The Accounts Commission plays a significant role in Scottish public life, providing independent assurance to citizens about how their local council is using public money.
It reports on how well councils and other local government bodies manage and report on their finances and performance, and on their arrangements to secure Best Value. It also reports on the issues that are important to people’s quality of life and the services they use and rely on every day.
Becoming a member of the Accounts Commission is an exciting and varied role, drawing on a wide range of skills and experience.
New members are currently being recruited. If you’re interested in applying but would like to know more, we’re holding information sessions, both hybrid.
Event registration and application details can be found here:
POLICE officers engaged with seven motorcyclists as part of a new safety initiative aimed to reduce rider harmat the weekend.
The rider reflection and safety initiative in the Lothian and Scottish Borders began trial on Saturday, 18 July, and saw drone technology used to support engagement with the motorcycling community and help reduce rider harm.
Within clearly signposted areas, drones were used to support officers in engaging with riders who may benefit from constructive conversations around safer riding choices.
Riders were offered the opportunity to review their footage to reflect on their behaviours that may increase risk on the road.
The initiative follows data published last year by Transport Scotland showing that 18% of all road fatalities were a motorcycle rider or passenger, despite motorcycles only being estimated to account for less than 1% of traffic in Scotland.
During the trial deployment, seven riders were approached and given the opportunity to speak with officers.
Two riders were given warnings re speed and two were issued with vehicle defect forms.
Chief Inspector Greg Burns, East Area Commander for Road policing, said: “The use of drone technology to support rider engagement has been used by other UK forces as part of wider efforts to reduce those killed or seriously injured on the road.
“Our specially trained and experienced motorcycle officers will use the new initiative to start conversations and offer expert advice to riders. This is to help encourage positive reflection and to highlight additional rider training opportunities that are available.
“The focus here is awareness and education. We want to support riders to think more carefully about high-risk manoeuvres such as unsafe overtaking, as well as excessive speed through bends and junctions.
“We continue to remind all road users to be responsible on our roads. We all have a role to play in making sure everyone returns home safely.”
The initiative is being piloted within the Lothian and Scottish Borders divisional area, providing an opportunity to evaluate and inform future road safety activity as part of Police Scotland’s national motorcycle safety campaign.
Edinburgh-based charity SuperTroop, which provides residential breaks for children with learning disabilities, held its eighth successful summer camp on the grounds of Fettes College thanks to a thriving partnership between the two organisations.
Held during the summer break, the week-long ‘incredible special’ holiday saw nineteen Fettes Sixth Form students and thirteen Old Fettesian volunteers provide round-the-clock, one-to-one personal care and friendship for around twenty young holidaymakers.
This year’s programme was built around a Highlands theme, adding a Scottish twist to established favourites such as trampolining and swimming. New additions included tartan weaving, cupcake and shortbread decorating, and ceilidh dancing.
The group also visited The Yard and the National Museum of Scotland followed by an evening listening to bagpipes, performing in a fashion show and hearing an impressive performance of a new SuperTroop-themed song written by the volunteers involved.
Toby L, a sixth-form student at Fettes College who dedicated time this summer towards volunteering for SuperTroop, said: “My time with SuperTroop, though only my first year as a helper, was incredibly special.
“In my eyes, SuperTroop makes the experience of each kid’s holiday individual to what they enjoy and require – whether this be food or activities, but especially for their additional needs – and all from the perspective of fun, safety, and respect.”
Sue Fletcher-Watson, Founder, SuperTroop, said: “SuperTroop has had another storming year thanks to our extraordinary holidaymakers, invaluable support from Fettes and the blessing of lots of sunshine!
“The ripple effects from this week of adventure will last all year – rested families, disabled young people with happy memories and expanded independence, and volunteers with new skills and lifelong friendships.”
The holiday is also made possible by the support of operational staff who manage accommodation and catering throughout the stay.
Andrew Archibald, Senior Volunteer and Teacher at Fettes College said: “As ever, this holiday is not only an opportunity to give back but a huge team effort to make the week another great success for the SuperTroop holidaymakers and their families.
“From our amazing students, Old Fettesians and staff volunteers who rose to the challenge of one-to-one, 24-hour personal care, to the operational staff who prepared fantastic accommodation and meals, everyone played their part in delivering a magical experience.
“SuperTroop remains a charity that is a very special part of Fettes life and it is a privilege to share the first week of the school holidays with them. We are already looking forward to doing it all again in 2027!”
Toby added: “What really struck me as what makes SuperTroop so special and unique was at the end of the week when the holidaymakers got picked up by their parents. Seeing how much of an impact the week had for the parents of the holidaymakers showed me the true meaning of ‘respite’.
“At the goodbyes it really made me think – all these volunteers give up time and effort for SuperTroop, and I don’t think words really do their incredible effort justice.”
The holidaymakers stay on campus, sleep in dorm rooms with their peers and 1:1 helpers, and eat meals as a group in the dining hall. Fettes provide a high-quality and accessible residence as well as catering and facilities including outdoor spaces, swimming pool and sports hall.
To find out how you can join the troop or lend your support, go to supertroop.org/
Businesses at The Shore have come together to launch a campaign reminding residents and visitors that Edinburgh’s waterfront destination remains open for business following the disruption caused by the recent fire on Princes Street.
While the partial closure of the tram line has had a significant impact on businesses at The Shore, the Shore Business Collective believes the focus should now be on encouraging people to continue supporting local businesses across Edinburgh.
The campaign will provide practical travel information alongside a coordinated programme of social media activity celebrating the people, places and experiences that make The Shore one of the city’s most distinctive destinations.
The push from the Shore Business Collective will highlight the many ways visitors can easily reach The Shore by bus, on foot, by bike, taxi and car, while showcasing everything the area has to offer – from its award-winning restaurants, cafés and bars to independent retailers, cultural attractions and picturesque waterfront, as well as highlighting the best offers from local businesses this summer.
Ashley Harley ,Chair of the Shore Business Collective, said: “Like many businesses across Edinburgh, we’ve been affected by the disruption following the fire on Princes Street. However, our priority is to look forward.
“The Shore remains open, our businesses are ready to welcome visitors, and we want people to know it’s still easy to enjoy everything this unique part of Edinburgh has to offer. Our thoughts are with everyone directly affected by the fire, including the businesses, employees and communities in the city centre.
“This campaign is about working together to support local businesses and ensuring that people continue to visit and enjoy every part of Edinburgh during what is a difficult period for many. The Shore is open, the welcome is as warm as ever, and businesses are encouraging people to make the journey and rediscover one of the city’s most vibrant waterfront communities.”
The Shore Business Collective is a community-led network of independent businesses working together to protect, champion, and bring vibrancy to The Shore in Leith.
Follow the Shore Business Collective for updates on what to do and how to get to the Shore: @theshoreedinburgh
Taking over Modern Two from 1 August, Gwen John: Strange Beauties is the first major exhibition in Scotland devoted to the pioneering painter. Featuring rarely seen drawings and watercolours – many on show for the first time – it offers fresh insight into her quiet yet determined artistic vision.
Gwen John’s Young Woman with a Coral Necklace (1910-1920) will go on public display for the first time since 1964, especially for this exhibition in the Scottish capital. The striking painting once belonged to the Scottish artist and Gwen John scholar, Mary Edmond Taubman, who became fascinated with Gwen John’s work as a student while studying at Edinburgh College of Art in the early 1950s.
Taubman became the first person to conduct detailed academic research on the life and work of Gwen John, providing vital insight into what we know of her work today. Young Woman with a Coral Necklace was bought by Taubman from the artists estate, in 1968, and has been generously loaned to National Galleries Scotland by her family, in her memory.
Marking 150 years since the Welsh artist was born, Gwen John: Strange Beauties will offer a fresh new perspective on her exquisite work and lasting legacy. Experience over 200 oil paintings, watercolours, and rarely seen sketches and archive materials across two floors of Modern Two.
Explore Gwen John’s journey from Wales to Paris, where she developed her distinctive, contemplative style. Discover her intimate and meditative portraits, shaped by faith, French modernism and her life in the Parisian suburb of Meudon. This exhibition will be the second stop of a global tour, following a critically acclaimed run at National Museum Cardiff earlier this year, including five stars from The Guardian and The Independent.
Born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in 1876, Gwen John studied at the Slade School of Art in London, becoming one of the first generation of women to receive a formal art education, before moving to Paris in 1904 where she led a fiercely independent and creative life. From becoming a muse and model to renowned French sculptor Auguste Rodin, to modelling for Swiss artist Ottilie Roederstein, Irish sculptor Nuala O’ Donel, German artist Ida Gerhardi and Finnish artist Hilda Flodin.
She later converted to Catholicism, marrying together her faith and her artwork. Gwen John described herself as ‘a seer of strange beauties’, casting herself as a visionary with the ability to see beyond surface appearances. Her attentive way of looking at the world shaped her art, leading her to paint and draw the same subjects repeatedly, each time observing them in a new way.
Today, Gwen John is considered an independent trailblazer, who quietly yet impactfully paved the way for many women artists of the future.
Alongside significant loans will be key works by Gwen John from Scotland’s national art collection. This includes A Young Nun (about 1915-1920) which is part of a series focusing on the convent of the Dominican Sisters of Charity at Meudon, near Paris. The tonal and quietly radiant Portrait of a Girl in Grey, (about 1918 – 1923) another from Scotland’s national art collection, depicting a woman praying, will also be on display.
The exhibition will also delve into Gwen John’s artistic practice, revealing new research about Gwen John’s painting materials and methods. John’s approach to her art was almost scientific, emphasising the importance of close observation and trying to see beyond the surface of things.
The methodical and unique approach she applied to colour theory comes into play too. Gwen John developed a secret coding system for the colour mixtures and tones she used in her paintings – a code which still hasn’t been cracked to this day!
She sought to use colour to create a sense of harmony in her work. From the early 1920s the rich and vibrant colours found in Gwen John’s watercolours appear in her oil paintings, in artworks such as the ‘mulberry dress’ series.
Visitors can also find out about Gwen John’s life with a free to use audio guide and film created especially for the exhibition which discusses her artistic legacy. Archival materials such as the artist’s notebooks and sketchbooks will be also displayed in the Keiller Library in Modern Two, telling more of Gwen John’s story through objects personal to her.
This exhibition has been developed by Amgueddfa Cymru in partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland, Yale Center for British Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC.
Gwen John: Strange Beauties is yours to discover at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two from 1 August 2026. Tickets are on sale now.
Immigration expert urges travellers to check passport rules before booking, as Europe’s new Entry/Exit System beds in and ETIAS remains unavailable
Holidaymakers planning trips to Europe this summer are being urged to check their passports and travel documents well before they travel, as new digital border checks continue to cause delays and confusion at some European airports.
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is now operating across the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps with a digital record of when non-EU travellers enter and leave participating countries. The system applies also to British passport holders travelling for short stays and records facial images, fingerprints and passport details at the border.
The warning comes as airports and airlines continue adapting to the new process during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with reports of longer queues and passengers being advised to allow extra time before flights.
Kadmos Immigration, a UK immigration advisory practice, says travellers should treat passport checks as part of their holiday planning, rather than something to think about at the airport.
Helena Sheizon, Founder of Kadmos Immigration, says: ” Some holidaymakers are travelling to Europe as non-EU nationals, and that means the checks are different from what many people remember before Brexit.
“The biggest mistake families can make is assuming nothing has changed. If your passport doesn’t meet the entry requirements, or you haven’t allowed extra time for the new border procedures, your holiday can be disrupted before it has even begun.”
Why Brits may face longer airport queues this summer
The Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU nationals travelling to the Schengen area for short stays. For British travellers, this means entry and exit records are now stored digitally rather than through passport stamps.
First-time users of the system may be asked to provide biometric information, including a facial image and fingerprints. While this only takes a few minutes per person, processing times can increase significantly during busy periods, particularly for families or large groups arriving together.
Several airlines have already advised passengers travelling to parts of Europe to arrive earlier than usual while airports continue adjusting to the new procedures.
Sheizon explains: “For most holidaymakers there is no reason to panic, but there is every reason to prepare.
“If you’re travelling with children, elderly relatives or anyone who may need additional assistance, it’s sensible to build in extra time. The new system is designed to strengthen border security, but during its first busy summer season it can also create queues if travellers aren’t expecting the additional checks.”
The passport rule still catching British holidaymakers out
Kadmos Immigration is also warning British travellers to check both the issue date and expiry date on their passport before travelling to Europe.
For travel to the EU and wider Schengen area, a British passport generally must:
Have been issued less than 10 years before the date of entry.
Be valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
This continues to catch out travellers with older UK passports, particularly those renewed before September 2018, when unused validity could be carried over onto a new passport.
Sheizon says: “Many people only look at the expiry date, but for travel to Europe that isn’t enough.
A” passport can still appear valid, but if it was issued more than 10 years before the date you enter the Schengen area, you could be refused boarding or entry. It’s one of the easiest mistakes to avoid, provided you check early enough.”
ETIAS is still not in force and travellers should ignore unofficial websites
Kadmos Immigration is also reminding travellers that ETIAS, the EU’s upcoming travel authorisation scheme, has not yet launched.
Despite widespread discussion online, British travellers do not currently need to apply for ETIAS before travelling to Europe. Reports suggest the system is now expected to launch later than originally anticipated, meaning travellers should continue relying only on official government advice for updates.
Sheizon says: “One of the biggest sources of confusion is the difference between EES and ETIAS.
“EES is already operating at the border. ETIAS is a separate travel authorisation system that has not yet launched.
“If a website is asking you to pay for ETIAS today, that should immediately raise alarm bells. Until the EU officially opens applications, British travellers don’t need to buy anything.”
What British holidaymakers should check before travelling
Kadmos Immigration recommends checking the following before booking or travelling:
Your passport was issued less than 10 years before the day you enter the Schengen area.
Your passport remains valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave.
Your destination is part of the Schengen area and subject to EES checks.
You allow extra time at the airport or border crossing.
You follow your airline’s latest advice on recommended arrival times.You avoid paying unofficial websites for ETIAS before it officially launches.
Children’s passports have been checked separately, as they expire sooner than adult passports.
Your passport details exactly match your travel booking.
Sheizon adds: “The safest advice is simple: check your passport before you book, not the night before you fly.
“People spend weeks comparing flights and hotels, but something as simple as passport validity can stop a holiday before it starts. Spending five minutes checking your documents now could save hours of stress later.”
Why this matters this summer
Millions of British holidaymakers are expected to travel to popular destinations including Spain, France, Greece, Portugal and Italy over the coming weeks.
Kadmos Immigration says the vast majority of travellers will have no problems, but the introduction of digital border checks means preparation is now more important than ever.
Sheizon concludes: “Most people will still enjoy their European holiday exactly as planned, but the margin for error is smaller than it used to be.
Since Brexit, British travellers are subject to different entry requirements, and the move to digital border checks is another reminder that immigration rules now form part of holiday planning, even for a short break.”
Recent statistics indicating that 12,402 pupils have missed at least half of the school year—enough to fill almost 400 classrooms—should concern us all.
While we support mainstream education wherever appropriate, it can only succeed if schools have the staff and specialist support to make inclusion for those with additional support needs (ASN) meaningful.
More than two out of five (43 per cent) of Scotland’s pupils are now identified as having an additional support need, with numbers more than doubling over the past decade. Yet the number of specialist ASN teachers has fallen. Additionally, as the number of those with ASN experiencing greater complexity of need increases, special school provision may be required, yet the number of such schools has declined.
The link between unmet additional support needs and poor attendance is clear. Too many families are waiting for support while schools struggle with shortages of specialist teachers, classroom assistants, educational psychologists and mental health professionals.
Identifying children with ASN is only the first step. They must receive the timely support needed to attend school, achieve their potential and avoid poorer educational and mental health outcomes.
Scotland urgently needs greater investment to deliver genuinely inclusive education. Without it, we risk failing not only children with ASN and their families, but every pupil and teacher in Scotland’s classrooms.
As part of the City Art Centre’s free Summer Exhibition programme, we tell the story of the iconic North Bridge through film, historic artworks and objects uncovered during its recent restoration.
Running from Saturday 18 July until Sunday 13 September 2026, Study for North Bridge is a new film by artists Rachel McBrinn and Jonathan Webb. Created during the bridge’s restoration, it offers a fresh perspective on one of Edinburgh’s best-known landmarks ahead of its reopening in August.
Commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of the North Bridge restoration programme, the film explores not only how the bridge has been repaired, but also how we care for and remember the places that shape our city.
Following the restoration as it unfolds, the film combines real-life footage with imagined scenes to ask how today’s events become tomorrow’s history. Through the voice of a fictional art historian looking back from the future, it encourages visitors to think about how stories are recorded, preserved, and retold over time.
The title, Study for North Bridge, refers to the sketches artists often make while developing a final work. In the same way, the film focuses on the work in progress rather than the finished bridge, revealing the people, processes and hidden details that are normally out of sight.
Alongside the film, visitors can see original pieces removed from the bridge during restoration, displayed with paintings and other artworks from the City of Edinburgh’s Fine Art Collection that show North Bridge over the past 300 years.
The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of guided walking tours, delivered in partnership with Invisible Cities.
Beginning and ending at the City Art Centre, the tours explore the people, places and stories that have shaped North Bridge, bringing the exhibition to life in the streets around it.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “North Bridge is one of Edinburgh’s most important civic landmarks and has connected communities across the city for more than 130 years.
“As we look forward to the bridge reopening this summer, this exhibition offers a fascinating opportunity to reflect not only on the engineering achievement of its restoration, but also on the stories, memories and meanings attached to the structure.”
