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.
The milestone year saw inspiring charities awarded additional funding for their vital projects including Stockbridge-based charity, Lifecare Edinburgh
At the 10th Anniversary ScottishPower Foundation Awards, LifeCare Edinburgh took home the Community Engagement Award for its outstanding Community Care for Everyone project.
This recognition comes with a £10,000 funding boost, which will be used to help the charity continue to fight the pressures caused by the cost of living crisis as well as bring new activities to its service users.
This dedicated service delivers significant, life-changing benefits to the growing population of older people living on low incomes. This includes the CafeLife where people in the community can meet, eat, chat, and feel a sense of belonging.
By providing practical help within the home, companionship, and hot, freshly-cooked meals, LifeCare Edinburgh is making a profound impact on both the physical health and mental wellbeing of over 200 vulnerable older individuals. This support ensures that these individuals feel secure, connected, and enabled to thrive in their own homes and communities.
Lifecare Edinburgh’s Ian McRae also came runner-up in the Charity Champion category for his work over the past six years, providing support to clients with dementia. His commitment and empathy shine through his work, including helping introduce new clients, supporting existing ones, and easing the reintegration of clients post-pandemic.
Ian’s personal experience with dementia in his family helps drive his passion, leading him to create a handbook, “The Importance of Memory,” to help others.
His efforts have been instrumental in raising awareness for LifeCare, and his warmth and understanding make him a beloved figure among clients, staff, and volunteers.
This award has also come with an additional £5,000 which the charity looks to put towards training new volunteers up to the incredible standards Ian has set.
Sarah van Putten, Chief Executive, LifeCare Edinburgh, said: “We are so grateful to have been honoured with this award and are excited for what this means for our service users. LifeCare Edinburgh provides vital support and to be able to do what we do is so vital to the population of Edinburgh.
“A huge congratulations must also be given to Ian who consistently has gone over and above, impressing us with his commitment, understanding, empathy and support.
“We send our thanks to the ScottishPower Foundation for its continued support through this project, and we cannot wait to put this funding to use.”
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer, and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “A heartfelt congratulations to all our winners at this year’s ScottishPower Foundation Awards. This milestone year is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible work these charities do in our communities.
“Choosing this year’s winners was an immense challenge, given the outstanding quality of nominations we received. The dedication and passion demonstrated by LifeCare Edinburgh truly embodies the spirit of the ScottishPower Foundation Awards. Their unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in people’s lives is inspirational.
“It brings us real joy to celebrate with such highly deserving charities. The additional funding they receive will undoubtedly help them advance their impactful projects even further.
“Once again, a massive congratulations to all our winners. Their phenomenal work continues to make a significant difference, and we are excited to see what they achieve next.”
Further details on the winners and runners-up are available on the ScottishPower Foundation website: scottishpowerfoundation.com.
UK government announces new climate goals at COP29, including reducing emissions by 81% by 2035, as Prime Minister calls on other countries to bring forward ambitious targets
New UK target to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035 at COP29 in Azerbaijan
targets support government’s clean energy superpower mission to give Britain more security, deliver jobs and economic growth
Prime Minister calls for others to come forward with ambitious targets
Tackling the climate crisis is essential to our national energy security, economic growth, and our efforts to protect current and future generations, the UK government said as it unveils the UK’s new climate goals at the COP29 Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Yesterday’s announcement will strengthen the UK’s position as a place for investment in the technologies and jobs that are driving growth across the world.
There are 640,000 green jobs in the UK, growing at a rate 4 times faster than overall UK employment.
To support the industry the government has announced a significant investment programme in homegrown British energy – including renewables, carbon capture and storage, nuclear and hydrogen.
The UK’s reliance on fossil fuels has also been felt by every family and business in the last few years with the worst cost of living crisis in memory, driven by energy price spikes from international gas markets.
That’s why the government’s mission is to tackle the climate crisis in a way that makes the British people better off by investing in clean homegrown power and unlocking thousands of jobs, having already seen £34.8 billion of private investment into the UK’s clean energy industries since July.
This ambitious and pragmatic new target supports the UK’s mission for growth, helping to attract further investment and jobs in low carbon technologies such as solar and wind, electric vehicles and batteries.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The only way to protect current generations is by making Britain a clean energy superpower, and the only way to protect future generations is by tackling the climate crisis.
“Britain is back in the business of climate leadership, with an ambitious new target that will protect our environment, deliver energy security and restore our global climate reputation.
“We will cut emissions across the country, delivering for our environment and ending our exposure to spiking fossil fuel markets.”
This ambitious and pragmatic new target – in line with the recommendation from the Climate Change Committee and previously legislated and legally-binding Carbon Budgets for the same period.
The target forms what is called the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC): commitments that countries make to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change. It is aligned to 1.5C.
The UK has called for other countries to match the UK’s ambition to address the urgency of climate change, following stark warnings from the United Nations that the world is way off track to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C.
Since July the government has:
lifted the ban on onshore wind in England
delivered a record number of clean energy projects through its renewables auction
consented unprecedented amounts of nationally significant solar – 2GW – more than the last 14 years combined
launched Great British Energy backed by £8.3 billion to speed up the deployment of clean technologies
fired the starting gun on the UK’s carbon capture, usage and storage industry, with funding agreed for 2 clusters in Teesside and the North West
Globally, the costs of renewables continue to fall, with solar and wind now cheaper than existing coal and gas power plants in most of the world.
Recent analysis from the International Energy Agency found that in 2023 for every $1 spent on fossil fuels, $1.7 was spent on clean energy. Global energy investment is set to be over $3 trillion in 2024, with $2 trillion of this on clean energy technologies and infrastructure.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s National Statement at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan yesterday:
The United Kingdom is determined to stand alongside those countries on the frontline of the climate crisis today…
And to seize the opportunities of tomorrow.
Because action on climate now is the route towards economic growth…
Energy security…
Better jobs….
And national security in the long term.
To deliver on the Paris Agreement…
And keep 1.5 degrees within reach.
In the first 100 days of my government…
We launched Great British Energy – to create clean British power…
We created a National Wealth Fund – to invest in the green industries and jobs of the future…
We scrapped the ban on onshore wind…
Committed to no new North Sea oil and gas licences….
And closed the UK’s final coal power plant at the end of September – becoming the first G7 economy to phase out coal power.
In line with the international agreement at COP28 to transition from fossil fuels…
and the UK’s ambitious goal to be the first major economy to deliver clean power by 2030.
Today I can confirm – three months ahead of deadline…
The UK’s 2035 international target –
Our nationally determined contribution –
to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% on 1990 levels….
Aligned with 1.5 degrees.
And we urge all Parties –
To come forward with ambitious targets of their own…
As we all agreed at the last COP.
We will work in partnership…
to support other countries to develop their own commitments…
And transition through our forthcoming Global Clean Power Alliance –
And finance will be its first focus.
We will honour the commitment made by the previous government…
to provide £11.6 billion in of climate finance between April 2021 and March 2026….
But we must use public finance as a multiplier…
To unlock much more private investment…
And reform our international financial institutions.
Today we launch the new CIF Capital Market Mechanism, listed on the London Stock Exchange…
With the potential to mobilise up to $75 billion…
in additional climate capital for developing countries over the next decade.
Putting the UK’s role as a global financial centre…
at the service of driving the green finance and green energy transitions.
Climate action is at the heart of this government’s mission for the protection and prosperity of Britain and the world.
Writ large across our domestic and international priorities…
We are taking the urgent action needed – to protect our planet and its people.
Snooker’s all-time greats head for the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh next month for the BetVictor Scottish Open, with the star-studded line up and first round match schedule now confirmed.
Gary Wilson will be aiming to win the title for a third consecutive year, in a fantastic field which includes Scotland’s top player John Higgins, world number one Judd Trump, World Champion Kyren Wilson and many more green baize giants. The event runs from December 9th to 15th at the superb Meadowbank Sports Centre venue in the heart of Edinburgh.
Tickets are STILL AVAILABLE but must be booked fast now that the draw is out. They start at just £15 for one session, or £25 for an all-day ticket which gives fans the chance to watch a wide range of the world’s top stars. For all ticket details visit www.wst.tv/tickets
Gary Wilson, who beat Joe O’Connor in the 2022 final and Noppon Saengkham to retain the title in 2023, starts his defence against China’s Long Zehuang on the opening morning of the tournament on Monday December 9th.
Huge first round clashes over the first two days include:
Gary Wilson v Long Zehuang – – Monday December 9th at 10am
John Higgins v Ian Burns – Monday December 9th at 1pm
Mark Allen v He Guoqiang – Monday December 9th afternoon
Judd Trump v Ishpreet Singh Chadha – Monday December 9th at 7pm
Mark Williams v David Lilley – Monday December 9th evening
Kyren Wilson v David Grace – Tuesday December 10th at 1pm
Mark Selby v Stuart Carrington – Tuesday December 10th afternoon
Luca Brecel v Julien Leclercq – Tuesday December 10th afternoon
Shaun Murphy v Daniel Wells – Tuesday December 10th at 7pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Xing Zihao – Tuesday December 10th at 7pm
Neil Robertson v Fan Zhengyi – Tuesday December 10th evening
WST’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Tom Rowell said: “Edinburgh has proved a fantastic location for this event and the players have enjoyed packed crowds and a sensational atmosphere over the past two years.
“So we’re delighted to return to the Meadowbank Sports Centre especially with an incredibly strong line-up of our sport’s leading players. Tickets are already selling fast as this is the opportunity to watch world class sport from as little as £15. With such a high standard on the tour and so many epic matches already this season, there has never been a better time to watch snooker live.”
This is the third of four events in the BetVictor Home Nations Series, with the leading money winner across the series to bank an extra £150,000 bonus. Neil Robertson currently leads the way, just ahead of Kyren Wilson, with Judd Trump third. So there’s plenty at stake aside from the battle for the Stephen Hendry Trophy in Edinburgh.
The BetVictor Scottish Open is televised by Eurosport, discovery+, DMAX and many other broadcasters worldwide.
ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY JUSTIN WELBY HAS RESIGNED
His statement reads:
Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.
When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.
It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.
It is my duty to honour my Constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.
I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.
The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.
For nearly twelve years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.
In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims. I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.
I ask everyone to keep my wife Caroline and my children in their prayers. They have been my most important support throughout my ministry, and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice. Caroline led the spouses’ programme during the Lambeth Conference and has travelled tirelessly in areas of conflict supporting the most vulnerable, the women, and those who care for them locally.
I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve. I pray that this decision points us back towards the love that Jesus Christ has for every one of us.
For above all else, my deepest commitment is to the person of Jesus Christ, my saviour and my God; the bearer of the sins and burdens of the world, and the hope of every person.
Finding support
If you or anyone you are in contact with are affected by the publication of this report and want to talk to someone independently please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.
Complete as many of our #EcoSchools30 Birthday Bingo activities as you can to enter our prize draw to win equipment from @Litterpickers to help your Eco-Committee!
