Uncategorized – Page 17 – The NEN

Edinburgh’s Ryze becomes UK’s first Ninja Kidz Action Park following £900,000 investment

Edinburgh’s well-known Ryze Trampoline Park is being transformed into the UK’s first Ninja Kidz Action Park, backed by a £900,000 investment and launching with a grand opening on Saturday 1st August.

The rebrand sees Ryze partner with Ninja Kidz TV, the family-run YouTube channel with over 35 million combined subscribers and a substantial UK fanbase, to bring its action park concept to the UK for the very first time.

Ninja Kidz Action Parks already operate across North America, including the US and Canada, with Edinburgh and Dundee marking the brand’s first ever locations in the UK.

The grand opening will be marked by an exclusive VIP Meet & Greet with the real Ninja Kidz from the YouTube channel, who are travelling to Scotland to meet fans in person. Only 150 VIP tickets are available for the Edinburgh event, including a photo with the Ninja Kidz, a VIP play session at the park, and much more.

General grand opening tickets will be announced soon.

The investment funds a full transformation of the venue, introducing more than 18 new attractions, including adventure slides, a ninja frame, battle beam, wall-to-wall trampolines, air tracks, a dodgeball arena, foam pits and dedicated soft play for younger children.

The investment also represents a vote of confidence in Edinburgh as a destination for family entertainment, supporting local jobs and giving families across the city and surrounding areas a new, year-round activity option.

Ty Nielson, Co-Founder at Ninja Kidz Action Parks, said: “We are incredibly excited to partner with Ninja Kidz and bring the UK’s first Ninja Kidz Action Park to Edinburgh and Dundee.

“This is a huge moment for us, and a major investment into creating something truly special for families in Scotland and across the UK.”

Rory Fairgrieve, Sales Director at Ninja Kidz Action Parks UK, said: “We are really excited about this renovation to become a Ninja Kidz Action Park bringing a new and exciting venue for fun to the area.

“Ninja Kidz TV has millions of fans around the world, including so many here in the UK, we cannot wait to bring that energy into a real-life action park experience.

“Ryze has always been about active fun, family experiences and creating amazing memories. This partnership allows us to take that to a whole new level.”

Ninja Kidz Action Park Edinburgh opens on 1^stAugust at the current Ryze Edinburgh site. VIP Meet & Greet tickets are on sale now, with general booking details coming soon.

Come to Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre for Monday meals

Come along on Monday to our breakfast café, 9 – 10:30am for some tasty hot filled rolls and hot drinks.

We also have lunch on from 11:30am – 12:30pm. A firm favourite – baked potatoes on the menu!

The Monday Café is open to everyone, and all meals are free; a small donation is appreciated if you are able.

Artist-in-residence programme inspires next generation of creatives at Merchiston Castle School

Pupils gain rare insight into life as a professional artist through year-long residency

Pupils at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh have spent the past year working alongside acclaimed Scottish artist Robbie Bushe RSA through a unique artist-in-residence programme, gaining a behind-the-scenes insight into how a professional artist works.

The year-long residency culminated in the unveiling of a major new artwork inspired by the school community at a special exhibition attended by pupils, parents, alumni and leading arts patron Richard Demarco, founder of the Richard Demarco Gallery.

Throughout the year, Robbie worked from a studio space within the school’s Faculty of Technologies & Creative Arts, giving pupils the opportunity to see a large-scale work of art evolve from initial sketch to finished piece, and to experience first-hand how ideas are brought to life.

At a time when creative subjects face increasing pressure in schools, the residency reflects Merchiston’s belief that the arts help young people build confidence, think independently and see the world differently. As technology and artificial intelligence continue to reshape the workplace, skills such as creativity, problem-solving and adaptability are becoming increasingly important.

Robbie joined the school in October 2025 and invited pupils and members of the wider school community to contribute drawings, stories, memories and imagined futures for the school, many of which helped shape the final work.

Polly Prosser, Lead Teacher of Art & Design at Merchiston Castle School, said: “The art and design curriculum encourages pupils to engage directly with artists and artworks, but nothing compares to seeing that process unfold in front of you every day.

“The boys have seen every stage of the journey with Robbie and our small class sizes have meant every pupil has had the chance to speak with him, ask questions and share ideas. It’s been fantastic to see how much they’ve taken from the experience.”

Among them was Chester, a pupil originally from Hong Kong, who incorporated elements of Robbie’s approach into his own coursework, drawing inspiration from his use of storytelling, architecture and memory.

He said: “Through my conversations with Robbie Bushe, I became interested in how different moments in time can exist simultaneously within one image.

“His detailed cityscapes and narrative approach inspired me to layer architectural forms, personal memories and imagined spaces in my final piece, reflecting my experience of migration between Hong Kong and Edinburgh.”

The artwork forms part of a wider series exploring memory, community and the hidden structures that shape everyday life. Drawing on Robbie’s own school experiences alongside stories and ideas contributed by the Merchiston community, the painting features familiar landmarks, imagined spaces and visual references inspired by conversations with pupils throughout the year.

Among them are imagined underground train systems beneath the school, hidden worlds within buildings and a gecko peering from a stack of library books – ideas that emerged through discussions with pupils during the residency.

Robbie Bushe RSA said: “One of the most rewarding aspects of the residency was the curiosity of the pupils. Their ideas, questions and observations constantly challenged me to look at things differently.

“Artists can sometimes work in isolation. Spending a year immersed in a school community brought a completely different energy to the work and many of the details within the painting grew directly from conversations with pupils.

“Being given the opportunity to work alongside the boys and become part of the daily life of the school has had a real impact on my own practice. The finished piece is as much a reflection of the community as it is of my own experiences and ideas.”

To learn more about Merchiston Castle School, please visit :

https://www.merchiston.co.uk/

Today: Community Lunch at Empty Kitchens Full Hearts

Menu for Friday the 3rd of July

We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and a delicious pudding.

What’s on the menu today:

Root veg soup

Tuscan bean chicken stew

Veggie haggis pasta

Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens. And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out!

Do come along and enjoy. Thank you!

Stronger North: crackdown on crime in North Edinburgh

THIS STORY APPEARED ON THIS DAY IN 2017 – Ed.

Police have been conducting Stronger North activity in the North Edinburgh area over the past week. Officers have made 42 arrests and executed seven misuse of drugs warrants since last Monday. Over the last week £9000 worth of drugs have been recovered in the area, along with seven stolen motorcycles and one stolen car. Seventeen vehicles have also […]
Stronger North: crackdown on crime in North Edinburgh

Keeping The Promise

Fraser McKinlay, Chief Executive of The Promise Scotland, has written in response to the statement from all 32 of Scotland’s Chief Social Work Officers warning of an emergency in availability of alternative care options for children:

Across Scotland there is now an acute shortage of suitable homes and carers for children who are unable to remain in the care of their family.

The lack of options increases the risk of harm to children from physical, sexual, emotional abuse or exploitation and neglect, as well as placing undue and unsustainable pressure on the people entrusted with keeping Scotland’s children, young people and adults safe.

The crisis is occurring at a time of growing concerns about the impact of poverty on families, a shortage of housing, and national attention on child sexual abuse and exploitation.

We, Scotland’s thirty-two Chief Social Work Officers, are therefore taking this unusual step of issuing a joint statement to ensure that the public and political leaders are aware of the situation, and the need for urgent action.

In the absence of placement options, newborn babies are remaining in the care of hospital nurses. Children as young as three years old are being placed in residential homes with young adults; a setting characterised by frequently changing staff and other young people.

Older children are sleeping on the sofas of foster carers and residential homes. And in such scarcity, where any safe placement will do, expensive specialist options are being used for children who do not have high levels of need, making them unavailable for those children who do.

The capacity of the care system is saturated, and it is only thanks to the incredible efforts of Scotland’s carers, social work staff and other professionals that we have been able to prevent the system collapsing entirely. Some carers have not had a break in many months, and in some parts of the country social workers have had to take children home with them, as no other safe options are available.

This is an emergency for Scotland’s care system, and we ask Scottish Government and Local Government leaders to work with us to take necessary action.

Principally, we – as the leaders of social work in local government – require the flexibility to authorise placements which we deem suitable to protect the welfare and wellbeing of children.

We also need to see political commitments to alleviate the administrative demand on social work implemented at pace.

Scotland aspires to be among the best places in the world to grow up, no matter what your background or circumstances. And Scotland has made a promise to those children and families who require social work support that the experience will be positive and nurturing. We share these ambitions wholeheartedly.

But the primary responsibility of public authorities is to protect the welfare and wellbeing of people, and if we are unable to do this fundamental task, those ambitions will never be realised.

Summer Breakfast Club returns to Muirhouse

Summer Breakfast Club is back at the hub!

Cereal, fruit, snacks and drinks available 10-12 every Mon to Sat during the summer holidays!

This year we’ve joined forces with the North Edinburgh Arts team to deliver this and a whole programme of family events and activities!

Police: Increase in vehicle crime

KEEP YOUR CAR SAFE

POLICE are aware of an increase in vehicle-related crime in the city.

While we continue to investigate reports and target offenders, there are simple steps motorists can take to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim:

Always lock your vehicle and close windows.

Keep vehicle keys away from doors and windows, particularly for keyless vehicles.

Remove valuables and personal belongings from sight.

Park in well-lit areas whenever possible.

Consider additional security devices such as steering wheel locks.

Working together, we can make it harder for criminals to operate in our communities.

LOCK IT PROTECT IT REPORT IT

Scotland to provide aid to support Venezuela earthquake victims

£250,000 to support humanitarian relief efforts

Humanitarian aid efforts in Venezuela will receive £250,000 Scottish Government funding following the devastating earthquakes that have struck the country.

The support will help those affected by the earthquakes, which have caused significant loss of life and severe damage to homes and infrastructure.

The funding will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to support people to access shelter, food, water and medical care in the worst affected areas.

International Development Minister Simita Kumar said: “My heart goes out to everyone in Venezuela who has lost their loved ones or their home in the wake of these devastating earthquakes.

“The scale of suffering is immense, and I am deeply concerned for everyone caught up in the crisis, including the hundreds of thousands of children who most urgently need support.

“Scotland has a proud tradition of standing with communities in their darkest hours and will play its part in supporting the international humanitarian effort in Venezuela. This funding will help get vital assistance to those who need it most.”

https://twitter.com/DECScotland/status/2072207916313067580/video/1

Val Brown, Head of Christian Aid in Scotland and spokesperson for the DEC Scotland Appeal, said: “This is an unimaginably difficult time for the people affected by the earthquake.

“From the terror and chaos of the earthquakes to the ongoing anguish of missing or injured loved ones. People are coming to terms with the fact that their whole lives have changed in seconds. Many have lost their homes and belongings, whole neighbourhoods have been destroyed.

“Many of DEC’s member charities were already working in Venezuela so are able to work well with local and national experts. They responded immediately by delivering basic aid from the very beginning – food, water, emergency medical care. But so much more is needed now and in the coming days and weeks.

“We’d like to thank the Scottish Government for their generous support for this latest appeal, the 80th we’ve launched in the DEC’s 60 year history. We hope the £250,000 they have provided will encourage people from all over Scotland to dig deep and help make a difference right now.”

https://twitter.com/DECScotland/status/2072207916313067580/video/1

The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of humanitarian crisis overseas, with 10 of its 15 member agencies already operational in Venezuela or working with local partners on the ground.

To make a donation to the Venezuela earthquake appeal, visit the DEC website.

Glasgow’s first GP walk-in service opened by First Minister

Supporting 45,000 patients to access same-day treatment

Thousands of patients in Glasgow will have easier access to urgent same day care as Scotland’s latest GP walk-in service opened its doors.

First Minister John Swinney visited the centre in Cardonald as it opened to patients today. The service will enable residents in Cardonald and the surrounding area to receive treatment without an appointment, Monday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 20:00.

Depending on clinical need, patients may be seen by a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner. The service will also be made available to those without fixed addresses or who are homeless to ensure no one misses out on access to care.

It is the ninth centre to open as part of the Scottish Government’s pilot GP walk-in programme, which has been designed to provide more choice for patients while helping to relieve pressure on wider NHS services.

The First Minister said: “I promised that my government would end the frustrating ‘8am rush’ for GP appointments – and we are delivering on that commitment.

“Patients across the country are already benefitting from this pilot, which enables access to urgent, same-day care at new GP-led walk-in services – with Glasgow the latest service to open its doors.

“Walk-in services will help us bridge between General Practice and Urgent care – offering patients with urgent health concerns another way to be seen and treated, on the day and closer to home. Existing GP services will continue to provide their patients with all general medical services.

“We are on track to open another at least another two additional walk-in centres and set out the next phase of expansion, within the first 100 days of this government. This year we will expand access to a further 14 locations, taking the total to 30 walk-in clinics across the country. That is a Scottish Government delivering for the people of Scotland.”

Jann Gardner, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) Chief Executive, said: “The opening of the GP Walk-In Clinic in Cardonald marks an important step in improving access to care for local residents.

“NHSGGC is at the forefront of this new approach and we are committed to learning from the Walk-In Clinic as we continue to modernise healthcare.

“This forms part of a wider programme of work to improve how patients access services, including initiatives such as FNC+ and e-triage. We will continue to develop services that are responsive to the needs of our communities.”