Big names announced for Underbelly’s 8th Annual Big Brain Tumour Benefit

  • Underbelly announces 8 acts for the Big Brain Tumour Benefit: Nish Kumar, Rhys James, Rosie Jones, Larry Dean, Catherine Bohart, Emmanuel Sonubi, Felicity Ward and Justin Moorhouse.
  • Underbelly’s Big Brain Tumour Benefit takes place on Wednesday 19 August, 7pm at McEwan Hall, Underbelly Bristo Square.
  • All box office income (less VAT and commissions) will be donated to Professor Richard Gilbertson’s Lab at The Cancer Research Centre in Cambridge, helping to fund new treatments for the most aggressive forms of brain tumours in children.
  • Underbelly’s Big Brain Benefit shows have to date raised over £200,000, contributing to over £800,000 raised by Underbelly and Ed & Lucinda Bartlam’s Angel Child Fund since its inception.

Underbelly announces a line-up of comedy acts for the 8th annual Big Brain Tumour Benefit. The event will take place at 7:00pm in the McEwan Hall on Wednesday 19 August.

Starring in this year’s show is critically acclaimed comic Nish Kumar, Mock the Week regular Rhys James, award-winning stand-up comedian Rosie Jones, comic and SNL UK cast member Larry Dean.

They will be joined by Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Show nominees, Emmanuel Sonubi (Live at the Apollo) and Irish stand-up comedian and radio host Catherine Bohart (TL;DR, BBC Radio 4). Australian comedian and actress, Felicity Ward (Spicks and Specks, Thank God You’re Here) will also make an appearance. The event will be hosted by stand-up comedian and radio DJ Justin Moorhouse.

The show was created by Underbelly in 2017 following the diagnosis of an aggressive and rare form of brain cancer called Ependymoma in Alfie Bartlam, the son of Underbelly’s co-founder Ed Bartlam. Alfie sadly died, aged 7, three days after the end of the festival in 2019.

Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and adults under 40. They shorten life expectancy by an average of 27 years, the most of any cancer. Despite this, brain tumour research is underfunded compared to many other cancers.

Ed Bartlam, Underbelly’s co-founder said: “It’s always such a special moment for us to announce the line-up to Underbelly’s Big Brain Tumour Benefit.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the brilliant comedians and audiences for continuing to generously support this event. This year’s show marks the start of an incredibly exciting new fundraising drive for us, supporting the work of world-leading oncologist Professor Richard Gilbertson and his lab at the Cancer Research Centre in Cambridge.

“Underbelly and our wider Angel Child Fund will be fundraising for two new, groundbreaking projects that Professor Gilbertson and his team are working on to find cures for brain tumours in children. There is genuinely no better person for us (and you the audience!) to be supporting in this field and we’re thrilled to launch this partnership at the show this year.”

Festival goers can purchase tickets for Underbelly’s Big Brain Tumour Benefit today at: underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/events/event/underbellys-big-brain-tumour-benefit-25

PICTURED: Rosie Jones (Top Left), Nish Kumar (Credit: Matt Stronge, Top Right), Rhys James (Credit: Matt Crockett, Bottom Left), Catherine Bohart (Bottom Right).

Location, Location, Location is coming to Edinburgh!

Channel 4’s primetime property programme Location, Location, Location is looking for house hunters in and around Edinburgh for the new series. 

Fronted by presenters and property experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer, the pair head all across the UK to help buyers in search for their dream home. Location, Location, Location has been a fixture in Channel 4’s schedule for over 20 years and remains the biggest property buying programme on British television. 

In all that time, property experts, Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer have never tired in their efforts to match the nation’s hopeful house hunters with their perfect home. 

For its next series being filmed this September, Channel 4 are now looking for individuals, families and couples across Edinburgh who need Kirstie and Phil’s expertise to find their next home – whether they’re upsizing, downsizing, first timers, or looking for a forever home. 

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: “We are casting for the new series, and we are interested in hearing from chain free (or SSTC) house hunters who would be ready to buy in September this year.

“Applications are now open and we’re looking to spread the word to the community to encourage house hunters to apply and get the help they need. We are looking for individuals, families and couples who need Kirstie and Phil’s expertise to buy their dream home. 

“Whether applicants are first time buyers; looking for their next dream home; downsizing or relocating – whatever the reason they’re moving, we’d love to hear from them.

“Anyone interested can apply via the Channel 4 website and the following link – https://www.channel4.com/4viewers/takepart/location

“As part of Channel 4’s ongoing commitment to achieving greater inclusivity on screen, we strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds and identities to apply.” 

Your application will be received by a member of IWC Media and they will contact you directly if they wish to take your it any further. IWC Media will process your personal data in accordance with their privacy policy, a copy of which is available on request.

£210,000 worth of drugs recovered after car stopped in Edinburgh

A 39-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences in Edinburgh.

Around 8.20pm last night (Tuesday, 4 August), road policing officers stopped a car in Calder Road and heroin and cannabis worth around £210,000 was discovered.

A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, and he is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Wednesday, 5 August, 2026.

Detective Inspector Alan Sharp said: This was a significant recovery which demonstrates our continued commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.
 
“We remain committed to disrupting the sale and supply of illegal drugs in our communities of Edinburgh.
 
“Anyone with concerns about drugs in their area can contact Police Scotland on 101 or provide information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Scottish Emergency Departments experiencing ‘unsustainable’ summer pressure

Thousands wait more than half a day for treatment

The Scottish Government must make tackling Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding a political priority – as hospitals continue to take a battering in summer.  

That’s the message from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine following the publication of Public Health Scotland’s latest ED performance statistics.  

The figures, covering June 2026, showed that almost one in 20 patients (or a total of 6,023) waited in a major ED more than 12 hours before being discharged, admitted or transferred.  

Meanwhile, the proportion of patients entering and exiting the ED within four hours was the lowest of any June on record.  

Dr Fiona Hunter, Scotland Vice President at the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “The pressure facing Scottish Emergency Departments this summer is unsustainable. We are seeing overcrowding in the month of June which would have previously been unthinkable.

“Across the country, record numbers of patients are stuck in our departments for hours upon hours because the entire system is clogged.  

“The human cost of this must not be ignored: these are extremely sick and injured people who have come to us at a vulnerable time of need. Many of them need a hospital bed, but what they instead receive is a 12-hour stint on a trolley in a crowded, bright and noisy ED. 

“Our staff have to look patients in the eye every day and explain that they are in for a long stay. It’s an unacceptable and, frankly, embarrassing state of affairs and a far cry from what was promised by the new Scottish Government in its first 100 days in power.” 

The stats also showed that across June, there was a daily average of 1,946 beds being occupied in hospital wards by patients who were medically fit to leave – but who had not been discharged. This represents a lack of improvement on summer 2025, where delayed discharge figures broke records.  

RCEM set out, in its State of Emergency Medicine in Scotland report earlier this year, the links between delayed discharges, ED overcrowding and, ultimately, excess patient deaths.  

“Delayed discharge is crucial to tackling this crisis. If wards could move medically fit patients out of beds in good time, it would significantly ease congestion in A&E. 

“This should be a priority among policymakers but, to date, they have let us down. 

“It’s been almost three months since the election and the government has had plenty of time to act on this year-round crisis in our EDs. Today’s numbers are further proof that the current approach is not working.  

“I call on Angela Constance, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, to engage with us – and other Royal Colleges – to reform the ‘back door’ of our hospitals and, ultimately, save lives.”  

RCEM_SoEM_Scotland_A4_0326Download

Boogie Wonderland! Care Home launches Dementia Disco

On Friday (7th August) from 2.30pm – 3.30pm staff and residents at Queens Manor care home in Barnton will be dusting off their dancing shoes, leg warmers and glowsticks for the launch of their new Dementia Disco initiative which will take place very aptly during Dementia Action Week. 

Knowing how much their residents living with dementia love to dance and sing, the activities team at Queens Manor care home came up with the genius idea of a dementia-friendly disco.  The team is also inviting along relatives and loved ones, members of the local community and friends of the home to the first official dementia-friendly disco.

If you and your loved ones or community group would like to attend, please contact the home to book a place, email QueensManor@barchester.com /call 0131 339 9653.

The first Dementia Disco will take place on Friday 7th August from 2.30pm within the home’s dementia community and everyone is welcome to attend.

General Manager, Margaret-Ann Davidson comments: “The Dementia Disco will be a fantastic way to connect with others in a relaxed and supportive environment. 

“We know the power of music brings joy and reminiscence for those living with dementia, their families and caregivers.  Everyone is welcome – we’re really looking forward to making more friends in our local community.

“If anyone is unable to make it on the day but would like to pop in for a chat and a cup of tea, our doors are always open.”

Queens Manor care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Queens Manor Care Home provides residential and dementia care for 60 of residents from respite breaks to long term stays.

Four men arrested for illegal waste dumping at infamous Wigan site

Arrests form part of Environment Agency ongoing investigations

Four men have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into large-scale, illegal dumping of waste at the notorious Bolton House Road waste site in Wigan, the Environment Agency announced yesterday (Tuesday 4 August 2026).

The site has caused misery for local residents with reports of horrid smells – while a week-long fire caused nearby schools to shut last summer.

Officers from Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire Police, working in support of the Environment Agency, secured the arrest of the suspects for environmental, fraud and money laundering offences. The suspects are:

  • A 41-year-old male from Wigan
  • A 35-year-old male from Wigan
  • A 24-year-old male from Leeds
  • A 59-year-old male from Liverpool

One of the suspects – the 24-year-old male from Leeds – was also arrested in connection with waste dumping at the Cave’s Inn Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near Shawell in Leicestershire.

The Environment Agency’s investigation is being led by its National Environmental Crime Unit, which is seeking to find those responsible for the offending and hold them to account.

https://twitter.com/EnvAgency/status/2084651822447308908/video/1

Sue Longstone, Director of Operations for the North at the Environment Agency, said: The illegal dumping at Bolton House Road and Cave’s Inn Pits are atrocious attacks on our communities, and we share the public’s utter disgust at these horrendous crimes.

“Our teams have been working relentlessly on these investigations, and our arrests are a vital step in collecting new evidence and progressing it further.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “I have stood on Bolton House Road and seen what local people have had to live with. It is shocking – an ocean of rubbish piled up next to a primary school, and families unable to escape the smell in their own homes.

“This is not fly tipping. This is organised crime, and it is local communities that are paying the price.

“For too long, this issue has been ignored. But not on my watch. Today’s action by the Environment Agency and the police is just the start of our plans. The days of making easy money from waste are over.”

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said: “The appalling dumping of waste at Bolton House Road and Cave’s Inn Pits represents a blatant disregard for local communities and the environment.

“Tackling waste crime is one of my top priorities, and these arrests mark an important step in delivering justice for residents in Wigan and Shawell.

“This government is taking a zero-tolerance approach to waste crime. Through our Waste Crime Action Plan, we are giving regulators and enforcement agencies the powers and resources they need to break up criminal operations and ensure those responsible are held fully accountable for the damage they have caused.

“I want to be clear to waste criminals: we are coming for you.”

In May, a 58-year-old male from the Birmingham area was also arrested for illegal dumping of waste at the Bolton House Road site.

These arrests support the delivery of the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan, which sets out a zero-tolerance approach to waste crime, including tougher enforcement measures and new powers to equip regulators with the tools to stop waste crime in its tracks.

As part of its commitment to restore pride in local communities, the government has announced it will directly fund the clean-up of the Bolton House Road site in Wigan. Working with the council, a process is now underway to recruit a specialist contractor to manage the clean-up operation.

Robust action has been already taken to ensure no additional waste is dumped illegally at this site. This includes depositing concrete blocks at the entrance of the site by the local authority. Wigan Council are currently looking to recruit a specialist contractor after being given assurances the funds required to do clear up the site will be provided.

At Cave’s Inn Pits in Leicestershire, waste criminals dumped 30,000 tonnes of shredded waste in layers with soil used to cover it. Alongside the ongoing criminal investigation, the Environment Agency is assessing the waste to ensure there are no further environmental impacts, as well as monitoring local air and water quality.

Site at Cave’s Inn Pits in Leicestershire. Credit: Environment Agency/Natural England

In March, the Environment Agency published its 10 Point Plan for tackling waste crime, which sets out how it will act earlier to address illegal activity and deliver more consistent enforcement action.

In 2024/25, the Environment Agency working with partners stopped 743 illegal waste sites operating without permits, led 37 operations resulting in 40 arrests through the Joint Unit for Waste Crime and conducted 21 money laundering investigations.

Any information can be reported to the Environment Agency via its 24-hour incident hotline at 0800 807060 or anonymously via Crimestoppers.

Investment to recruit more adult social care workers

SCOTLAND’s adult social care workforce will be boosted to deliver up to 45,000 extra hours of care every month through ongoing investment.

The Adult Social Care Displaced Workers Scheme has reopened to new applications to help expand the number of care workers, increasing the sector’s resilience and capacity to deliver additional care each month.

The initiative, which helps social care employers to recruit international workers who are already in the UK but are without sponsored employment through no fault of their own, has already helped 37 employers recruit 120 workers.

First Minister John Swinney said “meaningful reform requires a workforce to deliver it” as he pressed the UK Government to ensure that international recruitment into the sector can resume.

Ahead of a visit to The Bughties care home in Dundee, where he will meet workers recruited through the scheme, Mr Swinney added: “We are all too familiar with the challenges facing our adult social care sector, especially given our ageing population, and it’s why we must ensure services meet our growing demand for care.

“I committed to provide an extra 45,000 hours of care each month and we have begun to deliver that increase within the first 100 days of the new government.

“UK Government decisions on immigration have inflicted pain on our social care sector at a time when demand for care is increasing and its choices on tax have heaped an £84 million bill on the sector by increasing Employers’ National Insurance contributions.

“The Prime Minister has spoken about reforming social care services, but meaningful reform requires a workforce to deliver it. I urge him to reconsider and to reverse the harm done by the UK Government over the past two years.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to hear first-hand the positive impact our scheme has had and how we can – and must – explore every option available to ensure we continue to make a positive difference to people’s lives and to a service which we all may one day need.”

Make the most of Playday with Tax-Free Childcare

  • Working families urged to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare on Playday to help pay for holiday clubs, after-school clubs, nurseries and childminders
  • Latest statistics show families save almost £100 a month with Tax-Free Childcare
  • Number of families using Tax-Free Childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by 20%

Working families are being encouraged to check if they could cut the cost of childcare this Playday (5 August), as HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) latest statistics show families using Tax-Free Childcare saved an average of almost £100 a month.

Playday, the national day for play, is a reminder for eligible parents to see if they could benefit from the scheme. Tax-Free Childcare can provide up to £2,000 per year per child (or £4,000 for a disabled child) helping manage childcare costs while balancing work and family life.

People can visit GOV.UK to check eligibility and sign-up for Tax-Free Childcare.

Once families have signed up, they can receive a £2 government top-up for every £8 they deposit into their account. Families can open an account for each of their children aged up to 11 and, if they have a disabled child, aged up to 16.

It can be used to pay for any approved childcare including nurseries, childminders, holiday clubs, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. Almost 75,000 providers are now signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments.

While the majority of families who use the scheme have younger children, recent statistics show the number of families using it to pay for childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by more than 20% compared to the previous year.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Tax-Free Childcare can help with your summer childcare plans and, looking to the term ahead, with whatever type of care you require for your child.

“If you haven’t signed up already, do it today so you don’t miss out. Go to GOV.UK and search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’.”

Families can receive up to £500 worth of top-up money, or £1,000 for a disabled child, every 3 months.

Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in their account to use it whenever it’s needed. Unused money can be withdrawn at any time.   

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:     

  • have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they can receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday   
  • the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average  
  • each earn no more than £100,000 per annum   
  • do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers    

Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the government funded childcare hours, subject to eligibility. 

Celebrating the many paths to success on Results Day

Results Day is a major milestone for learners across Scotland, with thousands opening envelopes to find out what they have been awarded in their National Qualifications and Awards.

But on the day itself, and throughout the year, there are other achievements being celebrated too. Apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, college pathways and social enterprises are opening doors to rewarding careers and opportunities, offering routes that stand alongside and sometimes go far beyond a traditional academic path.

Take Ellie Sandison’s path in Shetland. After leaving university when full-time study alongside work didn’t suit her, Ellie found her direction through a front-desk role at Shetland Museum and Archives.

Ellie (PICTURED, top) went on to complete the Museum Galleries Technician Modern Apprenticeship, earning a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Museum and Galleries Practice while working full time, and now works as a Learning & Engagement Assistant at the museum, delivering sessions on Shetland’s heritage to schools and community groups.

“My career path was not exactly straightforward,” she says, “but all the skills I learned along the way brought me to where I am today, and I absolutely love what I do.”

Kai Henderson from Aberdeenshire began his career journey while still at school with a Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Skills. That first step led him through a Modern Apprenticeship and then a Graduate Apprenticeship, and ultimately into his current role as Head of AI and Data.

“The pathway through apprenticeships is a brilliant route,” Kai says. “Not only have I been able to gain qualifications, knowledge and skills, but I was able to get real and meaningful experience from joining a team in a working environment.”

Younger learners are finding similarly transformative experiences outside of the school classroom. At Scran Academy in Edinburgh, a youth-led catering social enterprise, young people aged 13 to 16 build practical skills and gain Qualifications Scotland qualifications in food preparation, enterprise and work placement, often after disengaging from mainstream school.

For Jacob, the difference was clear from the start: “Scran offered me a place where I didn’t just feel like a number,” he says. “All the cooking qualifications helped me to get my job in a kitchen and are the reason I have the job in the first place.”

At St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Glasgow, pupils are choosing specialist qualifications even after achieving success through traditional routes. The school’s National Progression Award (NPA) in Cyber Security has proven so popular that some learners return in S6 to study it despite already holding a Higher in Computing Science.

Former pupil Elodie, now studying Computing Science at the University of Glasgow, says the course “got me more interested in the sector,” and has shaped her ambition to work in data privacy and human rights.

The same school’s NPA in Business and Marketing has delivered similarly impressive results, most notably through the entrepreneurship part of the course, where a team of S6 pupils recently won a national competition with a wearable safety device for women.

One of the winning team, Jovita, says the course “gave me huge confidence” as she prepares to begin studying English and Film at Edinburgh Napier University, with ambitions to become a producer.

Not every pathway runs smoothly, but that’s part of the journey too. In Glasgow, Demi Crawford is completing a Painting and Decorating apprenticeship through City Building Training College, having overcome a serious knee injury that required surgery and led to a lot of absence.

With a tailored timetable to help her catch up, she’s now heading into her fourth and final year, preparing to sit the skills test that will qualify her as a tradesperson. “No two days are the same,” she says, “which makes work more enjoyable.”

For 50-year-old Cyprien Bayekelua, also in Glasgow, the pathway into a new career started with English lessons. Having come to Scotland speaking French, Cyprien progressed through Glasgow Clyde College’s Social Services pathway, from a qualification in English for Speakers of Other Languages all the way to a Higher National Certificate in Social Services, overcoming challenges around age and language along the way.

“These challenges were difficult,” he says, “but they also helped me grow stronger and more determined.” He now plans to continue supporting elderly service users.

Nick Page, Chief Executive Officer at Qualifications Scotland said: “Results Day is about celebrating every learner’s achievement, whatever path they’ve taken.

“These stories show the incredible range of routes available, from foundation apprenticeships and work-based learning to vocational qualifications delivered in schools, colleges and community initiatives.

“I’ve seen it first-hand myself when visiting centres across the country, and I’m continually impressed with the hard work of learners everywhere.

“Whether it’s a young person discovering a passion for cyber security, building a new career in social care later in life, or an apprentice overcoming setbacks to qualify, each of these journeys proves that success looks different for everyone.

“I want to congratulate every person who has worked incredibly hard to get to where they are, and for every learner in Scotland to know there is a path that’s right for them.”

Young carers gather for a break from caring and a chance to be heard at  Scottish Young Carers Festival 

Hundreds of young carers from across Scotland will come together this week for  the annual Scottish Young Carers Festival, a unique event providing young  people with caring responsibilities the opportunity to take a break, connect with  others and enjoy new experiences. 

Young carers are children and young people who help care for a family member,  friend or loved one who has an illness, disability, mental health condition,  addiction or additional support needs. 

Organised by Carers Trust Scotland and receives funding by the Scottish  Government, the three-day festival brings together young carers from across the  country for a programme of activities, entertainment and opportunities to spend  time with others who understand the realities of being a young carer. 

The festival offers young carers a chance to step away from their day-to-day  caring responsibilities and focus on friendship, fun and wellbeing. It also provides  an opportunity for young people to share their experiences and ensure their  voices are heard on issues that affect their lives. 

The event will also welcome a number of decision-makers and stakeholders,  giving young carers the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives  directly with people involved in shaping policy and support services across  Scotland. 

Through activities, discussions and informal conversations, young carers will  have the chance to highlight the issues that matter most to them, including  breaks from caring, education, wellbeing and recognition. 

Why a Break Matters 

There are at least 30,000 young carers under the age of 18 in Scotland, many  of whom provide vital unpaid care for family members. Carers Trust Scotland’s  work highlights that time away from caring duties is not just a treat – it’s  essential for young carers’ wellbeing, development and happiness. 

Becky Duff, Director of Carers Trust Scotland, said: “The Scottish Young Carers Festival gives young carers the chance to take a  break from their caring responsibilities, spend time with friends and enjoy  opportunities that they might not otherwise have access to.

“We know from listening to young carers how important breaks, friendships and  support are to their wellbeing. The festival brings young carers together from  across Scotland, creating a space where they can connect with others who  understand their experiences and simply enjoy being young people.

“It is also an opportunity to highlight the important contribution young carers  make every day and ensure their voices continue to be heard by decision makers.” 

Alison Thewliss MSP, Minister for Community Care, said: “Young carers make an invaluable contribution to their families, communities and to society as a whole The care and support they provide every day is remarkable,  but I also recognise that caring responsibilities can bring challenges and make it  harder to access the same opportunities as their peers. 

“We remain committed to supporting young carers through initiatives such as the  Young Carer Grant, the Young Scot Young Carer Package and our work to deliver  a Right to Breaks for carers. 

“I am delighted to attend this year’s Scottish Young Carers Festival and hear directly from young carers about the issues that matter most to them. I hope  everyone attending the festival has a fantastic time and creates memories and  friendships that will last long after the event has ended.”

The festival is supported by local carer organisations from across Scotland, who  work throughout the year to provide advice, information and opportunities for  young carers in their communities. 

Throughout the event, young people will take part in a wide range of activities  while building confidence, making new friends and creating lasting memories.