A 14-year-old male youth has been arrested and charged in connection with wilful fireraising in Edinburgh.
The incident happened at a stable at Gorgie City Farm, off Gorgie Road, shortly after 6.25pm on Wednesday, 24 July, 2024.
No one was injured.
See The Show for Young Men with North Edinburgh Arts
Special Invitation for NEA Ordinary and Youth Members! 
We’re excited to invite local families to a special preview performance of The Show for Young Men!
Date: Wednesday 31 July, 11am
Location: PASS Theatre @ Edinburgh College (Granton Campus)
350 West Granton Road Edinburgh EH5 1QE
This captivating production by GuestHouse Projects, presented in association with Imaginate UK, is directed by Eoin McKenzie in collaboration with award-winning dancer Robbie Synge and young performer Alfie from Forthview Primary School.
Designed for young audiences aged 8+, The Show For Young Men considers familiar and unexpected ideas about men and friendship, forging a space where a more compassionate and caring mode of masculinity can exist.
Find out more and book your spot: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/938511401867
Learn more about NEA membership and sign up: https://northedinburgharts.co.uk/membership/
Where to Begin to light up the city
Only one week left before the Edinburgh International Festival’s spectacular Opening Event
- Exclusive sneak peek of the stunning projections designed by Pinwheel and a legend of Scottish music announced as part of the event’s creative team.
Audiences are invited to ignite their festival season with Edinburgh International Festival’s Opening Event: Where to Begin, set to light up the grounds of George Heriot’s in the heart of the Scottish capital on 2, 3 and 4 August in response to this year’s Festival theme: Rituals That Unite Us.
Tickets are now available on Festival’s website.
Blending immersive installations, performance, spectacular video projections and captivating storytelling, Where to Begin is the perfect opening to the city’s festival season.
Released today are stills from the projections designed by UK’s leading creative production company, Pinwheel, giving the audiences a taster of the spectacular event they can expect.
It is also announced that “One of the finest singer-songwriters in Britain” (The Guardian), Karine Polwart features on a new track commissioned for Where to Begin, composed by Roma Yagnik with lyrics by Davey Anderson and Simon Sharkey. Listen to a snippet of the song here.
An Edinburgh International Festival production, created by Pinwheel and in partnership with The Macallan, Where to Begin transforms an iconic Edinburgh location into the epicentre of creative power, exploring the myths and rituals which shaped the country, the capital and its festivals.
These include the process of whisky making and the warm welcome visitors to the city received in 1947 thanks to the private donations of coal rations by Edinburgh residents which were used to light up Edinburgh Castle during the first ever Edinburgh International Festival.
Clinical trials for chronic kidney disease
New partnership for pioneering kidney health research
Clinical trials to accelerate research into treating chronic kidney disease will be strengthened as a result of a new partnership between the Scottish Government, academia and industry.
NHS Scotland, AstraZeneca and the Universities of Dundee and Glasgow will work together on new medicines to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, reducing the risk that patients might need dialysis or kidney transplantation.
The partnership will allow for development of new treatments to treat chronic kidney disease, build infrastructure and enhance expertise in renal clinical trial delivery in Scotland with the key aim of improving patient outcomes.
Preventing progression of the disease allows people to live longer, better lives, free from other consequences of the condition such as heart failure, cardiovascular disease and stroke. This allows people to work, contribute to their communities and economy, while reducing pressure on the NHS.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, said: “This project’s ‘triple helix’ approach is a shining example of how collaboration between the NHS, Scottish Government, academia and industry can accelerate health studies. As we navigate the complex issue of chronic kidney disease, our commitment to patient-centred research remains unwavering.
“Together we can advance targeted studies into medicines that slow progression of the disease and reduce the need for dialysis or transplantation, strengthen our workforce through dedicated research fellows and specialised training, provide greater opportunities for patients, and enable Scotland to attract and deliver more innovative trials.”
Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Chief Scientist (Health) at Scottish Government said: “I welcome this partnership with AstraZeneca which builds upon the excellent research infrastructure and expertise we have in Scotland, to drive the development of new treatments for chronic kidney disease.
“We must all work together to improve the outcomes and life circumstances for people living with kidney disease; and this partnership enables the fusion of medical expertise, knowledge, and insight from across NHS, academia, and industry.”
Tom Keith-Roach, AstraZeneca UK President, said: “Scotland is setting a bold ambition to change the trajectory of chronic kidney disease. We are thrilled to invest in a partnership with the University of Glasgow, the University of Dundee, and the Scottish Government to speed up the study of three potential new combination medicines to treat this disease.
“The triple helix of industry, academia and NHS Scotland is a powerful force with the potential to transform care and outcomes for people.
“Furthermore, we believe Scotland is well placed to collaborate with AstraZeneca to shape our research on the world stage across a number of disease areas and attract investment to the country’s thriving Life Science sector.”
Do YOU have a talent? Join the line-up for Fort Kinnaird’s first ever Summer Live event!
Scotland’s largest outdoor shopping centre, Fort Kinnaird, is on the lookout for local performers to step into the spotlight as part of its inaugural Summer Live event.
Taking place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2nd August – 18th August between 12-5pm, the centre is giving all type of performers from musicians, dancers and actors, to uplifting choirs, spoken word poets and solo singers the chance to showcase their talents to hundreds of local people.
The Summer Live stage will be set up near Hotel Chocolat, with a seating area for visitors to enjoy acts, and performers will be allocated a 30-minute time slot.
Fort Kinnaird is also partnering with East Lothian Arts Service – a council run programme supporting the arts – to host a series of workshops and performances from local community groups across the three weekends.
This will include sessions from The Brunton’s Performing Arts Network, East Lothian Youth Music Forum (ELJam), Sistema and Tinderbox Collective. Separately there will also be a variety of performances from The Theatre School of Scotland.
And as part of the centre’s commitment to supporting the arts, Fort Kinnaird will also be donating £1,000 to Tinderbox Collective to support an ongoing initiative to get musical instruments into public libraries, so people can borrow them for free – just like taking out a book – which is currently operated locally within Craigmillar and Moredun libraries.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “With a series of city-centre events hosting Edinburgh’s talent across the summer, we wanted to get involved to support even more local performers and groups to share their talent with the local community.
“We also hope our donation to Tinderbox Collective will help more people discover or continue to pursue their musical talents.
“We’re incredibly excited for our first ever Summer Live event. If you would like to take part, or even just find out more information, we’d encourage you to get in touch as soon as possible as we expect the line-up to fill up pretty quickly.”
Fancy taking part? All you need to do is contact info@fortkinnaird.com with the following:
- Your stage name and type of performance
- How many people are in your group (maximum is 30)
- What times/days you are available and how long your set is
- Details on if an electrical supply is required
- The equipment you would like to bring*
For more information visit: Got talent? Take part in Summer Live | Fort Kinnaird Shopping in Edinburgh
To plan your day out and find the full list of stores and restaurants at Fort Kinnaird, please visit www.fortkinnaird.com
*Please note that all electrical equipment must be PAT tested.
Celebrate the arrival of Deadpool & Wolverine with limited edition merch and sweet treats at Vue Edinburgh
THE highly anticipated team-up of Deadpool & Wolverine is finally arriving at screens across the UK and Ireland this weekend and to celebrate Vue is inviting film fans to suit up and show their support for their favourite anti-heroes – as well as enjoy a range of limited-edition merchandise and an all-new Tango Ice Blast flavour.
The only MCU release arriving on the big screen this year, Deadpool & Wolverine follows Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) faced with impossible odds as his peaceful existence comes crashing down when the Time Variance Authority recruits him and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to help safeguard the multiverse.
The iconic duo buddying up for the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe marks the biggest superhero release of the year and Vue is asking film fans to bring their own besties to the big screen, dressed in either red or yellow to show their support for the two iconic Marvel heroes.
Promotional film cups, popcorn tins and buckets based on the heads of the two leads will be on sale for fans to claw into some tasty refreshments during the film. The film’s launch will also see the introduction of a new, exclusive Tropical Tango Ice Blast flavour.
Toby Bradon, General Manager of Vue UK and Ireland, said: ‘The arrival of Deadpool & Wolverine this weekend is the perfect way to hang out with your own bestie this summer.
“We’re thrilled to be making the arrival that extra bit special with some limited-edition merch and an all-new Tango Ice Blast flavour. We can’t wait to celebrate Marvel’s big summer film on the big screen – the way it should be seen.’
Tickets for Deadpool & Wolverine start from £4.99 when booked online. To find out more visit www.myvue.com
ASH: Smoking and Mental Health
Take a look at our new briefing on smoking and mental health. Read about how they are linked, the inequalities caused by smoking and how people who quit tobacco often experience reduced anxiety and depression.
Learn more here – https://bit.ly/4cWcBwZ
ASH Scotland has welcomed the new UK Government’s commitment in the King’s Speech today to reintroduce a UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill that will progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and limit the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of health charity, ASH Scotland, said: “We warmly welcome the new UK Government’s commitment to progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes, which would mean those extremely health damaging products are incrementally cleared from retail space, and for the sale and marketing of vapes to be restricted.
“It is heartening to see that the new government is hitting the ground running by focusing on prevention to help keep people healthy, which is vital if we are to continue driving down use of tobacco – the biggest preventable killer in Scotland, causing more than 8,000 deaths a year.
“Tobacco industry promotions have lured youngsters into using their addictive, harmful products for decades and the same is happening with e-cigarettes, so we need government to work at pace to stop the targeted marketing of sweet flavoured, brightly coloured vapes and packaging aimed at children, by implementing strong measures as a matter of urgency to protect the health of young people.
“We urge cross party MPs to work to ensure the swift progress of the legislation to reach the statute book and for the governments in both Westminster and Holyrood to use all available powers to eradicate the damage that profit-centred multi-national tobacco corporations are inflicting on people’s lives, and enable Scotland to attain a tobacco-free generation by 2034.”
Courtyard launch to celebrate Summerhall festival season visual arts programme
- Summerhall celebrates stunning festival season visual arts programme with official Courtyard Launch
- Including work from Helen Denerly, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lucian Perkins, and Summerhall’s own Robert McDowell
Summerhall is proud to bring a season of carefully curated, interrogative and thought-provoking exhibitions from local and international contemporary artists as part of the Summerhall 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Programme – celebrated last night during their official Courtyard Launch.
Running from 26 July – 20 September, Summerhall’s Visual Art Programme exhibitions include work from leading UK’s leading wildlife artist Helen Denerly (famed in Edinburgh for the beautiful giraffe sculptures that stand proudly outside the Omni Centre, in addition to a plethora of other UK and international work); Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lucian Perkins; internationally renowned for his distinctive style of ‘constructed photography’, Calum Colvin; Summerhall resident and skilled picture restorer, Jo Coates; bold paintings created during a Bipolar manic episode from Australian comedian turned artist, Sam Kissajukian; and Summerhall’s own Robert McDowell.
Last night (Thursday 25th July), drinks were served in the Summerhall courtyard and all the exhibitions opened for viewing – including this year’s Courtyard Commission winning artwork.
The festival season Visual Arts programme was curated by Samantha Chapman.
Community health and social care faces unprecedented pressures and financial uncertainty
In this Account Commission briefing about Scotland’s Integration Joint Boards (IJBs), we report that community health and social care faces rising unmet need and managing the crisis is taking priority over prevention due to the multiple pressures facing the bodies providing these services.
IJBs plan and commission many vital community-based health and care services.
People
One in 25 people in Scotland receive social care.
Expected to rise sharply due to an ageing population – 76% of people receiving health and social care are aged 65 and over.
By mid-2045, the number of people aged 65 and over is set to grow by nearly a third.
Performance
Where data is available, nationally there has been a general decline in performance of services and outcomes for people.
Data quality and availability is insufficient to fully assess the performance of IJBs and inform how to improve outcomes for people who use services with a lack of joined- up data sharing.
Care
Community health and social care faces unprecedented pressures and financial uncertainty. We have not seen significant evidence of the shift in the balance of care from hospitals to the community intended by the creation of IJBs.
Finances
IJB funding has decreased by £1.1 billion (nine per cent) in real terms to £11 billion in 2022/23. The funding gap is set to triple in 2023/24.
IJBs are making savings by not filling staff vacancies and using their financial reserves, but this is not sustainable.
Staffing
Vacancies are at a record high. Nearly half of services report vacancies. A quarter of staff leave jobs within their first three months. And there is continued turnover in senior leadership.
Action is needed now
IJBS need to share learning to identify and develop:
- service redesign focused on early intervention and prevention.
- approaches focused on improving the recruitment and retention of the workforce.
- improvement to the data available.
- commissioning approaches that improve outcomes for people.
- ensure that their financial plans are up to date.
IJBs need to work together and with other stakeholders to:
- ensure that the annual budgets and proposed savings are achievable and sustainable.
MEANWHILE, DOWN SOUTH …
ENGLAND’S SOCIAL CARE WATCHDOG ‘NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body responsible for regulating adult social care services in England, is ‘not fit for purpose’, according to the health secretary Wes Streeting.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting was responding to an independent review that identified ‘significant internal failings’ within the health and social care regulator.
The interim report, led by Dr Penny Dash, chair of the North West London Integrated Care Board, found the number of inspections being undertaken were well below pre-Covid levels.
It also revealed a lack of clinical expertise among inspectors, a lack of consistency in assessments and problems with the CQC’s IT system.
Commenting on her findings, Dr Dash said: ‘The contents of my interim report underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reform within the CQC.
‘By addressing these failings together, we can enhance the regulator’s ability to inspect and rate the safety and quality of health and social care services across England.’
Mr Streeting commented: ‘When I joined the department, it was already clear that the NHS was broken and the social care system in crisis.
‘But I have been stunned by the extent of the failings of the institution that is supposed to identify and act on failings. It’s clear to me the CQC is not fit for purpose.’ Kate Terroni, CQC’s interim chief executive, said the regulator accepts in full the findings and recommendations of the report.
‘Many of these align with areas we have prioritised as part of our work to restore trust with the public and providers by listening better, working together more collaboratively and being honest about what we’ve got wrong,’ she said.
‘We are working at pace and in consultation with our stakeholders to rebuild that trust and become the strong, credible, and effective regulator of health and care services that the public and providers need and deserve.’
The interim findings of the review of our operational effectiveness led by Dr Penelope Dash have been published this morning. In response, Kate Terroni, our interim chief executive, said: “We accept in full the findings and recommendations in this interim review, which identifies clear areas where improvement is urgently needed.
“Many of these align with areas we have prioritised as part of our work to restore trust with the public and providers by listening better, working together more collaboratively and being honest about what we’ve got wrong.
“We are working at pace and in consultation with our stakeholders to rebuild that trust and become the strong, credible, and effective regulator of health and care services that the public and providers need and deserve.
“Work is underway to improve how we’re using our new regulatory approach. We’ve committed to increasing the number of inspections we are doing so that the public have an up-to-date understanding of quality and providers are able to demonstrate improvement.
“We’re increasing the number of people working in registration so we can improve waiting times. We’re working to fix and improve our provider portal, and this time we’ll be listening to providers and to our colleagues about the improvements that are needed and how we can design solutions together.
“We’ll be working with people who use services and providers to develop a shared definition of what good care looks like. And we’re also developing a new approach to relationship management that enables a closer and more consistent contact point for providers.
“Additionally, to strengthen our senior level healthcare expertise, we have appointed Professor Sir Mike Richards to conduct a targeted review of how the single assessment framework is currently working for NHS trusts and where we can make improvements.
“Sir Mike’s career as a senior clinician, and a distinguished leader of high-profile national reviews, as well as his direct experience of driving improvement through regulation, make him uniquely placed to conduct this work.”
The interim findings of the review have been published on GOV.UK.
Scotland to have world’s first peatland UNESCO World Heritage site
The Flow Country has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List
- Site to become world’s first peatland bog to gain world heritage status
- Becomes Scotland’s first natural world heritage site, joining the likes of the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef
The Flow Country has become the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, having been granted the accolade today, at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee.
The landscape, which is widely considered to be the largest area of blanket bog in the world covering around 1,500 square miles in Caithness and Sutherland, has become the UK’s 35th UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the world’s first ever peatland site to gain world heritage status.
The site will also become Scotland’s first natural world heritage site and joins a very exclusive list of natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including The Grand Canyon and The Great Barrier Reef.
It will be the seventh Scottish site, joining St Kilda and the Forth Bridge, which attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Scotland.
Due to the nature of the site, this listing is also expected to bring new opportunities for local people through the creation of green jobs in landscape restoration and conservation.
The Flow Country is home to a wide range of wetland and moorland species, including many birds, such as the red-throated diver, golden eagle and short-eared owl and has been considered to be of outstanding universal value due to its remarkable diversity, the home that it provides for these species and the role it plays in storing approximately 400 million tonnes of carbon in the north of Scotland.
The news follows the announcement of Gracehill in Northern Ireland receiving World Heritage Status, making this the second new addition to the list of UK World Heritage Sites today.
UK Government Culture Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “It is fantastic to see the UK adding two new sites to the World Heritage List in the space of a day – of historical and natural significance respectively.
“The Flow Country is one of our most precious resources, as a vital habitat for many species and a key site for carbon capture that continues to inform our understanding of how blanket bog can be used to help mitigate climate change.
“It is right to recognise this truly inspiring landscape and I look forward to working closely with counterparts in Scotland to showcase this important addition to our UK World Heritage Sites.”
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “Scotland has a rich history of UNESCO World Heritage sites with six spread across our country from Heart of Neolithic Orkney to New Lanark, the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh to St Kilda and I am delighted the Flow Country has become Scotland’s seventh.
“Thanks to a strong endorsement from the UK Government the Flow Country, which has international importance as a habitat and for the diverse range of rare and unusual breeding birds it supports, is now the first peatland site on the World Heritage list.”
Acting Scottish Government Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said: “This is a truly momentous day for Caithness and Sutherland, and indeed Scotland as a whole.
“The Flow Country is an area of truly outstanding natural beauty and its diverse ecosystems and peatlands are a vital part of our efforts to combat climate change and nature loss. This new global prominence will help preserve the area for many generations to come.
“I want to congratulate the Flow Country Partnership and everyone who has worked so hard towards this tremendous achievement. Their passion and determination has not only elevated the Flow Country to UNESCO World Heritage Status, but has ensured its protection far into the future.”
Bid lead for the Flow Country World Heritage Site project and NatureScot Head of Operations for the North of Scotland, Graham Neville, said: “World Heritage status for the Flow Country is a momentous moment for Scotland’s people and their beloved landscape.
“This successful bid is testament to the hard work and determination of the Flow Country World Heritage project team as well as community members, scientific experts, businesses, landowners and public bodies from across the Flow Country who have been so generous with their time, knowledge and expertise to shape the bid for the benefit of the whole area.
“World Heritage Site status will lead to greater understanding of the Flow Country and raise the profile of Scotland’s peatlands globally for their value as biodiverse habitats and important carbon sinks. It is a wonderful recognition of the expert stewardship of farmers and crofters in maintaining this incredible ecosystem as a natural legacy for future generations.”
Professor Mike Robinson, Non-Executive Director, Culture at the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO says: “We are delighted that the Flow Country has been inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its Outstanding Universal Value.
“World Heritage status recognises the global importance of the Flow Country and its peat bogs, not only as an important ecosystem for wildlife but also, through their carbon storage, as a critical defence against the impact of climate change. In this sense, World Heritage and the protection afforded to it will contribute directly to sustainable development.