Uncategorized – Page 13 – The NEN

Animal charities push for compulsory microchipping for Scottish cats

A coalition of animal charities is calling on the Scottish Government to introduce compulsory microchipping for cats.

Currently around 69% of owned cats in Scotland are microchipped, and the charities believe the most effective way of achieving a significant increase is by making microchipping compulsory.

The coalition, which includes Cats Protection, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association, Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home, Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, has written to the newly-re-elected Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands, Jim Fairlie, asking him to commit to bringing in compulsory microchipping.

Compulsory microchipping for pet cats was introduced in England in 2024, putting them on a par with dogs.

Cats are naturally curious and can easily become lost, injured or inadvertently trapped in vehicles. Even cats that are kept exclusively indoors can slip outside unnoticed. A microchip significantly increases the chances of a lost or injured cat being safely reunited with its owner.

Cats Protection Scotland Cat Centre recently took in a pregnant stray whose friendly personality showed she had clearly once been a much-loved pet. Striking Ragdoll Mattel was not microchipped so, despite extensive efforts, an owner could not be traced, and she was eventually rehomed to a new family.

Alice Palombo, Advocacy and Government Relations Manager for Cats Protection said: “Around 260,000 cats in Scotland remain un-microchipped.

“Every year, animal welfare organisations take in friendly stray cats that are clearly someone’s pet, but without a microchip identifying their owner can be extremely difficult.

“This places avoidable pressure on rehoming services, occupies valuable pen space that could be used for cats in genuine need, and can ultimately result in cats being rehomed unnecessarily while their owners are left never knowing what happened to them.”

The coalition welcomed the recommendation by the Scottish Welfare Commission that microchipping and registration of owned cats is made compulsory and has offered support to the Scottish Government to enable this.

Microchipping also supports trap, neuter, vaccinate and return (TNVR) programmes by enabling owned cats to be identified quickly, allowing efforts to focus on genuinely unowned populations. This contributes to effective feral cat management and supports the conservation of the Scottish wildcat by reducing opportunities for hybridisation and disease transmission.

Alice Palombo, Advocacy and Government Relations Manager for Cats Protection added: “There’s clear public appetite for compulsory microchipping, with 76% of people in Scotland supporting its introduction.

“As well as helping reunite more cats with their owners, mandatory microchipping would bring benefits for veterinary professionals and animal welfare organisations too. We urge the Scottish Government to place this legislation high on its agenda during the current parliamentary session.”

LIFTFEST at Millennium Centre

FRIDAY 17 JULY from MIDDAY

LIFTFEST is back!

Join us on Friday 17th July from 12:00pm for a fantastic day of fun, entertainment, and community!

Here’s what you can look forward to:

Selling tables

Home baking

Delicious food & snack bar

Tombola

Dance performances

Singers & live bands

Mini Kids’ Party

Kids Club Fashion Show

NEW for this year – Silent Disco!

FREE ENTRY –

Silent disco, snack bar, hair station, selected items from
Food station, Susan’s table and crafting station are all ticketed please purchase tickets at our reception or from our balloon sellers.

Bring your family and friends and come along for a fun-filled day. We can’t wait to see you at LIFTFEST!

Great British Summer Savings: Families can now find deals closer to home at the click of a button

Find thousands of restaurants, cinemas, theatres and other attractions near you offering customer discounts following the Chancellor’s summer tax cuts.
Nando’s, Bill’s, Las Iguanas, ODEON, and the Edinburgh Dungeon are among the eateries and attractions that could be showing discounts in your local area if you enter your postcode.
This is part of action from the Government to help families enjoy the little treats and days out that make the summer holidays special.

In just a few clicks, every family in the UK can now find cheaper days out and children’s meals in restaurants closer to home via the Great British Summer Savings website which has now gone live.

To help all families enjoy a day out for less this summer during a cost-of-living squeeze, the Chancellor cut VAT from 20% to 5% on eligible activities including family tickets to the cinema, admission tickets for both children and adults to amusement parks, and children’s meals in restaurants from 25 June to 1 September.

Nando’s, Bill’s, Las Iguanas, ODEON, and The London Eye are among the eateries and attractions that have joined the Government’s scheme to pass on these savings to customers, and feature on the new website so people can easily find them.

Families who live in Edinburgh can enter their postcode and will see discounts being offered at the Edinburgh Dungeon and The Cameo.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “Thanks to our tax cuts, families will be able to enjoy more of the little treats and days out that make the British summer holidays so special.

“Our new website will make it easier for them to take advantage of Great British Summer Savings and help afford the moments that matter.

“That’s alongside the wider action we’re taking to cut household energy bills and boost working people’s wages by hundreds of pounds.”

All families need to do is follow these easy steps online:

Search https://summersavings.gov.uk
Enter your postcode
Adjust the dial to select how far you want to travel from home
Optionally search by type of attraction or food offers you are looking for
Click the ‘Find offers’ button
See a list of businesses in your areas offering discounts and their location on the map
When you see a restaurant or attraction that’s best for your family, all you need to do is book a table or buy a ticket as you usually would and your discount is automatically taken off your price

In total, over 1,700 businesses’ offers can be found on the website and the Government is engaging daily with businesses not yet supporting the Great British Summer Savings scheme to encourage them to join.

All the following activities are eligible to be part of the scheme:

Children’s menu meals served in restaurants for consumption on the premises
Children’s and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions
Admission tickets, for both children and adults, to a range of attractions, including amusement parks, fairs, museums, zoos, soft play centres, circuses, adventure parks, nature reserves, wildlife parks and observation attractions.

The UK Government is also taking the long-term decisions for a stronger and more secure economy in the future.

Action to take £117 off household energy bills and increases to the national minimum and living wage comes alongside investing billions of pounds to unlock our homegrown, clean energy supplies. That will increase our national resilience to shocks and reduce bills in the years to come.

Former MSP calls for sustained investment following Edinburgh fire

The recent fire in Edinburgh serves as a powerful reminder of the extraordinary courage, professionalism and dedication of Scotland’s firefighters (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY).

I want to pay tribute to every member of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and all emergency responders who worked tirelessly, often in extremely dangerous conditions, to protect lives, homes and businesses.

Their commitment to serving our communities is nothing short of remarkable. Every day firefighters put themselves in harm’s way without hesitation, responding to fires, road traffic collisions, flooding, hazardous incidents and many other emergencies. They deserve not only our admiration and gratitude but also our full support.

Throughout my time as a Member of the Scottish Parliament, I consistently championed the work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and repeatedly raised concerns about the impact that funding reductions and resource cuts could have on public safety.

I firmly believed then, as I do now, that public safety should never be compromised. Investment in our Fire and Rescue Service is not an expense. It is one of the most important investments any government can make.

One issue I campaigned strongly on was the proposal to remove the turntable ladder from Crewe Toll Fire Station. After meeting firefighters and hearing first hand about the operational implications, I publicly opposed the proposal, supported the Fire Brigades Union’s #CutsLeaveScars campaign and lodged a Parliamentary Motion calling on the Scottish Government to reverse the planned £11 million reduction in funding to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The turntable ladder is a vital specialist appliance used for tackling fires in high rise buildings and carrying out complex rescues. At the time, I warned that removing this capability would leave more than 50 high rise buildings across north and west Edinburgh with reduced emergency cover.

My concern was always straightforward. Every community deserves the highest level of protection possible and firefighters deserve the equipment they need to carry out their duties safely and effectively.

My work in Parliament also focused heavily on firefighter welfare and safety.

Following the serious fire at Breadalbane Street in Edinburgh, I submitted a series of parliamentary questions seeking detailed information from the Scottish Government and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

These questions covered firefighters’ exposure to harmful contaminants, decontamination procedures following major incidents, the availability of specialist personal protective equipment, and the measures in place to protect firefighters from the long term health risks associated with repeated exposure to toxic smoke and hazardous materials.

Firefighters willingly put themselves in dangerous situations to protect others. It is only right that we do everything possible to protect them in return.

Throughout my parliamentary career, I believed it was my responsibility to scrutinise decisions affecting emergency services, ask difficult questions where necessary and ensure that the voices of frontline firefighters were heard in Parliament.

The challenges facing the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continue to evolve. Climate change has increased the frequency of wildfires and severe weather events. Our cities continue to grow with more high rise developments and increasingly complex infrastructure.

Firefighters now respond to a far wider range of emergencies than ever before. These changing demands make sustained investment in staffing, training, specialist equipment and modern technology more important than ever.

The recent fire in Edinburgh once again demonstrates why we cannot afford to become complacent about public safety.

Our firefighters repeatedly show extraordinary bravery, professionalism and compassion under immense pressure. They run towards danger when everyone else is being told to run away.

They deserve modern equipment. They deserve appropriate staffing levels. They deserve continued investment. Above all, they deserve to know that the public and our governments stand behind them.

I remain incredibly proud to have supported Scotland’s firefighters throughout my time in Parliament. I consistently argued for greater investment in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service because I recognised that every decision on funding has real consequences for frontline services and for the safety of our communities.

Over the years I raised these issues in parliamentary debates, lodged motions, submitted written parliamentary questions and met directly with firefighters and their representatives to better understand the challenges they faced.

My commitment was always to ensure that those risking their lives on behalf of others had the resources, equipment and support they deserved. I hope this latest incident serves as a reminder to all decision makers that investing in emergency services saves lives. We should never wait for tragedy before recognising the importance of properly funding those who protect us every single day.

My thoughts remain with everyone affected by the fire. I wish those who have lost their homes or businesses every strength during this difficult time. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to every firefighter, police officer, paramedic and emergency service worker involved in bringing this incident under control.

Scotland owes you a tremendous debt of gratitude, and I will continue to support calls for sustained investment in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service so that firefighters can continue protecting our communities safely and effectively for generations to come.

Foysol Choudhury MBE

Former Member of the Scottish Parliament

Former Shadow Minister for Culture, Europe & International Development.

£60 million fund launched to transform employment support

Businesses, charities and innovators are being invited to compete for a share of up to £60 million to transform how disabled people and those with health conditions are supported into work, the Government has announced today [14th July].

Businesses, charities and organisations to bid for up to £60 million to fund innovative ideas to support disabled people move closer and into work.
Expert panel – including Paralympian Tanni Grey Thompson – to help design the fund and shortlist best ideas
Comes as part of £3.5 billion employment support package to knock down barriers to opportunity for disabled people and those with health conditions.

The Government’s Pathways to Work Innovation Fund is a ‘call to action’ for the private, voluntary and public sectors to come forward with the most ambitious, creative ideas to help disabled people and those with health conditions get into and on at work.

The Fund will open for bids in September, with organisations across the UK invited to compete for funding to test genuinely new approaches to employment support.

With 2.8 million people currently out of work due to ill-health, and the Keep Britain Working review estimating economic inactivity caused by health conditions costs the UK economy £212 billion a year, the Government is looking to work alongside business, charities, tech innovators and disabled people themselves to tackle the issue and improve employment support.

The Fund forms part of the Government’s commitment to break down barriers to opportunity for disabled people backed by £3.5 billion in tailored employment support. This includes intensive, one-to-one job help from specialist advisers in their own communities, meeting people where they are, alongside a joined-up work and health offer.

https://twitter.com/DWPgovuk/status/2075852621819064804/video/1

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “We inherited a welfare system which has locked too many disabled people and those with health conditions out of work.

“We’re determined to ensure no talent is left behind, and that people are given the support they need. Through our £3.5 billion Pathways to Work employment support offer, we’ve seen that personalised support can be life-changing.

“Now we’re calling on business, disabled people and charities to work with us, and bring forward their ideas to transform employment support.”

An expert panel – including Paralympian Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson – will help shape the fund’s design and advise on which bids should be funded, ensuring the voices and experience of disabled people are placed at the very heart of the process.

It comes as the Department is embracing innovation by using technologies including AI and machine learning to deliver more efficient services, modernise systems and support more people into work, including a new tool to help people into jobs.

Paralympian and Member of House of Lords, Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson, said: “I am delighted to be joining this expert panel at such an important moment. Finding and sustaining work matters enormously – not just for individual wellbeing and independence, but for society as a whole.

“We know that with the right support, disabled people can and do thrive in the workplace.

“The world is changing rapidly, and the systems that support disabled people must keep pace with that change. This Fund is a real opportunity to back the bold, creative ideas that can make that happen.”

To mark the launch, the Work and Pensions Secretary will today visit TechUK, the UK’s leading technology trade association, where he will meet with their members at a tech and innovation showcase to see cutting-edge innovation in action and discuss how technology can help transform people’s working lives.

The new approach comes alongside wider Government action to help people into work and fulfil their full potential, as part of reforms to the broken welfare system this government inherited, including:

Rebalancing Universal Credit to remove the perverse incentives that push people away from work.
Introducing a Right to Try Work Guarantee, giving everyone who can work the chance to do so without fear of losing their benefits.
Investing £3.5 billion in tailored employment support for sick or disabled people.
Increasing face-to-face assessments for health benefits.
Tackling fraud and error in the benefits system, saving £14.6 billion over this Parliament
Alan Milburn is due to bring his final recommendations later this year on tackling the barriers young people face, and the Timms review is looking at how to make sure PIP is fit and fair for the future.

Antony Walker, Deputy CEO of TechUK, said: “The announcement that the Department for Work and Pensions is investing into an Innovation Fund is very welcome. Thousands of disabled people and those with health conditions are locked out of the workforce, not for lack of talent, but because of barriers that persist across many careers.

“Our members are already developing and deploying innovative technologies that are breaking down those barriers, helping people to find work, stay in work and thrive in their careers.

“This investment has the potential to build on that success, accelerating the adoption of proven solutions and supporting even more disabled people to access rewarding employment while helping employers tap into a wider pool of talent.”

The Pathways to Work Innovation Fund will open for bids in September 2026. Full details on how to apply will be published in due course.

Assembly Festival opens Local Residents Discount for 2026

Scheme to reward Edinburgh locals returns with reduced tickets for huge shows including Jason Byrne, Scaramouche Jones, Ted Hill, Susie McCabe, Ben Hart and more

Residents across the Central Belt can also access discounts
Discounted tickets available from 10am 14 July via www.assemblyfestival.com

Assembly Festival has announced the return of its hugely popular Local Residents discount for 2026 with reduced tickets now available to Edinburgh locals for some of the Fringe’s biggest and best shows.

Over 175 shows will offer £8.25 tickets for residents across Edinburgh and the Central Belt including Jason Byrne, Afrique en Cirque, Jess Robinson, Susie McCabe, Ten Thousand Hours, Scaramouche Jones and more.

Edinburgh locals in EH postcodes will have access to discounted shows, plus the scheme opens up to Fringe fans across the Central Belt in Glasgow, Falkirk and more. Music shows and food workshops taking place at Edinburgh Folk and Food Festival from 24 July – 02 August will be included.

Inviting locals to take a chance on something new and discover even more at the Fringe, discounted tickets will be available from 10am 14 July until 11.59pm 26 July (or until allocations run out) for Assembly Festival Fringe performances from 05 – 09 August for residents in EH postcodes FK, G, KY, ML and DG.

Residents across the Central Belt can take advantage of the discounts with postcodes in Glasgow, Kirkcaldy, Falkirk, Stirling, Motherwell and Dumfries and Galloway all included in the scheme.

Tickets available via www.assemblyfestival.com using promocode LOCALAF26.

(T&Cs: 2 tickets per performance, max 6 tickets per transaction. £8.25 includes £1.25 booking fees Subject to availability.)

Edinburgh locals can take advantage of the offer in the Fringe’s opening days, meaning they can be amongst the first to take in shows from Ndlovu Youth Choir, Superbowl Salsa, Mythos: Ragnarök, Susie McCabe and more.

Encompassing shows across comedy, cabaret, circus, dance, theatre, family shows and more, thousands of tickets will be available within the scheme.

Comedy fans can see the hottest rising stars including award-winners from Australia Lizzy Hoo, Scout Boxall and Noah Szto making their Edinburgh debuts, plus some of the UK’s biggest comedy stars from Jason Byrne to Frank Skinner, Susie McCabe, Mike Wozniak and more.

Irish comics Grace Mulvey and Gearóid Farrelly are sure to impress, whilst cult hits ‘Underground Monk Show’ and ‘Police Cops in Space’ are all included.

Locals can bag discounted tickets for some of the Fringe’s most impressive theatre shows including ‘Scaramouche Jones’ directed by Olivier award-winning Guy Masterson, ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’ starring David Westhead and directed by acting legend Stockard Channing as well as up-and-coming theatre ‘Prophets’ and ‘BearGirl’.

Families can enjoy the last days of summer holidays with reduced tickets for all the family including the Fringe debut of ‘Ndlovu Youth Choir’ whose fans include Tom Holland of Spiderman fame and Simon Cowell, as they perform hits from ‘Circle of Life’ and ‘Waka Waka’ to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Higher Love’.

For bigger kids, families can check out jaw-dropping contemporary circus ‘Ten Thousand Hours’ and ‘By A Thread’.

Music fans can pick up discounts for hit shows ‘27 Club’, diving into the legend and lore of famed musical icons like Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain and more whilst ‘Joni Mitchell: Take Me As I Am’ is a must for fans of the Canadian singer-songwriter and more.

For the best of the Fringe, check out ‘Frisky’s Remix Roulette’ and her incredible live band, or Reuben Kaye’s brand-new show. And for mind-bending magic enjoy discounted tickets for the Festival’s most acclaimed magicians Ben Hart, Kevin Quantum and more.

Plus, Edinburgh Folk and Food Festival events including family-friendly shows ‘Circus The Show’ , ‘Explosive Science Show’ and ‘Comedy Club 4 Kids’ will take part in the scheme as well as folk gigs from An Dannsa Dub, Breabach, Dlù and more.

For a full list of shows included see here.

Marking the Edinburgh company’s 45th season at the world’s biggest arts festival, Assembly will return to six venue hubs with over 245 genre-spanning shows featuring international and homegrown acts from 05 – 31 August 2026. Assembly will operate across: George Square Gardens, Assembly Rooms, Assembly Hall, Assembly Roxy and Dance Base, plus Shedinburgh takes over Checkpoint in a new partnership for 2026.

Tickets are now available at www.assemblyfestival.com.

CAS: Basic bank accounts essential in tackling financial exlusion

The Financial Conduct Authority has announced it has conducted secret analysis, using evidence supplied by Citizens Advice Scotland.

Being without a bank account is the ultimate form of financial exclusion.

We’ve been working to raise awareness of the barriers banks create for so many people across Scotland and why more needs to be done.

Now, nine major banks have committed to improving their service in this area.

Read about our work on this here:

https://www.cas.org.uk/…/basic-bank-accounts-need-be…

Alan Cummings’ A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin returns this summer

Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin to return with exciting series of fascinating lunchtime outdoor talks presented in collaboration with The Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre, in partnership with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, is set to stage A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin, their popular series of fascinating talks featuring leading Scottish experts from science and the arts.

This year’s talks will open on Tuesday 21 July, in Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s picturesque outdoor Amphitheatre, with Prof Penny Fielding FRSE who makes a welcome return to Pitlochry to host a talk about the history of the spy novel in Scotland. From Scottish literary greats like Walter Scott and John Buchan to contemporary authors, hear how writers have woven surveillance, secret intelligence and carefully crafted misdirection into their stories.

Later that week on Friday 24 July, Prof Jennifer Smith FBA FRSE will be exploring the history and diversity of the Scots language. Hear how this living, evolving language is being used in everyday speech, in the creative industries, in writing, and what it might look like in the future as we move further into an increasingly AI-dependent world.

In August there will be two further talks in the amphitheatre. On Friday 21 August theastrophysicist Dr Anne-Marie Weijmans, a member of the Young Academy of Scotland, will take her audience on a journey through the Universe and the remarkable space objects within it.

Together, they will explore questions like: Was there ever life on Mars? Why is Pluto no longer a planet? And what are the oldest objects in the Universe?

The following week on Friday 28 Augustthe author Kenneth Steven will be presenting a talk on his book Atoms of Delight which comprises ten essays inspired by the natural world.

Kenneth’s book describes pilgrimages in Scottish nature: climbing to high lochs to encounter black and red throated divers; discovering hidden river pools in summer for swimming; walking to St Columba’s Bay at the south end of Iona to find serpentine pebbles.

The idea of A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin came from Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Alan Cumming HonFRSE, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was inspired by the widely celebrated A Play, A Pie and A Pint.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh recognises, supports, and mobilises expertise from across academia, business, and public service for the benefit of Scotland and the wider world.

All tickets for A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin will include a beer and a bap (vegetarian / vegan options and non-alcoholic options available).

A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin is part of Alan Cumming’s inaugural season as Artistic Director in this the Theatre’s 75th anniversary year.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre Artistic Director Alan Cumming HonFRSE said: “I’m so excited for the return of A Beer, Bap and a Boffin, our open-air lunch time lecture series. And what a line-up we have!

“To paraphrase Buzz Lightyear, we go to Scotland and beyond! We explore our language, the subterfuge in our literary heritage, the hidden wonders of our beautiful landscape, before blasting off into space – and all done from the safety of our garden’s amphitheatre!

“What better way to spend an hour this summer?”

RSE 1 SA : RSE – data/science/ethics workshop – Edinburgh All images © Stewart Attwood Photography 2023. All other rights are reserved. Use in any other context is expressly prohibited without prior permission. No Syndication Permitted except for PA (Press Association)

RSE’s Vice-President, Public Engagement, Professor Martin Hendry FRSE, said: “It’s brilliant to see A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin return for a second year.

“It’s a testament to the success of its first year in 2025 and we’re delighted to be able to work with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, through our Honorary Fellow Alan Cumming, making the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s knowledge useful for public good.

“A refreshing drink, a bite to eat and a blether with an expert in their field in a superb setting, what more could you ask for this summer?”

For tickets and further information visit online at pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com or call the Box Office on 01796 484626.

Lovell helps South Queensferry pupils ride into the summer holidays

Housing specialist, Lovell, currently building a mixed-tenure development in partnership with Sanctuary Scotland and Sigma Capital at The Crossings in South Queensferry, upgraded the cycle path at Echline Primary School to give pupils a safer space to build confidence on two wheels for the summer holidays.

The work was completed in time for the end of term, giving children a dedicated space to learn to ride and forms part of the ongoing commitment by Lovell to deliver social value in communities where it builds.

Over the course of six days Lovell staff members, along with partnering supply chain, cleared overgrown areas, resurfaced and repainted the cycling track so pupils could practise safer riding in a realistic layout. The team also refurbished the school’s sensory garden and pond area with new plants and small trees.

Together, Lovell and their partners provided around £2,000 of materials for the cycle path and garden.

Tony Rankin, Regional Managing Director at Lovell in Scotland, said: “At Lovell we’re proud to be delivering much-needed housing in South Queensferry and committed to helping to create a thriving, sustainable community.

“Our team were glad to give their time and skills to upgrade the cycle path at Echline Primary School and we hope pupils feel more confident getting out on their bikes safely this summer.”

Sarah Macauley, Senior Project Manager, Sanctuary Scotland, said: “Great housing is about far more than the homes themselves. It’s about strengthening communities and making sure people feel the benefit for years to come.

“That is exactly why Sanctuary Scotland is proud to partner with Lovell, who share our commitment to building communities. The work to improve the cycle path and garden at Echline Primary School is a perfect example, giving local children a better and safer place to learn.”

Laura Marshall, Sustainability Lead and Eco-Schools Co-ordinator at Echline Primary School, said: “At Echline we want every child to feel safe and secure so they can grow in confidence.

“We are very grateful to Lovell for donating their time and skills to upgrade our cycle path to give our pupils a brilliant space to practise and become more independent on their bikes.”

The Crossings will deliver 398 homes, including 100 for social rent in partnership with Sanctuary Scotland, 185 homes for private rent through Sigma Simple Life, 113 private homes for sale by Lovell Homes and 14 commercial units. The development will also support more than 300 local jobs.

For more information, visit www.lovell.co.uk

Fringe Ticket giveaway for North Edinburgh Arts members

SUMMER TICKET GIVE-AWAY FOR NEA ORDINARY MEMBERS

We have six pairs of Fringe Days Out vouchers (worth £30) up for grabs for NEA Ordinary Members.

These can be used to book tickets to any shows that are part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026. All NEA Ordinary Members will be entered into a draw, with six lucky winners picked at random.

Not a Member yet? Sign up by end of the day Monday 20 July and have your name added to the prize draw to be in with a chance of winning:

https://northedinburgharts.co.uk/get…/become-a-member/

Names will be drawn and winners contacted on Tuesday 21 July, with announcement on our social media.