The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Screening could enable earlier treatment and improve life chances

Screening of newborn babies to detect and treat a rare condition which causes progressive muscle wastage will begin early next year.

Scotland will become the first country in the UK to begin national screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) which affects movement, breathing and swallowing.

The Scottish Government and pharmaceutical company Novartis will fund a two-year programme to gather evidence on the test’s effectiveness. On average three to four babies a year are born with SMA.

All parents will be offered SMA screening for their newborn babies through the existing blood spot test at five days old.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said:

“This condition can have devastating impacts for babies and their families and this investment demonstrates our commitment to early detection through our screening programme. I would like to thank SMA UK and all the campaigners across Scotland who have worked so hard to highlight this issue as well as Novartis for their funding.

“By detecting SMA before symptoms develop, screening could allow earlier treatment which could lead to much better life outcomes.

“This investment will contribute towards building the case for making this test permanent and help secure the best possible care and support for babies and families.”                                     

SMA UK charity CEO Giles Lomax said:

“We are absolutely delighted to hear the news that the NHS Scotland will be adding SMA to their newborn screening programme in an evaluative and research capacity, with the aim of the first baby being tested early 2026.

“With clinical pathways already established and disease modifying treatments approved, this means those babies born will be treated pre-symptomatically and can therefore, in many cases, follow normal developmental pathways.

The data generated over a 2-year period from National Health Service in Scotland will complement and help contribute to the UK In-service evaluation ultimately helping towards a positive UK NSC recommendation for SMA to be added to the bloodspot programme permanently.

“This is a hugely positive step forward with Scotland joining other countries around the world who already screen for SMA.”

Novartis UK and Ireland Chief Medical Officer Rob Hastings said:

“This is a landmark decision for families in Scotland, offering hope and an opportunity for early detection and access to care for children born with SMA.

“We welcome this progress and continue to support efforts to expand newborn screening across the UK, to ensure every child has the opportunity to be screened and treated for this rare and devastating condition.”

The tests will be analysed at the Scottish Newborn Screening Laboratory on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus in Glasgow. Director and Consultant Clinical Scientist Dr Sarah Smith said:  

“We are pleased to be supporting this important screening evaluation that will benefit babies and their families across Scotland by allowing babies with this condition to access treatment where it is appropriate more quickly, leading to better outcomes.

 “We welcome these plans for SMA to be evaluated as part of our screening programme, allowing for evidence to be gathered on the test’s effectiveness.”

Rounding off Travelling Gallery’s 2025 programme we present In Another Realm a group exhibition developed in collaboration with Sculpture Placement Group (SPG) and featuring the work of artists Laura Aldridge, Nick Evans, Louise Gibson, Aimee Lax, Aniara Omann and Daisy Richardson.

Launching in Edinburgh outside Portobello Town Hall as part of Art Walk Porty on Saturday 13 September from 10am to 4pm, the exhibition will tour to arts venues, community centres, high streets and schools across Scotland including in Edinburgh, West Lothian, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire.

In Another Realm takes inspiration from science fiction’s engagement with the environment and the genre’s value as a tool for thinking critically about climate change. The selection of works on display in the exhibition suggest an imaginary world and landscape, where traces of human existence can be found, but where life is continuing without us.

Throughout 2025, Travelling Gallery has been touring exhibitions themed around the Environment & Climate Emergency. For In Another Realm, we have worked with Sculpture Placement Group (SPG) – an organisation developing creative initiatives and tools for artists and the wider arts sector to address the urgent challenges posed by the Climate Emergency.

The exhibition highlights their Loan Toolkit, an initiative that loans artworks to community groups and organisations. It provides an opportunity for artists to extend the life-cycle of artworks, often languishing in long-term storage, and brings work to new audiences.

This exhibition foregrounds SPG’s vision to provide new display opportunities for existing artworks. It looks to playfully exploit the idea of creating an alternate form of existence for them, one beyond the ordinary and perhaps in parallel to or beyond our current physical world.

All of the works included in the exhibition are a part of SPG’s Loan Toolkit and are available for loan. As part of this project we hope to secure a number of year-long loans supported by the Travelling Gallery.

Organisations are welcome to enquire about works shown within the exhibition or select another one from the artists’ wider body of work or SPG’s online catalogue.

In Another Realm is accompanied by a number of events hosted by Sculpture Placement Group introducing artist’s audiences and communities to their Loan Toolkit.

These events will take the form of Speed Networking events and will take place in a number of venues local to the Travelling Gallery’s tour route including Narture (Ayr), The Stove (Dumfries) and another venue to be confirmed. Details of the events will be made available on SPG’s Social Media Platforms and website.

Louise Briggs, Curator, Travelling Gallery said: “It has been a real pleasure to work with Sculpture Placement Group (SPG) on this exhibition.

“SPG are an organisation whose work I have followed for a long time. They develop unique and interesting projects that whilst addressing the urgency of the Climate Emergency, centre the work of artists and their practice, aiming to retain ambition and creativity whilst thinking sustainably. SPG’s work also aligns with, and compliments, the aims and ambitions of the Travelling Gallery.

“We both look to reduce the barriers to engaging with contemporary art, placing it out in communities and and showing how it can play a vital part of everyday life for everyone.

“This Autumn we’ll visit a number of schools, colleges, community centres and public spaces across Scotland. We hope this playful exploration of climate change through the lens of an alternate world inspired by sci-fi might capture the imaginations and thoughts of those we meet along the route of our tour.”

Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “The Travelling Gallery’s latest exhibition offers a fascinating perspective on the environment, and climate change in particular.

“There’s a real range of talented artists and media on display, thanks to a collaboration with the Sculpture Placement Group, and I’d encourage people to get along to take a look.

“Art should be accessible to everyone, and the Travelling Gallery makes that possible for communities across Edinburgh and Scotland. Through our ongoing support of the gallery, I’m pleased that we’re helping to bring thought-provoking exhibitions into town centres around the city.”

Details of confirmed tour dates and venues can be found at: 

https://travellinggallery.com/tour-dates 

Edinburgh Leisure is opening the doors of its newest community hub at Currie Community High School today (8 September), a landmark facility that sets a new benchmark for sustainable design and inclusive access to leisure in Scotland.

The new £67 million campus, delivered through the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme, is the first Passivhaus-certified secondary school in Scotland to feature a swimming pool. The new school will support Edinburgh’s aim of net zero emissions by 2030.  

Passivhaus is a rigorous energy standard which reduces the amount of energy needed for heating by up to 90%. Designed to reduce energy consumption by up to 70% compared to traditional buildings and minimise carbon emissions, the school and its leisure facilities will serve both students and the wider Currie community for generations to come with daytime learning activities to evening access to shared facilities.

Through Edinburgh Leisure’s management, the school’s leisure facilities provide high-quality fitness and recreational opportunities for the community.

Edinburgh Leisure’s Operations Director, Perrotine Orr said: “We’re thrilled to be managing the leisure facilities at Currie High School, which represent a bold step forward in sustainable community infrastructure.

“The local community will be able to access fitness classes, gym, swim and family fun sessions, out with school operating times. This Passivhaus-designed hub isn’t just about energy efficiency – it’s about creating welcoming, high-quality spaces where people of all ages can stay active, connect, and thrive.”

Facilities available to the public in community time include:

• A four-lane Passivhaus swimming pool
• Four-court sports hall
• Gym hall and fitness suite
• Dance studio
• 3G pitch
• Access to fitness classes, family swim sessions, and recreational activities

The building’s Passivhaus design features airtight construction, triple glazing, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and sustainable materials such as cross-laminated timber in the pool block. These innovations support Edinburgh’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2030.

Currie Community High School also includes a wellness centre and wellbeing hub, STEM and expressive arts zones, and integrated support spaces – ensuring the campus meets the educational, emotional, and recreational needs of its students and community.

The school opened to pupils earlier this term, following a multi-year design and construction process led by Kier North & Scotland. The project also delivered over £1.8 million in social value through apprenticeships, SME contracts, and educational outreach.

There will be a No Joining Free from 8^th-30^th September.

To find out more about memberships and opening times, visit: 

www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/venues/currie-community-high-school/

Global real estate advisor, CBRE, has been appointed by the University of Edinburgh to bring to market two well-located student accommodation (PBSA) assets in the south of the city. 

David Horn House and Kitchener House and are within walking distance of the University’s King’s Buildings campus. Both assets benefit from excellent transport links and proximity to key city amenities, including the forthcoming tram extension and major redevelopment plans at nearby Cameron Toll. 

Comprising 48 and 60 student beds respectively, the buildings have a solid track record of student occupancy, reflecting consistent demand in a sought-after location. The assets offer potential for investors to either refurbish and retain them for student use or explore alternative uses, subject to consents. 

David Horn House consists of four elegant townhouses combined into a single operational building, while Kitchener House is a distinctive former mansion with later extensions and mature external grounds. 

Damien Toner, Director of Estates at the University of Edinburgh, commented: “Edinburgh remains a highly desirable location of choice for students, residents and visitors alike, with demand for competitive accommodation options consistent across the city.   

“Given their size, character and condition, these sites offer a unique opportunity for developers in a sought-after location, and we are pleased to be working with CBRE to explore the market potential.” 

Steven Hendry, a Director in CBRE’s Investment Property team in Edinburgh,  added: “We are pleased to be working with the University of Edinburgh on this important instruction. 

“These are two distinctive assets in a highly sought-after part of the city, offering both immediate student accommodation use, and clear potential for repositioning. With strong demand in Edinburgh’s student market and the excellent proximity to King’s Buildings, we expect these properties will attract strong interest from a wide range of investors.” 

The properties will be marketed on an individual and combined basis. 

Thousands of unwanted kitchen items have been donated by Heriot-Watt students over the summer to help new classmates settle into university life.

The University Chaplaincy has just completed its annual Pots and Pans Recycling Scheme. The popular initiative, which has been running for over a decade, encourages departing students to donate dining and cookware items they no longer need. These items are then cleaned, organised, and made available free of charge to new arrivals moving into accommodation at the start of the academic year.

This summer, the scheme collected 660kg of donations – roughly the weight of a polar bear. Items included everything from pots, pans and cutlery to plates, mugs and kitchen utensils.

The donations formed part of the wider 2025 Unirecycle campaign, which champions sustainability and waste reduction on campus. The Chaplaincy team, supported by a dedicated group of student volunteers, worked tirelessly to wash, check and display every item ready for the first week of arrivals.

The University Chaplain, Reverend Jane Howitt, said: “The Pots and Pans Recycling Scheme continues to be an absolute lifeline for our new students, particularly those arriving from overseas who may not have the resources or time to buy everything from scratch.

“It’s always wonderful to see their relief and excitement as they pick out what they need. A few local Scottish students also came along, either to find a particular item or to save the expense of buying brand new kitchenware.”

She added: “This scheme is about much more than pots and pans; it’s about building community. It sends a message to our new students that they are warmly welcomed here and that generosity is part of the Heriot-Watt spirit. It also demonstrates our commitment to sustainability, as we give items a new life rather than letting them go to waste.”

In total, around 350 students have benefitted this year, each permitted to take a basic starter set consisting of one pot, one pan, one set of cutlery, along with additional essentials. This ensured that the supplies could be shared fairly among everyone in need.

Looking ahead, Reverend Howitt encouraged the entire university community to keep the momentum going: “We urge students and staff to continue donating their unwanted, non-electrical kitchen items to the Chaplaincy.

“These will be put to excellent use for our next intake of students in January. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our departing students whose kindness and generosity make this scheme a success year after year.”