Blackhall boy Charlie selected by internationally renowned ballet school

Edinburgh Dance Academy (EDA) performer Charlie Waller is about to follow in the footsteps of his elder sister after being offered a place at one of the world’s leading ballet training institutions, The Royal Ballet School in London.

The P6 pupil from Blackhall celebrates his 11th birthday later this month. From September, he will enter Year 7 at the Royal Ballet’s Lower School at White Lodge, in London’s Richmond Park.

With around 1400 people applying to join The Royal Ballet School every year, Charlie has secured one of only 10-12 places available to new Year 7 boys. He will become the only Scottish male currently at the School joining his 12-year-old sister Emily, who was invited to attend last year. The pair will also become the only Scottish siblings amongst the international student ranks.

Admission to The Royal Ballet School, which attracts the highest calibre young dancers from across the globe, is based purely on talent and potential. Its alumni include Margot Fonteyn, Anthony Dowell, Antoinette Sibley, Wayne Sleep, and Darcey Bussell. Along with a daily routine of classical ballet training, the Lower School also provides a strong focus on academic qualifications with its students studying core GCSE subjects.

A pupil of the highly-regarded EDA since the age of three, Charlie currently attends 14 classes with the Edinburgh-based school every week participating in ballet and other styles of dance. He is also a Junior Associate with Scottish Ballet and was recently cast as Young Cinders in its production of Cinders.

Commenting on his forthcoming move to London to take up his place at The Royal Ballet School, Charlie said: “I’m so excited to be going to such a great school with so many other boys and girls who love dancing.

“I’ll miss my mum and dad and especially my little brother, Arty (3), but I’m looking forward to being at school with Emily, doing ballet in a class full of boys every day and hopefully getting to perform with The Royal Ballet company at some point.”

Charlie’s mum, Morag, said: “We’re so pleased that Charlie has been given this opportunity to follow his dream of becoming a professional dancer.

“Since he was a toddler, he has always loved dance and EDA has been crucial in helping him progress to this current level.  Joining The Royal Ballet School will now enable Charlie to further develop and maximise his talent.

“While it will feel very strange not having him here under our roof and we will, of course, miss him terribly, we know how much this means to him. We’re also reassured that he and Emily will be together in London.”

Julie Mitchell, Principal and Founder at EDA, said: “Charlie is a lovely boy who has been with EDA for most of his young life.

“He’s got incredible drive and real talent as a dancer so we couldn’t be more pleased about him securing a place at The Royal Ballet School.

“We are very proud of his progress to date and we look forward to seeing him further develop his dance skills through this new and exciting chapter.”

Deborah Meaden says “I’m in” to Mary’s Meals’ Sponsor A School

International school feeding charity launches Sponsor A School initiative with entrepreneur and TV star

Entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor, Deborah Meaden, is backing international school feeding charity Mary’s Meals’ Sponsor A School project.

Mary’s Meals started by feeding 200 children in school in Malawi in 2002 and now is providing school meals to more than 2.4 million hungry children every day in 18 of the world’s poorest countries. The promise of a nutritious meal at school attracts these children into the classroom, where they can gain an education which can be their ladder out of poverty.

The Sponsor A School initiative invites people or groups to fundraise to provide school meals to an entire school. Supporters can simply choose the size of school they wish to sponsor, and they will be allocated a school in either Malawi or Zambia. Supporters can choose to make their donation upfront, or in stages, or begin to fundraise within their community.

Deborah says: “Helping the next generation in an increasingly difficult world is something I am deeply passionate about, and Mary’s Meals is doing incredible work in attracting vulnerable children into education with a daily school meal.

“By sponsoring a school with Mary’s Meals, you can ensure that every child in an entire school receives a daily meal, which will give them energy to learn and thrive in education and beyond. Sponsor A School is a rare opportunity to truly change the lives of hundreds of children.”

Sponsoring a school will help children like Dorophy from Malawi reach their full potential. The introduction of Mary’s Meals at her school has improved her daily life and given her the power to dream of a brighter future.

Dorophy says: “I am very happy to be here at this school. I like it here because of Mary’s Meals. I have developed a hardworking spirit. My life is changing for the better.”

Matt Barlow, Executive Director of Mary’s Meals, says: “I am delighted that Deborah is backing Sponsor A School.

“It is an incredibly important initiative that helps Mary’s Meals reach so many hungry children awaiting our support. This has a huge impact, not only for the children, but for their families and wider communities.

“Supporters who sponsor a school have a real sense of connection to their chosen school and to the children who eat our nutritious school meals. There are so many ways to get involved with Sponsor A School, whether as a group or an individual.”

To find out more about Mary’s Meals and Sponsor A School, please visit: 

www.marysmeals.org.uk/sponsor. 

Edinburgh Leisure supporting talented athletes

Demand for access to Edinburgh Leisure top-class sporting facilities from talented athletes is growing year on year, as participants look to get to their peak fitness in the hope of representing their county or country at major sporting events, including the Olympic Games.

The Edinburgh Talented Athlete Support Scheme (E TASS) is a City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Leisure funded programme that represents a strong and unique partnership between talented athletes, National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB’s) and the Scottish Institute of Sport Network (SISN).

E TASS aims to provide free access to Edinburgh Leisure’s gym, swimming pool and track venues, to support talented athletes to achieve more, develop to their full potential and accomplish world class performance levels.

Gary Hocknull, Sports Development Manager at Ediburgh Leisure explains: “Being able to deliver the E TASS programme supports Edinburgh Leisure’s values of providing opportunities and support to athletes to participate, progress and achieve in sport and makes a clear statement that we invest in athletes and sport at all levels.

“All athletes accepted onto E TASS enjoy free access to Edinburgh Leisure gyms, swimming pools, and athletics tracks for recovery, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and endurance training.

“Access is made available for athletes’ own individual training requirements and does not apply to club or National Governing Body squad training. Competition is tough with demand growing year on year. For 2024/2025, we received applications from 158 new, and 108 from existing athletes.”

With only 150 spaces available on ETASS, Edinburgh Leisure works closely with NGB’s and sportscotland to ensure our support reaches the right athletes.

Consideration is given to applicants in postcode areas identified through the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SMID). The performance levels of these athletes range from those beginning their elite sporting journey to those that have achieved success at international events.

Scottish number one at target shooting, Seonaid McIntosh, is supported by the E-TASS scheme and is hoping to medal in Paris. Seonaid said:  “Having the support of the ETASS scheme has been fundamental to my success in shooting as it complements my rifle training and improves my fitness with the ability to use Edinburgh Leisure’s fantastic sporting facilities across the city.” 

Seonaid McIntosh became the World Champion at the 2018 ISSF World Shooting Championships in the 50m Prone Rifle event.  In 2019 she became Britain’s most successful female rifle shooter of all time, winning five World Cup medals (including the first World Cup Gold to be won by a British Woman).

She also became the first British Woman to rank World #1 for the 50m Rifle Three Position event and became European Champion in the 300m Rifle Prone event with an equal World Record score.

Rory Brogan, a talented athlete and rugby player explained why E TASS has been crucial for his training: “The membership went really well in the way that it gave me a place to go for Strength and Conditioning. As a young person at school, I don’t have a lot of money to spend on gym memberships, so having this Athlete scheme massively helped boost that.

“Furthermore, the Edinburgh Leisure gym I went to at Meadowbank is great for athletes, as it has space for plyos, plenty of squat racks, etc. I made the Scotland U20 relay team, and we set the record when we competed down in Cardiff in August 2023. Furthermore, I got into the wider Scotland U18 rugby team.”

To qualify for E TASS athletes must be resident in Edinburgh and a member of an Edinburgh constituted sports club. The athlete must also represent their sport at any of the following standards:

  • Scottish Institute of Sport (SISN)
  • Scottish/British/European/World Championship Title Holder
  • Scottish or Great Britain Squad Member
  • Regional Development Squad

Aldi donates almost 12,000 meals to good causes in Edinburgh and the Lothians during the school holidays

Aldi donated almost 12,000 meals to good causes in Edinburgh and the Lothians during the recent Easter school holidays.

Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket pairs its UK stores with local charities, community groups, and food banks to collect unsold fresh and chilled food year-round.

Around 500,000 meals were donated throughout the UK during the recent school holidays, with 34 causes in Edinburgh and the Lothians benefitting from the initiative in total.

The food donations are part of Aldi’s successful partnership with Neighbourly, a community giving platform that links businesses to charitable organisations.  

Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “We know that the school holidays can be a particularly challenging time for families, and food banks regularly see heightened demand.

“By working with such amazing charities in Edinburgh and the Lothians through our partnership Neighbourly, we are able to give back by providing donations to those who need it most.”

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, said: “The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has increased the demand on food banks, particularly during the school holidays.

“Aldi’s contributions serve as a lifeline for many, providing essential support to enable these causes to continue their vital work within local communities.”

Since the partnership began in 2019, Aldi has donated more than 44 million meals to good causes across the UK.

Aldi also recently partnered with Neighbourly to launch a new “Spring” fund to provide additional help for families in need across the UK.

Eligible charities across the Neighbourly network, such as baby banks and children’s centres, will be able to access microgrants of £500 to help them provide immediate support to struggling families.

Support for people injured at work

Ensuring industrial injuries benefit meets people’s needs

A consultation on replacing the UK Government’s Industrial Injuries Scheme in Scotland has been launched.

Views are sought on how the Scottish Government’s planned Employment Injury Assistance should be delivered and on the next steps for introducing this benefit.

The consultation is the first step in considering how the replacement benefit can better meet the needs of the modern workforce and be more reflective of occupational health and employment.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Industrial Injuries Scheme was introduced in 1948 and it does not account for many of the injuries and diseases common in the modern workforce.

“We know that the outdated eligibility criteria for the Industrial Injuries Scheme does not account for the injuries and illnesses that are most likely to affect people today. This is especially true for women, young people, and people from an ethnic minority group.

“We want to hear a broad range of views on the approach we should take to delivering Employment Injury Assistance, and I would encourage individuals and stakeholders to respond to our consultation.”

The consultation will run for 8 weeks and will close on 24 June 2024.

Scottish video games celebrated as Game On exhibition tickets go on sale

Tickets for the National Museum of Scotland’s major summer exhibition Game On are now on sale.

Tickets for Game On are available to book at nms.ac.uk/GameOn 

The exhibition is the world’s largest interactive exhibition of the culture and history of video games, with 120 playable games spanning more than 50 years.  

Game On will run at the National Museum of Scotland from 29 June to 3 November 2024. It will feature iconic characters from Space Invaders to Mario and highlight Scotland’s role as a pioneer and world leader in game development.   

The exhibition will reveal the roots and development of Scottish gaming. From manufacturing the  ZX Spectrum computer in Dundee in the 1980s to highlighting Scotland as home to some of the most innovative and influential game makers, including Rockstar North, creators of Grand Theft Auto. 

Game On will showcase emerging Scottish talent such as Sad Owl Studios, whose game Viewfinder was awarded Best British Game at the Bafta Game Awards 2024. Visitors will also discover the important role Edinburgh studio 4J played in making Minecraft a global phenomenon.   

Game On is curated and toured by Barbican Immersive. The exhibition examines the creative and technological advances that have established gaming as a new art form.  

The National Museum of Scotland was the exhibition’s very first touring venue in 2002, and Game On has since been visited by over 5 million people of all ages in 25 cities around the world. Game On returns to Scotland in a landmark year for gaming that includes significant anniversaries such as 30 years since the release of the first PlayStation console and 40 years of the iconic puzzle game Tetris. 

Patrick Moran, Game On Associate Curator, said: ““The gaming world has had an undeniable social, cultural, and technological impact. Games transcend the boundaries between art and technology, becoming part of popular culture. 

“Game On presents the opportunity to not only see the evolution of video games and how they have changed over time but also to immerse yourself inside gaming worlds with over 100 playable games.

“The show features the largest playable collection in the world, including original arcades, hand-held consoles, and key games, including Pac-Man, Super Mario, Tetris, Sonic the Hedgehog, Just Dance and FIFA. The exhibition also explores new advances in the gaming world.

“Highly interactive, groundbreaking and popular, Game On is engaging for hardcore gamers and visitors new to gaming. Crucially, the show is suitable for players of all ages.” 

Dr Geoff Belknap, Keeper of Science and Technology at National Museums Scotland, said: “It’s great to welcome Game On back to the National Museum of Scotland. As someone in charge of Scotland’s national science and technology collections, it’s exciting to explore the country’s incredible contribution to gaming, past and present.

“I’m delighted to bring Scottish independent games to a new audience, including The Longest Walk, a pioneering project exploring the experience of living with mental health issues and Highland Song, a beautiful adventure through the Scottish landscape.

“The exhibition has been continually updated at each new touring venue since the early 2000s and so we look forward to bringing the story of video gaming right up to date here in Scotland, where the industry today is so vibrant.” 

The exhibition is organised in thematic sections, exploring hardware formats such as handheld to home consoles to arcade machines, as well as wider cultural aspects such as the links between music, film and gaming.  

A programme of public events will support the exhibition, including a Museum Late and family-focused activities to inspire the next generation of game creators.  

Tickets for Game On are available to book at nms.ac.uk/GameOn 

National Museums Scotland Members free. 

Book in *advance to save, general admission: Adult £12-£15, Over 65s £11-£14, Student, Young Scot, Disabled, Unemployed** £9-£12, Child 5-15† £8-£11, Under 5s free. 

10% off when you book as a family‡ 

Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. 

*Advance ticket prices are applicable up to 23:59:59 the day before. 

**Valid ID required. Carers of disabled people free. 

†Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.   

‡10% off when you buy up to three Child 5–15 tickets alongside up to any two Adult, Over 65s, Student, Young Scot, Disabled, Unemployed tickets, with a maximum of five tickets in total. Cannot be used in conjunction with National Museums Scotland Member tickets or any other discount or promotional offer. 

Tips to brighten your summer garden with Dobbies

Garden Centre announces winners of community competition at monthly gardening workshop

Showing support for National Gardening Week (29 April – 5 May) Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, is encouraging gardeners to brighten up their garden with summer bedding plants at its free Grow How session in its Edinburgh store, taking place on Saturday 4 May. 

Plus, all stores across the UK will simultaneously announce their winners for Dobbies Community Gardens.

Gardeners of all skill levels are invited to attend the session that starts at 10.30am and lasts around 10-15 minutes. They will be introduced to summer bedding plants, and get helpful hints and tips on how to introduce colour to garden beds this summer.

From Begonias, with their large flamboyant blooms, to Sweet Peas with their delightful fragrance and wide range of colours, there’s something for every garden, no matter the size.

Dobbies’ garden experts in Edinburgh will guide attendees through specific bedding plants that are in season in May, as well as how to create colour themes in pots or baskets by pairing large flowers like Dahlias as the focal point and enhancing space around them with summer bedding plants like Begonias, Petunias and Impatiens (Busy Lizzies).

This year’s winner of Dobbies Community Gardens from Edinburgh will also be announced at May’s Grow How session, with all entrants invited to attend to hear the result.

Dobbies Community Gardens launched in March to offer support for community and charity groups in Edinburgh to help transform, restore or start their indoor or outdoor green spaces.

Dobbies Edinburgh store will announce the local group that they have selected to receive support through products, tools, plants and volunteer hours to make their indoor or outdoor green space flourish.

Ahead of the session, Dobbies’ Plant Buyer Nigel Lawton shares some expert advice on creating colour themes from bedding plants. He said: “Summer bedding plants can bring that special seasonal vibrancy to all shapes and sizes of garden space.

“The key is to combine plants with their needs; most summer bedding plants perform best in full sun, but some, such as Begonias and tobacco plants, can tolerate little shade.

“We would encourage people in Edinburgh to come along to this month’s Grow How session for help and advice on how bedding plants can breathe new life into gardens, patios and baskets.

“We’re also looking forward to announcing the winners of Dobbies Community Gardens and learning about all of the green spaces we will help to transform in the year ahead.”

For more information about Dobbies’ Grow How session and to make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events.

Scottish Opera Young Company present world premiere of Red this summer

This July, Scottish Opera Young Company is presenting the world premiere of RED, a darkly comedic piece drawn from fairy tales by The Brothers Grimm, at the Company’s Production Studios in Glasgow.

An interwoven story of the four stages of women’s lives that often feature in folk tales, RED is by award-winning composer Karen MacIver, with a libretto by Scottish Opera’s Director of Outreach and Education, Jane Davidson MBE.

The conductor is Young Company’s Artistic Director Chris Gray, with Flora Emily Thomson (Maud & Down in the Valley 2023 and As The Seasons Turn 2022) returning to direct the 14 young performers aged between 17 to 21. Set and costume designs are by Finlay McLay.

RED is inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Snow White and Hansel & Gretel, and features aspects of the ages of unnamed female figures — girl, maiden, mother, crone — that often appear in these famous stories. The 70-minute opera examines the circular, metamorphic nature of these tales as well as experiences shared by generations of women across time through magical realism.

Karen MacIver (above) and Jane Davidson said: ‘RED is an exploration of the some of the key defining characteristics of the female protagonist in stories – bringing the tradition from its beginnings in folk tales and right up to contemporary interpretations.

‘Women are judged by a different set of values, and many still face the unenviable choices of relationships (family) versus personal aspiration. In more recent times, the medium of stage and film – and of music composed for these– has gained dominance in terms of how we experience storytelling.

‘Stephen Sondheim and Bernard Herrmann are masters in the art of musically driven plots. Their works have greatly influenced the score, not only in the musical choices made, but also as a guiding light for compelling storytelling in terms of the landscape of sound.

‘Literary influences include Margaret Atwood, whose beautifully concise, darkly humorous style, with twists and turns at the most unexpected of moments, we have tried to capture in the libretto.

‘Working within the parameters of four short acts drove the need for a musical score that describes the plot every bit as much as the words. Interspersed throughout are strands of magical realism, lending an everyday quality to the more outrageous aspects of the story arc that we are confident most of the audience will recognise.

‘So, throw in some chatty crockery, firefighters with a nice line in barbershop singing, some 1980s shoulder padded glamour, a wolf that needs therapy and you might just get a sense of what to expect.’

Director Flora Emily Thomson said: ‘I’m so excited to be working with the Young Company again to bring to life RED. 

“Karen MacIver and Jane Davidson’s intricate and charged piece is brimming with possibilities, compelling us to consider the relationship between women, power and patriarchy across a lifetime, and the shifts and sacrifices needed to navigate these.

“As we follow our protagonist through her ages, our ensemble uses dynamic and sensory movement to build her worlds and destroy them, constantly moving the goal posts and manipulating the parameters of her world.

“Taking place on a striking and stark, angular set, prepare to experience some of society’s oldest tales in a thoroughly modern way.’

Scottish Opera Young Company offers young singers a unique and practical introduction to the world of opera and the chance to develop their talent through a year-long programme, working with a range of music professionals.

For many of the singers, it is the first step towards building a career in the arts, and gives them the opportunity to perform music written especially for young voices.

Tickets for RED, which is supported by Scottish Opera’s Education Angels and The Rose Fund, are available to buy now from www.scottishopera.org.uk/shows/red

Johnnie Walker Princes Street seeks new talent to join award-winning team

Top visitor attraction is calling for passionate storytellers to become Experience Ambassadors

Johnnie Walker Princes Street, the award-winning global visitor experience in the heart of Edinburgh, has announced exciting opportunities for passionate individuals to join its renowned team.

With both part-time and full-time Experience Ambassador positions available, aspiring actors and storytellers are invited to become a part of an exceptional team dedicated to delivering unparalleled experiences to visitors from around the globe.

Ambassadors will guide guests through the venue across the many different experiences available, taking them on a journey through the story of Johnnie Walker, the single malt and single grain whiskies from which it is crafted, and through the multitude of ways whisky can be enjoyed.

Dedicated to challenging stereotypes and busting myths around Scotch, no background in whisky is required for the roles available at Johnnie Walker Princes Street. Instead, applicants should be natural presenters and storytellers and have a passion for hospitality.

Successful candidates will have the chance to work in the multi-award-winning destination starting from June 3, with the opportunity to be a part of a key venue during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, work with experts in the experience and whisky field and receive extensive training and development from industry leading professionals.

Additionally, Johnnie Walker Princes Street offers staff a strong reward and benefits package with many pathways to great career opportunities across Johnnie Walker and parent company Diageo. Recognising the need for flexibility, employees can also expect a range of shift and working patterns to cater for people at all ages and stages of life.

Rob Maxwell, Head of Johnnie Walker Princes Street, said: “We are proud of the exceptional team we have built at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, and we are excited to offer opportunities for new talent to be part of our award-winning visitor experience.

“If you are energetic, enthusiastic and, passionate about a career in hospitality and tourism then we want to hear from you.”

To apply for the role of Experience Ambassador at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, please visit our website here.

Nearly half of British adults expect fall in standard of living

  • Energy prices and cost-of-living crisis top list of financial concerns
  • Women are more concerned about external factors, such as a recession, impacting their finances
  • People plan to increase time spent reviewing their finances due to rising costs

Nearly half (46%) of UK adults are worried that their standard of living will fall over the next 12 months, reveals research conducted on behalf of Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management. 

Concern was highest among those in their 30s (55%), dropping to 38% of over 50’s – likely due to accumulated savings.

Despite recent declines, energy prices still top people’s biggest concerns on the factors threatening their living standard, along with the cost-of-living crisis and high prices caused by inflation.

External risks worry women more

Women are more concerned than men about most external risks to their finances, including inflation (79% versus 72%), rising interest rates (59% versus 52%) and a recession (83% versus 73%). However, men worry more about geopolitical instability (57% versus 50% women) and stock market volatility (42% versus 37% women), with the latter perhaps due to being more inclined to invest, the research also revealed.

Divided on death and divorce

Men are more concerned about losing wealth through divorce (24% versus 19%), whereas women are more likely to fear the financial impact of their partner or spouse dying (47% versus 42%).

Proportion of people concerned about various factors impacting their personal finances

FactorOverall proportion of individualsWomenMen
Energy prices78%80%74%
The cost-of-living crisis / recession78%83%73%
Inflation76%79%72%
A global economic downturn63%63%63%
Rising interest rates55%59%52%
Income tax increases54%56%53%
Geopolitical instability53%50%57%
Scams and frauds51%56%46%
Death of a partner / spouse45%47%43%
Stock market volatility40%42%37%

Time invested

The study showed that these concerns are changing how much time we spend reviewing our finances each month.

On average, consumers spend over six hours a month on their finances, with groceries and other household costs taking up the most time (52 minutes) followed by bank account management (48 minutes), and paying for holidays (42 minutes). Wealthier people with assets over £100k spend longer keeping their financial house in order, averaging eight hours a month. Men, meanwhile, typically spend around 20% longer than women.

A tougher financial climate means we expect to spend more time managing our finances overall, largely in response to dealing with rising costs and stubborn inflation (48%) and the need to save more money (41%).

When it comes to those looking to decrease their time investment, nearly a third (29%) said they plan to reduce the time spent looking at their financial affairs as it makes them feel too anxious.

This may go some way towards explaining the fact that a significant proportion of people don’t currently spend any time at all reviewing commitments such as their pensions (33%), insurance (31%) or investments (23%).

Alasdair Wild, Area Manager at Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management, said: “Dealing with the ongoing cost-of-living and keeping your finances in check can be a time-consuming process and a real challenge for most people given there only are so many hours in the day. 

“However, doing the bare minimum is unlikely to offer much protection in such a tough financial climate, and investing time to plan and manage your finances and, when required, bringing in external professional support, can make a real difference to protecting your standard of living.

“While avoiding the issue may provide temporary relief, it will only exacerbate problems down the line, so seeking support is key.”

Click here to view the full research report Gender and generation: unravelling the wealth gap.

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