The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 12 June 2024
Taylor Swift donates money to local foodbanks, Fringe boss defends Baillie Gifford sponsorship, questions over Leith Links housing + Victoria Swing Bridge reopens
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. It’s Fringe festival programme announcement day. All the details will be in today’s Culture Minute for subscribers. And if you’re not a subscriber, this week you can get 20% off. Here’s Wednesday’s Edinburgh Minute.
🎭 This year’s Fringe programme goes live this morning. - BBC Scotland’s Arts Correspondent Pauline McLean covers the launch here.
⮑ Fringe Society chief executive Shona McCarthy has ‘robustly defended’ its sponsorship by Baillie Gifford, after the investment management firm cancelled all of its sponsorship deals with literary festivals across the UK following protests over its links to Israel and fossil fuel companies. - Libby Brooks, The Guardian.
⮑ ‘Fringe society’s refusal to bow to activists and keep Baillie Gifford is welcome’ - today’s Scotsman editorial column.
🎤 Three days of Taylor Swift concerts at Murrayfield are over, but yesterday it emerged the singer left a donation to a local foodbank charity. The Edinburgh Food Project team said:
“As fans gathered at Murrayfield on Friday for the first of three record-breaking gigs, Edinburgh Food Project found out that Taylor Swift would be making a donation to support foodbanks across the city. Taylor’s visit will live in Edinburgh’s memories for years to come, and this gift will mean people in crisis will also feel the long-lasting impact. Thank you so much Taylor – you have changed Edinburgh for good”
🏡 ‘Does Leith Links really need more hotel rooms, and why are local hotels doubling in size?’ - Leith Links Community Council members have published their analysis of the council's efforts to house homeless people. - Thanks to a subscriber for sharing this link.
“Edinburgh does indeed face serious challenges of supply and affordability of housing. But as demand increases, the only things that seem to be increasing in supply are purpose-built student accommodation and hotels of various kinds. Our city needs homes, not hotel rooms.” - Leith Links Community Council.
✂️ As you might have seen on yesterday’s Evening News front page, Leith’s category-A listed Victoria Swing Bridge was officially reopened at the weekend. - Forth Ports published this press release.
🚕 The Edinburgh Taxi Trade Children’s Outing returned to the capital yesterday for its 76th year. - Caitlyn Dewar, STV News.
🚝 Commuters were ‘left scrambling’ to check live train times after the digital screens at Waverley station suffered a fault yesterday evening. - Dale Miller, The Scotsman.
🍟 Franco’s chippy in Stockbridge has been put up for sale. A listing says the business is on the market ‘reluctantly’ as the owner looks to concentrate on another restaurant he owns.- Adam Robertson, The National.
⚽️ Local writer Imran Rahman-Jones shares his take on ‘The 10 best Edinburgh pubs to watch Euro 2024’:
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📌 “Three national mental health charities - Change Mental Health, Penumbra Mental Health and Health in Mind - are hosting a Mental Health General Election Hustings at Augustine United Church in Edinburgh on Tuesday 18th June at 7pm. This is an opportunity for people to ask five political parties about mental health and make their voice heard ahead of the General Election. While mental health is devolved to Scotland, it's pivotal that political parties at all levels prioritise mental health and commit to using all levers to improve services and support.” - More details here from Change Mental Health.
📌 “ACE IT is launching digital skills sessions for over 50s at Bellfield in Portobello starting next Tuesday 18th June. If you need help with your digital device or want to get online, give us a call on 0131 667 2053 to book in or find out more!” - More details here from ACE IT Scotland.
📌 “Sunday 16 June: Nonviolent Communication Scotland Gathering 2024 takes place on 16.06 in University of Edinburgh. 10am-5pm, full day of activities, connection and learning. Contribution donation based. Community gathering for already practicing NVC folks.” - Cathy Sommer, NVC trainer.
📌 “As AI is developed and AI-powered tools become more promising and widely available, there's a temptation to assume this technology is a definitive answer to most of our troubles. Part of The Melting Pot's AI & Social Innovation Series, "Techno-solutionism in AI" is an event designed to discover how to overcome barriers and make AI better for all.” - Thanks to The Melting Pot for sharing this.
📌 “This carers week (10th – 14th June) local charity LifeCare Edinburgh is highlighting the support offered to unpaid carers every week of the year - the charity invites unpaid carers of adults to come along to free activity sessions to relax, have time for you and meet others in a similar position. Sessions such as zumba, yoga, watercolours and sculpture take place in the LifeCare Hub on Cheyne Street and run through the week at different days and times, you can find the full calendar here.” - Thanks to Claire Montgomery, LifeCare, for sharing this.
📮 Is that it? Something missing? Share your local news and events here.
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Gosh that feels really short today. If I've missed anything please do share!