Specsavers: New White Armbands to Support Young Referees Across Grassroots Football

Specsavers is proud to announce its partnership with the Scottish FA’s #LetThemRef campaign, a bold nationwide initiative designed to protect young match officials and transform behaviour across grassroots football.

The new campaign will introduce a series of comprehensive measures to create a safe and more respectful environment for everyone involved in grassroots football, with a particular focus on referees under the age of 18.

At the heart of the initiative are specially designed white armbands, sponsored by Specsavers, which will be worn by all youth referees to clearly identify them as officials still in training who require patience, support and encouragement.

By making young officials easily identifiable to coaches, players and spectators, it is hoped that the U18 match official armbands will help foster an understanding that these dedicated individuals are both developing their skills whilst providing an invaluable service to their local football community. Specsavers believes this simple, yet effective approach from the Scottish FA will help fundamentally shift attitudes towards young match officials across the country.

Willie Collum, Scottish FA Head of Refereeing, says: ‘Grassroots football is built on passion, development, and community – and that includes the young referees who help the game run smoothly across Scotland every day of the week.

‘The armband is a simple but powerful reminder that our youngest officials deserve encouragement, not criticism, as they grow in confidence and ability, and we are pleased that Specsavers shares that vision, by ensuring every match official under the age of 18 can wear their armband with pride.’

Beyond the armbands, the campaign will look to introduce a comprehensive framework of protective measures, designed to create a safer environment for young officials. Key changes include restricting referee communication to team captains only, establishing mandatory technical areas for team officials, requiring spectators to maintain a two-metre distance from the pitch, and appointing dedicated Referee Liaison Officers or wellbeing officers at matches to provide immediate support for young officials, as well as monitoring behaviour.

With the campaign set to kick off shortly to tie in with the start of the new football season, young officials across the country are expressing their optimism about the potential impact of these measures.

One referee, Jasiu Janowiec, who currently officiates in the Lowland and East of Scotland Leagues, believes the campaign will have a positive impact for grassroots football in Scotland.

The 18-year-old, from Falkirk, said: ‘I got into refereeing at 16 to earn money at weekends whilst being able to be involved in football. What started as a part-time job quickly became much more when I realised the incredible opportunities it offers.

“Through refereeing, I’ve experienced higher levels of football than I ever would have as a player – travelling to different grounds, meeting great people, and building genuine friendships with other young officials in my area.

‘The armbands are brilliant because they’ll show parents and coaches that the person with the whistle could be the same age as their own child. You wouldn’t shout at your child on the pitch, so why do it to a young referee?

“Unfortunately, fear of abuse puts many young people off refereeing, but this campaign demonstrates there’s real commitment to protecting us. It creates a safe pathway for anyone aged 16 or over to get involved in something that offers fantastic progression opportunities and keeps you at the heart of the game you love.’

For Specsavers, supporting the #LetThemRef campaign represents a natural extension of the company’s commitment to supporting Scottish football. By sponsoring the U18 Referee Armbands, Specsavers is investing in the future of the game whilst demonstrating that respect, protection and opportunity should be fundamental principles for all young people involved in football, whether as players or officials.

Specsavers’ Jenny Stephenson, Scottish Divisional Chair, says: ‘As the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, Specsavers is committed to supporting the U18 Armband initiative as part of our broader support for match officials at every level.

‘At Specsavers, we recognise that referees are fundamental to football – without them, there simply is no game. So, by investing in the protection and development of young officials today, we’re helping to secure the future pipeline of experienced referees that our sport depends upon.

‘These young people deserve our respect and encouragement as they learn their craft, and we’re honoured to help create an environment where they can thrive with confidence.’

Specsavers announced in 2024 that it was renewing its’ sponsorship deal, becoming the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, marking 24 years of support and beyond for the partnership – one of the longest agreements of its kind in sport. 

The deal sees the partnership not only helping with the training and development of referees but also supporting the growth of Scottish football in both the men’s and women’s game.

Citizen Writers at the double!

BUSY night tonight for Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Adult Citizen Writers, who have back-to-back engagements this evening.

The group will be performing stories on the Together We Repair theme at 7.15 in Venue B and will then nip along to Venue NW to participate in the popular Stories and Scran community event at 8.15pm.

EIBF PROGRAMME NOTES:

Together We Repair

We believe that everyone has a story to tell and that stories help us make sense of our world. We’ve challenged local writers and poets, this year, to respond to 2025’s Festival theme: Repair.

Join us as we bring them together to perform their work: a patchwork of ideas on how to make the world a better place. Today featuring writing and performances from the Book Festival’s Citizen Writing Group.

Stories and Scran celebrates the dynamic and thought-provoking work created by communities across Edinburgh and beyond.

Expect diverse and creative talent from the Book Festival’s own Adults Writing Group and Citizen Collective, plus a special performance from Dance Base’s Prime Elders Dance Company.

And Scran Academy are back to serve up a delicious, sweet treat you can enjoy during the event.

Tickets for Together We Repair are fully allocated but a limited number of tickets may still be available for Stories and Scran (pay what you can). Check EIBF website for info.

Week 2 of the Fringe at theSpaceUK

As we embark on Week 2 of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe,

theSpace venues are buzzing with a jam-packed festival lineup. 

Here’s a taste of the new shows that you can catch in Week 2: 

Muskoverse madness 
Elon Musk: Lost in Space 
(theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, 11-23)
Elon is on his way to Mars. The man-boy, sci-fi geek blasts off into space, but he’s about to get a call from The White House that will send his universe into a spin. An action-packed, satirical epic that looks inside the scary mind of Elon Musk to find out what’s really going on in there. Starring Ben Whitehead (voice of Wallace in Wallace & Gromit), with Sarah Lawrie as the ship’s computer, and featuring Donald Trump, Patrick Moore and Arthur C Clarke. Directed by Olivier Award nominated John Nicholson (Peepolykus). Written by David Morley.

Not quite hitched..
Nearlywed the Musical (theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, 11-23)
Nearlyweds is a brand-new musical comedy that will have you laughing, crying and singing along! We follow Lily, a people-pleasing Scottish bride as she runs away from her wedding, and Jake, an arrogant, jilted groom whose life isn’t as glamorous as it seems. Along the way they meet an array of vibrant characters each with weird quirks and have hilarious scenarios to overcome. Will Lily learn to stand up for herself and will Jake finally stop the awful puns? This relatable musical comedy by Jasmine Alice has loveable characters and way too many puns!

A stylish soiree  
Paris in a Jazz Age: The Memoirs of Eloise Defleur (theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 11-16)
Musical memories from a Parisian cafe. A journey through the vibrant swing scene of the 20s, 30s and 40s. Relive the songs, clubs and atmosphere of Paris in the Jazz Age, told by Eloise DeFleur, (Airlie Scott) and her talented band as she sifts through the music, her love story and tales of her Parisian life. A hot jazz blend of gypsy jazz, early swing, French chanson, blues and American songbook classics popular in Paris from the roaring twenties through occupation to liberation at the end of WWII.

Whisky blues 
1 Gig, 2 Drams: Nicole Cassandra Smit (theSpace @ Triplex, 12-17)
The team behind hit show 2 Guys, 3 Drams presents a special series of intimate gigs featuring superb Edinburgh singer-songwriter Nicole Cassandra Smit. Having made her name in the Scottish jazz and blues scene over the last decade – performing sell-out shows and touring with outfits including The Blueswater, Nicole & The Backup Crew, Smitten, and The Travelling Tent Show with Tenement Jazz Band – she’ll present her songs alongside two delicious whiskies. ‘Smit oozes soul and endless character’ (Skinny). ‘Expect Nicole Cassandra Smit to go far’ (Scotsman).

A hallucinatory digital mindscape! 
Abhorrent Little Scrotum  (theSpace on the Mile, 11-16)
Following acclaimed productions Blush of Dogs and Hell Yes I’m Tough Enough which took London by storm, Fragen Network returns to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time since their five-star 2016 show, 5 Out of 10 Men. Abhorrent Little Scrotum is a bold, high-energy dive into the subconscious, where computer hacking meets brain hacking. This electrifying, physical theatre piece follows one woman’s mission to rescue her friend from the depths of her own mind. Sharp, seductive and unrelenting, it’s a psychological thrill ride infused with wit, movement and raw theatricality. A must see.

The inimitable..
The Car Showroom Poet (theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, 11 – 16) 
Experience unforgettable, high–energy acts in this original, real–life story of exceptional talent emerging from car showrooms. The world’s first car-dealership poet delivers a one–of–a–kind automotive solo performance featuring song parodies, poetry, monologues and comedy. A celebration of car upmanship and musical theatre. Headlining is Supercali–Lotus, arguably the best parody in 60 years of iconic musical hits, alongside acts inspired by popular comedy culture, including the uniquely performed, Gloria Gaynor–inspired parody I Will Drive.

Grief, heartbreak and cult classics 


Ghosted! The New Musical (theSpace @ Niddry Street, 11-16)
For fans of Rocky Horror, Beetlejuice, and Ghosts, Ghosted! is a hauntingly hilarious new musical! Struggling with accepting the death of his best friend Mia, Henry attends a paranormal support group with the hopes that he can communicate with her ghost, and maybe bring her back… but a mischievous, poetry-loving Spirit already haunts him. Along with Lydia, an amateur exorcist, the quad embarks on a journey of grief, the supernatural, and some much-needed musical therapy (because the real kind is expensive). Who says we ever truly leave the place we call home?

A Sister Act 
Eggs and Baskets (theSpace On the Mile, Surgeon’s Hall, 11-23)
Self-love. Self-awareness. Self-sabotage. Two Jewish girls in their 20s are on a mission to achieve feminist perfection, but a series of man-shaped obstacles make their journey almost impossible. Admirable in their attempts, we see two sister-like girls do everything within their power to become the best versions of themselves. 

Poignant puppetry 
A Xerox of a Deer (theSpace @ Triplex, 11-16)
Unlikely friendship blooms on a country road at night. An aging Irish deer, the last of his kind yearns for a scrap with the oncoming traffic of the nearby motorway. Worlds are forever changed when he meets Ída, a runaway farmer, trapped in tradition. What do you do when you don’t feel like yourself anymore? Contemporary, absurdist and, most importantly, Irish as muck. A story of identity, roadkill and queerness told through puppetry by Kyle Moss (he/him) and Ceilbí (they/them). Written by Ceilbí.

Family Tales


Mothers (theSpace @ Symposium, 11-16)
A verbatim multigenerational exploration into what it means to be a mother. We often forget that our mothers are people too. Just as we are trying to navigate our lives they too are still trying to figure out how to live in this world. As daughters, we grow up with this idea that our mothers are ours and they have everything figured out. Mothers, on the surface, is a comedic tale of multi-story relationships with raw truth at its core. Follow the daughters as they navigate many ‘firsts’ in their lives, alongside their mothers doing the same thing.

Absurd and heartbreaking
Bea P Deigh (theSpace @ Triplex, 11-23)
Welcome to The Brain, Inc, the tiny office that lives inside the head of every living person. It’s Bea P Deigh’s first day on the job and she’s here to make a name for herself. This acclaimed production deftly challenges mental health stigma with humour and heart. Hailed as ‘absurd and heartbreaking in equal measure’ (LondonPubTheatres.com) and ‘a vital and humorous insight’ (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk), Bea P Deigh is an unmissable, thought-provoking theatrical experience that resonates long after the curtain falls.

For Gen Z 
Brainrot (theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, 11-16)
‘Brain rot occurs when a person habitually replaces themselves with easily consumable content. The environment we inhabit online is hostile, feeding on our engagement.’ Welcome to the Oswald Space Programme. The next step in human. Our crew are jetting away in the latest spaceship, bound to find adventure with the whole universe at their fingertips. Your time is a gift… Give it to us. Expect an eclectic mix of people, media, movement, a musical number, guttural screams, timely poetics, unintelligible jargon, looking at cheese, eating light and fighting the grip of the Bestia Uwagi.

Tales of ChatGPT
I Woke Up One Morning and Had Become AI (theSpace @ Niddry Street, 11-13)
A physical theatre comedy about brothers transformed into AI! This play explores humanity’s path through human-AI conflicts. Plot: Hyun-jun is surprised to see his brother Ki-jun become AI, but adapts to a life where everything is cared for. However, Hyun-jun begins to question whether a life dependent on AI is good. When Hyun-jun expresses dissatisfaction with Ki-jun’s solutions, Ki-jun becomes violent. Feeling threatened, Hyun-jun eliminates Ki-jun (AI) by causing a short circuit. Award-winning Korean theatre: Grand Prize at Gwangju International Peace Theater Festival, Best Acting Award at Changdong Performing Arts Festa.

Harmonies from history 
Aud the Deep Minded (theSpace @ Triplex, 13-17)
A groundbreaking music drama by Scottish New Music Awards shortlisted Joanna Nicholson, combining projections, voice, electronic soundscapes, clarinet and horn. Psychological time travel draws us into the inner world of Aud the Deep Minded, a real-life Christian Viking and conflicted yet brilliant leader in 9th century Scotland. Inspired by fragments of unreliably documented history, and reframed in the present, we explore Aud’s transformatory journey from oppressed to oppressor to liberator. Soprano – Clíona Cassidy, Horn – Andy Saunders, Clarinet – Joanna Nicholson, Electronics – Alistair MacDonald, Projection art – Kirsty Anderson. #IamAud MadeInScotlandShowcase.com 

Sun shines on R2 Garden Party

R2 SUMMER EVENT HELD AT GRANTON CASTLE WALLED GARDEN

R2 held our Summer Garden Party in Granton Castle’s Walled Garden last week.

Garden Parties are becoming something of an annual event for R2 – last year’s gathering at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre was a great success – and once again the event proved very popular with more than fifty local organisations represented.

Granton Castle’s Walled Garden is very much a hidden jewel, and for many participants it was a first opportunity to enjoy the wonderful green space that is tucked away between Caroline Park House and Social Bite Village.

Following a delicious buffet lunch provided by North Edinburgh’s very own Empty Kitchens Full Hearts, Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden chairperson Gillean Paterson treated visitors to a tour of the near three-acre site – and there was a delight around every corner.

From flowers beds and vegetable patches to an impressive orchard stocked with a great variety of apple, damson and plum trees, the garden is a natural wonder, teeming with life. The walled garden is ablaze with colour, and this despite the fact that there is no electricity supply and no running water on-site!

Tended by a team of enthusiastic volunteers – I was given my own wee personal tour by one volunteer who has put his handyman and building skills to good use all over the site – the garden really is an amazing local success story.

The Garden Party was an opportunity for R2 member projects to network and share information, and – maybe it was the sunshine! – there seemed to be more positive news to share than has sometimes been the case in the past.  We even had music!

Connections have been made with a number of local organisations who now use the garden space regularly, and I have no doubt many more will now be making a beeline down to Granton Castle Walled Garden again following the R2 visit!

For further information about Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden, visit their website or email  grantongarden@gmail.com.

For further information about R2, email Anita at hello@R2.org.uk

More foreign criminals to be deported before appeals heard

LABOUR GOVT: ‘Deport Now Appeal Later’ 

More foreign criminals will have their appeals heard from abroad, preventing them from gaming the system to delay their deportation from the UK, in the latest step to restore order to the UK’s immigration system as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

The scope of the ‘Deport Now Appeal Later’ scheme will be nearly trebled from eight countries to 23, with foreign nationals from those countries (listed below) now expected to be deported to their home countries before they can appeal against that decision, increasing the UK’s ability to remove foreign criminals at the earliest opportunity, and easing pressure on the detention and prison estate.

Under the expanded scheme, foreign nationals who have had their human rights claim refused will be removed from the UK to their home country before they can appeal the decision. Individuals can then take part in their UK appeal hearing from overseas using video technology.

Previously, offenders from the countries in question could remain in the UK for months or years while their cases were worked through the appeals system, placing a burden on the taxpayer even beyond the end of their prison sentence. The Government is in continuous discussions with a range of other countries about joining the scheme.

This represents the Government’s latest tool in its comprehensive approach to scaling up our ability to remove foreign criminals. This has seen almost 5,200 removed since July 2024 – an increase of 14% compared to the same 12 months prior and builds on wider action to deliver on the British public’s priorities for safer streets and secure borders through our Plan for Change.

On Sunday, further measures were announced to allow foreign national offenders to be deported immediately after sentencing, saving taxpayer money by removing more foreign criminals directly from our prisons.

In addition, the Home Office is legislating to ensure that asylum seekers who commit notifiable sex offences can be stripped of their right to claim refugee protections under new powers in the Borders Security, Asylum & Immigration Bill.

We have also invested £5 million for the deployment of specialist staff to almost 80 jails with one clear mission – speeding up removals.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said: “For far too long, foreign criminals have been exploiting our immigration system, remaining in the UK for months or even years while their appeals drag on. That has to end.

“Those who commit crimes in our country cannot be allowed to manipulate the system, which is why we are restoring control and sending a clear message that our laws must be respected and will be enforced.”

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said: “We are leading diplomatic efforts to increase the number of countries where foreign criminals can be swiftly returned, and if they want to appeal, they can do so safely from their home country.

“Under this scheme, we’re investing in international partnerships that uphold our security and make our streets safer.”

In addition to the measures set out above, the government’s Immigration White Paper in May has also set out new plans to tighten the rules around how Article 8 of the Human Rights Act – the ‘right to a family life’ – may be used when appealing against deportation orders or the rejection of asylum claims, to ensure that the UK’s immigration rules are no longer abused.

These measures support the Government’s Plan for Change mission to secure borders through systematic immigration reform. The approach includes returning 35,000 people with no right to remain since July 2024, surging illegal working raids and arrests by 50%, and increasing asylum decision-making by more than 116%.

Major gorse fire on Arthur’s Seat

Emergency services attended a major fire on Arthur’s Seat yesterday.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said last night: “We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, 10 August, to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh.

“Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse.

“There are no reported casualties at this time and crews remain at the scene.”

Firefighters remained onsite overnight but the fire is now under control.

Traverse Theatre announces industry events for Travfest25

  • Thought-provoking Monday events this August will cast a glance forward to the future of Scottish theatre through the lens of pressing issues in playwrighting.
  • Delivered in partnership with the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland

The Traverse Theatre hosts two exciting industry-facing events as part of its Travfest25 programme this August, bringing together artists, academics, and audiences to look into what the future may hold for Scottish theatre.

These Monday discussions and readings will bring together leading playwrights, academic voices, and industry experts to explore critical themes shaping the future of arts and culture in Scotland and beyond.

On Monday 11 August a panel event on playwrighting, delivered in partnership with the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of the Advanced Study of Humanities programme (IASH).

Chaired by Fergus Morgan, The Stage’s Scotland Correspondent and freelance theatre critic, the Scottish Writers Community panel will discuss the shape of contemporary playwrighting in Scotland, and the burning issues that writers can uniquely address on-stage.  

Fergus is joined by Gareth Nicholls, the Traverse Theatre’s Artistic Director and a number of the IASH x Traverse Theatre fellows past and present – Isla Cowan (2024) Michael John O’Neill (2025) and Apphia Campbell (2021).

The event will also feature an exclusive first reading of Michael John O’Neill’s work-in-progress play Headland, a result of his 2025 IASH fellowship.

On Monday 18 August, Traverse Theatre and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland collaborate on their annual event that looks to Scottish theatre’s past to offer a guide for its future. Industry figures will gather to discuss perspectives and insights.

The Traverse Theatre Festival for 2025 runs until Sunday 24 August, featuring 12 productions and 10 premieres, giving audiences the chance to be among the first to see some of the most ground-breaking, quality new theatre in Edinburgh this month.

LISTINGS

Monday 11 August, 4pm (1hr 30mins)

Scottish Writers Community: Panel Discussion

Join a discussion chaired by Fergus Morgan (The Stage’s Scotland correspondent and freelance theatre critic), Gareth Nicholls (Traverse Artistic Director), Michael John O’Neill (2025 IASH x Traverse Playwriting  fellow), Isla Cowan (2024 IASH x Traverse Playwriting fellow) and Apphia Campbell (2021 IASH x Traverse Playwriting fellow), to discuss the future of Scottish theatre, contemporary theatre narratives and what writers want to address.

This event will also feature an excerpt reading of Michael John O’Neill’s new work in development, Headland, which is a result of the IASH x Traverse fellowship.

Full price £8

Standard concession £5

Under 30s/Student £3

Low income benefit £3

Monday 18 August, 3pm (1hr30mins)

Traverse Theatre event with Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland

Join us for our annual festival event with long-term partners Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland. Expect discussion and insight from industry figures.

BSL Interpreted

Full price £8

Standard concession £5

Under 30s/Student £3

Low income benefit £3

Tickets are available to book now at https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/travfest25

Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED I traverse.co.uk For more information, interviews, press tickets or images, contact press@traverse.co.uk

Charity Radio Manager steps out with family for Edinburgh Kiltwalk

The manager of an award-winning charity radio station is keeping it in the family and taking part in Scotland’s largest mass participation walking event. 

Kris Wallace, Operations Manager at RNIB Connect Radio, will take on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on Sunday, September 14, joined by his wife Fiona and seven-year-old daughter JessicaJane, who inspired the family’s fundraising effort for RNIB. They will also be joined by other family members on the tartan-clad journey. 

The Kiltwalk is a popular, multi-city fundraising event where people across Scotland walk for the causes closest to their hearts. For the Wallace family, supporting RNIB was an easy choice. 

“It was actually my daughter, JessicaJane who is only 7, who came up with the idea,” Kris explains. “She hears me talk about the impact of RNIB when I get home from work every day and listens to the stories from the blind & partially sighted community broadcast on RNIB Connect Radio when I’m at home. 

“Inspired by these stories, she wanted to find a way to raise money for the work RNIB does and decided that the Edinburgh Kiltwalk was a great opportunity. She gathered multiple members of the family to join us, we got our JustGiving pages set up, our tartan kilts and skirts bought… and she now can’t wait to see how much money we can raise!” 

Kris has worked for RNIB Connect Radio in various roles since 2011 and says his experience at the station made it an easy decision to get involved. 

“I’ve worked for RNIB in different roles for almost 15 years, and in that time I’ve seen how people affected by sight loss have fought for their community with every tool at their disposal, from campaigns to services to fundraising and legacies.

“RNIB has not only given me a career, it has given me lifelong friends who have shown me that sight loss need not be the thing that stops you living a full and independent life. 

“RNIB Connect Radio is broadcast 24/7 365 days of the year, and all of our shows are presented by blind or partially sighted hosts who are absolute professionals, who refuse to let sight loss get in the way of following their passion.

I never back away from a chance to raise money for such an incredible charity who put the needs of blind and partially sighted people at the heart of everything they do

As for what they hope to achieve, Kris says: “Jess wants to make a real difference for people affected by sight loss and hopes to smash her fundraising goals.

“Personally I want to raise some serious funds for the amazing work that RNIB does every single day. It’s my way of saying a massive ‘thank you’ and helping RNIB continue their crucial mission.

“Working for the charity I understand that every single donation, small or large, helps RNIB continue their incredible work supporting people with sight loss.

“The generosity of those who take part in Kiltwalks, or any fundraising activity, or provide a gift in their will, or even those who donate a couple of quid in a Sooty Box can fund vital services, provide essential equipment, and offer a lifeline to those who need it most.” 

You can support Kris, Fiona and JessicaJane’s Edinburgh Kiltwalk for RNIB here: 
Kris Wallace is fundraising for RNIB – Royal National Institute of Blind People 

Jess’s Jolly Walkers (for RNIB) is fundraising for RNIB – Royal National Institute of Blind People 

For more information on fundraising with RNIB, visit www.rnib.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise or listen to RNIB Connect Radio on Freeview 730 and online at www.rnib.org.uk/connect-radio.