Film fans can get their big screen fix at Vue for just £4 this Saturday (31 August) as part of National Cinema Day.
All films, all day are just £4 when purchased in person (with a 90p booking fee for tickets booked online) to mark the annual event designed to bring people together in celebration of the way films should be seen – on the big screen.
There’s an abundance of titles to enjoy on the day, including summer smash hits Alien: Romulus, It Ends with Us and Deadpool & Wolverine, with familiar faces for families to enjoy in Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4.
For those wanting to enjoy a classic, as part of Vue’s ongoing Back on the Big Screen collection National Cinema Day customers can revisit 80s sci-fi with The Terminator and get lost in magical worlds with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
To coincide with the celebration film fans will also have a chance to try Coca Cola’s Freestyle beverage, The Fan Favourite, a delicious combo of cherry and vanilla – available for one week only at selected venues.
Robert Smith, General Manager of Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: “Nothing compares to the experience of seeing a film the way it should be seen – on the big screen.
“That’s why we’re encouraging as many people as possible to head down to Vue in Edinburgh this Saturday.”
To find out what’s playing at Vue sites across Edinburgh, visit:
100k visitors, almost 600 events, 100 sold out and 55 countries watch online
Over 100k visits were made to the Book Festival’s new home at Edinburgh Futures Institute from 10-25 August for first programme from new Director Jenny Niven
Authors, poets, politicians, musicians, thinkers and illustrators including Margaret Atwood, Richard Osman, Salman Rushdie, Blindboy, Sarah Pascoe, RF Kuang, Naomi Alderman, Jess Phillips took to stage and screen for almost 600 events
Over 200 events sold to 90% capacity or more
Audiences from 55 countries joined online for pay what you can events – many of which are still available to watch
Over 4,500 school children from 89 schools across Scotland were transported to the Festival (31 groups free of charge), to attend free events and take home a free book each
EIBF authors took part in 12 visits to hospitals and prisons across Scotland
Thousands of local residents were introduced to Edinburgh Futures Institute for the first time
Over 100k visits were made to Edinburgh International Book Festival’s new home at the newly opened Edinburgh Futures Institute from 10-25 August 2024, with ticket and book sales significantly up on previous years, and thousands of curious passers-by exploring and enjoying the new site, amongst the heart of Edinburgh’s festival action.
Future Tense, the first Book Festival programme to unfold under new Director Jenny Niven, tackled topics of global importance ranging from AI to the climate crisis, capitalism to the war in the Middle East, migration to inheritance, and more besides.
Legendary authors, writers, poets, thinkers and entertainers including Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie (who joined down the line), Richard Osman, Dolly Alderton, Alan Cumming & Forbes Masson, Phillipa Gregory, Jackie Kay, James O’Brien, Lemn Sissay, Elif Shafak, Louise Welsh, Raja Shehadeh, Marian Keyes, Roger McGough appeared on stage, alongside RF Kuang, Blindboy, Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, Evie Wyld, Julius Roberts, and Samantha Shannon.
As well as greats from the literary sector, stars of music and film (Stuart Brathwaite of Mogwai, Esther Swift, Evelynn Glennie, Stuart Murdoch, Steven Moffat, Anjoa Andoh), theatre makers (including Grid Iron’s Ben Harrison), producers, publishers (many appearing as part of the Business of Books strand aimed at those in the industry, and artists (Ruth Millington, Kate Leiper) and actors also featured, bringing the multi disciplinary magic of the Edinburgh Festivals to life, right at the heart of the city.
This year saw a number of brand new types of events unfold, many celebrating cross-discipline collaboration, including the ambitious digital experience, Perambulations of a Justified Sinner and the intimate Have Lunch With… series at Elliott’s Studio, featuring chef-writers (Asma Khan, Sami Tamimi and Rachel Roddy). Clean Money: Can Fundraising Ever Be Ethical brought in audience members with a variety of views to discuss the detail and nuance of modern arts funding in a safe and supported space, and events including ThinkTanks offered audiences unparalleled access to world-class minds including Harold Hongju Koh, Ingrid Robeyns, Joseph Stiglitz and Ken Costa.
Voices from across the political spectrum also joined the conversation, with appearances from John Swinney, Jess Phillips, Caroline Lucas, Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan.
Jenny Niven, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the success of the Book Festival this year. Audiences have voted with their feet and we’ve seen full houses and brilliant, engaged crowds.
“Debate and discussion has been relished by audiences and authors alike proving the Festival is a truly important space for people to be inspired and come together.
“Edinburgh Futures Institute as a Book Festival venue has been terrific and we’re already looking at the ways we can build on what we’ve created for next year.
“We’re looking forward to beginning conversations in the Autumn with everyone who will be part of our story in our next glorious edition.”
We, the undersigned, are artists, arts workers, and/or audience members from across Scotland. We are the people of Scotland. We live and work here. We value the arts and the artists who make it.
We are writing to you about the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals, due to the Scottish Government being unable to confirm the release of £6.6 million of funding from the Grant-in-Aid budget. This decision shocks and deeply concerns us, and places the future of the arts in Scotland at risk.
The Open Fund for Individuals is the cornerstone of the arts in Scotland. It is the only fund of its kind to support artists to lead projects, develop their practice, support their professional development and collaborate with other artists and/or communities.
One grant awarded to an individual provides meaningful employment, creative development, allows space for artistic risk and experimentation. Many of these grants support multiple artists and arts workers through paid job opportunities. Grants for individuals can also support organisations through the filling of theatres, galleries and music festivals.
One grant can kickstart or extend a career, allow an artist to present their work to the public, develop a new stream of income, develop their entrepreneurial and business skills. Take artworks to market and present for Scottish audiences, leading to international tours and commercial successes. They provide a training ground for the arts leaders of tomorrow, allowing artists to skill up through experience of running their own projects and developing new networks.
One grant can place artists in schools, in care homes, working 1-to-1 with folk who do not like a crowd, or with whole communities at a time, and bring a multitude of positive personal, social and wellbeing benefits. It can reduce isolation and bring people together. It can inspire and delight. It can help people find their voice, and see their experiences and stories represented.
The Open Fund for Individuals has an enormous impact. It is a lifeline for artists and arts workers. Beyond the individual grants and their benefits, its existence also means an enormous amount to people across Scotland, because it supports people who are not independently wealthy to be artists. It tells us that we have a right to creativity and the arts, a right to joy and wellbeing, and a right to emotion and expression.
Without the fund, the future is bleak, and bleakest for those who are isolated and marginalised by income, geography, race, class, age, faith, caring responsibilities, gender, sex, sexuality, or disability. Those who do not have savings to fall back on, family support to sustain them, or who have to work harder to bring their work to audiences are at risk of being unable to sustain a career in the arts. The loss of these talents and perspectives in the arts leaves us all poorer.
The arts in Scotland contribute £5bn annually to the economy but they are now at breaking point. We cannot continue without direct support for our artists, arts workers & self employed people. The damage to the arts caused by the closure of the fund is immediate and long lasting. Cut it now, and it could take a generation to build back.
We urge you to fund the reopening of the Open Fund for Individuals as a matter of urgency. We ask that you provide clear guidance on the in-year and future annual budgets so that the arts in Scotland can begin to plan, develop ideas, build upon past successes and deliver a vibrant future for us all.
[Please sign with your first name, last name and postcode at the bottom of the document]
[If you’re having trouble accessing this document, please email mharirobinson@gmail.com with your name and post code and I will add you in]
Traverse Theatre statement on closure of the Open Fund
The Scottish theatre community is in need of support more than ever in light of the cuts to arts funding. Gareth Nicholls, Artistic Director of the Traverse, said last night:
“We at the Traverse wanted to use our platform to the world on the final day of the festival to make you aware of this, and of the significant impact funding cuts are having on our nation’s artists and theatres.
“New work in Scotland doesn’t come from nothing. And one of the key ways this has been achieved is through an open fund where an individual artist can ask for money when their idea is but a seed.
“The open fund is the incubator for Scottish work, but Creative Scotland has been forced to close the fund at 2pm on Friday. It will be closed indefinitely, due to the Scottish Government being unable to confirm funding for its delivery.
“Many on our stages, and whose work you’ve enjoyed at the festivals, have been dependent upon it, alongside wider arts subsidy. It is a fund that helps build careers and craft to get an idea off the ground, and which helps places like the Traverse keep our theatres alive with bold new ideas.
“If you enjoy seeing Scottish work right here in Scotland, then please continue to support the artists who make the powerful work that appears our stages.”
This month marks three years since funded early learning and childcare (ELC) was nearly doubled for eligible two-year-olds and all three and four-year-olds in Scotland.
Scotland remains the only part of the UK to offer 1,140 hours a year of funded ELC to all 3 and 4-year-olds and eligible 2-year-olds regardless of their parents’ working status – putting children first.
If families paid for this themselves, it would cost them more than £5,500 per eligible child per year.
Uptake of the Scottish Government’s flagship offer remains high, with 97% of three to four-years-old accessing funded ELC in 2023.
Children and Young People Minister Natalie Don-Innes said: “Our investment in funded early learning and childcare is vital to achieving our ambition for a diverse, thriving and sustainable childcare sector and I’m proud of the progress made through the 1140 expansion so far.
“We are working to eradicate child poverty and improve the lives of children. This includes increasing uptake of our childcare offer for two-year-olds, and testing new systems of childcare through our investment in six Early Adopter Communities, which are local systems of funded childcare for families who need it most.
“We have also provided funding of £16 million for a pay uplift to £12 an hour for staff delivering ELC in the private and third sectors, and funded a new programme to recruit and retain childminders. All of this is helping parents back into work, study or training, which is not only good for their wellbeing, but good for the economy.
“I am committed to continuing to work together with providers and local government to safeguard the sector and ensure our children get the best start in life through access to high quality funded ELC.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has received its 10,000th story on Care Opinion, the independent healthcare feedback platform.
Care Opinion is a national resource that gathers feedback anonymously and shares it with NHS services so they can pass on positive feedback and learn from any instances where levels of care may fall short of expectations.
Sandra Bustillo, Director of Communications and Public Engagement at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who has executive responsibility for patient feedback and engagement, said: “Every day, staff throughout NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde work hard to give the best possible care to our patients, and to support families and friends through what can be a very difficult time.
“Everyone at NHSGGC is very proud of the work we do and the care we give, and open and honest feedback is an important way for us to build on what works well and improve what could be better.
“Care Opinion, which is one of a number of ways feedback can be shared with NHSGGC, allows patients, or someone close to them to five anonymous feedback, and we would encourage people to use the service to give us their views on the care they or a loved one received.
“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde always endeavours to answer the feedback we receive, if that’s appropriate, and what is said will always be passed on to the relevant service so they can continue to improve the care they give.
“We are however delighted that more than 75 percent of the feedback we receive on Care Opinion is positive, which is due to work that NHSGGC staff day do every day to provide high quality, person-centred healthcare.
“We would like to thank patients and their families for their feedback, and all our staff for their continuing hard work and professionalism.”
Fraser Gilmore, Executive Director and Head of Care Opinion Scotland, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be celebrating with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on being the first Scottish Health Board to receive their 10,000th story on Care Opinion from members of the public.
“This is testament to hard work of staff and services who truly believe in the power of public feedback in shaping service improvement.
“Care Opinion gives patients, relatives and carers the opportunity to share what was good and what could be improved, so services can learn from this feedback and make improvements for everyone.
“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff have responded to these stories more than 13,000 times, each time thanking authors for their gift of feedback and explaining how they are going to use the feedback to learn, grow and change.
“The number of stories shared about NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde services has increased year on year, and in 2023/24, 78 per cent of all stories shared were completely positive and in total, all the stories shared about the board have been read more than 4 million times.
“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has really shown how much it values proactively seeking feedback from patients, relatives and carers, in a way that is open, transparent and leads to learning and change.
“At Care Opinion we are delighted to have been part of the board’s journey to actively seek feedback from the public and we look forward to our continued collaboration.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service Ambulance Care Assistant has received a long service award after 15 years volunteering for St Andrews First Aid.
Lynne Duke, who works out of Leverndale Station, started with St Andrews in 2009 after seeing an advert in a local paper.
St Andrews, which formed in 1882, promotes the teaching of first aid along with supplying first aid equipment and event cover.
Lynne, who joined the ambulance service in 2016, was recently presented with a long service award at a Civic Reception at Edinburgh City Chambers, attending with her daughter Sarah and presented with her medal and certificate by Edinburgh’s Lord Provost.
Lynne said: “It was really nice to be recognised for the volunteering that I do.”
Speaking of how she got into volunteering with St Andrews, she said after applying for a position, she completed a three-month training course with the option to volunteer after successful completion.
She added: “I made the decision to join and really enjoyed my time and have never looked back. Not only did St Andrew’s give the confidence to try new things, I’ve met friends that I can now call friends for life.”
In the past 15 years, Lynne has volunteered at six T in the Park Festivals, numerous concerts, football matches, Remembrance Day parades and local duties including performances in East Kilbride village theatre.
Her enjoyment from volunteering inspired her to change careers joining SAS as an Ambulance Care Assistant, caring for members of the public when transporting them to and from hospital.
She said: “I started working part-time in based at Paisley station before moving to Glasgow South station. I now work full time at Leverndale Station. I like that every day is different, meeting different people and the challenges that it brings.”
Paul Bennie, Ambulance Care Assistant Team Leader at Leverndale, said: “On behalf of everyone at SAS, I would like to congratulate Lynne on a fantastic achievement.
“She is a fantastic member of staff and inspiring volunteer for St Andrews. This award is thoroughly deserved and everyone at Leverndale is thrilled she has been recognised.”
Students across Lothian are encouraged to ensure their vaccinations are up to date before heading off to college or university this year.
Infectious diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and measles can spread easily in universities and colleges. Vaccination offers the best protection against these diseases, which is why it’s important to check your vaccines are up to date.
Students are 11 times more likely to develop invasive meningococcal disease, which causes meningitis and septicaemia. The meningitis ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine helps to protect against these very serious diseases. Students who have missed having the vaccine, can get it up to the age of 25 years.
Parts of the UK and other countries in Europe have been seeing an increase in the number of people getting measles, and evidence suggests students are at higher risk. That’s why it’s important to check you’ve had two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella and has saved over 4,500 lives across the UK.
Pat Wynne, Nurse Director for Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian, said: “These diseases can be severe and, in some cases, life threatening.
“Students are at increased risk due to the large amounts of mixing with new people in enclosed spaces. Increasing cases of measles and meningococcal disease in particular were observed earlier this year.
“Vaccines are the best way to ensure you’re protected and these are offered for free on the NHS in Scotland. These vaccines are offered as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule however if they’ve been missed, it’s not too late to catch up.
“Ideally, they should be given at least two weeks before the new semester starts.”
There is also still time to get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. It helps protect against HPV-related cancers including head, neck and cervical cancer and also protects against over 90% of genital wart infections. Most students will have had the HPV vaccine at school if eligible but if not, students may still be able to get it up until the age of 25.
If you are under 25 years and you’ve missed any vaccinations, call the Vaccination Enquiries Line on 0300 790 6296. If you are 25 or over, call your GP practice. They can check your records and arrange a referral if it is required.
International students may be able to get additional vaccines that were not available where they lived before.
Garden Centre offers free Grow How workshops on seasonal planting
As the cooler days of Autumn approach, Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting families and gardening enthusiasts to its Edinburgh store to gear up for a colourful spring with its free monthly Grow How sessions this September.
Grow How provides a welcoming space for gardeners of all ages and skill levels to learn, share, and get growing.
The series of informal workshops will take place at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store on the first Saturday of the month, then every Wednesday throughout September at 10:30am and 3:30pm. The 15-minute demonstrations, led by Dobbies’ friendly and knowledgeable colleagues, are packed with practical tips and engaging Q&A sessions, making them a perfect outing for anyone looking to learn more about gardening.
September’s workshop, Getting Ready for Spring in September, is all about preparing for a burst of springtime colour as Dobbies takes delivery of over 6 million spring flowering bulbs across its stores.
Participants will discover the best bulbs for Spring displays, including top picks for the season – vibrant Tulips, cheerful Daffodils, and delicate Crocuses. These flowers are not only easy to plant but also promise a stunning array of colours, perfect for brightening up any garden.
Attendees at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will learn how to create a beautiful bulb lasagne, a technique of layering different bulbs in one pot, ensuring a continuous bloom from early Spring into the Summer.
This method is ideal for small spaces and adds a lovely splash of colour to patios and balconies. The workshops will also cover essential tips, such as choosing bulbs for cut flowers, selecting the best bulbs for pots, and understanding the proper planting depths to ensure healthy growth.
Dobbies’ Horti Manager, Simon Jefferey, is looking forward to helping people to get out into their gardens during September in preparation for spring.
He said: “These Grow How sessions in our Edinburgh store is a fantastic way for families to bond over gardening. We love seeing kids get involved, planting their first bulbs and eagerly awaiting the flowers.
“It’s a great introduction to the joys of gardening, an opportunity to connect with nature and get inspired for the seasons ahead no matter your experience.”
For more information about the Grow How sessions and to secure a spot, visit:
Street Child charity launches ‘Back to School’ campaign to give every child that ‘first day’ feeling
TV football presenter and Sky Sports legend Chris Kamara has today launched a new campaign to get children around the world back into education.
Former Brentford and Leeds United footballer Chris is an ambassador of Street Child, the international education charity dedicated to changing the lives of the world’s most marginalised children.
Street Child’s ‘Back to School’ campaign, which launches today (August 22), just before most UK children return to classrooms, will support thousands of young people in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere access education – many for the first time.
Over the last 15 years, Street Child has helped more than a million children get into school, and currently works in more than 25 countries around the world. But according to estimates, there are still more than 60 million primary school-aged children worldwide not currently in school.
For the equivalent of £1 a week, donors can support a child’s education for a whole year, and for every person who sets up a regular gift before the end of September, the charity will pledge to get one child back into school this term.
Chris Kamara said: “There was nothing like the buzz of the first day back at school – catching up with mates after the summer holidays, getting back on the football pitch, and making new friends.
“But not all children are so lucky. Street Child does so much for kids across the world, making sure they get to learn in safe, fun environments when otherwise they would never get the chance.”
As part of the ‘Back to School’ campaign, Street Child has also launched the ‘Big School Walk’, with the hopes of seeing hundreds of parents, pupils and teachers across the UK clad in orange – Street Child’s colour – walking to school to raise vital funds this September.
Public donations will help to directly fund children’s education in countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe:
• £12 could support an emergency-affected student returning to school in Somalia with school materials to last them a term
• £33 could provide a child in Liberia with an education support package, including a school bag, new uniform, exercise books and new pens
• £250 could provide a family with a business grant that enables them to afford the costs of sending two children back to school
And regular gifts can buy:
• £4 per month could support one child’s education for a whole year
• £12 per month could support three children’s education for a whole year
• £20 per month could support five children’s education for a whole year
Street Child CEO and Founder, Tom Dannatt said: “As a dad, I know the joy of seeing my children prepare for their first day back at school – that mix of nerves and excitement but most of all, the thrill of possibility. Right now, more than 60 million primary-aged children around the world aren’t able to experience that feeling.
“That’s where Street Child comes in. We are experts in connecting children to education in the most disaster-hit and lowest-income countries around the world, such as Cameroon and Afghanistan.
“Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty – for every year spent in school, a child’s life chances improve enormously, and so do the lives of future generations. For just £1 a week, we can get a child into school this year, and quickly on their way to a better future.”
Other famous faces backing Street Child’s campaign are former Apprentice and Countdown star Nick Hewer and TV presenter Ade Adepitan.
Speaking in support of the ‘Back to School’ campaign, Nick Hewer said: “Education is opportunity. Not only is it the key to unlocking a child’s full potential, but people’s ability to read, write and build relationships supports local economies, lifts communities out of poverty, and will benefit generations to come.
“The first day of school is all about the excitement of unlimited possibility – for £1 a week, Street Child can help children in the world’s poorest countries experience that joy. I’ve seen first-hand the impact of Street Child’s work and encourage everyone to support them this back-to-school season.”
Ade Adepitan added: “I had a great education, which taught me from an early age that I could achieve anything I put my mind to – whether it was in sport, TV or journalism.
“It’s so important that every child, no matter their circumstance, can access education. Having travelled the world, I have met countless children who have never been to school. By supporting Street Child, you will help more children reach their true potential.”
For more information about Street Child and the ‘Back to School’ campaign, visit:
