Refugees, the elderly and disabled to get free Fringe days out
Thousands of refugees, asylum seekers, isolated elderly people, single parents and disabled people are set to get free days out at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.
Organisers of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe have revealed they will be working with 32 charities as part of a project aimed at “breaking through the barriers” which have been found to prevent people based in the city from enjoying the world-famous event.
Vouchers for tickets for shows will be distributed across the city as the Fringe Days Out venture, which will also involve groups working with young people, ethnic minority communities and LGBTQIA+ people.
The project – which is backed by Edinburgh-based investment firm Baillie Gifford – is aimed at helping people who are unfamiliar with the city centre,ordonotnormallyleave
their immediate neighbourhood, to experience the Fringe.
Vouchers will be distributed to help pay for bus and tram journeys, while some funding is also available for taxis for people with additional needs.
The Fringe Days Out scheme was launched as a pilot project in 2017 to coincide with the festival’s 70th anniversary.
Groups previously involved have included the Citadel Youth Centre, Vintage Vibes, Multi Cultural Family Base, Dads Rock, Capability Scotland, The Broomhouse Hub, Sikh Sanjog, LGBT Youth Scotland, Gig Buddies, Pilmeny
Youth, Lothian Autistic Society and WHALE Arts.
A spokeswoman for the Fringesocietysaid:“thegroups we work with are trusted partners in their communities who have built long-lasting relationships with their members.
"These relationships are crucial to the success of Fringe Days Out: by having open conversations with people they know and trust, participants can feel encouraged to take more risks in whether they choose to go and what they choose to see.”
Fringe Society chief executive Shona Mccarthy said: “This project started out as a modest thank you to people in Edinburgh for hosting the Fringe.
"We feel it only makes sense that Fringe Days Out should make the festival available to those who feel on the fringes of the city and the arts, no matter their background or circumstances.”