Impulse 2025

Impulse. The walls that speak

The street art giving voice to the city

Plus... Who gets to live in Edinburgh?

From Mid Yell to Midlothian

Kicking off change

@napierenrg

Edinburgh Napier’s very own publication. Run by students, for students.

A Message From Our Editors Angus Blacklock Angus

Beth Mudie Beth Mudie

Blacklock

In this year’s edition of Impulse, we highlight change in and around Edinburgh. Throughout the magazine, we show how our capital has evolved as a city.

Even in our lifetime, Edinburgh has changed so much, not just for students but everyone in the city. We highlight the communities where people have impacted and inspired others.

We aim to relate to our audience with people-focused stories across themes of Culture, Current Affairs, Lifestyle and Sport. Our diverse group of student writers tell the stories that represent every corner of Scotland’s dynamic capital.

We walk you through the generations of Edinburgh, exploring the past, present and future of the city. Hearing from a wide range of voices along the way, including the president of Edinburgh Napier’s Student Association, MPs, students, volunteers and the people who make this city one of the finest in the world.

While we recognise that most of our audience will be from Edinburgh, we want to respect and cater for the diversity of everyone and to allow you, the reader, to feel included.

We hope this edition of Impulse makes you recognise that life evolves, and so does Edinburgh.

Culture

Street

art is giving a voice to the city

By Joeseph Meek

How can art be defined? Must it be on canvas? On paper? Or on brick and concrete? Modern Street art or ‘graffiti’ became popular with young people in the late 1960s in New York. It began with basic ‘tags’ (names or pseudonyms of the artists) before developing into more extravagant pieces, with blasts of colour and better developed artistic features, usually showcased on NYC subway trains. In the early days of graffiti, the thought it could ever be art, was no thought at all.

By the 1980s, graffiti in New York was at the forefront of the government’s mind, with restrictions being put in place to stop these ‘vandals’, paint was harder to buy, and the usual graffiti hot spots were now protected by high fences and barbed wire. By 1983, 25% of all New York subway cars were coated with a white anti-graffiti paint. Despite the backlash, the controversial art form began to spread across the globe.

Street art as we know it soon made its way to Europe. Amsterdam was the first to be inspired by New York, with graffiti appearing in 1975. Delta, aka Boris Tellegen, was one of the originals to have turned Amsterdam into an urban art canvas. Paris wasn’t far behind, with artist Blek le Rat, a pioneer of modern graffiti, also referred to as the ‘father of stencil graffiti’. This would be the style of graffiti later adopted by Banksy. Graffiti soon found its way to Berlin. Artists began painting and spraying politically influenced graffiti on the west side of the Berlin wall. Notable artist, Keith Harring, completed a 300 metre long mural on the famous wall in 1986. Some of these works have been trapped in time and can be found at Berlin’s East side gallery.

Over in the UK, artists such as Walter Kelshaw and Lee Thompson aka Kix, paved the way for modern artists like Banksy. Kelshaw specialised in large-scale murals, usually on the sides of semi-detached houses. Influenced by New York street art, Kix began tagging his way around North London. Graffiti began popping up in areas like London and Bristol. Artist Robert Del Naja was a trailblazer for modern graffiti in the UK. Based in Bristol, Del Naja, also known as “3D”, was rejected from art school twice, before taking his creative ideas to the streets. One of his first and most significant works was a mural of actor, Robert De Niro, in the film ‘Taxi Driver’. These artists, some inspired by boredom, laid the foundations for modern graffiti art in the UK.

Travelling to the modern day, the United Kingdom has produced some of the world’s most famous and influential street artists. Banksy, arguably the most famous artist of the 21st century, first emerged in 1990s Bristol.

The anonymous artist joined ‘DryBreadZ graffiti crew’ (DBZ), in the early 90s before his art really took off. The piece, ‘Mild Mild West’, was Banksy’s first socially influenced stencil work, created after Bristol police raided multiple unlicensed warehouse raves. London based artist, Stik, is another anonymous painter who is known for creating simple white stick figures with black eyes and outline. One of his biggest works, titled ‘Liberty’, was sold for £200,000 at auction in 2019. The works of Banksy and Stik can be found across the world, with rats painted by Banksy across Paris, to a small stick figure located here in Edinburgh courtesy of Stik.

Edinburgh, although it is not as well known for street art as Bristol and London, the capital still has deep-rooted graffiti culture. Street exhibitions like Colinton Tunnel and the Marine Parade graffiti wall in Leith showcase some of Edinburgh’s most impressive street art, but not all of it. The narrow streets of Cowgate act as a gallery for local street artists, and towns in the outskirts of the city show artistic prospects.

Above: Edinburgh’s Cowgate is a canvas for local street artists

Above: The process - Angel’s tag is brought from paper to concrete in under 30 minutes

A local graffiti artist who goes by the alias Angel has been painting for over a year. He spoke to Impulse about their street art culture in the Scottish capital. When asked how much of an issue getting caught was, Angel replied.

“Fairly large, but it depends on the time of day. One time I was painting, four cars went by, one of them called the police.” Talking on how influential graffiti can be Angel said, “I definitely think it can be influential, although for a lot of people it’s just a way to express themselves.” So what drives these artists to create graffiti? ‘Angel’s’ reasoning was, “the adrenaline rush and the idea that you can walk past artwork you’ve created and feel a sense of accomplishment.”

Colinton tunnel, previously a 140 metre long railway tunnel constructed in 1874. The tunnel saw a re-vamp in the 80’s with lighting and a couple coats of paint. In 2017, the Colinton tunnel fell into disrepair. The tunnel was dimly lit and a breeding ground for anti-social behaviour. Creating 140 metres of fear for any pedestrian.

Left, top to bottom: paint cans brought to life in Mainlife Graffiti store; street art on Fishmarket Close - possible work of Stik; Mainline is a crucial stopping point for Edinburgh graffitti artists; Angel sketches out his ideas before bringing them to life on Edinburgh’s walls

Above: Street art can be found in all of Edinburgh’s nooks and crannies such as these birds outside Ox184

Photos by Joseph Meek

One year later the council had been convinced to repair the lighting. Over the next 3 years funds were raised by The Colinton Tunnel Charity to install a mural that would span the whole length of the tunnel.

The project was introduced and led by Edinburgh muralist, Chris Rutterford, with his idea of painting the poem, ‘From a railway carriage’, by Robert Louis Stevenson. The mural was to be completed in 2021 and by 2022 over 7,500 use the tunnel every week compared to the 2,000 a week in 2018. Leith’s Marine Parade is one of Edinburgh’s legal graffiti walls. In 2018, the council invited artists from all over the world to cover the wall with their work. Spanning 330m this is the UK’s longest legal graffiti wall.

Years of prejudice and hate for graffiti artists has shaped the scene into something new. The appearance of legal graffiti walls across the world show that graffiti is no longer seen as ‘shit on the street’ , new generations are beginning to appreciate graffiti for the art that it is.

From Wilkie House to Stramash: how live music venues are breathing new life

into

Edinburgh’s nightlife scene

By Zosia Stanton

Edinburgh, a cultural hot spot, the city that attracts millions of tourists every year, seems to be in a state of constant cultural change.

A city renowned for its rich musical heritage and eclectic arts calendar, the city that hosts the biggest art festival in the world, seems in previous years to have lost a significant amount of its’ wellknown nightlife names. Whilst Berlin attracts roughly 3 million tourists to clubs in the city every year, Edinburgh is more attractive as a considerably quiet city for an idyllic mosey along cobbled streets and through tranquil gardens.

According to the Insider, Scotland has lost 34% of its nightclubs in the last four years – dropping from 125 to 83 venues. And whilst everything is good in moderation, the closure of several nightclubs in the city can have a knock-on effect. No clubs mean no venues, means little to no music events. And, without music, the heart of Edinburgh’s culture may stop beating completely.

It is difficult to deny that nightclubs in Edinburgh seem to be closing doors more often than opening them. Nightclubs which hosted regular night out go-ers throughout the 90s and into the 00s – Buster Brown’s, Honeycomb, Coasters – all gone. Not to mention in just the last couple of years Atik, Bourbon and Hype – all popular student nightclubs - have also decided to close their doors. Instead of refreshing nightlife names breathing electric new life and bringing household names to the city, Edinburgh seems

instead to be becoming something of a nightlife graveyard.

One venue which has had several names throughout the years is Stramash, a bi-level venue offering a variety of live music and sports events in the heart of Edinburgh’s nightlife scene, Cowgate. Previously the Wilkie House, the converted church then took on the names of Faith, Sin and finally Stramash in recent years. Once an eighteenth-century Free Church, Stramash is built into the converted church with a unique mezzanine level, walls of old railway sleepers, colourful stained-glass windows and battered whiskey barrels for holding your pints. With a distressed and rustic interior, Stramash has a well-curated atmosphere for a great night in a traditional, Scottish-inspired tavern.

Stramash has quickly evolved into one of Edinburgh’s leading venues and seems to be one of the places redefining nightlives in the city. Every night they host live music events until the early hours of the morning, and on Wednesdays they host ceilidhs with Gaelic music throughout the night. By bringing folk music to the stage in central Edinburgh, Stramash brings tourists to the city for an authentic music experience.

With the rise of venues like Stramash, independent musicians have been able to take to the stage with ease and more often.

One such group which has taken the independent music scene by storm in Edinburgh is three-man, indie-rock band, the Figurines.

With James Douglas on drums, Taliesin Liston-Smith on bass and Josh Vaughan on lead vocals, the group formed in Edinburgh and holds an undeniable presence within Edinburgh’s independent music scene.

With what started as open mic slots, to supporting acts at The Caves, the Figurines have carved out a prized ring of followers and have “exploded on the local gig circuit”.

Holding a fortnightly slot at Stramash, the Figurines have been described as an “indie pop-rock powerhouse” who will “definitely go far”.

After being invited down to Mark Morrow Audio, a studio space by the shore in Granton, I heard the band work on a new and upcoming single. It was hard to deny the contagious energy of the early band.

“We’re recording our single right now. It’s called The Boot” Vaughan tells me in the studio.

Vaughan explains that their upcoming single follows an unpleasant “imaginary manager”.

“There’s so many horror stories in this low-level indie music scene about terrible managers that take advantage, they take all the money, and they don’t get you any work.”

Vaughan explains that the band is hoping to take a mocking, comedic approach to the single, which will be released in the summer.

As the band is finding its footing in Edinburgh’s diverse and expansive music scene, it seems they have more confidence to cover issues with the work up-and-coming bands

Mark Morrow’s recording studio has provided a much needed space for Edinburgh’s indy artists

get, and the sort of support available to them.

With the independent music scene making strides into Edinburgh’s nightlife, it is hard to look back on the nightlife of previous years and feel that we are completely at a loss of a good night out in the city. Getting new names onto the public radar, live music in place of club remixes we can hear anywhere else in the world, up-and-coming independent artists may be just the refreshment Edinburgh nightlife needs.

by

Photo

Zosia Stanton

Photos by Joseph Meek

offee ulture

30-minute queues and viral TikToks spell trouble for Edinburgh’s caffeine supply

By Harry Knox

“Give the people what they want”. A phrase seemingly cemented in society for its timeless truthfulness. However, over the past few years, some industries seem to have gone astray in the hunt for increased social media pres ence and record-breaking revenue streams. Nike has so many special edition shoes to the point where their exclusivity is hampered by the number of editions on offer. Jaguar scrapped their entire model lineup and seemingly betrayed their existing clientele and fanbase in the hopes of rebirthing the brand as a contemporary and youthful marque, focusing on diversity and inclusivity. Weird in an industry that prioritises sales figures, performance and sex appeal. All this is happening while the quality goes down, and the price goes up.

So why are we sub-consciously falling for the trap of getting only coins in change from a £10 note for one coffee? Apparently, for bragging rights. Everyone now wants their five minutes of social media

fame. Their “I was here when it happened” moment as if they are trying to replicate the hype from the fall of the Berlin Wall. Blank Street Coffee’s Princes Street popup generated so much interest and uptake from these social media users that half hour queues were forming outside their Edinburgh stores. All for a coffee and a TikTok! One week, after the popularity cooled off, I walked past the Princes Street location around 11am on a February weekday morning. One person was sitting inside. Only one commuter/not hype-driven customer was in Blank Street Coffee. While I’m no financial expert (my parents would call this an understatement) that doesn’t seem like an ideal business model.

Other coffee shops now head the same way. Edinburgh has a fantastic array of independent coffee shops on offer. That’s beyond question. Chain stores, like The Big Three of Caffe Nero, Starbucks and Costa Coffee, look to serve as proof that global expansion isn’t the answer, and neither is the relentless diversification of chain coffee menus. ‘Starbucks’ announced that they would scrap thirteen of their drink

offerings during Spring of this year, to seemingly try and refocus on simple, quality coffee, amidst decreased revenue. Caffe Nero removed the desperately niche offering of an ‘Espresso con panna’, after the shocking reality that Scottish coffee drinkers didn’t gravitate towards an espresso topped with whipped cream.

Blank Street Coffee, still in its infancy, is taking the boutique coffee concept to new heights with stores across New York, London, as well as Edinburgh. On Princes Street and Victoria Street no less. Not exactly a humble arrival in what the Confederation of British Industry once called “Europe’s Coffee Capital”, with more coffee shop choices per 100,000 people than any other city across the continent. The sudden, viral sensation of these two locations was solidified earlier this year through the popularity of their social media campaign, using the aforementioned pop-up tram stop next to Princes Street. Nearly every story on Instagram from the days of the pop-up were flooded with people posing and holding a mysterious cup of green coffee. Yes. You read that correctly. Green coffee.

Enter Kris Sandlan. He’s been with Cairngorm Coffee since their beginnings and has worked in the coffee industry for over thirteen years. Clad in granite on the corner of Melville Street, one of Edinburgh’s prettiest strips of Georgian buildings, Cairngorm has carved out a large chunk of the West End’s coffee clientele from bricklayers

“Coffee culture is about feeling comfortable in a nice space to connect with others”

to students and lawyers. In their own roastery, in an industrial unit just outside Portobello, he’s very keen to spread the message that Cairngorm Coffee’s mantra is, “Going down their own individual path and finding new and creative ways to drive footfall into their business and bringing communities together with meet-ups and events.” And doing so without diving down the rabbit hole of social media-influenced trends like matcha coffee. Something that’s painfully absent from the get in and get out nature of big chain coffee.

When visiting chain coffee shops, I’ll never order a pre-packaged toastie, soup or pasta box for a fiver, to then be forced to watch as the server heats it up in a commercial grade microwave. When I visited “Cairngorm Coffee”, I couldn’t see a microwave or any branded packaging at all. I watched my breakfast, granola that particular morning, being hand-assembled by one of the baristas who then brought it to my table within three minutes. It’s no revelation that the granola ended up looking and tasting more appetising than any breakfast sandwich on display in a fridge.

Sandlan explained Cairngorm’s somewhat revolutionary, if old-fashioned food and service strategy to me. When these chains expanded their operations many years ago, they took a leaf out of McDonalds book and simplified their food preparation process as much as possible, to the point where sandwiches were delivered pre-made. “Blank Street coffee’ took that concept to the extreme”, Sandlan remarked. They use fully automatic espresso machines to take the barista’s focus away from making coffee, and towards customer service. In theory it doesn’t sound like a terrible idea. Until you think of it another way; you don’t go to a nice restaurant to have the chef be your server, whilst your meal is cooking in the microwave. What’s more, the customer service, supposedly being ‘prioritised’ according to Blank Street, isn’t exactly five-star in most folk’s books. So, if you happen to be opening your own coffee shop in Edinburgh, may I advise you remain weary around social media and whether your clientele is visiting you for the hype, or actively looking forward to coming again soon. Good old bean coffee after all, will never go out of fashion.

One of Cairngorm’s limited batches, ready to be shipped

Girls Can Be Gay Too

Creating more inclusive spaces for the queer women of Edinburgh

By Beth Mudie

Edinburgh’s queer scene has changed massively over the years. Today, Edinburgh has a wide range of gay venues to choose from with Scotland being one of the world’s most LGBTQ+ friendly countries, despite homosexuality only being decriminalised in 1981. Gone are the days where being a member of the queer community meant sneaking around and living a double life. The LGBTQ+ social scene has always existed in Scotland’s capital, even before 1981, although more discreet as thousands of people risked arrest just for being openly gay or attending secret samesex events.

Thankfully this has changed drastically. Edinburgh, particularly Leith, has a thriving queer scene with the likes of CC Blooms, The Street and Planet – some of Edinburgh’s most popular gay bars. However, you can’t help but notice the lack of venues catered towards women as generally the ratio in gay bars is overwhelmingly filled with gay men. Could this be because gay men notoriously turn out for a party in higher number or are lesbians feeling unwelcome in these spaces?

100% a need for women only spaces in Edinburgh.”

It’s clear there’s a gap in the market as an increasing amount of lesbian pop-up events are creeping up all over Scotland including the Lavender Social in Dundee and Crush at CC Blooms, Edinburgh. These have received great feedback lately as the organiser of the one off ‘Crush’ event, Emily, shared she was “thrilled with the turnout”. Emily shared the situation which pushed her to organise this event was when working on the bar at CC Blooms a man expressed to her that there was “a lot of women working here for a gay bar”. She politely explained that all the women on the bar were actually queer women, and we welcome everyone here.

“There’s 100% a need for women only spaces in Edinburgh”

As of October 2023, there was only three permanent lesbian bars open in the UK, although the current bars aren’t explicitly for gay men it’s clear theres a need for more women only spaces where women can feel seen and comfortable.

When speaking to a group of queer women from Edinburgh they were shocked to find this out but agreed there is a lack of spaces for them and expressed they felt like an afterthought, as although they are still welcome, they aren’t the prime target. This could be because the majority of Edinburgh’s gay bars are owned by men so they’re catering for their own audience. But they emphasised “There’s

Behaviour like this highlights the need for women only spaces and these events are a small stepping stone to solve a bigger problem. Feedback for these events expressed that they’re not marketed the same way as male events as it comes across a lot softer and ‘girls support girls’ when sometimes you want a feral night.

Emily agreed she missed the mark with this marketing technique, but explained she wanted to stand out from others. They shared they were shocked with the response, however, two days before the event happened CC Blooms made the decision to hold it in the bottom smaller room claiming that having it take over the whole venue would be too much of a ‘financial risk’. Proving this narrative wrong, Crush Wednesdays made the venue over £1,500 that night. While the top floor was just tumbleweeds and empty tables. But the good news for gay women across Edinburgh is there may be more events like this on the horizon.

“We are in the talks with holding more events like this in the future, however we may avoid holding it at CC Blooms again.”

The Unbanned Books

By Tamseela Ahmad

For as long as literature has existed, it has been a multifaceted tool for humanity. Literature has consoled the inconsolable, housed the homeless, stumped the thinker, and fed the hungry. All world movements – whether useful or horrific – have been documented in literature as a driving force for social and political change across the chasm of time. Edinburgh, a UNESCO City of Literature, is known for its appreciation of literacy as a fine craft. Which is why it is hardly surprising to find bookshops gracing every corner of the city. What is surprising is the recent uptick in bookshops housing political conversations and their transformation into more than just bookshops. But why is this happening?

In a departure from the traditional role of bookshops and booksellers and a rare initiative, particularly among independent businesses, more booksellers in Edinburgh are attempting to cater to specific schools of political thought, using varying degrees of discretion. Lighthouse Bookshop is one of these, describing itself as “Edinburgh’s Radical Bookshop”. This progressive shop identifies itself as left-wing and features texts of all genres. Focus areas displaying books relevant to current affairs – such as literature regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict – are set in the shop, making their stance on the issue quite clear. Lighthouse Bookshop is known to host book events – some of them political. Here, political discussion is welcomed and encouraged, and social issues are howled about between bookcases. There are no openly right-wing bookshops, though many are more conservative than activist, stocking classic books and swerving away from the subject of politics and the ideology behind conflicts.

can come in and talk about ideas and be exposed to new ideas makes us very important culturally for the wellbeing of our communities.” Bookshops have, in their resurgence, become “third spaces”, something that is rare in this age of social media and interconnectivity. This is neither one’s home nor workplace but a third location at which to spend time. Mairi talks about the importance of third spaces and how younger activists might consider such a location a safe space to express their opinion about a political way of life or their personal political beliefs.

Whenever a space is made, some raise concerns about this space of people becoming an echo chamber, much like what we’ve seen with news outlets: people who align with a specific political view subscribe to a specific newspaper. However, Mairi states that “I don’t think there is a real concern that bookshops engaging more politically has a risk of being a vector for polarisation”, based on the premise that “more general bookshops are selling books with ideas which five years ago would have felt radical. Like you will see… you might come across books on abolition in Waterstones now in a way that you wouldn’t have 10 years ago, so I think general bookshops are shifting a bit”, showing that this is an observable shift and need not call for polarisation but further community building.

Every reader is different – from their interests in various genres, to their preferences in certain styles of writing. From the shift towards Edinburgh’s more politically aligned bookshops, it is clear that Edinburgh’s readership is evolving. But why? Mairi at Lighthouse Bookshops said, “I think bookshops, whatever it might be, being a hub where people

The future of bookshops was believed to be over, yet the resilience of these establishments speaks to a deeper societal need for community and connection. As Edinburgh navigates its unique position within global dialogues, its bookshops may not only survive but thrive, adapting to readers’ evolving preferences and remaining vital cultural hubs. Ultimately, the future of bookshops is not just about selling books; it’s about sustaining the conversations that shape our world.

“I feel hopeful that somewhere on these shelves are seeds of revolution and liberation that people then take with them into their own lives or into the wider world.”

Lighthouse Bookshop is opening up political conversations through literature

Photo by Tamseela Ahmad

Current Affairs

“Often in physical health, we hear the saying prevention is better than the cure and it’s the same with mental health”

Alot can happen in one hundred and twenty-six days. Napoleon Bonaparte took back control of France in less time, thirty-second President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt made 99 executive orders in a shorter stretch and astronauts landed on the moon and travelled back to Earth in 6% of that time.

In Scotland, it is the average wait for a standard NHS mental health appointment, an extremely damning indictment for Holyrood.

With the most up to date data available, the Scottish Health Survey in 2023 estimated that about one in four people in the country will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life. So why have our elected representatives decided that it was necessary to cut funding for the mental health sector by more than £20 million? Does it sound wise for a government to promise to increase mental health spending by 25%, only for them to reverse their decision and backtrack completely?

Absolutely not.

Edinburgh based company Theorise offers a range of support to higher education students in Scotland. One employee is mental health mentor Jordan Smith. In discussion with Impulse, he spoke with a candid passion about the accessibility of appointments in 2025, stating that it was “extremely important” that mental health meetings are attainable for all.

“For many years it hasn’t been accessible to so many people, up until the last 5/10 years [it has] been very difficult for people to get dedicated longer term support…I think now we’re kind of realising that mental health issues have been almost ignored or dismissed for a number of years, never really tended too and that’s why we’re seeing more diagnoses and more referrals to assessments for things like ADHD and autism and an increase in people experiencing anxiety, depression sleep disorders, self-harm, suicidal

By Thomas Harper

ideation, all of these things. There’s so many other factors, the list is endless.”

Smith professed to me about how recent statistics were “hugely concerning,” stating that it can “be difficult [for people] to keep a sense of hope.” That sounds blatantly obvious to me and you so why not to the SNP at Holyrood? Opposition parties have called on the Scottish Government in recent times to investigate the issue further.

Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson for Mental Health and Veterans Paul Sweeney MSP in comment to Impulse stated that “thousands of Scots are struggling with poor mental health and too many people are still waiting far too long for the support they desperately need. The SNP must act now to drive down rising waiting lists, get waiting times back up to standard, and ensure people can get the lifesaving mental health support they need when they need it.”

Society has done an excellent job in recent years of providing a platform for the public to speak openly about internal struggles, which could be of no use if they did not have access to a proper professional to listen, to advise and to not judge them. In a world that is full of anxiety, stress, and societal pressure it has become almost critical for a human being to be provided with support, whether to vent with frustration or to cry in damnation; you need somebody to lean on now more than ever. Trust me, I would know, because Jordan is my mentor. The absence of such a service would lead to me to the stereotypically male thing to do; unknowingly bottling up my angst to a point of exploding in private, a constant dialogue with a professional led to me dealing with the chaos of university life in a better stride; it can do the same for others.

The Government has a civic duty to provide for their constituents, cutting back these services is a slap in the face but to give them credit, the SNP’s mental health investment reached £1 billion for the first time this year, but is it too little too late?

Who Gets To Live in Edinburgh?

As Edinburgh’s New Age lives on, some residents are left behind

By Tamseela Ahmad

If there is one never-changing element to Edinburgh, it is that it is ever-changing. A city in flux, the streets are a marriage of heritage and modernity, with the UNESCO-listed Old Town neighbouring new luxury apartments and commercial spaces. Within Edinburgh lies the embodiment of a striking architectural duality, with the city’s historic charms oftentimes clashing with the sleek, minimalist lines of modern developments. This tension between legacy and present-day growth raises critical questions about urban transformation. While some argue that these developments are a key addition to the city’s infrastructure by attracting tourists and franchised businesses, others worry about the future of Edinburgh’s local population, with the urban evolution of Edinburgh presenting the dilemma:

“City-wide gentrification that shows no signs of abating in the future”

For countless residents, simply staying in the city has become a financial struggle, with reports of Scots being priced out of neighbourhoods where their families have

lived for generations. Edinburgh’s population has experienced a troubling rise in property prices in recent years, with the Office for National Statistics reporting a 10% increase in house prices and rent since last year. A figure published earlier this year indicates the percentage increase in rent in Edinburgh – exceeding 100%. This serves as a small indication of the capital’s displacement of local communities, a consequence of city-wide gentrification that shows no signs of abating in the future. A similar unstoppable force to be reckoned with is Airbnb. The bane of any first-time home buyer’s existence, Airbnb have had a monumental role in Edinburgh’s social gentrification and its hiking up of property prices. By allowing people to buy properties in the city centre or suburbs and then register them to be let on a short-term basis via Airbnb, private landlords are making Edinburgh’s housing more accessible for tourists than current residents. Incidents such as these cause a great social shift within cities – by doing

Photos by Joseph Meek

this, only high-income individuals or tourists would be able to afford housing in Edinburgh in the future. The introduction of Airbnb in the last 10 years has caused rents to rise in certain residential areas, forcing people who cannot afford the increased rent out of their homes and, oftentimes, onto the city’s streets.

Everyone appreciates the concept of a new thing. But when being the new thing isn’t your known story or decided brand, is it so wise to go all in? Edinburgh, a city known for the richness of its culture, architecture, and history, is undergoing a renovation. While the residents of Edinburgh work against the rapidly increasing cost of Edinburgh living, Edinburgh is under the knife. Its spires sit nestled amongst more buildings every year as Edinburgh’s homes, centres, and offices grow. MODA Living’s buildto-rent schemes, with rents of approximately £1,500 for one-bedroom flats, may seem like a positive new addition to Edinburgh. They have shared amenities, have created jobs in the building of these mass developments and are useful to students looking for accommodation. However, they’ve proven themselves to be harmful to Edinburgh’s society because of their high rates. This is an internal, social element of gentrification wherein homes are only affordable for high-income people, driving Edinburgh’s low-income population out of the area in order to make it a ‘newer’ space, catering only to high-income individuals. These slow, visual changes to Edinburgh’s skyline indicate a change in Edinburgh’s population – making it a population of high-income individuals for high-income individuals. Edinburgh’s identity as a UNESCO World Heritage site must be conserved and respected, and activists feel that the gentrification of the city,

both socially and architecturally, is not the correct direction.

But as Edinburgh and its governors battle to reshape its identity, the city’s people must confront the harsh realities of their leadership’s actions. As development surges forward, a growing movement of residents, activists, and conservationists is pushing back against a city losing its soul. In a city appearing on track to become unaffordable for most, activists from various charities and nonprofits agree that displacing Edinburgh’s local population is not the solution. Living Rent, the national tenants’ union, has launched organised campaigns focused on keeping locals in Edinburgh’s homes, emphasising initiatives like ‘Homes Not Hotels’ to challenge the preference for luxury developments catering to tourists over locals and the use of Airbnb to accommodate tourists rather than providing options for long-term local renters. Shelter Scotland, the charity advocating for housing as a human right, has regularly criticised the government for its lack of social and affordable housing options housing.

Today, Edinburgh’s future hangs in the balance, not just in bricks and mortar but also in terms of who is fortunate enough to call the city home. Edinburgh is at a fork in its evolution— gentrification or less homelessness? It is to be hoped that this new Edinburgh will be a better Edinburgh, not one that leaves its people behind in pursuit of driving tourism and revenue, but one that has not had its unique character eroded by modern developments. Many such questions are still unanswered: ‘Where is Edinburgh headed?’, ‘When will Edinburgh’s housing be affordable for Edinburgers?’, ‘Who gets to live in Edinburgh?’ The answer? The highest bidder.

Modern Day Witch Hunt

While the witch trials of the past were defined by brutal persecution, the reflection of those injustices can be seen across the way women are treated and judged today.

The Edinburgh witch trials took place between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, with over 300 women killed. More women were burned and strangled on the Edinburgh Castle esplanade than at any other site in Scotland, and each were denied a proper trial or burial. The capital’s witch trials were powered by sexism and fear of the outspoken and the different, targeting women whose beliefs were unlike those around them and challenged societal norms. We look at witch trials as being so far gone, when the most recent trial took place in Scotland’s capital in the second world war. Now known as ‘Scotland’s Last Witch’, Helen Duncan was arrested and tried for witchcraft in 1944, resulting in 9 months in prison. We may view ourselves as better than those who cried ‘witch’, but the hunting of women is still occurring, just taking on a different form of punishment. Being put in stocks is now compared to being targeted online. You can confess and apologise yet be condemned because strangers on the internet feel you deserve it, or you can deny the accusations and be terrorized or ‘cancelled’ and forced into hiding for something you didn’t do. The prejudice and deep-rooted misogyny that fuelled the witch hunts still exists today. Historian Lucy Worsley, in conversation with The Guardian said, “Anyone who has ever been put down as a ‘difficult’ woman hears a distant echo of the past”. Across the entire UK, a woman would die as a witch every 22 days. Today, a woman dies at the hands of a man every 3 days. If we thought of those women to be witches, what is the excuse today?

On International Women’s Day in 2022, the then First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon apologised for the ‘historical injustice’ that was the witch hunts. Many

By Isla Sneddon

historians believe the Scottish witch trials were worse than Salem.

“It was an injustice on a colossal scale, driven at least in part by misogyny in its most literal sense, hatred of women,” said Sturgeon.

Her apology followed a social media campaign to have witches pardoned by parliament. Activists wanted those in power to confront the bloody history head on, rather than to sweep it under the rug and use it as a tourist attraction. This feels all too similar to the UK government declaring violence against women and girls a national emergency after women took to social media to express their growing concern and to tell their stories.

1 in 10 people in Scotland believe that “women often lie about being raped” with 1 in 3 believing men rape due to their inability to control the need for sex. More than 1 in 6 women have experienced violence online. When we look back at the Edinburgh witch trials, we take a sigh of relief knowing that these methods of torture and degradation don’t happen anymore, when in fact they have taken a different form. With 37% of 16 to 21-year-olds in Scotland saying they’re too scared to go outside from fear of unwanted attention. Young females in the public eye are being forced out of jobs for appearing ‘too outspoken’ or for dismissing the silence and the stigma of using your voice that has become all too normal in today’s climate.

Women are fighting back amid the escalating attacks on their rights and the uprise of patriarchal violence. One positive change is that during the trials, women were not allowed to speak in courtrooms, whereas today, women are leading the change.

“Iff evir the said Elizabeth salbe fund scolding or railing… scho salbe sett upone the trone in the brankis and be banishit the toun thaireftir” – Lanark Burgh Records, 1653

Rough modern translation: “If Elizabeth is ever found scolding or insulting, she will be placed on the stocks and then banished from the town”.

Left: Street art in Colinton Tunnel reflects the storied history of Scotland’s witches

Right: The Witches’ Well commemorates hundreds of women burnt at the stake on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

Photos by Joseph Meek

Alight

inthedark

The hidden tax of being a woman

By Nina Aspey

Being scared to walk home is a daily occurrence. I have spent an excessive amount of money on Ubers after nights out, still I must share my location with friends to feel some sense of security, because you never know.

After living in Edinburgh for three years, it feels like a relatively safe city. However, I believe I got lucky; I rarely have to go out by myself late at night because I lived with two guys. Now, my boyfriend meets me when it starts to get dark. It makes me feel pathetic that without a male’s company I am constantly on edge.

According to the Scottish Government, women are less likely than men to feel safe whilst walking home in the dark. 1 in 5 women avoid walking home in the dark. Strut Safe, an Edinburgh based charity, was set up so someone could walk you to your door. Now, the organisation runs a phone line you can call if you’re feeling unsafe at night.

I first heard about Strut Safe when it was founded in 2021.

Knowing I would be going to university in the city, I saved it to my contact list. Strut Safe has since expanded to the whole of the United Kingdom, all operated by sixty-five volunteers. “The people who started it just wanted to do something that was alternative to what was available at the time,” Caragh Campbell, Head of Service Provision says.

Unintentionally, I interviewed Caragh four years to the day of Sarah Everard’s murder, one of many horrific incidents that catalysed the start of the organisation. Throughout their time with the service, Caragh has unfortunately seen little change. “Women still feel unsafe, and I can imagine other marginalised groups still feel unsafe as well”. She states there is still a need for their service. In 2024 they had a 97% increase in calls compared to the previous year.

What is Strut Safe’s plan to expand in the future? They hope to open all days of the week, not just Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. However, there is a bigger aim in sight according to Caragh. “Ideally actually we wouldn’t want to exist at all if everybody felt safe, we believe everyone should feel safe, regardless of where they’re walking or where they live or who they are”.

You can call Strut Safe on 0333 335 0026. Fridays & Saturdays: 19:00 - 03:00, Sundays: 19:00 - 01:00

Photo by Joseph Meek

AI is taking over at universities, and students and staff are fearful of how this will affect them. But what can we do about it?

By Zosia Stanton

Artificial Intelligence is not a dystopian idea. It is not something happening in the future which we can prepare for. AI is all around us, everywhere, everyday. From computing centres to coffee shops. From essay outlines to interview feedback. Meal plans. Lifestyle advice. How to write a magazine article. How to cure my relationship with my mother. Our most longed for answers at the click of a button.

And where is the harm in that? If the answers are simply a coded system filtering through algorithms and processing data to create the most accurate response, why shouldn’t we take advantage of that? In a world of essays, academic papers and coursework deadlines, AI has ascended upon our world like an angel from the heavens.

Yet, unfortunately for us, the perfectly appearing interface of AI technologies distracts us from the countless moral complications this digital revolution has brought with its’ developments.

AI has, and continues, to completely shift the ways we teach, learn and conduct research from students to teachers to simply curious individuals of the human race. Whilst AI tools are a great help in increasing our productivity - reducing technical and administrative tasks - the rapid expansion of these kinds of technology must be carefully studied so everyone from students to teachers knows how to best implement the use of AI tools at university.

The World Economic Forum predicted that AI will have replaced 85 million jobs globally by this year. For students currently at university, this means an entire new set of terminology and skills are encouraged. Employers

on the lookout for candidates who are well-versed in the intricacies of AI models are now much more common, and the ability to use and understand these systems is a valuable asset for students entering industry.

But it’s not just students at university who are struggling to grapple with the undeniable presence AI technologies is having in the learning environment. Even lecturers, exam administrators, course leaders, support staff and supervisors are affected. It seems that in everyone, everywhere, there are fears on where this AI “dystopia” will go. Alas, there is still a lack of support and guidance on how to use AI in a constructive and non-detrimental way. At the end of the day, most students just want to face the end of the academic year with the grades they hoped for, one step closer to the caps and gowns of graduation day.

I spoke with Louise Drumm, an Associate Professor in Digital Education at Edinburgh Napier University. She’s worked for several years in many universities as a learning technologist, academic developer, lecturer, and software developer. Recently she led focus groups to explore student perceptions on the use of AI technologies as part of a research project across universities throughout Scotland. Louise has a deep understanding of the fears permeating further education on AI.

“Humans have always had access to technology that wasn’t made for them,” she tells me.

“AI has introduced a fear and a distrust between students and staff, and the impact AI has had in professions is profound,” Louise explains the complications of original ideas being used through generative AI models. She illustrates that is not dissimilar from human conversation.

“When we are having a conversation, it is often difficult to pick apart which ideas are our own, and which ideas we have seen or read before from other people or online. We can’t open up people’s minds, our brains are not trained in that way. AI is very similar.”

Unfortunately for us, AI feeds itself and grows with the information it receives. Louise explains that, with the growth of AI, there is more possibility of AI becoming homogenised, and because of that there is a possibility of more inaccuracies and biases at play.

and it’s difficult to deny the sobering reality that AI developers may not have the best human interest in mind, despite the efficient, productive face of such technologies.

As our conversation draws to a close, it is clear that –although Louise, like us, has fears of where AI is going – we have the tools as humans to remain conscientious and can use this to our advantage.

“We have choices”

In universities, Louise tells me, staff and students have very similar concerns on AI use.

“It is a very live topic. Education, but also society, needs to take a step back.”

“Now it is about how we develop the knowledge about the tools we have. In an ideal world, we can develop generative AI models that have input from students, or any number of people. This way there is a chance to create more responsible, environmental models.”

Regrettably, these models are developed to make money,

“We have to remain transparent and open on the mechanisms we have access to.” Although there is no crystal ball to predict the future of how AI will affect university learning, it is apparent that we cannot give up on the human skills we do have, instead learning to use AI to enhance our work, not complete it.

It is possible that university learning will go through reinvention and in this new age, where perhaps there will be more focus on human empathy, care, creativity and community projects, with less room for jobs in the information economy.

As Louise concluded, “I think we feel very powerless in the state of things. But we have choices.”

Lifestyle

Edinburgh’s Supercar Status Symbols

By Marcel Schneider

Atenement houses of Edinburgh, you can find luxury supercars such as: Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, and even Aston Martins. For some, these are a status symbol, for others they represent a lifestyle, or a love for motoring. For me they’re something more. I am a huge fan of supercars. Since I was a kid, I have played with cars and still do. I repair my own car now to save myself money.

My journey with supercars started when I was working for a company called “Thrifty and Auxillis”. Delivering very expensive cars to very rich clients. This included marques like: MercedesBenz, BMW, and Audi. I was also lucky enough to drive some truly amazing vehicles including the latest hot BMW 3-Series, a Land Rover Defender with a supercharged V8, a Mercedes- Benz G63 AMG, and a Lamborghini Huracan with its wailing V10.

Driving these very expensive cars gave me an adrenaline rush, but at the same time, I was extremely careful because any damage would have been my financial responsibility – a daunting prospect. When I was behind the wheel of a Ferrari and a Lamborghini, I felt as if I were sitting almost directly on the road. Every bump and imperfection in the pavement was noticeable, and while the sound of the engine was beautiful, it was also incredibly loud. I was confused by the array of buttons and controls, which were entirely different from standard vehicles. Even starting the engine required some special knowledge. On the motorway in a Ferrari or a Lamborghini I would watch my speed because I was afraid of going too fast due to the value of

with you, if I had the opportunity to buy one for myself, I probably wouldn’t because they are extremely costly, and are not practical for everyday use. With supercars, they only have two seats and a very small front trunk, and not designed for daily practicality, they’re designed for racing on racetracks.

I really enjoyed driving vehicles like the Mercedes G-Class and the Land Rover, because of their size. You don’t need to listen to the radio because the amazing sound of the V8 engine plays like a symphony or an orchestra. You can feel the power and precision of the engine; it’s a beautiful thing these automotive engineers have created. I imagine that some of you would love to have the same experiences as I’ve had with a supercar, and I have great news for you! In Edinburgh, there are luxury car showrooms such as: Lamborghini, Graypaul Ferrari, and Porsche Edinburgh, where you can visit for free and check out these at no cost.

To see these vehicles, you just need to call one of the showrooms to arrange a visit. Once organised the showroom will invite you to see their cars in the showroom. The Graypaul Lamborghini and Graypaul Ferrari showrooms are both located at Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh. The Porsche showroom is located here too but you don’t need to make any phone calls to see the cars.

A student doesn’t need to be rich to see luxury sports cars. You have the opportunity to enjoy them for free. Hey, why not make it your job and work for a car delivery company like me! But seriously, if you are a lover of cars, Edinburgh’s scene is fantastic, you just have to look in the right places.

Photos by Marcel Schneider

Inside Porsche’s Graypaul Edinburgh Showroom

Eghan Meet Evans

“My dream is to become president of Ghana”

The ENSA president is not afraid to dream big

By Madeleine Jamieson

Photo by Cameron McIntosh

Born in Ghana, Evans Kingsford Eghan has made a name for himself in the two years he has been at Edinburgh Napier University. On the short walk from the ENSA (Edinburgh Napier Student Association) office to the Espresso lab he greets everyone with a smile, exchanging in quick conversation while chewing on some popcorn as a snack. Wearing a burgundy hoodie with “Napier” written on his chest there is no doubt who he is.

“Meetings, meetings and meetings”, is what he says when asked what he has been up to so far on a Tuesday. However, his days are far from boring. Before arriving in Edinburgh Eghan was working his way up in the Ghana film industry as an actor and the founder of the Accra Indie Filmfest.

“I did my undergrad as a film producer and director at the University of Ghana and this year actually marks my 10th year working on my passion”. Qualifying for a scholarship he explains that it was completely random that he ended up studying in Scotland’s rainy capital. He wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“I love this city. It has everything from nightlife and fun to nature and history.”

Being this far from home has also brought some surprises.

to the weather and started cooking his own meals. Then set about the task of establishing himself at Napier. “I always knew that I wanted to become a part of the community and create something that will endure after I leave”, he says. So far, he is well on his way to achieving this goal.

Eghan quickly became programme representative when doing his MSc in Marketing with Festival and Event Management, as well as becoming an international student ambassador too. “I created the society of African students as I felt there was a need for more inclusivity for students, and for the African students to come together away from home”.

Though he is far from home, Evans Eghan has not lost sight of his goals

“I was never worried about coming here, but I do remember two things that shocked me when arriving The first is the lack of taste in food here,” he says with a laugh and explains with a hint of disappointment his first time trying British Nandos, expecting it to taste the same as at home.

“I called my friend asking him to take me to the closest shop so I could cook my own meal instead”.

Another shock, unsurprisingly, was the weather. “I remember seeing the sun shining and thinking it would be a warm day.” Leaving his house in only a T-shirt. “I was so cold and could not understand why the day was not warm when the sun was shining.” However, he quickly got used

He has been president closing in on a year and can disclose that the goal is to be re-elected.

Despite his efforts to stay in Scotland for the time being, he is not planning on being here forever. Eghan has a bigger plan.

“My dream is to become president of Ghana”, he says proudly. “I think the country could use a guy like me.”

What would his first goal be as president of Ghana?

“The first thing I want to do might seem small but will make a big difference”.

“I want to make bike lanes to make places more accessible for people without a car.” He explains how living in the UK has allowed him to see his own home with new eyes. “The first time I went back after moving to Edinburgh I realized how different the traffic situation is. No one stops for pedestrians, there are traffic jams everywhere and no one is seen on a bike. It is just too dangerous”.

Having a car is seen as a symbol of status and a bike is often not an alternative. This is something Eghan wants to change.

“It would make a huge difference in people’s lives. Often it would be quicker, more environmentally friendly as well as affordable to go by bike rather than car. Bike lanes would make this possible.”

Photo credit Evans Eghan

Beyond The

Why more university students are “bumpin’” heavy drinking lifestyles from their routine

By Zosia Stanton

The “Sober Myth”, - as some call it, - has been circulating popular media outlets in recent years. “Are Young Adults Really a Generation of Non-Drinkers?” “Why Gen Zers Are Growing Up Sober Curious.” “Sobriety as a Student: Can We Do It?”

Drinking has been a rite of passage for students for decades, helping establish new friendships and facilitating fun. Getting black out drunk on Cowgate from cheap doubles at Hive, dancing with your friends, heads swaying in a dizzy, alcohol-induced euphoria has long been the norm, however it’s undeniable that this way of life is changing.

The ‘Drinkaware Trust’ found that young adults are more likely to be non-drinkers compared to the rest of the population, with their findings showing the number of young adults who choose not to drink has increased from 14% in 2017 to 21% in 2023. But why?

Young adults are growing up in an increasingly unique social landscape. Information is available at the click of a button, and with so many opinions circulating online many believe that younger generations are becoming more risk averse. This could be because of concerns for physical or mental health, but it could be related to more specific social issues too. For instance, in 2021 the Daily Record reported 152 cases of drink-spiking in the first ten months of the year, highlighting a worrying increase in violent attacks on nights out.

But if students aren’t drinking as much anymore, what are they doing?

SOS-UK, a student- led education charity focused on sustainability and student-wellbeing, run wellness programs across UK universities, helping to foster responsibly and inclusivity on university campuses.

Fiona Murray, Project Manager for SOS-UK, explained the changes to student’s activities:

“We’ve seen a really nice rise in non-alcohol focused events, and we really want to keep supporting them.” She says that these events have created an engaging and supportive space for everybody, regardless of whether they choose to drink alcohol or not.”

Fiona works directly with both staff and students to implement her work within universities, helping reduce the stigma of seeking support for alcohol and drug use.

“Something that I really love about this role is hearing students’ stories and hearing about things that are happening that make them feel included in university.”

Although students have used drinking as a crux of socialization for decades, recent data shows that 78% of students say they don’t have to get drunk to have a good night out. From drink spiking to the rise in mental health awareness, there seems to be countless reasons students today may take a more mindful approach towards their drinking.

By Gio Holmes

Doomscrolling 40

hours and 50 minutes. No, that is not the average working week for UK citizens, that is the average time spent on TikTok monthly by users in the United Kingdom. According to TikTok’s analytics, over 40% of these users are between the ages of 18-24.

Factoring in that the average video length on TikTok is almost 43 seconds long, that equates to over 3,400 videos watched by the standard UK TikTok user – supposing they were to watch every single video fully. The average watching time is just over five seconds per video. This means that your average TikTok user in the UK flicks through just under 28,000 videos in a single month, on one app alone.

The term that describes this activity is ‘Doomscrolling’. Originally, the phrase referred to the act of overly consuming negative media, for example during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, most people will remember themselves or a loved one obsessively checking the latest COVID-related announcement. Now, however the term is used in reference to any aimless scrolling on social media sites, particularly TikTok and Instagram.

Doomscrolling affects our sleep as many people who engage in this do so during the evening. According to SleepScore, an app that tracks how users sleep and their quality of sleep, people who doomscroll at night had a lower sleep efficiency score and went to bed later.

Focus and concentration are also affected by doomscrolling. On average, ’Gen Z’ers’ have an attention span of around eight seconds, which is 33% less than the attention span of Millennials. This can

be of detriment to students especially as they find it harder to focus on their work at university and end up procrastinating on social media apps.

I spoke to Alen Biju, a third-year Mental Health Nurse currently enrolled at Edinburgh Napier University about how doomscrolling has affected his focus and productivity.

“I find that on days that I don’t have university work to do, I do end up endlessly scrolling through TikTok instead of doing something productive. Whilst I do end up meeting my deadlines for university, it is definitely harder to focus on my work than when I was at school, probably because I would watch longer form content on YouTube back then.”

Tristan Hennessy is a fourth-year Law student at Napier who struggles to stay focused. “I find that my productivity is down due to ‘doomscrolling’, for example, if a lecturer tells me to read something that would benefit my studies, I will find myself getting distracted easily by going on Instagram and just scrolling. It is mainly due to the fact that scrolling means I am actively on my phone, rather than have something that is on in the background. I will get the work done, however it will take me way longer than it should do.”

So, how do we combat Doomscrolling? Alen told me one way that he combats doomscrolling is by ‘changing scenery’. He spoke about how working in the University Library has been extremely helpful to focus on his studies. Taking oneself away from the distraction, diverting focus elsewhere can be a good method to deal with scrolling habits. Tristan also spoke on the idea of having longer form content in the background to help increase his attention span whilst working. Studies suggest that listening to music can actually improve the quality of focus for some. Of course, more drastic measures can be taken to avoid doomscrolling. One person I spoke with deleted all forms of social media from their devices to stay focused on their studies. From first years to postgraduates, doomscrolling affects a range of people, but by taking some steps to reduce the amount of exposure we have to our screens, we can combat doomscrolling and put the focus back into our studies.

Photo by Cameron McIntosh

Full of flavour Free of alcohol,

“Idon’t have a background in brewing. I have a background in beer drinking and bad hangovers” Sonja Mitchell, the founder of Jumpship Brewing tells me as we sip on pints of her alcohol-free IPA in an industrial unit just outside of Pathhead, Midlothian.

We have just finished wandering around the brewery and I’m sat at a long table in the centre of Sonja’s office. She pours us 2 pints from a small bar in the corner of the room. Jackstaff is the beer we are drinking, golden in colour and piney, with a hint of citrus fruits. It’s a classic IPA and a technical delight. There’s no debating why these beers are award winning.

Drinking habits of young people are changing and people are reducing their alcohol intake. ‘Zebra striping’ is becoming an increasingly popular practice, where one switches between an alcoholic drink and a non-alcoholic one. This means it is more important than ever that alcohol-free beers can compete with the boozy stuff. Jumpship is one of three alcohol-free breweries in Scotland, and they boast a bevy of globally recognised accolades.

“For me,

“I thought if no one else is going to do this, then I’m going to.”

After completing her course, Sonja teamed up with a brewer to create a recipe for what would become Jumpship’s flagship lager, Yardarm. Finding a brewery to make it proved to be a challenge but eventually she managed to find a contract partner to work with and got the beer on the market in 2019. In 2021, Jumpship won best no and low alcohol lager in the World with Yardarm at the World Beer Awards.

Since then, Jumpship has continued to grow, moving into their new brewing facility at Rosemains earlier last year. The brewery has a range of beers which tick boxes in both craft and alcohol-free spaces. Branching out into more craft beer styles, the brewery boasts an impressive arsenal of IPAs, pale ales and even the occasional sour flung in the mix, all of which have the added benefit of being gluten-free and vegan.

having choice and

range is really important”

Having reduced her alcohol intake in 2018, Sonja was disappointed with the alcohol-free beers on offer. At that time the gold standard for alcohol-free beer was Becks Blue, which was a sweet, de-alcoholised version of Becks, more akin to lemonade than lager, it was beer-ish, but nothing like the real thing. Knowing there must be a way to make better alcohol-free beer, Sonja began researching how to start up a brewery. Taking it step-by-step, she found out about a course which would teach her the basics of how to run one.

“It was a sort of a start-up brewing course down at a place in Brew Lab, Sunderland, and it was kind of like a crash course in everything you’d need to know if you wanted to set up a brewery.

“If you’re someone who likes different types of beer, you don’t want to just always go out and have a lager. You want to have different styles.”

Gesturing towards the glass of beer sat in front of me Sonja says:

“At the brewery, we’re creating a really welcoming space for everyone. And it’s the same with that beer you’re drinking.”

The accessibility and range for the ‘sober curious’ is the best it ever has been and Jumpship are heading the wave in Scotland.

But what are Jumpship doing that other alcohol-free breweries are not?

A lot of their competitors use a process called vacuum distillation, whereby the beer is boiled in a vacuum at a lower temperature, so the alcohol evaporates but the water and other constituents remains. Jumpship do not do anything to remove the alcohol from their beer. Rather, they brew a beer that is naturally lower in alcohol by controlling fermentation. They use yeast strains that are less effective

As a craft beer drinker who is excited by all things weird and wonderful, it’s quite easy to be put off by alcohol-free beer

By Charlie Fulton

at converting sugar in to alcohol, and they limit the amount of sugar available for the yeast to digest by using less malt. Brewing this way provides a much greater depth of flavour, resulting in a product that actually tastes like beer.

“It is all balancing. Because we’re starting off with less grain. There’s less in the beer. So, everything in that beer has to work perfectly.”

The other thing that sets Jumpship apart from other brewers in the category is their sustainability goals. “We’ve got a net zero plan that we’re working towards.” Sonja proudly tells me. Pointing past pallets of cans towards a far wall Sonja says:

“On the other side of that wall there is a biomass boiler, which belongs to our landlord. He built it to fire up his grain grinders. But we’ve been able to tap into that so we can get instant hot water made from totally renewable energy and there’s also solar panels, which we can draw from also in summer.”

Sonja still believes there is much to do on the sustainability side of things but with the help of a group of Edinburgh University students looking at natural waste management solutions like reed beds or willow plantations, she is hopeful that they will continue to meet their sustainability targets.

Coming away from my afternoon at Jumpship, I felt hopeful about the future of alcohol-free beer. For several years, I have been a firm dissenter of the low and no movement. However, with breweries like Jumpship pioneering brilliant new creations in the alcohol-free realm, there’s no reason not to offset ones drinking with a tasty, well-made pint of 0% beer.

by

Photos

Charlie Fulton

Sonja Mitchell puts sustainability first to carve the way for alcohol-free brewing

From Mid Yell

How moving from the Shetland Isles to Edinburgh for university had me feeling like a tourist in my own capital city

By James Smith

To those of you who are not familiar with the place I call home, allow me to give you some background information. I’m from a place called Yell in Shetland, a small island archipelago, home to some 23,000 inhabitants, and the most northerly tip of the United Kingdom. You may recognise it as the islands you see relegated to a box on a map, or as the only place that appears in the middle of the North Sea (with a permanent weather warning) on Reporting Scotland. If you don’t know them, you wouldn’t be the first, and you most certainly won’t be the last. This was one of the many roadblocks that faced me when meeting my flatmates during my first

week in Edinburgh. Having to explain where I was from was a nightmare and usually came with no great success. On one occasion I even recall having to state the difference between Shetland and Sheffield. “Shit,” I thought. “This is only the first day”. When you think of a usual student’s commute from home to university you would more than likely assume that they’d have two options: hop on a train, or catch a bus. For students like me, and others from Shetland, the process is slightly more involved; not to mention inconvenient and expensive. The cheaper of two options is an overnight boat journey from Shetland to Aberdeen, followed by a 3-hour drive to Edinburgh. Sounds appealing, doesn’t it? However, if like me, you are willing to part ways with

your money to save a bit of time, then catching a Loganair flight is the choice for you. Unless mother nature decides to send a gale northward, in which case you’re stuck there for the foreseeable future. Consider that, along with a recently developed fear of flying, propelled by a few too many flights in less than stellar conditions, you can imagine the added layer of anxiety when the start of the semester rolls around. Thinking back to that first day in Edinburgh, and the flat which would become my home for the next year, my sometimes-limited social patience was heavily tested. I knew before I moved away that the ‘language barrier’ might be an issue. Naïvely, I assumed a diluted version of Shetland dialect would be understandable. I was wrong. Bemused

to Midlothian

expressions on the faces of my flat mates served as a stark reminder of just how far from home I was. Maybe calling it language barrier is dramatic but, in my experience, I’m yet to be understood speaking Shetland dialect by anyone other than fellow Shetlanders - I suppose this is how students from other countries feel, and it’s a challenging feat. Adjusting to such a big cultural shift, from the slow pace of island living, to the busy, bright lights of the city, was interesting at first. Growing up, I was always within walking distance of school, so even something as mundane as figuring out which buses go where posed a challenge. Walking into town had me darting my head around like a mad man. I thought there was some sort of disaster going on with all the sirens

“Naïvely, I assumed a diluted version of Shetland dialect would be understandable”

blaring. Admittedly, it was probably only a couple, but it was certainly more than I was used to. I’m still not accustomed to the noise, even after almost 4 years living here. The anonymity of being in a city is another thing I’m not used to. Popping into Tesco back home is a risky business as you could be in there for far longer than you intended to be. Every second aisle you risk bumping into somebody you recognise. Here, you’re just another head bobbing around in a crowd of strangers, which is a concept that remains very alien to me. However, the most daunting aspect of moving to Edinburgh, and the biggest challenge for new students, is the reality of living by yourself. Once I’d moved, and my family had set off for the drive back to Aberdeen, that was me. Alone. It

seemed ironic, having come from such a remote place, that at that moment I felt as isolated as I ever have. Frankly, I should consider myself lucky. My mum started university when she was 16 years old and could only contact home through an occasional letter or a trip to a phone box. Make no mistake, moving to Edinburgh has been the greatest change of my life, but I cannot understate how different it is from home. I think anyone from an island community will resonate with me when I say that I feel overwhelmed in cities. I love Edinburgh, but Shetland will always be my home, and as much as I would like to think I’ve changed to become a ‘city slicker’, in all honesty I’m still the same yokel that I was when I moved here.

Photo by James Smith

Britain’s Gift to the Beer World

More than just a drink, real ale is a cornerstone of British pub culture. But with corporate breweries on the rise, can this heritage survive?

By Alex Dingwall

The British pub scene is undergoing a significant transformation, with beer conglomerates buying up every brewery and pub in sight. This trend threatens the survival of independent breweries and traditional brewing techniques, particularly the tradition of real ale. For centuries real ale has been a staple in British pub culture, representing a craftsmanship that mass produced beer simply can’t reproduce.

Heineken, who control close to 20% of the beer market in the UK, have had scandal after scandal in recent times, from tax avoidance to collaborating with brutal regimes. Choosing an independent brewery is the ethical choice.

Will

everywhere you go.

In 2024 only 14% of beer brewed was produced by independent breweries, that’s only 14% of beer produced with care and craft. Unlike the mass-produced, watered-down pish that plagues our pubs, cask ale is carefully crafted from the beginning of fermentation to the final pour out the handpull. The process requires attention, skill and craftsmanship.

this tradition survive?

Politics aside, your taste buds will also thank you. The simple brewing process, the natural carbonation and the temperature of the ale lead to a totally unique tasting experience. As much as your friend tries telling you his Madri tastes better than your Tennents, the nuances are so subtle it’s hardly noticeable. But not for cask beer. Because cask ale keeps for a shorter time, the ingredients are more likely to be locally sourced and tend to be of a higher quality, which creates a completely different taste

While its popularity has endured, sales have faced challenges in recent years, reflecting shifting consumer preferences and the aggressive expansion of corporate breweries. Despite this, there are many dedicated Edinburgh pubs and punters alike who are working to ensure the survival of real ale.

Edinburgh’s Campaign for Real Ale or ‘CAMRA’, an organistaion with around 900 active members, celebrates its 50th year of campaigning for the preservation of real ale and traditional brewing techniques this year.

I met with H. Bloomfield, the social secretary for CAMRA in Edinburgh and South-East Scotland, and Colin Valentine, former national chairman of CAMRA and long-time real ale drinker. We chatted over a beer and discussed what the deal is with real ale.

“Nobody else does it. All these great beer nations like Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany—they don’t do what we do. And we don’t do what they do. It’s Britain’s gift to the beer world” Colin tells me before he takes a healthy sip of his pint.

CAMRA has played a crucial role in saving real ale from extinction since its formation in 1971. H. Bloomfield emphasised this stating;

“We are dedicated to supporting pubs that serve real ale and keeping the real ale trade alive, and in doing so, supporting the small independent breweries that make it. Because if you don’t support the pubs selling it, they’ll drop it, and then the breweries won’t survive. We could eventually lose this whole heritage.”

But will this tradition survive, given younger drinkers’ apparent preference for cocktails and branded beers?

Bloomfield said, “I found that young people want strong beer, but they don’t just want the cask beer.

“They want a proper beer, and they go for Guinness, but they still won’t try a cask beer. And I don’t really understand what that is, because generally speaking, the cask is cheaper.”

Although it is difficult to comment

on the drinking trends of the future, especially for something as complex as cask beer, H is optimistic that ale will evolve to fit younger people’s tastes with time.

For those who feel interested in trying real ale, Colin and H recommended several pubs around Edinburgh, Wee Bennets Bar in Morningside, Cloisters Bar on Brougham Street, The Stockbridge Tap in Stockbridge and The Blue Blazer on Spittal Street. Although, it is definitely worth checking out CAMRA’s good beer guide to

find a real ale pub that fits your fancy. I left my meeting with Colin and H, with a newly discovered appreciation for cask ale and an overwhelming sense of pride for an art which previously I had known little about. I realised that for many, the pub is a social outlet, a cultural tradition as important as any, and a testament to the handwork and craftsmanship that goes into brewing. Cask beer is integral to this environment and truly is a tradition worth fighting for.

by Joseph

The iconic Blue Blazer sign bringing in pub go-ers from around the UK

Photos

Meek

Kicking Off Change

Edinburgh Football Community hosts hundreds of participants, all in the name of fitness and positive mental health

By John Conaghan

Edinburgh is a city that is constantly evolving and improving every day, not just in its infrastructure and sustainability but also in its community engagement. In the heart of the city, groups are dedicated to making Edinburgh a better place to live. One important group I came across is Edinburgh Football Community. Anyone can join regardless of skill, experience or background and all would be welcomed with open arms. The groups network consists of 800 people in their WhatsApp group and 300 members on their Facebook page helping to better foster friendship and promote positive mental health through sport.

I have been attending these games recently, and it’s such a great community to join. It’s a place where I have made new friends, can showcase my skills and take my mind off work, bills and assignments. I would highly recommend anyone to join as I have seen great personal progression and purpose in this group throughout the 2 years I have been attending, including improving my own mental health at the same time.

concern in this country, according to Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, it is estimated that more than 1 in 3 people are affected by mental health problems each year. With this growing rise I wanted to get an insight into how the people of Edinburgh are tackling this issue.

The Edinburgh Football Community isn’t just focusing on Football-it’s about promoting connectivity, inclusivity and positive well-being. The group has regular football sessions in different locations of the city 6 days a week. These gatherings are also at different times in the day to provide a welcoming and inclusive space where people can play their football, meet new friends and take a break from the stresses of daily life. Mental health is a growing

Richard Darling, who is one of the founders of the community and has played an important role in the group’s growth. I learned about his passion for the game and goals of inclusivity and mental well-being through sport. Sharing his insight into the group’s impact in Edinburgh and the future goals. A group that started in 2010, advertising on Gumtree and Facebook has blossomed into a network of 1,400 people aged between 20 to 60-yearolds partaking, it has such a diverse following. Richard had also spoken about the numerous locations that the group can meet such as Meadowbank, Tynecastle, Granton and many more locations that were put in place to allow people from all walks of life in Edinburgh to play. “The groups positive impact on the community is undeniable”. Sharing the positive impact it has had on his anxiety and allowing him to release any tension building.

The Edinburgh Football Community also has its own bowling nights and dinner evenings frequently. Additionally, Richard mentioned their future plans to expand the group for people to play different sports other than football. This expansion could reach so many more people in Edinburgh and start to create a movement to really tackle mental health and use sport as a torch to lead the way in Edinburgh.

Hundreds of young people are brought together by the power of football

Photos by Joseph Meek

Nepotism and Sexism

Are Formula 1 drivers the new boyband?

By Nina Aspey

Ten years ago, fangirls were obsessing over One Direction, now edits are popping up all over TikTok idolising Formula 1 drivers instead. Reuters reported a female viewership of 40% of the races in 2022 compared to 8% in 2017, but what has driven women to start watching?

There are no rules in Formula 1 that deny women from racing, however there has only ever been two women to compete in a Grand Prix. This is out of a total of approximately seven hundred drivers in its history. More recently, not only has there been an increase in women watching, but also an influx of women wanting a career in racing, whether it be as a mechanic or marketing. Yet, what has catapulted this interest? From personal experience, I started watching the sport because my flatmate and his girlfriend were watching it. I then started watching the Netflix show Drive to Survive, which followed the drivers during the race season.

Usually, as a woman, if you tell a man that you watch motorsports, they will question you by suggesting it is only because there are conventionally attractive male racers. This is not the case. I spoke to some Edinburgh based female students who are attempting pursue careers in motorsport to understand what the attraction is. Many of them agreed that Drive to Survive was what had piqued their interest,

or they had a family member who got them into the sport. Some argued that the nature of TikTok and social media meant that motorsports could reach a larger audience than they ever had before.

The history of sexism in Formula 1 is rife. In 2020, then driver Nikita Mazepin was filmed assaulting two women on social media. An underwhelming statement was produced by his team Haas, and it was said that there would be stronger punishment if this incident were to repeat itself. In 2013, ex-driver and broadcaster Sir Stirling Moss suggested that women didn’t have the ‘mental capacity’ for racing. More recently, Red Bull’s long time vice principal Christian Horner was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague. This creates an uninviting reception for its female fans.

Being a woman isn’t the only obstacle in being successful in motorsports, another is money. It can cost on average £10 million to go from karting to becoming a Formula 1 driver. As a result, nepotism is common in motorsports. A few examples of nepotism in the sport include four-time championship winner Max Verstappen, whose father Jos used to race in F1 in the 90s and 00s, ex-Haas driver Mick Schumacher, whose father Michael is the second most decorated driver in Formula 1 history and Lance Stroll, who currently has a race seat in the team that his father owns. Money

makes the world go round and so it seems it does for Formula 1 too.

When speaking to my interviewees, we discussed the significance of living in Edinburgh. It is difficult to locate a karting track in the city or any opportunities for jobs. The closest Grand Prix is Silverstone, 349 miles away. The consensus seems to be that you are more likely to be picked for a job if you live in England, in which you don’t need to pack up your whole life. Eight of the 10 teams in Formula 1 are based in England too, based mainly around Milton Keynes in the south of England. Part of the appeal for working in motorsports is the travelling, however it seems employers do not come looking in Scotland. There is no connection to motorsports in Scotland, or many opportunities to start.

Despite all this, what is happening to encourage women to get involved in motorsports?

Scottish racing legend Susie Wolff started the F1 Academy in 2023. The series has an all-female grid, with the idea to allow women to progress to the highest level of motorsport.

Their aim is to make motorsports more accessible and diverse, with 10 racers being sponsored by Formula 1 teams and the remaining others by their other sponsors such as Charlotte Tilbury and Tommy Hilfiger. Wolff herself has faced sexist comments, despite arguably being one of the most notable female figures in the sport.

Many of the women that I spoke to noted her as a role model. However, her many critics have argued she is only successful because of her husband, Toto Wolff, the vice principal of Mercedes. A seemingly good friend of Susie Wolff’s and ex- driver Serigo Perez was caught in 2014 saying women were “better to stay in the kitchen”. Now, how could women be encouraged to join in a sport where even the most successful people are not saved from comments from their peers?

With all the endless criticism, who does support women in motorsports? Lewis Hamilton has been a big voice for the voiceless in motorsports. Still being the first and only black driver in the sport, he set up a charity, Mission 44, to help young people overcome social injustice. Alongside this, Hamilton wore a pride flag helmet at the 2021 Qatar & Saudi Arabia races, challenging the country’s laws. Hamilton has also encouraged spaces in management for women. This may seem like the bare minimum, but it is important when there appears to be a lack of support.

Many of the women I spoke to said that the possibility of a female driver in the next 10 years still seems unrealistic. Although, the academy is a step in the right direction, the nature of the sport means there is still way to go. The use of cars means that it is automatically associated with men, which is a hard stereotype to overcome.

Photo by Joseph Meek

Making A Racquet

How Pickleball is taking on the Racquet sport’s establishment head on

Photo credit iStock Photo

By Hayden Burr

The sporting minnow of pickleball is pursuing its dream of becoming the nation’s favourite and the tennis suits are sweating. Since its accidental creation in the United States over sixty years ago, pickleball has always been somewhat of a sidekick to tennis and badminton. A sidekick that is always an understudy but never the main character. A Robin to a Batman if you will. However, the red, green, and yellow spandex isn’t looking so bad next to its shiny, black counterpart in 2025.

To say that pickleball will overtake tennis as scotland’s favourite racquet sport within the next 12 to 18 months is ambitious to say the very least; some might even say ludicrous. So why do those inside the sport believe they can plant a new flag at the top of the mountain? Well, there are some valid reasons why.

As of late 2024, there are 5,000 pickleball players in Scotland, which dwarfs in comparison to the 324,000 Scots who picked up a tennis racquet aiming to replicate Sir Andy Murray’s game. However, this number is mightily impressive when we consider there were only 50 people who stepped on a pickleball court in 2018, an incredible 10,000% participation increase in only six years.

It’s no wonder that there is much enthusiasm coming from inside the pickleball world with this kind of upward trajectory. Perhaps the most enthusiastic of all is Anne Smillie, a management committee elected member at Pickleball Scotland. “It’s not impossible. It’s not an impossible dream [to overtake tennis],” the retired chief executive of Badminton Scotland proclaimed.

“I know that it has potential to overtake tennis in Scotland, without a doubt. It has the potential to overtake it by participation and popularity. It’s trendy. It’s going to be really, really trendy once we get into the youth market. Honestly, I see it now, there’s lots and lots of youngsters who are now wanting to take up the sport.”

Smillie’s drive to promote the sport to youth is what could take pickleball into a different dimension. The LTA’s 2023 figures of 37,000 Scottish children playing tennis weekly may be a potential target for those at pickleball Scotland. Children, of course, are known to follow trends and are not interested in the status quo; they just want to have fun. So, it may not be as unrealistic a goal as it sounds.

“They see what’s happening in America and the money that’s going into the sport,” Smillie said of one of the reasons why the sport is growing. The American influence, for better or for worse, continually trickles its way across the pond to its embracing cousins. The glitz and glamour effect of the United States is not lost on us Scots. We, often unknowingly, embrace it with open arms. This is exactly what is happening with pickleball, and it has already had a positive impact here in Edinburgh.

Tim Connor moved here from the USA in 2023 and wanted to bring his love of the sport to the Scottish people. “At first we were just looking for people to play pickleball with,” Tim said. “Then we had ten, twenty, and up to fifty names (signing up to play). We then realised we have something more formal here than just getting together once a week. So that’s when we decided to make a website and start putting on weekly sessions.” Tim’s Edinburgh pickleball

group at Meadowbank Sports Centre may be the start of the second American revolution.

They say an empire lasts 250 years and by those estimations, the modern tennis empire looks safe for the time being. But with the meteoric rise of pickleball in recent years, we may be seeing the crown on a new head of the Scottish racquet sport kingdom sooner than expected.

Photo by Hayden Burr

tennis

“I know it has the potential to overtake

in Scotland”

Playing with Food

How the evolution of food has allowed local lad to keep playing the sport he loves

By Sam Coutts

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder that an NHS study shows affects around 1/100 people in the UK, with only 30% of those being diagnosed. The disease means that the people who have it have to be very careful with their diet in order not to get ill. This is especially true for athletes who have to follow this rigorous routine because if they don’t, they run the risk of not being able to perform their sport.

Lewis Allan Brown (LAB to his friends) has played football for sixteen years, meaning he was just four when he started kicking a football. He has played for many teams across East Lothian and Edinburgh including Longniddry Villa, Musselburgh Windsor, Hutchie Vale and even Hibernians’ youth team. Now playing for Preston Athletics’ first team in the East of Scotland first division, LAB is a key member of the squad that plays an important role every week.

Preston Athletic is a team based in the small East Lothian town of Prestonpans. Nicknamed the Panners, they play at their ground called the Pennypit. Playing in the East of Scotland first division, Lewis says playing senior football is more of a challenge than the under twenty-one level he was playing last season. “It was a big step up to what I was used to, higher intensity, not as much time on the ball and much more physical. I’ve

adapted well in the season I’ve been there, but Division One is so tight and competitive anyone can beat anyone. Such an unpredictable league, we were one of the favourites to go up at the start of the season and are now in a relegation fight!”

Lewis has coeliac disease, which means that he must be very careful with his diet otherwise he might

“There are

limited options in particular countries”

become unwell. He says “if I was to have gluten the night or morning of a game it would be different. I’d feel sickly and tired with a lack of energy so it’s very important to make sure my diet is good around match days”. This highlights the importance of having the correct diet for those with coeliac, especially for people who play sports in order to perform to their best ability.

Many athletes across the world play at the highest level and have gluten-free

diets. For example, four-time Olympic gold medal winner Ariadne Titmus must maintain a gluten-free diet and stated in an interview with The Gluten Free Athlete that “It’s hard to maintain your energy requirements. It’s about being flexible and learning to compromise on particulars and taste”. Living a gluten-free lifestyle can be challenging, however, LAB believes it is getting easier to meet dietary requirements, but it could be getting better “Supermarkets and places to eat are getting better at offering gluten-free options however I don’t think it’s hard to get even better for it. The problem for them is it’s more expensive to tend to coeliacs so they have an allergy fee which isn’t fair at all on gluten-free diets. Why should I have to pay more for something I have no say in? I think some countries need to make it easier as well as it can be a struggle abroad in places like Germany to find gluten-free options”. Ariadne also agrees with this by stating that, “there are limited options in particular countries”.

While it is clear that the options for those trying to live with a gluten-free diet are getting better and shops are catering to them, more could be done. Luckily in the UK, there are options to choose from in shops and restaurants that are gluten-free, however, in certain countries across the world, those with coeliac do not have the same options. If this was the case for LAB, the midfield maestro would not be able to play the sport he loves.

Opening doors for athletes across Edinburgh

“If I didn’t have this, I would rather be 6ft under”

By

Isla Sneddon

Two thirds of disabled people are motivated to be active and improve their physical wellbeing through sport, but 72% have avoided sport all together, over fears of inaccessibility. Many people are unaware of the accessible sports available in their area. Scottish Disability Sport co-ordinates activities all across the country, providing a wide range of accessible sport to encourage inclusion.

Gary Neill, a golf lover and member, became paralysed from his waist down. This prognosis changed his life, preventing him from doing the sport he loved. He gave up all things related to golf from his membership to magazine subscriptions to prevent being reminded of this life he once lived. However, two years into his diagnosis, he learned that a golf course in Glasgow owned a Paragolfer. The Paragolfer is a wheelchair that is designed to fully lift and support the user into a standing position, which allows them to play golf or darts.

“The first time I went on it I started crying. It’s not just about hitting a ball; it’s about having an eye level with my friends”.

“I never considered for a moment that it would be people who used to play. The goal for me was to make golf more accessible and it’s taken off”.

“It just gave me that

Ross also discusses how the Paragolfer has been used for much more than golf, but how some clients use it to be able to hug their kids or to look in the eye of their partner. Small day to day tasks that are taken for granted, can only be achieved using these expensive equipment pieces. The gym also includes those with learning disabilities, they make changes based on the person using a fully controlled workout room that allows clients to control the music, the lighting and the number of people in the space. It’s often the case that people with autism struggle to operate in public gyms, with fears over busy environments, bright lights or distracting sounds. The gym allows clients to have full control over every aspect.

freedom again”

Eventually, Neill managed to acquire a Paragolfer at his local course, but due to the lack of knowledge surrounding the equipment, many courses would not allow the Paragolfer to be used in adverse weather conditions at risk of tearing up the green. This is where DR Inclusive Fitness came in. Scotland’s first gym for disabled people. They opened an indoor driving range specifically made for those with disabilities preventing them from standing. The gym allows people like Gary to continue with the sport they love. Ross Millar, the golf trainer at the gym explained how he originally thought his clientele would be those who never had the opportunity to play sport, but his largest audience is actually those who once could, but who lost the ability.

Billy Craik, a client with spinal bifida was told he would never be able to walk. He has been proving doctors wrong for decades. He attends weekly sessions at the gym to improve his physical stamina and mental health, however in his experience he feels that the gym truly changes his confidence. “Coming here has made me fitter and more active doing all the exercises. I’m more confident as well”.

David Napier, Billy’s personal trainer discussed his progress, saying how every week their schedule changes based on his capabilities. “I will always plan a routine, but if Billy comes in and says he has had a setback, my plan goes out the window and we rework it to fit Billy”.

David sees people from the start of their journey, through to the end. He reiterates that it’s not just about what exercises they can do in the gym, but how it relates to their real life. For example, being able to sit up in bed independently or being able to transfer themselves from wheelchair to sofa unaided.

Penny Hendrick, the gym’s business manager discusses

that it doesn’t only benefit the person with the disability, but it relieves additional pressure from their carer. She explains how by attending the gym, their carer gets an hour or so to themselves. Many carers are partners or family members, who have taken on this job their whole life. The gym provides a safe place and acts as a way to relieve the carer from their duties, for a short period of time. It also lets people develop new skills that can translate to dayto-day tasks. As David said, being able to get into bed on their own alleviates the stress from the carer while giving the disabled person more independence.

The gym has many locations around Edinburgh and The Scottish Borders, and are slowly broadening their programmes, however the demand is almost too high to keep up with. The gym does not receive government funding, due to it being viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity however, Penny argues that the positive impacts it has on clients and carers is enough to prove the necessity of these spaces. Furthermore, Garry reiterates the importance of spaces such as DR Inclusive Fitness, emphasising the effects its already had on his mental and physical health, it has changed the way he views his disability. “If I didn’t have this, I would rather be 6ft under”.

“The

Meadowmill brings hundreds of disabled people together through inclusive sports

Many members of the group say they attend regardless of climate, purely for the social aspect. Being surrounded by those with similar mindsets can often validate their feelings while also encouraging them to achieve their full potential. “No one is embarrassed to try, and all support each other”. Similarly to DR Inclusive Fitness, the weekly programmes are based on the clients, Cameron Smith, one of the trainers, discussed how he changes the tasks given based on how they are feeling: “It’s all about balance, you want to push them to reach their potential, but you don’t want to push them too far that it puts them off or causes them to take a step backwards”.

biggest barriers are social barriers”

Another sport available is Adult Frame Running, which is ran by Team East Lothian in Tranent and Corstorphine Athletics. It allows people who cannot functionally run or who rely on mobility support, to experience running and engage in athletic endeavours. The Team East Lothian ‘All-Abilities Squad’ meets on Saturdays in all weathers.

Rhona Mitchell and Carol Murray, members of the ‘AllAbilities’ team in East Lothian also feel the group improves their confidence in their abilities. They often felt held back, believing that running was not something they would be able to participate in, until they were appointed to the frame running group. Rhona said, “It’s done a lot for me, the social aspect too, just being around people in the same boat as me has changed the way I view my capabilities”.

The training routines themselves don’t just focus on running, but instead controlled movements, balance and independence.

Vie Velo is a tandem bike group for the visually impaired in Edinburgh. They meet twice a month with aims to provide social interaction. Speaking with member Eddie Kearton, who travels up from Berwick Upon Tweed just to attend the class, he discussed the importance of the social side of these rides. “I didn’t feel safe cycling on my own anymore, when I got my guide dog, I was referred to this group and it’s made all the difference.” The group use both electric and pedal tandem bikes, pairing up one visually impaired rider with one sighted “pilot” who must undergo specific training to operate the bikes. After Eddie had negative experiences with both PE teachers and gym workers, he was ecstatic to find a group where everything was accessible.

“It’s all about people’s attitudes towards us, it’s not about my own ability but the limits people put on me.”

Both DR Inclusive Fitness and Team East Lothian prioritise the ability to transfer skills from the sport to real life. Whereas Vie Velo focus on providing a sense of security, community and enjoyment. There are so many different accessible sports on offer across Edinburgh that aid those who need a little extra support.

Photos by Isla Sneddon

From East Lothian to the World’s Biggest Golf Stages

East Lothian born Ryan Yuill has had an interesting journey since leaving school at the age of seventeen. Instead of going down the typical university route, he decided to do a greenkeeping apprenticeship and this has seen him work on golf’s biggest stages in the space of just 4 years.

Ryan went to Preston Lodge High School in Prestonpans and in fifth year, like everyone, he was at a crossroads with what to do in his career. With a passion for golf, he wanted to find a way to turn his hobby into a vocation.

“One day reality hit me, and I decided I’d look for a job within the Golf industry. After a few months of searching into different potential career paths I decided I wanted to give Greenkeeping a try as it was outdoors, and it could open more avenues further down the line.”

Being from East Lothian, ‘Scotland’s Golf Coast’, there was no shortage of golf courses that Ryan could potentially work at, but it was the most prestigious course in the county where he landed an apprenticeship at the 16 time British Open Venue Muirfield.

near St Andrews to go study for a week and get qualified in his level two and three in Sports Turf and any additional qualifications needed for Greenkeeping.

Ryan preferred a more practical apprenticeship rather than going down the route of university.

“What appealed to me most about an apprenticeship over your typical university course was the money as well as guaranteeing myself a job in the future within the Golf industry. I was always more of a hands-on type of person.”

“I found an article in the paper saying that Muirfield was looking for an Apprentice Greenkeeper. So, without hesitation I sent an email with my CV regarding the position and was fortunate enough to go on and get the job.”

In terms of the pathway to getting his greenkeeping qualifications, the role at Muirfield was perfect. Ryan would work Monday to Friday and the occasional weekend morning. Then every three months he would go up to Cupar

Being a greenkeeper is not for the faint hearted. Its early starts and late finishes and a lot of demanding work in between.

“In the summer I start my shift at 5am and finish at 1:45pm which is course preparation for the day ahead which includes; raking bunkers, cutting greens, approaches, fairways and even semi rough, rolling greens, setting up tee markers and emptying bins, changing holes once or even twice a week”

Since completing the apprenticeship, Ryan moved golf courses, he is now along the coast and currently works at North Berwick West Links. But along with that work, he has also had the opportunity to volunteer at some big events including the AIG Women’s Open, hosted at Muirfield for the first time in 2022 and the Genesis Scottish Open on several occasions at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. Ryan says that a tournament week is on a different planet to a normal working week.

“When it comes to Tournament Golf we are talking a whole other level in terms of detail. In comparison your typical golf course will be lucky to have 10 green staff

One young greenkeeper from East Lothian has had quite the story to tell

By Angus Blacklock

whereas these tournaments have 50+ volunteers that have a keen eye for attention to detail and workday in and day out for that week of the tournament.”

“In terms of differences to put it in perspective, you could be cutting the same green two or three times to get it up to a target speed. At these tournaments it is all about consistency, keeping all the greens similar speeds and firmness. Other jobs consist of finer details which could be as small as weeding the greens, removing debris from tees like old divots and straw laying around keeping everything tidy and well maintained.”

The biggest competition that Ryan has worked on is over in the United States, at East Lake Golf Club at Atlanta the PGA Tour Championship in 2024. One of golf’s most lucrative competitions with the winner taking home around $25 million. World Number 1 Scottie Scheffler went on to win the event.

He put the opportunity to work on that event down to networking he had done at previous events.

“Networking, being in the industry for four years I’ve figured it’s not what you know it’s who you know and if you’re keen and connect with the right people you are able to get these opportunities. Usually, the best places to network are at these tournaments, conferences and even colleagues from past or present jobs.”

in Atlanta, Georgia, I was blown away finally seeing the golf course in person with all the stands in place and excited for the week ahead. I chose to volunteer at the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour as it was the finale of the FedEx Cup and the best golfers in the world were going to be playing. I also wanted to go out of my comfort zone and see how they prepare for one of the biggest tournaments in the world in a very different climate to East Lothian.”

This was a new experience for the East Lothian boy, as working in such an important tournament, he would have never been exposed to such pressure to deliver before.

Ryan’s apprenticeship has taken him around the wolrd to major golfing events

Working on the Tour Championship in the United States is no doubt one of Ryan’s most treasured experiences and was amazed at seeing a golf course he had watched on the tv in the years gone by.

“When I first arrived at East Lake Golf Club situated

“On the Sunday before the tournament, we started with a small induction where they welcomed us all to the facility and explained what our jobs were going to be for the week ahead. My job was moisture management which was taking moisture readings from the greens ensuring they were at the target moisture for the week and watering any dry spots that dropped below the target to keep the greens consistent throughout the tournament. On every Green, we took approximately 25 readings to identify where the hotspots were and where additional hand-watering was needed.”

Ryan has a lot planned for 2025 and 2026 as well. He managed to secure a place at the Danish Open over in Copenhagen this August as well as securing a spot for the 2026 US Open at Shinnecock over in New York.

He will also be expanding his skills and knowledge and hopes to keep meeting like-minded individuals and see where it takes him in the golfing world.

Photos courtesy of Ryan Yuill

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Photography Joeseph Meek

Brand Manager

Isla Sneddon

Design Editor

Zosia Stanton

Design Team

Harry Knox

Finbar Plass

Social Editor

Madeleine Jamieson

Social Team

John Conaghan

Sam Coutts

Skye Donald

Gio Holmes

Becca Marshall

Cameron Mcintosh

Marcel Schneider

CREDITS

Culture

Current Affairs

Lifestyle

Sport

Section Head - Nina Aspey

Section Head - Kelsey Walker

Section Head - Hayden Burr

Section Head - Charlie Fulton