I am experiencing problems when trying to upload new pictures and graphics due to a database running at 100% capacity.
I will have to do some serious deleting to free up space so there won’t be any more new posts today. I’m sure I’ll come across lots of images that will spark happy memories, though!
Be back soon – Happy Easter!
Police Scotland have released images of two males they believe may hold information which might assist in relation a serious assault in Edinburgh which occurred around 8.30pm on Saturday 7 December 2024 on Princes Street.
One of the males is described as white, aged approximately 18 years old, slim build, short light, brown hair. He was wearing a grey coloured Nike hooded jumper, a dark coloured cross body bag and dark coloured trousers.
The other male is described as white, aged approximately 20 years old, medium build, short dark hair and dark stubble. He was wearing a black Canada Goose gilet top with a dark top underneath and dark trousers.
Anyone who has any information about the incident or who recognises the males pictured is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3251 of 07 December 2024. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where you can give your information anonymously.
More than half a million more UK savers are in line for Government bonuses worth up to £25 a month to boost their cash pots and help ease rises in the cost of living, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced today.
As part of the Government’s mission to grow the economy and improve lives in every corner of the UK and to deliver its Plan for Change, Help to Save is now open to anyone working and receiving Universal Credit – rewarding 550,000 more people.
Its extension to April 2027 means more can benefit from the scheme, which has paid out millions of pounds in bonuses to more than 500,000 people since Help to Save was launched in 2018.
This is evidence of the Government backing the most vulnerable in society with 93% of savers paying in the maximum £50 every month to their Help to Save account.
In Scotland, 36,050 Help to Save savers have paid in a total of £33,584,000 into their accounts, since September 2018.
An account can be set up in less than 5 minutes and easily managed through GOV.UK or the HMRC app, making it accessible to people throughout the UK.
Savers who deposit the maximum amount of £2,400 over four years will receive a bonus totalling £1,200 into their bank accounts, with payments coming at the end of the second and final year.
Economic Secretary Emma Reynolds said: ““Security for working people is at the heart of our Plan for Change.
“We want more people to have a bit in the kitty for a rainy day, which is why we are giving hundreds of thousands more working families on tight budgets access to this support.”
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Thousands of customers have already benefitted from Help to Save and many more are now eligible to get a great return of 50% on top of their savings, no matter how little you can save each month. Go online or via the HMRC app to find out more and apply today.”
Savers can deposit between £1 and £50 each month earning an extra 50 pence for every £1 saved, with bonuses paid in the second and fourth years of the account being opened. The bonus payment applies to the highest amount saved within the period.
Nearly 18,500 people opened a Help to Save account via the HMRC app in 2024. App users have access to their savings account at their fingertips. They can view their account, check their balance and bonus details, and make a deposit via debit card, bank transfer or standing order.
Money can be withdrawn at any time, although this may affect the 50% bonus payments.
Michelle Highman, Chief Executive of The Money Charity, said: ‘We are really pleased to see the Help to Save scheme extended and made available to more people.
“It’s a brilliant way for people to start to save and to build their financial resilience and futures. Saving even just a little each month will help, and the added 50% bonus payment from the Government means that if you are eligible, then it’s a great place to boost your savings.”
Find out more about Help to Save at GOV.UK.
A 21-year-old man has been convicted of the murder of Lewis McCartney in Edinburgh.
The 18-year-old was found with serious injuries on Viewcraig Street around 3.45am on Sunday, 12 February, 2023. Lewis was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he died a short time later.
Bailey Dowling was found guilty of murder at the High Court in Edinburgh today (Thursday, 17 April, 2025). He will be sentenced at a later date.
This month, Edinburgh – the world’s foremost festival city – will welcome the Arts Festivals Summit 2025, the premier annual gathering of Europe’s most visionary festival makers.
From 27-30 April 2025, more than 200 festival directors, pioneering artists, and cultural leaders will assemble at The Hub – the iconic home of the Edinburgh International Festival, the original festival that sparked Edinburgh’s legacy as the festival city, 78 years ago.
Over four days of provocative dialogue, vital networking, and groundbreaking collaboration, the Summit will delve into the transformative power of festivals, examining how they drive innovation, ignite creativity, and forge unbreakable bonds between culture, cities, and communities worldwide.
Festivals are central to Edinburgh’s identity and success, drawing millions of visitors each year, generating substantial economic benefit, and enriching lives through access to world-class art and performance.
Hosted by the European Festivals Association (EFA), the Edinburgh International Festival, Festivals Edinburgh and the City of Edinburgh, the Summit will highlight Edinburgh’s unique position as a global leader in cultural programming, offering delegates the chance to engage with the city’s festivals and cultural organisations.
Francesca Hegyi, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Festival, said: “In Edinburgh, festivals are part of the city’s DNA and are a driving force for creativity and international exchange.
“Hosting the Arts Festivals Summit at The Hub reflects both the International Festival’s proud legacy in shaping cultural dialogue, but also its role in driving international connection for nearly eight decades.
“As we come together to share ideas, navigate common challenges, and explore new possibilities, we reaffirm the power of festivals not only as stages for artistic excellence, but as essential spaces for understanding, empathy, and collaboration across borders.”
The Summit will spotlight the transformative power of festivals, underscoring the substantial economic, social, and cultural value that festivals contribute to Edinburgh and to countries throughout Europe, and shaping strategies to ensure festivals remain vital forces for societal good.
The Summit’s dynamic programme will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops exploring the evolving role of arts and festivals in shaping cities.
Speakers lined up include author and social philosopher, Roman Krznaric; independent researcher and co-founder of think tank Culture Policy Room, Elena Polivtseva; CEO of International Society for the Performing Arts based in New York, David Baile; Director of Performing Arts at the Academy of Arts in Berlin, Nele Hertling; Head of the Arts for the Rural Development Foundation in Hungary, Natália Oszkó-Jakab; and Project Director of European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA), Donika Rudi among many others.
Sessions will address key issues such as sustainability, accessibility, and artistic freedom while also examining the relationship between festivals and emerging artists. Looking ahead, the programme will invite participants to consider the future of festivals in an ever-changing global landscape, fostering dialogue, innovation, and collaboration across the cultural sector.
Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said: “I’m delighted Edinburgh is hosting this year’s European Arts Festivals Summit – it’s a fantastic opportunity for festival makers to get together and discuss all the key issues we all face.
“As the world’s Festival City, Edinburgh exemplifies how festivals can unite communities, inspire creativity, and drive social change. This summit celebrates our city’s cultural leadership and the transformative power of the arts.”
Jan Briers, President of EFA, said: “To be with 200 festival makers from all over the world together in Edinburgh, the festival city of Europe, for 4 days, is a great opportunity for everyone to learn, connect, and plan projects.”
Scottish Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, Tracy Gilbert, has welcomed the lifting of sanctions on Syria.
Tracy Gilbert MP wrote to the Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer MP, following concerns raised by her constituent, Youssef Al Hariri. Al Hariri contacted Tracy Gilbert’s office expressing his deep concern about the ongoing sanctions in Syria. In response, the Minister confirmed that the UK had recently revised aspects of its Syria sanctions regime.
As of 6 March, the UK government lifted asset freezes on 24 Syrian entities including the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian Arab Airlines, and energy companies.
In a letter from the Minister for the Middle East to Tracy Gilbert MP, he confirmed that: “On 6th March we lifted asset freezes on 24 Syrian entities that were previously used by the Assad regime to fund the oppression of the Syrian people, including the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian Arab Airlines, and energy companies.
“These de-listings underscore our commitment to help the people of Syria rebuild their country and economy.”
Speaking after the meeting, Tracy Gilbert MP said: ““I was grateful to meet with members of the Syrian community here in Edinburgh and to share the government’s response.
“While these policy changes were already underway, it’s thanks to input from constituents like Youssef Al Hariri that the UK government takes the positive decisions to support Syria as it tries to end the decade long civil war, move on from the oppression of the Assad regime and develop for the future.”
Youssef Al Hariri said: “I am grateful to Tracy Gilbert for taking the time to visit our group today and for bringing positive news. This is an important step forward by the British Government, and it is most welcome.
“However, it is vital that this positive progression continues and at a swift pace to avoid further instability in Syria. I look forward to working closely with Tracy and her team as we continue to push for peace.”
Still to come at Edinburgh Science Festival 2025
From the science behind the seven deadly sins to the chemistry of Star Wars, there’s lots still to uncover at Edinburgh Science Festival 2025.
Running until Sunday 20 April, the Festival explores the challenges of living on a planet with finite resources, through the lenses of science fiction and space exploration with the theme Spaceship Earth.
This week’s highlights include:
A Climate of Truth (15 April)
We have all the technology we need to live better than ever before, and yet humanity is still accelerating into a climate emergency. Sustainability expert, Prof Mike Berners-Lee looks at the challenge from new angles, and reveals how the need for radically higher standards of honesty in our politics, media, and business is the single most critical point of leverage for those seeking change. Berners-Lee shows what all of us can do to be part of the evolution that humanity so urgently needs to deal with the polycrisis.
Seven Deadly Sins (15 April)
Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger. Do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply important and useful human functions that aid us? Professor of neurology, Guy Leschziner reveals the hidden science and humanity behind our so-called flaws and follies.
Mission Bake: From Bake Off to Blast Off (18 April)
Are you ready to see some “out-of-this-world” treats? Join scientist and Great British Bake Off finalist Josh Smalley as he showcases the wonders of space through the art of baking, with edible meteorites and macaron planets. Plus, space expert Dhara Patel from the National Space Centre will be bringing real meteorites to the show!
Josh Smalley also joins the Festival for The Easter Baking Show, also on 18 April.
Memory Lane: the Perfectly Imperfect Ways We Remember (18 April)
We often think our impressions of the past remain preserved somewhere inside our brains. In fact, we reconstruct our memories every time we try to recall them. But a faulty memory isn’t always a bad thing…Explore the cutting-edge science of human memory, the ethical implications of memory manipulation and the pitfalls of false recollections. Psychologists Ciara Greene and Gillian Murphy reveal the surprising benefits of a flexible memory system and explain why no two trips down memory lane are ever quite the same.
The Chemistry of Star Wars (20 April)
In a galaxy far, far away, there is a Star Wars universe packed with captivating science, from the biology of alien species to the astrophysics of hyperspace. But what about Chemistry? Join Alex Baker, a chemist from the University of Warwick, as he explores the freezing of Han Solo, the colours of lightsabers, the reactions that power star ships and much more.
DiscoveryLab (Running until 19 April)
Visit the Festival’s reimagined flagship family experience at City Art Centre and explore five floors packed with hands-on activities designed for all the family to get involved in. Children aged 5–11 can also book entry to one premium workshop including Splat-tastic, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Wild Vets.
To view the full programme, visit:
Community Council Elections 2025 : 2nd call for nominations update
A second call for nominations for the following 8 community councils opened on 27 March 2025.
Nominations close at 4pm on Thursday 17 April 2025.
If you work with networks, groups, or community organisations in any of these areas we would be most grateful if could pass on this information.
Anyone who wishes to stand should complete a nomination form signed in ink, and return it to the Governance Team at Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG by the closing date at 4pm on Thursday 17 April 2025. Alternatively, a mobile phone picture or scan of the nomination form can be returned by email tocommunity.councils@edinburgh.gov.uk by the same deadline.
Candidates can download a nomination form by clicking on the community council name above (download an example completed nomination form)
Local Interest Groups can download the Local Interest Group Nomination Form (download an example completed Local Interest Group nomination form)
Please visit our community council election webpages for more information.
SATURDAY 19 APRIL from 2 – 4pm
Are you based in Scotland, aged 18 or over, and looking to gain hands-on experience working behind the camera in TV?
The #HETVSkillsFund is partnering with Screen Scotland on this training programme offering aspiring trainees the chance to work across various departments on a TV production filming in Scotland!
Trainees will have the unique opportunity to learn directly from some of the industry’s top technicians and creatives, gaining essential skills and on-set experience.
Read more about the programme and apply now:
https://www.screenskills.com/…/80a44e3e-7869-4f64-a6b7…/
Applications close on 21 April 2025
