Sarah McArthur

Poverty in Edinburgh: what’s changed in the last five years? Plus your cultural highlights for the week ahead

Catch up post 1 : At the end of last year, the Edinburgh Poverty Commission met after five difficult years to take stock and plan ahead. Some of the expert attendees of the meeting had surprising hope about Edinburgh's progress
#Edinburgh #poverty #economy open.substack.com/pub/edinburg...

the sun rises over a small hill on the horizon, reflecting orange onto the tarmac road. A person is silhouetted walking ahead of the photographer on the road.

I’ve gone a little quiet recently, thanks to a 3-month research contract somewhere with warm sun and sweet mangoes. I’m now back with renewed energy to dig into the big stories in Edinburgh and Scotland- this week, I'll start with a recap of some of my stories which were published while I was away!

Swimming champion's fight for time highlights life and death struggle High achieving Archie Goodburn helps carry the fight over access to cancer drugs to Scotland's medical authorities

The NHS has an impressive and robust system for ensuring everyone has access to the same medication. But when it comes to new drugs, and rare conditions, things could be improved. @cajardinemp.bsky.social told me what she's doing on the issue
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/swimming-c...

“We’re not vanilla” - creativity driving new lives The exhibition aiming to smash perceptions about age and artistry

Who's afraid of getting old? Not these folks. And, after chatting with them, not me either.
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/were-not-v...
#zeroto50 #art #edinburgh

What went so right on Bonfire Night? How months of work culminated in one of the city's quietest 5 Novembers in years

Everyones been writing about firework control zones and police helicopters. They're important- but what about everything else?
@edinburghcouncil.bsky.social @cajardinemp.bsky.social

www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/what-went-...

'No selfies': A spotters guide to the east coast's seal pups Plus: A surreal homecoming at the Filmhouse for playwright David Ireland

This is, hands down, the cutest subject I ever researched for an article. I love my job!
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/no-selfies...
@n-t-s.bsky.social @seabirdcentre.bsky.social

What benefits can wind farms unlock for communities? In the last year, more than £29 million in community benefit funding has been committed by onshore wind farms developers in Scotland

#Scottish communities could see £90 million each year in #communitybenefitfunds from #windfarms. Where does it actually go though?
www.thenational.scot/news/2558939... #windenergy #Scotland #communitybenefit
@scotnational.bsky.social @invenergy.bsky.social

***Recommended article on CITY CENTRE LIFE***: @ntbcc.bsky.social @edoldtowncoco.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @cllrjomo.bsky.social @spurtle.bsky.social @edinburghwh.bsky.social @pgkeady.bsky.social @smcarthurreports.bsky.social

Where there’s smut there’s brass The wonderful success of the UK’s first romance bookshop

Have you tried reading smut? Seems everyone else has...
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/where-ther...

‘Like a huge, walnut, mahogany, musical hug’ Welcome to the (new) Pianodrome

What do you do with an endless stream of unwanted pianos? Build an amphitheatre, obviously...
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/like-a-hug...

Are the Capital’s green spaces as green as they used to be? As volunteers returf one city park, blaming the council for dragging its feet - how big a problem is erosion in Edinburgh?

Anyone who's tried climbing #Arthur'sSeat in the rain or finding a patch of grass on #CaltonHill in the summer knows- we have an #erosion problem. But just how big is the issue?
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/are-the-ca...
#Edinburgh @caltonhill.bsky.social @holledge.bsky.social

Mapping the radical changes in the way we use the city's roads From the 'traffic-light' city centre to the cycle route that has proved a surprise hit

I got new subscribers, restacks, comments and even emails telling me how much people liked this article. I'm just delighted to know that there are so many map nerds like me out there!
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/mapping-th...

Helsinki just had a year with no road deaths What can Scotland’s second most deadly city learn from the Finnish capital?

If Helsinki can go a year without road deaths, why can't Edinburgh?
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/helsinki-j...

Checking up on the work of our Lothian list MSPs Plus: Tory-turned-Independent Jeremy Balfour declares his plan for next May’s election

Almost everyone is professional and helpful. HOWEVER, some people got pretty pissed off with the questions I asked them for this article- does that mean I'm doing my job properly?
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/checking-u...

How Polish artists are shaping the Capital's next generation Unique cross-cultural collaboration taking new art into city classrooms

Another week, another insight into Edinburgh's fabulous cultural world:
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/how-polish...

Was ‘traffic-free’ Cowgate the pedestrian paradise we dreamed of? Bars and music venues were bursting at the seams but the traffic closure experiment was not without its issues

There are always lots of opinions flying around when roads close in #Edinburgh, but what did the locals think of Cowgate's closure this summer?
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/was-closed... @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social

What your MSPs have prioritised since they were elected Tracking the performance of your local representatives ahead of next year's election

It's been a tumultuous parliamentary term in Holyrood- but what's been going on behind the politics? And what have our Edinburgh MSPs got to do with it all?
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/what-your-...

Battery-powered trams, cycling squeezed and a cash conundrum The Capital tries to plot a route to a bigger tram network

As someone who adores greenspace and cycle routes, I have to confess I'm torn over the proposed new tram routes. What do you think?
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/battery-po...

Rules? There are no rules. Just turn up and play Big Beach Busk founder Paul Lambie on creating an alternative to Edinburgh's commercially-driven festivals

A free event? In #Edinburgh? In August?!
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/rules-ther...

Are wildfires the new normal for Edinburgh and the Lothians? Blazes are on the rise and our assumptions about 'soggy Scotland' are not helping

From the perspective of damp, boggy Scotland, it seems ludicrous to be afraid of #wildfires... was the massive blaze on Arthur's Seat a freak accident, or the beginning of a new trend?
@scottishfirerescue.bsky.social
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/are-wildfi...

Dazzling on stage is harder after getting up at 7am to make coffees all day Drag star Oskar Kirk Hansen on combining a stage career and running hit LGBTI+ venue Kafe Kweer

I will be sad to see Kafe Kweer shut its physical doors, but it was very exciting sitting down with @mystikaglamoor.bsky.social to learn about what's coming next for the business!
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/dazzling-o...

The Fringe venues putting more money in the pockets of new comedians Prefer your laughs from performers who aren't risking bankruptcy? Try these Festival spots

Part 4: a deep dive into the scary world of Fringe finances
@joznorris.bsky.social @barryferns.bsky.social @comedylopez.bsky.social @freefringe.bsky.social @freefringefestival.bsky.social @monkeybarrelcomedy.bsky.social @standcomedyclub.bsky.social
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/the-fringe...

First year report cards on your city MPs What the Capital's representatives at Westminster have been up to since the General Election

The big link catch-up part 3: checking in on our Edinburgh MPs a year into the new government
@cajardinemp.bsky.social @ianmurraymp.bsky.social @chrismurraymp.bsky.social @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social @tracygilbertmp.bsky.social
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/first-year...

The girl who became one of Britain's great Arctic adventurers How quiet explorer Isobel Wylie Hutchison continues to inspire down the years

Link dump part 2: getting some hefty inspiration from the greatest Scottish adventurer you've never heard of
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/the-girl-w...

Party, protest and no politicians please Thoughts from the street at Edinburgh Pride 2025

Link dump part 1: gathering thoughts and images at Edinburgh #Pride 2025
Is Pride a party or a protest for you?
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/party-prot...

I've had a busy few weeks accidentally coming second female in an ultra marathon and trying to pitch an article on why women seem to be breaking long distance records every second day (still looking for a commission, hmu!)
Prepare for a link dump...

UK climate lobby 2025 in a Decade Calls for Urgent Action in Westminster Over 5,000 people gathered in Westminster for the UK climate lobby 2025 in 10 years, urging MPs to support the Climate and Nature Bill.

On Wednesday, 5000 people and over 120 organisations came to Westminster this week to push for stronger action on climate and nature. I asked @carolinelucas.bsky.social @richardburgon.bsky.social and @sioldridge.bsky.social what this might mean for the #CANBill :
the-european.eu/story-48636/...

Bikes, breakfast beer, midnight chips and 'no dickheads' The incredible 100-mile, all-night ride to watch the sunrise at Cramond

I think this is my fifth bike-related article for a single newspaper... can you tell I am a bit into cycling?
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/bikes-brea...

How one woman's battle for Hope can help support tens of thousands Scotland’s only breast cancer support centre opens in Edinburgh

Excited to be getting into some more of my own photography on this article about #Scotland 's first ever #breastcancersupport centre
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/how-one-wo...

A beginner's guide to the Hidden Door festival How to get the most out of Edinburgh's upstart celebration of grassroots arts

It's only since writing local news that I have discovered how rich and cool Edinburgh's creative scene is. Thanks to @hiddendoorarts.bsky.social for doing to much work to keep the grassroots arts scene thriving!
#festival #hiddendoor2025 #music
www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/a-beginner...