A 37-year-old man will spend the next 13 years in prison after he was sentenced for serious sexual offences, violence and abusive behaviour.
Anthony Gibson came to the attention of police in November 2020 when it was discovered he had abused two women.
Following initial inquiries, it was apparent Gibson had subjected other women to his abusive behaviour. His offences occurred in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Lanarkshire and Fife.
As a result of the ongoing enquiries, Gibson was arrested and charged in connection with serious sexual assaults, violence and abusive and controlling behaviour.
He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, 11 November, 2024.
Detective Inspector Frank Keegan : “Gibson is a prolific offender. I can only hope that the women he harmed take some solace in knowing he can no longer inflict his violent and abusive behaviour on them or any other women.
“It is incredibly difficult for anyone to stand up and confront an abuser and I would like to thank the women for their strength and resilience in speaking with us. I would encourage anyone who has been or is being subjected to violence and abuse to report it to us.”
Scottish Government urged to prioritise investment in essential services for older people
HANOVER Scotland’s CEO, Angela Currie, is urging the Scottish Government to allocate part of the new £3.4 billion funding from the UK Budget towards critical investments in social care and housing.
The budget announcement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves marked a significant increase in devolved funds, and Angela emphasises that a strategic portion of this must be directed towards empowering older adults to live safely and independently.
With a rapidly aging population, Angela warns that overlooking these essential services will only exacerbate existing pressures on Scotland’s healthcare and social systems.
Angela said: “Our first priority must be restoring the adaptation budget to its previous levels. This funding is essential for making homes safer and accessible for older adults.
“Secondly is to close the gap in subsidies for new-build social housing, enabling us to construct more affordable homes.
“Lastly, we need robust investment in social care, which is crucial for supporting our aging communities and preventing undue strain on health services.
“Investing wisely in these areas is not just beneficial but essential for a sustainable and compassionate future.”
Angela highlights that this comprehensive approach will have a long-term impact, reducing the costly burden on the NHS and enhancing the quality of life for older adults.
The need for investment is underscored by recent budget cuts that have severely impacted housing adaptation funding. The Scottish Government slashed this budget by 25%, from £11 million to £8.245 million, leaving housing associations like Hanover Scotland in a difficult position.
This reduction means older and disabled residents risk being trapped in unsafe homes or hospital beds, contributing to bed-blocking and intensifying pressure on healthcare services.
Angela said: “The modest investment required to make homes safe pales in comparison to the enormous cost of hospital stays and long-term care.
“Without adequate funding, we risk further overwhelming our health and social care systems.
“Our mission is to empower older adults to live with dignity and independence, but the current funding situation is making that increasingly difficult.
“We are calling on the Scottish Government to act now and prioritise social care and housing. This isn’t just about housing; it’s about health, safety, and the wellbeing of our communities.”
Hanover Scotland, which manages more than 4,500 homes, has been a trusted provider of housing for older adults since 1979. The organisation has been at the forefront of innovation, from pioneering sheltered accommodation to participating in urban renewal projects that promote independent living.
A wellbeing expert has urged people to get involved in World Kindness Day to boost their own well-being.
Lynn Crilly says kindness is much more than ‘a nice thing to do’ as it can have a positive effect on both our mental and physical health.
Her comments come ahead of World Kindness Day, ( 13 November) and urges individuals and communities to embrace kindness in all their actions.
Lynn said World Kindness Day is a great opportunity to come together.
“When we experience kindness, our brain releases a hormone called dopamine which boosts our mood,” she explains.
“When a stone is dropped into water it creates waves. Acts of kindness have that same ripple effect. Studies have shown that when we are kind, it inspires others to be kind, spreading outwards to friends, their friends and their friends.
“That three degrees of separation means when a person is kind to another it could positively affect up to 125 people.”
The saying is that kindness costs nothing, and with many people concerned about their income, Lynn has provided ways of including kindness into your everyday life which don’t cost a penny:
Volunteer your time
You might be cash poor but if you have a little extra time in your schedule, you should try to volunteer. Giving up some of your free time to help others can make their day. This can make you feel good in the process. By giving your time to causes you support you can also meet new people who share your interests and perhaps create new friends. Helping out in an animal shelter or visiting elderly people who may be lonely are just two ideas where your time can make a real impact.
Hugging Helps
One of the best ways of showing kindness and support to friends and loved ones is to give them a hug. “Oxytocin, also called the ‘cuddle hormone’ , is released from human contact,” she says. “It can help lower the heart rate and reduce stress levels and can even help reduce pain from inflammation and promote wound healing.”
Provide a helping hand
Random acts of kindness can be easier than you think. Whether it’s holding a door open for someone who has their hands full or the person behind you entering a store, it takes about ten seconds of your time and shows that other person that they do matter. Another way to offer a helping hand is to check in on a neighbour to see if they need any help with jobs. You can double up the social interaction by taking them shopping or to an appointment, rather than just doing the task for them.
Offering a random act of kindness can be easier than you may think. One of the easiest ways to share your positive energy is to hold the door open for someone. Whether it’s an elderly person, a person with their hands full, or just the man or woman following you into the store, you don’t need a reason to hold the door. It costs you roughly ten seconds of your time and can make the other person’s day.
Pay a compliment
We tend to gravitate towards people that show us kindness. This is mainly because kindness reduces the emotional distance between each other and helps us to feel more bonded. One way of showing kindness to someone else is to pay them a compliment. It costs nothing, can help boost self-esteem and it could even help bridge a gap which might exist between two people.
Donate your unwanted items
We all have things in our houses – and particularly our wardrobes – we don’t use. The items you take off the shelf only to dust aren’t doing you any good, but they could make a real difference to someone else. Those on the lowest incomes rely on charity shops or sites like recycle for everyday items. And the charity shops themselves need good quality donations so they can continue to support their work.
Offer technological help
For younger people who are more likely to be short of cash, their knowledge of digital technology can be so helpful to the older generation. As more of life moves online, including access to healthcare, taking time to help someone get online or show them how to use an app is a great way of helping others. Plus, it allows you to spend time with someone who might be lonely – but also has a lot of life experience they can share.
DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE – MONDAY 18th NOVEMBER
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre are delighted to be hosting a recently-produced film WHY NOT SCOTLAND? on Monday 18th November from 6.30-9pm.
Across mainland Europe, nature is making a dramatic recovery – could Scotland be next?
Join us for a screening of Why Not Scotland? the compelling story of Flo, a young Scot, as she discovers #rewilding across Europe, prompting her to ponder the potential for a similar revival in Scotland. #RewildingNation#WhyNotScotland
This FREE screening will be followed by a Q and A session led by local artist Natalie Taylor who produced SCRAN FIR BEES on Ferry Road.
On our panel will be Dr Ian Edwards, ecologist and forest specialist formerly of RBGE, and Julia Pennycuik, co-founder of Midlothian Wildflowers.
Come along for an evening of inspirational visions of what Scotland could look like if nature is encouraged to return alongside the folks who live within and beside it.
The Pitt, Edinburgh’s beloved street food haven. is gearing up for a mighty comeback in its new Granton location.
Officially opening on Friday 6 December 2024, the all new Pitt will be a hub for local community and enterprise. Retail and market units as well as spaces dedicated to community groups and families now sit alongside the permanent street food market. Local groups such as Granton Youth, Granton Community Garden and Granton Castle Walled Garden are all already part of the new partnership approach.
This exciting new £500,000+ venture, is led by not-for-profit community interest company Granton Project CIC, and promises to bring economic opportunity to the area. Funding from Firstport and Foundation Scotland enabled the transformation of the 15,000 sq ft space, as well as a successful crowdfunding campaign further supporting the development.
Located on West Shore Road, the all new Pitt occupies a formerly empty warehouse, offering unobstructed views from the Granton promenade over the Firth of Forth. The venue which is more than twice the size of its previous location will initially be open Thursday to Sunday from 8am-10pm.
Hal Prescott, Chief Executive of The Pitt said “The Pitt, Granton has been two years in the making so I could not be more delighted to be announcing our official opening date.
“The new Pitt has all the core ingredients from the original Pitt but is supercharged with a significant event space, family areas, a coworking space, two permanent saunas and of course this fantastic location on the Granton prom.
“We’re a very small team working to make a big difference to north Edinburgh and the support we’ve had financially and as advisors from Firstport and Foundation Scotland has been invaluable to us, The Pitt simply wouldn’t be reopening without them.”
Ali Kennedy, Social Investment Executive with Foundation Scotland, said “This project will have a massive impact on the local surrounding communities, and the ambition of Hal and the Granton Project CIC team is to be commended.
“We’re very impressed by all the activity and collaborations emerging to date, and are confident that our investment will support even more impact, more local aspiration, and the creation of even more pathways into the hospitality sector.
“Our blend of grant and loan investment offers flexibility for innovative projects like this, and we know that the team will deliver a unique and thriving community project for Granton and beyond.”
Daisy Ford-Downes, Head of Group Investment Programmes at Firstport, said: “Hal and his team have been working tirelessly to get to this point, so we are delighted that The Pitt is finally ready to open its doors to customers.
“The Catalyst Fund, with its patient and flexible repayment model, was designed to support projects just like this- innovative, ambitious, collaborative, and with the potential to make a positive impact in the community.
“The Pitt in Granton, with a brand new venue, amazing trader line up and strong partnerships, is well placed to become not just a foodie’s destination, but also a thriving hub for enterprise development and community action.”
Andrew Barnett from Barney’s said: “We’ve been a trading partner with The Pitt since its original opening in December 2015, and always found it a great place to introduce people to new beers and collaborate with other food and drink producers.
“We at Barney’s Beer are all excited to re-start that trading relationship and be part of the new bigger, better Pitt at the Granton shore.”
The Pitt will feature a mix of familiar faces from the old Pitt Street location, such as Buffalo Truck and Barney’s Beer, alongside exciting new traders such as Pulp Friction, Choola and Fire Bowl. One notable addition is Social Bite, who will be the exclusive dessert provider.
Hal Prescott emphasized the market’s commitment to the local community and fostering entrepreneurship: “The Pitt Market will always be free to enter, and we are committed to making sure all ticketed events are affordable for all.
“The local community has welcomed us with open arms with many local organisations connecting, collaborating and supporting our development and opening – we look forward to more getting in touch and to the partnerships, businesses and ideas which develop from The Pitt.”
As part of the wider Granton Waterfront regeneration project, The Pitt will become a local hub fostering social cohesion and enterprise in North Edinburgh. The venue opening will mark a significant milestone in the area’s ongoing regeneration.
Police Scotland has released images of a man officers believe may be able to assist with their investigation into an assault in Edinburgh city centre.
The incident took place on George Street around 1.20am on Sunday, 29 September, 2024.
The man is described as of average build, around 5ft 10ins, in his mid-20’s with medium length dark hair and a moustache. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans and dark trainers with a brown over-the-shoulder bag.
Detective Sergeant Rob Finch, of Gayfield CID, said: “I would urge the man pictured, or anyone who has information relating to him, to contact the police.
“If you have any information that can assist with our investigation then please call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0294 of 29 September 2024. Alternatively, make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
The public consultation on the route for Edinburgh’s proposed new North-South tramline from Granton to the Royal Infirmary and beyond is being planned for spring 2025.
Two main options are being considered for the section between Granton and the city centre – one using the former railway line which is now the Roseburn Path, a favourite cycle and walking route; the other taking the trams via Orchard Brae and across the Dean Bridge.
A variation on the Roseburn Path route would see the tramline leave the Roseburn Path and go along Telford Road for a bit to get nearer to the Western General Hospital.
Calls come as Holyrood Committee publishes report on public funding to voluntary organisations
Short-term funding cycles are creating financial instability and diverting time and resources away from charities’ delivery of services, according to a pre-Budget report by the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee.
At the outset of the Committee’s inquiry the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations painted a stark picture of the challenges faced by charities in Scotland, identifying a 2.1% real terms decrease in Scottish Government funding in the previous budget, against a backdrop of increased inflation and high demand for services.
In recognition of the critical role charities play in supporting Scottish society, the Committee’s report calls on the Scottish Government to look at options to prioritise three-year-funding and include provisions for inflation-based adjustments.
During the inquiry, witnesses raised concerns about inconsistency, complexity and a lack of transparency in the application process for funding. In response, the Committee’s report recommends that the Government, and its partner grant awarding-bodies, streamline and standardise application processes and improve the transparency of the grant-making decision process.
The Committee also heard about the challenges some charities have faced because of delays to funding decisions and payments, issues the Committee wants the Scottish Government to resolve.
Bob Doris MSP, Deputy Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “The Scottish Government has a commitment to provide fair funding for the essential work done by Scotland’s charity sector.
“We make it clear in our report that this commitment should be recognised in the upcoming budget, so that the sector’s vital work can be safeguarded. We call on the Government to prioritise strengthening its approach to multi-year funding and improving its processes.
“Whilst we acknowledge the Scottish Government’s ability to agree to multi-year funding when it does not know what funding it will receive from the UK Government for subsequent years, our committee has made practical suggestions to overcome these challenges.
“We believe that implementing the straightforward measures outlined in our report, including multi-year funding, could positively impact the effectiveness of a sector that does so much to help so many.”
Responding to the report, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) Chief Executive Anna Fowlie said: “I welcome today’s report, and the committee’s recommendations. Throughout their inquiry, the Committee heard from witness after witness of how the practice and culture around public funding for voluntary organisations is broken.
“Too often and for too long voluntary organisations providing vital services to people and communities across Scotland contend with budget cuts, short-term funding cycles, late payment, incoherent decision-making, poor communication, inadequate grant management and more. That must end.
“The voluntary sector needs a funding landscape that is fair, flexible, sustainable, and accessible – as long-advocated by SCVO and recommended by the committee today.
“At a time when many voluntary organisations are facing extreme financial difficulties, these long-standing calls are more essential than ever.
“The prize is a sustainable sector, strong public services, and resilient communities – one the Scottish Government must grasp with both hands.”
Fraud, theft, abuse and neglect reaches epidemic levels
Older people are being targeted more than ever before in new statistics and data revealed by Hourglass at the start of Safer Ageing Week (11/11/24).
The charity, the only one of its kind in the UK, reports that calls to its helpline are up 65% year-on-year and this has led to over 75,000 calls, contacts and impacts involving older people, their families and professionals.
This is an all-time record for the thirty-year-old charity.
As part of a new campaign, entitled Take Note, the charity is urging the general public and influencers to finally grasp the nettle about the abuse of older people and treat it in the same manner as other forms of abuse.
This comes off the back of recent staggering data that revealed over £53m has been reported as losses relating to economic abuse in the past three years – an average of £87k per case (5,127 cases). These figures, which come from Hourglass cases alone, are likely to be a significant underestimate.
Hourglass, who uniquely support older victim-survivors of abuse and neglect, employ just thirty members of staff to deal with cases, calls and research. However, the charity has seen figures jump from around 10,000 in 2020/21 to the new high of 75,000 in 2023/24.
Commenting on the figures, Richard Robinson CEO of Hourglass, said: “There is no question we are facing an epidemic of abuse of older people in the UK but it remains firmly under the radar.
“We estimate that abuse of older people costs the UK economy £16 billion per year, excluding economic abuse, and this equates to a figure of £50k per victim-survivor per year.
“Safer Ageing Week 2024 is a rare opportunity to shine a light on these issues and sound the alarm bell.
We are sleepwalking into a scenario where we are expecting more than nine million extra older people in the UK by 2050, equivalent to another city with the population of London, but with little pre-planning around safer ageing, abuse services and specialist safeguarding.
“We are already at epidemic levels – without urgent work, we are looking at a tidal wave of issues.”
Health and Social Care Secretary will outline how government and NHS leaders have a duty to patients and taxpayers to get the system working well
Wes Streeting to reveal package of reforms and announce new league table of NHS England providers, with top talent attracted to most challenging areas and persistently failing managers to be sacked
Turn around teams sent into struggling hospitals, while best performers given greater freedoms over funding to modernise technology and equipment
No more rewards for failure, with reforms to ensure every penny of extra investment into NHS is well spent and waiting times for patients slashed
NHS league tables will be introduced to help tackle the NHS crisis and ensure there are ‘no more rewards for failure’, as part of a tough package of reforms to be announced by the Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting today (Wednesday 13 November).
Addressing the nation’s health leaders at the NHS Providers’ annual conference in Liverpool, he will outline how government and NHS leaders have a duty to patients and taxpayers to get the system working well and get better value for money.
NHS England will carry out a no holds barred sweeping review of NHS performance across the entire country, with providers to be placed into a league table. This will be made public and regularly updated to ensure leaders, policy-makers and patients know which improvements need to be prioritised.
Persistently failing managers will be replaced and turn around teams of expert leaders will be deployed to help providers which are running big deficits or poor services for patients, offering them urgent, effective support so they can improve their service.
High-performing providers will be given greater freedom over funding and flexibility. There is little incentive across the system to run budget surpluses as providers can’t benefit from it. The reforms today will reward top-performing providers and give them more capital and greater control over where to invest it in modernising their buildings, equipment and technology.
The government will deliver a health service fit for the future, fixing the foundations while delivering change with investment and reform to deliver growth, get the NHS back on its feet, and rebuild Britain.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “The Budget showed this government prioritises the NHS, providing the investment needed to rebuild the health service. Today we are announcing the reforms to make sure every penny of extra investment is well spent and cuts waiting times for patients.
“There’ll be no more turning a blind eye to failure. We will drive the health service to improve, so patients get more out of it for what taxpayers put in.
“Our health service must attract top talent, be far more transparent to the public who pay for it, and run as efficiently as global businesses.
“With the combination of investment and reform, we will turn the NHS around and cut waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks.”
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive said: “While NHS leaders welcome accountability, it is critical that responsibility comes with the necessary support and development.
“The extensive package of reforms, developed together with government, will empower all leaders working in the NHS and it will give them the tools they need to provide the best possible services for our patients.”
The NHS Oversight Framework which sets out how trusts and integrated care boards are best monitored – will be updated by the next financial year to ensure performance is properly scrutinised.
Deep dives into poorly performing trusts will be carried out by the government and NHS England to identify the most pressing issues and how they can be resolved.
Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England: “People value the hard work of NHS staff, but it’s frustrating when services fail to operate effectively. So, a fresh approach to improving NHS performance is welcome.
“Currently, living in an area with either an outstanding or poorly performing NHS trust feels like a postcode lottery. When a service is underperforming, it often takes far too long for patients to see the necessary improvements.
“This is because the current system focuses on evaluating service performance based on the number of tasks it completes and it does not do enough to measure patients’ overall outcomes and experiences.
“Establishing a better system that encourages NHS managers to focus on delivering the best care as efficiently as possible, and leads to quicker changes at struggling trusts, would be good news for everyone.”
NHS senior managers who fail to make progress will also be ineligible for pay increases. There will be financial implications for Very Senior Managers (VSMs) such as Chief Executives if they are failing to improve their trust’s performance, or letting patients down with poor levels of care.
A new pay framework for VSMs will be published before April 2025. Senior leaders who are successfully improving performance will be rewarded, to ensure the NHS continues to develop and attract the best talent to the top positions.
The changes are made in response to Lord Darzi’s investigation into the NHS, which found that: “The only criteria by which trust chief executive pay is set is the turnover of the organisation. Neither the timeliness of access nor the quality of care are routinely factored into pay. This encourages organisations to grow their revenue rather than to improve operational performance.”
The cost to the health service of hiring temporary workers sits at a staggering £3 billion a year. Under joint plans to be put forward for consultation in the coming weeks, NHS trusts could be banned from using agencies to hire temporary entry level workers in band 2 and 3, such as healthcare assistants and domestic support workers. The consultation will also include a proposal to stop NHS staff resigning and then immediately offering their services back to the health service through a recruitment agency.
Rachel Power, Chief Executive, Patients Association: “We welcome today’s commitment to improving NHS performance and accountability. These reforms signal an important drive for positive change in our health system. The focus on tackling poor performance and rewarding excellence sends a clear message about raising standards across the NHS.
“At the same time, we know from the experience of patients, that real transformation comes through genuine partnership with patients. We look forward to working with NHS England to ensure patient voices help shape how any league tables are developed and how success is measured.
“The proposed support teams for struggling trusts could be particularly effective if they include patient representatives and focus on building a culture of patient partnership. This is an opportunity to combine better management with deeper patient involvement – creating an NHS that is both more efficient and more responsive to people’s needs.
“We hope trusts who receive greater funding freedom will use this money wisely – to cut waiting times, make the waiting experience better for patients, and strengthen the ways they work with patients to improve services. These are the things that matter most to people using the NHS.”
Lord Darzi’s investigation into the NHS found that hospital productivity has ‘nosedived’ in the past five years. During that time resources have increased by 20%, but the number of patients treated has only increased by 3%.
This comes a month after the Health and Social Care Secretary kicked off the biggest national conversation about the future of the NHS since its birth, calling on the entire country to share their experiences of our health service and help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.
Members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts, are sharing their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS via the Change NHS online platform, which will be live until the start of next year, and available via the NHS App.
