It is the inaugural year of the Communion New Faces Tour – a tour that showcases some of the brightest talents that are tipped to become something a lot more substantial in the foreseeable future. There are four acts that have been specially chosen to tour the country extensively with an equally divided 30-minute slot for each artist. Those artists include Eliza and the Bear, Luke Sital-Singh, Farewell J.R, and Annie Eve. The first of two Scottish dates brought the tour to Electric Circus with a tame and timid audience on hand.

Starting off the packed three hours was Annie Eve. The talented, effortless singer had a band accompanying her work with a guitarist who introduced some beautiful slide guitar alongside her remarkable and intense finger-picking. Electric Circus was no place for her music to be exhibited, and there were hardly enough people there to fully appreciate the flair in Eve’s work.

Farewell J.R. looked as if they had come off the streets after a day of busking, but the folk act used their studio recordings as a basis for their live show – making the performance sound tight collaboratively and sonically. They are not the folk that everybody is used to, it is almost indescribable. Oddly the band have two percussionists: the main drummer and a standing up drummer who has a small kit and an electronic board which adds some rather unusual folk sounds which gives the music an overall boldness. For a quiet and reserved frontman, there is a lot of charisma in the entire band to make them look modest.

The two final acts were the most anticipated of the night. First off was singer-songwriter Luke Sital-Singh. The calm and connected yet conversational artist has of the finest voices in indie music and with a simplified sound, he could be something more important. Before his song ‘Luna’, Sital-Singh discusses the subject surrounding the song. “This song is about a killer whale,” he says, while adding that he thought the name was cute but the whale turned out to be a male. His interaction with the crowd is admirable and not many acts have originality when it comes to banter with the audience, but Luke has confidence that allows there to be a return of laughter for explaining his happenings. He is tipped to be the next Ben Howard, but there is something a lot more adept about Sital-Singh. His songs don’t include just sole acoustic guitar, there is full-band electric among his trio of EPs. He seems like a more versatile Ben Howard but with more eagerness in his music.

The final act, not necessarily a headliner, was Eliza and the Bear. The band have enjoyed some moderate success over the last year, mainly including an exciting support slot with Paramore on their UK arena tour. Their emphatic, hard-hitting vocal melodies, insistent instrumentation and resounding stage presence is enough for indie rock fans to be admired. They aren’t just a simple indie rock band, though. The simple layout of vocals, guitar, bass and drums is enhanced by the addition of keyboard and trombone which donates to the vigorous nature of their music. “You can come further in, we won’t bite,” said lead singer James Kellegher as the crowd slowly but surely made their way to half-filling the front row of Electric Circus.

A short and sweet set gave everybody a glance of what is to come in the future of British music. These four artists aren’t the only ones but are right at the top of the pile waiting to pounce on some serious popularity.

Hibs’ duo Sam Stanton and Danny Handling (pictured) came off the bench to win their first under 21 caps last night as Scotland let a two goal lead slip against Hungary at Tannadice Park.

Hearts’ striker Callum Paterson started the game which was part of Scotland’s preparation for the European Championship qualifier against Netherlands in May.

Scotland took the lead in the 25^th minute when Callum McGregor scored from a free kick awarded for a foul on Paterson then 12 minutes later, Ryan Fraser doubled Scotland’s advantage with tap-in following a sweeping passing move.

Sam Stanton came on in the 46^th minute replacing Armstrong then midway through the second half Joe Chalmers handled in the box and Andras Rado’s spot-kick flew high into the net  past Chris Kettings to ensure an exciting finish to the game.

Danny Handling replaced Fraser in the 76^th minute then with three minutes remaining, Rado levelled the match when he took a pass from Istvan Kovacs, turned inside and placed his shot into the far corner from 10 yards.

Scotland U21: Archer (Kettings 46), Marcus Fraser,Findlay, Kelly (Chalmers 46), McGhee, Armstrong (Stanton 46), Slater (Grimmer 57), McLean (McGinn 58), McGregor, Paterson (Herron 76), Ryan Fraser (Handling 76). Subs Not Used: Henly.

Hungary U21: Jova, Barath (Kelemen 69), Lang, Szolnoki, Poor, Rado, Kovacs, Gyurjan (Vass 83), Vecsei, Bacsa (Ugrai 86), Nagy (Szakaly 83). Subs Not Used: Gyuru, Batik, Tamas, Jagodics. Booked: Gyurjan, Barath.

Goals: Rado 68 pen, 87.

Att: 4,537

Ref: Richard Liesverd (Netherlands)

Photo by John Preece

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography

Pedal on Parliament 2014 – Live from the City Chambers – Tonight at the Cameo – Rubbish collections – Edinburgh International Book Festival 

In April Edinburgh’s streets will be taken over by a colourful mass of cyclists of all shapes and sizes calling for a cycle-friendly Scotland. Pedal on Parliament, the grass-roots organisation which brought 4,000 demonstrators to Holyrood last year, from children on balance bikes to champion cyclist Graeme Obree, have announced their third mass protest ride on the Scottish Parliament on Saturday the 26th of April. People will be gathering at noon at the Meadows for a minute’s silence to remember those killed on Scotland’s roads and then riding down the Royal Mile to call on politicians to support the PoP manifesto for safer cycling.

This will be a light-hearted occasion, but with a serious purpose. Last year saw 12 cyclists killed in Scotland, the highest number for several years, and 2014 has already seen two cyclists die, the most recent only this week. Meanwhile the latest census figures show that the Scottish government is far behind on its target to see 10% of journeys by bike by 2020 – in the last decade, the percentage commuting to work by bike has risen only 0.1% to 1.6%. The organisers believe that without real and sustained investment in cycling and roads designed to accommodate people of all ages and abilities, then these figures will not improve.

Organiser David Brennan said “This year Scotland will be hosting the Commonwealth Games, bringing some of the world’s top cyclists to race around the streets of Glasgow. Yet if those same riders were to venture out in Glasgow on the roads that I and others cycle on any other day of the year, they would be shocked at how little quality provision there is for people who chose to travel by bike. As a result I often feel that my safety is compromised and many potential cyclists are discouraged from starting at all. We may have produced some great sporting cyclists as a nation but we’re a very long way from being a cycle-friendly country. We want to see a Scotland where anyone – from Sir Chris Hoy to my four-year-old daughter – can enjoy the freedom of getting about by bike if they wish, and not having to wait until the roads are closed to do so.”

Graeme Obree, who led the ride last year alongside the families of Audrey Fyfe and Andrew McNicoll who were both killed on their bikes on the streets of Edinburgh, said:- “Pedal on Parliament are not asking for spending here, but an investment, so that young people can cycle freely and without fear. We want a network from our homes to our workplaces, our shops, and schools and everywhere we want to go. It’s an investment in the health of the nation.”

Investment in cycling and other forms of active travel has been shown to return up to 19 times the amount invested in reduced congestion and improved health and pollution levels. It also makes the roads safer for everyone, including drivers, and substantially improves lives and livelihoods, as the experiences of places as diverse as New York, Copenhagen and Seville have shown. Pedal on Parliament believe that with proper funding and well-designed cycling infrastructure, Scotland can be a healthier, wealthier and above all happier place.

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The council is webcasting the Governance, Risk and Best Value Committee which meets at 10am today.

You can watch online as the meeting progresses or watch later by clicking here. We are also told that the meeting can be watched for the first time on iPad or smartphone, however at last month’s council meeting the technicians were having a time of it making anything work, so we may have to wait and see about  that!

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There are several showings of The Book Thief today at the Cameo. Booking details here.

Set to music composed by John Williams, this inspiring tale of  courage and strength is set in war-time Germany.

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Do you know when your rubbish should be collected? Well this page on the council website will help you find out. All you have to do is put in your postcode.

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Important dates for this year’s Festival have now been finalised so put them in your diary pronto.

– Details of this year’s line-up will be revealed at the programme launch on Wednesday 11 June 2014.
– Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday 24 June.
– The 2014 Book Festival will run from 9-25 August.

More detailed information about how to book tickets will be available later in the year.

Scotland Under-19s came from behind to secure a hard-earned 4-2 victory over Switzerland at The Energy Assets Arena in Livingston yesterday.

Three Edinburgh based youngsters, Gary Oliver and Sam Nicholson from Hearts and Jason Cummings from Hibs (pictured) started the match along with former Jambo Adam King who moved to Swansea in the January transfer wondow.

After trailing 2-1 at the interval, the Scots turned in an excellent second half performance to grab the victory.

Scotland fell behind after just two minutes when a slip at the back allowed Karlen in on goal and he fired low beyond Motherwell goalkeeper Ross Stewart.

Scotland hit back on 12 minutes when Hearts striker Gary Oliver nodded home from close-range, however the visitors were back in from after 27 minutes when Zoller pounced on a defensive mix-up to make it 2-1.

Rangers midfielder Fraser Aird equalised just a minute into the second half and former Hearts’ star Adam King put Scotland in front for the first time in the match with an excellent low finish on 66 minutes.

Aberdeen forward Cammy Smith grabbed the fourth with seconds remaining.

Scotland face England (hosts), Montenegro and Romania in their Euro elite round in May.

Scotland: Stewart, Kidd, McKenna, Burgess, Hendrie, Petrie (C), Aird, King, Oliver, Cummings, Nicholson.

Subs: Hurst (GK), Halkett, McLennan, Sinnamon, Lindsay, Telfer, Smith.

Photo by John Preece

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography

From artisan boutiques to multi-million pound digital agencies, young business people are making their mark in some of Britain’s biggest cities, including Edinburgh, riding an entrepreneurial wave that saw a record number of new companies registered last year, research by Virgin StartUp reveals.

In interviews with young entrepreneurs from the UK’s top startup hot-spots, the Virgin not-for-profit company, set up to promote entrepreneurship, shows how generation Y are exploiting opportunities and overcoming difficult challenges in their home towns to build a whole variety of businesses.

The research coincides with Virgin StartUp’s HotHouse Tour, a series of regional workshops for budding entrepreneurs, concluding soon.

Figures from the national enterprise campaign StartUp Britain shows 526,446 new businesses were registered in 2013, compared with 484,224 in 2012. The top 7 hot-spots last year were Greater London 136,939 with new companies; Birmingham 16,281; Manchester 11,765; Glasgow 8085; Bristol 7589; Brighton 7499; and Edinburgh 7112.
According to a survey by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 5 per cent of those under the age of 30 were starting business in 2010. The figure had almost doubled by 2012.

Rising youth unemployment, workplace insecurity and disillusionment with dead-end jobs are some of the factors prompting many to strike out on their own, in sectors ranging from traditional trades, design, fashion to technology and digital marketing.

With little experience of business and modest start-up funds, many rely on their wits and learn from mistakes. For most, it’s a steep learning curve, and not everyone survives. According to one estimate, a third don’t make it through their first year of trading. But a willingness to share experiences and knowledge with others through networking groups gives them a fighting chance.

Amy Dolan is one of those young businesses started in Edinburgh. She is 23 and the founder of Ziggy Sawdust, a furniture redesign business. She says young people in the Scottish capital have established a vibrant hand-craft and creative design sector, encouraged by good local markets, design fairs and independent retailers that allow them to promote their products.

Dolan adds that few young entrepreneurs are able to set up shop in the city, as office rents are too high. “Many of these new businesses are like me – one-man bands. We all have quite small budgets. I work from home so my costs are minimal. But there are helpful organisations like Entrepreneurial Spark which offer other young people desk space, access to computers, phones and WIFI which also helps to keep down overheads,” she says.

“The high office rents in the city are a problem but also an opportunity. I think this forces you to be more creative and unconventional. You can set up pop-up shops, put up stalls in design fairs. In the future, I think young entrepreneurs would benefit from being able to occupy abandoned retail spaces; landlords supplying short-term leases for pop-ups; and more independent shops offering space to promote our work.”

Virgin is hoping to find more young entrepreneurs not just in their HotHouse Tour, but also through their fund schemes in the hubs of the UK, like Edinburgh, in order to boost younger generations into founding successful, competing businesses. And Edinburgh, as a startup hub, according to Dolan, has a lot to offer.

Submitted by Lola Olson

Edinburgh is famous for its history, its architecture and its literature, but it’s not known for cheap rental property. Well, students at the University of Edinburgh say that this is about to change. The Edinburgh Student Housing Co-op, which launched publically last night at the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) chaplaincy, aims to provide cheap rents to Edinburgh students squeezed by landlords.

Mike Shaw, one of the student campaigners behind the cooperative, told the Edinburgh Reporter that, “it was just an idea over a cup of tea a year ago.”

The co-operative – recently incorporated as the Edinburgh Student Housing Cooperative Ltd –  will be the first working student housing co-operative in Britain.

“It’s something that a lot of people said we couldn’t do, but we’ve done it,” he said.

Students coming to Edinburgh from across Scotland and across the globe can expect to pay over £400 a month for a flat in the city, as well as having to fork out for tuition, books and rising living costs.

Campaigners have already secured the 106-bed Wrights Houses overlooking Bruntsfield Links, and hope to rent rooms to students at cut-price rates from September onwards. The co-op hopes to rent out the property to students for just £260 a month. Each of the 26 flats will contain a kitchen/living room, two toilets and a shower – and all with a view of one of the city’s largest public parks.

Those behind the campaign say they want to follow the business model developed by students in the USA, where small-scale housing co-ops have existed for over 70 years. They say that the example of students at Michigan State University, where over 4,000 students live in housing cooperatives, proves that students can be trusted to manage without help from university faculties.

The campaign has been helped out by EUSA, Scotmid and the Cooperative Educational Trust Scotland, but is financially independent. Kirsty Haigh, Vice President of Services at EUSA, told the Edinburgh Reporter that, “we’ve been helping the students throughout the process, working very closely with them. It’s something that EUSA has worked to support, and will continue to do so in the long term.”

Mike Shaw, one of the students behind the campaign, told  how he collaborated with Rector Peter McColl. “It was just an idea over a cup of tea a year ago, and we both knew people who could help us.”

A man and woman have been arrested after £14,000-worth of heroin was found in a house in Edinburgh.

The pair, aged 36 and 35 were charged with drug offences following the raid on the property in Wardieburn Road on Friday and appeared at  Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.

Detective Inspector Stuart Harkness said: “Police Scotland continues to tackle serious and organised crime in the city and this operation demonstrates the continued efforts in that regard.

“I would appeal to those in the local communities we police who may have information on criminals operating in their area to provide us with that information.”

Contact can be made with community officers by calling 101 or alternatively in anonymity by calling the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Five students from Wester Hailes School in Edinburgh were today announced as the winners of the 2013 Keys to the Castle Challenge, and were presented with a trophy to mark their achievement at a special ceremony at Stirling Castle.

The competition is a joint venture between Historic Scotland and Springboard Scotland and is designed to inspire young people to consider a career in tourism in Scotland. The winning team worked together to answer a series of questions about Scotland’s history and culture.

Billie Leigh Taylor, Tommy Kivlin, Vicky Soutar, Ryan Walker and Michael Singh were presented with their trophy as part of a VIP visit to Stirling Castle for themselves plus six of their classmates. They were given the opportunity to meet characters from history during a tour of the recently refurbished James V Palace and took part in a fun, interactive learning experience drawing on different aspects of Stirling Castle.

Entries are now being invited for the 2014 Keys to the Castle Challenge.

Liz Grant, Commercial Business Manager at Stirling Castle said: “Scotland enjoys a thriving tourism industry, and as the biggest operator of visitor attractions in the country, we were delighted to team up with Springboard Scotland on this exciting project. Working in tourism can be incredibly rewarding, and I hope that spending the day at Stirling Castle might encourage some of these young people to consider pursuing a career in this diverse and challenging industry.”

Amanda McDade from Springboard Scotland said: “This competition is a brilliant opportunity for young people across Scotland to gain an understanding and insight into Scotland’s tourism and hospitality industry. Through industry visits and master classes and a year-long relationship with Historic Scotland, the competition affords young people the opportunity to explore tourism as a thriving industry with a wealth of career opportunities open to them.  With the Year of Homecoming, Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games, there has never been a more exciting time to be involved!”

Entries for the 2014 Keys to the Castle Challenge are being invited at www.careerscope.uk.net/events-activities/scottish-tourism-careers-festival/keys-to-the-castle

Hundreds of cyclists will descend on Edinburgh next month (Saturday 12 April) for Scotland’s first ever Red Bull Hill Chasers 2014 – the UK’s only multi-discipline uphill cycling race, transforming the historical Old Town into a gruelling race track for one night only.

Riders are being encouraged to register to take part in the event, sponsored by Charge Bikes, from today by visiting www.redbull.co.uk/hillchasers.

Now in its fourth year, having made its debut in Edinburgh last year, and previously been held in Bristol and Malaysia, the unique urban event will give 500 bike enthusiasts from BMX, mountain bike, road cycling and fixed-gear disciplines a chance to race against their heroes, including Olympic BMX rider, Shanaze Reade.

Battling head-to-head to settle the long-standing dispute between disciplines, amateur racers will be invited to partake in a series of five punishing, mass-start knockout rounds, before being whittled down to just 40.

Following the qualifying heats, the fastest aspirant riders will then battle it out against 10 of the UK’s most elite cycling stars in a bid to steal the winning crown to become the Red Bull Hill Chasers 2014 ‘King of the Hill’.

The international competition will take place on The Mound – a punishing 200m uphill sprint beneath the dramatic Edinburgh skyline.

Cllr Steve Cardownie, Festival & Events Champion, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We are thrilled to welcome back the Red Bull Hill Chasers to Edinburgh following the great excitement and boost to the city the event brought last year, when 5,000 supporters took to the Grassmarket to cheer on more than 100 riders. This year the uphill bike sprint will kick off at the Mound and where could be better to host what will be yet another fantastic cycling event in Edinburgh.”

The qualifying rounds will be held on The Mound between 10:00 and 14:00 on Saturday 12 April. For your chance to compete against the elite as one of the 40 amateur riders please visit www.redbull.co.uk/hillchasers and register for your place in the qualifiers.

EDINBURGH AUTHOR WINS SCOTLAND’S BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Award-winning Edinburgh-based children’s author Janis Mackay was today announced as the winner of the Younger Readers (8-11 years) category of the Scottish Children’s Book Awards 2013, for her book The Accidental Time Traveller, published by Kelpies.

A celebration of the best of Scottish writing and illustration for children, the Scottish Children’s Book Awards are judged in 3 age categories – Bookbug readers (3-7), Younger Readers (8-11) and Older Readers (12-16) – and are run by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with Creative Scotland. The winner in each category receives £3000.

Commenting on her award, Janis, a lecturer at the Office of Lifelong Learning in Edinburgh University, said:-“I am completely thrilled, and can’t quite believe it. It has been such a wonderful opportunity to be shortlisted for this award; suddenly my books are in the consciousness of hundreds of teachers and librarians – and pupils – and I have been invited to many schools and libraries and book festivals.

“First winning the Kelpies prize and now this amazing prize – I feel chuffed, and have already written the sequel!”

Janis MacKay is a writer, storyteller and voice teacher born and raised in Edinburgh. She studied journalism in London, but aged 21 she realised that it was the wrong job for her, and took time out to travel. After returning to Scotland she studied speech and drama, becoming a teacher and voice coach.

After many years she studied for an MA in Creative Writing at Sussex University. An SAC writer-in-residence award took her to Caithness, where she wrote the novel that became her Kelpies prize-winning Magnus Fin and the Ocean Quest in 2009. Her children’s novels feature Magnus Fin, a young boy who is part human, part selkie – a mythical sea creature. Her latest novel, Magnus Fin and the Selkie Secret, is published by Floris books.

Janis is also the niece of Helen Crummy OBE, whose statue is being unveiled on 21st March in Craigmillar, where she lived and started the Craigmillar Festival Society.

The Accidental Time Traveller is a pacy, time-travelling adventure, full of funny misunderstandings and gripping action. It tells the story of Saul, who is on his way to the corner shop one ordinary day when a girl appears suddenly in the middle of the road. She doesn’t understand traffic, or the things in shops, and she’s wearing a long dress with ruffled sleeves. Her name is Agatha Black and she is from 1812, and Saul needs to find a way to get her back there. With help from his mates Will and Robbie, he tries to work out how to make time travel happen.

Record numbers of children read the books on this year’s shortlist, with over 38,000 votes cast – an increase of 20% on last year. The shortlist is comprised of books published between 1^st April 2012 and 31^st March 2013 by authors or illustrators living and working in Scotland, and is chosen by a panel of booksellers, teachers, librarians and, most importantly, children. Children across Scotland are then invited to read the shortlist of three books in their age category and to vote for their favourite.

Jasmine Fassl, Head of Schools at Scottish Book Trust, commented:-“A big thank you to all of the shortlisted authors for writing such wonderful books – children across the country have enjoyed reading, debating and championing each and every one of them over the past few months, with huge numbers of children voting for each book. As our review competition shows, there was something for everyone in the shortlist, with the themes of humour, first love and fast-paced action proving most popular this year. There is nothing nicer than celebrating the books that children themselves have enjoyed reading, and the passion of the teachers, librarians, parents and authors who take part in the Scottish Children’s Book Awards are playing a key part in inspiring a new generation of book lovers.”

Picture book author Chae Strathie, based in Fife, won the Bookbug Readers Category (3-7 Years) for Jumblebum, illustrated by Ben Cort and published by Scholastic and debut author Claire McFall, based in the Scottish Borders, won the Older Readers Category (12-16 Years) for Ferryman (published by Templar).

CALL Scotland has again worked with Scottish Book Trust and the authors and publishers to create accessible digital versions of the nine shortlisted books, for children and young people with physical, visual and reading or dyslexic difficulties, who can’t read the paper books. The accessible digital versions are available free of charge from CALL Scotland. You can request books by going to their website.

The Scottish Children’s Book Awards are managed by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with Creative Scotland, and are supported by The Barcapel Foundation, Times Educational Supplement Scotland, Waterstones, CALL, Ernest Cook Trust and the Zachs-Adams family.

Thirteen big-hearted volunteers braved burning embers and temperatures soaring above 1200 degrees Fahrenheit to tackle a firewalk for the MS Society.

More than £2,300 was raised at the Blaze Firewalk Challenge event which took place in The Centre, Livingston for the charity that supports more than 100,000 people in the UK who are affected by multiple sclerosis.

Most people are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. MS is unpredictable, one day you can be fine, the next you might lose your sight or be unable to move.

After an in-depth training session, the group braved their fears in their orange MS branded t-shirts and walked 20 metres on the roasting hot embers.

2014 marks the end of the second consecutive year of The Centre’s national charity partnership with the MS Society.

The event took place on Thursday 27 February and was followed by a presentation of certificates to all participants.

David Carson, centre director of The Centre in Livingston, said: “I’m delighted by the courage and generosity of all of the firewalkers who took part.

“This is not an easy challenge and every person involved overcame their own fears to complete the walk.

“The MS Society is a fantastic charity and funds support to many people with MS. I would like to extend my thanks to all of the firewalkers for raising such a significant sum.”

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information and urging cat owners to be vigilant following a spate of suspected poisonings in Newtongrange, Midlothian.

Scotland’s animal welfare charity has received reports of four possible cat poisonings in the past month, concentrated in and around Fifth Street.

Inspector Emma Phillips said, “We are concerned by the number of incidents which have been reported to us over a short space of time and in a very small location.

“This suggests there is a source of poison lying out in the area which cats have ready access to.

“The most recent incident took place on Monday (3 March) and the cat involved sadly died. The vet who examined this cat said it showed advanced, untreatable symptoms associated with poisoning and we are now in the process of having a post mortem examination carried out on the body to confirm the cause of death.

“Meanwhile we are urging local cat owners to be extremely vigilant while we investigate this matter.

“Although we can’t confirm what type of poison has been used, in our experience the most common source is antifreeze.

“Animals which have consumed this substance will display a number of symptoms including vomiting, lethargy and in the latter stages, head-shaking and coma, which ultimately results in renal failure and death.

“Owners whose cats appear unwell should seek immediate veterinary treatment as early detection offers the best chance of survival.

“Unfortunately, many cats die a slow, horrible and painful death as a result of poisoning.

“At this early stage we do not know whether the poisonings are the result of a deliberate act or an accidental spillage so we are appealing to local residents to contact us if they have any information in relation to these concerning incidents.”

Anyone with information should call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999. Calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.

A new initiative launched today (Wednesday) by families charities has secured funding to get a fairer deal for working parents and help more fathers to balance work and family life.

Fathers Network Scotland, Parenting across Scotland and Working Families have been awarded £100,000 from the Scottish Government for the initiative to create more family friendly workplaces where parents and carers are supported to work flexibly.

The new funding was announced today by Scotland’s Minister for Children and Young People Aileen Campbell as she launched the Family Friendly Working Scotland programme at an event held in Edinburgh to outline what new flexible working laws will mean for employers.

The new Family Friendly Working Scotland programme will raise awareness about flexible working, conduct research and for the first time fund a dedicated coordinator to work directly with employers in Scotland to support parents at work.

It will also see the launch of new Scottish Top Employers for Working Families awards, designed to promote a family-friendly Scotland in the field of employment.

New UK legislation that comes into effect in June will see the extension of the right to request flexible working to all employees. From 2015 parents will have a right to shared leave.

Research shows that mainly women request flexible working but more fathers would request it if they knew it was accepted by their co-workers.) More than a third of men questioned in a recent UK wide study said they worked full-time and were offered no flexibility at all by their employers. The study also found that 80% of mothers feel “guilty” about going back to work after having children.

The new funding will allow research to be carried out into challenges faced by Scottish families, in particular by fathers. A recent report by Fathers Network Scotland (FNS) highlighted a lack of Scottish data.

As well as the forthcoming UK legislation, the Scottish Government’s National Parenting Strategy commits to making Scotland’s workplaces more family friendly.

Family friendly working polices also benefit employers. Falling absenteeism and higher retention leads to a reduction in costs – 65 per cent of employers said flexible working practices had a positive effect on recruitment and retention, helping employers save money on recruitment, induction and training.

David Drysdale, Founder & Chair, Fathers Network Scotland said: “Fathers’ voices are often unheard at work when it comes to family friendly working. Men are less likely to request flexible working, and if they do, are less likely to get it. Fathers don’t use many of the family friendly initiatives that are available because they’re not aware of them and more often than not, because they think their colleagues or employers wouldn’t take them seriously, and there is an outdated assumption that family friendly working means part time working is only something that mothers need.  However, we know that they too want to combine work with family life. This new partnership will address this and ensure that father’s voices are heard in the workplace.”

Clare Simpson, Parenting Across Scotland (PAS) Project Manager, said: “Our partners work with thousands of families across Scotland, many of whom feel the conflict between work and home life sharply. The new partnership aims to ease that conflict by working to bridge the chasm that exists between the legislation and what happens in reality so that for example, parents aren’t scared to ask for parental leave, or time off to care for a sick child. A real family friendly work ethic in Scotland would benefit parents and employers alike in so many ways.”

Launching the funding and programme of work today, Minister for Children and Young People Aileen Campbell, said, “I’m very aware of the challenges that many parents face in balancing commitments at home and at work.  In addition to measures such as funded early learning and childcare, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of flexible working in helping parents and carers to manage those twin responsibilities.  We’re committed to working with employers to explore ways of promoting and supporting flexible working so I’m delighted that we are able to support this important new initiative.”

Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive, Working Families said, “I am delighted that Working Families has been invited to be involved in this wide-ranging programme of work with two of Scotland’s leading family charities to enable Scottish employers and families to benefit from more family friendly working.”

Edinburgh Zoo’s hoofstock keepers have welcomed their first ever beautiful banteng calf! Although only four weeks old, the bubbly boy loves to canter around outdoors with his parents.

The calf, who has been named Kala, was born to resident banteng Tino and Leticia and is the first ever banteng calf to be born at Edinburgh Zoo. Dad Tino was born in July 2007 and he arrived at Edinburgh Zoo in 2011 from Wroclaw and mum Leticia was born in 2001 and arrived in 2012 from Munich.

Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, banteng are native to South East Asia, with hunting and habitat loss as the two biggest threats to the species. They are very close to becoming locally extinct in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Lorna Hughes, Team Leader of Hoofstock and Primates at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Kala is doing really well; it is great to see him out and about after such a long wait. He’s going from strength to strength and is already proving very popular with our visitors – he certainly has a lot of character! This birth is a positive step in helping towards the conservation of these endangered animals as well as educating visitors about their plight.”

Banteng females give birth to a single calf after a pregnancy that lasts 285 days. The banteng baby will stay close to mum Leticia for around 6 to 9 months, then he will start venturing and exploring further.

Banteng, also known as Tembadau, live in herds of between two and 40 individuals. They like to feed mainly on grasses, bamboo, leaves and fruits and are more active at night due to human encroachment on their natural environment.

Mature males have a dark brown coat, while females are a much lighter brown, with a dark strip down their back, making it very easy to distinguish between the sexes. The baby banteng although born with a light brown coat like all male banteng calves, will turn the more prominent darker colour as he reaches maturity.

Hibs’ Head of Academy Coaching James McDonaugh is delighted with the international recognition his players have earned this week, even though their absence has given him a selection headache.

Danny Handling and Sam Stanton are on duty with the under-21s who play Hungary tonight at  Tannadice, Jason Cummings hopes to start for the  under-19s  against Switzerland this afternoon at the  Energy Asset Arena and Scott Martin is with the under-17s (squad gathering).

McDonaugh told Hibernian TV: “I think it’s brilliant because I don’t think since I’ve been at the club that we’ve had someone at almost every level of internationals.

“We’ve got players right down the squads at this present time with one foot in the door, but it is a testament to the players.

“We were going to be short of a few players, but that would give somebody else a chance and I was looking forward to one or two others getting a chance as they’ve waited patiently.”

The Under 20s game against Inverness yesterday was postponed due to adverse weather conditions in the Highlands.

McDonaugh continued: “I hoped the game would be on because you want the games to be on, there is nothing worse than games of football being off.

I was just hoping the rain and the snow was going to be a passing thing. It’s just one of those things unfortunately; the weather in the Highlands was heavy rain and snow.

“If the pitch was going to be playable it would have been a bit of a farce, so we just need to deal with that.”

Hibs EOS are back in Central Taxis First Division action at Kelso (Woodside Park) on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

Hibs under-20s are back in SPFL U20 League action against Celtic at the Energy Asset Arena, Livingston on Tuesday 11 March, kick off 6pm (admission is via donation to a bucket collection around the stadium).

Photo by John Preece

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography

Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher has returned to the Scotland squad for the first time since November 2012 after battling back from a chronic bowel condition.

The 30-year-old who was brought up in Dalkeith has finally regained his place at Old Trafford but Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee said that Fletcher was not a certain starter for Wednesday’s friendly in Poland and manager Gordon Strachan had yet to decide whether he would regain the captaincy from Celtic midfielder Scott Brown.

His rival for the centre midfield position Barry Bannan said that he was delighted that Fletcher was back.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s friendly against Poland, Bannan said: “I was young when I first broke through and he was one I was kind of in awe of and looked up to. He made it so easy for me. It’s good to have him back. He’s the captain and the leader.”

“There’s a lot of good players in this squad and some good players have been left out, so I would say it’s the strongest so far. Every game, you’re fighting for your place. There’s a lot of good players here. It’s a strong squad now.”

“We have had good results recently. We’re riding high on confidence and hopefully we can keep that going.

“It’s come around that they’re going to be our group, so we’ll get a good look at them and I’m sure they’ll get a good look at us too, but it could give us that edge if we get one over on them and put a good performance.”

The Poles are also in Scotland’s group for the forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Mikaeel Kular died from “peritonitis and intra-abdominal haemorrhage (pending investigation)” according to the death certificate which was released by the Registrar at Kirkcaldy yesterday.

Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum – the thin lining of the abdomen. The inflammation is most often caused by an infection from elsewhere in the body, but it can also develop directly.

An intra-abdominal haemorrhage is a bleed inside someone’s abdomen.

The youngster’s death was registered by his step-grandfather, Mr B Krishnaswamy and time on the certificate was recorded as “04:02 on 18 January”.

Mikaeel was reported missing from the family home in Ferry Gait Crescent on 16 January and hundreds of local residents joined in the search for him.

His photograph was shown on television throughout the UK before his body was discovered in woodland behind Dunvagen Avenue, Kirkcaldy.

Afterwards hundreds of people in Edinburgh gathered at the city’s Muirhouse St Andrew’s Church for a service in his memory. They also released dozens of colourful balloons.

Candlelit vigils for Mikaeel were held on both sides of the Firth of Forth, at Cramond in Edinburgh and Ravenscraig beach in Kirkcaldy.

His mother Rosdeep Kularis is currently being held on remand at Cornton Vale prison near Stirling. She has appeared twice in court in Edinburgh, making no plea or declaration.

International Women’s Day – Bruncheon! – Concert – Photography Exhibition – Jelly & Gin

Jackie Baillie MSP has lodged a motion at Holyrood to recognise International Women’s Day which takes place this weekend, and specifically mentions University of Edinburgh graduate Katherine Grainger in it.

The motion reads:-“S4M-09084 Jackie Baillie: International Women’s Day 2014—That the Parliament recognises that 8 March 2014 is International Women’s Day; understands that this day plays a vital role in promoting women’s issues and celebrating their achievements; notes that this year’s theme is Inspiring Change and calls for challenging the status quo for women’s equality and vigilance inspiring positive change; acknowledges that, since the day’s first celebration in 1911, Scotland and the rest of the UK have come a long way in promoting women’s equality and emancipation, but believes that much more needs to be done to address issues such as the gender pay gap, underrepresentation of women in senior positions, female unemployment and the availability of childcare; welcomes the many Scottish events that will take place to mark what it considers this important day, such as the University of Edinburgh International Women’s Day Lecture by Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger, Falkirk’s all female open mic and social session, Dundee’s Women’s Festival, which aims to celebrate women through film, history, arts, music and drama in a series of workshops and events and the Clamjamfrie organised by Glasgow Parkour Girls, and commends all those who are working diligently to improve women’s social, economic and political position.”

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Go and have a lovely Bruncheon! with Great Female Singers/Songwriters from 11.30am – 3pm, free entry at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street on Saturday 8 March which is International Women’s Day.

The theme for the March 8th Bruncheon is Great Female Singers/Songwriters.

The first International Women’s Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women’s groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day.

“We will be inviting some of Edinburgh’s top musicians to perform the songs that mean the most to them of all the great songs that have been sung or written by women. From Bjork to Aretha Franklin, we’ll be honouring some of the heroines that have touched our lives with their music.

“There will also be a performance by the Ladies Guerrilla String Quartet, and the cafe will be preparing a  special themed menu for the day.”

Those of you on facebook can follow all the Bruncheon facebook action here.

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The Edinburgh Telephone Choir present a concert “A Song for Everyone” in St. Philip’s church on Wednesday March 12th at 7.30.  Tickets cost £6 including refreshments and can be obtained from Ian Warwick on 669 4906 or at the door on the night.  The concert is organised by the Portobello & District Council of Churches, supporting the Christian Aid Malawi Community Partnership. When the PDCC raise £5,000 a grant from the government makes it £40,000 and all proceeds of the ETC concert go towards this project.  Approx £2,500 has been raised already.

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Wildlife Photographer of the Year at National Museum of Scotland

17 March – 1 June 2014

Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3

Free

Through the lens of wildlife photography this exhibition captures the intrigue and beauty of our planet. These awe-inspiring images, selected from 43,000 entries by amateur and professional photographers in 96 countries, give us a glimpse of the natural world as it has never been seen before. From charismatic animal portraits to dramatic landscapes and provocative photojournalism, this year’s breathtaking exhibition raises the bar of wildlife photography once more, exciting loyal fans and new audiences alike. The 100 award-winning images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 competition are beautifully displayed on back-lit installations, with each image accompanied by its photographer’s story and technical details.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is co-owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide.

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Now for a bit of forward planning…

“Jelly&Gin are creating an immersive experience that will evoke the sights, sounds and scents encountered in the whisky making process from grain to glass. We are taking over a former milk factory in Leith and aim to transform it into a multi-sensory adventure in just two days. Guests will experience four different whiskies with all the senses through the use of lighting, projection, sound and scent. Small bites of locally sourced, artisan produced food will complement each of the four drams which have been selected from Jura Whisky Single Malts.”

Dates:  14 – 20 May 2014
Times: Lunchtime sessions at 1pm – 2.30pm daily, Evening sessions 7pm – 8.30pm
Ticket Price:
Weekday Sessions: Early Bird £15/ £20 Standard
Evenings and weekends: Early Bird £20/ £25 Standard

The event is part of Whisky Month, a month-long, country-wide celebration of Scotland’s national drink during May 2014 and is supported by Scotland Food and Drink. There are tickets on sale now. Cli

Figures released today (Wednesday 5 March) from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) reveal that the National Museum of Scotland was the most visited attraction in the UK outside London in 2013.

Announcing its members’ visitor figures, ALVA confirmed that the National Museum of Scotland received 1,768,090 visitors last year.

Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland, commented: “2013 has been a terrific year for National Museums Scotland and we are pleased and proud of these results.

“Being confirmed as the most visited attraction outside London for the third year running demonstrates that we continue to capture the imagination of  visitors with compelling exhibitions, imaginative public programmes and internationally important collections.

“We have welcomed over five million visitors to the National Museum of Scotland since its reopening in summer 2011, a remarkable achievement for a country of only five million people.”

Highlights from 2013 at the National Museum of Scotland included Vikings! a major exhibition of Scandinavian treasures brought to Scotland for the first time and Mary Queen of Scots, a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition developed by National Museums Scotland, offering a unique, definitive and fascinating insight into one of the most charismatic monarchs of all time.

British Transport Police are looking for a gang of around six men who were involved in singing sectarian songs and acting in a “threatening and abusive” manner on a train travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow on Saturday.

The men boarded the Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street service at Linlithgow station around 6.35pm on Saturday evening and are reported to have acted in a threatening and abusive manner.

They were also reportedly singing songs of a sectarian nature until they got off the train at Falkirk High around 15 minutes later.

The only description of the men available is that they were all aged less than 40 years.

CCTV footage from on the train and at both stations is currently being reviewed in an attempt to identify those involved.

Constable Christopher Sutherland is asking anyone with information to get in touch with him.

He said: “There is no excuse for this sort of behaviour on public transport. This was a busy service and I am appealing for anyone who was on the train or at either station and witnessed this unwelcome behaviour to come forward.”

British Transport Police can be contacted on 0800 40 50 40.

Hibs stars Owain Tudur Jones and Scott Robertson joined City of Edinburgh Chief Executive Sue Bruce last week to support the Citadel Youth Centre’s careers event – providers of support for young people leaving school.

Hibernian Community Foundation and Edinburgh College were also there to showcase the Hibernian Learning Centre, situated in the South Stand at Easter Road Stadium.

Working with people of all ages, Hibernian Learning Centre offers flexible learning opportunities for IT core skills and European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) qualifications.

In addition, the Learning Centre offers courses that provide an introduction to mobile apps, website design, social media, 3D design and digital photography. People of all ages, abilities and experience have the opportunity to learn at their own pace, gain and practice new skills, and earn valuable qualifications.

The Learning Centre also plays host to learning opportunities specifically designed to support people into employment through courses and independent learning. Qualified tutors and learning assistants can help people of all ages enter or re-enter the work force through skill acquisition, an independent job search and physical fitness activities.

The long term aim of the partnership between Hibernian Community Foundation and Edinburgh College is to provide learning opportunities in the community and engage with people who want to learn something new but might not see themselves as college students or be able to access full time courses. The courses are designed to provide enjoyable learning opportunities in the exciting environment of Hibernian football, and we aim to ensure local people have more access to skills, education and employment.

Edinburgh Castle has welcomed over 1.4 million visitors for the first time in its history.

The figures were released today by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) which comprises over 200 of the UK’s top attractions – including The Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tower of London – whose members release their visitor figures annually.

The castle, which is run by Historic Scotland, saw 1,420,027 visitors go through its doors in 2013, a 15% increase on the previous year.

The castle was the number one paid-for visitor attraction in Scotland last year and the most visited paid-for UK attraction outside London.

The figures come on the back of a successful year for the castle which was named ‘Best UK Heritage Attraction’ at the British Travel Awards for the third year in a row and saw record-breaking summer visitor figures.

An increase in visitor numbers was also recorded at Historic Scotland’s other top-three properties, Stirling Castle (up 2% to 411,726) and Urquhart Castle (up 5% to 310,446).

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs said: “Edinburgh Castle continues to captivate visitors from around the world and I am delighted that it has welcomed more than 1.4m visitors for the first time, which is a significant milestone.

“Scotland’s heritage sector continues to play an important role, supporting 60,000 jobs, contributing over £2bn to our economy and continuing to enthral visitors from home and abroad.”

Stephen Duncan, Director of Commercial and Tourism for Historic Scotland, which runs the castle and 77 other heritage attractions across the country said: “2013 was a fantastic year for our sites – with record-breaking figures, membership at an all-time high and Edinburgh Castle breaking the 1.4 million visitor mark for the first time.

“In terms of trends, we had anticipated an increase in travel trade numbers this year after a flattening-out of numbers in 2012; however the increase has exceeded all expectations. We are also benefitting from an increase in visitors from China and the emerging markets.

“Alongside this, we have seen the benefits of investment in our e-commerce offering, with tickets for 66 of our sites now available to purchase online, providing greater flexibility for visitors.

“Meanwhile our award winning events programme, which commences next month, continues to bring history to life and will form a key part of this year’s Homecoming activity.”

Hibs’ midfielder Sam Stanton is hoping to continue with his impressive run of form when Scotland Under-21s take on Hungary at Tannadice Park on Wednesday night.

The 19-year-old made his first appearance of the season against to Celtic in January and has maintained his place in the first-team since, notching his first senior goal against Raith Rovers in the William Hill Scottish Cup in February.  He also scored in Hibs’ 2-1 league win over Ross County last month.

His form caught the attention of Scotland Under-21 coach Billy Stark, who has included him in his squad for tomorrow night’s friendly.

Stanton said: “I’ve loved every minute of first-team football at my club and just want to keep going now.

“My target now is to keep my place in the first team and to play as much football as I can, be that for Hibs or the national team.

“I had no idea I was in line for a call up to the squad but it’s obviously great to be involved.

“Not so long ago I was playing for the under-20s team at Hibs.

“We had a few injuries and a suspension and the gaffer told me he was impressed with how I had been playing for the under-20s and with how I was doing in training and gave me a start against Celtic.

“Since then, I’ve maintained my place in the team and also been called up to the under-21s so it has been a good few months for me and I’m enjoying my football.”

After making his first-team debut in 2012 in a league match against Rangers, Stanton was sent on loan to Cowdenbeath to gain more first-team experience, but a knee injury put his development on hold for six months after just two appearances at the Blue Brazil.

He said: “I made a few appearances from the bench for Hibs two years ago and was then sent out on loan to Cowdenbeath but I picked up injury in training which put my out for a few months.

“It was really bad injury at the time but thankfully everything is OK now and I’m involved in the Hibs team again.”

Scotland’s friendly with Hungary will be their last match before their UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier with the Netherlands in May.

With just three qualifying matches remaining, Scotland will require a victory over the Dutch to give them a realistic shot at reaching the play-offs later this year.

Although Stanton has yet to earn his first under-21 appearance, he is hopeful of featuring for Scotland later in the year.

He continued: “I would love to get a run out against Hungary tomorrow night and earn my first under-21 cap but I want to stay involved and show what I can do here.

“There are a lot of other players in the squad that are in the same situation as me so it’s important I do as well as I can.

“Billy Stark has already spoken to me about my game, what he likes about me and where he thinks I can improve.

“I’m focussed on the Hungary match and we’ll see what happens after that.”

Entry to Scotland’s friendly with Hungary is by cash gate and priced at £5 for adults and £2 for kids.

Photo by John Preece

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography

Police Scotland today published local information about the number of police officers in the 14 divisions across the country.

These figures, which will be published quarterly, will appear on the Police Scotland website.

  http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/212598/

The Scottish Government today has published statistics on the number of police officers serving in Police Scotland.

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Police-Officer-QUARTERLY-Strength-statistics-Scotland-31-December-2013-9f9.aspx

Both sets of data refer to the actual number of police officers on 31 December 2013.

Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: “Local policing is at the heart of Police Scotland. The creation of single service has allowed us better flexibility in allocating police officers to the right place at the right time to help keep people safe.

“Police Scotland can now provide improved access to specialist services in support of local policing right across the country, with every division now benefiting from being able to draw in this resource when needed.

“Every division now has access to every kind of specialist support without geographical boundaries. This allows Police Scotland to protect and enhance local policing for our communities.

“Police Scotland continues to maintain police officer numbers at a minimum of 17,234 to meet the Scottish Government’s commitment and we have a rolling recruitment programme.”

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called to a fire at Langside Farm in Dalkeith at 12.39pm today.

Operations Control Edinburgh mobilised crews from Dalkeith, Musselburgh, Marionville, Liberton, Tranent, McDonald Road and Crewe Toll fire stations to the incident.

On arrival firefighters discovered 100 tonnes of baled straw alight in a barn which also contained animals.

Crews worked with the farmer to move the animals to a safe area and secure adequate water supplies to attack the fire.

Firefighters had to deal with the additional hazards of the adjacent to shed containing fertiliser and the high voltage power lines in close proximity.

Scottish Power isolated the high voltage power lines and crews managed to mitigate the risk of the fertiliser being involved in the incident.

Firefighters are currently working with two lines of hose and a water bowser to tackle the fire.

Crews are expected to be on scene for some considerable time.

2014 Cheltenham Festival- The Scottish Connection

With only a matter of days to go until the 2014 Cheltenham Festival gets underway, fans everywhere will be looking forward to a week of top class national hunt racing.

The festival begins on Tuesday March 11th and, after expanding to four days racing in 2005, will run until Friday 14 March. During this time, 27 races of the highest quality will excite race goers, with millions in prize money on offer.

Fans who wish to follow all of the latest news in the build up to the festival can follow news stories with posts tagged “Cheltenham odds” at Coral. Being on top of all the news can be the key to finding a winner at the festival.

The 2014 event will feature some of the most well-known names in the racing industry, with superstar horses such as Hurricane Fly, Bobs Worth, and Big Buck’s , as well as top jockeys such as A.P. McCoy and Ruby Walsh likely to go close for the top jockey award.

As well as these, several horses, trainers and jockeys with links to Scotland will be appearing at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival, hoping to take some of the biggest races of the season.

Ryan Mania: Last year’s Grand National winning jockey on board Aurora’s Encore, Mania hails from Galashiels. He will be hoping to have a few winners at the festival to continue to enhance his growing reputation in the sport.

Lucinda Russell: As Scotland’s leading national hunt trainer, Russell is enjoying an excellent season so far, and her best bet of Cheltenham victory may be Tap Night, who is a 16/1 shot with Coral for the Byrne Group Plate on day three.

Musselburgh Trials Day: Scotland’s leading national hunt racecourse played host to a day of Cheltenham trial races on February 2nd, with home-grown jockey Ryan Mania winning two races. Several of the entrants will go on to race in some of the biggest events at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival, with their outings at Musselburgh possibly giving them a key bit of form going in to the festival.

In other news leading up to Cheltenham, fans will be disappointed to see that superstar chaser Sprinter Sacre has been pulled out of defending his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown due to a heart defect. Sire De Grugy is a 7/4 favourite with Coral now to take victory in Sprinter Sacre’s absence.

Featured Article 

Locally based Edinburgh charity, Hearts & Minds host their very first Vintage Fashion Show, aiming to create awareness and understanding of dementia as well as raising funds for their Elderflowers programme which brings joy, hope and interaction to ladies and gentlemen suffering from dementia throughout Scotland.-

Hearts & Minds is a Scottish arts-in-health charity who aims to improve the experience of people in hospital, hospice, residential and respite care by using performing arts to encourage communication, interaction and laughter. We achieve our aim through two specialist creative programmes; The Clowndoctors, who work specifically with children, and The Elderflowers, who work with elderly people with dementia.
The immersive Elderflowers programme provides a valuable outlet for the participants’ own personality and humour, offering creative, physical and mental stimulation. The Elderflowers are trained to pick up on the interests and mood of each individual elderly person and respond accordingly, this can mean playful banter or very gentle, non-verbal communication.
Elderflowers adopt a European-style theatre clowning and wear the smallest mask in the world – a red nose – to connect with patients’ vulnerability. They visit 10 healthcare units regularly and always aim to connect with the essence of the person.

Magdalena Schamberger, Founder and Artistic Director of Hearts and Minds stated that: “Although many people no longer recognise their family members, they do have an innate understanding of what family means and the Elderflowers become their family for the day. The Elderflowers work to a scenario of always needing advice such as what songs to play, how to behave at a wedding or what colour to paint a wall. Patients really appreciate being asked for their opinion rather than simply taking a passive role.”

Hearts & Minds are hosting an event full of fun, fashion, music and more on March 26th 2014 at their Charity Vintage Fashion Show.

Guests will be invited to settle down at one of the candle-lit tables and will be prepared for the show with a glass of prosecco, tea or coffee and a fantastic array of cakes and sandwiches which are all included in our Afternoon Tea package from the Scottish Gallery & Café.
During the runway show Hearts & Minds will be proud to present ‘Miss Dixiebelle Vintage Hair and Beauty Parlour’ who will be creating appropriate glamorous looks for our Elderflower models as they strut their stuff wearing a selection of unique vintage fashion pieces from the independently owned, Edinburgh based boutique ‘Those Were The Days’. Throughout the event, there will be a selection of retro music hall sounds provided by the Gramophone DJ “Lord Holyrude”.  Not only will all of this fabulous food and entertainment be included in the ticket price, but ticket-holders will also be automatically enrolled into our prize draw, with the chance to win some exclusive raffle prizes including: tickets to see Robbie Williams at Glasgow’s SSE, a behind the scenes tour of River City, a musical trip back to OZ with “Wicked” tickets and much, much more! –

Those Were The Days – is a independently owned, unique vintage fashion boutique situated in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. Providing a hand picked collection of vintage fashions, bridal wear, jewellery and accessories sourced from around the world.

Miss Dixiebelle Vintage Hair and Beauty – is a vintage hair & beauty parlour and retro clothing boutique based in Edinburgh with a mobile styling service in Glasgow. Aiming to perfect the entire Rockabilly, Retro, Pin up or any vintage era from the 20’s to the 60’s look.

Lord Holyrude – Gramophone DJ spinning everything from Glenn Miller and Ella Fitzgerald to Artie Shaw to help create the perfect vintage atmosphere.-

The Hearts & Minds Charity Vintage Fashion Show is the first major event of its kind for Hearts & Minds with all proceeds going to the Hearts & Minds Elderflowers Programme which helps bring joy, hope and much needed interaction to elderly ladies and gentlemen across Scotland who suffer from dementia.

One of the key aims of our event is to help raise the awareness and understanding of dementia within the UK. According to a recent study, the current figure notes that there are 800,00 people in the UK with some form of dementia and that this is only set to increase within the next 25 years.

Due to this steady increase, Hearts & Minds believe that it is vitally important that these elderly ladies and gentlemen still have the opportunity to be stimulated, participate in the arts and are encouraged to interact and laugh.

Wednesday, March 26th, 2014 – 6.30pm till 8.30pm
The Scottish Café & Restaurant, The Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, EH22EL

Submitted by James McLaren

Major Private Collection of Scottish Born Russell Flint Paintings to be Auctioned 

Lyon & Turnbull will sell a major private collection of paintings by Edinburgh born artist Sir William Russell Flint at auction of British & European Paintings on 30th April 2014 at 33 Broughton Place, EH1 3RR.

The collection is worth £200,000 with estimates ranging between £5,000 and £50,000.

By his death in 1969 Sir William Russell Flint was a world famous artist: a long term Royal Academician and President of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour. A familiar face in London society where virtually the entirety of his career was conducted. Nick Curnow Paintings Specialist and Managing Director of Lyon & Turnbull said “His appreciators are often unaware that he was a born and bred Scotsman. Growing up in Portobello on the coast to the east of Edinburgh, he learnt his extraordinary skill as a watercolourist at his father’s knee: a ticket maker and illuminator of text, who practised art in his spare moments.”

Paintings include ‘The Dance of 1000 Flounces’ estimate £30,000-£50,000, is the celebrity of the collection, previously known as ‘Ladies of Almeria’. It is one of the most famous painting by Flint and it is also one of the most reproduced. The artist signed a limited edition reproduction that has sold for as much as a thousand pounds. Painted on one of Flint’s visit to Spain, it represents the artist at his best showing his extraordinary skills as a watercolour artist and his ability to capture the very spirit of the country through the sensuous poses of the female dancers.

‘Cecilia’, estimate  £20,000-30,000 and ‘Dalitha’  also £20,000-30,000, show his fascination with the feminine beauty and with that of Cecilia Green in particular. Cecilia has been Flint’s model, inspiration, assistant and friend for over 15 years and has been portrayed in painting after painting in a different role all the time.

‘Sisters at Dinard’, £6,000-8,000 is a lovely small work that captures the vivacious spirit of the epoch – of the relaxed, jaunty, playful atmosphere of a 1930s sunny French beach.

‘Gypsies on the Beach’ £10,000-15,000 shows how much the Mediterranean countries and their exotic flair have inspired the artist, and the always-present fascination with the sensuousness of the female body.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian has been singing the praises of Drake Music Scotland after the Niddrie-based charity won a top award.

Ms Johnstone, education spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating the organisation’s users, volunteers and staff on winning Best Special Educational Needs Resource at the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence.

She said: “Drake Music provides great opportunities for people with disabilities, and I’m delighted to see their specialist teaching methods being recognised. Participation in music is an important part of child development and wellbeing.

“Music tuition for pupils with additional support needs can be patchy, so I hope this award highlights the good work being done and encourages local authorities and government agencies to build a stronger network of music education services.”