Latest news with #ScottishGovernment-funded
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Arts centre apologises for handling of pro-Palestine protest
A statement released by the CCA expressed 'sincere regret' over the outcome of its decisions on the day, including the injuries suffered by a woman involved in the protest. Read more: The organisation has promised to recruit 'permanent leadership' for the CCA, which has been without a permanent director since the end of 2023, as well as new board members and a new chair, who will replace Jean Cameron when her term in the role ends in October. It has also pledged to roll out 'meaningful change' across all levels of the organisation. A sit-in protest was staged at the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow on June Scottish Government-funded venue, which has set out plans to reopen its doors to the public on August 25, has asked for 'support and patience' as it undertakes what it describes as a 'process of reflection and repair.' However the CCA, which secured £3.4m in funding for the next three years in January, has stopped short of supporting calls to support a full academic and cultural boycott of Israel, which has been demanded by pro-Palestine campaigners. The Art Workers for Palestine Group, which has been targeted a number of Scottish arts organisations in recent months, announced plans to "reclaim the CCA" for several days this week with a series of events in a "liberated zone" at the venue. The CCA said it had been forced to close to the public due to "safety and security concerns" over the "intended occupation" of its courtyard. The CCA also claimed it was forced to call in 'law enforcement' in response to a 'forced entry' of its building. However campaigners accused the CCA of "colluding" with the police and suggested there had been a 'violent crackdown' against the attempted sit-in. The group has since accused the CCA's management and senior staff of misrepresenting events at the protest and failing to apologise to protesters who were 'kettled, brutalised and oppressed.' The statement issued by the CCA said: 'CCA Glasgow acknowledges the disruption, confusion and harm experienced over recent weeks, particularly by our community, artists, staff, tenants and partners. 'We sincerely regret the outcome of our decisions on June 24 and that an individual was injured. We recognise that a lack of clarity on our choices had real human consequences, and for this we are deeply sorry. 'We apologise for the delay in external communications, as we focused first on internal dialogue so that we could provide clear and considered information when speaking publicly. 'We are listening and know that trust cannot be repaired with words alone, but through consistent, honest, and long-term work. 'The CCA is committed to lasting change, to listening more openly, making space for conversation, and taking shared responsibility. 'We are working to refresh our processes to ensure leadership reflects our principles, to amplify staff voices and to meet the changing needs of the CCA. 'Through this, we remain committed to meaningful engagement first within the organisation, and then with all those we work with and serve. This includes constructive dialogue with those who have raised concerns. 'Reopening will require a collective effort across our entire community. We now ask for your support and patience as we undertake this process of reflection and repair.' The CCA said it would be working with external partners, stakeholders and funders to ensure that board and management changes were 'transparent and inclusive.' Its statement added: 'We condemn the violence of the Israeli state, the ongoing occupation, genocide, and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. 'We stand firmly against all forms of oppression and in support of the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people. We respect the calls for the CCA to endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). 'We are grateful to those who have challenged us and held us to account and have clearly and powerfully expressed the need for cultural institutions to take a stand. We recognise the urgency of the call to endorse PACBI. 'While the CCA will reopen without a formal endorsement, we are now working towards adopting an ethical fundraising and programming policy. 'We will revisit the decision on endorsement of PACBI when the new leadership is in place. 'In the last year we hosted 44 events in solidarity with Palestine and over 50 exhibitions on anti-colonialism, anti-racism, and resistance. 'We remain committed to work that reflects these values in practice. The CCA is now liaising with sector bodies and working to rebuild trust, re-engage with artists and communities, and continue dialogue. 'The CCA will engage in open and respectful discussions with those who have expressed concern about its future and purpose. 'We are committed to evolving our board and governance structures and processes to enable a legitimate and accountable review of this commitment in the future. 'This means holding space for meaningful internal discussion, ensuring our actions are supported by clear policies, and acknowledging the responsibility we have to implement this with care, integrity, and transparency. 'This will ensure that any commitment we make is both principled and practical. We ask now for time to complete this process with the depth it deserves.' The CCA was opened in 1992 at the home of the former Third Eye Centre, which was founded in 1974. Writers, artists and performers who have shown work or performed there include Allen Ginsberg, Whoopi Goldberg, John Byrne, Billy Connolly, Edwin Morgan, Kathy Acker, Damien Hirst, Sophie Calleite, Nathan Coley, Jacqueline Donachie, Louise Hopkins, Carol Rhodes, Richard Wright, David Shrigley and Ross Sinclair. The venue has had a number of difficulties over the last decade, including being forced to close for several months due to the impact of the 2018 Glasgow School of Art fire, a long-running dispute over the pay and conditions of workers at its cafe-bar, and financial problems, which forced the venue to close temporarily in December.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Brian Cox: Edinburgh festival not big enough for my new film
But when the Scottish Government-funded film gets its world premiere next month, the red carpet will be rolled out 3300 miles away from Scotland - at the Toronto International Film Festival. Read more: Cox - who has been in the city this month performing in an Edinburgh International Festival play - has suggested Scotland's longest-running celebration of cinema, which is the oldest continually-running event of its kind in the world, is no longer in the top tier of film festivals. The actor said the EIFF still had to get 'get its s**t together' following the financial collapse of the event nearly three years ago. Actor Brian Cox has been in Edinburgh this month to perform with the National Theatre of Scotland. (Image: Oxford Union) He said he would have been keen to have a private screening of the event at the festival, but suggested he would not have been allowed by the film's UK distributor, Lionsgate. Glenrothan is one of four new Scottish Government-supported films which are being screened in Toronto but not in Edinburgh. Sandy Grierson and Brian Cox have been playing Fred Goodwin and Adam Smith on stage in the new National Theatre of Scotland production Make It Happen. Others include James McAvoy's directorial debut California Schemin', a new heist thriller made by award-winning Scottish director David Mackenzie and Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's new version of Frankenstein, which was filmed across Scotland last year. Scottish Government agency Screen Scotland confirmed the four films had received more than £1.7m in total for their development and production. The EIFF dates back to 1947, when it was launched in the same year as the Edinburgh International Festival and the spin-off event that became the Fringe. The future of the EIFF looked bleak weeks after the 2022 festival drew to a close when it emerged that it had been forced to suddenly shut down trading after the company behind the event, the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI), went into administration. The revamped EIFF has missed out on the world premieres despite launching a prestigious new feature film prize backed by the family of Sir Sean Connery, a former patron of the film festival, being launched last year. The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence – which is open to 10 world premieres selected for the event each year – comes with a £50,000 cash prize. Cox, who has made regular appearances on the EIFF red carpet in previous years, backed a campaign to revive the Filmhouse cinema, a long-time venue for festival screenings, after it was also forced to close suddenly when the CMI folded. He was at the Filmhouse last week to help launch a new partnership between the UK Government and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which he was named an official patron of last year. In Glenrothan, Cumming plays Donald, who returns to the Highlands after 35 years living in Chicago to try to make amends with his estranged older brother Sandy, who is played by Cox. First announced in 2021, Glenrothan was filmed last year in Scotland, at locations including the Stirlingshire villages of Kippen and Gartmore, as well as Edinburgh and Glasgow. Cox has been performing in Dundee and Edinburgh in recent weeks, playing the ghost of 18th century economist and philosopher Adam Smith in the National Theatre of Scotland production, which depicts the rise and fall of former Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Fred Goodwin. However he told The Herald there was a 'practical reason' why his new film would be launching in Toronto rather than Edinburgh. He said: 'You can't sell anything at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Nobody is bothered about that element of it – how you sell the f***ing product. There is something immensely practical about art – it's all about how you sell it. 'It is the oldest film festival there is, but with the big chaos they had a few years ago it has lost viability. They have got to get their s*** together. At least they have got the Filmhouse back. 'It needs to be a festival where you can sell stuff and you invite people to buy it. 'We knew that the best place to be doing it (launching Glenrothan) would be at one of the really proper film festivals. Getting it into Toronto was a big plus for the film. 'I would have liked to have shown the film in Edinburgh, but once the deal is done that is it. 'I would like to have had a private screening in Edinburgh, but one has to be very careful about that because I have got my people at Lionsgate leading on me.' EIFF director Paul Ridd said: 'There were a number of terrific films we considered for EIFF 2025 where the stakeholders ultimately made the decision to premiere elsewhere later in the year. This is all part of the process. 'We respect the decisions of filmmakers, producers and key players behind these films and their launch strategies. 'It is a really exciting time for Scottish filmmaking and we are immensely proud of all the wonderful films from all around the world that are premiering with us this week.' A spokesperson for Screen Scotland said: 'Scottish filmmakers are internationally renowned for their craft and regularly are selected to play at major international festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, which are often the launchpad for international sales. 'Brian Cox's Glenrothan, James McAvoy's California Schemin and David Mackenzie's Fuze will all debut at TIFF, as well as Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein, which shot in Scotland, ahead of its launch on Netflix. 'The EIFF's revitalised offer positions it as a global player celebrating the very best that cinema has to offer in a modern, energised context and very much part of the wider cultural offering taking place in Edinburgh in August. 'The world premiere competition strand in particular is attracting a growing industry presence alongside local and international audiences looking for a sense of discovery, experimentation, and cross-arts collaboration.'
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Dumfries and Galloway College boosted by new SOSE investment to help tackle digital poverty
Dumfries and Galloway College (DGC) is proud to announce it has taken a significant step forward in addressing digital poverty and empowering student innovation, thanks to a £50,000 investment from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE). Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The funding has enabled the college to deliver a major upgrade to its wireless infrastructure and invest in a new range of modern laptops, boosting digital inclusion and enhancing learning opportunities for students across both the Dumfries and Stranraer campuses. These devices will be available to students to support their learning, drive innovation projects and explore entrepreneurial ventures. By equipping learners with the tools they need to succeed, the college aims to foster confidence, creativity and develop skillsets that align with regional and national ambitions for economic growth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the same time, the upgraded Wi-Fi access points have significantly improved campus-wide connectivity, ensuring students will benefit from a digitally secure and reliable learning environment. This is particularly vital for students from rural or lower-income backgrounds, where access to high-quality digital resources can often be a barrier to success. Douglas Dickson, Principal and CEO, Dumfries and Galloway College Kirstie Scrimgeour, Entrepreneurship Lead at SOSE, said: 'SOSE is delighted to support Dumfries and Galloway College with this digital inclusion and entrepreneurial development project. 'This assistance came from our Pathways programme, which is a Scottish Government-funded pilot supporting the ambitions of new and under-represented founders across the South of Scotland. 'Pathways provided specialist coaching to 269 existing or prospective business founders across the South in 2024/2025 to help kick-start their business ideas and build business confidence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'SOSE is continuing its efforts to work with all of our region's colleges to deliver more entrepreneurial activity this year as part of the Pathways Programme.' Douglas Dickson, Principal and CEO, Dumfries and Galloway College, said: 'We are grateful to South of Scotland Enterprise for this valuable investment. By improving our digital infrastructure and providing students with access to modern laptops, we are tackling digital poverty head-on and creating an inclusive, future-focused learning environment. 'These resources will support our students not only in their day-to-day studies, but also in developing entrepreneurial skills, testing new ideas and contributing to the economic future of the South of Scotland.'
Scotsman
24-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh startup hailed as the 'Rightmove for nurseries' raises £275k in pre-seed funding to transform UK nursery sector
Nuuri, a startup developing the UK's first search and enrolment platform for parents looking for nurseries, has raised £275,000 in pre-seed funding. The oversubscribed investment was raised in 90 days, four weeks quicker than anticipated. The tech startup is a Tech Scaler member, a Scottish Government-funded accelerator programme. Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The investment marks a major step forward in the company's mission to simplify the search and enrolment process, allowing parents and caregivers to spend more quality time with their little ones. Nuuri will use the funding to accelerate product development, focusing on AI tooling that will replace outdated manual documents and communications channels. The funding will also be allocated to improve the parent journey through search and enrolment, nursery marketing and onboarding across the UK's private nursery sector initially. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hailed as 'The Rightmove for nurseries', Nuuri seamlessly allows parents to filter nurseries by postcode, preferred start date and age of child and includes features such as virtual nursery tours, room capacities, cost calculators, search filtering and an essential parent advice hub. Nuuri has everything parents need to make sure the process is as smooth and stress-free as possible. Steven Clarke, founder of Nuuri The advice hub answers all the common questions parents face when it comes to looking for a nursery. From how to apply for Government funding, to different types of nurseries, what to look for when searching for a nursery, how much they cost, and how to navigate lengthy waitlists. Nuuri conducted a parent survey across the UK, which revealed that over 79% of parents were put on a waiting list for a nursery place, with over 43% stating the waiting list was between 9-12 months long. Over 63% also outlined that they had a poor search and enrolment experience prior to securing a nursery place, stating lack of transparency and digitalisation as the main contributing factors. Nuuri isn't just for parents. The platform continues to work closely with nurseries to help them tackle one of their biggest challenges- pre-enrolment admin overload. By providing a modern digital shop-front, streamlining enrollment and communication, Nuuri is freeing up time for nursery staff to do what they do best - nurture and educate little ones. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Spearheaded by Steven Clarke, the Founder of Nuuri and a busy working dad. Steven has experienced firsthand the problem of finding a nursery for his child. From struggling to get through to nurseries, lack of information online, cancelled viewings and huge waiting lists, finding a place for his little girl was much more difficult than he could have ever imagined. Steven Clarke, founder of Nuuri Steven Clarke, Nuuri Founder and CEO, said:"In 2023, my wife and I experienced the complexities of finding a nursery for our newborn daughter. As first-time parents, we had no idea how hard and time-consuming looking for a nursery would be. I set out on a mission to tackle this problem head on and ensure the process is less stressful for future parents and caregivers. 'We're the UK's first platform to digitalise search and enrolment in one place, making life easier for both parents and nurseries. As a working parent, I fully understand the juggle. That's why we're here - to lighten the load and support parents at every step. 'We aim to make it as easy as possible for parents and nursery providers, so we have built a multi-purpose platform that makes it simple, transparent and reliable. I am excited to see our roadmap of enhanced features come to life over the next few months, fuelled by this external investment and backing." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nafeesah Rafiq, Owner of Bright Bees Nurseries in Leicester, said:'Nuuri is bringing the kind of digital experience our sector has waited far too long for. Their platform lets us showcase our nurseries online with a level of polish we could never manage alone, guiding parents smoothly from search to enrolment. By lifting the admin burden, Nuuri frees our team to spend more quality time nurturing the children in our care. We're thrilled to work with Steven and his team and excited about the positive change they're driving across early-years childcare.'
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Funding support for Ayrshire girl guide group after 'devastating' blaze
An Ayrshire Guide unit is being supported by a Scottish Government-funded programme after their meeting venue suffered a fire. Hurlford Church, where 1st Hulford Guides met weekly, caught fire on Friday, April 4. Four Scottish Fire and Rescue units were sent to tackle the fire affecting the roof of the venue. Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed that there were no reported casualties. It was considered a "safe space" for the girls to meet, learn new skills and be themselves. The unit now meet at a different church, however it's much more expensive. Since the fire, the unit has been receiving support from Generation CashBack, a Scottish Government-funded scheme which aims to offer opportunities for disadvantaged young people. CashBack is delivered in partnership with Girlguiding Scotland, Boys' Brigade Scotland, Scouts Scotland and Youth Scotland. Unit leader Louise Crichton said: "Our venue has recently caught fire and we're unable to use it. We've been unable to go in and get our resources and we've not been able to meet in our meeting place. "The hall no longer has a roof, electricity or water, and we won't have the option of returning until at least next year. "Hurlford and Kilmarnock have a pretty severe antisocial behaviour problem. There have been situations with buses and the police are involved regularly, including maintaining a presence in Hurlford in the evening. "We can't meet outdoors due to antisocial behaviour, and during outdoor guiding we had to call the police to the park. Last year we went down to the local river and got rocks thrown at us. "The girls have grown up in the area so have grown to expect it. "[Guiding] is a safe place where they can be themselves and not have to deal with the antisocial kids. We have a few girls from different secondary schools so they're meeting friends outside of their immediate area. "They're also making friends of different ages which is making it easier for them to move up to high school." The unit has also made strides to become more girl-led, with Guides able to deliver their own meetings and choose the activities they do. Louise added: "This is an outcome from the last time we did Generation CashBack. "In the evaluation there was a question about 'would you like to improve your leadership skills' and almost all the girls ticked yes." Girlguiding Scotland's CashBack development officer Anna commented: "The CashBack project at Girlguiding Scotland aims to give girls safe spaces where they can do new things and have fun with friends. "The loss of their safe space will have been really scary for some of the girls in the unit, and we're pleased to be helping the unit to replace their lost belongings and keep a sense of consistency for the girls. It's amazing how quickly the volunteers have found a new meeting place and kept guiding going!" If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with Girlguiding Scotland, visit here.
