Tag: city council

Ali Bowden to receive the Edinburgh Award 2025

The first Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Ali Bowden has been selected to receive the prestigious Edinburgh Award 2025.

The Edinburgh Award was established in 2007 to honour outstanding individuals who have made a positive impact on the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh. Nominations are invited annually from Edinburgh citizens and the recipient is selected by the Civic Awards Committee. Previous recipients include bestselling authors, human rights activists and world-famous sportspeople.

Ali Bowden became Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature in 2006, following a ten-year career in publishing, and was in the role for most of its 20-year history. Edinburgh became the world’s first UNESCO Creative City in 2004 and in the following years Ali helped to welcome new Cities of Literature as they joined, recruiting others from around the world in a bid to diversify the network.

There are now 53 literary cities and more than 350 creative cities in seven artforms.

Ali will be presented with an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost and have her handprints set in stone at the City Chambers later this year.

The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Civic Award Committee, Robert Aldridge said: “Ali Bowden is a most deserved recipient of the Edinburgh Award, and I’m really pleased that she has accepted the Civic Awards Committee decision to present it to her.

“Edinburgh blazed a trail when it became the first UNESCO Creative City in 2004 and with Ali at the helm for almost 20 years it has continued to flourish in this position.

“Not only has Ali gone above and beyond to create a diverse and engaging range of projects and programmes to enhance the literary city, she has played a key role in connecting Edinburgh with other literary cities around the world.

“I’d like to congratulate Ali on behalf of the city – we will all benefit from her legacy, which builds on the Capital’s rich literary heritage while also bringing reading and literature to new and varied audiences.”

Ali’s work to promote and enhance Edinburgh as a literary city includes community-based writers’ residencies, the first citywide reading campaign, and the award-winning Great Scott! installation in Waverley railway station honouring Sir Walter Scott. She was also behind the Stars & Stories trail of illuminated quotations celebrating 500 years of Edinburgh’s publishing heritage, and an initiative with ETAG to promote literary tourism.

Ali has played a key role in making introductions, bringing opportunities and showcasing the work of writers, readers, booksellers, publishers, programmers and visitors to the benefit of Edinburgh’s literary scene.

After 18 years as Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, Ali stood down from the role in September 2024.

Ali Bowden said: “There’s no doubt that Edinburgh has stolen my heart, and I’ve happily spent the last few decades banging the drum for this impressive, bookish, story-filled and ever-changing city.

“I am humbled, honoured and delighted – in equal measure – to be receiving the Edinburgh Award. I know it’s only possible because of all the kind souls I’ve worked with over the years, on projects big and small, locally and internationally.

“All of them equally inspired by Edinburgh, this amazing, and first, City of Literature. Thank you all for doing a bit of hard work when I asked!

Tomorrow: Park Life at Clermiston

PARK LIFE AT CLERMISTON PARK

WEDNESDAY 23RD JULY

1:30PM – 3:30PM

Looking for something to do during the holidays?

POLICE Officers will be at Park Life alongside The City of Edinburgh Council and Community Alcohol Partnerships to offer bike marking and to answer any questions young people may have about policing.

We’ll even bring the beer goggles to test your co-ordination skills!

#NWCPT

‘Summertime Streets’ changes to begin next week in city centre

With the summer festivals season fast approaching, the city council is making temporary changes to the way some of our city centre streets operate between Thursday 24 July and Sunday 7 September 2025.

During this busy period the population of our city effectively doubles, which brings challenges for residents, businesses and visitors.

These temporary changes, which include removing or restricting vehicle traffic, are designed to make our streets easier and safer to walk around.

George Street and several streets in the Old Town will be impacted. A full list of streets along with further information is available on our website.

There is also specific advice for blue badge holders, home deliveries, loading and services for businesses, places of worship and special arrangements.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “As we prepare to welcome the world to Edinburgh for our summer festivals, we’re making sure that these higher visitor numbers are managed safely and properly.

“We’ve made temporary changes to our city centre streets successfully during this period for many years and I’m sure that this summer will be no different.

“I’d like to thank our residents and businesses for their understanding and patience as we get ready to showcase and enjoy our city’s unparalleled cultural offering once again.”

Scran Academy launches new youth-led café at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People

North Edinburgh-based social enterprise Scran Academy has announced the official opening of its exciting new youth empowerment café at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) – the New Sick Kids.  

Scran Academy is an Edinburgh youth work social enterprise on a mission to help young people realise their full potential in learning, work and life. Set within the Edinburgh children’s hospital, the new Scran Café is a key milestone in its drive to open doors for young people in the region.  

Building on four successful years running a popular café at NHS Lothian’s Comely Bank site, Scran Academy’s new café at RHCYP will provide employment and support for dozens of young people across Lothian, giving them opportunities to gain hands-on experience, develop valuable skills, and grow in confidence within a supportive work environment.

Initially employing six young people, the site will also provide a platform for hundreds of work placements and paid jobs. 

The RHCYP offers world-class healthcare facilities for children and adults both locally and nationally with 600,000 staff, patients and visitors coming through its doors every year. 

The bright youth-led space at Scran Café has been thoughtfully designed to offer a calm and comforting environment for both patients and their families navigating a hospital stay as well as staff taking a break from a busy shift. 

Commenting on the opening, Will Bain, CEO of Scran Academy said: “Getting the keys to our Scran Café at the RHCYP is such huge step for us! We’ve got big plans to make this a brilliant, buzzing youth-led hub that brings young people’s voices and choices to life. 

“Over the next 3 years our café at the RHCYP will provide work and training for over two hundred young staff and volunteers. Every one of these young people will access the opportunities, relationships and experiences needed to help them build their own futures.  

 “We’ve demonstrated our model through our partnership with NHS Lothian in the Comely Bank Centre, where we see dozens of young people step out of their café experiences proud, capable and ready for what’s next. Now we are ready to step it up a gear – and we are so excited to be doing it at the RHCYP, one of the most important places in our city.” 

Aris Tyrothoulakis, Service Director for Women’s and Children’s at NHS Lothian said: ”We are thrilled to be welcoming Scran Café to RHCYP this summer. For our hard-working teams, patients and families alike, the new café will offer a bright and welcoming space to take some time out from the hustle and bustle of the hospital.  

“NHS Lothian is proud to be an Anchor Institution. Our mission to deliver world class health and social care is complemented by our desire to make our buildings and service delivery work in ways that support community wealth building and stable, secure employment.

“Building on our partnership with Scran Academy’s successful café at our Comely Bank site, we look forward to working together to increase access to fair work opportunities for young people in the region.” 

Councillor Jane Meagher said “What makes Scran and this cafe unique, is that they really live the principle that every young person has the potential, and the power, to thrive when given the right support. The young staff team here today are shaping their own futures. 

“This is exactly the kind of innovative model we want to champion in Edinburgh, where employability goes hand-in-hand with wellbeing, and where young people are supported not just to work, but to feel happy, valued and confident while doing so. 

“I am especially proud to know that Scran is fully integrated into the Council’s Accredited Pathways Framework for Schools, which means they are a key delivery partner in offering meaningful learning routes that equips young people right across Edinburgh with real-life experience, accredited training, and a strong sense of purpose.” 

Juniper Green tennis courts open

Tennis courts in Juniper Green have opened following state-of-the-art renovations worth £100k, thanks to a major fundraising drive by the local tennis club.

Almost £50k was raised by Juniper Green Tennis Club, matched by grant funding from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), to carry out extensive work on the two courts. This includes resurfacing, repainting, new fencing, nets and a smart entrance gate.

The courts are leased from the City of Edinburgh Council and managed for year-round public use by Juniper Green Tennis Club. All courts will be available to book via the LTA website. New gate access technology means it is now easier to get on court by booking in advance to guarantee availability.

Through the Parks Tennis Project, the LTA is delivering the biggest ever investment in parks tennis facilities across Britain. This nationwide programme of investment is seeing thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country, providing vital opportunities for children and adults to get active.

Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “I’m delighted to see these tennis courts upgraded at Juniper Green, and offering fantastic facilities for all those who use them.

“Juniper Green Tennis Club pulled out all the stops to fundraise for these renovations and it’s thanks to them, along with funding from the Lawn Tennis Association, that there will be even more opportunities for residents to get involved in the sport.”

Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to see the courts at Juniper Green transformed and in better shape than ever. 

“Park tennis courts are vital for providing people with opportunities to pick up a racket, and we want as many people as possible, of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, to enjoy playing tennis and being active. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come.

Juniper Green Tennis Club Chair Paul Murphy said: “A group of local organisations, businesses and individuals successfully secured our participation in this fantastic nationwide scheme to transform local tennis facilities by making generous cash donations, providing five-year interest free loans and committing to five-year fixed term memberships.

“The support of the local community allied to the critical contribution from the LTA Park Tennis Project has helped to future proof the tennis courts in Juniper Green which have been such an important part of village life, on the current site, since their opening in 1907.”

Find out more about Juniper Green Tennis Courts.

Edinburgh to launch innovation team to help reduce poverty and reach net zero

Edinburgh is one of 19 new local authorities joining the international Bloomberg Philanthropies i-team initiative, which provides municipalities around the world with support and expertise to tackle pressing local challenges.

The City of Edinburgh Council today announced plans for an Innovation Team which will work towards tackling the city’s ambitions of reaching net zero and ending poverty.

The ‘i-team’, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, will include three specialised staff charged with helping the Council and civic and community-based partners design and implement services that improve people’s lives.

They will receive technical assistance from regional and global specialists, and benefit from learnings from peers in local authorities across the region and around the world.

City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Edinburgh is one of the most successful cities in the world and yet we face unprecedented pressures. Our population growth, and appeal as a fantastic place to live and visit, makes it challenging to provide the best quality housing and support to residents who need it most.

“Likewise, Edinburgh’s world-famous environment, both built and natural, needs to be managed sustainably and protected from the effects of climate change.

“The support from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ international i-team initiative will provide a huge boost towards our aims of tackling poverty and hitting net zero, by helping us to establish a brand-new innovation team within the Council. I look forward to working with this team, and all our partners, as we work to deliver a fairer and stronger capital city.”

James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: “Realising efficient, effective government is an inside job—and the Innovation Teams we support around the world are critical to building that engine within the city halls they serve.

“We are glad to expand this model to 19 new municipal teams in Europe, who will join the growing number of public officials working locally, creatively, and ambitiously to break down silos, break through problems, and deliver results residents see and feel.”

To date, the Bloomberg Philanthropies i-team initiative has reached over 100 cities across 16 countries and four continents—representing more than 100 million residents—and inspired hundreds of other local governments to embrace innovation systems and practices.

Sign Up to Park Life at Clermiston

There is still time to sign up to Park Life in Clermiston Park.

For young people in P7-S3.

Wednesday 16th and Wednesday 23rd July 1:30pm-3:30pm.

Must register in advance for these events.

Email TOM.1.SCOTT@EA.EDIN.SCH.UK for further information or pop into Drumbrae Library Hub and ask at the desk.

Membership of Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy Advisory Forum announced

Newly appointed Chair Julie Ashworth has selected 12 Edinburgh individuals to form the city’s first Visitor Levy Advisory Forum.

Bringing experience from the third sector to academia, the hotels industry to local communities, the Forum met for the first time to receive a briefing on the Edinburgh Visitor Levy.

Each member has been interviewed by the Chair and joins the Forum as an individual who is able to bring a broad range of personal expertise and background to the group, rather than a representative for their current organisation.

It is expected that the Forum will meet at least twice a year. They will advise advise Councillors as they agree final details of how the proceeds of the scheme will be invested before it launches next summer.

Forum members will also discuss and provide feedback on the efficiency of the scheme and advise the Council on any recommended modifications when it is reviewed after three years.

The appointments to the Visitor Levy Advisory Forum are:

  • Lori Anderson, Director of Festivals Edinburgh
  • Kat Brogan, Managing Director of Mercat Tours and Co-chair of Edinburgh’s Living Wage Action Group
  • Garry Clark, Development Manager, East of Scotland for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and member of the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group
  • Audrey Cumberford, Principal and Chief Executive of Edinburgh College
  • Fran van Dijk, B-Corp Ambassador for B Lab UK and Advisory Board member of Green Element 
  • Neil Ellis, Chair of Edinburgh Hotels Association and member of the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group
  • Euan Hamilton, Equality and Rights Network Development Worker for Volunteer Edinburgh
  • Terry Levinthal, Director of the Cockburn Association
  • Graeme Smith, Regional Industrial Officer, Unite the Union
  • Douglas Tharby, Deputy Chair of the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils
  • Kirsten Urquhart, Chief Executive of Young Scot
  • Alex Williamson, Chief Executive of Scottish Rugby.

Julie Ashworth, Chair of the Visitor Levy Advisory Forum, said: “Edinburgh’s visitor levy scheme has been shaped by years of debate and views from all sectors and communities, and it is in this spirit I’ve appointed a group of people with fantastic experience and expertise from different fields and from civic life. I’m confident we have a really strong Forum in place and we’re excited to get to work.

“Our introductory meeting focussed on ensuring that all members are up to speed with the Edinburgh Visitor Levy scheme, and the requirements of the group itself. Now that Forum members are familiar with this, the real work of advising the Council on levy matters can begin.

“With just over a year to go until the levy is launched, it will be our job to fairly and accurately represent the views of the city, and to encourage the Council at all stages to take these views into account. I’m grateful to every member for coming on board.

Council Leader Jane Meagher added: “I’m delighted that mere weeks after her appointment as Chair, Julie has established a full Visitor Levy Advisory Forum.

“Edinburgh’s upcoming levy will provide us with a once in a lifetime opportunity for raising much needed funds for the city. Important decisions will need to be taken on how this money is spent so that visitors and residents can benefit, so I’m pleased to see a balanced and broad range of views represented on the Advisory Forum.

“These are individuals with great knowledge about their industries and the city, and I understand they’ve had a productive first meeting. I look forward to their input as we prepare to launch Scotland’s first visitor levy next summer.”

Have your say on the future of affordable housing in Edinburgh

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 consultation, which closes on 23 July 2025, follows the publication of the Affordable Housing Policy Guidance 2025 report discussed at the April meeting of the Planning Committee.

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.”

Find out more and share your views here.

Edinburgh expresses its support for Disability Pride Month

COUNCIL CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY

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.”