North Edinburgh News – Page 1182 – The NEN

New Moderator faces ‘hefty challenges’

The head of a Christian charity which fights global poverty has been elected the next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, who has led Christian Aid in Scotland since 2016, will serve as the Kirk’s ambassador at home and abroad for the next 12 months.

The 59-year-old said she is “beyond humbled, inexpressibly honoured and more than a wee bit excited” to represent the Church in this role.

Mrs Foster-Fulton is looking forward to meeting and encouraging people involved in church work at local, national and international levels at a time of unprecedented challenge and opportunity.

She was passed the official ring and chain of office by the outgoing Moderator, Very Rev Dr Iain Greenshields.

Mrs Foster-Fulton said: “I am beyond humbled, inexpressibly honoured and more than a wee bit excited to be your Moderator.

“Thank you for your trust, your prayers and the commitment you share to be part of the body of Christ in this place.”

Mrs Foster-Fulton told the General Assembly that she has gone a “bit rogue” with her choice of official Moderator clothing but said there is a reason.

Mrs Foster-Fulton’s jacket was made by Stewart Christie & Co, bespoke specialist tailors in Edinburgh. It is based on the traditional moderatorial jacket but has been developed into a female cut.

It is made of an 18oz piper green barathea, a type of weave of cloth.

“It has felt like an extraordinary time in the life of the planet, the life of the country and the life of the Church of Scotland,” said the Moderator.

“Green is the liturgical colour for ‘ordinary time’ and it reminds us, throughout history, the world, the country, the Church, have experienced extraordinary challenges,” she added.

“And it has been the grit, the determination and the hopeful imagination of individuals and communities who have risen together to those challenges.

“Ordinary time is extraordinary and we know what is at stake – all we need to do is look around us.

“There is a South African phrase ‘Ubuntu’ – best translated ‘I am because you are’.

“The body of Christ has work to do – love to share, justice and equity to seek.

“When I look at you wonderful people, I see an audacious hope.

“So General Assembly, right reverend, let’s roll up our sleeves and bring it.”

Born and raised in South Carolina in the USA, Mrs Foster-Fulton is married to Rev Stuart Fulton, a fellow Church of Scotland minister who serves the parish of Newlands South Church in Glasgow.

The couple, who live in Glasgow, have two adult daughters, Alex and Gracie.

The new Moderator has experience working in parishes, hospital chaplaincy and was convener of the former Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland from 2012-16.

Ordained as a Church of Scotland minister in 1999, Mrs Foster-Fulton’s first charge was Camelon Irving Parish Church in Falkirk where she spent four years.

The married couple took up the role of co-pastors for the PCUSA congregation in Seneca, South Carolina, and stayed for four years before returning to Scotland, the place that the Moderator Designate considers home.

In 2007, Mrs Foster-Fulton was appointed associate minister at Dunblane Cathedral where she served for 10 years before taking up her current role at Christian Aid.

She recently became a grandmother and she said her new role has “shifted her perspective and given new meaning” to her commitment to try and make the world a better place.

“There are hefty challenges facing the Church of Scotland, there are monumental challenges facing the world and the church is not exempt,” added the Moderator. “Across our global neighbourhood, we face a triple threat, ones that feed on each other – climate change, conflict and COVID.

“Together, they add pressure on well-being, a sense of home and culture, on finances and resources – and sadly unsurprising, it is the most vulnerable who suffer most.

“Being a living, breathing, reforming and loving body of Christ in this place continues to be the mission and ministry of the Church of Scotland.”

Dr Greenshields told the new Moderator that he recognised that this is a “proud moment” for her and her family. “You bring considerable and unique experience with you to this important role and calling,” he said.

“Your face and voice are well known to the General Assembly as you served as convener of the Church and Society Council and helped to advance the Church’s work on human rights, climate justice and support for people struggling with poverty in Scotland as well as overseas.

“You campaign relentlessly for what is right in Christ’s name.

“It is in your DNA to be a voice for those in greatest need in our world.

“It is a privilege to honour someone of such vigour and determination and faith should be chosen as the next Moderator of the General Assembly.

“May the Lord bless you in all that you seek to do to promote the cause of Christ.”

Edinburgh Local Heritage Network launched

A network to support, develop and promote local heritage groups across the capital city has been launched by their Honorary President, the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge.

The Edinburgh Local Heritage Network (ELHN) launched on Wednesday 10 May with the aim of developing and sustaining relationships between local heritage groups and with Council services – predominately Archives, Libraries, and Museums and Galleries – and encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The launch was attended by 17 representatives from a variety of local community groups, organisations, and societies across the city. The network will meet on a quarterly basis with plans to develop a searchable directory of heritage groups within the city and to collaborate on shared issues and opportunities, as well as events and fundraising.

Membership is only available to heritage groups and organisations based within the city, and not to individuals. If you belong to a group that you think might benefit from this network, please contact us at archives@edinburgh.gov.uk

The ELHN aims to welcome commercial, creative, and national partners in the future, once they are more formally established.

The Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge said: “Edinburgh is a city globally renowned for its heritage, history, and culture and as such I am very pleased that so many local groups around the city are committed to preserving and enhancing this for future generations.

“I was delighted to attend the launch of the Edinburgh Local Heritage Network and to assume the role of Honorary President. I am sure that through collaboration between the Council and local groups we will see many exciting, member led, and locally driven projects come to fruition over the coming months and years.”

The full list of organisations that comprise the ELHN at the time of the launch are:

Old Edinburgh Club

Cramond Heritage Trust

Cramond Association

Juniper Green and Baberton Mains

Portobello Heritage Trust

Victorian Schoolroom, History of Education Centre

Heart of Newhaven Community

Heart of Midlothian Football Club

Colinton Local History Society

Queensferry History Group

Yards Head Leith

Leith Cultural and Heritage Trust

Cockburn Association

Lothian Family History Society

Craigmillar Now

Currie and District Local History Society

Living Memory Association Leith

Wee Museum of Memory

Bridgend Farmhouse

If you would like to join or to volunteer for one of these groups, please email:

archives@edinburgh.gov.uk

Letter: Volunteers needed to support people with hearing loss

Dear Editor

RNID, the charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus is looking for volunteers to support our vital work across the UK.

Volunteers Week (1-7 June) is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the amazing impact our volunteers have. Last year, they gave more than 7,740 hours of their time to support people in their communities with practical information and support with hearing aids. This year, we need you to help us reach our goals and ensure that everyone in the UK can benefit from support.

Volunteering for RNID could involve providing information to local organisations and community groups, helping people get the most out of their hearing aids, or giving a friendly welcome to everyone who passes through the door at one of our support sessions.

Many of our volunteers have hearing loss themselves or in their family, and volunteering with us is a great way to meet new people, gain new skills and experience, try something new and help people in your community.

What are you waiting for?

For more information, visit www.rnid.org.uk/volunteering or contact us at 0808 808 0123. You can also text us at 07360 268 988.

Yours sincerely,

Jackie White, Director at RNID

Call for Chair of Edinburgh International Film Festival

Returning Edinburgh to a ‘must attend’ in the film festival calendar

Screen Scotland is facilitating the appointment of a Chair to lead the formation and operation of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) from 2024 and a return of Edinburgh to a ‘must attend’ in the film festival calendar.

As the EIFF’s primary public funder, Screen Scotland has been working with industry to develop an initial vision for the re-imagined Festival, and this will inform the selection of the Chair.

The ambition at the heart of this vision includes:

The establishment of an Edinburgh International Film Festival from 2024 that embraces its origins as a festival of discovery and its location in Edinburgh in August with a focus on creative origination and a participatory, experiential approach.
A compact, compelling programme of new fiction features, documentaries and shorts augmented by gala and retrospective titles, as well as live events, providing an interplay between the world’s most exciting new voices and revered, established talent. This dynamic will play out against the backdrop of the world’s largest cultural event – Edinburgh’s August festivals – in any number of imaginative ways to be developed by the Film Festival’s creative team.
Filmmakers in selection will be given a unique platform as part of a select programme. They will be invited to play and create with other makers and storytellers from across the Edinburgh festival landscape. The EIFF will aim to offer a high-profile prize in each competition section.
EIFF will aim to attract diverse and younger audiences due to its energy, programming and proximity to the Festival Fringe.
For those attending the festival from industry, the EIFF’s official programme will also provide an experiential programme of events and unique talent mixers to encourage creative executives, talent agents, producers and acquisitions execs to engage with talent from across the storytelling and visual art landscape.

Isabel Davis, Screen Scotland’s Executive Director said: “This is a golden opportunity for EIFF to seize the unique spirit of festival, creation and discovery that August in Edinburgh represents.

“It will take an exceptional individual to breathe new life into the rekindled Festival – one who can identify and encourage a team to be ambitious, playful, creative and entrepreneurial, who understands the financial challenges and commercial opportunities ahead, and bring strong governance skills into the setup process.

Davis added that: “EIFF in August is a counterpoint to the nationally significant and highly respected Glasgow Film Festival in March, with both festivals providing exposure for Scottish talent across the year and offering a diverse, high-quality range of films to audiences across Scotland.

“We’re especially thankful to 2023 EIFF programming director Kate Taylor, who will be announcing her selection in the weeks to come and who is already embracing the spirit of 2024 and beyond. And enormous gratitude to the Edinburgh International Festival who have thrown a sisterly arm around EIFF for 2023 and are generously hosting it in this exceptional year.”

Culture Minister Christina McKelvie said: “Following the 2023 edition of the film festival taking place under the umbrella of the Edinburgh International Festival, I am delighted that Screen Scotland are taking these steps to secure the future of the EIFF for 2024 and beyond.

“Given this key moment in the film festival’s prestigious 76-year history, I am sure there will be a lot of interest in this exciting and important role. It is an opportunity to take forward the vital work of the film festival and the strategic part it plays not only in the overall line-up of our international summer festivals in Edinburgh, but in shaping the future of Scotland’s burgeoning screen sector.”

The recruitment pack provides full details and how to apply. Deadline for applications is 12 noon, Monday 12 June, 2023.

Twenty things you didn’t know about The Real Mary King’s Close

Hidden underneath Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Mile lies an abandoned world, eager to tell its story. Mary King’s Close was once vibrant and bustling with life, filled with traders and Old Town residents.

When the plague arrived during the 1640s, the street’s close quarters made a perfect breeding ground for infection, permeating its homes and affecting the lives of the residents.

Today, The Real Mary King’s Close is one of Scotland’s top tourist attractions, inviting curious souls to journey underground, encounter fascinating former residents, and relish in secrets and stories never told before.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the attraction – 20 years of shedding light on Edinburgh’s dark past and teaching us about the extreme living conditions and harsh effects of social hierarchy during the 17^th Century.

To commemorate this milestone, here are 20 things you didn’t know about The Real Mary King’s Close:

The Real Mary King’s Close has welcomed over 3.5 million visitors since opening its doors in 2003.

The Real Mary King’s Close currently runs 13,000 tours per year.

Since 2003, The Close has produced over 250,000 hours’ worth of tours.

Every year, since 2019, 32,000 people have taken home a souvenir photo to remember their time visiting The Close.

In 2022, 46% of The Real Mary King’s Close’s guests were international visitors, with 15% of all guests being American in 2022.

In August 2022, The Real Mary King’s Close launched a new audio guide app for foreign visitors, which now has over 9.5K downloads on the Apple Store.

The Close was named Mary King’s Close in 1694 after Mary King, who lived there for ten years between 1635 and 1645. During her own time, it was still known as Alexander King’s Close.

Mary King died in 1645, the same year as the eleventh and final outbreak of the plague in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh’s last Plague Doctor, George Rae, was a common sight on The Close during the 1645 outbreak of the plague. To protect himself from infection, he wore a striking costume made up of a large cloak and beak-like mask.

In the 17^th-century Mary King’s Close, ran between The Royal Mile and the Nor’ Loch – a man-made lake that was eventually drained to become today’s Princes Street Gardens.

Contrary to popular belief, Mary King’s Close was never abandoned. The last family to live on the street remained in their home right up until the late 19^th century.

In 1993, the renowned Japanese psychic, Aiko Gibo, visited The Close and communicated with the spirit of “Annie”, a small child who is said to haunts the site’s preserved 17^th-century house. Visitors have been leaving dolls where Annie was discovered ever since.

Since then, The Close has collected almost £100,000 in donations from Annie’s room. This money goes to local charities chosen by the team. In recent years, the team has donated to Cash for Kids Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland, Make a Wish Scotland, Stonewall, Strut Safe and The Edinburgh Children’s Hospital, among others.

Mary Queen of Scots spent her last night in Edinburgh, before she abdicated in June 1567, on Stewart’s Close, which runs parallel to Mary King’s Close and can be visited on the tour today.

During the Second World War, the site was used as an air raid shelter by members of the council.

One of Mary King’s neighbours was Dr Arnott, a local physician who specialised in internal medicine. He typically had to drink urine in order to assess the health of his patients!

In June 2003, Kind Charles III, visited The Real Mary King’s Close for its opening year. He also gifted a wooden chest which, up until last year, sat at the foot of Annie’s doll pile to collect donations for local charities. The Close now has the King’s box displayed in its Admissions Office on The Royal Mile.

The Operations Management team – which includes the Operations Manager, two Operations Duty Managers and the Tour Guide Team Leader – were all previously Tour Guides at The Real Mary King’s Close.
The Real Mary King’s Close has had its own tartan since 2013, which was designed by Kinloch Anderson. All the Guests Services team members wear the tartan as part of their uniforms.
During its peak seasons, The Real Mary King’s Close team expands to around 65 people from its core team of 30 full-time employees, who work at the attraction all year round.

To celebrate its 20^th anniversary, The Real Mary King’s Close is hosting ‘Underground Unlocked’, an exclusive event where guests will have the opportunity to roam the hidden streets beneath The Royal Mile at their own leisure.

Visitors will come face-to-face with thirteen fascinating former residents, including Mary King herself and Dr Arnott, who was one of the wealthiest residents of The Close.

With a flair for the nitty gritty, Dr Arnott had some rather unique methods of diagnosis, his favourite technique being to analyse his patients’ urine for its colour, smell and…TASTE!

Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “Back in 2003, we opened our doors under Continuum Attractions to reveal the real stories of Mary King’s Close and its former residents. Since then, it’s been such a huge part of Edinburgh’s historical tourism sector for the past 20 years.  

“We wanted to celebrate by giving our customers the chance to explore it like they’ve never seen it before, and immerse themselves in the rich history Edinburgh has to offer. 

“At The Real Mary King’s Close, we are passionate about storytelling and creating unforgettable experiences that transport our visitors back in time. We can’t wait to welcome them to ‘Underground Unlocked’ and give them our most immersive experience yet.” 

The special ‘Underground Unlocked’ experience will be running on Thursday 25^th May from 18.30 until 21.00. Tickets are £29 per person. Spaces are extremely limited, so pre-booking is highly recommended.  

For more information and bookings please visit:

https://bookings.realmarykingsclose.com/book/underground-unlocked/207

Scottish based children’s charity set to bloom at RHS Chelsea Flower

First time exhibitors, Semple Begg partner with Teapot Trust to reveal their fantasy ‘Elsewhere’ garden with signature ‘Dolly Mixture’ stream

Scottish based charity Teapot Trust and Scottish-Swiss design studio, Semple Begg prepare to reveal their Elsewhere Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Teapot Trust is a charity at the forefront of transformative mental health support that provides art therapy to children, young people and their families living with chronic conditions. The show garden marks a rare Chelsea appearance for Scottish charities and designers and is made possible by a grant from Project Giving Back who provide funding for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

One in four children and young people in the UK live with the pain and stigma of chronic health conditions that cause anxiety and depression. Almost a third of those aged under 21 who take their own lives have a long-term chronic illness. The charity’s art therapy gives children and young people a release from the burdens of chronic illness allowing them to take some control, to express and process their feelings about their diagnosis, their treatment regime, and the impact of their condition on daily life.

Sarah Randell, Chief Executive of Teapot Trust said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have a show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and delighted to finally reveal the Elsewhere Garden which up until now has existed only in our imaginations. The opportunities this will give Teapot Trust are hugely significant. It’s a platform from which we’ll share the impact of our work and draw more children and families in need to us so they can access our art therapy without barriers or cost.

“Semple Begg has done a fabulous job creating the Elsewhere Garden which perfectly illustrates the release that art therapy gives children, taking their minds to a place of escape.”

Ruth Girvan, Chair of Trustees of Teapot Trust said: “My daughter suffers daily physical and mental pain from an invisible chronic condition.

“The support we had from Teapot Trust to access art therapy helped Neve find ways to understand her condition, her treatment and has enabled her to navigate a world where she faces barriers and stigma often on a daily basis. RHS Chelsea gives Teapot Trust the opportunity to spread awareness, giving more children and young people like Neve access to transformative art therapy.”

The Elsewhere Garden is a fantasy garden representing a child’s imagination as it blossoms in response to the freedom gifted by art therapy. Through this escape into art, children find coping strategies to deal with life. For inspiration, the designers looked to Willy Wonka’s factory, to Oz and Wonderland.

Susan Begg of Semple Begg said: “The design process began with a workshop with children benefiting from Teapot Trust art therapy. We were blown away by the imaginary worlds they created in their artworks, the art therapy literally took them ‘elsewhere’.

“Normal rules didn’t apply. In art therapy, children use their imaginations and creativity to explore their fears and ultimately resolve them. From these insights grew the Elsewhere Garden – a place where a child’s imagination blooms in response to the freedom gifted by art therapy. Where the inner world of a child’s anxiety is expressed as an outer wonderland.”

Nicola Semple of Semple Begg added: “We’ve used plants to paint a picture of what ‘elsewhere’ might look like. A glimpse inside a child’s imagination where there are bright pockets reflective of joy in conquering fear such as our signature ‘Dolly Mixture’ stream, a ribbon of Candelabra primulas, and quieter, more dramatic, almost spooky areas around our Picea trees reflective of the spaces where fear can be safely explored. There’s fun, there’s fear and there’s things that can’t be entirely explained… like dancing grasses.”

Scottish composer and sound artist Michael Begg and audio visual artist Kathy Hinde have created a unique experimental soundscape to bring the garden to life. The work comprises kinetic water sculptures, dancing grass, sonified data from multiple ambient sensors and live weather feeds along with ambient field compositions mapping to different areas of the garden space; underground, over ground and the canopy.

Following Chelsea, the garden will be relocated to a permanent home at Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow which serves areas of social need, where chronic illness in children is 2.5 times more prevalent. An inclusive safe space to help overcome barriers to accessing healthcare, it will be used for outdoor art therapy and all patients and visitors will be welcome.

Drylaw Telford CC meets on Wednesday

COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING

DRYLAW TELFORD Community Council’s next meeting will be held on Wednesday 24 May at 7pm in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre (enter via rear of building).

Open to all and we would love to see some new faces.

For more information, please email pamhigginsdtcc@gmail.com or just turn up on the night.

Hope to see you then

Appeal to help trace missing man

HAVE YOU SEEN DAVID CALVERT?

POLICE in Edinburgh are appealing for information to help trace David Calvert who has been reported missing. The 41-year-old was last seen in the Carrick Knowe area at around 1.55pm yesterday (Sunday, 21 May, 2023).

David is described as being around 5ft 11in in height, of muscular build, with short brown hair and blue eyes. He has a number of distinctive tattoos on his neck, arms and hands.

When last seen he was wearing a back Nike Teck tracksuit, grey/blue Nike Air 95 trainers and was carrying a small black North Face bag.

Inspector Graeme Dignan said: “Our enquiries are ongoing to trace David and I am appealing for anyone who has seen David or who has any information on his whereabouts to contact us.

“I would also appeal to David himself to get in touch with local officers.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1891 of 21 May, 2023.

Gillespie Macandrew to sponsor Great Glen Challenge 2023

Agricultural charity RSABI is delighted to announce its flagship annual outdoors team event, the Great Glen Challenge, will this year be sponsored by expert legal advisors to the rural sector, Gillespie Macandrew.

Last year’s event raised over £42,000 to support the work of RSABI which provides practical, emotional and financial support to people in Scottish agriculture. As well as offering an event with a unique team-building spirit, the Great Glen Challenge also highlights the importance of fitness in maintaining good physical and mental health.

To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week (May 15 to May 21), the charity is launching its annual drive for teams to sign up to this year’s Great Glen Challenge to help raise awareness of the vital services it provides, including its 24/7 Helpline. Nine out of 10 calls RSABI receives to its Helpline – 0808 1234 555 – now involve emotional support, and demand for its counselling services has trebled during the past year.

The Great Glen Challenge 2023 will take place on Friday 25 August when competing teams of four plus a support driver will take on the multi-sports race, with four designated stages set out between Fort Augustus and Fort William, covering a scenic 49km route.

Competitors will cycle, kayak, walk, and run to a prize-giving reception at Neptune’s Staircase, located at the end of the route, with the designated driver picking up and dropping off fellow team members at various locations along the Great Glen Way.

Consisting of a 49km mountain bike, 6km kayak, 18km walk, and 17km run, the event is designed to challenge teams, encouraging dedication and teamwork from the onset of training up until the day of the event.

After competing in the 2022 Great Glen Challenge, Gillespie Macandrew has signed up as this year’s overall event sponsor and will also have two of their own teams competing in the event.

The firm, with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth, advises clients across Scotland and the UK on all areas of land and rural business, private client, commercial real estate, energy, tax and disputes, combining a personal approach with industry-leading expertise.

Lois Newton, Partner of Land and Rural Business at Gillespie Macandrew, said: “The Great Glen Challenge is a fantastic team event, showcasing Scotland’s beautiful landscape and the excellent work of RSABI.

“The Gillespie Macandrew team has significant experience of the challenges of working in the rural sector and we are proud to support the efforts of RSABI in providing assistance.”

Carol McLaren, RSABI Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to bring this highly anticipated event back once again. Now in its 11th year, the event is very popular and our thanks go to all those who have taken part in the past and everyone signing up this year.

“The 2023 challenge wouldn’t be possible without the generous sponsorship of Gillespie Macandrew who we are looking forward to collaborating with to produce yet another successful event.

“Longstanding supporters of RSABI, Gillespie Macandrew are leading the way with two teams already signed up to take part and we are grateful for their commitment. Our thanks also to the volunteers who help us run the event and to our media partners, The Scottish Farmer.”

Entries to the Great Glen challenge are now open.

Teams can be submitted by completing the Sign-Up form which is available on the RSABI event page: www.rsabi.org.uk/event/rsabi-great-glen-challenge-2023/

UK Space Agency announces Space for Everyone summer tour across the UK

This summer, an out-of-this-world experience is set to tour 10 locations across the UK, exciting the next generation about career possibilities within the growing space sector.

The UK Space Agency’s Space for Everyone tour will showcase the role of space in improving life on Earth and highlight the diverse and varied career paths open to young people looking to enter this fast-growing industry – demonstrating how space works for them, and how they can work for space.

The tour will feature a 72 feet replica rocket for young people to learn more about how the UK is launching into space, and also include hands-on experiences to engage and fire up the imagination. Trained hosts and industry experts will be on hand to share more about the role of satellites and the varied careers available in the UK space sector.

British astronaut Tim Peake said: “The Space for Everyone tour will demonstrate the incredible capacity of space to inspire. It took thousands of people to make my mission to the International Space Station possible and there is a huge variety of careers on offer in space right here in the UK.

“I hope this activity sparks an interest in the future generations who will take our space sector to new heights.”

The Space for Everyone tour will visit:

Southampton – West Bargate: 1-5 June
Swansea – Dylan Thomas Square: 22-26 June
Leicester – National Space Centre: 29 June – 3 July
Bradford – Centenary Square: 6-10 July
Belfast – Cathedral Gardens: 20-24 July
Aberdeen – Queens Links: 3-7 August
Newcastle – Times Square: 10-14 August
Hull – Queen Victoria Square: 17-21 August
Great Yarmouth – Sea Life Gardens: 24-28 August
Hastings – Hastings Pier: 31 August – 4 September

Ian Annett, Deputy CEO at the UK Space Agency, said: “Our Space For Everyone tour is an exciting opportunity for our next generation to see first-hand what it is really like to work in the space sector and to learn about careers in this growing and exciting industry.

“The space sector requires various skills – many not traditionally associated with it – and champions inclusivity and the need for innovation. You don’t have to be a rocket, as there are a host of skills and talents needed to bring space closer to our daily lives and improve our understanding of this critical part of the environment for the benefit of the planet and its people.”

Aside from inspiring the next generation, this tour is about highlighting the opportunities within the space industry for people of all backgrounds; championing inclusivity and the need for innovation. The roadshow is free and open to all ages, and the hope is that it will ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, and maths in everyone who attends.

Find out more about the Space for Everyone: Rocket Roadshow on the website or follow UK Space Agency on social media.