Just a wee reminder, Monday morning the centre is CLOSED for our staff meeting, and we’ll be opening our doors from 12pm. The Sharing Shelf will also be available from 12pm.
The rest of the week is packed with things to get involved in, from little ones to our over-50s, community groups, savings, the Sharing Shelf, Kidz Clubs, Pete’s Playden and more!
Homebaking is available from Tuesday, with prices starting from just £1.50
FOOD DRIVE — 9th September
Please help us help the community!
Whether you’re popping in for a group, grabbing a bargain, picking something up from the Sharing Shelf or just fancy a cuppa and a chat, there’s always a reason to come and see us!
Australian comedian Frankie McNair has won the 2026 Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, for Huge Ass Mindset, a stand-up comedy show about her experiences of complex PTSD resulting from childhood sexual abuse.
Huge Ass Mindset is the first comedy show to win the Mental Health Foundation’s annual Edinburgh award, which has been running since 2017. It is one of six shows to be shortlisted for this year’s award.
The Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award was established in order to highlight and support the most compelling new work about mental health at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The award is currently sponsored by the Cornwell Charitable Trust and offers a cash prize of £3000 plus additional support tailored to each winning artist.
Andrew Eaton-Lewis, arts programme officer at the Mental Health Foundation, said: “Over the past decade the Fringe has increasingly become a place where solo performers draw on extremely personal, sometimes traumatic real life experiences when creating their shows.
“It is a very difficult thing to do well, and safely, and is certainly not for everyone. But Frankie is a performer who has brought an exceptional level of skill and care to the task, having spent many years in therapy preparing herself to tell this story.
“The result is a show that dares to challenge the shame around childhood sexual abuse in a way that is brave, powerful and also funny in a way that few people would imagine is possible when talking about this subject.”
During her show, Frankie McNair takes care to reassure the audience that she has processed her traumatic childhood experiences through years of therapy, encourages them to leave the room if they need to, and provides resources after the show in case anyone is triggered by the material.
Huge Ass Mindset was one of six shows that were shortlisted for this year’s award. The others are:
Bog Witch (Traverse Theatre):
In a fraught summer of heatwaves and flash floods, climate anxiety is everywhere, but remarkably few shows are directly confronting the question of how it’s possible to stay happy and sane when the world seems to be falling apart around you.
One notable exception is Bryony Kimmings’ spectacular and very funny new show, which tells the story of a lonely first year living in a tumbledown cottage in the English countryside, as Bryony attempts to “plug back into nature” while feeling like she’s failing at every turn.
Parasocial Activity (Pleasance):
This new show from Gallus and Silly Mission Productions begins as an extended comic skit about writer-performer Briony Martha’s character, Jenny, meeting her idol, Hollywood actor James McAvoy, in a Glasgow coffee shop, before evolving into something much darker.
It’s an exploration of the recent phenomenon of ‘AI psychosis’, in which people struggling with isolation develop strong emotional attachments to AI chatbots which can become harmful, and, in this case, dangerous.
Giraffe (Pleasance): Abigail Weinstock’s semi-autobiographical show tells the story of Eliana, who grows up believing she is a sociopath, only to discover – with help from a therapist, a court order and an unexpected relationship with a child who seems to be going through something similar – that she should have been diagnosed with something quite different.
Giraffe compellingly illustrates the long-term mental health impact of growing up believing there is something “wrong” with you.
The End Of The World (Gilded Balloon): In Destiny Faith Nelson’s solo show, she plays Desiree, a young, lonely wannabe writer who decides to livestream her own suicide after becoming overwhelmed by the world and her own perceived failures, before realising, too late, that the man she shares a home with but barely knows has been invisibly going through his own mental health crisis.
The End of The World is a deeply affecting story of how social media can isolate vulnerable people from the world around them.
Water Colour (Traverse Theatre): Milly Sweeney’s debut play is the story of two lost souls in Glasgow, a kitchen porter and an art student, who both end up on the brink of suicide for different reasons but ultimately find solace in each other’s survival.
It’s a moving exploration of the complex factors that can push young people to the brink.
The shortlist for the Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award is selected in consultation with The Scotsman newspaper’s team of experienced critics as well as arts and mental health professionals.
Each year’s winner is announced at the Scotsman Fringe First Awards, the biggest theatre awards ceremony at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Since 2023 the award has been sponsored by the Cornwell Charitable Trust and dedicated to the memory of arts journalist Tim Cornwell, who died in 2022.
Tim worked for many years as the Scotsman’s arts correspondent and was part of the judging panel for the Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award, a subject close to his heart as someone living with Bipolar disorder. Tim died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism in June 2022.
Thanks to the Cornwell Charitable Trust, our winner will again be offered a £3000 prize plus a flexible package of support tailored to the needs of the show and its future development, which may include mentoring support and mental health training, support with funding applications and/or a contribution to production costs.
The Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award is part of the Foundation’s year-round arts programme, which also includes the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, one of the world’s biggest mental health themed arts festivals, which celebrates its 20th year in 2026.
The Mental Health Foundation also recently launched Performing Anxiety, a resource for people who want to make audience-facing creative work about mental health. The resource includes interviews with numerous artists who have made Edinburgh Fringe shows about mental health, including Bryony Kimmings, Caroline Horton, Selina Thompson and Amy Conway.
On Tuesday 1 September, the Volunteer Edinburgh Recruitment Fair 2026will bring together more than 60 charities, community groups and voluntary organisations under one roof.
It’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in volunteering to come along, meet organisations, explore different opportunities and find out how they can get involved.
Event details
Tuesday 1 September 2026 10am–5.30pm St Paul’s & St George’s Church, York Place, Edinburgh Free entry – no booking required
Do you know someone who might be interested in volunteering?
A friend, family member, colleague, neighbour, student—or someone who has recently said they’d like to give something back, meet new people, learn new skills or simply find out what’s available?
The more people who hear about the Recruitment Fair, the more opportunities there are to connect Edinburgh’s fantastic charities and community organisations with people ready to make a difference.
For more information and the latest updates, visit edvolfair.org.uk.
Local authorities will share £15 million to expand and enhance breakfast club provision from today, First Minister John Swinney has announced.
The funding will help councils deliver free breakfast clubs for primary school pupils across Scotland from August 2027, giving children a healthy start to the school day and helping reduce costs for families.
The announcement follows the opening of new breakfast clubs in East Lothian, at East Linton and in Letham Mains, during the Government’s first 100 days in office, delivering on a commitment to expand access.
Ahead of a visit to a breakfast club in East Lothian the First Minister said: “No child should start the school day hungry.
“I have seen first-hand the real impact and benefits that the breakfast clubs provide to pupils, parents and teachers. They give children a healthy start to the day, helping to ensure they are ready to engage and learn in class.
“For parents and carers, breakfast clubs allow for an early drop off at school while easing the pressure on family budgets at a time when rising bills and living costs continue to bite.
“The Scottish Government is continuing to do all it can to eradicate child poverty and put more money in people’s pockets. Alongside measures such as free school meals, these free breakfast clubs will help ensure more children are supported to succeed at school, regardless of their background.”
COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People, Councillor Tony Buchanan, said: “Local authorities deliver a wide range of services for children and families and are best placed to understand and respond to the needs of their communities.
“This agreement provides an opportunity for local authorities to expand and enhance breakfast provision in a way which meets local need. I look forward to continuing to work together to support our children, young people, and families across Scotland.”
Further measures to eradicate child poverty will be set out by the First Minister in his Programme for Government tomorrow (Tuesday).
Celebrate National Cinema Weekend at Vue venues in Edinburgh with £4 tickets – including summer hits Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey
National Cinema Weekend is a two-day celebration of the big screen experience – from the latest blockbusters and family favourites to indie horrors and classic re-releases.
To mark the occasion, Vue is offering £4 tickets across all films and seats on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September.
Highlights include summer hits Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odysseyand Toy Story 5, which will all be showing over the weekend of the promotion. Ridley Scott’s latest film The Dog Stars, a post-apocalyptic drama starring Jacob Elordi, will also be screening.
Family favourites such as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie and Cars will also be screening over National Cinema Weekend, not to mention the David, the animated musical re-telling of David vs. Goliath.
Meanwhile, horror fans can also catch new releases Insidious: Out of the Further and indie horror Leviticus.
The offer applies to all screenings on Vue’s biggest screen, EPIC by Vue. Featuring HDR by Barco to create breathtaking colour sharpness and next level Dolby Atmos 3D sound, it’s the perfect way to celebrate National Cinema Weekend.
Film lovers can also enjoy Vue’s biggest and comfiest seats, Ultra Lux, as part of National Cinema Weekend. Strategically positioned to give the best possible view of the big screen, Ultra Lux seating also features an extra-wide armrest, back and leg rests that recline independently, personal table for snacks and beverages and a state-of-the-art wine cooler – the most luxurious way to immerse in a great story, with tickets at just £4.
Film lovers can also enjoy Lux seating as part of National Cinema Weekend. Offering extra space, soft leather seating, a headrest and armrest, plus a foldaway table for snacks and drinks, Lux recliners are the perfect way to immerse in a great story – with tickets at just £4.
Ian Chester, General Manager at Vue Edinburgh, said: “It’s been an incredible year for film, from the huge blockbusters to indie horrors – and everything in between.
“This National Cinema Weekend, we want to celebrate the big screen experience by giving back to our audiences. We encourage everyone to make the most of the celebration and enjoy a film at Vue.”
For the films and session times available at Vue, visit www.myvue.com or check out the app. For open captioned screenings, look for the OC accessibility attribute before booking.
Sir Chris Hoy’s stage four prostate cancer diagnosis has highlighted the importance of understanding the often-silent nature of the disease, after the six-time Olympic gold medallist revealed his cancer had spread to his bones.
Hoy has previously spoken about how he had no obvious symptoms of prostate cancer and initially sought medical advice after experiencing shoulder pain. A scan subsequently revealed a tumour, with further investigations finding that the primary cancer was in his prostate and had spread to his shoulder, pelvis, hip, ribs and spine.
In response, Dr Karen Faulkner, Associate Medical Director at Panthera Clinic, says Hoy’s experience is a powerful reminder that men should not wait until they feel unwell before taking their prostate health seriously.
Comment from Dr Karen Faulkner, Associate Medical Director at Panthera Clinic: “Chris Hoy’s diagnosis is a powerful reminder that prostate cancer does not always announce itself with obvious symptoms, and by the time symptoms develop, the disease can already be advanced.
“One of the most dangerous misconceptions about prostate cancer is that you will know when something is wrong. Chris Hoy’s experience demonstrates why this isn’t necessarily the case. He had no clear warning symptoms and initially sought medical advice because of shoulder pain, only for investigations to reveal that the cancer had originated in the prostate and had already spread to his bones.
“While every patient’s circumstances are unique, his story highlights why men shouldn’t use feeling fit, healthy or symptom-free as reassurance that everything is fine.
“Prostate cancer can develop silently, particularly in its earlier stages, which means men need to be aware of their individual risk rather than simply waiting for their body to tell them something is wrong.
“Symptoms men should speak to a healthcare professional about include:
Needing to urinate more frequently, especially at night Difficulty starting or stopping urination A weak or interrupted urine flow Feeling that the bladder doesn’t fully empty Blood in the urine or semen Pain or discomfort when urinating Persistent pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis
“However, it is important to stress that prostate cancer may not cause any noticeable symptoms in its early stages. The absence of symptoms should not necessarily be taken as reassurance, particularly for men who have other risk factors.
“Age remains one of the biggest risk factors for prostate cancer, with the likelihood of developing the disease increasing as men get older. Family history is also important. Having a father, brother or son who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer can increase an individual’s risk.
“Ethnicity is another important factor, with Black men statistically more likely to develop prostate cancer and often at a younger age.
“These risk factors do not mean that someone will definitely develop prostate cancer, but they can help healthcare professionals assess an individual’s level of risk and determine whether further investigation or discussions about testing may be appropriate.
“For men who are over 50, have a family history of prostate cancer or belong to a higher-risk group, Chris Hoy’s story is an important reminder not to wait until something feels wrong before speaking to a healthcare professional.
“It is also important to remember that prostate cancer is not one single disease and that a diagnosis does not automatically mean the same outcome for every patient. Treatments and outcomes vary depending on factors including how advanced the cancer is, where it has spread and how it responds to treatment.
“Chris Hoy has also spoken openly about continuing to live his life and finding hope despite his stage four diagnosis. His experience is an important reminder that even when cancer is advanced, patients should have open conversations with their healthcare team about treatment, symptom management, support and their individual options.
“For anyone who has been prompted by Chris Hoy’s story to think about their own health, this is a good opportunity to speak to a healthcare professional rather than waiting for symptoms to appear.
“The key message is simple: feeling healthy does not necessarily mean you are free from prostate cancer. Knowing your risk, understanding the potential symptoms and having conversations with a healthcare professional can all play an important role in detecting and managing the disease.”
Gilded Balloon is delighted to announce Verona Verbakel as the winner of the 2026 Filipa Bragança Award for her outstanding solo performance in Only Fans for Therapy at Zoo Playground.
The Filipa Bragança Award recognises an exceptional lead solo performance by an emerging female, female-identifying or non-binary actor in a theatre production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Established in 2017 in memory of the gifted actor Filipa Bragança, the award celebrates the extraordinary talent of performers working at the Fringe and honours Filipa’s own remarkable contribution to the festival.
Filipa delivered defining performances in critically acclaimed Gilded Balloon productions including Echoes and Angel before her untimely death in 2016, aged just 25.
Uniquely, the award considers eligible solo performances from across the entire Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with judges independently scouting work across venues throughout August.
Following weeks of intensive viewing by the judging panel, this year’s shortlist reflected an exceptionally strong field of solo theatre. Judges highlighted the outstanding standard of writing, characterisation and performance across this year’s Fringe, with Verona Verbakel ultimately standing out for the depth, originality and sheer commitment of her performance in Only Fans for Therapy.
Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon, said: “Filipa was an extraordinary young actor whose talent, generosity and presence made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of seeing her work.
“It is incredibly important to us that this award continues to celebrate the kind of bold, brilliant and distinctive solo performance that Filipa herself represented.
“Verona’s performance this year was completely compelling ,she commands the stage with remarkable skill and vulnerability, and we are thrilled to recognise her with the 2026 Filipa Bragança Award.
“Every year, the standard of work considered for the Filipa Bragança Award makes the judging incredibly difficult, and this year was no exception. We saw an extraordinary range of solo performances from artists working across the Fringe, but Verona’s work stayed with us.
“Only Fans for Therapy is fearless, uncomfortable and deeply human, and Verona gives an extraordinary performance at its centre. We are delighted to celebrate her achievement and to continue Filipa’s legacy through an award that champions emerging performers and the power of solo storytelling.”
The winner of the 2026 Filipa Bragança Award was presented on Friday at The Scotsman Awards.
City of Edinburgh Council Has Passed The Most Extensive List of Firework Control Zones So Far
Animals and vulnerable residents in Edinburgh will benefit from protections from fireworks noise, as the city has confirmed an extension of the successful Firework Control Zones policy, championed by Greens.
Five FCZs for two years were confirmed for Corstorphine, Longstone, Gracemount, Moredun and Sighthill/Broomhouse with a further five at Lochend, Liberton, Stenhouse/Gaskell, Wester Hailes and West Pilton. These join existing Zones in Balerno, Calton Hill, Niddrie and Seafield.
14 Zones will operate in total.
Edinburgh Green spokesperson for Culture and Communities Dan Heap welcomed the move saying: “Fireworks noise an be extremely distressing for vulnerable residents and also pets, as almost any dog and cat owner will tell you, and we also have strong evidence that they pollute the air and water.
“That’s why it is so crucial we have today extend FCZs further, encompassing a large part of the city.
“I am proud of the role Greens have played in championing these essential protections for people, paws and planet.”
On 25th September, I would like to invite anyone who has been affected by knife crime to come along to the Knife Angel (writes LISA PETRIE).
This will be an opportunity for us to come together, remember those we have lost, and show our support for those who have been injured or affected by knife crime.
If you have lost someone to knife crime, been injured yourself, or know someone whose life has been impacted, please feel welcome to join us.
I would also encourage you to bring a photograph of your loved one, yourself, or someone affected, if you feel comfortable doing so. We will also be lighting candles in remembrance and to honour those whose lives have been changed forever.
Everyone affected by knife crime is welcome.
Let’s come together as a community, remember those we have lost, support those who are still with us, and stand united against knife crime.
The Knife Angel will take centre stage at the Kirkgate at the bottom of Leith Walk in Edinburgh from September 1st to September 30th 2026.
Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, Places for People Scotland and other partners will be working with schools, businesses and communities to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives and the impact of violence.
New social impact partnership supported by £200,000
Proposals to help cut reoffending and keep young people safe from crime and anti-social behaviour are to be developed through an innovative new partnership funding approach.
The Justice Social Impact Partnership (SIP), supported by £200,000 of Scottish Government funding, is a new way of developing and funding interventions. It brings together nine organisations – across service providers, funders and public bodies – to design three project proposals by the end of March 2027.
The Justice SIP will focus on:
creating safe spaces for young people
diverting young people from crime and anti-social behaviour
preventing reoffending and supporting reintegration into communities
Social Investment Partnerships ask investors to provide upfront funding for a project, and they are repaid based on the outcomes it achieves, allowing new ideas to be tested without financial risk to the public purse if they don’t succeed.
This work is also expected to help inform how similar funding and delivery models might be used elsewhere in government.
Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, said: “Preventing violence and diverting young people away from crime means working across the whole system, with police, charities, communities and investors all playing a part.
“This partnership brings together that breadth of expertise to design practical projects that give young people safe spaces and trusted adults, and support people to move away from crime and rebuild their lives.
“It builds on our existing commitment to prevention, including our continued investment in Cashback for Communities, and creates a new way of bringing funding into our communities so that early intervention work can be tested, proven and scaled.”
The following organisations form the membership of the Justice Social Impact Partnership:
The Scottish Government Social Investment Scotland The Growth Partnership The Robertson Trust YMCA Tayside Community Justice Scotland National Social Work Agency Scotland Bean Research (evaluation) University of Oxford’s Government Outcomes Lab (evaluation)
The fund will support the partnership’s work over the coming months, including technical, financial and legal expertise needed to develop robust, investable projects
Tuesday 1 September 2026
10am–5.30pm
St Paul’s & St George’s Church, York Place, Edinburgh
Free entry – no booking required
