Tinderbox Collective hosts conference & exhibition exploring the intersections between creative technology & game-design with arts, education & community work
Sat 24 October 2026 10:00 – 16:45 at Out of the Blue
Tinderbox Collective hosts one-day conference and exhibition exploring the intersection of creative technology, games, the arts, education and community sectors.
What happens when artists, game designers, educators, technologists and community organisers get into the same room? Who gets to shape the technologies entering our schools, cultural spaces and everyday lives? How can artists create work that’s not only interesting, but useful, playful and genuinely for people?
Expect inspiring talks, thought-provoking panels, interactive exhibits and plenty of opportunities to share ideas, spark conversations and make new connections
Tech experience both welcome and not needed – open to artists, designers, educators, youth & health workers, and researchers
PlayAway is back with a one-day gathering for anyone curious about where creative technology, games and interactive media meet the arts, education and community work.
Expect honest conversations, practical demos, new ideas and plenty of time to meet the people behind the work. You don’t need to be a tech expert – or any kind of expert – to take part. Come with questions, share what you’re working on and have a look around.
Talks and panels will feature artists and organisations such as Olesya Ilenok, Martin Disley, Farhad Ahmed, Drake Music Scotland, Datakirk, Youth Link Scotland, Produced Moon, Visible Fictions, Biome Collective and more.
Hear about immersive musical experiences for children in hospitals, how creative technology can help organisations connect with communities, and how emerging technologies such as AI might interact with this work.
Tinderbox Collective will be hosting a ticketed conference and a free exhibition of digital works. Exhibits include Tamagotchi Seance #3: Memory Garden, Nick Murray’s experimental narrative game inviting players to build a collaborative memory garden; Stone Life I, II & III, Iona Zawinski’s playful interactive sculptures; Lowtek Lightbook, Alastair Low’s pop-up game book where players interact through a projected character; and Phone Call from the Edge of the Universe, Lucy Middleton’s narrative game played through a phone booth.
The day will finish with an informal get together at Leith Victoria Bar, offering the chance to continue conversations, share ideas and make new connections.
Tinderbox Collective Senior Producer Luci Holland says: “It’s great to be bringing communities together to explore these topics, and to share the learning and work within them.
“We ran the first PlayAway online during the pandemic in 2021, and so much has changed since then. Now feels like the right time to be diving back into these questions and starting new conversations about technology and how it can be used creatively across different sectors.”
PlayAway for a Day takes place Saturday 24 October 2026, 10am-4.45pm.
“Pupils voluntarily handed weapons in” – Council funds performances for local high schools
Leith-based charity Strange Town is taking its powerful knife-crime play BALISONG back into Edinburgh schools this autumn, as part of the Knife Angel project, with performances planned for pupils across 13 high schools.
The production, written by award-winning Scottish playwright Jennifer Adam and directed by Strange Town Artistic Director Steve Small, explores the consequences of carrying a knife through the story of a 15-year-old boy who brings a butterfly knife home after a school trip.
The tour comes at a time of growing concern about knife crime and youth violence in Edinburgh. Police Scotland figures show that crimes committed in a public place involving a knife rose by 29% between 2022/23 and 2024/25, from 178 offences to 250.
Strange Town has seen first-hand the impact theatre can have in opening up difficult conversations with young people. When BALISONG previously toured schools, pupils voluntarily handed in weapons after seeing the production.
The play was originally commissioned by No Knives Better Lives and, between 2017 and 2019, toured schools in every local authority in Scotland. It has since been brought back to Edinburgh as part of Strange Town’s wider programme of high-quality theatre for young audiences.
The charity’s Touring Company has now delivered 62 free performances to more than 7,000 pupils across 25 Edinburgh schools, tackling issues including knife crime, consent, online bullying and climate anxiety.
Each performance is followed by teacher-led discussion, giving pupils the opportunity to reflect and talk openly about the issues raised.
Steve Small, Artistic Director and Joint Executive Director of Strange Town, said:“We know BALISONG works because we have seen what happens when young people encounter it. On our previous tour, pupils voluntarily handed in weapons. Teachers told us that the play opened up conversations they simply could not have started in the same way themselves.
“That is why we are so pleased to be taking BALISONG back into Edinburgh schools as part of the Knife Angel project. Theatre doesn’t lecture young people or tell them what to think. It allows them to see themselves, their friends and the consequences of choices in a different way, and then gives them the space to talk.
“We will be working with 13 high schools during this tour. At a time when concerns about knife crime and youth violence are so high, it is vital that we give young people opportunities to have these conversations before a crisis happens.
“We are incredibly grateful to the City of Edinburgh Council for supporting this project and helping us bring this work to young people. We also want people to understand that organisations like Strange Town cannot deliver this work without ongoing support.
“If you believe young people deserve access to ambitious, high-quality theatre that can genuinely make a difference, please come and see BALISONG at the Traverse and consider supporting the future of Strange Town.”
That impact has also been recognised by teachers working directly with pupils. Head of Drama at Drummond Community High School said: “As a drama teacher, I see firsthand the transformative power of live professional theatre in shaping young minds.
“It allows for meaningful discussion and reflection on themes that are current to the society they live in.”
Martin Hutchison – The City of Edinburgh Council said:“Tackling knife crime and youth violence requires a partnership approach, with prevention and early intervention at its heart. We are pleased to support the return of BALISONG to Edinburgh schools as part of the wider Knife Angel project.
“Creative approaches can provide young people with a safe and engaging way to explore difficult issues, challenge perceptions and have conversations that might otherwise be difficult to start.
“Reaching pupils across 13 high schools gives this project an important opportunity to engage young people directly and encourage positive choices.
“We are grateful to Strange Town for the important work they continue to do with young people across Edinburgh and look forward to seeing the impact of this project.”
The Edinburgh tour forms part of the wider Knife Angel project, which aims to bring communities together to raise awareness of the devastating impact of knife crime and encourage prevention and positive action.
Strange Town believes that high-quality theatre has a unique role to play in this work. By putting young people at the centre of a compelling story, BALISONG creates space for empathy, debate and reflection rather than simply presenting statistics or warnings.
The charity is also inviting members of the public to support the project by attending a special performance of BALISONG at the Traverse Theatre at 7pm on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th September.
The public can also help Strange Town continue its work with young people by making a donation to support future productions, school tours and accessible creative opportunities.
Strange Town is a Leith-based charity that has spent more than 18 years creating accessible, high-quality theatre and creative opportunities for young people.
Its Touring Company works with professional emerging artists to create original productions specifically for young audiences, bringing theatre directly into schools and creating opportunities for pupils to engage with challenging issues in a safe and accessible environment.
The Balisong Theatre production is funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and Forth Ports, and is part of a wider programme of events whilst the Knife Angel Sculpture is in Edinburgh – supported by Places for People Scotland and Police Scotland.
More bikes than cars at morning rush hour for the first time on Leith Walk
More bikes than cars at morning rush hour for the first time on Leith Walk, Edinburgh
67,572 cycle journeys recorded on Leith Walk in the month of May, a 25% increase on May 2025
Record share of journeys on York Place being made by bike
New traffic data analysed by Cycling Scotland, Scotland’s national cycling charity, shows the continuing success of high-quality cycle lanes, with record levels of cycling seen on key routes in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Over a 48-hour period in May 2026, traffic surveys recorded 5,653 bike journeys on Edinburgh’s Leith Walk – a record at this location.
Cycle journeys accounted for 11% of all methods of travel on Leith Walk, with more bikes than cars counted during one morning rush hour period (8-9am, Wednesday 13th May) – the first time this has been observed on an on-street cycle route in Edinburgh.
On nearby York Place, where protected cycle lanes now connect the City Centre West East Link route to Leith Walk, 2,018 bikes were recorded over the 48-hour period, amounting to 4.7% of all travel methods recorded, both marking new records for the location.
This cycling modal share is a significant increase on the first survey conducted on York Place in May 2021, when bikes accounted for only 2.1% of journeys – a sign of the growing impact of the new cycling infrastructure.
In addition to results from this 48-hour traffic survey, a permanent cycle counter on Picardy Place at the top of Leith Walk has been recording its highest levels of cycle traffic in 2026. 67,572 cycle journeys were recorded through all of May 2026 compared with 54,193 throughout May 2025 (an increase of 25%).
Great Junction Street in Leith saw a record 2,043 bikes counted over the two days, with a cycling modal share of 4.4%. This follows the recent completion of Leith Connections project, with a new protected cycle lane connecting Leith Walk to Commercial Street.
At all of these locations, strong peaks in cycling were seen at morning and evening rush hours, indicating that more people are travelling by bike for everyday journeys, like commuting to and from work.
Analysis of traffic levels also shows that long-term increases in cycling modal share at these locations are primarily due to more people cycling, rather than any corresponding decrease in vehicle traffic.
Traffic surveys carried out by Cycling Scotland, in partnership with local authorities, involve a temporary camera counting all passing traffic at more than 50 locations across Scotland. The surveys count all travel modes including pedestrians, bikes, cars, buses, vans and larger goods vehicles.
Conducted biannually each May and September, with funding from Transport Scotland, these nationwide traffic surveys help to track changes in modal share, highlighting how new high-quality cycle routes are supporting more people to make sustainable journeys.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn said:“I am pleased to see Cycling Scotland’s latest figures on cycle lane use in Edinburgh. The record levels of use across the city particularly on Edinburgh’s City Centre West-East Link demonstrates the infrastructure we are providing is helping more people than ever travel by bike for everyday journeys.
“Active travel is pivotal in helping people save money, improve their health and reduce transport emissions – walking, wheeling and cycling is transformational for both people and planet.
“We are investing £226 million in active and sustainable travel this year, and the evidence shown by these figures highlights how this funding is creating safer and easier routes that will lead to more people choosing to walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys.”
Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, Edinburgh City Council Transport and Environment Convener, said:“These new figures speak for themselves.
“Over the last year, we’ve seen city cycling records being consistently broken. This is a direct consequence of our commitment to creating and improving cycling infrastructure across Edinburgh, as part of our City Mobility Plan.
“We’ve also seen the overwhelming popularity and success of our cycle hire scheme, delivered by Voi, providing a convenient and economic way for people to get around.
“It’s never been easier to cycle in the Capital, so I’d encourage anyone thinking about it to give it a try.”
Keith Irving, Chief Executive of Cycling Scotland, said:“What we see clearly from the data is where Edinburgh invests in protected cycle lanes and improved networks of cycling routes, more people are travelling by bike.
“The high volumes of cycling that we continue to see around morning rush hour tells its own story, with people evidently using these new routes to make everyday journeys by bike, including to work. We’re also seeing signs of a strong network effect, as routes begin to join together and make more journeys possible.
“Altogether, more people cycling is a net benefit for everyone, for our health, for reducing harmful pollution and reducing congestion on our streets. We need more safe cycling routes, to bring these advantages to more people across Edinburgh and Scotland.”
Local community invited to support Macmillan Coffee Morning at Utilita Energy Hub in Leith
A Cup of Kindness: Join Utilita Leith’s Macmillan Coffee Morning
Residents are invited to come together for coffee, cake and community spirit as the Utilita Energy Hub in Leith hosts a special Macmillan Coffee Morning on Friday, 25 September raising funds for people living with cancer across the UK.
Taking place at the hub’s free-to-hire community space, the event forms part of the UK’s biggest coffee morning fundraiser, organised by Macmillan Cancer Support. Visitors will be able to enjoy coffee, tea, homemade cakes and cookies, and community activities such as Name The Bear, while helping to raise vital funds for the charity.
The event will be held from 11am to 2pm at the Utilita Energy Hub, located at 41 Newkirkgate, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6AA and is open to everyone.
Funds raised will help Macmillan Cancer Support continue its work providing practical, emotional and financial support to people living with cancer and their loved ones.
Hub Supervisor Natasha Baillie said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Macmillan Coffee Morning and bringing our local community together for such an important cause.
“Community is at the heart of everything we do at the Utilita Energy Hub, and we hope residents will join us for a coffee, a slice of cake and the opportunity to help make a difference for people affected by cancer.”
Visitors can also find out more about the services and support available through the Utilita Energy Hub, which provides a welcoming space for local residents and community groups throughout the year.
A spokesperson for Macmillan Cancer Support added: “Donations from thousands of Coffee Mornings, big and small, help raise vital funds to support the almost 3.5 million people in the UK living with cancer, from the moment they are diagnosed, throughout treatment and beyond.”
The event is free to attend and open to all, although donations to Macmillan Cancer Support are welcome on the day.
Targeted crackdown has reduced knife robberies by almost a quarter in 7 forces since June 2024
More than 230 areas most affected by knife crime will see more police patrols, CCTV and early prevention work as part of a knife crime crackdown across 27 police forces in England and Wales.
The Home Secretary is backing local plans developed by police and councils to tackle crimes, save lives and protect local communities.
Each plan will be tailored to the area. They will combine tough police enforcement activity such as enhanced police patrols, alongside programmes designed for young people most at risk of being a victim or a perpetrator of knife crime.
There will also be improvements to public spaces, including better lighting and redesigning areas to prevent weapons being hidden.
Growing evidence shows that concerted action in small, targeted areas is the most effective way of driving down knife crime.
This crackdown comes as new data shows 7 forces – Metropolitan Police, West Midlands Police, Greater Manchester Police, West Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police, Avon and Somerset Police and British Transport Police – made real inroads into tackling an issue that has blighted communities across the country, identifying and arresting more people through the better sharing of data.
Across these forces, knife-enabled robbery has plummeted by nearly a quarter (23%) since the General Election – with more than 3,600 fewer knife robberies reported.
This builds on huge steps forward on knife crime since the government came into office. Overall knife crime is down by 11%, as the government continues to make progress towards its target of halving it within a decade.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, and no young life should be blighted by knife crime.
“Targeted policing and prevention, focused on the areas where the need is greatest, is already cutting knife robberies by nearly a quarter. That means safer streets, and fewer lives lost.
“I am now taking this approach to more than 230 areas across the country. This government is getting tough on knife crime and on the causes of knife crime to make our communities safer.”
On Thursday (17 September), Shabana Mahmood visited the West Midlands, one of the regions receiving additional funding through the Knife Crime Concentrations Fund.
She was joined at a local boxing gym, which plays a vital part in supporting vulnerable young people to stay away from crime, by members of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime: Lynne Baird MBE, Pastor Lorraine Jones Burrell MBE, and Pooja Kanda OBE.
Campaigning by these 3 women – who have all tragically lost children to knives – has helped keep the issue at the top of the national agenda and reinforced the need for action on enforcement, prevention and protecting young people from being drawn into violence.
Pooja Kanda OBE, founder of Justice for Ronan Kanda, said: Having lost my son Ronan, I know the devastating consequences of knife crime. Behind every statistic is a family and community that has been changed forever.
“These reductions are encouraging, but I am even more encouraged by the Home Secretary’s commitment to targeted action in areas experiencing the greatest harm. Enforcement is vital, but sitting equally alongside prevention and early intervention – reaching young people before violence sets in and addressing the circumstances that allow it to develop.
“Ronan’s Law showed what can be achieved when government, campaigners, policing and communities work together. The progress we are seeing matters. Now we must remain determined, build on it, and continue to give young people genuine alternatives and hope.”
Lynne Baird MBE, founder of the Daniel Baird Foundation, said: “The Daniel Baird Foundation welcomes the Home Office’s focus on tackling knife crime, and the targeted action being taken in communities most affected by violence.
“Reducing knife-enabled robbery and preventing young people from becoming involved in violence is vitally important. We commend the funding’s ability to be used for preventative measures, including education, early intervention and an understanding of the devasting consequences that knife crime can have.
“Our vision is in line with the government’s – stop the violence where we can. Prevention saves lives. Preparedness saves lives too.”
Pastor Lorraine Jones Burrell MBE, founder of Dwaynamics, said: “As a mother who lost my son Dwayne to knife crime, and as someone who has spent many years working on the frontline with young people, families and communities affected by violence, this announcement gives me greater peace of mind, despite the tears that will always remain. For me, it is loss mixed with hope.
“I particularly want to commend the Home Secretary for the leadership, determination and humanity being shown in driving this work forward. What stands out to me is that this is not only about policies, policing or statistics.
“There is a human approach at the heart of it: one that recognises the value of every young life and understands the devastating impact violence has on families and communities. As a bereaved mother, that matters deeply to me.
“Through my involvement with the government’s Knife Crime Coalition, the importance of grassroots organisations that bring people together around a shared determination to save young lives has been recognised.
“There is compassion alongside action, and that gives me hope. It shows our young people that their futures matter at the very highest levels of government. This is how we begin mending what has been broken.”
Patrick Green, CEO of The Ben Kinsella Trust, said: “The Knife Crime Concentration Fund is an important government investment in targeted prevention, directing resources to the areas most affected by knife crime and helping local partners focus support where it is needed most.
“We know that lasting reductions in knife crime are achieved when enforcement is combined with education, early intervention and strong community partnerships. I welcome the government’s commitment to a more joined-up approach that recognises the vital role prevention plays in tackling knife crime.”
Caroline Willgoose, mother of Harvey Willgoose and knife crime campaigner said: “This funding, targeted to the specific needs of local communities, is an extremely welcome step from the government.
“In Harvey’s memory, I will continue working every day to make sure that no parent has to suffer in the same way. I will do whatever is possible to make this funding a success, and thank the government for their focus and attention on stopping knife crime.”
Serena Wiebe, member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime said: “We welcome this investment and the targeted government approach being taken in the communities most affected by knife crime.
“The fall in knife-enabled robbery is encouraging and shows that when we understand where violence is happening and focus our response, we can make a real difference.
“What is particularly important is that this approach brings together targeted enforcement, prevention and community-led intervention. We need to intervene earlier and invest in trusted local organisations that understand their communities, can build relationships with young people and reach them before they get to crisis point.
“We have spent 20 years working with young people affected by violence and inequality, and one thing I have learned is that violence isn’t inevitable. By combining intelligent, targeted enforcement with long-term prevention, community expertise and opportunities for young people, we can make our streets safer and, most importantly, stop young people losing their lives.”
Faron Paul, Founder and CEO of Fazamnesty and member of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, said: “It is encouraging to see knife crime moving in the right direction, but there is still much more work to do.
“The £26.25 million Knife Crime Concentrations Fund is an important opportunity to bring enforcement, prevention and community-led intervention together in the areas experiencing the greatest harm.
“From our work on the ground, we know trusted community organisations have a vital role to play alongside police, councils and other partners. Every knife taken off the streets matters, but our ultimate goal must be preventing young people from picking one up in the first place.”
Leanne Lucas, Founder of Let’s Be Blunt CIC and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime said: “Early intervention does not mean simply educating children as young as possible. It means recognising risk and intervening at the earliest appropriate point – whether that is with a young person, an adult, a parent or a whole family.
“That intervention must also be trauma-informed. Prevention should never rely on fear, shock or distress. It should be age-appropriate, evidence-informed and delivered in a way that understands people’s experiences, builds trust and supports them to make safer choices.
“Families need education and support just as much as young people do. Parents and trusted adults are often the people best placed to spot changes, ask questions and help prevent situations from escalating.
“From both lived experience and through the work of Let’s Be Blunt, I have seen how important it is that national decision-making is informed by those working within communities every day.
“There is still much more to do, but it is encouraging to see government recognising the importance of local knowledge and giving areas greater ability to respond to what they are seeing on the ground. This investment is a positive step in supporting that approach.
“We cannot only invest after harm has happened. Prevention means acting sooner, working together and making practical, trauma-informed changes that reduce the opportunity for harm in the first place. That is where real, long-term change begins.”
Sacha Ray, CEO of Lives 2Not Knives and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime said: For over 19 years, Lives Not Knives’ model has been built on the premise that preventative action is far better than the cure.
“Knife crime statistics are moving in the right direction. It cannot be underestimated how preventative work such as the mentoring in schools, youth club spaces and knife crime roadshows, which Lives Not Knives deliver play a huge role in preventing more young people picking up a knife.
“Lives Not Knives welcome the government’s continued targeted approach and successful drive to reduce the blight of knife crime and the harm it causes.”
Anna-Mai Andrews, Interim CEO, Steel Warriors said: “Taking a knife off the street is where prevention starts, but it only lasts if young people have somewhere to go and someone to trust.
“Steel Warriors is where prevention persists; we melt down confiscated knives and forge them into free outdoor calisthenics gyms, with classes run by coaches from the same communities they serve. We welcome this holistic approach to prevention in the places that need it most, and we’re ready to work with local partners to give more young people opportunities for something new.”
Dr. Nathaniel Peat, founder of The SafetyBox said: “This is an excellent and much-needed move from the government. Knife crime cannot be solved by enforcement alone and the blended approach is needed.
“Lasting change happens when government, police, councils, charities, community organisations, schools, and local partners work together to address the root causes of violence. This is very promising news.”
Tracey Burley, Chief Executive, St Giles, said: “Any reduction in the number of young people being harmed through knife crime is welcome, and these figures show what can be achieved when there is sustained focus on the issue.
“But we cannot afford to become complacent. Lasting reductions will not come through enforcement alone. They require long-term investment in prevention, early intervention and trusted relationships with young people and their families.
“At St Giles, we see every day the difference that credible support, combining professional expertise with lived experience, can make.
“The real test will be whether we can sustain this progress and ensure that young people have the safety, support and opportunities they need before violence becomes part of their lives.”
Councillors have agreed to proceed with seven additional Visitor Levy-funded projects to protect and enhance heritage and cultural spaces across the city.
Following approval at Thursday’s Full Council meeting, transformative projects involving Leith Customs House, the Tron Kirk and the Portobello Kilns will be funded through the Levy’s Culture, Heritage and Events investment programme.
Meanwhile The Causey, Access to the Lost Shore and Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, City Centre Public Realm (including George Street and Princes Street), and developing a network of nature footpaths and walkways across the city will proceed under the Visitor Levy’s City Operations and Infrastructure programme.
Together, these projects are set to strengthen Edinburgh’s cultural offering, protect and revitalise nationally significant heritage buildings and public spaces, and improve access to natural and historic destinations across the city.
The seven projects were originally proposed at the special Visitor Levy budget meeting of the Council in February, where councillors agreed an overall funding package worth over £90 million over the next three years to sustain and enhance Edinburgh’s reputation as one of the most beautiful and enjoyable destinations in the world.
As with all of the other projects agreed under the Visitor Levy’s investment programmes, the proposals have been developed by Council officers, informed by feedback from public consultation and industry engagement, elected members and other stakeholders.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Our Visitor Levy is already beginning to strengthen the services and spaces that make our city so special and supporting these additional initiatives shows how we can continue to invest in projects that support a safer, more accessible and more welcoming Edinburgh for residents and visitors alike.
“Feedback from our partners and community groups across Edinburgh has played a central part in shaping these new proposals. From restoring the Portobello Kilns to improving public transport access to the Lost Shore and EICA, we’re confident these investments in our culture and heritage will deliver lasting benefits, encouraging visitors to see more of Edinburgh beyond our city centre.
“The projects reflect our ambition that the levy is a city-wide fund and spending decisions must be taken with the whole city in mind. We’re making sure Edinburgh continues to thrive and that the Visitor Levy delivers visible improvements for everyone who lives and works here all year round.”
ADDITIONAL PROJECTS OVERVIEW
Leith Customs House
Funding will support the development phase of restoring Leith Customs House, Scotland’s oldest Custom House and a Category A‑listed building.
The investment will enable essential preparatory work to progress the building’s transformation into an accessible community and creative hub, including delivering a proof‑of‑concept exhibition and an economic impact assessment to support future funding.
Tron Kirk
Investment has been approved towards the major restoration of the Tron Kirk, a landmark 17th‑century building on the Royal Mile that has been on the Buildings at Risk Register since 2023.
The funding will support a coordinated programme delivered by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, linking the restoration of the Tron Kirk with the redevelopment of Hunter Square.
The combined programme will repair and future‑proof the building, improve accessibility, protect vulnerable historic features and create new opportunities to develop local heritage skills and enhance visitor experiences.
Portobello Kilns
Investment has been approved to rebuild the 1906 Portobello Kiln, one of the last surviving industrial pottery kilns in Scotland and a key feature of the Portobello Conservation Area.
The project will restore the kiln to its original form alongside the previously conserved 1914 kiln, fulfilling the Council’s statutory obligations under scheduled monument consent and preventing further deterioration of this nationally significant heritage asset.
The project will be delivered in partnership with Portobello Heritage Trust and will be developed alongside wider proposed improvements to the Portobello Promenade through the Visitor Levy’s City Transformation Fund investment programme.
Nature Footpaths and Walkways
Funding has been approved to develop and improve nature footpaths and walkways across Edinburgh, encouraging visitors to explore destinations beyond the city centre such as the Pentland Hills, Cramond Foreshore and the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho.
The investment will support with developing designs, community engagement and works to create accessible, inclusive routes that enhance biodiversity, improve visitor experiences and deliver benefits for local communities.
The Causey
The Causey will transform West Cross Causeway into a people‑first public square with wider pavements, traffic calming measures and segregated cycling routes. Once complete, it will host performances, markets, art installations and community events.
The first phase will deliver core infrastructure improvements, while the second phase will extend upgrades towards Nicolson Street to improve connections with the wider area and improve public spaces.
Lost Shore & EICA Bus Services
A new six‑month trial bus service is providing direct links between the city centre, Lost Shore, EICA and Ratho. The trial will gather data on who uses the service to inform future decisions on a permanent service.
The amount of Visitor Levy funding supporting the service will be reviewed following the trial stage, reflecting the results of the data showing the proportion of visitors using the service.
City Centre Public Realm (Princes Street / George Street)
Funding will support potential work on major public realm upgrades across Princes Street and George Street to create more accessible, attractive and pedestrian‑friendly streets.
A report on the overall project will be brought to the Transport and Environment Committee outlining the need for public realm investment within the city centre, including both Princes Street and George Street.
These projects sit alongside those previously agreed in February to be delivered over the next three years, including (but not limited to):
Ambitious projects to renew and restore principal areas of Edinburgh, including investments in our town centre high streets and £2m and £2.5m respectively towards transforming the city’s key coastal visitor attractions at Cramond foreshore and Portobello Promenade.
£5m to restore Leith Theatre and create a year round culture and live music space, expanding cultural opportunity beyond the city centre.
£3m towards transforming the iconic Old Royal High School into a world class, accessible national centre for music, shaped by community engagement and open to all.
£2.75m to create a Market Street Arts Hub, reinvigorating the City Art Centre and creating a new arts and learning destination at one of the city’s major visitor gateways.
£3.85m to speed up the setted streets renewal programme and £3m for new and upgraded public toilets to maintain Edinburgh’s streets, public spaces and public infrastructure to a world-class standard.
Funding to ensure the city’s streets and open spaces are cleaned and kept to a high standard, including a £100,000 per year upgrade and replacement programme for bins in high footfall areas, £500,000 per annum to expand work to tackle graffiti through extra support for private businesses and £1.3m on additional operations services for the city centre (waste, cleansing, patrols).
Investing in our premier parks across the city to create improved spaces where the highest footfall and impact on the environment is experienced – and increases to the parks repairs budgets, while doubling the number of park rangers across the city.
Programmes to green the city with additional investment in planting, such as floral gateways, to improve the look and feel of the city’s green spaces as well as the overall visitor experience
In accordance with the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act (2024), funds raised by the levy must be reinvested in local facilities and services substantially used by business and leisure visitors. All investment streams will be formally reviewed alongside the overall scheme in 2029.
A Leith charity has just a few days left to try and keep an iconic local church building in community hands. Leith St. Andrew’s parish church is due to be sold off by the Church of Scotland and if sold to a private buyer, the local groups using the building will be forced to leave, with the wider community losing access to the building completely.
Leith St. Andrew’s Trust (LSAT) is a registered charity founded by concerned nearby residents; it is aiming to buy the building on behalf of the community so that it can continue to serve the people of Leith.
Volunteers have worked over the last two years to undertake feasibility studies, develop a viable business plan, and submit funding applications to secure the money needed to purchase the building.
The Scottish Land Fund (SLF) is currently considering whether or not to grant the funding that the trust needs to buy the church, with a final decision due at the start of October.
Despite hundreds of survey responses showing strong community support for the plans developed by LSAT, the charity has been told that the number of local residents actually signed up as members is likely too low for SLF to award the money needed.
In response, LSAT has launched a new membership drive, with door knocking, street stalls and a social media campaign, which has seen membership grow from just 47 local residents at the start of the recruitment drive to over 350 members in just 10 days.
The charity’s eligible membership area only contains around 4000 residents in order to comply with government and funding guidance on community ownership, so membership levels have now reached almost 10% of the entire eligible population.
Leith St. Andrew’s Trust has an ambitious target of recruiting another 450 members before the funding decision is made, but the deadline for updating the Scottish Land Fund on progress is 24th September so the charity has only a few days left.
Nina Ballantyne, Leith St. Andrew’s Trust board member said: “We need as many eligible residents as possible to join Leith St. Andrew’s Trust as members to help show the Scottish Land Fund that this will be a genuinely community owned and managed building.
“Membership costs just £1 for a whole year. We’ve made great progress already but want to keep pushing in the time left, as without the Scottish Land Fund grant, the journey to community ownership is a lot more difficult, if not impossible.
“For 145 years the building has been at the heart of the community, and with more members, it can be a place that brings generations of Leithers together for many years to come.”
For more information on the campaign and how to support its efforts, please visit www.leithstandrewstrust.org or search for ‘Leith St. Andrew’s Trust” on Facebook or Instagram.
Applications for LeithChooses 2026/27 still open – but just 4 weeks left to apply!
Constituted community groups are invited to apply for project funding of up to £5,000. As usual, projects should be new or adding new value (not continued funding of an existing service) that will be of benefit to the community in Leith.
Projects should be designed to start after 31st March 2027 and run until March 2028 at the latest. The theme for this year is ‘Greater Leith Harmony’ and the deadline for applications is 12th October 2026.
We welcome your applications using our online form at:
If you have any questions or would like any support with your application, please get in touch as soon as possible to allow time for discussions, by email at: leithchooses@edinburgh.gov.uk.
There’s still time to register for our final online applicant information session on 30 September 2026, 5.30pm to 6.30pm – Register to attend
We look forward to hearing your ideas for new projects.
GATHER is a brand new exhibition showcasing work by artists and community members from across Edinburgh, coming together for the very first time.
As well as artwork from the other hubs, the exhibition features 21 Art for Grown Ups members showing their work, plus our community banner (still a work in progress but almost complete!) on display alongside artwork created by NEA and Royston Wardieburn Community Centre members.
This is a truly special exhibition, and we’d love for you to join us!
GATHER EXHIBITION
Opening: Friday 11 September 2026, from 4:30pm
Main Exhibition: 12 – 26 September 2026
St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road, Edinburgh EH7 6AE
Free. No need to book.
The Creative Community Hubs Network consists of eight partner organisations based across Edinburgh: WHALE Arts, The Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Granton:hub, North Edinburgh Arts, Duncan Place Leith, The Crannie, Lyra and Craigmillar Now.
Education, Children and Families Convenor James Dalgleish welcomes an anti-knife crime initiative to the city:
“This week sees an unusual – but vitally important – visitor to Leith.
“Knife Angel has been installed at Kirkgate, a huge 27ft statue constructed with 100,000 knives and bladed weapons that have been confiscated by police forces from all over the UK. Raising the important topic of knife violence within young people, the statue was brought to the town with the help of Leith mum Lisa Petrie.
“Lisa lost her 22-year-old son John to knife violence last year and since has tirelessly campaigned to make young people aware of the dangers of carrying a knife. Through her grief she is bravely doing all she can to make young people aware of the dangers of knife crime.
“Knife Angel will be in Leith for one month and I hope it creates thought provoking conversations and encourages parents to talk to their children about the dangers of carrying a blade and what the repercussions can be.
“The installation is part of a month-long anti-knife crime campaign aimed at children, young people and the wider community.
“The Council funded 500 high school pupils to attend Code at the Fringe, a gritty physical theatre piece centred on knife crime and country lines and the realities of getting involved with gangs. Using rap, parkour and BMX stunts, the show received rave reviews and pupils tell me it raised important discussions with peers and teachers.
“Theatre production company Strange Town have been funded, with support from Forth Ports, to take Balinsong to high schools across Edinburgh.
“The theatre performance centres on knife crime and how a split-second decision can have devastating impact on a young person’s life. Thousands of pupils will see the show which is hard-hitting and previous audiences have agreed the messaging lives on long after the curtain falls.
“For younger pupils, 92 pupils submitted artwork centred on the theme of safety with the art being turned into a mosaic that covers an entire Lothian Buses bus. Pupils were asked how young people can help make Edinburgh safer and I was blown away with some of the suggestions and the creativity of the young people.
“The bus was launched last week and I have already spied it travelling down Princes Street – it is certainly eye catching and was a good way to involve younger children in the anti-violence campaign in an age-appropriate way.
“Working with partner agencies, I was shocked to learn that carrying a knife makes you over 40 per cent more likely to be a victim of knife crime. While knife carrying and violence is decreasing in our society it is clear that we need to continue to do all we can to continue this downward trend.
“Every life lost to knife crime is a tragedy and I would urge young people, teachers and parents to use this initiative as a talking point and make sure they know the dangers of carrying a bladed weapon.”
