Curated and directed by Cora Bissett and Hannah Lavery
With visuals by Lucas Chi-Peng Kao
A one-night-only response to the times we are living through, presented by a host of leading Scottish artistic talent from the fields of theatre, music, poetry, comedy and dance.
On 1 May at Edinburgh Central Hall at 7pm.
Featuring Comedy:Sanjeev Kohli (Still Game) / Tia Rey; Music: Dala by Heir of the Cursed performed by Djana Gabrielle / Cora Bissett, Kathryn Joseph and Joan Clevillé & Kassichana Okene-Jameson of Scottish Dance Theatre/ Kitti / Loud and Proud Choir / Soapbox / Declan Welsh; Poetry: Shasta Hanif Ali / William Letford / Michael Mullen; Theatre & Dance; An artistic response to Talat Yaqoob’s International Women’s Day Speech (2026) – led by Janice Parker / Apphia Campbell / Reuben Joseph / Hannah Lavery / Uma Nada-Rajah / Sara Shaarawi / Dawn Sievewright performing It’s No a Weans Choice
Live band: Isaac Savage (keyboards/vocals) / Adam Scott (bass) / Djana Gabrielle (guitar/vocals) / Signy Jacobsdottir (drums and percussion) / MJ McCarthy (musical direction)
Two of Scotland’s leading artists and theatre-makers, Hannah Lavery and Cora Bissett, join forces to create an urgent multi‐form evening of theatre, music, poetry, comedy, film, dance and collaborative performance at Central Hall, Edinburgh, on 1 May.
Created as a rapid-response theatre project, in direct response to the turbulent social and political climate, they have curated and gathered together a constellation of Scottish artists for a one-night-only flare of short, urgent performances and interventions.
Through new work, unique collaborations and community voices, Mayday meets the “dark times” we are living through with wit, defiance, tenderness and imagination. This collective response honours the theatrical space as a place where audiences can think together, dream together and begin to imagine the futures we are still reaching for.
Co-curators/co-directors Hannah Lavery and Cora Bissett said: “Given the times we are living in—where division is being fuelled by dangerous and deliberately misinformed rhetoric— we feel deeply and personally connected to this Rapid Response Project.
“We are living through an age of fear: extreme racism and anti-migrant sentiment are being normalised, human rights attacked at every level, climate injustice accelerating, and ordinary people struggling to meet even basic needs.
“We’re thrilled to curate an event that will bring together bold, fierce, insightful and creatively galvanising voices from across Scotland – an urgent celebration of our shared humanity that challenges the rising tide of hate, calls upon solidarity, inspires change and imagines a more compassionate future.”
Highlights include:
Original short sharp plays from playwrights Apphia Campbell(The Official Version), Hannah Lavery (Patriotic Renewal), Uma Nada-Rajah (The Proposal) and Sara Shaarawi (Pandora’s Box)
Sanjeev Kohli delivers a short sketch on the cultural impact of his character Navid from Still Game
Live music from Declan Welsh, Soapbox and Djana Gabrielle, who honours Beldina Odenyo’s (Heir of the Cursed) Dala with a powerful, intimate performance that moves between vulnerability and defiance.
Cross-artform collaborations including Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award winner Kathryn Joseph’s powerful new collaboration with dancer Kassichana Okene-Jameson, visuals by Lucas Chi-Peng Kao, choreography by Joan Clevillé, and direction by Cora Bissett. Joseph’s haunting, fragile songs intertwine with movement in a visceral fusion of music and dance. Created in collaboration with Scottish Dance Theatre.
Collaborations between professional artists and community groups:
An Artistic Response to Talat Yaqoob’s International Women’s Day Speech, Edinburgh, March 2026 led by award-winning choreographer and dance maker Janice Parker.
Loud and Proud Choir
Dawn Sievewright (Wild Rose) performs No a Weans Choice, the defiant rallying cry from the Glasgow Girls stage show, composed by Cora Bissett
Reuben Joseph (Orphans – NTS, Hamilton the Musical) performs a new version of Robert Burns’ A Man’s a Man.
Listings information
Friday 1 May 2026, Central Halls, Edinburgh, 7pm (doors from 6.30pm)
Presented by new Festival Director Adjjima Na Patalung, this year’s 36th edition brings together 15 productions from 9 countries, spanning circus, dance, music, puppetry and theatre, with themes ranging from identity and friendship to grief, the environment and the sheer joy of finding your place in the world.
Highlights include:
Boys Don’t Dance – a poignant new dance theatre show from award-winning disabled choreographer Marc Brew of the Marc Brew Company, reflecting on his journey as a boy who defied expectations to embrace his love of dance
Cringe – a brilliantly funny new play from disabled writer and theatre maker Ross MacKay about surviving the minefield of growing up
The Fabulous Tale of BasarKus – a joyful circus show for little ones exploring identity, cooperation and the wonder of growing up
Island – an intimate performance from Starcatchers celebrating the precious bond between babies and their grown-ups
Toto Kerblammo! – Tim Crouch’s powerful new play, experienced through binaural audio technology, about listening, friendship and finding hope
The Festival opens with a Free Family Day of pop-up performances at the National Museums Scotland on Saturday 30 May, before the full programme runs across Edinburgh until Sunday 7 June
Hi Drylaw, Telford and Edinburgh Northern Constituents,
Thank you to everyone that has shown an interest, and to those of you who have your tickets booked, we look forward to welcoming you to our event on Monday evening!
If you have a ticket booked, but can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket, contact us at hustings@drylawtelfordcc.org.uk or message the FB page as we do have a waiting list of people that would also like to attend.
For those that have received a waiting list spot, we will contact you if a ticket becomes available.
ALL those in attendance, must have a valid ticket due to fire regulations.
Three men have been convicted of wilful fire-raising offences linked to Operation Portaledge.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, 26 March, 2026, Marshall O’Hara, 21, and Fraser Stewart, 22, pleaded guilty to four wilful fire-raising offences. Aiden McLaughlin (pictured above), 21, pleaded guilty to one wilful fire-raising offence.
All three pleaded guilty in relation to a wilful fire-raising at a premises on Wellington Road in Bishopbriggs on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025.
O’Hara and Stewart were also convicted in relation to wilful fire-raisings at a property on Ashgill Road, Glasgow and a property on Meadow Court, Stepps, on Monday, 7 April, as well as a property on Colston Drive, Bishopbriggs on Monday, 14 April.
They are all due to be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday, 13 May.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “These were worrying incidents for the local community and now those responsible will face the consequences of their actions.
“We will continue to bring those intent in being involved in serious and organised crime to justice.
“These convictions are further examples of Police Scotland’s commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy.”
Operation Portaledge is the ongoing investigation into violent incidents in the East and West of the country.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Giants Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Until 14 Sep Tickets from £13
Giants showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived after the extinction of the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family-friendly exhibition. The Giants exhibition is designed and produced by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
COMING SOON Scotland’s First Warriors Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Opening 27 June Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free
Explore archaeological evidence for the origins of organised conflict, from the Neolithic (late Stone Age) to the Romans, through over 250 objects. Scotland’s First Warriors explores how and why people fought, the impact of war, and the legacy of prehistoric conflict. Internationally significant discoveries from Scotland will be on display for the first time, including the Carnoustie Hoard.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Curiosity Club Learning Centre, Level 4 28 Mar & 23 May 10:30-12:00 £10 (Members and Concessions £9)
Inspired by some of the museum’s most exciting collections, our Curiosity Clubs are a chance for kids to explore the museum without their adult helpers through games, activities, and gallery visits.
Relaxed Curiosity Club Learning Centre, Level 4 28 Mar 14:30-15:30 £10 (£9 Members and Concessions)
Relaxed Curiosity Club sessions are particularly aimed at children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children, or children with disabilities. Parents/carers (up to two per participating child) are invited to stay and either join in with the activities or enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the foyer of the activity area.
Gather Around the Frame: A Celebration of Hand Quilting Locations across the museum 29 Mar 10:15-16:45 Free drop-in activities, booking required for panel discussion
Join us for a hands-on stitching experience around replica historical quilting frames as enjoyed by previous generations as they sewed together. This event will feature talks, film screenings, hands-on crafts, and our very own quilting bee. All materials are provided.
Edinburgh Science Festival 2026 Locations across the museum Daily from 4-19 Apr 10:00-17:00 All pricing and bookings through Science Festival website
Edinburgh Science Festival 2026 will highlight Scotland’s contribution to scientific advances through research, innovation, and its extraordinary people. The Grand Gallery will host family-friendly activities and artwork by award-winning artist, Gayle Chong Kwan.
Makkin it! 5-19 April 10:00-2:00 and 13:00-15:00 Free, drop in
Join our Learning Team in the Grand Gallery to discover some incredible Scottish inventions. Get hands-on with some of our favourite inventions, press and investigate your unique fingerprint, then head off and explore our galleries with a copy of our Inventors trail.
Morning Curator Tour: Giants Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 7-14 Apr Tickets from £13
Join exhibition curator, Dr Sarah Stewart, for an exclusive early-morning tour of Giants.
Giants celebrates the colossal creatures that roamed the Earth 66 million years ago. Meet ten giant creatures from prehistory. Discover how they were able to grow so large, what advantages their size offered, and why they eventually faced extinction.
The Giants exhibition is designed and produced by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
Gordon Buchanan: Giants of the Land Auditorium, Level 1 16 May 14:00 Tickets from £12
Join award-winning wildlife filmmaker, presenter and author Gordon Buchanan as he makes his first-ever appearance at the National Museum of Scotland. In this auditorium talk, Gordon will reflect on 30 years of taking part in daring expeditions, pushing boundaries, and raising awareness of the world’s most endangered species and habitats.
Creative Workshop: Paper Creations Learning Centre Studios, Level 4 23 May 10:30-13:00 and 14:00-16:30 Tickets from £45
Join paper folding artist Kate Colin for a bespoke workshop, inspired by our ‘Giants’ exhibition and fossil collections. You will learn paper folding techniques and create a collection of handcrafted paper sculptures inspired by spiral forms and fossil structures.
Museum Socials Learning Centre Seminar Room, Level 4 Third Friday of the month 10:30–12:00 Free, booking required
Our Museum Socials events are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling, and creative crafts. And tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.
National Museum of Rural Life Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life Last Tuesday of every month 14:30-17:00 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Afternoon for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Spring Explorers 14–17 Apr 10:30–15:30 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Become a Spring Explorer this April at the National Museum of Rural Life. Join us as we dig into all things soil and explore the wiggly world beneath our feet. Take part in a planting activity to learn how bugs and worms keep soil healthy for plants to grow. Settle in for some lively, soil-inspired storytelling in the theatre, then get messy with some hands-on fun at our Soil Exploration Station.
Tractor Tots 24 Apr & 29 May 2026 Learning Centre £25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3
Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions, and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside
Woolly Weekend Museum and farm 23 & 24 May 10:30-16:00 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Celebrate all things woolly with a weekend of family fun at the National Museum of Rural Life.
See woolly farm friends up close and take part in wool-themed crafts, storytelling, and activities in the museum. Then take a walk to the farm to watch YouTube sensation Cammy Wilson shear our flock. Cammy will explain how, when, and why sheep are sheared, and will demonstrate traditional and modern shearing techniques.
Expert Talks Concorde Theatre 17 Apr & 15 May 11:00-11:20 Free with museum admission
From April to October, learn more about our collections and the history of East Fortune Airfield with our series of free expert talks at the museum. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each talk. In April, join Matteo Randazzo who will discuss ‘Second World War Archaeology at East Fortune’.
Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00 Free with museum admission
Join us for a Relaxed Morning at the National Museum of Flight, for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore the museum without noisy interactives and videos to create a more relaxed environment.
“For more than four decades, miners and their families have been forced to live with unanswered questions. Today, I am formally launching the Orgreave Inquiry to uncover the truth of what happened.
“I pay tribute to the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, the National Union of Mineworkers, and all those who campaigned so tirelessly to reach this moment” – SHABANA MAHMOOD, HOME SECRETARY
ORGREAVE TRUTH and JUSTICE CAMPAIGN STATEMENT:
We are pleased that the Government is finally launching the start of the Orgreave Inquiry after their inquiry announcement last July 2025.
While we are disappointed that it has taken so long for the Home Office to come to this stage, we are relieved that work will now begin to establish the truth about the Tory government involvement and police conduct at Orgreave on 18th June 1984 during the 1984/5 miners’ strike.
The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign and supporters have worked hard over many years for an Orgreave Inquiry and it has been a long and difficult journey.
Our determination and tenacity has however received much support from many individuals, organisations and the Labour and Trade Union movement, whose wonderful solidarity has made it possible to continue and be able to come this far.
This is a statutory inquiry, with the Terms of Reference and panel membership established by the government. We have however tried our best to influence the process to ensure this does not become a police-led inquiry but one shaped by the miners and their experiences.
This 42nd anniversary year of the miners’ strike reminds us that we must never forget the importance of that great strike to defend an industry, jobs, trade unions and communities and the fight for all our futures.
We are indebted to the striking miners and their families for their dedication and sacrifice to that year-long struggle that changed all our lives forever.
The 1980s Tory cabinet of Margaret Thatcher, Leon Brittan, Nigel Lawson, Norman Tebbit and others, along with their secret “Misc 101” Committee, planned to destroy the British coal industry and organised labour, the National Union of Mineworkers, its leaders Arthur Scargill, Peter Heathfield and Mick McGahey and the British labour and Trade Union movement.
Kevin Horne, striking miner arrested at Orgreave on 18th June 1984 said: “We know that the Tory Government of the 1980s was directly involved in the miners’ strike while professing ‘non-involvement’.
“The Tory Ridley plan of the 1970s exposes how far they were prepared to go and the 1980s Tory Government put vast amounts of public resources into the implementation of this plan. This was state sponsored organisation against the miners and our livelihoods.
“The Tory’s own archives confirm Parliament and the public were knowingly lied to but their involvement in the strike and the policing of it has never been publicly acknowledged.”
John Dunn, striking miner assaulted by the police and arrested on a Derbyshire picket line said: “The mass media colluded with the Tories by lying in their headlines and reports about what was really happening, or not reporting it at all. Their collaboration in these government and police lies and coverups continues to this day, demonising and vilifying strikers and protesters.
“The raw footage that the many media companies and photographers have of police attacking miners at Orgreave and other footage of police violence and harassment throughout the strike must be handed over to this inquiry.
“The injustice faced by us miners and our communities has never been acknowledged by the state and instead they and the media have lied and covered it up. The right to strike and the right to protest should be a fundamental human right”
Kate Flannery, Secretary of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign said: “We need answers about the systemic violent and lying behaviour of the police. We need to know about plans of how police officers on the ground were briefed and how that briefing came about.
“We need government and police papers releasing that have been embargoed until 2066 and 2071. The police have recently still been destroying vital evidence needed for this inquiry.
“This is of great public interest and concern and is about a government who actively worked against its own population and handed the police paramilitary powers and destroyed an industry in the process.”
Chris Peace, Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign activist said: “Orgreave marked a turning point in the policing of public protest. With no accountability of policing at Orgreave, a message was sent to the police that they could employ violence and tell lies with impunity.
“This set a culture for violent militarised police to run riot throughout mining communities and villages all over Britain. It also enabled a culture for the police to maintain many lies and cover ups in 1989 at Hillsborough. The Hillsborough campaigners are still fighting for justice to this day”
Chris Hockney, Chair of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign said: “It is important that due to the age and health of many miners we quickly secure a public acknowledgement of why and what the state did to the miners and our communities.
“We have to have hope that an inquiry of full disclosure should influence the future behaviour of the state and public officials and that the inquiry panel and resources committed to this inquiry will establish truth and justice.”
The campaign will be encouraging as many people as possible to come forward with information to submit to the inquiry once more details about how people can contribute has been revealed by the Chair and inquiry team.
Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, Dance Base is known for curating an ambitious programme of Scottish and international shows every August, giving a world-class platform to up-and-coming and established dance artists.
Dance Base Festival 26 in partnership with Assembly, a collaboration now in its fourth year, is Dance Base’s 25th festival programme – a milestone the team is marking with a fantastic line-up of shows.
2026 is also a landmark year for Dance Base as the organisation celebrates 25 years in its purpose-built home in the heart of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket which becomes one of the festival epicentres every August.
As always, Dance Base nurtures and celebrates the breadth of Scottish dance talent, this year featuring, among others, YDance – Scottish Youth Dance company, Penny Chivas and her politically charged Where We Choose to Stand and Jack Anderson, Charlotte Mclean, Malin Lewis’ not for glory which dissects heritage and resuscitates tradition, Marc Brew’s moving Boys Don’t Dance and Two Destination Language’s 40/40 celebrating a life of a woman, artist and a migrant.
Outwith the UK, artists from Brazil, Basque Country, Italy, Netherlands, Japan and Taiwan call Dance Base their home this August, presenting work as part of Taiwan Season, São Paulo Showcase and Basque Showcase.
From Breakdancing to Butoh, from Pole Dance to politics – this diverse programme caters to both dance curious and Dance Base’s regular audiences.
Tickets go on sale on Friday at 12 noon at assemblyfestival.com and on Monday 30 March at edfest.com with further shows to be announced in due course.
NEW SHOWS ANNOUNCED
Penny Chivas – Where We Choose to Stand (7-16 August)
A powerful dance-theatre show inspired by activism and political change. Blending movement, music, real stories and moments of audience connection, it invites reflection on the choices we make—and what it means to stand together.
YDance & National Youth Arts Wales – Celtic Collective (7-16 August)
Bringing together the National Youth Dance Companies of Scotland and Wales for an electrifying night of bold choreography, this special show celebrates the power of dance, blending distinct cultural influences with cutting-edge vibrant contemporary dance.
Erain / Helena Wilhemsson – Jarraibiderik Gabe / Trembling Frequencies (7-16 August)
A double bill of emerging choreographic voices from the Basque Country. Bodies and objects create shifting physical landscapes in Jarraibiderik Gabe, while the mysterious and dynamic solo of Trembling Frequencies takes a look at the shifting landscapes within.
Marc Brew Company – Boys Don’t Dance (7-23 August)
A poignant dance theatre show by acclaimed disabled choreographer and dancer Marc Brew, it draws on his experience as the only boy in a rural Australian town who wanted to dance, defying societal expectations. It combines movement, BMX tricks, storytelling, lighting and an uplifting 80s soundtrack, alongside visual projections and animation.
T.F. Cia de Dança – Border Bodies (7-30 August)
Border Bodies desires to rediscover ways of being together in times of social segregation. Despite their diverse backgrounds, artists unite, believing that their differences empower each other when they act as one.
LEI Dance Theatre – Proximities (6-30 August)
LEI Dance Theatre and Lao-French choreographer Olé Khamchanla create a captivating quintet about boundaries and rules, distance and closeness, alienation and connection. An intelligent, imaginative show, questioning blend of traditional, contemporary and classical styles.
Mailantia Dance Company – Under Mask (6-30 August)
What lies beneath the roles and identities we choose to play? Drawing upon folk ritual and a battery of cross-cultural movement styles, Lai Yun-Chi’s company Mailantia presents a bold, intricate quartet about concealment and transformation.
COSMIC DANCE – Space In Between (9-16 August)
A South Asian triple bill exploring tensions between intention and outcome, self and society. Blending Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Contemporary movement, three interconnected works examine regret, conflict and misalignment, revealing unseen forces shaping identity, relationships and choice.
Jack Anderson, Charlotte Mclean, Malin Lewis – not for glory (11-23 August)
A rebellious unravelling of traditional dance and music. not for glory is bodies and bagpipes, kilts and queerness, a battering, flinging skirl. This dance-theatre gig resuscitates tradition, dissects heritage, not for glory – but for what?
Corpo Máquina – Poles (18-30 August)
A champion pole dance artist. A spider-like steel structure. A live soundscape. At the cutting edge of personal and public space, pole dance virtuoso Yvonne Smink delivers a performance of technical strength and intimacy, choreographed by Guilherme Miotto.
Karl Jay-Lewin and Matteo Fargion – If I Can’t Dance I’m Not Coming (18-27 August)
Reimagining Fritz Lang’s 1927 Metropolis as a score for dance, an eclectic ensemble of performers embraces dignity over virtuosity, blending rebellion with humour in a process shaped with clarity and care.
Compagnia Bellanda – Il canto dell’assiolo (18-30 August)
In the silence of a summer night, a call returns. A duet rooted in Breakin’ explores love’s borders – between desire and control, tenderness and violence. Breath, language, and movement intertwine, exposing intimacy as threshold, conflict, and transformation.
Two Destination Language – 40/40 (18-23 August)
An inspiring and moving celebration of Two Destination Language co-artistic director Katherina Radeva’s 40 years as a woman, a migrant and an artist. Claiming space on a dance floor, she dances with joyous abundance and presents stories of her past and present.
Dance Base Yokohama/Conan Amok – R/evolution(s) (18-30 August)
A contemporary Butoh work, this piece reimagines Butoh for the present while carrying its inheritance forward. Uniting Conan Amok – heir to the lineage of Dairakudakan, one of Japan’s leading Butoh companies – and contemporary dancers, renewing the form from within.
Frauke Requardt and Vivienne Franzmann – Anatomy Of Survival (25-29 August)
A woman walks into a cafe. She orders a coffee. The barista doesn’t understand her request. The woman loses her sh*t. Chaos reigns.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
Dance Base’s PRIME – We Are (6-9 August)
Who are we when we’re together? When we’re alone? When we fight for what we believe in? Hot off the heels of its 10th anniversary last year, Dance Base’s in-house company for dancers over 60, PRIME premiers new work from Artistic Director Kally Lloyd-Jones and choreographer Malcolm Sutherland.
Dance Base’s Common Ground(11-16 August)
Dance Base’s two in-house companies PRIME (for dancers over 60s) and Lothian Youth Dance Company (for 14-21 year-olds) come together in a quadruple bill to explore the pressures we all face. Features new pieces created over the past year by PRIME’s Artistic Director Kally Lloyd-Jones, as well as guest choreographers Malcolm Sutherland, Tough Boys Collective and Rosie Mackley.
Dance Base’s Fringe Fragments (24-25 August)
Catch a glimpse of the next big thing. An industry pitching platform open to audiences, Dance Base’s Fringe Fragments spotlights dance artists from Scotland and around the world as they share 15-minute excerpts of tour-ready performances. A unique event strengthening Dance Base’s position as the major launchpad for dance artists at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Continuing Dance Base’s commitment to providing a home for Edinburgh’s thriving dance community throughout the Festival, the venue also hosts a vibrant programme of public and professional dance classes from Monday 3 – Sunday 31 August.
Almost a third (32%) of bosses report stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health problems as a reason staff give for sickness absence.
A YouGov survey, commissioned by workplace expert Acas, asked employers what the top three reasons employees give for being off sick from work.
Almost two-thirds (62%) said that workers report their absences as being due to minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds and the flu, while nearly a quarter (23%) said that the absences are due to headaches and migraines.
The poll was commissioned ahead of new changes to statutory sick pay that will take effect in a few weeks’ time due to new rules introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025.
From 6 April, workers will be eligible for statutory sick pay for their first day of illness rather than the fourth day and workers will no longer need to earn a minimum amount to be eligible
Acas Head of Inclusivity, Julie Dennis, said: “Our findings reveal that 1 in 3 bosses report mental health problems as a key reason for staff absence. It’s a surprising result alongside the top reason for sickness being coughs, colds, flu and other minor illnesses.
“Bosses need to ensure that their work environments are healthy places to work as well as prepare for the new rules on sick pay that will coming in a few weeks’ time.
“Workers should also look after their own health and wellbeing too. If they are experiencing stress, they should talk to their manager as soon as they can. Acas has good practice advice and training in this area.”
Acas has good practice advice to help bosses manage sickness absence at work:
Providing training for managers on how to support employees through periods of illness can help with absence rates.
Employers that offer flexible working can also help promote a healthy work environment and prevent high levels of sickness absence.
Good mediation services at work can help resolve any issues that is sparking sickness absence among staff.
Easily accessible illness and absence policies will make it clear what’s expected of both employers and workers if someone needs time off work.
Acas has updated its advice on sick pay to reflect the new changes in the law from the Employment Right Act 2025 that will apply from 6 April and how they compare to the current rules: Statutory sick pay – Sick pay – Acas.
Acas also has training courses for employers on managing absence.
SOLD OUT
Hi Drylaw, Telford and Edinburgh Northern Constituents,
