Gather together with Fresh Start for a FREE community meal tomorrow (Friday 12th f May) at lunch time!
Enjoy laughs, chats and a hot meal served up with tasty cheddar at this special event from Galloway Cheddar Family Favourites and FareShare
StagEHd Festival, Edinburgh’s newest open-access community theatre festival, has announced its 2023 programme.
Returning once more to the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens West, StagEHd 2023 will present a weekend of theatre on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June, with thanks to support from The National Lottery Awards for All Scotland fund.
The festival opens at midday on Saturday 10 June by welcoming back the students of Momentum Performing Arts to kick things off with their Musical Mania (12:00, 10 Jun), a mash-up of musicals new and old.
Audiences demanded an encore from the group in 2022, and this year is bound to be the same, guaranteed to get you clapping, dancing, and singing along to your favourite stage hits.
Following in the footsteps of this burgeoning talent, are two of Edinburgh’s oldest and newest community theatre companies. The Forth Act will preview their debut production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (13:30, 10 Jun) with a taster performance before their open-air run at Saughton Park later in June.
And Edinburgh People’s Theatre, Edinburgh’s longest running community theatre company, reprise their award-winning performance of The Book Club of Little Witterington (14:30, 10 Jun) from this year’s SCDA One-Act Play Festival.
Later on Saturday afternoon, Shifting Sands Theatre will lead an all-ages Workshop in Clown & Physical Comedy (15:30, 10 Jun), before Frighthouse Productions share three tales of the surreal and spooky in The Wheel of Misfortune (16:30, 10 Jun), a family-friendly horror anthology inspired by Goosebumps and The Twilight Zone.
Finally on Saturday, Castle Rock will come alive with song as Edinburgh’s premier community choir, Sing in the City bring the first day of the festival to a close with Sing in the City – Under the Castle (18:00, 10 Jun).
Sunday’s performances start as all Sundays should, with a whole lot of interactive fun from Mr Blue Productions. Our ABC Story (12:00, 11 Jun) uses puppets, pockets, and a variety of objects to help young audiences create their very own “Once upon a time…” story.
Mr Blue Productions StagEHd 2022, photo by John Preece
Pack up a Sunday picnic and enjoy lunchtime entertainment from the young dancers of KS Dance Academy who will get audiences on their feet with KS Dance Academy Showcase (13:30, 11 Jun). And Scotland’s premier all-female mumming troupe, The Meadows Mummers present a feminised pastiche of Shakespeare’s play within a play with The Not-So-Rude Mechanicals (14:30, 11 Jun).
Emerging theatre company Resilience Theatre Movement preview their 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe offering on Sunday afternoon. Former friends and roommates, Annie and Frances haven’t spoken to each other in more than a year. But sparks fly when Frances shows up at Annie’s door drunk and demanding to talk in Waiting for Champagne (15:30, 11 Jun).
And emerging playwright Kate Macsween demonstrates the power of words in Letters from Holloway (17:00, 11 Jun), a story inspired by the women and young offenders incarcerated at Holloway Prison.
2023’s StagEHd Festival closes on Sunday evening with an adaptation of one of Molière’s famous comedies, The Bourgeois Gentleman.
Presented by The Mirror of Stage | Lustro SCENY, Edinburgh’s bilingual English and Polish theatre company, Molière’s Garden Party (18:00, 11 Jun) is a funny yet thoughtful play that unravels the absurdity of human nature.
Supported by the Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group and The National Lottery Awards for All Scotland Fund, StagEHd Festival is an open-access, free-to-attend, two-day celebration of Edinburgh’s performing arts.
StagEHd 2023 will take place at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens West on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June. Entry to the festival is free with a bucket collection at the end of each performance, with 100% of the proceeds being shared amongst the artists performing.
To find out more about the festival, and to book your free tickets, visit www.stagehdfestival.com.
Paper airplane building crafts tomorrow (Friday 12May) from 2:30 – 3:30 @ Granton Library
Come along to test your aerodynamic skills – no need to book just come along!
Exciting new opportunity for young people 14-18, PYCP is running a new 10-week Young Leader Programme.
Come along today (Thursday 11th May) to our intro session to find out more.
Learning 2 Lead provides a chance to get more involved here at PYCP, learn new skills and use existing skills.
Young people can also work on a Youth Achievement Awards, which look great on college/university/job application forms. For example, a bronze Youth Achievement Award is the SQA equivalent to a National 5
A further £3.6 million has been allocated to Hospital at Home to support more than 150 extra virtual beds.
Hospital at Home can provide a safe, patient centred alternative to an acute hospital admission. It provides a better outcome for the patient, who receives treatment in the safety and comfort of their own home, as well as reducing pressure on hospital sites.
The investment for 2023-24, which will take the total funding in the service to more than £10.7million since 2020, will increase patients managed through Hospital at Home by 50% – an additional 156 beds.
Funding will be available to existing services, and areas yet to develop Hospital at Home, with improvement support provided by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
Health Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Hospital at Home has already proved to be very successful and most importantly, beneficial to patients and the wider system. That’s why we have allocated a further £3.6 million so more people can be managed at home rather than in hospital.
“Patients have spoken very positively about the service and it also reduces pressure on A&E and the Scottish Ambulance Service by avoiding admissions and accelerating discharge. Hospital beds will always be available to people who need them, but this is a better alternative for many.”
Belinda Robertson, Associate Director of Improvement, Healthcare Improvement Scotland said: “We’re delighted the Scottish Government will continue to fund the development of Hospital At Home services. An increasing number of patients are experiencing the benefits of receiving acute hospital care at home.
“More and more NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships are embracing Hospital At Home by establishing and developing services. We will continue to support NHS boards and Partnerships to further develop the services they provide, and share learning across all Hospital At Home services.”
Since 2020 the Scottish Government has made available more than £8 million to support the development of Hospital at Home.
Liverpool is “doing Ukraine proud” by staging the Eurovision Song Contest, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said as he hosted a No10 reception last night to mark the event.
The event comes just days before the Eurovision Grand Final on Saturday, which the UK is hosting on behalf of Ukraine who won last year’s competition. UK entry Sam Ryder came second with the chart-topping single Space Man.
Guests were invited to wear sparkly clothing and gathered in a room adorned with the Ukrainian and Union Flags, with disco balls hanging on the Downing Street staircase.
The Prime Minister introduced Ruslana, Ukraine’s first Eurovision winner, who performed for attendees. Sandie Shaw – the first British entry to win Eurovision in 1967 with the iconic hit track Puppet on a String – attended the event (top).
Also joining the reception were representatives from the Eurovision cultural programme in Liverpool, Ukrainian artists, Points of Light winners and Ukrainians forced to flee their homes.
The Prime Minister presented a Points of Light Award to children’s authors Natalie Reeves Billing and Jude Lennon from Liverpool. They have delivered over 23,000 “Builder Book Boxes” across the city, featuring learning resources to help children develop reading and creativity skills.
Points of Light Awards recognise outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community.
The Government is supporting the delivery of Eurovision with £10 million in funding and almost 3,000 tickets have been made available for displaced Ukrainians. Big Screens will be set up at over key locations throughout the UK for people to watch the shows live.
Speaking ahead of the Eurovision Grand Final, the Prime Minister, said: “Liverpool is doing us all proud. And I think they’re doing Ukraine proud too.
“It’s t’s an honour for us to host Eurovision on behalf of our Ukrainian friends. It shows yet again that the British people will stand by them for as long as it takes.
“As my friend President Zelenskyy says… one day this contest will be hosted in a victorious, free Ukraine.
“Now that will be a party to remember!”
Three men were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday following a violent attack on a man in Lochend.
Lewis Spence, 26, Connor Steele, 23, and Bradley Logan, 25, were each sentenced to seven years in prison following the attempted murder of a 40-year-old man in Lochend Road South, on Tuesday, 15 September, 2020.
The 40-year-old man was treated at St John’s Hospital in Livingston for severe injuries.
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait of Edinburgh CID said: “This was a targeted, violent attack linked to organised criminality that occurred in broad daylight.
“The men were arrested following an extensive investigation and will now face the consequences of their actions.
“I would like to thank the members of the public for their assistance during our enquiries, which has undoubtedly assisted in securing this conviction.
“This type of violent crime will not be tolerated in Edinburgh and I hope the outcome today sends a clear message to those involved in serious organised crime, that we are committed to disrupting harmful activity in our communities and bringing the perpetrators of violence to justice.”
Anyone with information or concerns about criminality in their area can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.
Environmental campaigners have criticised the Scottish Government’s failure to commit to banning the incineration of plastics by 2030, as recommended by the independent review it commissioned.
Last Friday (5 May), the Scottish Government published its response to the second and final part of its independent review on the role of incineration in dealing with waste in Scotland.
In June 2022, the Scottish Government banned new incinerators following the review’s recommendation, and this latest announcement aims to reduce carbon emissions from existing plants – but campaigners say it falls short.
Rather than phasing out existing incinerators, the Scottish Government is supporting the development of expensive heat networks for them. Experts from the Scottish Government’s own advisory body have shown that the carbon emissions from heat generated from incinerators are higher even than gas boilers, so such measures are likely to increase, rather than decrease carbon emissions.
While the Scottish Government has indicated that it supports a ban on burning plastics by 2030 in principle, it has failed to commit to doing so or set out a credible action plan to deliver it.
Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “The failure of the Scottish Government to commit to the main recommendations of its own review is a missed opportunity to phase out existing incinerators and end the harmful practice of burning plastics as soon as possible.
“Plastics are fossil fuels, so burning them is directly contributing to climate breakdown. The independent review showed that incinerators are locking Scotland into a single use system – relying on market forces and promises of future policy changes is not enough to change this. We must take urgent action at every part of the supply chain if we are to stop mountains of non-recyclable plastics being thrown away and burnt.
“The Scottish Government response admitted that plastics often contain toxic chemicals, but the failure today to commit to ending a system which perpetuates their production means it is now more likely that these plastics will continue to harm people and the environment for far longer than they should.
“Instead of committing to a plan to phase out incinerators the Scottish Government has indicated support for the expansion of high-carbon incinerator linked heat networks. Its trust in carbon capture and storage to reduce emissions from incinerators is misplaced.
“Even if cost and technology barriers can be overcome, carbon capture will come too late to be effective for Scotland’s incinerators, which are some of the largest sources of carbon emissions in Scotland right now.”
The UK’s leading garden centre, Dobbies, has teamed up with the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, the RSPB, to educate its customers in Edinburgh on the declining house sparrow population this May and encourage them to do their part to welcome this bird species into their gardens.
During the month of May, RSPB volunteers will be raising awareness and collect donations across a number of Dobbies’ stores while offering the opportunity to sign up to become an RSPB member.
Since the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch began in 1979, encouraging people to count birds for an hour in January, the house sparrow’s population has gone from an average of 10 visitors per garden to only about four in 2022.
Although house sparrows topped the Big Garden Birdwatch for the 19th year in a row in 2022, their population has declined so drastically that they are now on the UK Red List for birds, and any further declines would be disastrous.
As part of this campaign, Dobbies’ Edinburgh store hosted a Little Seedlings Club workshop on Sunday 7 May. Children learned about the official Red List and the house sparrow, as well as some helpful tips on how to encourage more house sparrows into their gardens.
Dobbies’ Community and CSR Communications Executive, Chloe Bell, explained: “Our Little Seedlings Club attendees are the next generation of gardening enthusiasts and this awareness workshop with RSPB at our Edinburgh store is extremely important when it comes to helping rescue the house sparrow.
“I have fond memories as a child listening to the house sparrows as I watched them fly about the garden and we want the younger generation to experience this too. You can help these birds by planting trees, shrubs and flowers in the garden, a place for the house sparrow to take shelter, forage for insects to feed their chicks, and ultimately help increase the population.”
Adrian Thomas, the RSPB’s wildlife gardening expert, said: “We are really looking forward to working with Dobbies to spread the word about these wonderful garden birds, and how people can help them.
“They’re great fun for kids to learn about too – house sparrows are delightfully sociable and chattery and they really benefit when we give them the food, water, and home they need. It shows how little actions can really make a difference to our local wildlife.”
Dobbies’ latest podcast with Adrian Thomas talks about the house sparrow, where podcast host, ITV This Morning’s Daisy Payne, asks how we can create a welcoming environment in our gardens to help increase population numbers. The episode is available to listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, dobbies.com/podcast.
Customers looking to encourage house sparrows to visit their garden can pick up RSPB-branded supplies from their nearest Dobbies’ store. Spotlight products for May include Medium Easy-clean Seed Feeders, Sunflower Hearts, High Energy Fat Bals, Table Seed Mix, Suet Sprinkles and highly nutritious Mealworms.
Products:
– RSPB Sunflowers Hearts, £12.99
– RSPB Mealworms, £13.99
– RSPB Favourites Blend, £6.99
– RSPB High Energy Fat Bals with Sunflower Hearts, £2.99
– RSPB Table Seed Mix, 6.99
– RSPB Suet Sprinkles, £10.99
– RSPB Medium Easy-Clean Seed Feeder, 16.99
For more information on Dobbies, visit www.dobbies.com
If you live rurally and can’t take part in the in-store workshops, there are downloadable resources at doobies.com you can access at home.
For more information on RSPB and how to become a member, visit www.rspb.org.uk
Back for its 8th year, the event takes place on Sunday 24th September and is expected to attract more than 800 cyclists to three scenic routes through East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders. Tandems and e-bikes are welcome.
The event is Poppyscotland’s biggest fundraiser outside of the Poppy Appeal, and has already raised more than £300,000 to provide vital support for current and former members of the Armed Forces and their families across the country.
This year’s event was launched by cyclists from VIE Velo, a tandem club for visually impaired people and sighed pilots, with Poppyscotland supporter Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Clark, who took part in the 2022 event and is dusting his bike off again for this year.
Allan Balfour, a visually impaired cyclist from VIE Velo who also took part last year, said: “I was delighted to participate in the Poppyscotland Sportive in 2022 and was overwhelmed by the supremely efficient manner in which the event was conducted.
“The Sportive was a great challenge for me – it was the longest ride I have undertaken, and I’m looking forward to returning this year. Most of all though, it was great to be able to support such a deserving cause.”
Lt Col Clark said: “The Sportive is a great cycling event – three routes catering for all abilities, through beautiful landscape, for a great cause.
“Whether you’re a serious road racer looking for a challenge or fancy a more gentle, ‘social’ pace, the Poppyscotland Sportive has something for you. The atmosphere is really friendly, it’s brilliantly organised, and worth remembering that that the funds are being raised for one of Scotland’s most effective and well-respected service charities, supporting those who have stepped up and served the nation, and now need our help. So give it a go – you really won’t regret it!”
Starting and finishing at Prestonpans Community Centre, the three routes range from 45 to 102 miles, taking in the stunning coastal road to North Berwick then looping round the East Lothian countryside.
More adventurous riders will cycle over the Lammermuirs, dipping down to Chirnside and Duns in the Scottish Borders before heading on ward to Midlothian.
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, said: “The Sportive is always a hugely popular event, so we are encouraging cyclists to sign up as soon as possible. We’re really pleased to be welcoming back e-bikes and tandems, following their successful introduction in 2022.
“We keep numbers low to avoid the need for road closures, and the intimate and friendly feel of the event is one of its attractions. The route takes in stunning coastal views and country roads, while the timed hill climb will challenge more experienced cyclists.
“I’m very grateful to all the cyclists who have helped to raise more than £300,000 to provide vital welfare support to families across Scotland, from help with housing and employment to mental and physical health issues.”
The Sportive is an ‘open road’ cycling event, meaning that no roads will be closed, to minimise disruption to the public.
For more information or to register, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/sportive
