Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are today delighted to announce that Biffy Clyro will headline the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2015/16 Concert in the Gardens. Unique Events, who produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, confirmed that the band will make an exclusive UK appearance this year at the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay event and will be joined by very special guests Idlewild and Honeyblood in a very strong all-Scottish line-up.

Biffy Clyro headlined the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay event in 2010 and now, five big years later, they will be bringing their explosive live show to Princes Street Gardens for what promises to be an unforgettable New Year celebration.  This will be the band’s one and only UK performance of 2015 and will be the stage from which they will kick off 2016 and what is being lined up to be an absolutely huge year for them.

Biffy Clyro said “We are so happy to come out of musical hibernation to kick off 2016 with the show on Hogmanay. We want to rock off the cobwebs and prepare for the year of da biff!!  Nothing can compete with Edinburgh’s celebrations and we hope to make it a special night for everyone!!”

Pete Irvine, Director of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said “We reckon it’s a real coup that Biffy have chosen Edinburgh’s Hogmanay not only for their first outing of 2015 but also to launch what looks like a very special year for them.  Their stand-out performance two years ago headlining T in the Park reminded us that they are one of the most exciting live bands ever to come out of Scotland.  Biffy have built a big international following and headlining an impressive Scottish line-up at Concert in the Gardens will please both the Scots and our audience who come from over 70 countries.”

Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s festivals and events champion, said: “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is going back to its Scottish roots. Idlewild first formed in Edinburgh 20 years ago and they are sure to be a huge hit with local fans in particular, while Scotland’s NME Award winning Biffy Clyro will help the city bring in the bells when they perform at the Concert in the Gardens. Coupled with the famous fireworks display, this year’s celebrations will yet again entertain thousands of people and get 2016 off to a spectacular start.”

Special guests Idlewild formed in Edinburgh in 1995 and will perform at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay with a line-up of Roddy Woomble, Rod Jones, Colin Newton, Andrew Mitchell and Lucci Rossi.  The Scottish indie band have had a triumphant return to the live scene in 2015, performing at summer festivals across the country with their first album since 2009 ‘Everything Ever Written’ which has been launched to critical, and public, acclaim. Honeyblood will open Concert in the Gardens, closing a huge year for Scots duo which has seen them perform at festivals across Europe including an opening slot for the Foo Fighters at their recent Murrayfield gig.  Edinburgh born singer Stina Marie Claire Tweedale and drummer Cat Myers released their debut album in 2014 and also joined Belle & Sebastian on their US tour earlier this year.

Tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Concert in the Gardens will go on general sale from 10.00am on Friday 25 September at www.edinburghshogmanay.com, by calling Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Box Office on 0844 573 8455 or by calling into the Hogmanay Box Office at The Fringe Office, 180 High Street, Edinburgh.  Tickets are priced at £55.00 (including booking fee) for the Enclosure, and £49.50 (including booking fee) for the Gardens.

Tickets for the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party are already on sale at £25.00 (including booking fee).  Early bird tickets for EH postcode residents are still available at £19.00 (including booking fee).  Full details of the Street Party line-up and other events at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will be announced on Wednesday 7 October 2015.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay attracts over audiences of over 150,000 to three days of spectacular events throughout the city centre. The economic impact from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay for the city last year was £41.8m.  Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a key part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals celebrations.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is produced on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council by Unique Events, working with partners Underbelly who present Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions and events.

Oriental Fan Dancing: whilst celebrating grace, delicacy and beauty, fan dancing is an exotic, fun way to relax, its changing rhythms and body positions helping to develop physical fitness and mental awareness. All ages and abilities welcome. Tutor: Jianping Yu. 1.30-2.30pm today and every Friday until 4th December 2015, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Dalry. £2 per session.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, the global financial system, food chains and much more. Today’s films are;

(1) The Price We Pay (12+) (see Wednesday) plus short: Iron Sky;

(2) The Shore Break (12+) in which two cousin living in a close-knit South African community take opposite sides over an Australian company’s plans to mine titanium (followed by a Q & A session with director Ryley Grunenwald). Plus short: A Sense of Place;

(3) We Are the Giant (15),‘the most powerful, shocking and ultimately inspiring film to have come out of the Arab Spring so far’ (followed by a discussion with protagonist and human rights activist Maryam al-Khawaja). Plus short: Aliah.

All films at Filmhouse, Lothian Road; please check programme for times. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary.

Take One Action! Film Festival Director Masterclass: Ryley Grunenwald, director of The Shore Break, offers a free masterclass on the development journey and outreach campaign behind this documentary project. 2.30-4.30pm, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place. Booking is required and may be made here.

Craigie’s Education and Environment Project Open Weekend: in the past months the project’s dedicated group of volunteers have created allotments, raised beds, a polytunnel and orchard & bee hives – and now the farm wants you to come along and see what they’ve been up to! An event for anyone interested in gardening and the outdoors – and who would possibly like to get involved in the project. The Edinburgh School of Food & Wine will also be in attendance, and there will be information on bee keeping and much more. 11am-3pm, Craigie’s Farm Shop & Cafe, West Craigie Farm, EH30 9AR. All welcome: free. Also at same times on Saturday 19th September.

BBC Radio Scotland: The Big Debate Referendum Anniversary Special. A year on from the independence referendum BBC Scotland presents topical discussion from Greyfriars Kirk, as members of the public question politicians and other prominent people on the news of the week. 12 noon-1pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. If you would like to attend the debate, please book via BBC Radio Scotland’s website here.

Finding the Audiences: The Future for Traditional Arts. Where are the audiences for the live arts, in particular for folk music, storytelling and traditional dance? This structured session grapples with the key challenges for reaching your target market and sets out an agenda for audience growth. This event will be followed by the AGM of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) which is open to all members of the Traditional Music Forum, the Scottish Storytelling Forum, and the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland, along with interested guests. 2.30pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street. Tickets cost £8 (£6 for Network members) and may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 556 9579 or online.

Boeing Employees Choir and The Dalkeith Singers: Grand Concert. 7.30-9.30pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free admission: donations invited for Madame Curie Hospice.

Freeze Frame Film Club: Quiz Night – Sounds of the Cinema. If you know your Jefferson Starship from your Starship Troopers, come along and test your music and movie knowledge at the first ever Freeze Frame Quiz Night, with Swiss style fondue, schnapps and prizes! Share your love for film trivia and iconic soundtracks, and hear the Freeze Frame 2015/16 season details. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Tickets cost £10, which includes entry to the quiz, fondue, sharing platters and schnapps (for over 18s only) PLUS the chance to win a Freeze Frame Season Ticket and other cinematic prizes. Pre-booking is essential: call the Drill Hall Arts Cafe on 0131 555 7100.

The Russian Word in Edinburgh: Writing A Guide Book for the Enlightened Audience – the Case of St Petersburg. St Petersburg journalist Lev Lurie is editor-in-chief of Kvartalny Nadziratel magazine, a journalist and host of various radio and TV programmes and a multiple winner of Golden Pen and Antsiferov Prizes. Lev is also a historian and has written over 100 articles and 5 books. In 1989 he founded a classical school № 610, where he teaches history. As he is a fourth generation Petersburger, that city figures heavily in his work; he is the author of a popular guidebook to the city, produced by Afisha magazine. Please note that this talk will be in Russian with an introduction in English. 6.30-8pm, The Princess Dashkova Centre, University of Edinburgh, 14 Buccleuch Place. Free but booking is required and may be made via eventbrite here.

Hispanic Festival Fiesta: Arriba Edimburgo! Baila! A double gig as Edinburgh’s Hispanic community celebrate with a colourful, vibrant party night. Music of Flamenco, Salsa, Merengue, Mexico, Latin Jazz, Cumbia and Bachata, starting with a Flamenco Jam Session with an array of musicians, singers and dancers, followed by Secreto Tropical, Edinburgh’s very own 9-piece Cumbia Latin band, with music rooted in the Amazon Jungle and the Latin American continent, and winding up with late night dancing with Latin DJ Freddie Ramirez. 9pm-3am (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £8/£6 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.

Balerno Village Screen: Silver Lining Playbook (15). Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro star in this film about life not going to plan: after a stint in a psychiatric institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own. 7.30-9.35pm, St Joseph’s Hall, Balerno. Free tickets are available from the Mill Cafe and Balerno Post Office or via eventbrite here. Balerno Village Screen is a community cinema, free to attend and funded by donations. If you can no longer attend after booking, please cancel your ticket to allow someone else to see the film.

Sneaker Shoe Arcade: 9pm-1am, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk.

Jason Webley + A New International. Webley is a Seattle-based troubadour who started as a street performer in 1998 and has built up an international following with his self produced recordings and uninhibited live performances. He has released seven albums and numerous collaborations on his own Eleven Records label, and one of his many side projects is the duo Evelyn Evelyn with Amanda Palmer. He has taken his passionate accordion-driven music to dozens of countries, performing everywhere from the 2014 TED conference to a former Siberian gulag. A New International perform the sounds of street music, carnival, music hall, cabaret, chanson, circus, movies, gypsy, folk + pop. 7.30pm, Henry’s Cellar Bar, 16a Morrison Street. £5 on the door.

Planet Earth Rock & Roll: Jake and Rory back in the Skylark ‘twisting your melon with rare 60s and 70s psychedelia and original tripped out visuals’. 9pm, The Skylark, 241-243 Portobello High Street.

Jazz Live At Canalside: John Burgess Hot Four. ‘Hot and sweet’ jazz from the 20s and 30s, featuring Colin Steele (trumpet) and Ross Milligan (banjo and guitar). 7.30pm (music starts 8.15pm), Canalside Cafe-Bar, Boroughmuir Rugby & Community Sports Club, Meggetland Wynd. Tickets cost £10 and may be purchased from the Canalside Cafe-Bar in person or by calling 07557 680 995 or emailing sinagraham@gmail.com.

Council finances under the microscope

Biffy Clyro to star at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 

First Time Buyers Event

Runnicles in the afternoon

Newington Cemetery map to be unveiled

The council finances for the next four years are under scrutiny at next week’s Finance and Resources Committee meeting. The plan is to use the already agreed transformational programme to make savings. But the council now need to make more savings than previously thought. At the beginning of the year they quoted a figure of £107m to be saved over four years but now that has risen to £126m and they want to save an extra £15m as a contingency.

Read more here.

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Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay have to announce that Biffy Clyro will headline the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2015/16 Concert in the Gardens.

Unique Events, who produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, confirmed that the band will make an exclusive UK appearance this year at the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay event and will be joined by very special guests Idlewild and Honeyblood in a very strong all-Scottish line-up.

Read more here.

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Conductor Donald Runnicles will lead the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in an afternoon concert on 27 September and tickets area available here.

The sound of Mahler is set to fill the Usher Hall  that afternoon from 3:00pm.

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Ian Murray MP will unveil a new sign on Monday which will show a map of a cemetery. The sign has been designed by the Friends of Newington Cemetery, and the Friends Group was formed specially to spruce up the graveyard.

The cemetery will be open on Doors Open Day next weekend.

Read more here

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Hearts have taken Belgian midfielder Arnaud Djoum on trial as Head Coach Robbie Neilson continues to look to add to his squad.

26-year-old Djoum left Polish club Lech Poznan two months ago and, being presently unattached to any club, is available if Neilson thinks he fits the bill. Djoum  is training with the Hearts first team squad at Riccarton.

6ft tall Djoum prefers to play in central midfield but can also operate in defence. His former clubs include Roda JC in the Netherlands and the Turkish club Akhisar Belediyespor. He has represented Belgium at under-19 and under-20 level.

  The trade union has issued a warning to the council that they are in danger of breaking election promises. The Union issued this statement:

As more details emerge today of Edinburgh council plans to cut £141 million over four years, UNISON’s Edinburgh Branch is calling on the council’s ruling capital coalition to stand by the promises of no compulsory redundancies and no privatisation that they were elected upon. 

The figures UNISON released yesterday of £141 million in cuts have been confirmed and while the council claims 2,000 jobs will be lost, UNISON stands by its assessment that 3,000 jobs are at risk. 

Councillors appear to be actively considering officials’ recommendations to ditch the council’s no compulsory redundancy policy. We note the council leader’s statement in the council meeting today that he expects officials to stick to council policies. This leaves UNISON wondering what is the chicken and what is the egg and whether or not the Capital Coalition of Labour and SNP have signalled to officials that compulsory redundancies may be acceptable.

Councillors also appear to be considering privatisation of Facilities Management with alleged savings of £80 million. On the money front that seems far too good to be true. Surely senior officials and councillors will recognise that if something looks too good to be true, it usually is.  

John Stevenson, from UNISON Edirugh branch, said. “Our view is that if this privatisation is being held up as a way of avoiding compulsory redundancies, it is a flawed idea and all we will end up with the triple-whammy of privatisation, compulsory redundancies and ruined services.

The continued drive by senior officials to introduce privatisation despite the council ‘presumption’ against privatisation is deeply worrying. Edinburgh needs to reaffirm its commitment to a public service culture and abandon the privatisation ‘solutions’ that have been so disastrous elsewhere.

UNISON will examine all of the proposals in detail and continue to lobby against compulsory redundancies and privatisation.” 

John Stevenson also said, “UNISON Edinburgh Branch members, in successive Annual General Meetings since 1998, have consistently demanded an industrial action ballot in the event of compulsory redundancies. That is a mandate that gives confidence that they would overwhelmingly vote for action in such a ballot”.

Ian Murray MP has been invited to unveil a new sign mapping Newington Cemetery on Monday.

The sign has been designed and installed by the Friends of Newington Cemetery, with the financial support of the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership and City of Edinburgh Council.

The Friends’ Group, affiliated to The Grange/Prestonfield Community Council, was formed to restore Newington Cemetery to its former glory as an attractive, interesting and tranquil place to visit.

The Edinburgh South MP said:

“The local volunteers who have come together as a Friends group to help improve and maintain the cemetery deserve a huge debt of gratitude for their work.  The cemetery houses the graves of many interesting local people and is also a Commonwealth War Graves site.  Without the active involvement of the Friends group and the Community Council the cemetery would be in a bad state of disrepair.  I would encourage local people to both get involved and, at least, visit the cemetery.”

Volunteers will be available to show people round as part of Doors Open Day, run by the Cockburn Association, on Sunday 27 September, between 1.30 and 4.00 pm.

Tony Harris, OBE, Chair of The Grange/Prestonfield Community Council, said:

“We are very grateful to Ian Murray for the interest he has already shown in our work, and for coming to unveil the sign today. We hope the sign will encourage more people to visit the cemetery, and perhaps inspire them to join our group.” 

PHOTO  from Creative Commons “Newington Cemetery, Edinburgh, typical condition” by Stephencdickson – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons – 

Hordes of blood thirsty zombies are set to invade Holyrood Park in Edinburgh on Saturday 3rd October when the “Zombie Survival run for your life “event comes to the city.

Hundreds of “Survivors” have already signed up to attempt to evade the zombies by following the “Escape Route” that has been designed by the event organisers. Survivors will encounter numerous obstacles designed to evade the zombie hordes, while the zombies will try to ambush the fleeing survivors.

Organisers Freebird Events use some state of the art sound and lighting effects around the course to create a spine chilling experience for the survivors and zombies taking part. Starting as the sun sets the darkness all adds to the highly charged atmosphere for those brave enough to take on the challenge.

Anyone can sign up as a survivor (either as an individual or even better still as part of a team of friends) and try to make it around the Escape Route alive, or they can sign up as a zombie and do the hunting and chasing. Everyone who makes it back alive to the finish hear Holyrood Palace can celebrate at the fantastic Zombie Survival After Party which will boast a fully licenced bar, hot and cold food and great music.

To take part, all participants must pre-register by first going to the event website at http://www.zombiesurvivalrun.co.uk where they will find more details about the Zombie Survival run and an online entry form.

Submitted by Peter Mathieson

The Council’s Finance Convener, Alasdair Rankin admitted today that following reviews of the figures the council has a bigger gap in its revenue budget than earlier believed.

But does that mean more cuts are needed? The council is adamant that the frontline services will be retained wherever possible, so it has to look elsewhere for monetary savings.

The council aim to be a leaner and more agile organisation, but one where there is stability too so that it can continue to offer the services it does from waste management to schools and health and social care.

The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS – Council needs to save £141m from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

A number of reports, to be discussed at next week’s Finance and Resources Committee will propose cost-saving actions across the Council.

These will include:

• Proposals for a 4-year budget framework, which will address an overall shortfall of £126m. This reflects the Council’s £107m savings target, together with additional savings to be made as a result of overspends in Health and Social Care (£10m) and in Property (£9.5m)

• Proposals outlining options for a new Property and Asset Management Strategy to maximise the value of the Council’s extensive property estate, potentially saving £80m over 10 years

• An update on the Council’s Managing Workforce Change Policy, highlighting measures to support employees through the transition, encourage voluntary redundancy as far as possible, highlighting the potential requirement for Councillors to consider compulsory redundancy as a further option in the future, to achieve the required savings. The workforce makes up 60% of the Council budget so it is unrealistic to make the required savings without reducing the numbers currently employed.

• An update on the success of the Council’s Commercial and Procurement Strategy, which has saved the Council £39m over two years

In the past the figure of £107m of savings over five years has been mentioned. Now it appears that the figure may have escalated to £141m, although it does include a contingency figure of £15m to guard against future overspends such as those from this year.

The council’s Health and Social Care section has overspent due to the pressures put on it by an ageing and increasing population. This is not news to anyone living in the city. We have heard about the demography of our city before. What is clear is that the council then had to bring in an outside agency to explain to it where the overspend had come from and how it would manage it in the future. From that it appears that an increased hole in the finances was discovered and now the changes planned will be accelerated.

That said the council is already committed to a transformation programme designed to make substantial savings in the next four years. And this is the difference, as the council is now assessing its financial needs for the next four years rather than just one as it has done before.

The transformation programme will mean that 2000 jobs will go at the council, and while the hope had always been to remove posts with voluntary redundancy packages it is clear that some compulsory redundancy measures may need to be introduced. The Council’s pledge on this will need to be amended.

Other measures such as sales of property and better or different Facilities Management are also being looked at.

The council will open up its public consultation on the budget and how it should either make savings or prioritise spending on 30 September. The papers will be on the council website.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a schoolboy was injured on Comely Bank Road around 1.30pm yesterday afternoon.

There was a disturbance involving a large group of youths, believed to be from a nearby high school, and a male cyclist.

During this altercation a 15-year-old boy, who is not believed to have been part of the group, was injured after being struck to the head with a bike lock as he was walking with friends towards the Raeburn Hotel.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and officers are now conducting enquiries to trace the cyclist who left the scene before police arrived.

The cyclist is described as a white man, 39-42 years old, with a medium build. He had a bald head with triangle-shaped sunburn or a birthmark thereon.

He was wearing glasses, jeans and a pale/grey short-sleeved shirt.

Detective Constable Chris Harding said: “We’re appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this disturbance, or has information which can assist with our enquiries, to come forward.

“In particular, we are keen to trace the cyclist as soon as possible to establish all the circumstances surrounding this incident and I would urge this individual to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Hibernian Ladies players  Chloe Arthur and Heather Richards  have joined the Scotland Women’s squad while Emma Mitchll (Arsenal) has withdrawn through injury.

The pair join team mates Lizzie Arnott and Kirsty Smith in the squad.

The Scots face Norway tonight and manager Anna Signeul believes the match at Firhill tonight will be the perfect preparation for Tuesday’s European Championship qualifying opener in Slovenia.

Scotland are playing the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners for the first time since a 2-2 draw back in 2012. Norway occupy 10th place in the FIFA World Rankings and have lost just once in their past 15 games.

Speaking to the Scottish FA website ahead of the encounter at the home of Partick Thistle, Anna said: “We want fresh players for Tuesday, and we also want to give them game time. I reckon Norway will possibly do the same, since there are not as many friendlies these days. We need to play wisely tomorrow so we have a really good team for Tuesday, that’s the most important thing.”

“I also think he wants to try a few new players before they go to Kazakhstan. Their qualifying campaign kicks-off on Tuesday too, so they’ll be treating this game in a similar way to us.”

“What we must focus on is being very good against Slovenia. To do that, if that means that these players can’t play tomorrow then that’s okay with us.”

Norway come into the match on the back of reaching the last 16 at this summer’s FIFA Women’s World in Canada, where they were knocked out by England.  It will also be the first in charge for new head coach Roger Finjord, an opponent that Anna knows well.
She said: “I’ve known Roger for many years from his time as assistant coach with Norway. I don’t know if he’ll play the same way and with the same system. In the past, Norway have played 4-3-3 with the ability to change to 4-5-1, and sometimes they’ve switched to a 4-4-2. Norwegian teams are tactically very good. “

Scotland squad to face Norway and Slovenia:

Lizzie Arnot (Hibernian)
Chloe Arthur (Hibernian)
Jennifer Beattie (Manchester City)
Frankie Brown (Bristol Academy)
Lana Clelland (UPC Tavagnacco)
Rachel Corsie (Seattle Reign)
Leanne Crichton (Notts County)
Ifeoma Dieke (Vittsjo GIK)
Lisa Evans (FC Bayern Münich)
Gemma Fay (Celtic) (GK)
Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City)
Kim Little (Seattle Reign)
Joanne Love (Glasgow City)
Shannon Lynn (Vittsjo GIK) (GK)
Eilish McSorley (Mallbackens IF)
Christie Murray (Bristol Academy)
Heather Richards (Hibernian)
Jane Ross (Vittsjo GIK)
Leanne Ross (Glasgow City)
Kirsty Smith (Hibernian)
Caroline Weir (Bristol Academy)

Vauxhall Women’s A International Challenge Match
Scotland vs Norway

Thursday 17th September 2015, kick-off 7pm
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow

Edinburgh’s Lord and Lady Provost will brave a cold night at the Zoo on Thursday 24 September in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for local causes.

They took a visit to Penguin’s Rock this week to receive their sleeping bags ahead of the big event. The sleep out will take place outside the Zoo’s historic Mansion House, close to the popular Penguins and Lemur Walkthroughs.

‘The Lady Provost’s Sleep Out at Edinburgh Zoo’ will raise vital funds for Four Square and the Rock Trust to help young people get off the streets and into work. Over 150 people have signed up to take part including teams from Edinburgh companies, members of the British Army and Marketing Edinburgh.

The Lady Provost said she wants people to “open their eyes” to what it is like for young homeless people during the colder months but admits the challenge will be nothing compared to the struggle faced by those who sleep rough every night.

She said: “The event is edging closer and I’m so impressed by Edinburgh’s fundraising efforts. In spite of Edinburgh’s continued growth as a successful and affluent city, homelessness remains a pressing issue. Nobody can truly experience the struggle of homelessness based on one night in the cold, but I hope our eyes can be opened to what it is like to spend a night outside. We’ll be sleeping out in September when the nights get longer and the temperature drops – I hope this shock to the system will emphasise just how difficult this year’s colder months will be for our young homeless people.

The Lord Provost Donald Wilson said: “Elaine is determined to raise awareness of youth homelessness in Edinburgh and this event is an attempt to raise as much money as possible for Four Square and the Rock Trust. These charities are very close to her heart and I hope we can help to make a big difference.”

While the number of people presenting to the City of Edinburgh Council as rough sleepers is the lowest of any Scottish city – having reduced by almost 15 per cent over the last five years – almost 4,000* people were assessed as homeless in the Capital last year. A quarter of those are aged 24 or younger.

Show your support on social media #ZooSleepOut and by making a donation:www.virginmoneygiving.com/SleepOutAtEdinburghZoo

ScotRail today launched an unprecedented nationwide recruitment drive that will create up to 100 new train driver jobs and offer a major boost to rail services throughout Scotland.

The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS Scotrail recruiting 100 new drivers from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

Recruiting trainee train drivers at depots across the country will support ScotRail’s plans to expand timetables and roll out faster, bigger and greener trains.

Drivers are needed at locations including Aberdeen, Ayr, Bathgate, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gourock, Helensburgh, Inverness, Perth, Stirling and Tweedbank.

Phil Verster, ScotRail Alliance managing director, said: “We’re investing in Scotland’s railways by modernising trains, expanding timetables and adding journey options – and recruiting a large group of new drivers is vital to make these improvements possible.

“We are proud to be supporting local communities and the Scottish economy by creating quality jobs that will make a real impact for customers.

“It is an exciting chance for people to embark on an interesting career with great prospects – while also playing an important part in the transformation of Scotland’s railway.”

ScotRail wants to hear from enthusiastic, reliable candidates with excellent attention spans, experience of safety-critical roles and a passion for customer service.

Trainee drivers will be paid £24,559 during their first year of intensive training, gradually increasing to £43,212 following a probationary period.

Mr Verster and Transport Minister Derek Mackay today met some of the company’s existing trainee drivers, who are currently undergoing the rigorous qualification process in Edinburgh.

Mr Mackay said: “The Scottish Government is investing record levels in Scotland’s railways with a £5billion package to upgrade trains, track and services across the country.

“Key investment in infrastructure, such as the recent historic reopening of the Borders Railway and our substantial programme of electrification, are only part of the story.

“The staff who keep our railways running are a key asset and I am delighted to launch this unprecedented, nationwide recruitment drive that will create up to 100 new train driver jobs.

“This recruitment campaign will support the delivery of Scottish jobs in the industry and means that we are able to continue to operate a world-class railway in the future.”

Kevin Lindsay, Scottish secretary of Aslef trade union, said: “Aslef welcomes the announcement of over 100 train driver job on ScotRail.

“This is a great opportunity for all sections of our community to apply to join the railway.

“As a union, we look forwarded to continuing our good working relationship with the Scottish Government and Abellio as we jointly develop and deliver Scotland’s railways.”

Anyone interested in the positions should apply via scotrail.co.uk/careers.

The union UNISON has voiced fears that there will be three times as many jobs lost during Edinburgh Council’s transformation programme as the council had previously advised.

UNISON says that it believes as many as 3,000 jobs – one in every six council staff – will be slashed as the effects of the Transformation Programme and future budget cuts become clear.

“The effect on services and staff will be devastating as up to 15% of council employees could face being forced out of their jobs”, said Amanda Kerr, UNISON branch secretary.

“Losing this amount of staff will decimate the services we provide and the public rely on to the point where they would be unrecognisable.”

Gerry Stovin, service conditions officer, added: “We no longer believe the myth that the Transformation Programme is an efficiency driven exercise but recognise it as ideologically driven and a threat to public services.

“It is now time for the politicians to stand up for the pledges they were elected on and support UNISON in the fight to save public services in Edinburgh for future generations.”

Cllr Alasdair Rankin, Finance Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The Council has been clear about the scale of the financial challenge facing us for years. The city’s population is growing and demand for Council services is higher than ever.

“We need to make very substantial savings over the next four years and we have already put in place a number of key measures to achieve the required efficiencies. The Coalition has delivered £39m worth of savings during the first two years through an improved strategy for buying goods and services and we recently announced a new ICT contract which will save a further £6m a year.

“The Council needs to ensure we continue to deliver quality frontline services as efficiently and effectively as possible. No one ever said this was going to be easy or straightforward but we want to safeguard those services as much as possible. Realistically, to make the necessary savings, we have little option but to consider reducing the number of people who work for the Council. Bearing in mind we are keenly aware that this is about people we will work closely with our staff and the trade unions during this difficult time.

“We are very clear about the size of the challenge and over the coming days we will be outlining our proposed next steps.”

The council’s Finance and Resources Committee is due to meet next Thursday 24 September 2015.

Today the full council meets at the City Chambers and we will be there to bring you live updates as they happen from the floor of the chamber.

There are two new councillors who will be sworn in today following last week’s by-election in Leith Walk.

The hashtag is #edinwebcast. All the council papers are here and you can follow the proceedings on live webcast here.

Joan Eardley: Another Look. Join Stellar Quines and Heroica Theatre Company’s to hear about their work in progress, a play on the life and work of Joan Eardley RA (1921-63), whose painting career was dedicated to portraits of Glasgow street urchins and land and seascapes of Catterline. The hour will include a Q&A session with the play’s writer and director. Heroica Theatre Company champions the achievements of maverick women; ‘The experience of a Heroica production is unique’. 5-6pm, Farmer Suite, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free but places are limited and booking is required: tickets may be obtained from the Information Desk in the Gardens Entrance of the Scottish National Gallery or by calling 0131 624 6560.

National Library of Scotland Map Images Website and Digital Mapping: the map images website includes over 50,000 zoomable images of maps, primarily relating to Scotland over the last four centuries. This workshop in the NLS IT training suite will help you to make best use of the map images website and the related modern digital map resources available at NLS. 2pm, Maps Reading Room, 159 Causewayside. Please book by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here.

Cameo Big Scream: screenings exclusively for parents/carers and their babies under the age of one year. Today’s film is The Misfits (PG) starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift, directed by John Huston and written by Arthur Miller. 10.30am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here.

Coffee morning: coffee, tea, homebaking and chat. 10.30am-12 noon, Morningside United Church (small hall via side entrance), 15 Chamberlain Road, Holy Corner. All welcome.

Sing and Sign for Babies: a gentle class for babies aged approximately 2-6 months, aiming to build the foundations for good communication. The class is relaxed, gives you lots of face to face time – and cuddle time – with your baby, and is the place to begin your baby signing journey. 2-2.30pm, Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place. Please book your free introductory session here; a block of 9-10 sessions normally costs £50 and classes are currently offered in Stockbridge, Portobello and Marchmont. If you have any questions about today’s session please call the library on 0131 529 5665. This event is part of Stockfest 2015.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, the global financial system, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, food chains and much more. Today’s film is Shield and Spear (15+), a ‘beautiful, spirited and challenging art-doc…charting the interventions of a whole new generation of black and white South African activist-artists tackling issues of race, human rights and equality through music, photography and dialogue. Plus short: Dis/connect. Novelist and Subversive Festival founder Dr Igor Stiks will join this screening. 8.30pm Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online here; prices vary.

Scottish Art in the Age of Change: 1945-2000. The course of Scottish art 1945-2000 was one of continuous achievement. Bill Hare (Honorary Teaching Fellow in Scottish Art, University of Edinburgh) will look at some of Scotland’s most renowned artists that this period produced, from Alan Davie, Joan Eardley and Eduardo Paolozzi, through Ian Hamilton Finlay and the Boyle Family to Douglas Gordon and Alison Watt; his illustrated talk will trace the development of this most remarkable era from post-war to devolved Scotland. 10.30am, Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate. Tickets cost £5/£3.50 and must be purchased in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.

LGBT Social Circle: a social group for people with learning difficulties or learning disabilities to meet other people, have fun and discuss sexuality and gender identity. Today’s theme is Feeling Good. 2-4pm, Lifecare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street, Stockbridge. For more information please contact George Burrows on 0131 652 3281 or email george@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Easel Sketching in the Gallery – September: led by artist Damian Callan. A different subject each month, sometimes with a model. All materials supplied. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery (main floor), The Mound. Free: no booking required. Also at same times on Friday 18th September.

Live Music Now: Andrew Waite and Seth Tinsley. Andrew and Seth have been performing together for 10 years. An accordion and guitar duo, their music explores a vast array of traditional and contemporary folk styles, played with a virtuosity and joyfulness that has captivated audiences across the UK. In this concert, Andrew and Seth perform a mixture of traditional and self-penned songs and tunes. 6-6.30pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free.

Odeon Silver Cinema: if you are 55+ these special screenings cost you only £3 (including tea and biscuits before the show). Today’s films are Far From the Madding Crowd (12A) at 11am (doors open 10.15am) and A Royal Night Out (12A) at 2pm. Available at Odeons Lothian Road and Fort Kinnaird; please contact cinemas for full details and to book.

Scotland’s Churches Trust: Professor John Hume, former Chief Inspector for Historic Scotland and a leading expert in Scottish church architecture, will talk on 1,000 Years of Scottish Churches. 7.30pm (doors open 6.30pm), St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian Road. Free admission; refreshments will be served before the lecture,which will last approximately 40 minutes and be followed by a Q & A session.

Cafe Voices: East Meets West. Storytellers Mio Shapley and Ken Shapley will celebrate the differences and similarities between two sides of our world through story, song and music, plus an open-floor section for storytellers to tell their own tales. 7pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street. Tickets cost £5 and may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 556 9579 or online.

Waterstones Presents Catherine Simpson: Truestory. The Edinburgh-based author launches her debut novel, a ‘blackly comic, heart-breaking and heart-warming’ tale of a woman struggling to raise her Aspergic son on a failing and isolated farm that he refuses to leave. ‘Truestory looks at what happens when sacrifice slithers towards martyrdom’; it was included in the Scottish Book Trust’s 21 Scottish Novels to Look Forward to in 2015. 6pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. Free tickets may be obtained from the shop or by calling 0131 226 2666.

Ceol Cholasa: your first chance to get out of the city this weekend is a long trip, so start packing… Ceol Cholasa is the tiny Isle of Colonsay’s 8th music festival, and this year it will feature Blazin Fiddles, Breabach, The Mischa MacPherson Trio, Jenn Butterworth & Laura-Beth Salter, Canach, Kris Drever & Ian Carr, Ross Hull & Cameron Grant, plus local acts, workshops and a Saturday night ceilidh. For more information, including tickets, transport advice and accommodation options, please visit the Isle of Colonsay’s website here. Ends Sunday 20th September.

Nothing Ever Happens Here Presents Book Group + Quarterbacks: Scottish four-piece ‘almost rock band’ Book Group perform story-driven songs about friends, escaping the city, and the failures of technology. Quarterbacks from New Paltz, NY are on a UK tour and define their genre as ‘twee punk’. For over 18s only. 8pm-late, The Dissection Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £10 and may be purchased from the Summerhall Box Office, in person, by calling 0131 560 1580 or online here.

The Rocky Horror Show LIVE!

Sheraton Edinburgh is very Grand

Volunteering opportunities

Knitting gurus coming to Edinburgh

Margiotta relaunching in Polwarth

Tonight, for one night only, get along to the Cameo to watch the Rocky Horror Show LIVE! Tickets here.

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The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh has been recognised as one of the top ten Sheratons in the world by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Sheraton Grand is a new premier tier that celebrates exceptional Sheraton hotels and resorts for their enticing destinations, distinguished designs and excellence in service and guest experiences.

Now to find a reason to stay there overnight….

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Got time on your hands? Then have a look at the Changeworks website to find out how you can learn new skills and make a difference to the community and the environment while volunteering.

Click here to visit their website to see what opportunities they can offer.

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Are you a mad keen knitter? Then you might be interested in this workshop which is being hosted by McAree Brothers in Howe Street on Friday 9 October. They have invited the rock stars of the knitting world Arne and Carlos to come to their shop and meet Edinburgh knitters anytime after 5pm. The duo were featured on Kirsty Allsop’s show on TV last Christmas.

More details here.

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Dads Rock is a great Edinburgh-based charity which aims to help dads and now it is looking for young dads especially to join in their Build a Bike project.

We met David Marshall from Dads Rock to find out more:

The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS – Dads Rock from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

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A short explanation of the processes involved in buying your new home

by Mary McQueen Partner in  McQueen Legal who are organising an open house at their office in Bruntsfield on Saturday 19 September from 10am to 1pm when they hope you will drop in to get some free advice from their solicitors and property professionals (and cake!) 

More details about the First Time Buyers’ Event you would be mad to miss are here. 

It can be a bit daunting buying your first house (or any house!). The whole process can be broken down into these four simple steps:

Arranging a Mortgage

This is the first step to getting your hands on your first home.  First you may need to save for a deposit.

Then you need to take advice from an Independent Financial Adviser who deals with the whole of the mortgage market.  They are truly independent of any particular lender and can advise what is best for YOU!

Many solicitors will either be independent advisers themselves or will have advisers they can recommend to you.  You need to be fairly sure that you can afford the mortgage you would like before you proceed to put in an offer for the property.

Mortgages can take many different forms: Fixed Rate or a Variable Rate tracking Bank Base Rates.  Some are interest only, but most are Capital and Interest which means that, at the end of your 25 year mortgage, your loan has been repaid and you are mortgage free.

This does not mean that you have to stay in the same house for the whole 25 years but it does mean that you need to be able to afford to repay the sum you borrow over the agreed period.  Once you have an Agreement in Principle or a Mortgage Promise, you can start to look for your new front door.

Choosing a Solicitor

The best way to find a good solicitor to ask around your friends, family or neighbours about who they would recommend to you.  Then go online and do searches for local solicitors and see if any of them have been recommended by others.

Some firms publish on their websites testimonials from their existing clients.  Once you decide upon who to approach, telephone the chosen firms and chat through with them what you propose to do.

The right firm for you will be a firm which immediately offers to give you a quote of the likely costs for your purchase and who will take an interest in what you are looking to buy.  Some firms maintain lists of potential purchasers and what type of property they wish to purchase and will then contact you to let you know if a suitable property comes on to their books.

My own firm has recently been Mystery Shopped and the report we received back said that our “shopper” was very impressed with the friendly attitude of the member of staff who spoke to them and that she gave them good advice.  This is exactly the type of firm you need to instruct – one which is proactive, efficient and also friendly and in whom you think you can have confidence.

Putting in the offer

A good solicitor will give you advice on how much you should offer to pay for a property as they will have knowledge of the market and what prices are being achieved in each area.

They will advise you whether to go straight to an offer if the property is on the market at a Fixed Price or whether to simply ‘note interest’ if the property is Offers Over or Offers Around a certain price.

Once you know how many other “notes of interest” there are, your solicitor will advise you whether to offer before a closing date or whether to wait and put your best offer in at that time.

Your solicitor should be trying to get the property for you at the best possible price.  They will recommend that, if you have not already done so, you should obtain and carefully read the Home Report.

Many solicitors advise that you should also obtain your own survey report as Home Reports do not always tell the whole story, but this will depend on what information is available in the Home Report.  Some lenders might require a separate survey report too.

The conveyancing process

Once you have been informed that your offer for a house has been accepted, you will be asked to say that you are satisfied with your survey report or with the Home Report and only then will the conveyancing process commence.

A good solicitor will keep you informed on progress with their work. They will look at the titles and will keep in touch with you on the terms of these and ‘the missives’ which make up the contract between you and the seller.

Missives are not signed by you – they are signed by your solicitor on your behalf.

During this time, you should, in conjunction with your chosen financial adviser, chase along the provision by your lenders of your offer of loan.

Only when your offer of loan has been received will your solicitor be happy to recommend that you finalise or ‘conclude’ missives.

Once this point is reached, you cannot withdraw from the purchase without paying substantial damages to the seller, so you need to be very sure that you can find the finance to pay for the property.

You will then be asked to sign a ‘Standard Security’ which is the mortgage deed.  Shortly before settlement which is when you get your keys, you will be asked to give your solicitor your deposit monies.  The lender will send the loan monies to your solicitor who will then pay over the price of the property on your behalf.

Then you can organise the house warming……

The City of Edinburgh Council has announced it has put Atria Edinburgh, its landmark, award-winning office development in the heart of the Exchange district, on the market for sale.  JLL and Montagu Evans have been appointed as selling agents.

Our photograph shows Edinburgh based author Alexander McCall Smith unveiling his words carved into the wall of the development.

Completed in 2013, Atria was developed and funded by the City of Edinburgh Council with part-funding from Scottish Enterprise.  Split between two buildings, Atria One and Atria Two, it collectively comprises almost 200,000 sq ft of Grade A office and retail accommodation.

It is one of the most sustainable developments in Edinburgh with both buildings achieving BREEAM “Excellent” and EPC B+ ratings.  It also benefits from having green sedum roofs, low E glass glazing, energy efficient lifts, electric car charging spaces and an abundance of cycle spaces.

At the time, Atria was the largest speculative office development over 100,000 sq ft outside of central London and satisfied the need for new Grade A office space in central Edinburgh.

Councillor Frank Ross, Convener of the Economy Committee, the City of Edinburgh Council, said:  “Atria Edinburgh is an extremely successful development for the city. It was originally built to cross-subsidise the cost of an expansion to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) to ensure it continues to compete on an international stage.

“The innovative funding package was intentionally designed to facilitate the lettings and eventual sale of Atria’s office and retail space on completion of the development.  Based on the economic conditions being right to achieve the best possible return for our investment, the Council is putting Atria up for sale.

“Atria provides much needed Grade A office space for Edinburgh and gives the city a competitive advantage in attracting new, and retaining existing businesses. This is reflected in the extremely impressive tenant list.”

Atria Edinburgh is home to a variety of high quality tenants including PwC, Brewin Dolphin, Aon, IBM, the UK Green Investment Bank, the Law Society of Scotland, Alliance Trust, Lothian Pension Fund and the EICC.  Retail occupiers include Co-operative Food and Café Klaris.  On average, the income is secured for in excess of 15 years.

Ross Burnett, partner at Montagu Evans, commented:  “Atria is a fantastic development and has excellent sustainability and design credentials.  We believe this is the highest profile investment to come to the market in a long time.”

Colin Finlayson, director at JLL, added:  “The sale of Atria represents a rare opportunity to purchase a best-in-class development and it comes at a time when investor demand is strong from both the UK and overseas.  We are confident we will be able to generate significant interest.”

“This is a fabulous exhibition,” says Christopher Baker who is the Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, “but it is being staged at the National Gallery of Scotland as it is just so big. There are three or four hundred works in it.”

Bailey, the world-famous photographer so well-known that he can be referred to only by his surname, selected the photos and artefacts himself and came to Edinburgh to place them all in the exact spot that he wanted to show them. He was sent a scale model of the layout of the Gallery and its rooms and then spent six days in Edinburgh overseeing the hanging of each and every piece.

The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS Bailey’s Stardust from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

The person he has photographed most (apart from his own family) is Mick Jagger and he appears over and over in Bailey’s work. Bailey is a most prolific photographer, and even now takes many many photos so he had many to choose from. The Stardust exhibition has a certain historic element in it with photos from the Sixties, but also more recent photos taken abroad.

There is definitely something here for everyone and you would be well advised to spend an hour or two at the National Gallery sometime soon.

Photos reproduced here with kind permission of David Baileybailey

Firefighters  attended reports of a fire a tenement block in Edinburgh’s Hope Park Crescent at just after 11am this morning.

Appliances from Tollcross, Marionville and MacDonald Road were sent to the scene following reports of a fire in a stairwell.

Firefighters carried out a search of the block and rescued four people, two using a hydraulic rescue platform from a third floor window and two who were walked out by firefighters in breathing apparatus.

Three people were seen by paramedics at the scene and discharged and one female was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

All other persons were accounted for and the fire was extinguished by crews using a high pressure hose reel jet. Firefighters then ventilated the building.

The fire involved a mattress which was alight in the stairwell.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Station Manager David Dourley, who was Incident Commander at the scene said: “We would urge people not to leave rubbish or other items in common stairwells.

“Discarded items of furniture and rubbish can produce large amounts of toxic smoke and also impede access for emergency responders.

“You can reduce the risk of fire for yourself and your neighbours by keeping common stairs clear and free from obstruction and making sure main doors are kept locked.  Steps should be taken to ensure the door entry/intercom system is working.

“I would like to stress the importance of having a working smoke alarm. Every household should have working smoke alarm and test them every week.

“We provide free home fire safety visits and fit smoke alarms where required.  If you know someone who can benefit from our service, why not get them to give us a call? It is important that you know what to do if a fire does occur in the stairwell and how to keep safe. We can advise on this as part of the visit.”

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called to a fire in Hope Park Crescent this morning around 11 o’clock.

Appliances from Tollcross, Marionville and MacDonald Road were sent to the scene following reports of a fire in a stairwell.

Firefighters carried out a search of the block and rescued the four people, two using a hydraulic rescue platform from a third floor window and two who were walked out by firefighters in breathing apparatus.

Three people were seen by paramedics at the scene and discharged and one female was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

All other people were accounted for and the fire was extinguished by crews using a high pressure hose reel jet. Firefighters then ventilated the building and are currently still at the scene.

The fire involved a mattress which was alight in the stairwell.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have asked us to remind Edinburgh residents to keep their stairwells clear.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Station Manager David Dourlay, who is Incident Commander at the scene said: “We would urge people not to leave rubbish or other items in common stairwells.

“Discarded items of furniture and rubbish can produce large amounts of toxic smoke and also impede access for emergency responders.

“You can reduce the risk of fire for yourself and your neighbours by keeping common stairs clear and free from obstruction and making sure main doors are kept locked.  Steps should be taken to ensure the door entry/intercom system is working.

“I would like to stress the importance of having a working smoke alarm. Every household should have working smoke alarm and test them every week.

“We provide free home fire safety visits and fit smoke alarms where required.  If you know someone who can benefit from our service, why not get them to give us a call? It is important that you know what to do if a fire does occur in the stairwell and how to keep safe. We can advise on this as part of the visit.”

If you or someone you know could benefit from a visit, please  join Scotland’s fight against fire and request a visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999, or by contacting their local fire station.

A wide range of tips on how to keep yourself and your home safe from fire are available on the SFRS website: www.firescotland.gov.uk

Brian Docherty, Chairman of the Scottish Police Federation wants to see police officers having access to tasers in every operational vehicle in Scotland.

His call follows recent  reports of a female officer being knocked unconscious during an arrest and also two officers being attacked outside their own station by a gang of teenagers.

He said, “The levels of assaults on police officers are far too high.  Too often charges of assaulting the police are dropped or plea bargained away.  The sentences passed are clearly not acting as a deterrent.

Beyond that we have to ensure that self- protection training and equipment are good quality and kept up to date.  Over the years we have introduced improved handcuffs, batons and CS spray.  Beyond that we would like to see the wider deployment of tazers so that they are kept in every operational police vehicle.

The principal aim of the police is to protect the public.  An attack on a police officer is an attack on society.  To ensure the police can protect the public the courts and other authorities need to protect the police.”

Help is at hand for you if you are finding Freshers’ Week and the first few weeks of university life just too much to handle.

It is a big leap from school to university life no matter whether you are still living at home or have moved into your sparkly new student accommodation.

As new students from all over the UK start university for the first time, Samaritans is reminding those who feel like a ‘Fresher out of water’ that its volunteers are available any time of day or night to listen if they are struggling to cope.

You can speak, in confidence, to a listening volunteer by telephone, text or email, or by visiting a local branch. Above all, [tweet_box design=”default”]Samaritans wants all Freshers to know that if they are struggling, for whatever reason, they do not have to face their problems alone.[/tweet_box]  

Nicola Gee, ex-student and now Samaritans volunteer, struggled with the way that she felt while at university and said: “I remember asking myself why I was so down at university and then punishing myself for the way I felt. I loved my course but I had withdrawn totally and compared myself negatively to my peers who seemed to be having the time of their lives.

“It was Samaritans who helped me put together a support plan which has been essential to me managing episodes of depression ever since. I wish I had called them sooner, when you are confused by the way you feel having someone to listen to you and work through your problems has a hugely positive effect.”

A survey released by Samaritans in July 2015 revealed that the majority of young people feared admitting that they were struggling with life. More than half (52.3%) of 16-24 year-olds in the UK felt there was a a stigma around admitting that you’re struggling to cope with something. Yet, two-fifths (40.9%) say they sometimes felt overwhelmed by their problems.* Young adults are the least likely to want to burden others with their problems and the most likely to feel ‘embarrassed’ or ‘weak’ if they do, the survey found. A fifth (20.5%) feared they’ll be seen as ‘weird’.

Elsewhere, the survey also revealed that many young people had strong listening skills, with 45.5% saying that people went to them with their problems. Samaritans are calling on Freshers to utilise these listening skills and watch out for friends who may be struggling with the way that they are feeling.

James Jopling, Executive Director for Scotland, said: “University life is often portrayed as a wild, fun journey of self-discovery.  Whilst that can be the case for some, the reality is that moving away from home, making new friends, managing a new workload and financial pressures can be a struggle for many young people.

“25 years ago I moved 450 miles from South London to the University of Stirling and can remember only too well the initial isolation and worry this caused me.  I’ve made Scotland my home now but knowing Samaritans are always there might help others who are now making this huge life change.

“That’s why Samaritans are making an urgent plea to new students to remember that help is always at hand. We know that having a listening ear when times get tough helps people work through their problems. If you, or anybody you know, is struggling to cope, for whatever reason, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can tell us anything, it stays between us.”

Call Samaritans on: 08457 90 90 90 (calls will cost 2p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge)

Email jo@samaritans.org

Text 07725 90 90 90

Visit www.samaritans.org to find details of the nearest branch.

Samaritans offers round-the-clock support for anyone who is struggling, whoever they are, however they are feeling, and whatever life has done to them.

Take One Action! Film Festival starts today: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, food chains and much more. Today’s opening event is free; filmmakers, organisers and changemakers will provide an overview of this year’s Festival with exclusive short films and live music. 6.45pm. Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets are required and may be obtained online here.  The launch will be followed at 8.20pm by The Price We Pay (12+), an incendiary documentary examining the UK and global financial system and arguing that the inheritance of generations of entrepreneurs and workers has been appropriated by a tiny global elite. Plus short: Iron Sky. After the film there will be a discussion with Alvin Mosioma (Tax Justice Network – Africa), Chris Hegarty (Christian Aid) and Jamie Livingstone (Oxfam Scotland). Tickets for The Price We Pay are available from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online here; prices vary.

Baby and Me: a new book group that you can bring your baby to! Relax with your baby, meet other parents, chat, discuss one of the ‘Quick Reads’ collection and find out about books for your child. 11am-12 noon, then fortnightly at the same time, Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road. All welcome. For more information please speak to the library staff or email craigmillar.library@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Conversation Cafe: if English is your second language and you would like to meet new people and find out more about life in Edinburgh, your local services and Scottish culture, come along to the cafe and chat with people from around the world. These meetings facilitated by a TEFL volunteer and a creche can be provided on request. 12.30-2pm today and every Wednesday, Tynecastle Community Wing, 17-19 McLeod Street. For more information please contact Marzena or Maysoon on 0131 337 1376 or email marzena@healthallround.org.uk or maysoon@healthallround.org.uk.

National Library of Scotland Guided Tour: a tour of the building and introduction to the Library’s collections and history. The tour will last approximately 45 minutes. 10.30am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is essential as places are limited; please call 0131 623 3734 or book online here. Please let NLS know if you have special access requirements.

Edinburgh Napier University Campus Tours: an opportunity to see the university in action. Student Ambassadors will guide you around your chosen campus, show you the facilities on offer and give you an insight into life as an Edinburgh Napier student, with the chance for you to ask questions as you go along. There are six academic Schools across 3 main campuses, each of which will be open today, so when selecting which campus you’d like to visit please make sure you select the correct one for your chosen course. Tours will last approximately one hour. 2pm, Merchiston Campus, 10 Colinton Road, Craiglockhart Campus, Glenlockhart Road and Sighthill Campus, Sighthill Court, Edinburgh Napier University. Please register for your tour online here.

Bailey’s Stardust Visually Impaired Tour and Workshop: a free descriptive tour and practical workshop for the visually impaired. 10am-3.30pm, meet at back door of Royal Scottish Academy building, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Booking is required: please contact the Information Desk on 0131 624 6560.

Nine Valiant Academicals: the Victoria Cross…the most exclusive military decoration in the world. Stockbridge’s own Edinburgh Academy has produced nine great heroes, each awarded the VC – but who were these ‘Nine Valiant Academicals’? How did they win the world’s top military decoration? Stockbridge-based military history author Ricky D. Phillips leads us on a journey to discover their stories. Wine will be served. 6.30-7.30pm, Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place. Please book your free place by calling the library on 0131 529 5665 or emailing stockbridge.library@edinburgh.gov.uk. This event is part of Stockfest 2015.

Chatterbooks: if you like books and reading, come along to this group and meet new friends, chat about books and join in games and competitions. For ages 8-12. 3.45-4.45pm, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. For more information please ask at the counter, call 0131 529 5617 or email Mohammed.boussabou@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Morningside Community Council: open meeting preceded by a confidential Police Surgery. The agenda items will include the current consultation on schools in South Edinburgh. 7.30pm (Police Surgery from 7pm), The Open Door, 420 Morningside Road. All local residents and traders welcome. If you have an issue that you would like to raise, please let the secretary know in advance: contact details may be found here.

Literary Dundee 2015 Programme Launch: special guests, wine, and book love! 6.30pm, Looking Glass Books, Simpson’s Loan, Quartermile. Free; please RSVP to literarydundee@dundee.ac.uk. Literary Dundee is a cultural organisation for book events and projects. It supports the literary community in Dundee and is part of the University of Dundee.

Gasland: when Josh Fox receives a $100,000 offer from a natural gas company interested in exploring his land in Pennsylvania’s Delaware River Basin, he decides to do his own research on drilling and the process known as fracking. Josh sets out to interview those who live near drilling sites, and his findings are frightening — their wells contaminated, residents can actually set their tap water on fire. Visits to sites in Colorado, Wyoming and Texas yield similar horrific findings. There will also be a screening of Our Forth’s short film about underground coal gasification, followed by discussion. 8.30pm, The Skylark, 241-243 Portobello High Street. Free entry. Organised by Porty & Craigmillar Greens. For more information please contact portobello-craigmillar@edinburghgreens.org.uk.

Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council: all members of the community are welcome to attend and to participate. 7pm, Stockbridge Parish Church, Saxe Coburg Street. The community council may be contacted via Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place, or its own website here.

LGBT: Bi & Beyond Edinburgh. A fortnightly social gathering for people who identify as bisexual and non-monosexual. With organised social activities and refreshments provided, whatever your label, or lack of label, we welcome you. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact biandbeyondedinburgh@gmail.com.

Jamie Oehlers Quartet: one of Australia’s leading jazz artists, saxophonist Jamie Oehlers has won the World Saxophone Competition, Australian Jazz Artist of the Year and multiple Jazz Release of the Year awards, and has performed with Charlie Haden, Eric Harland, Ari Hoenig, and Reuben Rogers. He’s on a UK tour to promote his new CD ‘The Burden of Memory’, appearing at The Jazz Bar for two nights with Oz colleague Tal Cohen (piano) and locals Euan Burton (bass) and Doug Hough (drums). 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £7/£5 on the door: please note this venue is cash only. Also at same time on Thursday 18th September.

Edinburgh wave energy company teams up with Irish University

Rabbie’s gets the Royal seal of approval!

New waste plant given go-ahead at Millerhill

Apply now for a share of the Coop Local Fund

New term at Edinburgh Drawing School 

One of the world’s leading wave energy firms has teamed up with a top Irish university to accelerate the development of a commercial wave energy technology.

Edinburgh-based Aquamarine Power and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM) have together secured an €800,000 (£580,000) EU Horizon 2020 grant to improve the performance of Aquamarine Power’s Oyster wave energy converter. The company has already built and operated two full-scale Oyster machines at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.

The new Brussels-backed programme – called INNOWAVE – will enable three PhD researchers to explore ways to optimise the energy capture and economic performance of Oyster. As part of the three-year programme, each researcher will split their time between Aquamarine Power and NUIM’s Centre for Ocean Energy Research in County Kildare, west of Dublin.

Read more here

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Rabbie’s Small Group Tours has been given a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The company was presented with the Queen’s Award for International Trade at a ceremony today in recognition of outstanding overseas sales growth over the past three years.

Read more here

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Midlothian Council unanimously approved planning permission to FCC Environment (UK) Ltd for the construction of a waste recycling and combined heat and power plant on former railway marshalling yards at Millerhill in Midlothian.

FCC Medio Ambiente SA was appointed preferred bidder in December 2014 for the contract to design, build, finance and operate facilities to treat and recover value from all the waste collected by both The City of Edinburgh and Midlothian Councils that currently goes directly to landfill.

This 25-year contract will involve the thermal treatment of up to 135,000 tonnes of mixed waste annually to produce electricity for the National Grid and heat suitable for a district heating scheme, with less than 5% of all waste going to landfill in line with Scottish Government targets.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Environment Convener for City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This decision takes us a step closer to our goal of achieving the highest possible public participation in recycling while having dedicated, competitively priced facilities that will use all the remaining waste that cannot be readily recovered as a valuable resource.” 

“In combination with the food waste treatment plant which is nearing completion, these facilities will boost our recycling rate, guarantee we would meet our landfill diversion targets and make a significant contribution towards Scotland’s renewable energy targets.”     

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Good causes across Scotland are set to “bag” a funding boost of more than £750,000 as The Co-operative today launches its Local Fund to share the money raised through carrier bag charges and sales in its food stores.

The community retailer is calling on local causes or community groups in Scotland interested in “carrying” away a share of the Co-op Local Fund to apply online by Wednesday, 7 October.

It is envisaged that approaching 1,000 organisations and groups across Scotland will receive grants of between £200 and £2,500 from The Co-op Local Fund to make a difference in their community.

In addition to the 5p minimum charge on single-use bags, The Co-op has also pledged to go further and top-up the fund with proceeds from its entire range of carriers, including sales of its bags-for-life and its new woven reusable shopping bags.

Applications can be made until midnight on Wednesday, 7 October. Then, between 16 November and 11 December, the community retailer will give its one million members in Scotland a chance to vote and have a say, from a shortlist of organisations, on how the fund will benefit local communities.

John McNeill, Divisional Managing Director for The Co-operative Food in Scotland, said: 

“The Co-operative is a community retailer with a strong heritage and commitment to the environment and to supporting its local communities.

“We are asking the Scottish public to nominate those causes that they care about and would like to see supported through The Co-op Local Fund. The Co-operative’s one million members in Scotland will then have a unique opportunity to vote and say how the money should be shared.

“The Co-op shares the aspiration of reducing the number of single-use carrier bags in use. It is also encouraging shoppers to further reduce their reliance on single-use carriers by donating proceeds from its reusable bags to good causes too. The money raised will enable organisations across Scotland to make a difference in their community – together, we will reduce, reuse, recycle, and reinvest in our communities.”

For further information or to make an application visit www.co-oplocalfund.co.uk

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Still some places left at The Edinburgh Drawing School Ltd where the new term starts on Monday.

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A rare painting by one of the leading French artists of the 17^th century, which has recently been acquired by the Scottish National Gallery, is to be unveiled this week. Although A Classical Landscape with Judah and Tamar by Pierre Patel (1605-76) has been in a Scottish private collection since the mid-nineteenth century it has been shown in public on only one previous occasion.  This outstanding landscape has now been allocated to the Gallery through the Government’s Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) scheme, and is on display at the Gallery from today.

Like his close contemporary Claude Lorrain (1604/5?-82), Pierre Patel is celebrated for his majestic landscapes, which often feature the picturesque ruins of classical architecture and are populated by figures drawn from biblical and mythological narratives. A Classical Landscape with Judah and Tamar, which was painted in the early 1650s, is highly representative of Patel’s work; on the left is a ruined, overgrown temple, its fine columns and entablature painted with a precision and sharpness that is a particular mark of the artist’s style.

The two figures that meet in the middle foreground have been identified as Judah and Tamar, whose story is told in the Book of Genesis and who are recorded in St Matthew’s Gospel as among the ancestors of Christ.

The scene is infused with a soft, Italianate light, despite the fact that Patel never followed Claude in travelling to Italy, and spent his artistic career in Paris, where he was the leading landscape painter at work in the city.  Little is known of the artist’s life and A Classical Landscape with Judah and Tamar is one of only around 120 works that can be attributed to him.

Patel, like Claude, was much admired in Britain in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and there are examples of his work by him in the collections of the National Gallery in London, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

Speaking of the acquisition, Michael Clarke, Director of the Scottish National Gallery, said, “French seventeenth-century art is still under-represented in the national collection, so this allocation through the AIL scheme of a rare and beautiful classical landscape by Patel is most welcome. It joins our major paintings by Claude Lorrain, Nicolas Poussin and Gaspard Dughet from this period and we hope to add many more such masterpieces in the future.”

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop added, “The Acceptance in Lieu scheme allows the Scottish Government to accept important works of art into public ownership on behalf of Scotland’s museum, gallery and archive collections. With up to 10 items allocated to Scotland each year, it is an excellent way to enrich the range of internationally renowned paintings and artefacts that are available for everyone in Scotland to enjoy. I was very pleased to be given the opportunity to allocate the Pierre Patel painting to the National Galleries of Scotland. It’s an important and valuable acquisition and one which I hope gives great joy to the Galleries’ many thousands of visitors.”

The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh the Rt Hon Donald Wilson was in the company of Ben Collins, formerly known as the BBC’s The Stig at the Ingliston Revival last weekend.

The Lord Provost opened the inaugural Ingliston Revival at the weekend before taking a seat in The Stig’s Porsche for a few thrilling laps.

It seems that it was an exciting track experience. The Lord Provost said: “It has been a great honour. I couldn’t help but think of all the amazing things I get to do as Lord Provost.

“It’s good for the city having events like this but before I step in another supercar, I’ll have to wait for my stomach to stop churning!”

One of the world’s leading wave energy firms has teamed up with a top Irish university to accelerate the development of a commercial wave energy technology.

Edinburgh-based Aquamarine Power and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM) have together secured an €800,000 (£580,000) EU Horizon 2020 grant to improve the performance of Aquamarine Power’s Oyster wave energy converter. The company has already built and operated two full-scale Oyster machines at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.

The new Brussels-backed programme – called INNOWAVE – will enable three PhD researchers to explore ways of optimising the energy capture and economic performance of Oyster. As part of the three-year programme, each researcher will split their time between Aquamarine Power and NUIM’s Centre for Ocean Energy Research in County Kildare, west of Dublin.

The three PhD researchers will focus on two areas. One project will look at all aspects of Oyster design from an economic perspective – measured over the lifetime of a wave energy project. The other two will look at the development and implementation of control systems applicable to shore-based and offshore power take off systems.

Commenting on the award, Aquamarine Power Chief Executive Officer Paddy O’Kane said:  “Aquamarine Power’s aim is to become the world’s leading supplier of utility-scale wave farm power stations. With the survivability and performance potential of our Oyster wave technology now largely proven following four years of continuous deployment at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney we are significantly advanced towards that goal. This collaboration with NUIM will now help us focus on driving down costs and further improving performance.

“We have been working informally and sharing our experience with NUIM for a number of years. We believe their research centre and team are at the very forefront of innovation in wave energy device optimisation and control. We very much look forward to working with them on this exciting new research programme with very clear academic and commercial goals – to significantly advance the efficiency and economic performance of future Oyster wave farm power stations,” O’Kane concludes.

Commenting on the project, Professor John Ringwood, Maynooth University said:

“This is a very exciting project which has the potential to greatly advance the field of wave energy and progress its development as a commercially viable energy source. It’s a great example of academia and industry collaborating to progress research which can have a monumental impact energy provision for future generations. Marine energy has enormous potential as an environmentally friendly and cost effective source of power. We look forward to working with our partners in Scotland in making a significant contribution to the evolution of wave energy research.”

Lindsay Roberts, Senior Policy Manager for industry body Scottish Renewables said:

“Scotland leads the world in the development of wave energy devices, and it’s fantastic to see that the European Union’s commitment to the technology remains strong. Aquamarine Power’s Oyster has generated some great results from its testing to date, and further work on power take-off will help ensure that it remains on course for commercialisation.”

Today’s award follows the recent announcement of £2million funding from Wave Energy Scotland to Aquamarine Power, Bosch Rexroth and Carnegie Wave Energy to complete testing of their scale prototype and deliver the design and specification for a full-scale prototype WavePOD offshore power take off system.

The funding for INNOWAVE was awarded as part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 fund, the largest EU Research and Innovation programme with nearly €80 billion of funding, under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 676061.