The gala has been a feature of the historic mining village for over 85 years and organisers kept the tradition alive during lockdowns by crowning the Gala Queen in a private family ceremony at Duntarvie Castle.
The events take place from Sunday 19 to Saturday 25 June, with the highlight being on the final day featuring the crowning of the 2022 Gala Queen followed by a parade around Winchburgh with over 250 children, the community growers, Winchburgh Wombles, the football club, bands and many more.
The event has been supported by Winchburgh Developments Ltd. Penny Lochhead, Community Engagement Manager, said: “We are delighted to be the main supporters for this year’s Winchburgh Children’s Gala.
“It has been great to support and take part in the return of this event and it is exciting to have the community come together for a week of celebrations, as it continues to expand and grow.”
Yvonne Ledgerwood, Winchburgh Children’s Gala Volunteer Committee Member, said:“We are delighted to be able to bring back the Winchburgh Children’s Gala to the village.
“It has been fantastic to see the local community and businesses come together in preparation for the gala and we are looking forward to a week of celebrations to mark this occasion.
“We would like to thank Winchburgh Developments Ltd for their continued support and for helping us make this year’s gala a celebration to remember.”
Latest round of Cashback for Communities funding opens
Community projects are set to receive up to £20 million over the next three years to continue supporting young people and communities most affected by crime.
Since the programme began in 2008, Cashback for Communities has taken funds recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act and provided crucial support to around 1.3 million young people across all local authorities.
Cashback has funded a wide variety of projects over the past 14 years including sports, arts, youth work and employability which provide extensive opportunities to raise the ambition and aspirations of young people.
The latest phase of funding will guide those most at risk of being impacted by crime, to more positive destinations while also helping young people to improve their physical and mental health.
Justice Secretary Keith Brown said: “Young people growing up in Scotland deserve to have an equal chance of success, no matter their background or circumstances and CashBack plays an important role in providing young people with the tools they need to reach their full potential.
“The valuable feedback from young people who have benefitted from the programme helped inform this latest round of funding. Participants reported that improving their mental health and wellbeing was a key priority for them due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which also links to our Vision for Justice in Scotland.
“This funding of up to £20 million will deliver a range of activities for young people between the ages of 10-25 and boosts the total funding made available to almost £130 million since the Programme began in 2008.”
Lauriston Castle will reopen its doors to the public this Saturday (25 June) with a weekend of activity for families.
Although the grounds and Mimi’s café have been open to the public, the Castle itself has remained closed. Visitors will once again be able to step inside the 400-year-old building and visit its collections.
In addition to the regular Edwardian themed tour, the team will host a brand-new fun family castle tour for the opening weekend where visitors can learn all about its history.
Costumed volunteers from Edinburgh Living History will be on hand to entertain visitors with stories from past-times and, in the gardens, there will be family art and storytelling activities with some special garden trails. Garden volunteers will be at the Castle main door with a plant sale and will be able to show visitors all the new work achieved in the gardens.
Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “It’s fantastic that Lauriston Castle will be fully open to visitors from next weekend. With the summer holidays almost upon us, many families might be wondering how best to fill their (hopefully sunny) days.
“To mark the reopening a special programme of events promises fun for all the family and a great opportunity to explore the 400-year-old Castle and it’s beautiful grounds. This is the first of many fun weekends I’m sure will be held and I would encourage everyone to visit this incredible castle by the sea.”
Twenty five MSPs joined Cats Protection at a parliamentary reception in Holyrood to discuss the charity’s work across Scotland to improve feline welfare including through its campaigning work.
The event, on 16 June, was sponsored by Mark Ruskell MSP and held to highlight ways that politicians can help support Scotland’s 685,000 pet cats and their owners.
Among the work discussed was Cats Protection’s campaign to encourage more landlords to allow tenants to keep pet cats, and its calls for compulsory microchipping of pet cats in Scotland.
Cats Protection’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland Alice Palombo said: “It was wonderful to welcome so many MSPs who were keen to find out how they can support cats and the people who care about them.
“Scotland is a nation of cat lovers, with 20% of households owning one, so their welfare is important to a huge number of people. While Scotland already has some strong legislation in place to protect cats, there is always more that can be done, such as banning snares and introducing fireworks licensing. We were pleased to discuss these priorities with so many MSPs as part of our work to help cats in Scotland.”
Cats Protection, the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, has a Scottish network of 24 volunteer-run branches, four adoption centres, and nine charity shops which also offer advice on cat care. In 2021, the charity rehomed 2,500 cats in Scotland and helped neuter 10,500 cats and microchip 1,600 cats.
To find out more about the charity’s campaigning work, please visit:
Aegon UK and Aegon Asset Management are pleased to announce that they will be supporting this year’s Pride Edinburgh on 25th June and Fife Pride later on this year.
After two full years away due to the pandemic, both Prides are back for 2022 for a celebration of diversity and LGBTQIA+ life in Edinburgh, Fife and beyond.
This year marks the 25th annual Pride Edinburgh, being titled Pride Edinburgh 25: Let it Be! The day will be filled with fun, inclusive events, including a march from the Scottish Parliament that ends with a music festival.
To make sure that everyone who wants to take part can, Aegon is sponsoring a Ride with Pride bus to help those more vulnerable the opportunity to join in with the march and the festivities.
As sponsors, and a major employer in Edinburgh, Aegon will also have a presence at the event to engage with attendees about Aegon, how the company celebrates inclusivity and diversity, as well as it’s sustainability initiatives.
When Fife Pride returns later this year, it will take place in the centre of Kirkcaldy, with activities from the likes of Surge theatre company, who, sponsored by Aegon, are running free street theatre workshops for the local community in the lead up, with participants being part of a performance on the day itself. Aegon employees will be supporting the workshop and will be there on the day.
Andy Manson, Chief Marketing Officer at Aegon UK, said:“After two years of having many big events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s really exciting that our communities can return to celebrating Pride in person again.
“At Aegon, we’re passionate about creating an inclusive working environment that celebrates all forms of diversity and individuality. We’re really excited to be supporting Pride events again this year: it’s just one of the ways we demonstrate our dedication to being an inclusive employer where everyone can be fully themselves and feel that they belong by celebrating our differences.
“After two years of virtual celebrations, it’s bound to be a fun, lively experience. We wish everyone who attends a wonderful time.”
Crowds at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are set to be taken on a thrilling Scottish musical journey by one of New York’s leading vocal groups at the 2022 showcase, Voices.
The Highland Divas will be showcasing their talentand sharing three incredible voices, making their debut on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
The Highland Divas are made up of Marla Kavanaugh, originally from Dunedin, New Zealand, and now living in LA, Margaret Kelly, originally from Falkirk, now residing in New York, and Georgia Johnson from Edinburgh, who is now based in Massachusetts.
With a collective ambition to share traditional Scottish music with the world and honour Scottish culture, the trio were formed in 2012. They’ve headlined New York City Tartan Week in recent years and have performed at iconic venues including, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre.
The performance at the Tattoo will wow audiences with its musical journey that spans the folk music of Scotland and New Zealand. From Celtic ballads, through to exciting, harmonised interpretations of both pop and classical music, the Highland Divas’ performance will have something for everyone.
One of the singing trio, Marla Kavanaugh, said: “We really want our performance to speak to the hearts of everyone whose lives have been disrupted or changed forever because of the challenges of the past two years.
“We want to bring hope and joy to the Tattoo this year with our performance and our voices. We’re spending a lot of time together just now rehearsing and learning the Scots Gaelic we need over a nice wee cup of Scottish Blend tea.
“We’re so excited and humbled to have the opportunity to perform in front of such amazing fans from around the world who will descend on Edinburgh this summer.”
The group have all grown up as huge fans of the Tattoo and have watched the performances from afar over the years.
Their set will include traditional Celtic songs, as well as a nod to New Zealand, creating a wow moment on the Esplanade and give a heartfelt expression of this year’s Tattoo theme, Voices.
Michael Braithwaite, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo said:“We’re thrilled to be welcoming The Highland Divas to the Tattoo, fresh from their recent performances at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Gardens in New York City.
“World-class vocalists of this calibre are an exciting new addition to our lineup and are the perfect fit for this year’s show, Voices.
“We have some special surprises planned when The Highland Divas take to the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle and can’t wait to share the magic with our audiences.
“If you haven’t booked tickets already, then I’d urge people to get moving. It’s going to be an incredible show.”
This year’s Tattoo performance will represent the collective power and connection of voice through a spectacular combination of music, dance, and military precision from some of the world’s leading armed forces and cultural performers as it returns with a bang this August 5-27.
The Show will run from 5-27 August 2022. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188.
Leading contractor, GRAHAM (formerly GRAHAM Construction), has pledged to support Scottish youngsters to establish a career in construction by joining the Young Person’s Guarantee (YPG) – a joint commitment to bring together employers, partners and young people across the country.
The £60 million Scottish Government led initiative aims to provide opportunities for all 16-24 year olds in Scotland through jobs, apprenticeships, further and higher education, training programmes and volunteering.
In addition to the existing apprenticeship and training opportunities at GRAHAM, including its dedicated GRAHAM Academy Scotland, the firm has joined the YPG to underline its commitment to supporting youngsters whilst future-proofing skills needed in the construction industry.
GRAHAM will now work alongside Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian; DYW Glasgow; DYW Fife; DYW North East and Action for Children to establish valuable partnerships which will see young people obtain both practical experience and academic accreditation with the team’s support.
Already through its partnership with Action for Children, GRAHAM has employed four youngsters in various positions across its live Glasgow build to rent (BTR) schemes, which are creating an abundance of community benefits and helping to address the demand for high-quality homes in the city.
Three young people are currently employed on Edinburgh projects and a further two apprentices will be joining the firm in August. Two Action for Children work trials have started at GRAHAM sites in Edinburgh and both have now secured full time roles, where they will be working across student accommodation and BTR schemes.
Suzanne Stevenson, social impact advisor at GRAHAM, said: “There are a number of young people across Scotland who face a variety of obstacles which prevent them finding a route into construction and a fulfilling career.
“At GRAHAM, we are proud to offer year-round apprenticeship and graduate programmes where over the last five years we have created more than 300 opportunities – many of which have extended into full-time employment.
“However, we are always looking at ways to enhance how we support our future generations and by pledging to support the YPG, we will now have national support to develop a workforce that has young people at its heart and help create a resilient industry for decades to come.”
GRAHAM is also a member of The 5% Club – an organisation consisting of companies committed to ensuring that at least 5% of their workforce over the next five years is comprised of young people on structured learning schemes.
Already across Scotland, 13% of GRAHAM’s workforce is made up of young people and its Building North region hosts a quarterly Young Persons Forum where younger colleagues come together to share ideas and network.
People in eligible groups who, for whatever reason, have not yet had their spring booster jab are being encouraged to make an appointment now.The call comes as Covid numbers in Scotland are rising once again.
These additional vaccinations have been offered to people aged 75 or over and those aged over 12 who are immunosuppressed, with clinics operating since early March until 30 June.
Anyone in these groups who has not yet come forward can book online or call the national vaccination helpline seven days a week to make an appointment which suits them.
Some health boards are also operating drop in clinics and details can be found on their websites.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I am pleased so many people have come forward for their spring booster, which provides important extra protection for our most vulnerable groups.
“Vaccination has been our most effective tool against coronavirus. However, the degree of protection offered wanes over time.
“We are seeing higher numbers of infections across our communities at the moment which is why booster vaccination is needed to maintain the best protection against COVID-19 for those at highest risk of severe effects from the virus.
“Almost 90% of over 75s and around two thirds of those who are aged over 12 and are immunosuppressed have already taken up the offer of a spring booster and if you have missed yours for any reason then you can rearrange it online at NHS Inform or by calling the helpline on 0800 030 8013 seven days a week between 8am and 8pm.
“We continue to encourage everyone to receive the doses they are eligible for as and when they become available.”
The national vaccination helpline number is 0800 030 8013.
Millions of people will be protected through strengthening regulation of interest-free Buy-Now Pay-Later credit agreements, under plans announced by the government today.
Lenders will be required to ensure loans are affordable and rules will be amended to ensure advertisements are fair, clear and not misleading.
UK Government will expand rules to cover other forms of unsecured short-term credit that pose similar risks to consumers, such as those used for dentistry work. Millions of people will be protected through strengthening regulation of interest-free Buy-Now Pay-Later credit agreements, under plans announced by the government today (20th June).
Buy-Now Pay-Later credit agreements can be a helpful way to manage your finances, allowing people to spread the full cost of a purchase over time. However, people do not currently have the usual full range of borrower protections when taking out this type of loan and they are rapidly increasing in popularity, resulting in a potential risk of harm to consumers.
Under plans set out by the government today it confirmed that lenders will be required to carry out affordability checks, ensuring loans are affordable for consumers, and will amend financial promotion rules to ensure Buy-Now Pay-Later advertisements are fair, clear, and not misleading. Lenders offering the product will need to be approved by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and borrowers will also be able to take a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen said: “Buy-Now Pay-Later can be a helpful way to manage your finances but we need to ensure that people can embrace new products and services with the appropriate protections in place.
“By holding Buy-Now Pay-Later to the high standards we expect of other loans and forms of credit, we are protecting consumers and fostering the safe growth of this innovative market in the UK.”
Today’s consultation response sets out the government’s proposals for regulation of the sector. Given its complexity, the government will publish a consultation on draft legislation toward the end of this year. Following this, the government aims to lay secondary legislation by mid-2023, after which the FCA will consult on its rules for the sector.
The government has also confirmed that other forms of short-term interest-free credit, such as those used to pay for dental work or larger items like furniture, will be required to comply with the same rules announced today, given the risks posed are similar and consumers should receive consistent protections from similar products.
These rules will apply to businesses who partner with a third-party lender to provide credit, and the government is asking for further stakeholder feedback to confirm whether they should also apply to online merchants who directly offer credit for the purchase of their own products.
Today’s announcement forms part of the government’s plan to grow the economy to tackle the cost of living. The Chancellor has provided £37 billion of support to help, including providing the eight million most vulnerable British families with at least £1,200 of direct payments this year – and giving every household right across the UK £400 to help with their energy bills.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a hit and run incident in Edinburgh.
The incident, which involved a car and a pedestrian happened at around 2.40am yesterday (Sunday, 19 June) in Easter Road.
The 21-year old male pedestrian was taken to The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment for serious injuries.
Detective Sergeant Dougal Begg said : “A young man sustained serious injuries as a result of this incident and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and witnessed the collision to come forward.
“I would also appeal to anyone who has any dashcam or mobile phone footage that could assist with our investigation.
“Police can be contacted by calling 101 and quoting incident number 0590 of Sunday, 19 June, 2022.”
