Local Round-up: Youth theatre groups take centre stage

Two youth theatre companies based in the Capital have been chosen to perform at the National Festival of Youth Theatre.

Leith-based Strange Town and Creative Electric, based at the Bongo Club in Holyrood Road, will perform pieces they have devised themselves at the festival, which will be held in Glenrothes, Fife, from July 15 to 17.

They are both returning to the festival for a second consecutive year and will join youth theatres from across Scotland for the event.

Health staff protest over budget cuts

DOZENS of health workers gathered outside one of the city's main hospitals to protest at budget cutbacks.

The Unison members used the opportunity at the Western General to launch its latest campaign and they produced a birthday cake to mark the NHS's 63rd birthday.

One member, Cath Mill, said: "Unison's front-line campaign aims to raise awareness of the vital role each member of staff plays."

Hit right note for Alzheimer's

A CHARITY event in Edinburgh will raise awareness of the benefit of music to patients with Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer Scotland is seeking people to perform folk or soul music from the 1950s onwards or any sponsors for the October event. E-mail [email protected].

NHS meeting heads home

NHS Lothian's next public board meeting will return to its city centre headquarters.

The event, on July 27, will take place at the organisation's base in Waverley Gate.

Health chiefs had moved last month's meeting to Napier University's Craiglockhart campus.

The meeting will begin at 9am.

Event is close to the bone

THE National Osteoporosis Society is holding a free event in the Capital.

In the UK, one in two women and one in five men over 50 will break a bone, mainly due to osteoporosis.

The event will be held at the Pentland Suite, Marriott Hotel, Glasgow Road, on August 22, from 7pm to 9pm.

Nurseries not caught flagging with eco award

TWO Edinburgh nurseries have been awarded a Green Flag by Eco Schools Scotland.

Part of Keep Scotland Beautiful, Eco Schools Scotland awards Green Flag status to nurseries and schools that have set up a variety of environmental projects.

Blackhall and Lochrin nurseries were commended by judges.

Kate Campbell, manager of Eco Schools Scotland, said: "We were very impressed with the efforts of Blackhall and Lochrin in producing a diverse range of projects."