Are you Hyrox curious? Wondering what all the hype is about? Now’s your chance to find out. Edinburgh Leisure is inviting fitness enthusiasts and beginners alike to experience the buzz of Hyrox with two exclusive taster sessions this July.
Taking place on Wednesday 16th and 23rd July at 8:00 am at Meadowbank Sports Centre, these one-off sessions are designed to introduce newcomers to the world of Hyrox in a fun, supportive, and beginner-friendly environment. Tickets are just £5 per person, with only 16 spots available per session – so early booking is essential.
No experience? No problem. These sessions will cover the basics, offering a hands-on introduction to the unique hybrid fitness format that’s taken the world by storm.
Edinburgh Leisure made waves in the fitness scene last September with the launch of their hybrid gym and official Hyrox Affiliate Training Club at Meadowbank – the first of its kind from a leisure trust in the UK. Since then, they’ve been at the forefront of the hybrid training movement, offering classes for both beginners and seasoned Hyroxers.
Take the first step towards transforming your fitness journey. Become a member of Edinburgh Leisure’s hybrid gym and take advantage of their exclusive HYROX training programmes with no-joining fee if you sign up on the day. Existing Edinburgh Leisure members can join Evolve hybrid gym as an add-on to their existing membership.
Don’t miss your chance to get a taste of Hyrox – book your spot today and see what the hype is all about.
The increase in racial/hate motivated harassment and aggression in the last few years has made it clear that we need to get better at standing up for each other.
Join us Tuesday, July 8, at St James Church (11A John’s Pl, EH6 7EL) for a co-led workshop where we will share our experiences and knowledge to build and practice the skills needed to counter racist, sexist, transphobic and ableist harassment and violence in public spaces.
Composer Sally Beamish, and 16 players from four of the world’s leading string quartets played to a packed concert hall at Bowhouse Farm last weekend, for the world premiere of Field of Stars – the finale at this year’s East Neuk Festival (25-29 June).
The four string quartets (Elias, Pavel Haas, Castalian and Belcea), are firm favourites at the East Neuk Festival and, over the five days, audiences were also treated to their masterful performances of all five of Beethoven’s late quartets, quintets by Mozart and Schubert, and Mendelssohn’s Octet performed by the Belcea and Castalian.
In addition, Beethoven’s septet in E-flat, which is said to have spearheaded the creation of the East Neuk Festival, was performed by an incredible line-up including Alexander Janiczek(violin) and Philip Higham (cello), who played the same piece in Elie Church, 20 years ago.
This earlier performance is said to have inspired festival founder Donald MacDonald to take the plunge and launch the East Neuk Festival with its current Director Svend McEwan Brown the following year.
Over the five days, audiences were also treated to the brilliance of tenor Mark Padmore and baritone James Newby singing Schubert’s song cycles accompanied by pianist Joseph Middleton.
The Festival began and ended with Donald Grant performing East Neuk of Fife, a Scottish fiddle tune played at the opening concert just minutes before the Scottish Chamber Orchestra launched into Larsson on Wednesday night, and again at the closing concert.
Another Scottish tune The Witch of Leanachan, written by Donald Grant, was also used as the music to accompany a new film installation The Light, the Bell & the Burden by multi-disciplinary artist and designer Andy McGregor which was screened in St Fillan’s Cave in Pittenweem during the festival.
This film piece, supported by Event Scotland’s National Events Programme, explored mysteries around belief, folklore and healing through St Fillan and the relics connected to him, and featured Donald Grant performing with cellist Su-a Lee.
Harpist and composer Esther Swift’s festival commission Zulu Voyage was packed with friends and family who came to listen to her new piece performed by local musicians of all ages from St Andrews Music Project, Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra and East Fife Community Ensemble.
Plus, there were some sensational one-off concerts from the Tom Smith jazz septet, Euan Stevenson Trio and the legendary Kathryn Tickell.
This year’s 20th festival was packed with multiple sold out shows. The size of the ticketed audience was up by 50% on 2024 and over 90% of events were completely sold out.
Festival Director Svend McEwan Brownsaid: “I am blown away by the sheer enthusiasm and generosity of everyone at ENF 2025: performers, audience and team alike.
“We wanted to honour the achievement of the past 20 years and hearing that this was incontestably the most successful ENF of all is a real pleasure.”
The festival was made possible thanks to support from Creative Scotland, EventScotland and the generosity of all its patrons, partners, trusts and foundations.
The 2026 festival will run from 24 to 28 June. Full programme will be announced in November.
The East Neuk Festival celebrates the joy and power of live music and its potential to transform lives. In the past 20 years the festival has presented over 400 events and welcomed over 3,000 performers and 200,000 people to some of the most unique and intimate venues in the East Neuk of Fife.
East Neuk Festival is made possible thanks to support from Creative Scotland, EventScotland and the generosity of its patrons, partners, and various trusts and foundations.
TWO further arrests have been made in connection with Operation Portaledge, the investigation into violent incidents in the East and West of the country. This brings the total number of arrests to 52.
On Thursday, 3 July, 2025, police arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with wilful fire-raising to two vehicles on Campion Road and Niddrie Marischal Crescent in Edinburgh on 9 June, 2025. He was released pending further enquiries. This is the second arrest in connection with this incident.
On Friday, 4 July, 2025, around 9.50am, officers executed a warrant in Blantyre and arrested a 49-year-old man in connection with an attempted murder in Pitcairn Grove, Edinburgh on Friday 22 May, 2025. This is the third arrest in connection with this incident.
The 49-year-old has also been arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences.
He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 7 July, 2025.
Our five family payments can help families on low incomes get through the school holidays.
The payments also provide year-round support and at key stages in a child’s life.
Long school holidays can be tough for families with the increased costs for food, clothes and activities. Our five family payments can help families on low incomes get through the school holidays.
The payments also provide year-round support and at key stages in a child’s life and include:
Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting families. It’s a weekly payment of £27.15 for every child under 16 years in a household, paid every four weeks.
Scottish Child Payment is not limited to two children. It is available to eligible families with children ages 0 – 16 regardless of how many children there are in the home.
Best Start Foods is a payment of up to £43.20 every four weeks. It helps eligible pregnant women, parents, families and carers with children under the age of 3 to buy healthy foods for their families. People can apply for Best Start Foods as soon as they know they’re pregnant.
The money is provided on a pre-paid card which is topped up every 4 weeks. The card works like a bank card and can be used in local shops and supermarkets that accept card payments.
Early Learning Payment provides £319.80 to help with the costs of early learning, and is paid when a child is aged between 2 and 3 and a half years old. To get this payment your child does not need to go to nursery.
Early Learning Payment is available for multiple children and the money can be used for anything including toys, clothes and trips to new places.
At the end of the holidays, many families will have children starting school for the first time or reaching school age. School Age Payment helps with the costs of starting school and is worth £319.80 per eligible child.
Parents or carers can apply for the current School Age Payment if a child they look after was born between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021.
A child does not have to take up a place at school to get School Age Payment, but people still need to apply in the year that a child is first old enough to start school, if:
‘Ramp-up’ of arrests and visits set to take place across the UK targeting migrants working illegally
Enforcement teams are gearing up to launch a nationwide blitz targeting illegal working hotspots, with a focus on the gig economy and migrants working as delivery riders.
Under the Government’s Plan for Change to restore order to the immigration system and tougher enforcement of the rules, Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams will launch a major operation to disrupt this type of criminality.
Strategic, intel-driven activity will bring together officers across the UK and place an increased focus on migrants suspected of working illegally whilst in taxpayer funded accommodation or receiving financial support.
The law is clear that asylum seekers are only entitled to this support if they would otherwise be destitute. That is why anyone caught flagrantly abusing the system in this way, as a result of the operation, will face having support discontinued, whether that’s entitlement to accommodation or payments.
Operational teams will target certain hotspots across the country over a period of intensification, as well as going after organisations who wilfully employ those working illegally, through civil penalty referrals. Any business found to be illegally employing someone could face a fine of up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years.
The Government has been surging action against illegal working since coming into power one year ago, with 10,031 illegal working visits leading to 7,130 arrests, marking a 48% and 51% rise respectively, compared to the year before (5 July 2023 to 28 June 2024). This marks the first time in a 12-month period where more than 10,000 visits have taken place.
748 illegal working civil penalty notices were also handed to businesses caught violating immigration rules in the first quarter (January to March) of the year, marking the highest level since 2016 – an 81% increase compared to the same time last year.
And the Government is tightening the law by making it a legal requirement for all companies, including the gig economy, to check anyone working for them has the legal right to do so. This will end the abuse of flexible working arrangements. The new measures will be introduced through the landmark Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, said: “Illegal working undermines honest business and undercuts local wages – the British public will not stand for it and neither will this government.
“Often those travelling to the UK illegally are sold a lie by the people smuggling gangs that they will be able to live and work freely in this country, when in reality they end up facing squalid living conditions, minimal pay and inhumane working hours.
“We are surging enforcement action against this pull factor, on top of returning 30,000 people with no right to be here and tightening the law through our Plan for Change.
“But there is no single solution to the problem of illegal migration. That’s why we’ve signed landmark agreements with international partners to dismantle gangs and made significant arrests of notorious people smugglers.”
Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime, Eddy Montgomery, said: “Our dedicated Immigration Enforcement officers have been ramping up action to disable illegal working across the board.
“This next step of co-ordinated activity will target those who seek to work illegally in the gig economy and exploit their status in the UK.
“That means if you are found to be working with no legal right to do so, we will bring the full force of powers available to us to disrupt and stop this abuse. There will no place to hide.”
This targeted action is on top of ongoing work across the country to disrupt people flouting the rules across different sectors.
Earlier this week, during a joint operation with the Metropolitan Police to go after people suspected of working illegally as cash in hand builders, officers targeted anti-social behaviour and illegally modified scooters and e-bikes.
20 Indian nationals were arrested as part of the operation. This included 16 overstayers, one illegal entrant, one port absconder and two small boat arrivals.
On 18 June, West Midlands teams conducted an operation on Smethwick High Street after receiving intelligence on a major collection point for people suspected of going to work illegally, primarily on construction sites.
The team encountered 73 individuals, arresting 26 suspected immigration offenders (24 Indian nationals, one Nepalese national and one Italian national). This led to the detention of 11 Indian nationals.
And on 12 June, East of England teams conducted a multi-agency operation with police in Lynn Road, Wisbech, focusing on cash in hand builders using illegally modified e-bikes. They carried out 21 immigration checks which resulted the arrest of three men, including one Syrian, one Chinese and one Brazilian national.
The police went on to seize six mopeds and one car for offences including driving with no insurance, no driving licence and disqualification.
The crackdown also sits alongside key join up with the delivery industry on tackling illicit account sharing. On Monday, 30 June , the Home Office and Department for Business and Trade met with major delivery firms and pledged to strengthen security checks to tackle illegal working.
Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have committed to increasing the number of daily facial recognition checks riders are required to take to verify their identity.
Illegal working is linked to exploitation, with teams often encountering squalid living conditions, people receiving little to no pay and inhumane working hours. In the worst instances, these individuals may be victims of modern slavery.
Immigration Enforcement take a number of steps to spot the signs of individuals who are potentially being exploited and, where appropriate, will refer people to the National Referral Mechanism so they can access support. They also work closely with crucial partners like the Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority, to share insights and strengthen the approach to tackling labour exploitation.
And this new operation is just one part of the government’s action to strengthen UK border security and disable the people smuggling gangs fuelling illegal migration.
Over the past year, the government says the Prime Minister has been resetting relationships and forging partnerships across Europe and beyond, to ensure a targeted international response in breaking the model behind this vile trade.
Furthermore, nearly 30,000 people with no right to be in UK have been returned, landmark agreements have been signed with Iraq to dismantle gangs and Italy to take down illicit finance networks and a world-first people smuggling sanctions regime has been launched to ban travel and freeze assets.
The City of Edinburgh Council is inviting residents and stakeholders to take part in a consultation on the city’s Affordable Housing Policy (AHP).
Edinburgh led the way by becoming the first local authority in Scotland to introduce an AHP in 2000. Under the current policy, housing developments with 12 or more homes must include 35% affordable housing.
Today, the city faces growing housing pressures – higher than average rents and house prices, a low proportion of social housing, and over 5,000 households in temporary accommodation. The city also has a lower proportion of social rented homes – just 16% compared to the Scottish average of 22%.
The Council is reviewing the policy’s non-statutory elements and is seeking public feedback on the next version of the Affordable Housing Guidance, due to be considered by the Planning Committee in November 2025.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “Too many people and families in Edinburgh are struggling to find a stable and affordable place to live, and too many are still in temporary accommodation.
“We are making progress, however, there is much more to do to meet the increasing demand for housing in Edinburgh.
“That is why I am encouraging people to participate in the consultation and share their views to influence how we shape our communities and deliver the much needed affordable homes our city and citizens need.”
The month-long celebration originated in Boston, USA in 1990 and the UK in Belfast in 2015.
Disability Pride means various things to each individual and can be celebrated in various ways, however, crucially it is a way for the disabled community to come together for both positivity and support, to raise awareness of the difficulties and barriers sadly encountered by people with disabilities, and to educate on how to reduce ableism and increase allyship.
Council Leader, Jane Meagher said: “With one in five people in the UK living with a disability, Disability Pride Month is an important time for us all to recognise and celebrate the contributions, identities, and experiences of disabled LGBTQ+ people in our city and beyond.
“Disability pride can mean different things for many; this month is a way of shining a spotlight on the barriers and discrimination disabled people face. Too often, they face multiple obstacles from access to social exclusion.
“Edinburgh is a city that values diversity in all its forms, and as a Disability Confident Employer, I’m committed to making sure everyone feels they belong. That means listening to those with lived experience, removing obstacles – physical and social – and creating a culture where difference is respected.”
Draft plan to tackle nature loss, climate change and pollution
Members of the public are being asked to have their say on proposals aimed at boosting the health, prosperity and wellbeing of communities by improving Scotland’s environment.
The draft Environment Strategy sets out the opportunities for strengthening Scotland’s economy and improving people’s lives as a result of restoring and regenerating biodiversity, cutting levels of pollution and waste, supporting national net zero targets and improving Scotland’s environmental impact on countries across the world.
It includes key government actions which aim to support green jobs and industries, tackle poverty and promote social justice including:
the transition to a circular economy through the reuse and repurposing of materials
increasing renewable energy generation in Scotland and supporting industrial decarbonisation with independent scenarios from Ernst and Young (EY), showing that with the right support, Scotland’s low carbon and renewable energy sector could support nearly 80,000 jobs by 2050
projects to restore nature – including those supported through the Nature Restoration Fund – which are also improving people’s physical and mental wellbeing by providing greater access to nature
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin said: “This draft Environment Strategy sets out ways in which Government action will help tackle the nature crisis, as well as reduce pollution and support our net zero targets.
“These issues are interlinked, and by tackling them together we can protect our planet in ways that improve people’s health and wellbeing, reduce inequalities, and create new opportunities for business and investment.
“We have already made significant progress in improving Scotland’s environment. We have cut pollution levels by banning a number of the most problematic single-use plastic products and introduced Low Emission Zones.
“Scotland’s energy grid is also greener, thanks to the increase in the amount of renewable energy we now generate, we are more than halfway to reaching net zero by 2045, and our forthcoming Natural Environment Bill will introduce new statutory targets for restoring nature.
“However there is still much more we can do – and it is vital we tackle these global crises in ways that create wider benefits for Scotland – supporting green jobs and industries, improving people’s health, tackling poverty and promoting social justice.
“I urge everyone with an interest to have their say on the proposals.”
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes said: “This draft Strategy shows how we can achieve both our environmental and our economic ambitions for Scotland, highlighting the business and investment opportunities that will flow as we move to a net zero, nature positive future.”
The 2025 What Kids Are Reading report includes insights from over 40,000 pupils in Scotland, and reveals children using structured reading programmes read 20.7 books a year, compared to just three books for UK adults
Children’s favourite books are harder—and they’re reading them better
From Wimpy Kid to Rashford: the books and authors inspiring a new generation of readers
The 2025 What Kids Are Reading report, published today by leading edtech provider Renaissance, includes data from over 40,000 pupils in Scotland and reveals how children’s reading habits are evolving across the UK and Ireland.
Drawing on data from over 1.2 million pupils, the report shows that five years on from the disruption of lockdown, young readers are engaging with more challenging books—and understanding them better.
Although the number of books read has declined slightly year-on-year, pupils still read on average 20.7 books a year—far more than the median UK adult, who reads just three.
In schools using Accelerated Reader, a structured programme that supports reading practice and comprehension, quiz scores have improved since last year. Primary pupils are now achieving 80% accuracy on reading quizzes (up from 77% last year), while secondary pupils have reached 72% (up from 69%).
Pupils are also scoring highest on their favourite books, many of which are more challenging than their most-read titles. In Year 5, for example, favourite books had a reading level nearly two years above the average for that age group, with quiz accuracy reaching 94%.
These patterns suggest that when pupils are given the freedom to choose books they love, they rise to the challenge—and understand them deeply.
Additional insights from the National Literacy Trust’s Annual Literacy Survey, included in the report, show that while overall reading enjoyment has declined to 35%, its lowest level since 2005, Accelerated Reader users buck the trend.
Among pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), 37% of those using Accelerated Reader say they enjoy reading, compared to 32% of their peers.
A similar pattern appears among boys, with 31% of Accelerated Reader participants reporting enjoyment, versus 27% of non-participants—suggesting structured support may be helping to close the enjoyment gap.
This What Kids Are Reading report also shows how children’s reading habits are changing. Jeff Kinney remains the most-read author across UK schools, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid still topping the charts.
But newer voices are gaining ground. Titles by Marcus Rashford, Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Matt Oldfieldare now among the most-read books in schools.
Books such as The Breakfast Club Adventures, Little People, BIG DREAMS, and Black Men in Science mean more pupils are seeing their experiences reflected in the stories they read—supporting not only literacy development but also helping pupils see themselves in the stories they read—fostering confidence, connection, and a lifelong love of reading.
Crispin Chatterton, Director of Education at Renaissance, said: “This year’s What Kids Are Reading report highlights the real progress schools are making in helping children read with greater understanding.
“It’s especially encouraging to see disadvantaged pupils reporting higher enjoyment of reading in school—showing how targeted support can help more children build confidence and enjoyment in reading.
“At Renaissance, we’re proud to work alongside schools to create inclusive, engaging reading experiences that help all pupils succeed.”
Professor Keith Topping, author of the report, commented: “This year’s findings are encouraging. The narrowing of the enjoyment gap, particularly among disadvantaged pupils, suggests that structured reading time and access to tools like Accelerated Reader are making a real difference.
“When pupils enjoy reading, they read more — and when they read more, they achieve more.”
