The City of Edinburgh Council has opened its new Source to Ocean Action Recovery (SOAR) fund, offering grants of £2,500–£10,000 for coastal and marine-focused projects
From beach cleans and wildlife projects to environmental art, community planting and educational workshops, the fund is for projects that help local people connect with and protect our marine and coastal environments, as well as watercourses.
RoSPA warns families about the risks of trick-or-treating, including dangerous costumes, button batteries, pumpkin-carving injuries and driving in the dark
Safety advice includes always checking costumes and toys for safety markings, only buying from reputable retailers and making sure children are closely supervised
Drivers are reminded to be extra cautious about children crossing the road during darker evenings
As children and families get ready for trick-or-treating this Halloween, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is issuing important advice to ensure the celebrations don’t become scary for the wrong reasons.
The safety charity warns that trick-or-treating in particular involves a combination of potential risks from costumes and toys, as well as crossing the road during darker evenings.
Many Halloween costumes, particularly those from online marketplaces, may present flammability risks, strangulation hazards from cords and drawstrings, and missing safety information on labels. Research by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in 2024 found that over 80% of costumes aimed at children under seven years failed basic safety tests, including those for flammability and strangulation. Halloween costumes should always be bought from reputable retailers, and RoSPA is also reminding people that homemade costumes or those not tested to recognised flammability standards may ignite more easily and burn more quickly.
Alongside concerns about unsafe costumes, many Halloween decorations, flashing toys and light-up accessories contain button batteries, which can cause catastrophic internal injuries within hours if swallowed.
According to the Institute of Health Visiting, two children die each year as a result of button battery incidents. Parents and carers are being urged to check that battery compartments are secure and keep products containing button batteries out of reach of young children.
Pumpkins are a common sight at Halloween, and unfortunately so are cuts from carving them. To reduce the risk of injury, RoSPA advises using purpose-designed carving tools, working on a stable surface in good lighting and always cutting away from the body. Any children taking part should be closely supervised.
Halloween celebrations also take place as darker evenings draw in. According to the Department for Transport, nearly 2,500 people were killed or seriously injured on Great Britain’s roads in October 2025. Halloween can be particularly challenging for motorists, with large numbers of children out during the evening peak period when visibility is reduced.
As well as encouraging parents and carers to accompany children and help them cross the road, RoSPA is also reminding drivers to keep an extra cautious eye out for children in residential areas.
Becky Guy, Senior Policy Manager at RoSPA, said: “Halloween should be spooky, but it should never be dangerous. From costumes and decorations to pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating after dark, there are a number of simple steps families can take to stay safe.
“We urge parents to buy products from reputable retailers, check safety information carefully and pay particular attention to products containing button batteries.
“And as children head out in the evening, we are reminding motorists to slow down and stay alert in residential areas. A moment’s extra care could prevent a serious injury.
“With a little planning and a few simple precautions, families can enjoy all the fun of Halloween while keeping themselves and others safe.”
TOP TIPS FOR A SAFE HALLOWEEN
Product Safety
Buy costumes, decorations and accessories from reputable retailers, particularly when shopping online.
Check for UKCA or CE markings.
Read safety instructions and warnings before use.
Avoid costumes with long cords, drawstrings or loose accessories which could present a strangulation hazard.
Ensure masks do not restrict vision and check for any small parts that may pose a choking risk.
Fire Safety
Keep costumes, wigs and decorations away from candles, fireplaces and other open flames.
Consider battery-operated candles instead of real flames in pumpkins and decorations.
Never leave burning candles unattended.
Supervise children and pets around any lit candles.
Button Battery Safety
Check that battery compartments are secure.
Keep spare and used button batteries out of reach of children.
Dispose of batteries safely and responsibly.
Seek immediate medical attention if a child is suspected of swallowing a button battery.
Pumpkin Safety
Always cut away from your body and avoid putting hands inside the pumpkin.
Use specific pumpkin-carving kits if available, or a knife with a shorter blade that’s easier to control.
Always carve on a stable surface in a well-lit area.
Make sure knife, hands and pumpkin are dry to reduce the chance of slips.
Never let children carve a pumpkin without close supervision.
Trick-or-Treating and Road Safety
Carry a torch to help children see and be seen.
Add reflective materials to costumes where possible.
Ensure children are accompanied by a responsible adult.
Use pavements and designated crossing points whenever possible.
Drivers should slow down in residential areas and remain vigilant for children who may behave unpredictably.
A powerful art exhibition, to raise awareness of the one in seven women in Scotland who will be impacted by breast cancer in their lifetime, was unveiled today at the Scottish Parliament by acclaimed Scottish artist Nicola Cairns.
In collaboration with The House of Hope, Scotland’s first wellbeing centre for those impacted by breast cancer and their families, the striking portraits feature members of the charity’s breast cancer community,* and invite people to look beyond the diagnosis and recognise and celebrate the individuality of those impacted by breast cancer.
The vibrant portraits in the ‘I’m Still Me’ exhibition, remind people that breast cancer can impact women or men at any life stage and emphasise how important wellbeing support is for those going through a breast cancer journey, to help them feel like ‘me’ again.
Emma Bird, 30 whose portrait is included in the exhibition said: “When you get a breast cancer diagnosis it’s absolutely devastating and you almost lose a part of yourself with it. My painting reminds me of what I love most about life and empowers me to live every day to the max.
“It’s hard to put into words how important the House of Hope has been during my breast cancer journey. I’ve benefitted from the workshops, exercise and relaxation classes and more importantly made friends with people going through a similar experience, which has really helped me move forward in my life.”
The exhibition marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month and runs until 29th October at the Scottish Parliament.
Artist Nicola Cairns said; “It was an honour to paint the portraits for the House of Hope’s ‘I’m Still Me’ art exhibition.
“I was fortunate enough to meet and learn more about the people I was painting and their stories of strength and resilience were truly inspiring. While the exhibition carries a serious message, it also celebrates and captures the vibrant personalities and real people behind a breast cancer diagnosis.”
Following its showcase at the Scottish Parliament, the portraits will go on display in Edinburgh-based the House of Hope, before being auctioned to raise vital funds for the wellbeing services available at the House of Hope.
House of Hope, Centre Manager, Hazel McLinden said: “We know how important our wellbeing services are in the lives of those going through a breast cancer journey, and that’s why we wanted to put our community at the heart of the exhibition to celebrate their lives and how incredibly inspirational they are.”
Visit houseofhope.org.uk for further information about the exhibition, its wellbeing services and ways to get involved with or fundraise for the House of Hope.
North Edinburgh Childcare will close THIS FRIDAY, making staff and sessional workers redundant and causing a huge problem for scores of local parents.
The sudden closure is dreadful news for the North Edinburgh community. NEC was seen as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Pilton Partnership activities in the 1990s, when local activists saw their dream of an affordable local childcare facility become a reality at last. Today, it seems that dream is over.
NEC staff member Astrid Hederson wrote on Facebook:
Dear Families of North Edinburgh
‘As many of you will now be aware, North Edinburgh Childcare will be closed suddenly this Friday . As a member of staff, it saddens me deeply that our journey has ended this way.
‘We were kept in the dark — under the pretence that surveys were being taken to improve the company, while behind closed doors decisions were being made that affected all of us. They didn’t reach out to parents, carers, or the community — and they didn’t reach out to the staff who are here from 7am till 6pm, Monday to Friday.
‘Our General Manager has been off sick and effectively disappeared — and while we respect that people need time away, what we needed most was a leader.
‘We needed someone to stand with us, someone to fight for us, someone to help us navigate what was happening. Instead, we were left without guidance, without answers, and completely unprepared for what was coming.
‘It feels like we were abandoned — and we believe there was so much more that could have been done to save our service.
‘We have stuck by this community through the tragedies, the hard times, through COVID, and through some really wonderful, good times too. We want to stay. We want to fight. But we can’t do it alone. We need our parents, our carers, and our community to back us up — just as we have always backed you.
‘This workplace isn’t just a job to me — the people there are my world. I’ve been through so much with some of them. This is the family I don’t want to lose.
‘As staff, we weren’t given the opportunity to fight — not just for our jobs, but to fight to stay and serve the children we love, the families we care about, and the community we are part of.
‘We weren’t given the chance to say goodbye to the children we love, serve, and protect. We don’t get to say goodbye to the parents and carers we’ve grown so close to — the ones we’ve walked alongside, watched their children grow, shared joys and worries and dreams with.
This post is not to ask for money. It’s simply to speak the truth — because the truth deserves to be heard. I don’t know how far this will reach, but our children still need us. The parents still need us. We deserved better than to be left in the dark.
‘If this matters to you — please reach out. Speak to your MP, your councillors, anyone who will listen. Stand with us, just as we’ve always stood with you.
North Edinburgh Childcare’s website states:
North Edinburgh Childcare first opened its doors to children in the spring of 1997.
The organisation developed in response to an identified need for high quality, childcare in North Edinburgh that would enable local parents and carers to access opportunities for work, training or education.
A group of local residents campaigned over a 6 year period for the creation of a custom built (state of the art) childcare facility. In the Spring of 1997, the dream became a reality.
Since opening the organisation has gone from strength to strength and grown into the multi stranded operation that it is today. Our early learning and childcare services currently consist of a nursery service which takes place within the organisation’s purpose built centre and an out of school care service which is delivered from various locations across North Edinburgh.
Continuous feedback from the Care Inspectorate ensures that we never stop adapting and striving to always reach the highest of standards and our unwavering focus is with the ongoing development of our child-centred approach.
North Edinburgh Childcare strives to be the provider of choice through the delivery of services that are of the highest quality. As a forward looking organisation we actively embrace equal opportunities and social inclusion in the creation of learning environments that enable people to confidently reach out for the future.
In a statement released this afternoon, North Edinburgh Childcare said: “It is with enormous sadness that North Edinburgh Childcare announces that the organisation is facing insolvency and is closing on Friday 30 October 2026. For the avoidance of doubt, we will be open as normal on Friday 30th but will be closed thereafter.
“The Board of Trustees has explored every possible option and scenario to keep the organisation open and financially viable. Sadly, despite our best efforts, a sustainable way forward cannot be identified and, having taken legal advice, the decision has been made to close forthwith.
“This is a devastating outcome for an organisation that has supported children, families and the local community for many years. Our thoughts are very much with the children and families who rely on our services, and with our dedicated staff who have worked so hard to support them.
“We continue to liaise with the City of Edinburgh Council to ensure that all available support is identified for families affected by the closure and for our staff during this very difficult time.”
SNP Education spokesperson Cllr Euan Hislop said: “North Edinburgh families deserve better than this.
“The closure of North Edinburgh Childcare’s nursery and out-of-school clubs from Monday 2 November will leave families across Davidson’s Mains, Ferryhill, Forthview, Pirniehall/St David’s, Trinity (FortELC) and Juniper Green facing huge disruption, with no alternative provision in place.
“This crisis was foreseeable. As SNP Education Spokesperson, I repeatedly warned that withdrawing funding from established childcare providers put services at risk. SNP colleagues called for the cuts to be halted and alternatives found, but our warnings were ignored.
“Labour and the Liberal Democrats must answer for the decisions that brought us here.
“I will be tabling an emergency motion at Thursday’s council meeting demanding answers and calling for emergency assistance for families who have no alternative childcare.
“If your family is affected, please get in touch. We need urgent action, not excuses after the damage has been done.”
Crimestoppers and Fearless Scotland launch annual ‘Speak Up Stay Safe’ campaign
Independent charity Crimestoppers and its youth programme Fearless Scotland are today launching their annual Bonfire Night safety campaign, urging people to speak up 100% anonymously if they know about planned attacks on emergency crews or deliberate fire-raising in their communities.
The campaigns – supported by the Scottish Government – also highlights the law around fireworks misuse, Firework Protection Zones, and, crucially, encourages people to speak up 100% anonymously about fire-raising.
Last year’s Crimestoppers’ campaign generated a wealth of information given anonymously to the charity which helped prevent at least three extremely serious, potentially life-threatening attacks on emergency crews in Scotland.
In particular, the annual campaign is asking for information on:
– Who and where organised attacks are being planned
– Where fireworks and weapons are being stored/stock-piled
– Who is responsible for deliberate fire-raising
Crimestoppers’ campaign aims to encourage reporting from the public about any planned attacks and additionally help gather information after bonfire night about who was responsible.
Communities who experienced an increase in firework attacks will be equipped with leaflets, posters and banners to raise awareness of the law around fireworks misuse and to encourage anonymous reporting about about who is responsible.
Angela Parker, National Manager of Crimestoppers in Scotland, said:“Our charity believes everyone has the right to feel safe, no more so than Scotland’s emergency services who risk their lives to keep us safe.
“Information from last year prevented a serious attack on our emergency services. That’s why we are asking anyone with information on those planning attacks to get in touch with our charity 100% anonymously.
“No-one will ever know you contacted us, and your information could be preventing serious injury or harm or even loss of life for emergency workers.”
Kirsten Oswald MSP, Minister for Community Safety, said: “We want everyone to enjoy Bonfire Night safely and I would urge anyone planning to use fireworks to do so responsibly.
“The emergency services play a vital role in keeping us all safe and any assaults on them will not be tolerated. Measures brought in in 2022 mean attacks on 999 crews using fireworks or pyrotechnics are now aggravating factors that courts can take into account when sentencing offenders.
“Other steps we have taken to improve firework safety include bringing in a ban on providing fireworks to under-18s.
“If you have information about any activity that might put emergency workers or communities at risk as Bonfire Night approaches, please get in touch with Crimestoppers by phone or on their website. You can do this anonymously and you could be helping to keep our 999 crews and your neighbours safe.”
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam said: “While most people enjoy Bonfire Night responsibly, there are those who seek to target police officers and other emergency service workers with fireworks and other projectiles, putting them at serious risk of harm while they attempt to keep communities safe.
“We saw a number of these incidents occur last year, resulting in over 60 officers being injured and this is entirely unacceptable.
“If you are found to be involved in an offence that puts police officers, other emergency service workers, or the general public at risk of harm you will be brought to justice, either on the night or during our follow-up inquiries.
“I would encourage anyone who has information about planned Bonfire Night criminality to report, and they will be brought to justice. In the event you avoid being caught on the night, you can expect a visit from us once we have conducted our inquiries.
“I would ask the public to work alongside us in helping make Bonfire Night a safe and enjoyable occasion and to contact us directly via 101 or make an anonymous report to Crimestoppers.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Chief Officer Andrew Watt said: “Last year, our crews came under attack on nine occasions within an eight-hour period. Our staff work tirelessly over the Bonfire period to keep people safe, and do not deserve to be attacked for doing their job.
They should be able to carry out their role without being hurt or having appliances and equipment damaged by reckless anti-social behaviour.
“These actions are also an unnecessary drain on emergency service resources. We want to bring any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion – please respect our staff and all emergency services.”
Scottish Ambulance Service Chief Executive Michael Dickson said:“We know this time of year is about fun and celebration, but let’s not forget that those on the frontline, our ambulance crews should never have to worry about their own safety while they care for others.
“Unfortunately, we’re still seeing cases of our staff facing physical assaults and verbal abuse, often driven by too much drinking. These are dedicated professionals who deserve respect, not hostility. So, have a great night, enjoy the festivities, but please, treat our staff and emergency service partners with respect.”
GETTING ALONG WITH GRAN comes to LEITH DOCKERS CLUB
Citadel Arts Group is thrilled to be reviving its 4-star show, Getting Along with Gran, for two performances only, at Leith Dockers Club where the group has its base.
The North Edinburgh Arts audience loved the show in June, and the company are confident Gran will go down a bomb with their regular Leith supporters. Citadel Arts are looking forward to bringing the play to their Leith venue and Gran (Laverne Edmonds) has already met some of the locals although she was disappointed the Dockers bar didn’t seem to stock Babycham, her favourite tipple!
The play is scripted by Rhona McAdam, Elaine Campbell, San Cassimally and Pamela Hanlon, all members of Citadel Arts Group’s playwrights’ workshop.
They meet every week in Leith Dockers Club to develop new plays often based on local heritage and living memories. Getting Along with Gran is inspired by the powerful stories of the Social History Group based in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.
Both groups of older people collaborated to create the play. The script emerged from the life stories of Winifred Burke, Pat Gilhooley, Anna Hutchison, Bill and Greta McPhail, Helen McRae, David Norcliffe, Karen Soso, and Cathie Umobi.
They were thrilled to see their memories on stage in North Edinburgh Arts. Local audiences told us: ‘It was excellent . . . funny and thought provoking . . . I love that it was local history . . . loved how it was intergenerational’. Jim Aitken assured Citadel, ‘Having a play performed that came out of our social history project was wonderful.’
The stories range from a Silverknowes beach romance to anti-Thatcher demos in the 1970s. The play combines humour, nostalgia and a few slightly scary moments. It’s a show for all the family with a truly intergenerational cast.
The only change from the original line-up is in the roles of the children. In this new production they will be played by members of the Be Happy Performing Arts Company from Gorebridge.
Six wee thespians from the group coached by Mairi Jayne Weir, are keen to take part alongside the Citadel professionals.
Mairi Jayne Weir plays Em, the girl who learns to get along with her annoyingly forgetful and chatty Gran when she gets caught up in some of Gran’s funny and troubling memories.
Mairi Jayne told Citadel: ‘Taking part in Getting Along with Gran, performing beside professional actors is a wonderful opportunity for the young people.’
The company are delighted to have a real-life retired janitor, David Norcliffe in the cast again – playing a sympathetic Craigroyston jani!
Performance dates: Nov 12th 2.30 and 7pm
Venue: Leith Dockers, 17 Academy Street EH6 7EE
Cast and creatives:
DIRECTOR: Mark Kydd
Cast:
Jim Bryce, Laverne Edmonds, Chelsea Grace, Mairi Jayne Weir and Deborah Whyte
Community cast:
David Norcliffe and young people for the Be Happy Performing Arts Company, teacher Mairi Jayne Weir
Stage Manager: Maggie Brown
Light and Sound Design: Roddy Simpson
Props: Stewart Emm
Creative Producer: Liz Hare
Playwrights: Elaine Campbell, San Cassimally, Pamela Hanlon, and Rhona McAdam
Citadel Arts Group is a charity (SC 034687) dedicated to giving a voice to older people by preserving their stories and producing their plays in a variety of community venues including schools, care homes, Leith Custom House, churches, libraries, a moving barge, and recently the bar of the King’s Theatre.
Almost £1m to support ‘ask and act’ projects ahead of implementation of new legislation
Projects helping to prevent homelessness across Scotland will continue until the end of this financial year following additional Scottish Government funding of £945,000.
The Homelessness Prevention Pilots test approaches to early intervention and prevention. This fund will help organisations deliver ‘ask and act’ measures – new duties proposed in the Housing (Scotland) Bill that require public bodies to ask about a person’s housing situation early – and take action to prevent homelessness before it happens.
The extra funding is in addition to £4 million announced for the pilots in August last year and the extension will help maintain prevention capacity while final evaluation findings are completed and considered.
Social Justice and Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville will visit an ‘ask and act’ pilot project in Edinburgh’s Wester Hailes today. Crisis, which is a partner in the project, has also published a report setting out what successful prevention looks like and how to get there.
Ms Somerville said: “Preventing homelessness before it happens is one of the most important steps we can take to improve people’s lives.
“The work being carried out through these pilots is helping us understand how services can work together to identify risk earlier, intervene sooner and provide the support people need to stay in their homes and that is why I am pleased to confirm funding to extend them until March.
“This extension will ensure that valuable learning continues, that specialist expertise is retained, and that partners are supported as we prepare for the implementation of Scotland’s new homelessness prevention duties.
“Our aim is clear: to shift from managing homelessness crises to preventing them in the first place. We are investing more than £213 million this year – partly through the local government settlement – on homelessness measures aimed at delivering better outcomes for individuals, families and communities across Scotland.
“We have a shared ambition with Crisis to end homelessness, it is helpful to see the Changing Course report it has published today, which estimates the costs and the benefits of our new homelessness prevention duties.”
Maeve McGoldrick, Head of Policy at Crisis Scotland said: “Crisis Scotland genuinely welcomes today’s announcement as a strong message that preventing homelessness is a top priority for government.
“The prevention pilots show what is possible when services step in early, and from our frontline experience in Wester Hailes we have seen people keep their home when they would otherwise have been pushed towards homelessness.
“Extending the funding for the next few months provides much needed continuity to all services involved in this innovative work. Importantly, it also allows time to plan for the important next stage: scaling up the learning and best practice across Scotland, in time for national commencement in 2028.”
Burnham confident every rough sleeper will have route off the street by Christmas as funding doubles
Prime Minister sets out confidence that everyone sleeping rough will be offered route off the street before Christmas, backed by a further £432 million to sustain support beyond this winter
New funding to be outlined funding to be confirmed at the Budget on Wednesday, taking total investment behind the Prime Minister’s commitment to £874 million
First-ever Rough Sleeping Summit at Downing Street brings together businesses, charities and local leaders to mobilise action, with major organisations pledging homes, jobs and practical support
The Prime Minister yesterday set out his confidence that everyone sleeping rough will be offered a route off the street or wider support before Christmas, as he announced a further £432 million to help deliver the ambition and sustain support for years to come.
The additional funding, to be set out at the Budget later this week, reflects the Prime Minister’s determination to make tackling rough sleeping a national priority. It will extend support beyond March 2027 and through to the end of this Parliament, taking total investment behind his commitment to £874 million.
It marks the next stage of the pledge the Prime Minister made on his first day in Downing Street: to stop accepting rough sleeping as a fact of life and unite the country behind a mission to end it.
Urgent action is already under way, with specialist outreach teams and new bedspaces operating in Coventry, and further provision being rolled out in places including Plymouth and Camden over the coming weeks. Backed by the initial £442 million, the programme is focused on ensuring everyone who needs it is offered a route off the streets before Christmas.
Yesterday’s additional investment will ensure that support does not end when winter does, providing continuity for frontline services and helping people move into settled accommodation and rebuild their lives.
But government cannot end rough sleeping alone. That is why the Prime Minister hosted the first-ever Rough Sleeping Summit at Downing Street, bringing together businesses, charities, housing providers and local leaders to mobilise the resources, expertise and commitment needed to deliver lasting change.
Organisations attending the summit are making significant new commitments.
The National Housing Federation will work with housing associations to identify at least 2,000 potential homes and bedspaces, including empty properties that could be brought back into use. Virgin Media O2 will provide practical digital support to frontline organisations, while L’Oréal Group will launch a pioneering Social Salon partnership with St Mungo’s and Haircuts4Homeless.
Together, these commitments will help people access not just a safe place to stay, but the homes, employment opportunities and support they need to build a more secure future.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Rough sleeping isn’t a fact of life. It’s a thing governments either choose to accept or don’t.
“Well I don’t accept it. That’s why we’re doubling funding so that people aren’t just offered a safe route off the streets this winter but have that same support right through the rest of this Parliament too.
“But we can’t do it alone. If we’re going to end rough sleeping, we need every part of society behind us on this. So today we’re bringing together businesses, charities and local leaders in Downing Street to make sure this is a solution that lasts.”
Secretary of State for Housing Angela Rayner said: “This is a big ambition – we know that. But we will not back down from making sure everyone has the offer of a route off the streets this Christmas.
“This summit is about bringing every part of society together behind that mission. Ending homelessness is not only a moral imperative – it will make our communities and our country better off.”
“The first step is giving people a roof over their head and freedom from the nightly struggle to find somewhere safe to sleep. But Christmas is only the beginning and that’s why we will keep working together to tackle the root causes of homelessness and end rough sleeping for good.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey said: “No one should ever have to sleep rough, which is why we are doubling our investment to more people and providing a chance to break the cycle and end sleeping on the streets of our country – not just this Christmas, but for the years to come.”
Monday’s Summit brought organisations from across society together to play their part, with new pledges including:
National Housing Federation working with housing associations to identify at least 2000 potential homes and bedspaces, including empty homes for people moving off the streets, working closely with local authorities.
Social Bite forming a new partnership with the government to expand its modular supported accommodation model, combining a settled home with intensive and community-based support.
Salvation Army working with their housing association Salvation Army Homes and public-sector partners to develop social housing, modular accommodation and move-on options, including provision for people with complex needs for whom mainstream accommodation may not be suitable.
UnLtd / Key Fund partnering with government to help social ventures create sustainable jobs for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Virgin Media O2 providing new support around devices, data and connectivity, in partnership with charity Refuge, helping women and their children affected by domestic abuse and experiencing homelessness stay connected to services and support.
IKEA combining direct funding, advocacy, employment programmes, community partnerships, and customer and public awareness-raising campaigns to tackle both the immediate impacts and underlying causes of homelessness.
L’Oreal Group launching an innovative ‘Social Salon’ partnership in the UK with St Mungo’s andHaircuts4Homeless, supporting rough sleepers with wellbeing provision.
Morrisons Foundation pledging to launch the Good Food Fund, providing £500,000 in grants to support communities to tackle food insecurity where it hits hardest, including supporting charities providing relief to people who are sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness, in support of the Prime Minister’s drive.
ReGenerate launching a partnership with Liverpool City Region, in coordination with the Liverpool Mayor’s new Homelessness Taskforce, to find ways in which businesses can do even more to tackle homelessness such as through driving pathways into employment across the region
Comic Relief committing further resources to tackle homelessness and housing insecurity, helping to raise public support and awareness in 2027.
Landsec offering access to its screens at Piccadilly and others across its retail portfolio to amplify homelessness charities and causes nationwide.
The Faith and Homelessness Collective, mobilising action across a group of 100+ church leaders and leaders of faith-inspired homelessness and housing organisations to support the PM’s instruction to offer everyone a route off the streets this winter and prevention in the long-term.
Over 30 organisations and investors from the impact economy – representing billions of pounds – signalling support to the PM’s drive and working with Government to bring more investment into move-on homes, support the organisations that help people stay housed, open up jobs and training, and put more money into prevention.
A coalition of philanthropic funders signalling their commitment to millions of pounds of investment into preventing homelessness, including a £10 million commitment from Julia Rausing Trust, and Henry Smith Foundation providing £500,000 of match funding with Birmingham City Council, to support Greater Change in providing relational support to rough sleepers in the city.
EARLIER CLOSING AND CHANGED HOURS FOR CITY LIBRARIES
On 30 November 2026 we’re changing our opening hours so that more people across the city can use our library services.
Public library opening hours
We’re changing our opening hours so that more people across the city can use our library services. These changes will take place on 30 November 2026.
The opening times are based on feedback from residents, people who use our libraries, our colleagues who work there and information on how and when our libraries are used.
£50,000 available in total
Apply by 12 noon on 30 November 2026
