven years in prison at the same court today, Thursday, 11 July.
He was also given a 15-year Non-Harassment Order in relation to both victims and has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Detective Inspector Cheryl Gebbie said: “Morrison has been found to be a danger to women and will now face the consequences of his actions.
“I hope his conviction and sentencing will bring justice to the women involved, who have shown great strength in reporting what happened to them.
“Police Scotland is committed to tackling all forms of violent and sexual offences, regardless of when they happened. I’d urge anyone who has been a victim of such abuse to come forward and report it to us. We will thoroughly investigate any reports and, working with our partner agencies, you will be supported throughout the process.”
With kitten season now in full swing across the UK, I would like to say a huge thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for helping us look after kittens and cats in need.
Last year we saw a 14% increase in unwanted litters coming into our care. This summer and beyond, we anticipate hundreds of kittens needing to be looked after by our expert teams.
We work hard to be there for every cat that needs us. For mother cats and kittens, this includes extra food to keep cats’ energy levels high after giving birth as well as regular veterinary check-ups for mum and her litter. Our teams also hand-feed newborn kittens if the mother isn’t producing enough milk.
This is why we are so grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for raising more than £9.9 million to support the work of Cats Protection since 2018. Together we are making a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.
Anyone wishing to adopt a cat or support Cats Protection, or seeking advice on cat welfare, can find out more at cats.org.uk
Morrisons Gyle has announced that it will continue to support its local community by joining the national effort to help prevent holiday hunger this summer.
Morrisons Community Champion Tess at Edinburgh Gyle donated £200 to Community One Stops Shop and Space at The Broomhouse Hub to help towards their free breakfast and free lunch for kids, to support families and children in the community and to tackle holiday hunger this summer.
It was our pleasure to donate £100 to our friends at Community One Stop Shop and £100 to Space at The Broomhouse Hub. Community One Stop Shop are offering free breakfast packs, and Space at The Broomhouse Hub are offering free lunches to children. Tess met with Willie from Community One Stop Shop on Monday to hand over the donations.
Morrisons stores across the country will support school holiday activity programmes – arranged by local schools, community groups and HAF (the Holiday Activities and Food Programme), by donating £100,000 of food across the UK this summer.
To help those in need, Morrisons already has its in-store Food Bank ‘Pick Up Pack’ scheme which allows customers to purchase a bag filled with a mix of products which are distributed to local food banks and community organisations by the in-store Community Champions.
BBC ALBA follows the record-breaking athletic career of professional swimmer, Kara Hanlon, in a brand-new documentary, airing on the 24 July, ahead of the Olympic swimming schedule.
Produced by Sunset+Vine, Kara Hanlon: Dare to Dream takes viewers on a journey through the life of the Hebridean swimmer, from her childhood growing up in Stornoway to training for the qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The now four-time British champion was inspired to take up the sport from a young age after learning to swim in her local community pool in Stornoway.
Speaking in the documentary, Kara said: “I did a lot of other sports when I was younger like running, but swimming for me was the one that always stuck.
“I was taught to swim by some of the local lifeguards at the old Stornoway pool, and what I remember most was racing for badges that I could put on my swimsuit to show that I’d made it to 50m or to 100m.”
At 14, Kara’s competitive swimming career took a major step forward after a chance meeting with DR Morrison, a prominent Lewis-based swim coach.
Kara said: “I didn’t want to go cross-country one morning and my mum said, okay, if you don’t go to cross country, go swimming instead. So off I went swimming and I bumped into DR and he basically asked me to be part of his group that he was developing for the Island Games.”
Kara goes on to detail the sacrifices her family often had to make for her swimming development in terms of both financial cost and time: “There were a lot of times where my parents would have to take time off work to take me on the ferry over to the mainland, and I think they were just willing to support me through that and that just meant going to more and more competitions going up and up the levels.”
Kara, now 27, has since achieved top swimming accolades in her professional athletic career. Last year she became the fastest female breaststroker in Scottish history for both 50m at the 2023 Glasgow International Swim Meet, and 100m during the North District Open Championships in Aberdeen.
In 2022, Kara achieved her childhood dream by becoming the first ever swimmer from the Western Isles to represent Scotland at a Commonwealth Games when she competed at Birmingham 2022. Reaching the finals of the 50m and 100m Breaststroke events, Kara also swam the final of the 4x100m Women’s Medley Relay, helping her team to a 5th placed finish.
Talking about swimming, Kara says: “I think it kind of chose me. I feel like it was kind of my destined path. Breaking Scottish records is something that I’ll always have, and I’ll always cherish. And I have been the fastest woman in Scotland ever.”
Fiona MacKenzie, commissioning editor at BBC ALBA, said: “From a 12.5m pool to competing in the qualifying rounds of the Olympic Games, Kara has gone from a small pond to a big pool.
“She is one of Scotland’s most decorated athletes, yet maintains a humble demeanour as she candidly opens up about her life growing up on Lewis in this new documentary.
“We can’t wait for BBC ALBA viewers to see what it takes to become a competitive swimmer and hopefully inspire the next generation of talent.”
Kara Hanlon: Dare to Dream will premiere on BBC ALBA on Wednesday 24 July at 9pm and on demand on BBC iPlayer (in Gaelic with English subtitles):
