A 33-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of 35-year-old Barry Gilgun in Edinburgh.
Barry was found with serious injuries following a disturbance outside Cables Wynd House in Leith on Sunday, 5 July, 2026.
He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he died a short time later.
The 33-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Tuesday, 7 July.
A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
The latest issue of CAMRA’s branch magazine Pints of View is currently being distributed.
Goodbye Dandelion, a humorous, moving new work by award-winning writer and performer Maddie Rice and composer Marcus Rice, has been selected as the recipient of the inaugural Underbelly Futures Fund Award.
Created to support exceptional new work at and beyond the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Underbelly Futures Fund Award recognises productions that demonstrate outstanding artistic merit and strong future touring potential.
As the 2026 recipient, Goodbye Dandelion will receive a package of support designed to help the production thrive both during the festival and in its future development. This includes £5,000 in grant funding and £5,000 in investment to support the current and ongoing life of the show.
The company will also receive a favourable venue agreement, enhanced marketing support, in-kind rehearsal space, financial assistance to facilitate accessible performances and the opportunity to perform at Underbelly Soho’s Fringe Fix Season in September.
Goodbye Dandelion is told by real-life siblings Maddie (on the mic) and Marcus (on the keys), and was created with and directed by Katie Pesskin. The show follows the final years of 87-year-old Darcy through the eyes of an unlikely new friend. Blending storytelling and live piano, the piece explores friendship, mortality, and what it means to truly live.
The work marks Maddie Rice’s return to Underbelly following her acclaimed turn in Fleabag (2017), becoming the only actor other than Phoebe Waller-Bridge to play the role, and her award-winning solo show Pickle Jar (2018), also directed with and directed by Katie Pesskin.
Goodbye Dandelion was first presented in development at Underbelly’s scratch night Belly Scratch in November 2025, where it immediately stood out for the sensitivity and confidence of the work, the compelling onstage dynamic between the siblings, and the use of live music to heighten the storytelling.
The Futures Fund continues Underbelly’s history of championing daring new voices across theatre and live performance.
Marina Dixon, Head of Programming at Underbelly said: “We were all highly impressed with the beautiful and sensitive writing, the way the music is used to heighten the story, the clear on-stage familial dynamic between Marcus and Maddie, and the willingness to take on a controversial and relevant topic.
“We are proud to name Goodbye Dandelion as the recipient of the inaugural Underbelly Future Fund Award and look forward to supporting the show’s continued development and future journey.”
Maddie Rice said: ‘We’re so thrilled to be supported by the Underbelly Futures Fund! Goodbye Dandelion begun life at BellyScratch, and as a writer/ performer I’ve done most of my previous fringe shows at Underbelly- so this feels like a full circle moment.
“It’s my first time at the fringe for 7 years and feels extra special to have this support and to be working with Marcus and Katie. Thank you Underbelly!’
From October 2026, people in supported housing and temporary accommodation will be able to keep more of what they earn.
We’re modernising Housing Benefit rules and ensuring people are better off when they increase their earnings, hours or move into work.
Find out more: https://ow.ly/IJ9050Zk4Xb
More than 300,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation will no longer face a drop in income when increasing their working hours, under new rules laid in Parliament yesterday.
More than 300,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation will no longer face a drop in income when increasing their working hours, under new rules laid in Parliament yesterday [Monday 6 July].
The system inherited by this Government left vulnerable people in supported housing having to choose between staying out of work, or risk losing their housing support, because the work allowance was higher for Universal Credit than it was for Housing Benefit.
The less generous rules for Housing Benefit created a cliff edge that trapped people on benefits rather than supporting them into work. Some landlords even discouraged residents from taking jobs to protect their own rental income.
As part of the Government’s commitment to move from a welfare state to a working state, the regulations change how Housing Benefit is calculated so it works in the same way as Universal Credit – a change that will incentivise work for 315,000 people when they come into force in October 2026.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said: “The system we inherited was actively pushing some of the most vulnerable residents away from work rather than towards it.
“These changes fix that – ensuring residents can keep more of what they earn, so that taking a job or increasing hours always pays better than benefits.
“This announcement delivers on a commitment made in our Autumn Budget, and forms part of the government’s wider plan to reform the welfare system – tearing out the barriers that have trapped people in dependency.
“We are replacing that system with one that rewards work and ensures people keep more of what they earn, while protecting those who need it most.”
Monday’s rules come alongside previous steps to help people on disability benefits that want to work, into work, says the government: ‘We have already rebalanced Universal Credit to tackle the perverse incentives that discouraged work and introduced Right to Try legislation, allowing sick or disabled people to try work without the immediate fear of reassessment.
‘These measures come alongside our Connect to Work programme, which delivers tailored, personalised, local support that will help 300,000 people into work, and the deployment of 1000 Pathways to Work advisers to help those written off by the previous Government’.
Additional Information
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 1st August at the current Ryze Edinburgh site. VIP Meet & Greet tickets are on sale now, with general booking details coming soon.
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.
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 :
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!
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
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.
