The city council’s Community Grants Fund is currently decided for each area in Edinburgh by panel vote,
@Edinburgh_CC are currently running a survey to see what changes people would like to the decision-making process.
The survey closes 4th May 2026
Have your say:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=-U4qSORmdk6fJG2gmnE-1H_aqj53ERJOl-
94E5vW4L9UMVNPM0ZZSUcxWUNXUDZMTE9QRlFLNUY0Qi4u&route=shorturl
Local school children have been busy monitoring the Wee Forest in West Pilton Park, assessing how the trees are helping to bring more wildlife, cleaner air and flood management for those very wet days.
Pupils have been helping to gather data as part of their studies.
Get in touch with emily@elgt.org.uk if you fancy having a go.
We had more help in West Pilton Park from our Craigmount High School Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, who helped cut back overgrown vegetation, litter picked and helped complete a bird survey. Thanks for your help.
There were some bears loose in the park as part of the Wellies in the Woods programme. We had fun reading the book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ and did lots of fun nature-based activities. Not to worry, the bears were friendly!
We’re very proud of this hard working group of young people from Granton Youth who are learning brick laying skills in order to build some new brick planters in West Pilton Park. This is part of the re-development of the park and will be one of the new design features.
To find out more about the planned improvements see here.
WANGING ON LIVE AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE AT THE KINGS THEATRE
On sale on Wednesday 29th April at 11 am
https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:6792
KINGS THEATRE
7 August 2026
Gilded Balloon are delighted to present Wanging On LIVE at the Kings theatre this August, which sees the return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe of globally recognised comedian, author and television presenter, Graham Norton alongside his friend, podcast co-host and fellow Fringe stalwart, Maria McErlane, to host their podcast, Wanging On, live on stage for the first time.
Produced by Platform Media, Wanging On is the weekly podcast that reunites Graham Norton with his dear friend Maria McErlane to dish out average advice and so-so solutions to your everyday dilemmas.
Together Graham and Maria do their level best to tackle office politics, friendship tensions, unruly pets, neighbourly disputes and family bust-ups. Plus, the ‘Wangers’ wade in with their nuggets of wisdom too. Each week, Graham and Maria also share the latest in their life – be it bikes, books, haircuts or hangover cures – and they pass judgement on your most peculiar proclivities in Am I Weird?
Wanging On is available to watch and listen on Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This live version is a Gilded Balloon presentation by arrangement with YMU and Platform Media.
Staged in Edinburgh’s iconic King’s Theatre after its highly anticipated two-year renovation project, Gilded Balloon are delighted to be one of the first shows presented in the ‘new’ King’s Theatre with Wanging On Live on the official opening day of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2026.
“We can’t wait to take the podcast from studio to stage at the Edinburgh Fringe, armed with decades of friendship, sharp observations, and absolutely no expertise. Expect audience dilemmas, questionable judgement in Am I Weird?, and the Wangers in the room… so anything could happen” said Graham Norton & Maria McErlane.
Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors at Gilded Balloon, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to have Graham Norton as part of our Fringe programme as he continues to support the festival attending shows regularly each year.
“We were lucky enough to have Graham compere the Final of Gilded Balloon’s comedy competition for newcomers, So You Think You’re Funny? regularly in the 90s and we are delighted to see him back at the Fringe once again.
“And not to mention, lovely Maria McErlane, a Gilded Balloon pal from the 90s and a perfect partner to Graham in this special version of their podcast.”
Follow Wanging On on Instagram: @wangingon
Follow Wanging On on TikTok: wangingon
Follow Wanging On on Facebook: Wanging On
SINGALONG FOR SCOTLAND
A former business executive is swapping spreadsheets for songs to perform for people with dementia at the Edinburgh Fringe in memory of his father.
Johnny Collington, 62, who lives in the capital, first picked up the instrument in a bid to connect with his dad Stan, who had recently been diagnosed with dementia. Stan, originally from Motherwell, passed away in February aged 99.
Johnny is now registered to perform a series of shows at the Fringe in August to raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland.
The married dad-of-two, who was born in Irvine but grew up in Lanarkshire, said: “I had been living and working in London for many years, but I took early retirement and moved back to Scotland, to Edinburgh, about six years ago. My mum Betty had passed away and my dad was in his early 90s and needed more support.
“My dad was diagnosed initially with severe cognitive impairment but his condition progressed quickly to dementia. He moved into a care home and soon could no longer communicate.
“I’d never been much of a musician in the past, but I owned a guitar and knew a few chords. By chance I took the guitar with me to visit dad and tried to play and sing a couple of traditional Scottish songs that I knew he liked.
“Amazingly, as soon as I started playing I could see him connect with me and start singing along. It was remarkable how he suddenly came to life. I realised then that music is a great connector.
“From that point I started seriously teaching myself how to play the guitar and looked for more songs to sing – anything quite traditionally Scottish with a good beat is always a winner.”
Before long, Johnny was asked by the manager of his dad’s care home if he would play for all the residents – many of whom also had dementia. Word soon spread and he now plays at 12 care homes, centres and other venues from Perth to North Lanarkshire and across the east coast, including at Alzheimer Scotland’s outdoor dementia resource centre at Lauriston Castle.
Johnny said: “I get the same reaction from the other people with dementia who I play for as I did from my dad. It’s fantastic how everyone brightens up when they hear the music and join in.
“One chap who was non-verbal and would usually seem quite disconnected, suddenly sat up, took a tambourine and started hitting it in time with the music.
“I’m a bit nervous about the Fringe but also really looking forward to performing and being part of such a world-famous festival. My shows are aimed at people with dementia but also to anyone who enjoys traditional Scottish music. It feels great to be on a new journey now and to be able to give back to the community.
“I want to keep doing what I can to bring music to people living with dementia and to support the amazing work of Alzheimer Scotland for as long as I can.”
As #Edinburgh‘s beautiful cherry trees burst into bloom, join us at Lauriston Castle this coming Saturday and Sunday for our varied and exciting programme of Japan #Sakura events!
Click on the link for a full and varied programme:
A man has been convicted of an assault in Meadowbank in December 2023 which left a man permanently disfigured.
At Edinburgh High Court today (Friday, 24 April, 2026) Alijo Danso, aged 22, pleaded guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger to life.
Around 10.20pm on 3 December, 2023, emergency services were called to a report of the assault of a man at a property on Whyte Place, Edinburgh.
Danso was subsequently arrested and charged in connection and is due to be sentenced at Glasgow High Court on Wednesday, 3 June, 2026.
Detective Constable Chris Docherty said: “This was a violent incident that resulted in a man being taken to hospital.
“Danso will now face the consequences of his actions.
“I’d like to thank the public for their support and patience as we dealt with this incident.”
MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
Today MHF joined 20+ mental health charities to launch the Head On campaign
Together, we can build a modern mental health system with prevention at its heart.
This starts by giving mental health the political focus it deserves.
It’s time to tackle the mental health crisis Head On.
Find out more at headoncampaign.org.
The Council is taking forward improvements to the public realm around Drylaw shopping centre on Ferry Road and Easter Drylaw Place.
The improvements would make the area safer and more accessible for pedestrians.
AtkinsRéalis has prepared designs for improvements to the public realm. These include
The improvements are to the public realm only. They will not involve the shopping centre itself, which is not owned or maintained by the Council.
On 13 May 2025, the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee agreed to allocate £168,102 towards the improvements. Detailed designs have been prepared by AtkinsRéalis and were consulted upon in September to October 2025. A stage 2 road safety audit has been prepared by AtkinsRéalis.
In March 2026, the Council appointed Luddon Construction to carry out the works.
Works are scheduled to begin on Tuesday 5 May 2026 and complete on Wednesday 24 June 2026 (these dates may require to change).
To allow the works to be carried out safely, it will be necessary to temporarily close roads and restrict parking. In summary:
Pedestrian access to the shops will not be obstructed. Signs will be displayed to let people know that the shopping centre is open as usual. Deliveries to the rear of the shopping centre will not be affected.
Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Christian Climate Action and Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a noisy Earth Day protest outside BlackRock offices in Edinburgh yesterday.
BlackRock is the world’s largest investment asset manager using the immense power of its algorithms and wealth to fund three crimes against life and humanity: AI, fossil fuels, war and genocide. The protest demanded that BlackRock stops using its power to crush humanity, and stops funding death by algorithm.
The protest included drummers from the Rhythms of Resistance network and Discobedience dancers.
Three corpses dressed in shrouds labelled with the words: BlackRock Funds Climate Violence, War and Genocide, AI Terror. Protest in Harmony, a radical activist singing group, sung songs of protest and an original work of art was created for the protest.
Activists held a giant banner saying BlackRock CRUSHING EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE and some held placards drawing attention to the fact that BlackRock’s wealth and algorithms fund climate violence, genocide and Big Tech. Larry Finkenstein, the alter ego of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, also made an appearance.
Alex Cochrane, website manager, from XR Scotland said: “We are protesting on Earth Day because BlackRock is funding climate breakdown with its investments into fossil fuel companies and major polluters.
“They are a company prepared to lie, greenwash and crush us all under the weight of climate catastrophe just so their shares can get some returns.
“They have captured finance and become too big to fail – we will all suffer from this, including the staff of BlackRock. Climate breakdown will destroy our way of life and their way of business.”
A spokesman from Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: “BlackRock uses its financial might directly against the Palestinian people.
“As the UN special report on ‘the economy of genocide’ by Albanese details, BlackRock’s vast investments in Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon and others add up to a ‘joint criminal enterprise’ where there is a direct line between BlackRock’s profits and genocide.”
Levi Clark, support worker, from XR Scotland said: “Young families in Scotland like mine are struggling as BlackRock’s AI investment platform Aladdin, the algorithmic engine of the global financial system, drives historically unprecedented inequality.
“There have never been more billionaires, yet ordinary people everywhere are facing hardship. BlackRock funds Palantir which is using AI technology to devastate human rights. We need to wrestle back control of this technology’s future for the benefit of all humanity.”
PICTURES: Mike Spring and Nathaniel Wyvern
Police Scotland’s national roll out of body worn video to frontline officers concludes today (Tuesday 21 April), with officers on duty with the cameras in Renfrewshire & Inverclyde (K Division) and Argyll and West Dunbartonshire (L Division).
Around 900 officers including road policing officers, dog handlers and custody staff, will be provided with devices over the coming weeks.
The equipment can help to de-escalate incidents, improve public trust in policing and reduce complaints, as well as support officer and staff safety, and bring wider benefits to the criminal justice system.
Since its introduction in March 2025, over 864,000 recordings have been captured by the devices with almost 174,000 hours of footage uploaded of which over 55,000 media files have been exported to our digital evidence sharing system, DESC.
Since taking command in October 2023, Chief Constable Jo Farrell has prioritised the introduction of body worn video.
Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett said: “The national roll out of body worn video cameras to our frontline officers is a key priority for us and is one of the ways that we can work towards our vision of safer communities and less crime.
“The cameras and technology will improve the quality of evidence presented in court to deliver faster justice for victims by increasing early guilty pleas and reduce the time spent at court for victims, witnesses and police officers.
“Body worn video can significantly enhance public confidence and support officer and public safety by providing effective and transparent evidence of police and public interactions.
“There is strong public and partner support for body worn video and we will continue to explain our use of this important technology including assurance around data privacy and human rights considerations.”
Every frontline uniformed police officer, including Special Constables, will be expected to wear a video camera on their uniform while on duty and to activate it when using police powers – including stop and search, an arrest of a suspect or executing a search warrant.
Police staff in custody suites will also use cameras when interacting with people in custody.
The footage may be used as evidence, but it will not replace existing procedures and requirements when gathering all available information. It will remain a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to review and determine competence on a case-by-case basis.
Video footage will be uploaded to secure police systems and the evidence will be shared with the COPFS using the new Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) system.
The introduction of body worn video is not intended to encourage the greater use of single police officer deployments or alter current deployment model.
