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Image of building works of a new concert hall Edinburgh

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Work Set to Begin on New Concert Hall at St Andrew Square

Edinburgh is finally set to gain its first purpose-built concert hall in over a century, with construction work due to begin behind the RBS building at St Andrew Square.

The long-planned venue will bring a modern, 1,000-seat performance space to the very heart of the city, after years of delays, redesigns and funding hurdles.

A Major Cultural Boost for the City Centre

The new hall (known as the Dunard Centre) has been designed to fill a long-recognised gap in Edinburgh’s cultural landscape. While the city is world-famous for its festivals, it has lacked a dedicated mid-sized concert venue with modern acoustics and year-round programming.

When completed, the hall is expected to host:

  • classical and orchestral concerts
  • touring artists and contemporary music
  • community and youth performances
  • festival events outwith peak season
  • educational and outreach programmes

Its central location at St Andrew Square will also make it one of the most accessible arts venues in Scotland, with immediate links to trams, buses and Waverley Station.

Construction to Start After Years of Delays

The project has taken a long and complicated route to reach this point. Changes in design, rising costs and legal challenges slowed progress, but all major approvals are now in place, and contractors have been appointed.

Preparatory work will begin around the square in the coming weeks, including:

  • clearing and securing the site
  • laying foundations
  • installing new utilities and access routes
  • forming the main structure of the auditorium

Once the hall’s frame is complete, work will move to the interior fit-out, including specialist acoustic treatment, seating, rehearsal rooms and backstage facilities.

“A Venue for the Next 100 Years”

City leaders and arts groups have welcomed the move, describing the Dunard Centre as a once-in-a-generation investment in the capital’s cultural future.

They say the venue will:

  • support local musicians and arts organisations
  • attract world-class performers
  • boost the evening economy around St Andrew Square
  • provide new opportunities for young people
  • strengthen Edinburgh’s position as an international cultural city

The hall is being developed in partnership with the Royal Bank of Scotland, arts funders and a number of cultural organisations who have campaigned for a purpose-built venue in the city centre.

What Happens Next?

With groundworks beginning shortly, more detailed timelines are expected to be announced once construction milestones are reached. The project is widely seen as a cultural landmark for Edinburgh, not just a new building, but a long-term investment in the city’s creative life.

An opening timeline is expected to be confirmed once construction milestones are reached.

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Edinburgh homelessness

CommunityEducationHealthNews

Edinburgh Launches New Homelessness-Prevention Pilot

A major new initiative aimed at preventing people from becoming homeless has been approved for Edinburgh, after the City of Edinburgh Council and local partners secured funding from the Scottish Government.

The pilot — called the System Wide Approach to Prevention (SWAP) – “Ask and Act” — will run in Wester Hailes and focus on stepping in much earlier to help people at risk of losing their home. The idea is simple but powerful: ask about someone’s housing situation, act quickly, and offer coordinated support before they reach crisis point.

The scheme is directly linked to the newly passed Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, which places a legal duty on public bodies to spot early warning signs and take action to prevent homelessness.

Across Scotland, 15 projects are sharing £4 million from the Homelessness Prevention Pilot Fund, managed by Advice Direct Scotland. Edinburgh has secured just over £600,000 of this pot — a strong endorsement of the city’s proposal.

A new multi-agency team will now be created, bringing together staff from the Council, NHS Lothian, Police Scotland, Prospect Community Housing, Social Security Scotland, the Scottish Prison Service and Crisis.

These partners will embed the “Ask and Act” approach into everyday services across Wester Hailes, giving residents a single point of contact for fast, joined-up support.

The aim is to identify issues early — whether financial pressure, health concerns, or instability at home — and offer practical help that keeps people in their accommodation.

Councillor Tim Pogson, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, welcomed the news, saying the funding will boost efforts to tackle Edinburgh’s ongoing housing emergency.

He noted that the city’s prevention services supported 2,622 households last year as part of its Local Housing Strategy.

Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said the Scottish Government is determined to end homelessness by preventing it: “This investment will help us test and scale up innovative approaches to help people stay in their homes.”

Further details on rollout, neighbourhood engagement, and support options are expected in the coming weeks.

📄 More info here: edinburgh.gov.uk
📍 City of Edinburgh Council, Waverley Court, 4 East Market St, Edinburgh EH8 8BG

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Parkinson’s UK offers new activity grants in Edinburgh and East Lothian

CommunityCultureEducationHealthSport

Parkinson’s UK New Activity Grants in Edinburgh & East Lothian

Parkinson’s UK has launched a new physical activity grants programme for marginalised communities across the UK to help more people living with the condition to get active. 

The pilot grants programme will run from Monday 2 June to Sunday 10 August 2025. It will run in conjunction with the charity’s established physical activity grants programme, which has been delivering funding of up to £3,000 for exercise professionals and local Parkinson’s groups since 2021. 

In that time, more than £700,000 has been delivered and more than 200 physical activity projects have benefitted from the funding.   

The grants for marginalised communities aim to deliver more innovative exercise, wellbeing, and physical activity projects in targeted areas across the UK. They will also offer more opportunities for those in these communities to shape the future delivery and development of the Physical Activity Grants programme. 

Funding of up to £3,000 is available for any of the following social groups affected by Parkinson’s: 

  • Global majority (including all those who are previously categorised as ethnic minorities)
  • People with other disabilities, be it a physical, neurodiverse or hidden disability
  • People from a low socio-economic background
  • People from the LGBTQIA+ community 
  • People from Refugee, Asylum Seeker & Migrant communities
  • Women 

The following community groups and organisations that support the Parkinson’s community are also eligible to apply: 

  • Community-based not for profit organisations (including charities, CICs, and constituted community groups, excluding Parkinson’s UK Local groups/branches) 
  • Community Amateur Sports clubs (CASCs) 
  • Community benefit societies and Co-operatives 
  • Social Enterprises

Funding can be offered for exercise classes, consultation with the Parkinson’s community and towards engagement events. 

Applicants will need to complete a brief project description and discuss their ideas with local Parkinson’s UK staff and area managers. Once they have spoken with a local Parkinson’s UK representative, applicants will be invited to complete an application form.

Selected locations across the UK are now eligible to receive funding if they work with Parkinson’s communities from marginalised groups. 

A full list of these locations can be found by visiting the Parkinson’s UK grants for marginalised communities page. 

Roma Hashim, Physical Activity Grants Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said:  

“We’re really excited about launching the Physical Activity Grants for Marginalised Communities pilot programme this year. The Physical Activity Grants Programme was established to support the Parkinson’s community and the leisure industry to develop and deliver opportunities to be active at a local and regional level. 

“However, we’ve since recognised that there is an increasing number of people from marginalised communities getting a Parkinson’s diagnosis who have limited access to support groups or programmes. 

“Every grant aims to support people with Parkinson’s from marginalised communities to engage in physical activity, to improve their wellbeing. Their insights will also help us understand their needs and shape the future development of exercise and physical activity from Parkinson’s UK.”

For more information about the pilot grants programme for marginalised communities, contact physicalactivity@parkinsons.org.uk or visit www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/physical-activity-grants-marginalised-communities 

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Sara Thomson The Leith Collective

CommunityEducation

Free Edinburgh School Uniform Exchange Launched by The Leith Collective

Teachers Warn: Edinburgh School Uniform Costs Are Leaving Pupils Behind

Many families in Edinburgh are struggling to afford new school uniforms, with some pupils starting the school year in worn-out clothing — or none at all!

The rising cost of school essentials has left children feeling singled out and unable to fully participate in school life, say teachers and parents who have turned to The Leith Collective for help.

The Leith Collective launches free school uniform exchange to help families in need

In response, the not-for-profit organisation is relaunching its free Edinburgh school uniform exchange — an initiative that ensures every child can start the new academic year feeling confident and fully equipped.

The exchange will be open throughout the summer at The Leith Collective stores in Ocean Terminal, Fort Kinnaird, Livingston Designer Outlet, and Dundee’s Overgate Centre. Locals are encouraged to donate good-quality uniforms, coats, shoes, PE kits, schoolbags, pencil cases, and other school-related items. These will then be distributed, free of charge, to families in need — no questions asked.

Founder Sara Thomson explained:

“We’ve heard from so many parents and teachers about the emotional toll this takes on families. No child should feel excluded or embarrassed just because their family can’t afford school basics. And from an environmental point of view, reusing uniforms keeps perfectly good clothing out of landfill.”

This is the third year The Leith Collective has run the free school clothing exchange, and demand is higher than ever. To help meet that need, local businesses are also being asked to donate any surplus stock or useful supplies. Those who take part will receive a Community Support Certificate as a thank-you.

The school uniform exchange is available during normal store opening hours at the following locations:

📍 The Leith Collective Locations

Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh
Mon–Sat: 11am–6pm | Sun: 11am–5pm

Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh
Open daily: 10am–8pm

Livingston Designer Outlet
Mon: 9am–7pm | Tue–Wed: 9am–6pm | Thu–Sat: 9am–8pm | Sun: 9am–6pm

Overgate Centre, Dundee
Open daily: 10am–6pm

The Leith Collective supports over 400 independent artists and makers across its four locations, promoting sustainability through reuse, recycling, and community action. To learn more, visit www.theleithcollective.com or email info@theleithcollective.com.

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Newtongrange Primary School Edinburgh

CommunityEducation

Newtongrange School Wins UNICEF UK Gold Award

Pupils at one Midlothian school have even more reason to celebrate the end of a successful academic year, having just been awarded the UNICEF UK Gold Award.

Newtongrange Primary School has been officially recognised for its achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of its planning, policies and practice. Standing out as a school where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted, Newtongrange Primary School is now a shining example of a thriving Gold Rights Respecting School. 

To achieve this prestigious award, teachers and pupils worked collaboratively to compile a clear and robust action plan which covered a wide range of areas including teaching and learning about rights, ethos and relationships, participation, empowerment and action.

The school was then subject to an official visit from UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools assessors, during which pupils, staff, partners, parents and carers were invited to provide evidence of their progress and answer questions.

Feedback from the assessors was overwhelmingly positive; “Well done to the team at Newtongrange Primary School who have received their UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Gold Award. Strengths include articulate children who know and understand their rights, explicit teaching of rights in the curriculum, highly visible rights, a strong culture of inclusivity and respect, and highly-valued pupil voice.” 

The Gold award marks the pinnacle of six years of hard work, with the school awarded Bronze back in 2019 and Silver in 2024. Commenting on reaching the Gold status, Head Teacher Mrs Cameron said; “We are delighted to be recognised for the hard work and commitment for being a Gold Rights Respecting School. We are very proud of the strengths highlighted by the team. We are also very proud of our learners who shared our work so confidently and articulately.” 

And the UNICEF award is not the only accolade the school has been celebrating recently, having been honoured with the SEIC Connector School Award, Core Reading Schools Award, Eco-Schools Green Flag Award, Digital Schools Award and Sports Scotland Award.

Determined not to rest on their laurels, the school will be working towards achieving the Play Pedagogy Award when classes return for the new term in August.

The new term will also see the school gear up for a series of special centenary celebrations featuring teachers and pupils from past and present. Activities commemorating 100 years of learning will culminate in a big birthday celebration on Wednesday 12th November, marking a golden year for this award-winning school.

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