Run by leading creative engagement charity Impact Arts, the free Summer programme will take over space at Edinburgh’s City Arts Centre in July and August
Young participants will work with professional artists, musicians, filmmakers and actors before a celebratory showcase at the beginning of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Edinburgh young people aged 14 – 24 are being invited to explore their creativity and boost their confidence this summer break, as creative engagement charity Impact Arts gets set to bring its successful CashBack Summer programme to the city once again.
CashBack to the Future offers a completely free 5-week summer programme, giving young people the chance to work with professional artists, musicians, filmmakers and actors on invigorating creative projects. Young participants will have the chance to learn new skills, improve their physical and mental health, make friends, build their confidence, and have fun.
Designed to help increase creative confidence, as well as offering the chance to gain SQA qualifications or a dynamic youth award, CashBack to the Future has been run in the city by Impact Arts for the last six years.
Over the years hundreds of young people across Scotland have been supported by the project, which is designed to benefit participants who find school tricky; struggle with mental health; are care experienced; or are new to Scotland. It is funded by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities initiative, which backs projects helping disadvantaged young people.
CashBack Summerwill take place at The City Art Centre from 8 July – 7 August, running Mondays to Wednesdays.
It will culminate in a showcase on 07 August, during the first week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, celebrating the participants’ work and their achievements for friends, family, and the public to attend.
At the same time as the Edinburgh groups, Impact Arts will also run parallel CashBack groups in both Glasgow and North Ayrshire over the same five weeks this Summer.
More information on the CashBack Summer programme can be found at:
With an extra NINE MILLION older people, a population the size of London, set to populate the UK by 2050, Hourglass is calling on all Westminster hopefuls to underline their Safer Ageing plans – and take the OATH, a new campaign to increase awareness of the social care timebomb.
Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse and neglect of older people, has launched its own manifesto entitled ‘A Safer Ageing Society by 2050’ and is urging the political elite and general public alike to sign up to support it HERE:
The campaign, OATH (Older Age Tomorrow’s Hope) is a pledge to support their 2050 target and to work alongside older people, the age sector and Hourglass itself in raising the profile of this often-unspoken issue.
The charity points to the creation of a London-sized city, full of over sixties by 2050. That’s 9.6 million more older people in the UK. And, they say, for the first time they’ll be more over 60s than under 16s. The charity underlines that this is a social care timebomb waiting to explode.
As the charity’s Policy Director and Deputy CEO, Veronica Gray, illustrates, Hourglass’s big ask isn’t quite as unreachable as it first appears: “Let’s think about it from the opposite perspective.
“If we knew there was to be nine million extra bouncing babies in the next twenty-five years, governments across the UK would be planning now. There would be a strategy to accommodate and ensure their safe arrival into the world.
“There would be new schools, nurseries, perhaps maternity hospitals and safeguarding teams. Early years planning, investment into midwives and ante-natal units would be on the horizon. Our parliamentary representatives would be falling over themselves to promise a safe future for the impending influx of babies. Not just kissing them for the cameras.
“This is unquestionably a population boom – just at the other end of the spectrum. This ageing population needs to be celebrated, safe, independent and free from abuse. This seems like a fairly obvious step and worthy of support and understanding. Hence the Hourglass target of creating a Safer Ageing Society by 2050.”
Therefore, Hourglass is also scrutinising what plans the political parties in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have outlined in their manifesto. And so far, in terms of protecting older people from abuse, harm, exploitation and neglect, the charity believes there has been precious little forward planning at all.
Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass, explains:“Hourglass believes, with the impending older population surge and 2.5 million people affected by the abuse of older people annually, we need as many active voices as possible to make the case. The political dial now needs to move to address this significant upsurge and the social care needs of this population shift.
“We are working to analyse, with a variety of indicators, how seriously each political party is taking the notion of a Safer Ageing future. We will be announcing the results next Friday (21st June) and this, Election Safer Ageing Index, will also be used to scrutinise performance as the new parliamentary term takes shape.”
Hourglass, which has been working to support older-victims of abuse and neglect since 1994, has a unique 24/7 helpline, instant messenger and Knowledge Bank service. These services are already under threat due to delayed decision-making on future funding mechanisms.
Richard Robinson continues: “Whoever comes to power after 4th July, has to urgently secure service provision and agree funding for charities like Hourglass. This will go some distance in paving the way for a Safer Ageing future – but this is the bare minimum.
“The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) commitments, whilst inspirational and much-needed, need to be replicated for older victim-survivors. This is another key consideration for the next Downing Street resident.”
The charity was recently in the headlines for working to develop and script the story of Yolande Trueman, in BBCs EastEnders. This, along with many other factors has seen the charity’s calls hit over 700 a week and with a likely 50,000 contacts per year.
The Prime Minister will make the case for a world economy that is more peaceful, stable, and prosperous and for bold reforms to global governance to make it more inclusive and responsive to citizens as he attends the second day of the G7 Leaders Summit in Italy today (Friday 14 June).
PM to call for peaceful, stable, prosperous world economy at G7.
Millions of development funding to help tackle climate change in Africa.
New programme to fund safe and responsible AI projects across the globe.
During a global outreach session focused on Artificial Intelligence and Energy, and Africa and the Mediterranean, he will argue that this means reforming the international financial system to unlock the finance we need to accelerate progress against the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening the voices of the most vulnerable at the top table of international politics.
He will outline the importance of supporting countries in delivering their own clean energy transitions, and in harnessing the opportunities presented by AI.
To support this he will announce multi-year ODA funding which could exceed £100m, including several high-impact African projects and a £20m expansion of the AI for Development programme into Asia – building on £38m the UK is already investing in Africa.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The UK is committed to driving a more effective international system that improves lives for people across the globe and at home.
“The green transition and the development of AI are key components of this, and the funding announced today will help ensure that these seismic changes happen in a way that works for all.”
The AI for Development programme, was launched at the Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit in November 2023 to fund safe and responsible AI projects for development around the world, beginning in Africa.
The UK-Canada partnership, with support from the US, Australia, and other partners, will help ensure this ground-breaking technology is accessible to as many people as possible across the globe as well as deliver new AI labs to train the next generation of developers, policymakers and thought leaders, to drive responsible and inclusive AI policy.
The funding outlined today includes £57m of ODA to the Climate Compatible Growth Programme, which will accelerate the roll-out of improved, climate resilient infrastructure in developing countries. It will provide even more countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia with the UK expertise needed to support improved, climate resilient infrastructure.
The multi-year ODA funding will include up to £35 million into the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa will catalyse greater investment into sustainable infrastructure projects across the continent. The finance will help to bridge Africa’s infrastructure deficit, by accelerating investment at scale into new green infrastructure.
Partnering with the World Bank and the EU to support African regional electricity transmission and strengthen climate resilience, £15m will contribute to the Zambian side of the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector as part of a $300m project that will link the Southern and East African Power Pools.
Leading with our development partners to invest in energy infrastructure in Zambia will aid the country to access clean energy. This is vital for poverty reduction and economic development.
This investment, alongside a £300,000 contribution for mapping by the British Geological Survey in Angola, will be crucial in supporting the economic development along the length of the Lobito Corridor.
The funding also includes £500,000 for an initiative to support planning, prioritisation and implementation of green infrastructure initiatives between the UK, the Government of Kenya and the wider G7.
Focusing on transport projects selected from the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), this innovative partnership will lead to closer cooperation with the Kenyan Government on strategic infrastructure and investment and is the first partnership between the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and AGII.
All very impressive – and lots of nice pictures for the family album – but is it enough to save the Tory government and Rishi Sunak’s job?
Mappin & Webb, renowned for their exquisite watches and jewellery, is pleased to announce the opening of their new showroom in the heart of the luxury retail quarter on Multrees Walk.
The double-storey showroom offers a truly luxurious experience for customers looking for the perfect timepiece or piece of jewellery.
On the ground floor, customers will find dedicated brand areas for Cartier, the renowned luxury Maison has a dedicated space to present its most iconic timepieces, where clients will be invited to explore collections including Tank, Santos de Cartier, and Ballon Bleu de Cartier. In addition to the latest iterations of Panthère de Cartier, Tank Normale, and Baignoire.
There are branded areas featuring TUDOR watches which showcases the brand’s iconic collections, including the Black Bay, Pelagos, and Royal. A Breitling branded area which is renowned for its casual, inclusive, and sustainable approach to luxury.
Plus, a Girard-Perregaux area, known for its impeccable craftsmanship and features the Watches of Switzerland centenary exclusive Laureato timepiece. Each brand area showcases the latest collections and offers a personalised shopping experience for customers looking for the perfect watch.
On the first floor of the showroom, customers can browse a stunning selection of jewellery and receive expert advice on choosing the perfect piece for any occasion, including jewellery offerings from Pasquale Bruni, and Mappin and Webb’s limited edition diamond jewellery. It also offers a dedicated area for the Watches of Switzerland pre-owned timepieces, and a dedicated after sales area.
In addition to the impressive selection of watches and jewellery, clients can also relax in the elegant surroundings of the bar/hospitality area. Whether they are shopping for a special occasion or simply treating themselves, customers can enjoy a drink whilst browsing the showroom’s offerings.
Craig Bolton, President of The Watches of Switzerland Group UK & Europe said; “We are delighted to be opening a double-storey Mappin & Webb showroom in the heart of the luxury retail quarter on Multrees Walk.
“This is our largest Mappin and Webb showroom in Scotland, with two-floors of the finest Swiss timepieces and luxury jewellery collections available to our clients. There is a large Cartier area on the ground floor with further watch brand areas from TUDOR, Breitling, Girard-Perregaux and a new Watches of Switzerland Pre-Owned area on the first floor.
“We are also delighted to be the first retailer in Edinburgh to offer our clients the latest collections for luxury jeweller Pasquale Bruni, alongside the Mappin & Webb own brand jewellery on the first floor. We look forward to welcoming new and existing clients to this fantastic new showroom.”
Commenting on the new store, Adam Stone, Head of Retail Asset Management UK at Nuveen said: “The arrival of Mappin & Webb is extremely exciting, and we are delighted that the retailer has chosen Multrees Walk Edinburgh for their latest and largest boutique in Scotland.
“With designated watch and jewellery areas, a private hospitality and VIP area, pre-owned watch gallery plus a large after-sales area, the new store will enrich the Multrees Walk luxury shopping experience even further.”
Do you love playing the piano and a good sing along? Our over 60s singing group, Vocal Vibes is looking for a fabulous volunteer to join them on piano.
The group brings together isolated older people to build confidence and connections through the shared love of singing!
As a volunteer you will accompany the song leader in the sessions and performances and collaborate with the group to select songs from throughout the decades. Fab piano and musical skills are needed and experience working with singing groups would be great but not essential.
This is an in-person volunteering role. Vocal Vibes meet on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 11am -1pm in an accessible city centre venue close to several transport links.
Council and school workers in Scotland belonging to UNISON have voted overwhelmingly to reject a pay offer from local government employers, says the union today (Friday).
Thousands of staff employed by councils indicated they were unhappy with the pay proposal put forward by COSLA with 91% of those balloted choosing to reject, UNISON says.
The workers were made a two-stage offer which would operate over an 18-month period. It gives a 2.2% increase for the first six months and an additional 2% for a further 12 months of the deal, ending in September next year.
UNISON will now begin the process of formally balloting groups of workers about selective strike action over the coming weeks.
UNISON Scotland local government committee chair Colette Huntersaid: “This result must be a wake-up call for COSLA that council workers need to be fairly rewarded for the essential services they provide. Staff have experienced years of cuts to their pay levels and a reversal has to begin.
“The last thing anyone wants to do is go on strike, but local government workers deserve a fair increase to stop their pay lagging further behind inflation, and the wage increases being given to other sectors of the economy.
“Workers have seen the value of their pay fall over the past ten years, often while being asked to do even more. They provide vital services to their communities by caring for the most vulnerable, educating children, waste and recycling and keeping people safe. Council workers deserve better.”
Sub-postmasters in Scotland who were wrongly convicted as a result of the Post Office Horizon scandal will be automatically exonerated today.
The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Act received Royal Assent yesterday (13 June 2024) and comes into force today (Friday 14 June).
The legislation was passed in the Scottish Parliament on 30 May 2024 to deliver justice to victims as swiftly as possible and enable them to access the UK Government financial redress scheme.
Working with the Crown Office, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and the Post Office, the Scottish Government will notify those affected and ensure police and court records are amended. There is also a route for victims to bring their cases to the attention of Ministers.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance has written an open letter to sub-postmasters setting out next steps.
The Justice Secretary said: “This legislation automatically exonerates sub-postmasters who were convicted of crimes of dishonesty that they did not commit due to the Post Office’s faulty Horizon IT system, meaning they are eligible to access the redress scheme.
“Of course, no amount of compensation can fully mend the lives that were torn apart by this miscarriage of justice. I do hope, however, that this legislation goes some way to righting the terrible wrongs of the past.
“I will be writing to those affected to tell them their convictions have been quashed and ensuring court records are changed, so the victims of this scandal can have their good names restored as quickly as possible. They have already waited too long for justice.”
The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Act automatically exonerates convicted sub-postmasters where the following criteria are met:
the conviction was for embezzlement, fraud, theft, uttering or an ancillary offence committed between 23 September 1996 and 31 December 2018
the person was carrying on a Post Office business, or working in a Post Office for the purpose of a Post Office business
the conviction was in connection with carrying on, or working for the purpose of the Post Office business
the Horizon system was being used for the purposes of the Post Office business in the relevant Post Office
Those who meet the criteria and whose appeals were refused in the High Court will also be exonerated.
Road policing officers are appealing for information following a serious crash on the A701 Liberton Road in Edinburgh.
The crash, involving a black Honda CBR 650 motorbike and a blue Skoda Octavia, happened around 12.35pm on Wednesday afternoon (12 June, 2024).
Emergency services attended and the 29-year-old male rider of the motorbike was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.
The driver and passenger of the car were not injured.
Two pedestrians, a 59-year-old woman and a 61-year-old man who were injured as a result of the incident were also taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
The road was closed to allow for investigations to be carried out and re-opened around 6.30pm.
Sergeant Birrell said: “Our enquiries are ongoing and I am appealing for anyone who has any information to contact us.
“I would particularly appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and who witnessed the crash or who has dash cam footage which may assist to get in touch.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1568 of 12 June, 2024.
The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio announces 2024 election marketing plans
Times Radio is hitting the road with an Election Bus tour
The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio launch “From Westminster to your World” marketing campaign
As the British General Election on July 4th approaches, Times Radio is excited to announce the launch of the Times Radio Election Bus tour.
Broadcasting live from a studio within the giant branded tour bus, Times Radio will travel across the country to listen to the voices of local communities and highlight the political issues that matter most to them.
Starting its journey travelling from Dover to London, the bus will visit key battlegrounds and politically significant areas up until polling day, including Glasgow, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Birmingham, and more.
At each location, Times Radio will provide real-time updates, expert analysis, lively debates, and must-hear interviews, ensuring listeners are fully informed on every twist and turn of the election campaign.
Along the way, the British public will be able to record messages for the next Prime Minister against a realistic No.10 Downing Street backdrop. Messages will then be incorporated into Times Radio’s programmes.
Tim Levell, Programme Director of Times Radio, said; “The General Election is the one moment when power flows to every individual person across the United Kingdom.
“We are delighted that the Times Radio Election Bus, complete with its state-of-the-art on-board radio studio, will be visiting communities right across the country, to hear the concerns and opinions of the voters who will decide our next government.”
The tour bus was supplied by Empire RV, the design, advertising and activation was created by The Tenth Man and produced by Extreme Productions.
Gethin Evans, UK Managing Director, The Tenth Man, added: “It’s been pretty exciting working with the team at one the worlds best known media brands as our founding client for the London office.
“It’s not very often you get the chance to help brands that are almost 250 years old – and we are delighted to help them promote Times Radio across the UK in a pivotal political period for the country.
“We’re taking current affairs on the road, without the boring bits.”
Coinciding with the launch of the tour, The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio have today also unveiled a new election marketing campaign. Created by News UK’s dedicated agency, Pulse Creative, the integrated campaign, “From Westminster to your World,” illustrates how these brands help customers better understand the real-life impact of the election on the issues that matter to them.
The striking hero social films feature British political icons – the red budget box, green Commons bench, Big Ben, and the door to Number 10 – in relatable scenarios, symbolising that Times journalism brings everyday context to Westminster politics.
These films are supported by a series of insightful social videos, created in partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times, and Times Radio’s editorial teams, that take a closer look at the key political issues set to shape the 2024 election.
Louise Agran, Marketing Director of Times Media, said; “This campaign demonstrates what sets The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio apart – insightful journalism that helps our subscribers and listeners understand the consequences of the election, and politics more broadly, so that they can make the right decisions for themselves and their families.”
Russell Ramsey, ECD of Pulse Creative London, said: “There’s a lot of negativity about Westminster party politics at the moment, so we wanted to tell a more relatable story about the election.
“This campaign highlights the real value of The Times by focusing on what truly matters in an election – the lives of the voters.”
Social media will be an important battleground for this election, so ‘From Westminster to Your World’ is designed to be social-native.
The campaign leverages a diverse array of social formats across various platforms, delivering multiple touchpoints with politically engaged audiences, ensuring The Times is active wherever opinions are shaped and debated.
The details for Edinburgh are:
Times Radio Election Bus x Edinburgh and the Lothians
Date: Friday 14th June
Time: 6am – 5pm
Location: Register Square, Edinburgh (next to Starbucks at St James Quarter entrance)
Topics to be discussed include:
The investigations into SNP finances and its impact on SNP performance in the capital
Two soldiers, whose remains were found in a cave, have been laid to rest with full military honours more than a century after their deaths. One of them is from Edinburgh.
The service for Serjeant (Sjt) John Smith, of Gloucestershire, and Gunner (Gnr) Charles Lightfoot, of Edinburgh, was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’.
It was held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Vendresse British Cemetery, France yesterday (13 June 2024).
Bearer Party led by Battery Sergeant Major P. Kinsey (Crown Copyright)
In 2015, French archaeologists working in caves near Chassemy noted an inscription on the cave wall:
15 Sept 1914
Here lies Sjt Smith and 3 Gnrs
29th Battery RFA
Despite the reference to four casualties, excavations revealed just two sets of remains. Research, genealogy and DNA testing have now found those remains to be Sjt Smith and Gnr Lightfoot.
Sjt Smith and Gnr Lightfoot were professional soldiers in the 29th Battery Royal Field Artillery. They arrived in Rouen just days after war broke out in 1914. Their unit worked their way east towards Belgium, and then south towards the Aisne and by mid-September they were fighting around the Aisne area.
On 13 September the troops marched from Cerseuil and halted at about 8.30am just north of Braine. German shells were bursting on the road, but they continued to Brenelle, and halted at midday until 5.30pm.
They stayed the night of September 13 to 14 in Brenelle and were then brought into action just north of the Chassemy to Brenelle Road. The Battery was heavily shelled and afterwards moved position. At dusk the Brigade moved to the east of the Braine to Brenelle Road.
The war diaries make no reference to casualties during these dates, but other records show the 29th Battery lost four men between 13 and 14 September. Evidence shows that a gun position was hit by a shell on 13 September, and this killed at least two.
The men known to have been killed by the shell were Sjt Smith and Gnr Lightfoot, whilst the other two men who died that day were Gnr Adams and Gnr Blyth.
By the end of the war their burial place was unknown, and all four were listed on the memorial to the missing at La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre. Whilst Smith and Lightfoot have now been identified unfortunately Gunners Blyth and Adams remain missing.
Alexia Clark, MOD War Detective said: “It has been a privilege to work on this case, and to be able to give these men the dignified burial they deserve, whilst offering closure to their family members.
“I am grateful to Sjt Smith’s cousin and Gnr Lightfoot’s great-nephew for offering their DNA to allow us to identify these men, and for the input other members of the families have offered to create a truly special service for them today.
“Whilst Gnrs Adams and Blyth remain unfound, we have also been able to remember them today, and acknowledge their sacrifice alongside that of their comrades.”
The military party and families of Sjt Smith and Gnr Lightfoot at the graveside (Crown Copyright)
Reverend Roger Grafton, Chaplain to 14th Regiment Royal Artillery said: “I am so excited to have been asked to take part in this ceremony at Vendresse.
“Last year I was asked to be involved in the burial of an unknown soldier at the Guard’s Cemetery in Lesboeufs, so to be invited to take part again so quickly after that is a real honour.
“I have served with the Royal Artillery for the last 10 years as a chaplain, and one of the Gunners’ straplines is “once a Gunner, always a Gunner. To be able to lay two of our own to rest today after so many years is a particular privilege.”
Head of Commemorations at the CWGC, Mel Donnelly, said: “We are thankful to everyone involved in helping to identify Sjt Smith and Gnr Lightfoot.
“It was moving and fitting to see them buried with full military honours at Vendresse British Cemetery, and we will care for their graves in perpetuity.”
