Edinburgh Science Festival’s staple and the go-to family experience every Easter holiday, City Art Centre gare now on sale. Featuring five floors of hands-on science workshops and activities, CAC is the Festival’s premier family extravaganza, offering all-day educational funfor children between 3 and 12.
City Art Centre presents a mixture of bookable and drop-in activities, including the family-favourites such as E.R. Surgery where children perform a surgery of an abdomen, knee or brain, Splat-tastic – exploring the chemistry behind producing your own slime or Dig Up a Dinosaur, uncovering the mysteries of dinosaurs which roamed Earth millions of years ago.
This year’s offer includes 6 new fantastic workshops: engineering-focused Construction Challenges, all about the sound – Ella’s Wobble, problem-solving orientated Speedy Sails delving deep into the world of motion, Creative Coding, introducing the young sci-curious minds to Marty and robot coding, Tech Corner looking at how technology transforms our lives, from smartphones to home security, andLEGO® Build The Change, imagining the world without waste and fully embracing circular economy.
But don’t let the kids hog all the fun! For one night only, Edinburgh Science Festival transforms the family venue into a LateLab on 30 March, an adult-only science party.
Similar to previous years, City Art Centre becomes a home to several fantastic artworks. These include artist Robert Powell and philosopher Alasdair Richmond presenting Conference for Chrononauts, an installation exploring the philosophical questions behind time travel, Alan Brown’s Biological Clock looking at ideas around genetics and time by displaying twenty-four electric alarm clocks showing the genome sequence of human individuals, and Signal: Noise, a visual exhibit by radiologist Dr Michael Jackson showcasing the role computers have in generating and analysing medical images, and the human dimension of making sense of these pictures – occasionally resembling abstract art more than anatomical reality.
Persistent bloating. Abdominal Pain. Feeling full quickly. Needing to wee more often.
The level of awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms is devastatingly low, and not knowing what to look out for could lead to a delayed diagnosis of the deadliest gynaecological cancer.
I write to you today as we need to increase widespread awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer to help improve early diagnosis rates. Right now, just 1 in 5 (20%) women can name persistent bloating as a symptom of ovarian cancer1, with only one in three (34%) contacting their GP if they experience it2.
If I’d have known the symptoms, I would have seen my GP a lot earlier.
I began to experience pain in my abdomen, similar to period pain, the summer before my diagnosis – along with needing to wee more often and changes to my bowel habits – but I just dismissed it due to my age.
I never had ovarian cancer in my mind.
It was initially suspected as IBS, but a CT scan and ultrasound later confirmed the cancer, which had spread.
My experience has shown me that so much more needs to be done to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms in order to save lives. If diagnosed at the earliest stages 9 in 10 women will survive3, but currently two thirds of women are diagnosed late, when the cancer is harder to treat4.
That’s why this Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (March), together with Target Ovarian Cancer, I want everyone to know the potential significance of the symptoms: bloating, abdominal pain, feeling full quickly and needing to wee more often.
Editor, share the symptoms with readers this month. Help to stop this disease devastating lives.
A top UN body has backed calls from environmental and community campaigners to review planning appeal rights across Scotland. This intervention follows repeated calls for equal rights of appeal which have been ignored by the Scottish Government.
In August 2022, the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, Planning Democracy, Friends of the Earth Scotland and RSPB Scotland submitted a formal complaint to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC), a UN body tasked with upholding environmental rights. The complaint has now been accepted by the committee, and they have now written to the government who must respond by 21 July 2023.
The complaint sets out why planning appeal rights in Scotland are not ‘fair’ and therefore in breach of the Aarhus Convention’s access to justice requirements. It points to a ruling by the ACCC in Northern Ireland concluding that a lack of equal rights was in breach of the Convention. Campaigners believe that the same applies to Scotland.
Currently, only applicants (usually developers) enjoy statutory appeal rights if their planning permission is refused. Members of the public do not enjoy equivalent rights to appeal if a development is approved, even if the development will negatively impact their health and environment, or if the decision-making process was flawed. The only option available to affected communities is to go to court via a judicial review in the Court of Session, which the Convention’s governing bodies have already ruled as ‘prohibitively expensive’.
The complaint to the UN follows over a decade of civil society campaigning and the passage of two planning bills, neither of which addressed the issue. An amendment proposing to add equal rights of appeal to the 2019 Planning (Scotland) Act was voted down by Conservative and SNP MSPs.
Campaigners are now calling for legislative reforms to finally achieve equal rights for communities.
Benji Brown, Policy & Advocacy Officer at the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, said: ‘Under Scotland’s rigged planning system, developers have the upper hand. They can request a full merits review on decisions they dislike, while members of the public do not have the same appeal rights.
“If people want to speak out in defence of their environment or their community, their only option is to go to court – an action that is unaffordable for most. This situation is blatantly unfair, and in violation of the Aarhus Convention.
“The UK government’s cynical attempt to stall our complaint has failed, and we welcome the Committee’s recognition that the issue must be urgently investigated. There can be no more delays – it’s time for Scotland to deliver equal rights for all.’
Clare Symonds, Chair of Planning Democracy, said: ‘Planning Democracy have campaigned for years for an equal right of appeal, and we are pleased that the Compliance Committee has agreed to take our case further.
“The lack of equal rights of appeal is a cause of much anger and frustration for communities, who experience discrimination in planning decisions. For years, the system has been blatantly unfair – it really is time for Scotland to resolve this longstanding injustice.’
Mary Church, Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “It’s an absolute scandal that communities and NGOs can’t appeal against developments that harm the environment, while developers can wage a war of attrition through appeals and repeat applications if their proposal gets knocked back.
“This lack of equal rights undermines the planning system and leads to decisions that are bad for people and planet. The Scottish Government shouldn’t wait for the UN to rap its knuckles again, but should take action to level the playing field as part of its agenda to enshrine human rights in Scots Law.”
Aedan Smith, Head of Policy and Advocacy at RSPB Scotland, said: “Planning appeal rights in Scotland are archaic and wholly unfit for purpose given the imperative need to tackle the nature and climate emergency.
“Scotland’s appeal rights date back to a time when landowners could do almost anything they wanted with their land, no matter the impact on neighbours, communities or the environment.
“It is essential this outdated and fundamentally unfair system is reviewed to ensure that individuals, environmental organisations and communities at least have a comparable right to developers and can access a mechanism to have the most harmful decisions reconsidered.”
Free sustainable Little Seedlings session for kids
On Sunday 5 March, Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, will host a free session for its Little Seedlings Club in its Edinburgh store. Children aged 4 to 10 will learn how to grow Sunflowers, to inject some sunshine into gardens this spring.
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club offers exciting educational activities that give children a greater appreciation for the nature, plants, and wildlife around them. March is a great time to get the gardening gloves on and start sowing seeds to help brighten your outside space.
Dobbies’ Super Sunflowers workshop will cover the history of these striking blooms which can grow up to 10 feet tall, what they represent, their influence on art, and their significance for our gardens and wildlife. Dobbies’ horticultural experts will educate the children in Edinburgh on how to successfully sow and plant a Sunflower seed, alongside top care tips.
Children will also learn about how Sunflowers can survive in space, how edible Sunflowers can be enjoyed in recipes, and the nutritional value, vitamins and minerals that come from this wonderful plant. Attendees in Edinburgh will also get to taste test Sunflower seeds.
Sarah Murray, Dobbies’ Partnership and Events Manager said: “Our Little Seedling Club is really popular as we strive to inspire and encourage young people and families in Edinburgh to enjoy gardening, no matter the space they have.
“Sunflowers are fantastic for city, coastal and cottage gardens, ideal for beds, borders and pots, making them great for all. We’ll be encouraging our club members to measure their Sunflowers as they grow and keep their fellow Little Seedlings updated each month!”
Advance booking is required to secure a free spot at Dobbies’ March Little Seedlings Club session.
For more information on how children can participate visit, events.dobbies.com
UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt met with finance ministers and central bank governors from world’s major economies at G20 in Bengaluru, India
Chancellor also met with Indian technology business leaders on first overseas trip to deepen UK/India economic ties
Chancellor set out the UK’s growth agenda ahead of Spring Budget next month
Jeremy Hunt has concluded his first international visit as Chancellor to Bengaluru, India, for the first G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting held under India’s 2023 Presidency.
The Chancellor, alongside Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, attended a meeting of G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on Thursday 23 February.
They were joined virtually by Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko. Their statement sent a strong message of condemnation for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, announced an increase of financial support for the Ukrainian government to a total of US$39 billion in 2023 and committed to continue supporting vulnerable countries hardest hit by the economic impact of the war.
On Friday, the UK announced a fresh wave of internationally co-ordinated sanctions and trade measures, to further restrict Russia’s capability to wage war in Ukraine both now and in the future.
The Chancellor also attended the first G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting under the Indian Presidency. He condemned Russia’s brutal acts in the strongest terms, emphasising– like many other Ministers present – that securing peace was the most important action for global growth.
He also underscored the need for bilateral official creditors and private sector to urgently help address low and middle-income country debt vulnerabilities in developing countries; the importance of multilateral development banks boosting lending from their existing balance sheets; and called on the G20 to fulfil its pledge to channel $100 billion of IMF Special Drawing Rights in support of developing countries.
The Indian Presidency issued a Chair’s statement at the end of the meeting. It highlighted, among other things, the continued need to fight inflation, and the importance of supply-side policies, especially those that increase labour supply, boost growth and alleviate price pressures.
There was also G20 consensus, including China, on the need for swift resolution of existing debt restructuring cases and to work on the impacts of food and energy insecurity on the global economy.
While in Bengaluru, the Chancellor had productive bilateral meetings with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. He also met with Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
At a meeting with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, both sides agreed to make further progress on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement and deepen bilateral economic and financial ties. They agreed to make swift progress on setting up the next UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue.
The Chancellor took the opportunity whilst in Bengaluru to meet with business leaders, home to India’s fast-growing tech hub. He visited the offices of Indian consultancy and tech multinational Wipro, which employs over 4,000 people in the UK.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: “Meeting fellow Finance Ministers face to face is an excellent opportunity to make real progress on the key global economic issues of our time.
“I first visited India 38 years ago, and it’s been fascinating to see how much the country has changed in this time – there are positive lessons to be learnt from their successful rapid development.
“It’s been great to hear from Indian technology business leaders here in Bengaluru how they are pushing the country’s economy forward, and I look forward to further collaboration between India and the UK as we continue to trade and create jobs – delivering on the government’s plan to grow the economy”
While speaking at the meetings, the Chancellor set out the UK government’s intention to protect the most vulnerable from cost-of-living pressures, whilst maintaining fiscal sustainability with debt falling and not adding to inflationary pressure.
He added that the upcoming Spring Budget on 15 March will drive economic growth , focusing on skills, business and infrastructure investment and research and innovation, as well as reviewing regulations of the UK’s key growth industries.
The funds were raised by the McDonald’s in the Community Foundation – utilising proceeds from the 10p carrier bag charge across Scotland
McDonald’s restaurants in Newbridge and Corstorphine have made a significant contribution to local charity, Neil’s Hugs Foundation. The charity received a total of £15,000, from the McDonald’s teams.
Neil’s Hugs Foundation run support groups across West Lothian and Clackmannanshire to help, understand and support families and friends affected by suicide. The funds given will go towards continuing to provide face-to-face and telephone support services for the local community.
The donation was made possible by the ‘McDonald’s in the Community Foundation’, set up by 16 Scottish McDonald’s Franchisees, and the 20 McDonald’s-owned restaurants in Scotland. The foundation provides a central hub to help distribute funds, raised by the 10p carrier bag charge, to different charities and organisations across Scotland.
McDonald’s franchisee Elliot Jardine, who owns and operates the Newbridge and Corstorphine restaurants, said:“Supporting our local community is of upmost importance to my team and me, which is why I was so pleased to see the McDonald’s in the Community Foundation officially launched last year.
“It means that each restaurant group can make meaningful contributions to charities in the communities that we operate in. Neil’s Hugs provides a wonderful service to people in the local area and we hope this money will help them to continue this terrific work.
“We’re so proud to be able to work with charities such as Neil’s Hugs and look forward to continuing to do so.”
To date, the proceeds from the 10p carrier bag charge across Scotland McDonald’s restaurants, has been donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities UK. Donations totalled £3.9m by 2021, and went towards building the brand new RMHC House in Edinburgh.
Eat Out Edinburgh has announced a new charity partnership for its 2023 campaign with the Scottish charity Kids Operating Room (KidsOR) – an organisation that installs colourful, child-friendly operating theatres in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Since 2018, KidsOR has installed 59 paediatric operating rooms across 23 countries, providing over 75,000 lifesaving operations. Eat Out Edinburgh’s partnership with the organisation aims to support KidsOR in their 2023 goal of providing vital operations to 100,000 children.
At a cost of only £75 to provide operations to one child, the partnership allows restaurants participating in the Eat Out Edinburgh campaign to engage their customers in efforts to support the charity.
Participating venues can give guests the option to donate through venues by adding £1 to each bill, QR donation codes, tap-to-donate options or through bespoke drinks or menu items with proceeds going to KidsOR.
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive & Director, Essential Edinburgh, said: “Partnering with such an impactful organisation as KidsOR means that Eat Out Edinburgh can create an impact far beyond the city centre.
“KidsOR has changed the lives of children and families across the globe. Our hope is that – through the generosity of Edinburgh residents and visitors – we can help make that impact just a bit stronger.”
Frances Irvine, Director of Campaigns at Kids Operating Room said: “We’re honoured to be chosen as charity partner for Eat Out Edinburgh.
“As an Edinburgh-based charity, we really benefit from the generosity of our city and love the idea that eating out in some of Edinburgh’s best bars and restaurants will support children’s life changing operations around the world.
“We would like to thank Eat Out Edinburgh and everyone who contributes throughout the event – your kindness and support allows us to expand our life-saving work”.
The Eat Out Edinburgh 2023 campaign will run for two weeks from 13th to 26th March within the capital’s dedicated Business Improvement District (BID).
A list of participating Edinburgh venues will be announced in the coming weeks, promoting special tasting menus, set menus, events and exclusive offers to attract bookings and increased footfall throughout the campaign period.
KidsOR is a Scottish registered charity with offices in Edinburgh, Dundee, and Nairobi, working with governments and health organisations to solve the global surgical crisis for children worldwide.
For more information and to keep up to date with the campaign, visit:
Hear the stories of Edinburgh’s most influential women
The Real Mary King’s Close is celebrating Women’s History Month this March with specially curated Herstory Tours. The underground experience is inviting you to journey underneath The Royal Mile and learn all about the incredible lives of the women who once lived, worked and died on the now hidden streets of Edinburgh.
The one-hour tour will include fascinating revelations about some of the most famous women in Scottish history. The tour is guided by residents of The Close, including Jonet Nimmo, the youngest daughter of Mary King, and Janet Chesney, a member of the last family to leave the historic street behind.
Guests will even get to meet Mary King herself, and find out how she obtained voting rights nearly 300 years ahead of her time. Also hear about the revolutionary Edinburgh Seven who fought for women’s education and the right to practice medicine, and more.
The Herstory Tour shares stories of the women who faced suppression and persecution over the centuries but also of how the City’s most influential women pioneered gender equality, shaped the city’s history and impacted our lives today.
Mary King’s Close is known for having been “a haven for independent women” with 45% of properties having a female head of the household. The Close is the perfect place to celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, learning about the achievements of the women of the Close.
Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “We’re so excited to be celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month here at The Real Mary King’s Close by shining a light on all the remarkable and powerful women who once occupied the Close.
Telling stories of the past and educating people about Edinburgh’s history and those who came before us are things we are extremely passionate about. We can’t wait to welcome everyone on the Herstory Tours and explore a hidden world together.”
Tours will be running throughout March, every Friday and Saturday at 17.30 and 19.00. Prices are £25 per adult / £19 per child (5 to 15yo – no under 5 allowed). There will also be an additional tour on Wednesday 8th March (International Women’s Day) with tours starting at 17.15 and 17.30
Local pupils in finals of contest to find the next generation of female investors
Pupils from schools in Edinburgh and East Lothian are among the finalists in a hotly contested competition to find Scotland’s next generation of female investors.
The Growing Future Assets contest, which encourages young women to consider a career in the world of investment management, has attracted record entries this year but teams from Preston Lodge High School (Prestonpans, East Lothian), North Berwick High School (East Lothian) and George Watson’s College (Edinburgh), have beaten off stiff competition from across the country to be in the running for top spots.
They have already presented their case in a research report and three-minute elevator pitch video and will face the judges next month (March) to deliver an extended pitch in a live final.
Competition organisers and educators Future Asset believes that being female should never be a barrier to progressing in a chosen career and the contest introduces senior schoolgirls to potential careers in investment, showing how working in the sector can change the world for the better and give young women valuable, transferable skills.
During the competition, youngsters must prove their ability to spot the next big investment prospect by researching, analysing and pitching a company they think will be a lucrative long-term bet.
During the process, all students were assisted by their teachers and through mentoring from investment management professionals who shared their experience and provided career insights, advice and inspiration.
George Watson’s College paired with investment management experts Baillie Gifford, Preston Lodge High School with Nikko Asset Management, and North Berwick High School with specialist fund manager firm Artemis.
Preston Lodge High School has two teams contesting the senior 16-18 year category and Business Education Teacher , Kate Gascoigne, says: “I am delighted that both of the Preston Lodge senior teams have reached the finals of the Future Assets competition.
“The high quality of their submissions illustrates how hardworking, dedicated and creative the students are. The whole school community is proud of their success and will be rooting for them in the final.”
A team from George Watson’s College is also competing in the senior category while girls from North Berwick High are contesting the junior 14-16 year age group.
Future Asset has had a tough task whittling down the contestants from 660 participants in a total of 144 teams – a 90% increase on last year’s numbers.
Sally Greig, Investment Manager at Baillie Gifford and Senior School judge for the Growing Future Assets competition, commented: “The competition sees groups of young women from schools across Scotland doing the kind of work that is an investor’s day job: analysing a company and presenting on it.
“I was hugely impressed by the quality and creativity of the entries – in particular, the importance they placed on how companies are dealing with Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) and the ability to identify what might drive a company’s success in the future – and hope to see some of them applying to Baillie Gifford in the future!
“Future Asset plays an important role in demystifying the fund management industry for young women and helping to plant those seeds of interest early on. Diversity of thought is core to successful investing and a career in investment management is a great option for both women and men from all backgrounds.”
The finals take place on 9 March with the winners announced on 10 March.
The top teams will receive £1000 for the top senior school and £200-worth of vouchers of the students’ choice for each team member; £800 for the best junior school and £150-worth of vouchers each. Senior and junior runners-up receive £500 and £100 of vouchers and £400 and £75 of vouchers, respectively.
Helen Bradley, Future Asset Programme Manager, says: “This year’s competition is the most hotly contested yet. It’s been enormously gratifying to see the surge in interest from the youngsters and the commitment and dedication of their teachers and mentors.
“The popularity of the contest, particularly in state schools, means that youngsters who may not otherwise have had contacts in the industry are now plugged in to the potential that a career in investment management holds.”
