Development Management Sub Committee meets today – Edinburgh Napier Degree Show – Lost cat – Charity golf competition – EdinburghReportage

It appears that the Kyloe cow will be no more. When the council’s Development Management Sub-Committee meets later this morning they are set to reject the retrospective planning application for the cow ‘sculpture’ which is suspended from the outer facade of the building, in spite of support for the cow to stay where it is.

A petition of almost 3000 signatures has done nothing to convince the planners that the cow is much loved and that people would like to see it remain in situ. The planners are upholding their view that the appearance of the category A listed building is being adversely affected and so the cow will have to be re-mooved.  The structure is deemed as advertising and they also argue that the feature does not enhance the building. The community council thought it might be a good idea to have a temporary consent granted, but the council is not convinced.

***

The Edinburgh Napier Degree Show is an annual showcase of the creative talent of over 300 new and emerging designers, musicians, photographers, film makers, art directors, advertising directors, journalists, creative writers, publishers, television programme makers, and actors.​
Open to the public Friday 23 May to Sunday 1 June (Monday to Friday 10am until 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am until 5pm).

***

Alfie has been lost from Morningside. He is a 9 month old tabby of thin build. Telephone the owner on 0131 441 1955 if you have any information about him. Have you lost a pet? Then tell us about it – use Submit your Story here to put up a photo of the pet and some details of when they were last seen with a contact email or phone number.

***

Scottish Ladies Golfing Association (SLGA) are supporting Barnardo’s Scotland with their annual charity golfing competition

The children’s charity has teamed up again with the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association (SLGA) for its annual fundraising golf tournament, now in its 15th year.

The charity is appealing to lady golfers in Edinburgh to register for the event and tee-off in support of the charity.

A series of competitions are being organised throughout the summer months by local golf clubs. The top scorers from the play-offs will go through to the final, to be held at Arbroath Golf Course on Friday 22 August.

Last year the competition raised over £2,000 for Barnardo’s Scotland and this year the SLGA and the charity are hoping for an even better response.

Kara Gillies, Events Manager for Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “There are over 500 golf clubs in Scotland and we would like to encourage all of the clubs with lady members to take part in the event this year. It’s a great opportunity for Scottish lady golfers to compete with like-minded ladies and raise money to support children and young people across Scotland.”

Golfers interested in taking part in Barnardo’s/SLGA annual golf competition should contact their local golf club, the SLGA on 0131 339 3987 or Kara Gillies on 0131 446 7019 or by email kara.gillies@barnardos.org.uk

All money raised in Scotland stays in Scotland and goes towards funding community-based services supporting children and young people in the local area.

***

Give us your best recipes for tablet and fudge and all things sweet over here on our Recipe Swap storyboard on EdinburghReportage. What do you make for the bring and buy at school or church? Share your best here!

Media Trust are running a Film making on a shoestring workshop at the SCVO training suite, Mansfield Traquair Centre EDINBURGH  EH3 6BB from 10.00 am – 4.00pm, 19 May 2014 This is aimed at organisations who might want to make films about themselves.

Outline of the day

The workshop is designed to assist organisations to tell the story of your work, your projects and most importantly, your people on video in a way which makes the best use of low-budget cameras, microphones, editing software and other equipment.

We will provide small cameras, mics, tripods and laptops on the day, but you should feel free to bring along any film-making equipment such as smartphones or tablets if you already use these for making your own videos – we will aim to do a short session on best practice for mobile devices as part of the day’s work.

We would also like you to bring along any ideas you have – regardless of how detailed they might be at this stage – for any film projects you have in mind once the training is completed. This would give us all a chance to discuss how each group could tackle the challenges of story-telling in their own contexts and according to their own timetables.

All being well, MediaTrust will be able to advise and assist all those who’ve come to the training workshops on a continuing basis through the rest of 2014 if they wish to take up the offer, and the workshop would be a good place to begin planning for that.

The day will be split into a series of practical, hands-on exercises:

planning and preparing to film;

framing interviews and shooting cutraways;

shooting “action” sequences;

quick tips on good sound; 

preparing to edit;

video editing on free software such as iMovie;

posting your organisation’s videos online (YouTube, Vimeo etc).

If you are interested please contact Peter Murray PeterM@mediatrust.org

Media Trust already has a large catalogue of online resources, top tips and other help pages, such as how to film vox pops, how to set up a YouTube account, guides on financing film projects and much more.

Do feel free to visit the resources page on the website before or after the workshop to get further information.

A good quality nursery education provides a gentle introduction to the world of school. At St George’s Nursery we aim to provide the best possible start at school: educational excellence inside and outside the classroom.

Outdoor learning, with its practical hands-on approach to discovery in the outdoor environment, is a vital component of learning in our Nursery. Girls and boys have plenty of outdoor space where they can play in trees, plant vegetables and learn by exploring the world which they inhabit. Our extensive grounds, including five adventure areas, (fantastical forest, wild wood, secret garden and fort, Junior School playground and school playing fields), offer very many opportunities for imaginative role-play, adventure play and environmental learning. Children thrive on fresh air and are stimulated by their natural surroundings. These experiences provide an outdoor extension to what is learnt inside.

If you would like to find out more, join us at our Fantastical Nursery Open Morning on Saturday 17 May, from 9.30 am – 11.00 am, when you can visit the Nursery and its fantastical forest, and meet with and talk to teaching staff. The morning will include a short talk by Anne Everest, Head of St George’s, and Paula Dennis, Head of Nursery, about the importance of a good quality pre-school education, and our provision for outdoor education. There will be a range of fun activities on offer for nursery aged children including storytelling with “Princess Poppy” author, Janey Jones, as well as activities in art and sport.

To book attendance please contact Karen Batty t: 0131 311 8008. You can also watch our videos on the value of a nursery education at St George’s at http://www.stge.org.uk/pre-school.

Submitted by bornie lamotte

Now that the date is set for the first tram to run with passengers aboard, the ticketing details have been added to the Edinburgh Trams website.

Road shows are to be held over the next two weekends to give members of the public the chance to meet Edinburgh Trams staff and to look around the new trams before they go into operation on 31 May 2014. The events at St Andrew Square will be held on Saturday 17 May and Saturday 24 May between 12pm and 2pm when two trams will be at the stop.

Edinburgh Trams Ticketing Services Assistants will be on hand to explain how the new system works and they will be handing out tram user guides to road show visitors.

Tram ticketing, pricing and timetable information is now available  on the Edinburgh Trams website.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “Having unveiled the launch date, the publication of this ticket and timetable information is an important step in the final preparations for commencing Edinburgh Trams passenger services later this month. One of the key things we’re keen to emphasise is how straightforward it is to travel on both bus and tram – you can use your smartcard or day ticket on both.

“We’re pleased as a Council to have been able to fund the use of Concessionary Travel cards for Edinburgh residents, too.”

Tom Norris, Edinburgh Trams Director & General Manager, said: “The closer we get to passenger service, the more people are eager to find out how they’ll use the trams once we go live. We’ve produced clear, step-by-step leaflets explaining how to validate your smartcard or Concessionary Travel card as well as use the ticket vending machines on the platforms and mobile tickets. The information is also available at www.edinburghtrams.com.

“We’re delighted to be hosting two public roadshows on Saturday 17 and 24 May where members of the public can come along to St Andrew Square, have a look around a tram and familiarise themselves with its features as well as chat to our ticketing services assistants who’ll be on hand to answer any queries they might have about using trams come 31 May.”

EDINBURGH SCHOOLS ARE TOP OF THE CLASS AS NATIONAL AWARD FINALISTS for Scottish Education Awards 2014

Two finalists from Edinburgh have beaten off stiff competition from across Scotland to be shortlisted at this year’s Scottish Education Awards.

Tollcross Primary has been named as a finalist for the Creative Learning Award to recognise its Outdoor PE Project which involved creating an activity course consisting of eight stations along the Union Canal.  Pupils used technology to create QR codes which give instructions for each activity, all of which develop a core PE skill.  The project successfully linked the academic areas of health and wellbeing, PE and technologies.

Literacies for Employability East has also been named as a finalist in the Innovation in Literacy and Numeracy Teaching Practice Award category.  The successful programme for young people aged 16-25 in the Craigmillar area has helped learners to achieve nationally recognised qualifications, improving their confidence and job prospects.

The City of Edinburgh Council Education Convener, Councillor Paul Godzik, said: “In Edinburgh we have a wealth of talented teachers working on great initiatives and I’m delighted that we have two fantastic projects in this year’s Scottish Education Awards. The ‘Tollcross Outdoor PE Project’ and the ‘Literacies for Employability East Edinburgh’ initiative have both been very successful and the staff involved truly deserve this recognition. I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of all our staff and wish our finalists the very best of luck.”

The finalists will attend an awards ceremony in Glasgow on Tuesday 10 June 2014 where judges will unveil the winners of each award category.

People in Edinburgh are being thanked for nominating their local schools, nurseries or individuals into the Scottish Education Awards 2014 so thattheir exceptional achievements can be recognised.

The awards, which celebrate the achievements of schools and teachers across Scotland, are open to all publicly funded schools, including secondary, primary, nursery and special schools. There are also categories to recognise and reward the dedication of teachers, head-teachers and support staff across the country.

For further information visit www.scottisheducationawards.org.uk

Gerry Hassan knows he’s going to vote on 18th September 2014; he’s even 99% sure which way.  Most of the audience at Blackwell’s on Wednesday night seemed to feel much the same.  many people still have tiny wavering doubts but as Hassan says, ‘Often the most interesting debate is the one you have with yourself.’

Hassan is a writer, journalist, broadcaster; he’s recently gained a doctorate and he’s a Research Fellow in Cultural Policy at the University of West Scotland. He’s produced the Changin Scotland weekends at The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool for twelve years. His latest book is Caledonian Dreaming: the Quest for a Different Scotland; he wrote it to put the current independence vote in a ‘larger, wider, more historical context.’  He wanted to look at how Scotland has changed over the years, and what further changes the referendum will bring about.  Whatever the result on 18th September, Hassan says change will come, much of it unintended and much not fully understood for years to come.

In Caledonian Dreaming, Hassan examines three issues: the nature of the UK, the nature of contemporary Scotland, and what independence is and could or should be about.  We are all, he says, products of many subjective influences; our backgrounds, our emotions, our experiences.  We need to remember this to understand the people on all sides of the debate.  Hassan’s parents, like most of their generation, believed in many uncontested truths: the future would be better, working class people would have more opportunities, and education would become an uplifting, liberating experience.  They and all their friends believed in Britain.  All of these ‘certainties’ are now problematic; the future is unknown and unreliable.

The UK is, according to Hassan (and he has the figures to prove it), one of the most unequal countries in the developed world.  There are huge regional economic differences, with London emerging as a ‘world city.’   Amongst developed economies only Japan has more indebtedness than the UK; most of this debt is tied up in corporate finance and will be a huge drag on the UK for years to come.  Politically, Scots think that UKIP will never win a seat in their country; there will certainly be a contrast between the English and Scottish vote, but a UKIP  success in Scotland may be more likely than people imagine.

Although some changes have been made – the Scottish Parliament exists and the SNP has achieved its wish to have a referendum – it has proven to be a fallacy that a social state can be built on top of the status quo.  The House of Lords and its hereditary peers still exist – Hassan repeated Mark Thomas’s recent revelation that it is still a legal offence even to imagine the end of the monarchy – and many archaic relics of feudalism are still with us.  Despite thirty years of Labour government, the power balance has not only failed to shift towards the people – it is moving in the opposite direction.  Quoting Enoch Powell, Hassan asserts that the UK has never become a fully functioning democracy.  This means, he says, that Scotland isn’t one either, and it is too easy just to blame the British state and the Tories for everything; the issues lie within Scotland itself.  The Act of Union in  1707 created  an elite autonomy rather than a democracy, that elite, and not the common people, retained civic authority and Scots identity.

Hassan’s view is that modern Scotland is defined by certain myths.  Scots believe that they have an egalitarian country, that Scotland is a land of educational opportunity, and that they hold power to account – they ‘don’t do deference.’  In fact, he says, Scotland is almost as unequal as England, bright working class children are being disadvantaged and few get into the better universities.  If Scots want these myths to match reality, they need to act.  He sees an empathy problem in Scottish life – for example, he says that domestic violence in Glasgow plummeted when Rangers FC fell out of First Division football, but both Celtic and Rangers FCs publicly denied that there was any link. Hassan points to the crises in many Scottish institutions; the Royal Bank of Scotland, Rangers FC. the Roman Catholic Church; the media, he says, have been  largely too interested in ‘succulent lamb journalism’ to ask the right questions about what has been going on.  What are ‘Scottish values’? he asks; they’re not always as good as we may think.

Power, says Hassan, has become far too centralised, not just in politics but also in public bodies such as the police and the water authorities.  There should be more local government, more local involvement.  He sees many household names declining – the Church of Scotland, the Labour Party, the mainstream TV channels. Only the Herald  has come out in favour of independence; the Tory press, says Hassan, are ‘waging a war of disinformation.’

Hassan asserts that the independence debate is very narrow; we are being given two versions of ‘insider Scotland’, one from the Labour Party and one from the SNP, neither is enough and both have their own stakes to protect. We need, he says, to look beyond the constitutional debate to what we want to be in future.   Major concerns such as the NHS and the welfare state must be examined; we must consider what values we really want Scotland to have, and what we can do about the gap between words and actions.  The main players fob us off, saying that we can talk about these things later, but they need to be addressed now.  The debate should be about democracy and culture, about the people of Scotland, not just politicians, ‘the full powers of parliament’ or ‘continuity Scotland’ – two buzz phrases that Hassan particularly deprecates.

The work of Irish journalist Finton O’Toole, whose books include several on the rise and fall of the Celtic Tiger economy and corruption in Irish political life, inspired Hassan to ask people for their suggestions as to how Scotland could become a true economic and social democracy, and he lists these ideas at the back of his book.  O’Toole says that Scotland’s myths (eg that it is ‘warm and welcoming’) are just that – myths with no basis in truth. He thinks Scotland needs to ‘grow up’, stop blaming others for its troubles and take the ‘worthwhile but scary journey’ – O’Toole calls it ‘the art of growing up.’  This, says Hassan, is the opportunity Scots now have.  If they want their country to be more egalitarian and a land of educational opportunity, they need to act to make that happen.

The author also focuses on the ‘missing voters’ – the huge numbers of people who simply do not bother to vote.  It is not just the young and the poor – the worst turnout in a recent election was in two affluent areas of Aberdeen city centre.  People have left the debate, and the remaining voters are not representative of the electorate.  He sees a need for more political participation and  hopes that the referendum, whatever its outcome, may act as a catalyst to re-engage the voters.  He is heartened to see a new generation of 20-somethings becoming politicised across Europe.  They see that the system that promised them so much has failed;  it is clear to them that the  financial crisis was far more serious than first thought and that financial institutions were selling a dream whilst ordinary people made money for the few at the top.  Young people are creating brilliant new ideas and coming up with new ways to ‘do politics’; they see through all the lies.  The old party model may have failed, but some sort of ‘vessels’ are still needed to provide leadership, as only relatively few people want to be career activists.  Although most Scots do not join political parties, Hassan sees their existence as necessary for the foreseeable future at least; however, he says the system must change – there has been too much collusion in the traditional parties.  Whether the vote is Yes or No, something is shifting; young people are combining politics and activism, and they will carry through the many changes that are going to come.

An impassioned, engaging and entertaining speaker, Gerry Hassan received a warm and appreciative response from yet another packed audience (people were even sitting on the stairs.)  Whatever their view on independence may be, everyone will have left this event with plenty to consider about the dreams and realities of Caledonia.

Caledonian Dreaming is published by Luath Press and available from Blackwell’s.

Gerry Hassan will be talking about Caledonian Dreaming again at Word Power Books, West Nicholson Street on 14th May 2014 at 6.30pm.

Successful German artist in her first UK show

German artist Corinna Wagner, who exhibits at galleries all over Eurpope, is to have her first UK show at Edinburgh’s Urbane Art Gallery from Friday 17 May 2014 to 18 June 2014, with a preview this Friday from 6pm to 8pm.

The new Jeffrey Street gallery is very keen to bring international art to Edinburgh, especially if it is the first time the public here will have had a chance to see the work. Director of Urbane Art Gallery, Tracey Robertson, says that Corinna Wagner’s work is hugely popular in Europe, and the gallery is excited about hosting her paintings. She said:

”Corinna’s paintings will appeal to everyone, whether it is her haunting images of faces or her abstract landscapes, they draw you back for a further lingering look. Photos don’t really do justice to her art which looks so much better in the flesh. We are extremely excited about being the first gallery in the UK to display her work and I anticipate a lot of interest in her paintings, which are usually snapped up very quickly.”

Anyone wanting to attend the private preview on Friday, should contact Tracey at Urbane Art on 0131 556 8379 or info@urbaneart.co.uk

Submitted by Rosemary Walker

Get on your bike for a theatrical cycling experience as part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme.
There’s a tour happening in your local park, but it’s not your usual tour, the things you will learn are, well, interesting . . .

Touring to 11 parks across Scotland, The Spokesmen is an outdoor theatre performance with a difference; the audience and cast are all on bikes!

This whirlwind cycle of discovery will take you to haunted woods, the natural habitat of some surprising creatures, a historical battle ground and all with a little a little pop culture sprinkled into the mix.

Directed and written by Douglas Irvine and performed by Alan Mchugh and Simon Donaldson, this comedy piece has been created for a family and schools audience.  Designed by Sergey Jakovsky, you’ll be amazed what a bike can do.

The show’s writer and director Douglas Irvine commented:- ‘’There’s something magical about riding a bike, particularly if you haven’t been on one for a while; it transports you to another place, one of freedom and childhood. This outdoor theatre piece has that sense of play and adventure about it and we hope that young and old alike will be inspired to get on their bikes and experience the great outdoors.’’

Feel the wind in your hair as you pedal through this bonkers show, your park will never be the same again.
Bikes and helmets provided.
Advance booking recommended.
Suitable for 8+

More information here.

Edinburgh dates
______________________________________
14 & 15 June @ 12.30 & 18.00
16 June @ 10.00 & 13.30
Cammo Estate, Edinburgh (meet @ main gates)
Cammo Road, Edinburgh, EH4 8AW
Box Office @ Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, Edinburgh, 0131 560 1581
www.summerhall.co.uk

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man was racially abused in the capital at the weekend.

The 34-year-old was taunted by four males and two females as he visited a shop near his home in Hailesland Grove in Wester Hailes at around noon on Saturday 11th May.

The group shouted racist insults at the man as he made his way to and from the shop.

Inspector Stevie Dolan said: “This was a very distressing incident for the man, who said it left him fearing for the safety of his family. People should be allowed to nip to their local shop without being abused and intimidated by strangers and we are working hard to identify those responsible.

“Our investigation into this incident are ongoing and officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the area. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 or, alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Police are appealing for information after a man was assaulted by two males who then attempted to rob him of money and a mobile phone at the end of last week.

The man, who was visiting a friend in a flat at Northfield Grove in the north east of the capital, was told to hand over his mobile phone and money by the two males, before managing to escape.

The incident took place at around 7.50pm on Friday 9th May and anyone aware of a disturbance in the common stair at 17 Northfield Grove is being urged to come forward.

Detective Constable John McShane, who is based at Craigmillar, said: “This was a very distressing incident for someone that had simply gone to visit a friend and we are very keen to catch those responsible.

“We have been carrying out extensive enquiries in the area and anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 immediately.

“The first suspect is a white male, aged 25-30, around 5ft 8in, of medium build and with short blond hair. He was wearing a dark hooded top with white stripes down the sleeves and grey cotton tracksuit bottoms, was clean shaven and had a Scottish accent.

“The second suspect is a white male, aged 20-25, around 6ft, of heavy build with a rounded face and with medium length dark blond hair. He was wearing a dark blue hooded top and grey tracksuit bottoms.”

Hearts’ new first team coach Robbie Neilson has quashed media reports that Craig Levein will be picking the team next season.

The 33 year old former Hearts’ left back broke the news at a packed press conference in the Bobby Walker Suite at Tynecastle Stadium.

Sitting alongside Ann Budge and Levein, Neilson said: “I will pick the team. When Craig spoke to me the other night that was one of the things I asked about and I was assured that I would pick the team which is the reason that I am sitting here. It’s my job to train the players during the week and to assess them.”

The main line of questioning focussed on the reasons for releasing the three experienced players who had taken a wage cut and performed well throughout the season; Jamie MacDonald, Jamie Hamill and Ryan Stevenson, but Levein insisted that although it was unfair on those involved, they would be replaced by better players.

Neilson continued: “There are obviously quite a few positions that we are looking to bring in including goalkeeper, goalkeeper coach, centre half, midfielders and attackers so there will be a lot of movement in the coming weeks so we will be targeting players and be assured we will be bringing in quality players as soon as we can.

“Craig and I will speak and contact players and take it from there.”

The University of Edinburgh’s Talbot Rice Gallery is to show Hand-made Cinema, an exhibition celebrating the pioneering work of Scottish artist Norman McLaren (1914 – 1987). Part of the McLaren 2014 programme, Hand-made Cinema celebrates the fluid – almost alchemical – creative processes of this experimental filmmaker and musician, screening examples of his films alongside the physical materials that made them possible.

Norman McLaren engaged with the underlying materials of filmmaking – painting directly on to film and film soundtracks, scratching into celluloid, developing electronic musical compositions from black and white cards and making bespoke equipment. Drawing upon his own technical notes and artist statements throughout, Hand-made Cinema at Talbot Rice Gallery focuses on McLaren’s abstract works, where his revolutionary techniques were liberated from narrative or figuration, resulting in some of the most innovative works of the last century.

Alongside a selection of his finished films, the exhibition includes McLaren’s dope sheets – the sketches used by animators to plan their work – and other idiosyncratic drawings and bespoke equipment used to work out new ideas. Coupled with his notes and personal letters he wrote to his parents about his work in different countries, Hand-made Cinema creates a picture of an extraordinary artist and innovator who demonstrated the enduring possibilities of analogue film.

Films featured in the exhibition include Begone Dull Care (1949), made with inks applied to a frameless film-strip and synchronised with Oscar Peterson’s jazz soundtrack. The film has a distinctive fluidity, representative of the way McLaren would, “always leave as much room as possible for improvisation during the movie-making process”. With Mosaic (1965) McLaren worked out an analogue technique to create a mathematically precise abstract film, rivalling the early computer animation of the same period; electronic music made by engraving in to the soundtrack accompanies the stark abstract patterns. Then Synchromy (1971), arguably the culmination of McLaren’s experiments, employs a unique system of animated sound. The revolutionary soundtrack, constructed frame by frame by photographing black and white cards, was coloured and transferred to the visual area of the film to make abstract moving images in which you literally see the sound.

‘This exhibition represents the biggest examination of McLaren’s practice during the McLaren 2014 celebrations. We are delighted that McLaren’s unique artistic achievements have been curated and presented at the Talbot Rice Gallery during his centenary year.’ Iain Gardner, McLaren 2014 Artistic Director.

Hand-made Cinema is part of the McLaren 2014 programme and is realised with support of the National Film Board of Canada and the University of Stirling.

Hand-made Cinema
The work of Norman McLaren

31 May – 5 July 2014
Exhibition Open | Tues – Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 12–5pm | Admission Free

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information after a man was assaulted and robbed of his mobile phone in East Claremont Street, Edinburgh in the early hours of Monday morning.

Enquiries are ongoing after a 24-year-old male serving soldier who was on holiday in the city – was attacked by four or five males as he walked east along East Claremont Street at 0110 hrs on Monday 12th May.

He had left his nearby hotel to buy food and was wearing headphones listening to music on his iphone.

He was aware of a group of about five men walking towards him when, without provocation, one of them punched the man on the face, causing him to fall to the ground. He was then kicked on the face and his hands when he tried to protect himself. The suspects all ran away, heading west towards Rodney Street.

The victim was dazed and taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was treated for his injuries. The man subsequently realised his mobile phone had been stolen in the incident.

The suspects are all described as being white – with the one who carried out the attack being 18/19 years old, with acne on his face. He was wearing a grey Adidas-style tracksuit and white trainers. One of the other suspects was wearing a blue hoody.

Detective Sergeant Lynsey Thomson said: “This was an unprovoked attack on someone visiting Edinburgh on holiday.

“We are eager for people to come forward with any details which may assist police.”

Anyone with information on this crime can contact Police Scotland on 101 or, alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Edinburgh bingo clubs celebrate Budget boost on 16^th May with free link games worth £1,500 each

Hundreds of thousands of bingo players who backed a campaign to boost their favourite game will be celebrating the Chancellor’s reduction in bingo duty with free games of bingo in clubs across Britain.

In the recent Budget, George Osborne reduced the duty on bingo clubs from 20% to 10%. It means bingo clubs across the UK can now invest in new premises, modernisation and jobs, and have been given an extra boost.

All bingo clubs within The Bingo Association will be holding a ‘Bingo is Boosted!’ celebration on Friday 16^th May, including clubs in Edinburgh. Bingo players and many supportive MPs will be treated to free games of bingo to say ‘thank you’ for supporting the campaign that resulted in this fabulous outcome.

The Boost Bingo campaign, run by The Bingo Association, gathered more than 330,000 petition signatures from bingo players across Britain. Nearly 50 MPs supported the launch of the campaign in their constituencies by visiting their local bingo club, with some trying their hand at calling numbers.

The campaign reached a climax when the petition was delivered to the Chancellor’s residence at Number 11 Downing Street, on the 26^th February. Nearly two hundred bingo players joined MPs for a celebratory procession past the Houses of Parliament. Many MPs came out to meet their constituents who had come to support the Boost Bingo campaign.

Announcing the change, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP, recognised the value of bingo clubs in communities across the UK, and said:-“They want the rate cut to 15%. I can go further. It will be halved to 10%.”

Miles Baron, Chief Executive of The Bingo Association, said:

“On behalf of The Bingo Association, I would like to say an enormous thank you to the 330,000 people who backed the Boost Bingo campaign by signing our petition, to the dozens of MPs who visited their local club and asked questions in the House, and to the Chancellor for recognising the importance of bingo clubs in nearly 400 communities across Britain.

“I’m sure the hundreds of thousands of people who enjoy a visit to their local bingo club every week will be delighted to hear the game they love has received this substantial boost. We would love to invite them all to celebrate with us on the 16^th of May.” 

Scottish Swimming had the eyes and ears of Ministers and invited guests at a Parliamentary Reception on the importance of every child in Scotland being given the opportunity to learn to swim before they leave primary school, officially launching the start of its #everychildcanswim campaign in partnership with Scottish Salmon.

Recent research suggests that approximately 30 to 40% (15,000 to 20,000) of children in Scotland are leaving primary school unable to swim, a high percentage of those children who cannot swim living in the socially deprived areas of Scotland. With the provision of primary school swimming lessons being a non-statutory requirement in Scotland, delivery of school swimming lessons differs extensively between and even within local authorities.

Ahead of the reception the governing body and Edinburgh Leisure held a swimming lesson at the Royal Commonwealth Pool and gave 40 primary school children from Pirniehall Primary School in Edinburgh the chance to be taught to swim by Team Scotland members Kathryn Johnstone, Corrie Scott, Andrea Strachan, Kieran McGuckin, Jack Thorpe and James Heatly, IPC European Championships Qualifier Scott Quin, and European Juniors Finalist Megan Briggs, who all train at the pool. The athletes not only helped the children with their lesson, but showed them how much fun swimming is, with a great deal of splashing and lots of noise. The children have benefitted from the Top Up Programme, funded by the Scottish Government, which helped to recruit additional swimming teachers.

Speaking ahead of the Parliamentary Reception, Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive Officer at Scottish Swimming, said: “Swimming is the sport for all, the sport for life. Learning to swim at an early age sets a positive foundation towards a lifetime of participation and enjoyment in a variety of water sports and aquatic activities. We are delighted to be given the opportunity to share our vision and campaign on such a platform and we hope to secure the appropriate backing, which will support our continued efforts to provide not only swimming in schools, but also offer quality training to Local Authorities to help deliver the programme.“

Scottish Swimming’s vision is to ensure that every child can swim. The governing body believes that it’s never too early to introduce children to water and give them a firm foundation in a skill that will put them on a journey towards a lifetime of participation and enjoyment.

The vision is backed up by Sir Peter Heatly CBE DL, Triple Commonwealth Gold Medalist and Life Vice President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, who attended the Parliamentary Reception:  “I have been involved with swimming all my life in one capacity or another; as a competitor, technical official, volunteer, manager, administrator and parent. It is so important that every child learns to swim, as it is both a life skill and a confidence builder. Swimming presents children with the option of participating in a more active lifestyle and, while some may go to be the next generation of stars, all will be healthier and safer – there is no downside.”

Scottish Swimming has developed a learn to swim pathway which includes early years swimming, school swimming and community learn to swim programmes, so nothing is left to chance. The early years programme, Start to Swim, encourages adults and babies/young children to play together in the pool with the emphasis being on fun. The programme has been supported by investment from Scottish Salmon, who share the importance of children leading a healthy, active lifestyle through good diet and regular physical activity.

The next stage is pre-school swimming lessons, which give young children water confidence and basic swimming skills. This programme provides a positive foundation for Scottish Swimming’s school swimming programme Triple S, Scotland Safe Swimmer, which provides both a minimum standard to help ‘waterproof’ children and a training programme to assist local authorities and leisure trusts to deliver quality school swimming programmes that will increase the number of children leaving school knowing how to swim.

The Scottish Government has played a significant role in the last 4 years to support the improved delivery of swimming lessons for primary school children across Scotland through their funding of the Swimming Top Up Programme, which to date has amounted to an investment of £1.8 million resulting in an increase of over 20,000 children learning to swim.

Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison said:

“The Commonwealth Games is only months away and this year is an excellent opportunity to inspire a generation of swimmers. I share the ambitions of Scottish Swimming to leave a lasting legacy from the Games and for every child to have the opportunity, facilities and the support to learn to swim. Swimming is an important skill that leads to a lifetime of participation and opens up many new ways to stay fit and enjoy sport. We are delighted that the continuation of the Top Up programme will give every child the opportunity to learn to swim, whether it’s in their school or local community right through to 2015.”

Liz Smith, Shadow Minister for Sport and Education and host of the reception said:

“May I warmly congratulate Scottish Swimming on their efforts to provide many more children across Scotland with the opportunity to learn to swim. The statistics which show that possibly just over a third of Scottish children cannot swim when they leave primary school is a stark reminder of just how much work we have to do to make this a universal provision.

“Swimming is an essential part of personal fitness. It is also fun and a great way of making new friends and boosting community activity within local pools and leisure centres.”

While the Top Up Swimming Programme provides an opportunity to help save a life and enrich the lives of a whole generation, Scottish Swimming strongly believe the provision of swimming lessons should be an entitlement throughout the country and not dependent on where an individual lives. If children don’t learn to swim at school, they may grow up not learning to swim at all.

But swimming is not only an essential life skill, but a sport which opens doors to health, fitness and great friendships, regardless of age or ability. A fact shared by key athletes like Michael Jamieson and Hannah Miley, who are currently preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer  and also back the campaign.

Olympian and reigning Commonwealth Champion for 400m IM, Hannah Miley, said, “I initially got into swimming not because my family wanted me to become an Olympic swimmer, but they genuinely wanted to make sure me and my brothers were safe or knew how to be safe around water. Olympic silver medallist, Michael Jamieson, also supports the campaign: “It would be great to ensure more children in Scotland learn to swim and are safe in, on and around water. I learnt to swim when I was 5 when my parents signed me up to swimming lessons at my local pool and believe every child in Scotland should be given the opportunity to learn to swim before they leave primary school.”

Scottish Swimming’s campaign to ensure that every child can swim is ongoing. For more information please go to www.scottishswimming.com/everychildcanswim and show your support on social media using the hashtag #everychildcanswim.

Wester Hailes Education Centre received a boost this week after food company Kellogg’s awarded funding worth £400 to help support the school’s breakfast club.

Wester Hailes Education Centre is one of 1,000 schools from across the country to receive a grant after research revealed that more children than ever are going to school hungry.

According to the ‘Lost Education’ report, commissioned by Kellogg’s, more than a quarter of teachers questioned (28%) have seen an increase in children being sent to school with no breakfast.

The effect, the study concludes, is a loss of education, with teachers reporting that if a child arrives at school hungry, they will lose one hour of learning time that day.

If a child arrived at school hungry once a week over a school year, that adds up to 36 hours of learning time – rising to a shocking 8.4 weeks, or 70 per cent of one school term for pupils aged between 5-11 over their entire primary school life

In addition, the report also claims 2.4 pupils in each class are already turning up for school at least once a week with empty tummies, resulting in an inability to concentrate and an increased demand on teachers’ time.

An alarming 26% of teachers have even seen children fall asleep in the classroom through a lack of food or drink.

Kellogg’s launched  its nationwide ‘Help Give a Child a Breakfast’ campaign last September  and will be donating two million breakfasts to school breakfast clubs in the most deprived areas in the UK to ensure that the children who need it the most, get the best start to the day.

Principal Sheila Paton said: “If Students are to be able to concentrate fully on their learning then a nutritious and healthy start to the day is essential.

Our Breakfast Club also provides a safe and warm haven for Students arriving early in the morning, particularly during the winter months when many of them do not have appropriate clothing.  It is also an opportunity for a social meal as they mix at tables with others from a variety of year groups

This grant from Kellogg’s will really help our club and we are looking forward to spending the money on subsidising breakfast for children whose families are not able to support them.

This funding is still available now for both new and existing breakfast clubs so we urge other schools to contact Kellogg’s and make use of this generous offer.”

Kellogg’s has been supporting breakfast clubs for more than a decade and has set up over 1,000 in that time. It will be supporting another 1,000 breakfast clubs this academic year alone.

Tuesday 13 May 2014 – from Love in a Library to How Rock Stars Stole My Life

Craigmillar Community Arts: Women’s Multi Art Group: a new group for women; a chance to enjoy arts, crafts, drawing & painting in a sociable setting. 10-11.30am.  Tel: 0131 669 8432 or see Craigmillar’s website.

Tuesday Open Art Studio: learn the basics of painting & drawing.  Do your own thing or get assistance from a volunteer tutor. Craigmillar Community Arts, 1-2.30pm, £1.  Contact details as above.

Love in a Library: a pop-up opera in association with Edinburgh International Festival: songs by Schumann, Wagner, Gershwin, Schubert and Quilter.  Central Library, George IV Bridge.  12.30-1.30pm

The Kick: a film by Andres Veiel, shown as part of a project led by Dora Osborne, Leverhulme Early Career at the University of Edinburgh and supported by the Goethe Institut.  The film examines the received ‘facts’ about the murder of a 16 year old boy near Berlin in 2002.  Veiel will attend this event for a Q & A session, which will be followed by a drinks reception hosted by the German Consulate General.  Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 7.30-10pm.  For 18+ years only.  Free tickets can be obtained from WeGotTickets.

How Venetian Was Titian?  Tom Nichols, University of Glasgow, asks whether Titian’s works can really be seen as representative of his adoptive city, and highlights the tensions between the individualism of Titian’s paintings and the conservative cultural and social mores of Venice.  Scottish National Gallery Hawthornden Theatre (Gardens Entrance), The Mound; 12.45-1.30pm, free and unticketed.  (Titian and the Golden Age of Venetian Art is on at the Gallery until 14th September.)

Rock Stars Stole My Life!  Award-winning writer and broadcaster Mark Ellen in conversation with Bruce Findlay about his new book.  6.30-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge.  To get your free ticket call in at Blackwell’s front desk or phone 0131 622 8218.

Play Time – Who would you like to be?  Enjoy modern drama in an informal, lively way with Andrew Martin and Kate Hendry: the National Library of Scotland’s play-reading group reads a different short play aloud each fortnightly session.  No performance, no public audience, no experience necessary. 6-8pm, free, no need to book, but more information form k.hendry@nls.uk.  NLS, George IV Bridge.

Stitch ‘n’ Time: award-winning weekly sewing and crafting class led by a professional seamstress.  The group focuses on projects to help the community whilst learning new skills & sharing a cuppa!  Free and open to all levels and abilities. 1-3pm, WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove.  Tel: 0131 458 3267 or see WHALE’s website for more information.

St Giles’ Cathedral: lunchtime concert with the University of Miami Choir.  12.15pm

Edinburgh University Music Society Chorus & the Frost Chorale from Miami present  a free concert with works by Britten, Rutter, Whitaker & Moses Hogan. Retiring collection for Drake Music Scotland.  7.30-10pm, (doors open 7pm), Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk, Greyfriars Place.

Airport numbers on the up  – Corporate Policy and Strategy Committee meets today – Reading the tea leaves – Abseil for Queensferry Care – Job with the Scottish Book Trust

A strong performance during this year’s Easter period helped Edinburgh Airport enjoy an increase of almost 5% in April passenger numbers.

Police investigating the death of a 53 year old man who was discovered within a flat in Roseburn Terrace, Edinburgh around 8pm on Sunday night are still treating his death as unexplained.

A man was detained at the scene but has been released after helping police with their enquiries

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Officers are currently making enquiries in relation to the death of a male, who was discovered within a flat in Roseburn Terrace, Edinburgh about 8pm.

“The investigation is at an early stage and police are appealing for anyone who was aware of any disturbance within the common stair at number 36 during Sunday or has any other information to contact police.”

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

Edinburgh’s Chester Residence has earned yet another TripAdvisor award in recognition of its outstanding customer service.

The luxury serviced apartments in Edinburgh’s West End have won the accolade of Traveller’s Choice Hotel with Exceptional Service 2014, coming fourth out of thousands of UK contenders and 12^th in Europe overall, adding to their 14-strong trophy cabinet.

The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards honour the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – their customers.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Chester Residence Owner and Director, Graham Wood said:-“Receiving this award from Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel customer review website, is the greatest compliment, and The Chester Residence staff and I are absolutely delighted. Customers rightly have high expectations of the luxury hotel market, and competition in top tourist and business destinations is fierce.

“Given the very public nature of today’s online customer feedback sites, The Chester Residence makes every effort to perform outstandingly all the time, meaning we consistently lead Edinburgh’s hotel charts and come very high in UK – and now European – rankings.”

Chester Residence General Manager, Mark Lambson, celebrated the win saying:- “The Chester Residence is a great product; we have stunning premises in a prime location, unparalleled accommodation and facilities and most importantly, outstanding staff who care greatly about their work.

“Time and again, our customers tell us how beautiful and comfortable the hotel is and, most importantly to us, just what good service they have received, and it’s that final bit of feedback that gives the greatest satisfaction.”

For more information, please visit www.chester-residence.com

To see The Chester Residence’s TripAdvisor page, please click here.

To see 2014 Travellers’ Choice winners, please click here

Ann Budge took over as Hearts Chief Executive and Chairperson today and immediately began implementing the changes she believes are required to take the club back to the top of Scottish football. Head Coach Gary Locke, Assistant Billy Brown and Goalkeeping Coach Alan Combe were all advised they weren’t having their contracts renewed while senior players Ryan Stevenson, Jamie Hamill, Jamie MacDonald , Dylan McGowan and Callum Tapping, along with reserve goalkeeper Mark Ridgers, were also told their services would no longer be required at Tynecastle.

Budge has appointed former Hearts and Scotland manager Craig Levein as Director of Football while Youth Team Coach Robbie Neilson has been promoted to First Team Coach.  John Murray will also return to his previous role of Chief Scout.

Ann Budge released the following statement which appeared on the official Hearts website www.heartsfc.co.uk

It was clear from my earliest visits to Tynecastle and my earliest meetings with senior staff that the company, Heart of Midlothian plc, was, in every sense of the word, “broken”.

There was no overarching strategy for how the business should be run. For far too long, there had been no clear leadership. This coupled with the sole focus on day to day survival had left the club in a sorry and perilous financial state. This led to a fundamental disconnect between the various departments and a mountain of issues to be resolved. Add to this, the under-investment in various parts of the business and the current financial position, and we have a “broken” Hearts. We must all realise that there is no quick fix for these problems.

One thing is very clear. We have come far too close to losing our very existence and we must never allow this to happen again. We must grasp this opportunity to start afresh; to put in place solid foundations that will ensure we never again risk our 140 years of history. 

We must make changes. We must stop thinking short-term. We must put in place a 3-5-year plan that will see our commercial activities totally re-vamped, such that they once again provide a solid financial under-pinning to our football club; and we must also completely revitalise and re-focus the football side of our club. We have some excellent young players, who have done us proud in the last season. We owe it to them to create an environment that will help them to continue to flourish and develop. This will take time, patience and the continued loyal support of Hearts’ dedicated fan base. We will implement strategies to grow and strengthen the club. We will live within in our means to ensure that the future of the club is never again put in jeopardy.

We must ensure we have a clear footballing strategy that drives every aspect of our game; everything from who we recruit into our club, from youth academy through to first team players; how we approach coaching, at all age groups and all levels; how we undertake training… and indeed, what kind of football we play at Hearts.

There must be a totally cohesive plan that ties all aspects of our club together. Everyone must be pulling in the same direction.

Next season cannot simply be about getting back up into the SPFL. Of course, we will be striving for that, but we must take a longer-term view and build for the future. One of the key objectives of the new Board is to put in place a Coaching Education Programme that is second to none in Scottish football. Only by doing so, can we realistically attain the continual year-on-year improvement we are striving for and that will add to the value of the players and the club alike, and help to secure our future.

This means change on a fairly major scale. Not everyone will agree with all the changes being put in place, but we must address the issues at hand with our heads and not our hearts. We have made these tough decisions after much deliberation and much discussion. All we ask is that you give the new management team time and we will show we can deliver.

What are the changes?

We must put in place, first and foremost strong leadership. We need new skills, strategic thinking, and strong commercial and footballing management.

Board Level Changes

A new Board of Directors is being put in place over the next few days

• Ann Budge: Chairman/CEO

• Robert Wilson: Deputy CEO/Director of Strategic Planning

• Eric Hogg: Operations Director

• Craig Levein: Director of Football

• Ian Murray (Chair of FOH): Foundation of Hearts Representative

The Board will be expanded over time to include another non-executive Director, with a strong financial background, and a second FOH Director, to further represent the fans.

Operational Management Changes

Both Eric Hogg and myself will assume a very hands-on role in the day-to-day running of the club, supported by the existing management team.

I am delighted to say that the Operational Management Team will be expanded to include a new Head of Commercial. Ann Park will be joining the team with immediate effect. We have worked together over many years and I know she will bring lots of fresh ideas and strong sales and marketing leadership to the commercial team.

Footballing Management Changes

We know it may be an unpopular decision with some of you, but the Board has decided that we cannot offer Gary Locke a new contract as Manager, at the end of his current contract. Please believe me when I say this has been an enormously difficult decision to make. We all know the pressures that Gary and his assistant, Billy Brown, have worked under over the last year. They were set an almost impossible task, which they handled with dignity and determination. For that, we are all hugely grateful to both of them. The players and backroom/support staff at Riccarton will be sorry indeed to see them go…as, I know, will a very large section of the Hearts support. They will both leave with our very grateful thanks and best wishes.

Craig Levein will join the club with immediate effect and will assume total responsibility for everything to do with the playing side of the business. He will be responsible for putting in place an end-to-end strategy for how we are going to implement a youth-driven playing policy within the club.

John Murray will return to his former role as a chief scout. In the short-term, he will also assist with running the Academy, while we identify who should head this up. For the last year, John has taken on a wide sphere of responsibilities in support of the club he loves and for that we owe him a vote of thanks. We are pleased to be able to offer him the opportunity to go back to what he loves best; namely identifying new, young talent.

These decisions have been driven by everything that has been said about needing a long-term strategy, built over a 3-5-year planning horizon. For those reasons, the new Board believes that we need to bring in someone with Craig’s experience to guide that vision. With such a strong Director of Football on board, we feel we have to spend our limited resources on strengthening and building the Coaching side of the business, rather than having a 1st team manager. Robbie Neilson will take over as Head Coach for the 1st team and we will bring in a strong support team to work with Robbie in terms of an Assistant Coach and U20s Coach.

Over the next few days, a number of other changes will be announced as we start the process of rebuilding our great Club. We will have to say good-bye to a number of the fans’ current favourites; we will do our best to secure all our excellent young players; and we will welcome a group of new players, who will help us achieve our vision.

A number of the decisions we make over the next few days and weeks will be driven by finance. We have to ensure we live within our means. All of the decisions have been taken with a view to ensuring the future stability of our club.

End of statement

Some of Budge’s decisions were clearly unpopular with a section of the Hearts support; in particular the decision not to retain the services of Gary Locke. However, it is clear strategic decisions regarding the long-term future of the club had to be made. Locke will always be remembered as a dyed-in-the-wool Hearts supporter who served the club he has supported since childhood with hard work, passion and integrity.

It’s time for everyone associated with Hearts – supporters and players alike – to look ahead. Today’s changes are the first steps to ensuring a brighter future for Heart of Midlothian FC.

St Columba’s Hospice has been closed for a time to allow for rebuilding. Well now it is open again! The new buildings are stunning, and have the most beautiful large windows to the Forth.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Chief Executive Margaret Dunbar said: “The building is simply amazing. It exceeds all expectations. It’s been enormously challenging at times but now that we are in the new Hospice we can see that it’s all been worthwhile.”

“I’ve always said that it’s the people that make St Columba’s Hospice what it is and I’m grateful to all our staff and volunteers who have shown such support for the organisation over the last few years and have helped us realise our dream of a new Hospice.”

“My heartfelt thanks go to all the supporters who have helped us get this far. They play such a large part in the work we do.”

For more information about St Columba’s Hospice please see their website or call the Hospice on 0131 551 1381

 How do I get my first mortgage?

Applying for a first mortgage will always be a nerve racking experience, but in the aftermath of a financial crash caused largely by mortgages being far too easily available, it can seem like an especially daunting task. The economic climate is changing, however, with more emphasis being placed on enabling young professionals and families to buy their own property and less of a focus on avoiding subprime mortgages. With funding available from The Scottish Government, a brightening economic outlook and many large banks reporting healthier balance sheets, the climate is becoming less hostile for those seeking a first mortgage.

Considering how lenders will score your application is one of the early considerations of first time mortgage applicants. Your credit score is put together by potential lenders using information which you provide them with in making your application, as well as with other details regarding your employment status, your personal credit report (which will be held by one of the three large credit rating agencies) and other policy rules specific to the product. It is especially important for first time applications – follow link for a good breakdown from Experian as to why.

There are several key factors that will be considered by lenders when viewing your application, some of which a first time buyer can do little about. Your employment status, for example, is one of the first things that a potential lender will look at. They will tend to view self-employed individuals with a little more caution that those who instead have worked in a contracted position for a sustained length of time. The same is true of residency – you’re having stayed in the same property for over a year represents a bright green tick for lenders. Essentially, they are looking for evidence that a loan application is a safe bet. They want to see evidence of stability and will be worried by uncertainties that might impact on an applicant’s ability to repay credit.

Here, however, there are opportunities to prepare in advance for a mortgage application. Things as simple as ensuring utilities bills are always paid on time will reassure lenders, as will other signs of stability such as registering to vote. There are other aspects, such as perhaps an applicant being self-employed, which cannot be ‘optimised’. Here it would be self-defeating to attempt to do so — it is perfectly acceptable to strike a balance between building up a positive credit history and pursuing your own lifestyle path.

With all the financial matters to consider, it is easy to forget about the logistical and personal sides of moving. These should be enjoyable and while it all takes planning, there is plenty of advice out there (such as this useful and very readable Channel 4 guide).

Finally, there are the lenders themselves. The more solid and reputable a mortgage lender, the better. This applies for smaller loans as well, of course – at all costs avoid using payday lenders who, apart from the raft of personal problems they create, damage a person’s credit score.

In fact, all things considered, a mortgage applicant should generally approach their potential loan with roughly the same caution as the lenders do.

Exercise is the fast, fun and free way to boost your happiness and fight anxiety which is a leading factor in mental ill health.

That’s the message from Edinburgh Leisure and NHS Lothian who are dedicated to raising awareness of the link between physical activity and mental health.

Edinburgh Leisure is hosting open sessions as part of NHS Lothian’s Healthy Active Minds programme and will be offering information, free passes, fitness MOTs and answering questions.

The sessions are part of the planned activity for Mental Health Awareness Week, which is run by the Mental Health Foundation and will, this year, focus on anxiety following evidence that 1/3 of GP consultations are for mental health problems.

Healthy Active Minds is funded by NHS Lothian and is delivered with local health and community partners to ensure that participants with low mood, stress and anxiety get supported access to physical activity opportunities both within Edinburgh Leisure venues and their own community.

There is mounting evidence that physical activity is beneficial for people experiencing either mild or severe anxiety, according to the Mental Health Foundation.

Sheena Lowrie, Senior Health Promotion Specialist, NHS Lothian, said “Physical activity has a role in enhancing mental wellbeing by improving mood, reducing anxiety and stress and enhancing self esteem.”

Healthy Active Minds will host stalls at Leith Victoria Swim Centre on Wednesday May 14th from 11.30 to 1pm and Meadowbank Sports Centre on Thursday May 15th from 12.30 to 2pm.

Conor McLean, Healthy Active Minds Assistant at Edinburgh Leisure, said: “Healthy Active Minds is such a rewarding project to work on. I meet a diverse span of people from a range of various backgrounds who are all willing to make a change.

“The difference in participants from when they first come for a consultation to when they are exiting the programme nine months later can be staggering.

“I see participants’  levels of confidence, mood, physical fitness and overall wellbeing develop massively.

“It is incredibly satisfying to play a small part in the process of helping someone make such a positive change in their life.”

Healthy Active Minds allows participants, who have been referred by their GP, access to a range of physical activities including walking, swimming, gym and fitness classes.

Now in its fifth year of funding, it’s currently Edinburgh Leisure’s biggest health referral programme receiving around 100 referrals per month.

The University of Edinburgh’s Talbot Rice Gallery is to be filled with shadows, echoes and reflections for the largest exhibition to date of Kent-based artist Jason Dee which opens on 31 May 2014. Pursuit of a Shadow, featuring never-seen-before work, is a captivating exposé of the underlying changes in our relationship to moving images. From spectacular, theatrical works, to subtle visual illusions, Dee creates a fascinating and timely dialogue with the history of cinema.

Jason Dee’s work reflects the transformation of cinema’s material origins, revealing the uncanny effects of a contemporary medium still haunted by its past. Where celluloid film was dictated by the mechanical time of the Modern World, digital technology allows images to be frozen, scaled, reversed and displaced; Dee uses these possibilities to form enigmatic, autonomous story worlds caught between reality and illusion.

At the centre of the exhibition is 24 Times (2007/12), a large-scale installation comprising of 24 monitors facing inwards in a circle. Film clips taken from movies featuring flash photographers play upon the monitors, cutting from one clip to the next as a flash consumes the screen. As the monitors are synchronised one frame apart, the white light – and each frame – dances round the circle. As viewers are caught in the bright light, as apparent subjects of the photographer’s shots, their shadows are then cast across the space so they become part of a rudimentary shadow animation.

Other works featured in Pursuit of a Shadow are made by projecting onto bespoke 3-dimensional screens, subverting the flat space required for cinematic illusion. First and Last Sounds (2011) is made from a short sequence from Goodbye Mr Chips (Wood and Franklin, 1939), projected onto a folded screen that presents 2 triangular planes. On the first plane, one of the film’s characters shouts into the mountains, whilst documentary footage of the Alps is simultaneously shown on a larger triangular fold behind. As the projection spills over the two screens it creates a third plane in the Gallery space, with bold mountainous shadows. With his echoing voice, the small figure seems to be trying to bridge the gap between discrete representational spaces and historic cinematic modes. In Cataract (2011) Dee leaves Buster Keaton hanging precariously over a perpetual waterfall, projected onto a cut out fabric section of a standing screen, cascading down over the floor. And Dune (2011) sees a female character seemingly struggling not to lose her position up the side of a bowl-shaped screen, struggling against a desert pit that descends down into a dark hole. Dee remarks, “The figures, cut off from their original narrative roles, forlornly attempt to escape a never ending looped present suspended somewhere between the film and the gallery space. Their struggles suggest a futile attempt to maintain position within media which are themselves constantly shifting flows of information”.

More recent works in the exhibition are based on A Matter of Life and Death (Pressburger and Powell, 1946) a film that sees the main character, Peter (David Niven), caught between life and afterlife. Intermission I (2012) and Intermission II (2013) manipulate the strange transitional scenes that see Peter caught in limbo between the real (film) world, his own subconscious mind, and heaven. This balance, between the world of illusion and a critical analysis of the technologies of vision underpinning such narratives, is reflective of Dee’s broader practice, which is always beguiling and alienating in equal measure.

Jason Dee is currently in the final stages of a Fine Art PhD at Newcastle University. His practice-led research focuses on the perceptual realignments that occur when celluloid films are transferred to digital formats. His work has been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the world, and also included in numerous film and media festivals including: Transmediale (Berlin), Rencontres Internationals (Berlin, Paris, Madrid) and a commissioned work for Berwick Film Festival.

Dee has also presented papers at several film conferences. His paper Celluloid’s Digital Other won the main prize at last year’s Avanca|Cinema (Portugal) where he will be a panel member for this year’s conference. He has completed a number of residencies including Stills Gallery (Edinburgh) Squeaky Wheel (Buffalo) and the Scottish Arts Council New Media Residency.

Jason Dee
Pursuit of a Shadow

31 May – 5 July 2014
Exhibition Open | Tues – Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 12–5pm | Admission Free

At Edinburgh High Court today, a confiscation order totalling £525,000 was made against 67  year-old Scottish drug dealer Alexander Cameron from Kirknewton, Midlothian.

In 2009 police officers went to West Cairns Farm, Kirknewton. The jury at the High Court in Edinburgh heard how police who took part in the 2009 raid could smell the cannabis plants from 25ft away. On search of the outbuildings Police discovered a large cannabis cultivation within the storage kennels. In all officers recovered 526 cannabis plants with a potential yield of £78,000 worth of cannabis.

It was some four years ago on 24 August 2010 at Edinburgh High Court that Cameron was convicted and sentenced on 10 November 2010 to 6 years imprisonment.

Lindsey Miller, Procurator Fiscal for Organised Crime & Counter Terrorism, said:-“Scotland is increasingly becoming a hostile environment for drug dealers to operate.

“They stand not only to lose the drugs themselves and face lengthy terms behind bars, but to see their entire illegal businesses dismantled and years of criminal profits confiscated from them.

“The funds recovered will be added to the £80 million already gathered from Proceeds of Crime to be re-invested in the community by Scottish Ministers, through the CashBack for Communities programme.”

A husband and wife team are setting out to complete 50 Random Acts of Kindness during the Gumball 3000 event!  Garreth Wood, owner of The Speratus Group, and Nicola Wood will try to complete the challenge in an attempt to reach the £100,000 for the charity “When You Wish Upon A Star” so that together they can cover the total costs for the entire experience, which include the charter of a private airplane and all accommodation to send 100 terminally ill children and helpers to Lapland to meet Santa this winter.

For each of the Random Acts of Kindness the pair completes, Garreth’s company, The Speratus Group will donate £2,000.  To reach the £100,000 target they must complete all 50 selfless acts of kindness towards lucky strangers whilst journeying throughout America and Europe… one stop being right here in Edinburgh on 8 June 2014!!

All money raised goes directly to the charity which aims to grant the wishes of children throughout Scotland suffering from life-threatening illnesses.  50 Random Acts of Kindness will send a group of inspiring children (and their 100 helpers) on a magical journey to Lapland to meet Santa and enjoy a traditional sleigh ride with Rudolph and his friends.

Gumball 3000 is an international motor rally where participants drive 3000 miles over the course of a week.  Founded in 1999 Gumball 3000 has seen a number of celebrities take part over the years such as David Hasselhoff, Snoop Dogg and David Guetta.  The 2014 route, drivers will travel from Miami to Ibiza and, for the first time, the event will visit Edinburgh.  Garreth Wood will be taking part in the event, travelling the first leg of the journey with school friend William Rhind and completing the Europe leg with his wife Nicola Wood. This will be Garreth’s 3^rd year participating in the rally.

The Scottish trio will complete the Gumball 3000 in a customised Rolls-Royce named the ‘Velvet Phantom’.  The rightly named ‘Velvet Phantom’ will be hard to miss; decorated in sleek red chrome and black velvet.  Nicola Wood, a former Miss Scotland and Miss UK, will join her husband on the 8^th of June and travel from Edinburgh to Ibiza via London, Paris and Barcelona.

Being the only Scottish team in this multinational race, the’ Velvet Phantom’s’ chrome boot will be filled with Scottish favourites such as Walkers Shortbread, Tunnock’s Teacakes, Lego, T-shirts and many other goodies which they will be handing out to the other drivers and lucky members of the public.

Garreth and Nicola Wood commented,

“We are truly honoured to be able to support the ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ charity and the The Spirit of Christmas Lapland Appeal.

The Lapland Appeal creates magical memories for children and families dealing with life threatening or terminal illnesses. 

We love the idea that by funding the Lapland Appeal we are enabling children and their families to have a truly amazing time together, building important memories and a break from gruelling treatments.

Nicola and I eagerly await the looks of joy on the children’s faces when they meet Santa and we will both be there to help make this trip an unforgettable experience for the children and their families.

With the full support of The Speratus group, Nicola and I will work tirelessly to raise over £100,000 on this year’s Gumball 3000 with the full amount all going to When You Wish Upon a Star.”

Margaret Rowarth, Scotland Fundraising Manager for, When You Wish Upon A Star said,

 “It is very difficult to put into such few words just how thrilled and delighted we are as a charity to have such incredible support from Garreth and Nicola Wood. Their support will make such a significant difference to the lives of our Wish children, by enabling us as a charity to take 100 very poorly children from all over Scotland with a life threatening illness together with a parent/guardian, to experience what will promise to be a magical trip to visit Santa Claus in Lapland this December. 

Garreth and Nicola’s  part in the Gumball Rally 2014 together with their “50 Random Acts Kindness” will also  inspire other people to get involved and improve the profile of our charity in Scotland which will also enable us to engage with more children and families who will benefit from our experience and dedication as Wish granters.”

Velvet Phantom  – Follow the journey @VelvetPhantom50 and facebook.com/vp50randomactsofkindness

Just giving page     http//:www.justgiving.com/50-random-acts-of-kindness

Just giving text      Text KIND81 £5 to 70070

Jam-packed programme announced for Scotland’s first ever Puffin Fest.

Enter our competition below. But Hurry! – Entries close on Thursday 15 May 2014 at 5pm

Wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan set to open Scottish Seabird Centre’s inaugural celebration of Scotland’s favourite seabird

The programme for Scotland’s first ever Puffin Fest has been announced and it has been confirmed that Scottish wildlife cameraman and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan – best known for his BBC documentary series such as The Polar Bear Family & Me, Springwatch and Autumnwatch – will officially open this ten-day celebration of Scotland’s most popular seabird.

Running from Friday 16 to Monday 26 May, the Scottish Seabird Centre’s Puffin Fest will feature a family-friendly and environmentally-focused programme of activities.

And now you can win a Family Pass for  2 adults & 2 children (worth £25) for the event – see below….

Puffin Fest aims to inspire both locals and visitors alike to learn more about our much-loved puffins while also highlighting the importance of conserving and protecting our seabirds for future generations.

The programme features: Forth One Puffin Parties, talks by wildlife experts, Puffin Express boat trips, guided walks and wildlife photography workshops – all in addition to the opportunity to zoom in on the live puffin action with the Centre’s interactive live cameras on the puffin-inhabited islands of Craigleith, Fidra and the Isle of May National Nature Reserve.

Among the highlights are:

• How to Speak Puffin with wildlife expert and writer Dr Kenny Taylor on 17 May at 15:00 and 18 May at 14:15
• Does my Puffin look its Best? wildlife photography workshops by Gordon Rae of GJ Wildlife Photography at 15:30 on Sunday 18 and Sunday 25 May
• Thirty-minute Puffin Express boat trips from North Berwick harbour between 16 and 21 May
• An interactive family science show featuring Professor Egghead and Percy the puffin at 14:00 onMonday 19 and 26 May
• Puffins in Print exhibition featuring a range of Lothian artists including Keli Clark and Pamela McKenzie
• Illustrator Kate McLelland will host a reading and puffin craft workshop based on her book There was a Wee Lassie who Swallowed a Midgie on Saturday 17 and Saturday 24 at 11:00
• A #Wildhour twitter conversation hosted by Scottish Seabird Centre CEO Tom Brock OBE between 19:00 and 20:00 on Sunday 18 May
• Forth One Puffin Parties with Arlene Stuart on Saturday 17 May at 12:00 and Mark Martin on Saturday 24 May at 15:30, with puffin fun and games
• Children’s author Lynne Rickards will be hosting a special storytelling session on Friday 16 May at 14:00, reading from her books Harris the Hero and Lewis Clowns Around
• Know Nuffin about a Puffin? guided walk by East Lothian Council Ranger Services, where ranger Dave Wild will take visitors on a ramble along the rocky shore at 11:30 on Sunday 18 May.

Gordon Buchan, wildlife filmmaker, said: “Scotland’s wildlife and seabird conservation is an issue very close to my heart, so I am looking forward to welcoming visitors to Scotland’s first ever Puffin Fest at the Scottish Seabird Centre in May.

“Puffin breeding season in Scotland is a great time for filmmakers and wildlife enthusiasts just like me to learn more about our precious bird populations, while enjoying observing them up-close in their natural habitats.

“Scotland has such a rich marine environment and I’m delighted to join forces with the Seabird Centre to celebrate the much-loved puffin.”

Tom Brock OBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Seabird Centre, said: “The Scottish Seabird Centre’s Puffin Fest programme, the first event of its kind in Scotland, is packed with fun and interactive activities for everyone to enjoy as we learn more about our much-loved clowns of the sea.

“We are delighted to welcome Gordon Buchanan to officially open the festival. It promises to be a fantastic ten-day programme and we will look forward to welcoming lots of puffin fans to join in the celebrations.”

 For the full Puffin Fest programme, visit www.seabird.org

All Images  © Rob McDougall

Enter the competition to win a family ticket to the Festival for two adults and two children here. Entries close on Thursday 15 May 2014 at 5pm

200 young people from The Boys’ Brigade (BB), were joined by Allan Wells MBE, for the annual Beating Retreat ceremony at Edinburgh Castle on Saturday 10 May 2014.

The event, the 57^th consecutive holding of the ceremony, featured the Massed Pipes & Drums, 10th Leith BB Bugle Band, Central Band of The Boys’ Brigade and 3rd Johnstone Brigades Band; and saw each band march across the drawbridge and perform a short routine on the Castle Esplanade to the delight of the gathered crowd of spectators and dignitaries.

Chief guest was Allan Wells MBE, the former Scottish and British multi-title winning athlete. He said:-“I recall my time in the organisation very fondly and seeing members of The Boys’ Brigade again brought back many happy memories of my time as a BB member.

“Beating Retreat is a landmark event for The Boys’ Brigade and I was honoured to play a part.”

Michael Cummings (15), 4^th Dunfermline, said:-“What an amazing experience it was playing at Edinburgh Castle. It was so different from where we are used to playing.  The memory of playing in the band in such a stunning location will last a lifetime.”

Ian Montgomery, The Boys’ Brigade Edinburgh Battalion President, said:- “It was a privilege for us to welcome Allan to our flagship event.  Promoting sport and active lifestyles are important aspects of our programme and Allan’s achievements are an inspiration to our young people.

“Given the Commonwealth Games year in Scotland, Allan’s involvement in our event was all the more fitting.

“It is always fantastic that our BB musicians from across Scotland have the opportunity to play in the heart of Edinburgh.  These bands have been rehearsing for many months in preparation for the event and their professionalism and talent shone through.”

Beating Retreat is a military ceremony dating back to the 16th century when drums were used as signals in the battlefields.

Beating the Retreat was the cue for troops to retreat from battle as light faded.