Father’s Day at Foxlake
New homes released in one of East Lothian’s most desirable coastal communities
Homebuyers seeking a coastal lifestyle within easy reach of Edinburgh have a fresh opportunity to secure a home in one of East Lothian’s most sought-after locations, as Cruden Homes releases 14 new properties at its award-winning Longniddry Village development.
With prices starting from £240,000, the latest release includes a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, two bedroom bungalows, three-bedroom terraced homes and the last chance to buy four-bedroom family homes.
Located in the heart of Longniddry, one of East Lothian’s most desirable villages, the development combines the charm of coastal living with excellent transport connections and everyday convenience.
Residents benefit from easy access to beaches, woodland walks, golf courses, local shops and schools, while Edinburgh city centre can be reached in under 20 minutes by train.
The newly released homes include the four-bedroom Hamilton A and Huntington house types, alongside a range of other properties designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of buyers.
Each home has been thoughtfully designed to offer modern, energy-efficient living, complemented by green spaces and a strong sense of community.
Hazel Davies, Sales and Marketing Director at Cruden Homes, said: “Longniddry Village offers an exceptional lifestyle, combining the benefits of coastal village living with fantastic connections to Edinburgh and the wider East Lothian area.
“We’ve seen consistently strong demand from people attracted by the area’s natural beauty, strong community spirit and excellent local amenities. This latest release provides further opportunities for buyers at different stages of life, whether they’re purchasing their first home, looking for more space for a growing family or seeking to downsize without compromising on quality or location.”
Longniddry Village forms part of a wider vision to create a sustainable and connected community, with high-quality homes, landscaped public spaces and pedestrian-friendly routes that encourage active travel and outdoor living.
For more information on the latest release, visit www.cruden.co.uk or contact the sales team on 01875 666002. Showhomes are open Thursday to Monday, 10am-5pm.
OMNi gives toys a second chance as Toy Hospital arrives ahead of Toy Story 5
Free Toy Hospital Pop-Up comes to OMNi this weekend
Edinburgh’s OMNi Centre is set to give beloved toys a new lease of life this weekend (20 – 21 June), as it hosts the Leith Toy Hospital for the very first time. Offering free toy repairs for local families. Coinciding with the buzz around Toy Story 5, visitors can bring along their well-loved teddies and dolls for expert TLC.
Run by skilled toy surgeons, the Toy Hospital based in Musselburgh specialises in soft toy and doll repair and restoration, giving cherished toys a new lease of life.
Visitors are invited to bring along teddies or dolls in need of repair to OMNi on 20 and 21 June where the Leith Toy Hospital team will be on hand to carry out first aid style repairs, along with prescription cards for toys needing further work offsite.
The pop-up toy hospital service is free of charge and charity donations for OMNi’s charity partner Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) are welcome on the day.
Neil Mackie, OMNi Centre Manager, said: “We’re delighted to host Leith Toy Hospital’s expert team for the first time at OMNi.
“Offering free toy repairs is a fantastic way to give back to our community and bring families together around something truly special.”
Mari Jones, director of Leith Toy Hospital, added: “Favourite toys become part of the family, and just like Woody and Jessie, they each have a story to tell. It’s an honour to care for these treasured companions so that their stories can continue for many years to come.”
The free pop-up will take place from 10am-4pm on the 20th and 21st June, with no booking required. Free on-the-day repairs will include seam repairs, stuffing top ups, surface cleaning and sprucing up of fur.
The family fun doesn’t stop there… OMNi will continue its family entertainment into July, with money saving offers and a free craft station to keep little ones busy.
For full details, visit the OMNi website and join OMNi on its social channels for latest information and behind the scenes content: Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
OMNi is open 6am – 1am, Monday to Sunday. Individual brand opening times may vary, including Bank Holidays.
Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster
National Audit Office assesses progress of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Programme
- The National Audit Office has examined the proposals for restoring the Palace of Westminster and has assessed them against established practice for major programmes.
- The report looks at whether the Restoration and Renewal Programme is set up for success at this stage of development.
- It sets out key findings to inform the Public Accounts Committee’s scrutiny of the Programme, including the implications of delaying decisions; the level of certainty in cost and schedule estimates; the readiness and risks of ‘Phase One’ works; and the effectiveness of current governance arrangements.
- Download the embargoed report (PDF)
- Download the embargoed press notice (PDF)
- Download the embargoed statement from the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PDF)
A new National Audit Office (NAO) report examines the progress and evidence underlying the costed proposals for the programme to restore and renew the Palace of Westminster (the Palace) and assesses them against established practice to determine whether the programme is currently set up for success.
The Palace, a Grade I listed building within a UNESCO World Heritage site, requires extensive restoration to address serious risks, including failing mechanical and electrical systems, fire safety issues and high levels of asbestos.
The Restoration and Renewal Programme (the Programme) is intended to address these concerns.
The Programme is now at a critical stage, with parliamentary approval being sought to reduce the number of options from four to two.
The two recommended options are:
- Full decant: £11.1 billion to £15.6 billion, 19 to 24 years
- Enhanced Maintenance and Improvement plus (EMI+): £19.5 billion to £39.2 billion, 38 to 61 years
Building on its previous work, this new report by the independent public spending watchdog finds that further delaying the decision on which option to pursue carries risks to achieving value for money, with each year of delay adding between £320 million to £420 million to the overall cost of delivering the Programme.
Although the options and their underlying estimates have been through a standard process of development and have been subject to internal and external checks to examine and assure them, all are at an early stage and are likely to face cost and schedule pressures as designs develop.
The costed proposals provide enough information for a decision, although the EMI options are less developed and more uncertain.
The proposals also recommend that Parliament approves an initial seven-year programme of ‘Phase One’ enabling works capped at £3 billion.
Undertaking these works is a sensible approach, as this allows the Programme to progress while managing several risks. But plans for how the works will be overseen and delivered need to be finalised.
Suitable temporary accommodation is essential if the Houses are to decant and Parliament is to function properly. All Programme options depend on this accommodation being ready on time, but current risks could delay the move, particularly the full decant option.
The Programme must also strengthen its governance arrangements to be able to bear down on cost, schedule and scope; manage interdependencies across the Programme; and support Parliament’s decision on the final delivery option.
To put the Programme on a stronger footing, the NAO recommends that the responsible delivery teams:
- publish and regularly update a clear, non-technical summary, potentially alongside its business case, akin to Strategy and Delivery Plans used for mega-projects
- provide cost estimate ranges for all ‘Phase One’ work packages and set out how interdependencies between key projects will be managed
- ensure that links and decision-making responsibilities between projects across the Programme and related work on the Parliamentary estate are managed through a single, integrated delivery plan
- work with MPs and Lords at speed to create a clear vision for how each House, and Parliament as a whole, will operate in their temporary accommodation
- review the Programme’s governance arrangements to set clear requirements and hold those delivering to account
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, said: “Today’s NAO report on the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster provides valuable information to parliamentarians on the costs of the proposals and the significant decisions they will need to make.
“This project will affect the working lives of parliamentarians and staff for many decades to come. It is therefore vital that they are provided with comprehensive and accurate information in advance of a parliamentary vote, so that they can reach an informed judgement on this important matter.”
Repair Cafe at LifeCare
SUNDAY 28th JUNE from 11am – 2pm
Got something that’s broken? Want to try fixing it but not sure how?
Repair Café is a free community event where you can bring your item and volunteer fixers will guide you through your repair.
Sunday 28th this month, Repair Café Edinburgh will be at the LifeCare community hub at 2 Cheyne Street, Stockbridge.
Repair Café volunteers will be on hand to help you to repair your broken electrical, electronic and mechanical devices such as toys, small / low-voltage electricals, laptops. We’ll have experts who can help you with bicycles, and our fabrics and clothing fixers will be here too.
Our café will be open for breakfast rolls, and refreshments
Want to learn how to fix something? The event is free, but we’re limited by time, spare parts, safety and capacity.
Please book in advance to check suitability and avoid disappointment!
Unfortunately not everything is fixable at our events to avoid disappointment we encourage you to email us at repaircafeedinburgh@gmail.com with your questions and to reserve your place. Or just turn up on the day and we’ll try to take a look.
Vote for your favourite Pocket Garden
Vote today for your favourite Pocket Garden – designed by children and young people, inspired by fresh water, including food for people, plants and habitats for wildlife.
Check out the inspiring designs, build photos and finished miniature gardens on the showcase, and vote for your top three – you have until the 22 June!
Thousands of new jobs and more than £18 billion boost to British economy as PM meets Japanese leader
The UK and Japan are expected to agree investment creating tens of thousands of new jobs and more than £18 billion in economic gains, alongside a new partnership at the forefront of next-generation technologies
- UK and Japan unlock significant inward investments totalling more than £9 billion in infrastructure and financial services and up to £9 billion in offshore wind.
- New technology partnership will accelerate cooperation on cutting-edge tech including AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing.
- Visit drives forward partnership with UK’s closest security partner in Asia, marking a step change in the UK–Japan relationship.
The UK and Japan are expected to agree investment creating tens of thousands of new jobs and more than £18 billion in economic gains, alongside a new partnership at the forefront of next-generation technologies.
Together the deals will back British industries across technology, clean energy, infrastructure development, and life sciences, supporting long-term growth across the country. These are sectors at the heart of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and building on a relationship with Japan already worth £140 billion.
The Prime Minister welcomed his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi to Downing Street yesterday [Sunday] ahead of the G7 in Évian-les-Bains.
Japanese and British business leaders will join the two prime ministers for a roundtable discussion on future opportunities for economic growth where over ten commercial and government agreements are expected to be signed.
The visit delivers a major vote of confidence in the UK economy, with Japanese investors setting out a five-year investment pipeline worth more than £9 billion, expected to build new towns and provide high-quality office space and innovation hubs.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “These landmark agreements will bring multibillion pound investment into the UK, creating tens of thousands of new jobs and driving new developments.
“As G7 economies and close security partners, we are working together with Japan on some of the most innovative technology in the world, harnessing the best of British and Japanese research and industry to deliver growth and security to every corner of the United Kingdom.”
At the heart of the visit will be a landmark Offshore Wind Compact, developed in close partnership with Great British Energy to unlock up to £9 billion in Japanese investment into the UK’s offshore wind sector.
It will support the development of 5.9GW of floating offshore wind projects in the UK, including the Ossian and Green Volt projects off the East Coast in Scotland alongside the Erebus project in the Celtic Sea.
These pioneering projects will support jobs across the country, and when built, generate enough clean electricity to power 8 million homes.
By boosting homegrown clean energy, the deal will help reduce reliance on volatile global fossil fuel markets, strengthen energy security, help get bills down for good, and makes the UK Japan’s leading clean energy partner in Europe.
Hitachi Energy UK is set to create at least 500 new jobs over the next five years, providing vital expansion of the UK grid and bringing clean power that delivers growth. This includes 100 highly skilled roles at Hitachi Energy’s newly opened Glasgow Centre of Excellence, and over £18 million investment in a purpose-built facility in Stafford.
Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce will deepen collaboration with Japan’s Atomic Energy Agency signing a new agreement with the UK National Nuclear Laboratory to develop next generation nuclear technologies. And our national laboratories (UKAEA and QST) and leading private companies will deepen their collaboration on fusion energy.
Communities like Hatfield are set to benefit from the package of deals, where Japanese life science firm, Eisai, is set to invest £48 million. The investment will create a new packaging facility for its innovative dementia treatment, backed by government funding.
The leaders are also expected to agree a new partnership to accelerate cooperation on the technologies of the future. The cutting-edge UK-Japan Frontier Tech Partnership (FTP), will see British research translated into scalable technology with Japanese investment, from AI and quantum, to civil nuclear and defence tech.
Building on momentum from London Tech Week, the FTP will deliver groundbreaking impact for the UK and Japan. This includes British firm ORCA Computing landing a landmark export deal – one of the first times a major corporation anywhere in the world has bought a quantum computer.
For the first time, a formal partnership between the UK Semiconductor Centre and Rapidus, Japan’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, creates a direct pathway for the UK semiconductor sector to manufacture cutting-edge chips used to power mobile phones, vehicles and modern devices.
During the meeting, the Prime Ministers are expected to confirm their shared commitment to the Global Combat Air Programme, and discuss the launch of the next phase of the international programme, including through the international contract that will be signed by the end of the month.
A new Defence Capability and Industrial Council will foster greater industrial cooperation between the UK and Japan, accelerating the development of each other’s dual-use technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence, helping UK defence firms access significant Japanese investment.
QMU launches first Anti-Ableism Challenge Badge for Girlguiding UK
Thousands of young people across the UK are set to learn about disability, inclusion and equality through a new Anti-Ableism Challenge Badge launched by Queen Margaret University (QMU) for Girlguiding UK members.
Co-created with disabled people, the badge introduces simple, engaging activities that help young members understand disability, challenge stereotypes and take practical steps to make their communities more inclusive. Designed for Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and volunteers, the badge syllabus also builds awareness of disability history, rights and equity.
Developed by the Toy Box Diversity Lab at Queen Margaret University, the badge has already been successfully piloted in Girlguiding Scotland units in East Lothian. It will now be available as an optional activity alongside the core Girlguiding programme, offering flexible, low-cost or free ways for young people across the UK to explore inclusion and accessibility.
Dr Siân Jones, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Queen Margaret University and co-founder of the Toy Box Diversity Lab, said: “As a disabled person myself, this new badge represents a really positive step forward in the growing momentum around anti-ableism work with young people.
“Too often, disability is left out of early learning, but this badge helps change that by creating space for reflection, discussion and action.
“Disabled children and young people often encounter barriers that non-disabled people don’t notice, from inaccessible environments to assumptions about what they can and cannot do.
“Ableism can be subtle, but its impact is significant. By introducing conversations about disability, fairness and accessibility at an early age, we can help create more inclusive communities where disabled people are valued, respected and included. We hope this badge will give girls and leaders the confidence to recognise barriers, challenge them, and become advocates for positive change.”
Activities that can be completed to gain the Anti-Ableism Challenge Badge include adapting games to make them more inclusive, redesigning spaces to improve accessibility, learning the Braille alphabet, and exploring disabled role models and representation. Girlguiding UK leaders are supported with practical guidance, discussion prompts and information-based resources.
One of the Anti-Ableism Badge co-creators said: “It has been really affirming to me as a disabled person to be part of the development of these resources.
“I think it is really important to have these resources for young people to bring it to the forefront of their awareness at a young age. As a former Rainbow and Brownie, I would have appreciated this in my unit.”
Developed through QMU’s Toy Box Diversity Lab, the Anti-Ableism Challenge Badge builds on the Lab’s wider work addressing inequality, representation and social justice in educational and youth settings. The Lab works collaboratively with communities to ensure disabled people’s voices are at the heart of developing training, resources and inclusive practice.
Dr Clare Uytman, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Queen Margaret University and co-founder of the Toy Box Diversity Lab, said: “At the Toy Box Diversity Lab, we aim to directly tackle representation and understanding of disability through play, imagination and discovery.
“The introduction of anti-ableism into Girlguiding’s suite of challenge badges is an example of how collaborative work can translate research into tools that support real change in educational and youth settings.”
More information about the Toy Box Diversity Lab can be found at:
https://qmutoyboxdiversitylab.com/anti-ableism-challenge-badge/
To sign up for the Anti-Ableism Challenge Badge, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GuideAndScoutChallengeBadges
The King and Queen to attend the opening of the Scottish Parliament’s new session
Their Majesties The King and Queen will join MSPs at the official opening of the Scottish Parliament, taking place on Saturday 27 June.
The Opening Ceremony will include an address by His Majesty, to formally open the Parliament’s Seventh Session.
The event will also include several performances that celebrate Scotland and our rich culture and heritage. They include aspecially commissioned poem for the day delivered by Scotland’s national poet, Makar Pàdraig MacAoidh.
The poem Let This Hall Be Full of Noises will be read by the Makar in Gaelic with an English translation. The National Theatre of Scotland and the NYCOS BSL Youth Choir will also perform.
Their Majesties will then join a reception to meet with “local heroes” who have been chosen to represent constituencies and regions across the country.
Our “local heroes” have been nominated to attend as a special guest of their MSP for making an extraordinary contribution to their community.
Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson MSP said: “The start of a new Parliament is all about optimism, hope and a renewal of what the Parliament means to the people of Scotland.
“Their Majesties’ support for this institution has been steadfast.
“It’s an honour to have The King and The Queen join us at the start of that journey alongside people from across Scotland, who are at the centre of our plans to commemorate this milestone.
“I look forward to celebrating the very best of Scotland, reflecting on our heritage, acknowledging our traditions but most importantly with a focus on our future.”
Young people from across Scotland will also be represented in various roles throughout the day.
Further details of what to expect from the Opening Ceremony and all those who will be contributing to the event will be announced shortly.
Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move ‘to give kids their childhood back’
Social media platforms to be blocked from offering services to under-16s, marking a line in the sand and setting a new normal for future generations
- UK will go further to protect kids with world-leading additional restrictions on harmful features online such as live streaming and strangers communicating with children
- Government action shows clear choice to side with families over tech companies to put power back in parents’ hands and give kids the childhood they deserve
- Decisive action – backed by 9 in 10 parents – expected to be brought to Parliament before Christmas, with protections expected to come into force in Spring 2027
Children will be given back their childhoods thanks to government action to ban social media platforms from offering services to under-16s, with less time for scrolling and more time for play.
The plans will set a new normal for future generations, kickstarting a cultural shift and driving forward the government’s fight to give every child the best start in life.
The government plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia. This would capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material, alongside algorithms. The ban will therefore include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. We do not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included in the social media ban.
In a move to protect children online and address the scale of the challenge, the government will also go further than a blanket ban on social media with world-leading blocks on harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s. These restrictions – which together with the ban go further than any other country – will apply to a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites.
Restrictions on these functionalities will also be on by default for under 16- and 17-year-olds to prevent a cliff-edge at 16. The government will also be looking in more detail at overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18-year-olds and will set out more detail in July.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever.
“I’ve heard first hand from families crying out for change and we will do right by them.
“That’s why we’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back.
“This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.”
So-called AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots – designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users – will have to enforce a minimum age of 18. Similar intimate functionalities will be restricted for under-18s on AI chatbots more widely.
Taken together, these measures will mean a much more comprehensive model than just a blanket ban on social media — one that responds to how children experience harm online, rather than just where it happens.
The changes will back parents grappling with the risks for children that come from the online world and help empower them by providing a clear decision on what is safe and age-appropriate for children.
This is a decisive first step by the government which marks a clear choice to put children’s wellbeing first and give them a healthy life online. We stand ready to take further measures in the future.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Today we take a bold and significant step, towards creating a safer, healthier life online, for our children and future generations.
“Tech companies have had countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they have failed to act. That is why we are a taking power away from the tech giants and putting it back in parents’ hands.
“My driving force has always been to give every child, from every background, the best possible start in life. That is what these regulations will deliver.”
The government will also learn the lessons from Australia’s experience by introducing more highly effective age assurance (HEAA) measures to support compliance, making it far harder for children to bypass safeguards.
Ofcom will conduct a rapid study on what is effective age assurance for verifying whether someone is over 16. The Secretary of State has also written to the new Chair of Ofcom to ask for an urgent review of Ofcom’s enforcement capabilities with a clear enforcement strategy to be published as soon as possible.
In her letter, the Secretary of State confirmed the government will ensure Ofcom has the funding it needs to carry out its new responsibilities – as well as continue its vital work to enforce the existing provisions of the Online Safety Act, including protecting women and girls online, tackling harmful content that puts vulnerable people at risk, and taking action against serious illegal activity such as child sexual abuse material and online fraud and scams.
Today’s announcement follows one of the biggest national conversations held by this government, with more than 116,000 responses submitted by parents, children and experts across the country. The responses showed overwhelming public backing for tougher action. 9 in 10 parents said they would support a social media ban for children under 16.
The majority of young people also backed action, with two-thirds agreeing that children younger than 16 should not be allowed to use at least some social media platforms.
On social media services, real-time content makes harmful material harder to moderate, and algorithmic feeds can intensify exposure to dangerous, distressing or overly engaging material.
Parents rightly expect government to take action as quickly as possible, which is why the government has already taken powers through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act to act fast — using secondary legislation to introduce targeted protections without needing to wait to bring in a whole new Act. This means the first set of regulations could be in effect in Spring 2027.
Today’s action builds on the government’s work to date to go further and faster to protect children online and fight for their wellbeing. Last week, the Prime Minister challenged tech companies so that Britain will be the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images – with a 3-month deadline to make meaningful progress.
This watershed moment will come alongside the government’s drive to remove barriers to opportunity and set every child up for happy, fulfilling lives. Yesterday, the government set out further steps to make sure children in every part of the country get greater access to enrichment opportunities in sport, creative activities, nature and the arts both in and out of school.
This builds on wider work to halve the participation gap and reclaim childhood for all young people, including through reforms to the curriculum so that every child gets the skills they need to get on in life, and support throughout their school years to explore and develop their talents, regardless of their background or where they live.