Guidance to help schools support transgender children and young people has been updated.
The refreshed guidance takes account of recent court decisions while also providing greater clarity for schools on provision of toilet facilities and support for pupils.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government has made clear it accepts the Supreme Court ruling and since April has been taking forward the detailed work that is necessary as a consequence of the ruling. That work is ongoing.
“The rights of all children and young people must be respected in our schools. We have brought forward updates to guidance to provide clarity and confidence to teachers and staff as they work to support the mental, physical and emotional health of transgender young people in our schools following recent significant legal and policy developments.”
Starmer statement on the new US initiative to deliver an end to the war in Gaza:
‘The new US initiative to deliver an end to the war in Gaza is profoundly welcome and I am grateful for President Trump’s leadership.
‘We strongly support his efforts to end the fighting, release the hostages and ensure the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza. This is our top priority and should happen immediately.
‘We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages.
‘Together with our partners, we will continue work to build consensus to put into place a permanent ceasefire. We are all committed to a collective effort to end the war in Gaza and deliver a sustainable peace, where Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in safety and security.’
Research released by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity ahead of its Big Brew Up in October encourages Scots to share a ‘wee cup of tea’ in support of the Armed Forces community.
New research commissioned by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity confirms that people in Scotland enjoy a cuppa, with 81% confirming they take a wee cup of tea.
More than half (59%) of Scottish tea drinkers agree that a cup of tea makes having hard conversations easier. But despite this, nearly a quarter of Scots (24%) say they never have a hot drink and a natter with others.
SSAFA has released the insight ahead of its Big Brew Up, taking place throughout October, which invites people in communities across the UK to come together and share a cup of tea while supporting the Armed Forces community.
A “Brew Up” is a term used across the military for coming together for a quick pause over a cup of tea, which is recognised as an important ritual among Armed Forces personnel. Most serving military personnel and veterans that have been involved in a brew up agree that they are important for morale and camaraderie during service (75%) and it makes them feel closer to home (66%).
While a Brew Up is a longstanding pillar of Armed Forces culture, nearly three quarters of Scots (74%) have had a positive experience as a result of a brew up.
Almost a third (32%) reported feeling calmer afterwards, a quarter (28%) said they felt more connected to the person they had the Brew Up with. Nearly a quarter (23%) said that the Brew Up helped them check in on the other person’s wellbeing.
It’s also backed by science, with research showing that simply holding a warm drink can unconsciously make us feel warmer towards others.
Dan Thwaites, co-founder at Capuchin Behavioural Science, explains: “Holding a cup of tea can create what psychologists call embodied cognition.
“One study by Williams and Bargh1 showed that the physical warmth of the drink can unconsciously translate into emotional warmth – which probably explains why having a cuppa makes us feel warmer towards the people we are with.”
Amy Bartlett, Head of Volunteer Operations at SSAFA, said: “In the military, the Brew Up is a morale booster and stress reliever. It strengthens bonds, particularly on deployment or after tough days.
“At SSAFA, a Brew Up is often the starting point of offering support. Our volunteers and employees build rapport by sharing a simple cuppa when they first meet a member of our Armed Forces family who needs some support. It can often help to bring people together.
“We’d love to see people across Scotland host and attend Big Brew Up events this October, raising funds to help us support serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families, so they never battle alone.”
Wonky fruit, farm-to-glass gin and border-crossing spirits; guilt-free cocktails are set to shake up Edinburgh Cocktail Week this October, with 100% electric train operator Lumo helping festival-goers raise a glass to sustainability and arrive smoothly not shaken.
Running from 3rd to the 12th October 2025, the UK’s biggest cocktail festival is set to welcome more than 25,000 visitors across the city.
This year, sustainability is firmly on the menu thanks to Lumo, the official travel partner of the festival, which offers relaxed, 100% electric train services between Edinburgh, Newcastle, London and, from December, Glasgow Queen Street. Thousands of revellers can swap motorways and short-haul flights for a greener journey direct into the heart of the celebration.
Lumo will also host a special sustainable cocktail reception during the week, showcasing innovative suppliers including:
Flawsome! Drinks, the B Corp brand transforming surplus and “wonky” fruit into refreshing juices which are already served on Lumo trains
Blowin’ Free Gin, an Ayrshire farm-to-glass start-up distiller
Ad Gefrin, the award-winning Northumberland whisky and gin distillery reviving a centuries-old tradition in Northumberland in the North East of England
To mark the partnership, passengers on a recent Lumo journey between Newcastle and Edinburgh were surprised with cocktails and mocktails mixed onboard by an expert mixologist, bringing a taste of the festival to the 125mph train service.
Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access (Lumo), said: “We’re proud to be back supporting Edinburgh Cocktail Week for 2025, not just as the official travel partner but as a champion of sustainability and collaboration.
“Festivals like this showcase the very best of Scotland’s hospitality, tourism and creativity, and we want to make sure people can enjoy them in the greenest way possible.
“From our 100 percent electric trains to our partnerships with socially conscious suppliers, Lumo is committed to making sustainable choices more accessible, enjoyable and inspiring.”
Gary Anderson, Managing Director of Edinburgh Cocktail Week,added: “This year’s festival promises to be bigger, greener and more inclusive than ever, with more than 120 bars, masterclasses and pop-ups across the city.
“Having Lumo onboard as our official travel partner makes it easier than ever for cocktail lovers across the UK to be part of it without racking up an environmental hangover. I’m particularly excited about Lumo’s sustainable drinks reception, which brings together some brilliant suppliers from Scotland and beyond.”
Karina Sudenyte, Co-Founder and CMO of Flawsome! Drinks, said:“We’re very proud that our sustainable drinks are available for Lumo customers and particularly delighted to be supporting this fabulous event in Edinburgh.
“We’ll make sure that the cocktails on offer will not only be delicious, but also crafted from wonky and surplus fruit to prevent food waste.”
Elaine Borland, Owner of Blowin’ Free Gin,said: “This is an unmissable opportunity for a small business like mine.
“The Lumo team have been hugely supportive, and I can’t wait to see our gin showcased at one of Scotland’s biggest celebrations.”
Jordan Rutherford, Spirit Sales Manager at Ad Gefrin,commented: “To be part of Edinburgh Cocktail Week is unbelievable for us.
“We’re Northumberland’s first legal whisky distillery in over 200 years, and working with Lumo gives us a fantastic platform to share our story.”
With guilt-free cocktails and guilt-free travel, Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2025 proves that the best journeys and the best experiences can go hand in hand with protecting the planet.
Lumo is also proud to announce that it’s the prestigious sponsor of the Net Zero Champion Award at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, which take place in February 2026.
Christmas has come early as Dobbies Garden Centres kicks off the season in style at its Christmas Launch Weekend which takes place from Thursday 9 to Monday 13 October in its Edinburgh store.
Dobbies launches its Christmas shop on Thursday 9 October, with a special evening event from 5pm-7pm giving customers at the Edinburgh store the chance to get a head start on their shopping as the garden centre unveils its highly anticipated festive trends, with something to suit every budget and every style.
From indoor and outdoor lighting, trees, beautiful baubles and homewares, to houseplants, great value gifts for everyone on your list, you can experience Christmas in every sense at Dobbies.
Special offers launch on the evening of Thursday 9 October, and will then be available in-store across the event weekend. If customers sign up to attend the evening event at dobbies.com, they will receive a £5 off £25 and £10 off £50 voucher to use on Thursday 9 October at the Edinburgh store, alongside the chance of winning £1,000 worth of Christmas items for a shopping spree in store.
The offers include 30% off Christmas decorations, including pack baubles and 30% off 5-7ft Oslo trees, buy one get one half price on Amaryllis Christmas Star bulbs and 20% off cushions, throws and rugs, alongside 20% off ARRAN Sense of Scotland home and body products, perfect for adorning the home for the festive season or gifting.
Local community groups and schools have been invited to perform on the evening of Thursday 9 October, to help bring the Christmas spirit to life, and customers can also enjoy product tastings from the foodhall and in-store Bakery to Go, where available.
The Edinburgh store will be hosting a pop up experience with IND!E on the launch evening of Thursday 9 October, giving customers the chance to shop artisanal products from the local area. J Dobie Photography and Seilich will be in the Edinburgh store.
Customers at the Edinburgh store can also support Dobbies’ National Charity Partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK throughout the weekend with fundraising activities, including raffles and donation buckets.
If customers would like to further their support Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dobbies has a limited-edition Sensory Garden 15 bulbs collection which contains a selection of colourful and fragrant bulbs, designed to create a captivating sensory garden, priced at £15.
Five pounds from each pack sold will be donated to the charity. The Edinburgh store will have demonstration stations on Thursday night at 5pm and 6:15pm where customers can learn about this new charity bulb, get tips on how to plant them and take care of them from bulb to bloom.
Throughout the weekend, customers can enjoy the new seasonal menu for autumn and winter in the Edinburgh restaurant, which will be open until 6.30pm on Thursday 9 October. With hearty dishes, classic light lunches and scrumptious specials, sweet drinks and warming hot drinks, there is plenty to enjoy across the Christmas Launch Weekend.
Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, said: “Christmas is such a special part of the Dobbies’ calendar, and we pride ourselves in creating a magical experience for everyone who visits.
“Christmas Launch Weekend marks the official launch of the season in our Edinburgh store and is a fantastic opportunity to get a head start and stock up on some savings, whilst soaking up the atmosphere and getting into the festive spirit.”
The Christmas Launch Weekend kicks off on Thursday 9 October, from 5-7pm, with free tickets available to book at www.dobbies.com
The launch weekend continues until Monday 13 October, at all stores, during normal trading hours.
HOUSE of HORMONES – Thursday 9 October, 5:30 – 7pm, online
Join Parenting Across Scotland and Cyrenians Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution as they delve into the issues households can face when generations within a family enter puberty and perimenopause at the same time.
Joined by Lyndsay Harrison, General Nurse Practitioner and founder of Workplace Menopause Support, we’ll break down what’s going on in perimenopausal and teenage bodies and brains – and how to return the House of Hormones to peace.
Craiglockhart Tennis and Leisure Centre is about to change the game for golfers in Edinburgh. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking to sharpen your swing or someone seeking a fun, new experience with friends, the cutting-edge Trackman Golf Simulator officially opens today, Monday, 29th September.
Occupying the space formerly used as a spin studio at the entrance to the tennis centre, this exciting new addition represents a significant investment in leisure innovation by Edinburgh Leisure. The simulator offers a powerful, immersive indoor golf experience – perfect for training, socialising, or simply enjoying the game, rain, or shine.
Costing just £25 per hour, customers can bring their own clubs, or Edinburgh Leisure can provide. Bookings are per session and can accommodate up to four people at each hour-session.
“We’re thrilled to bring this state-of-the-art golf simulator to Craiglockhart,” said Kirsty Stobie, Manager at Craiglockhart Tennis and Leisure Centre.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for golfers of all levels to enjoy the game in a new way, and we’re proud to offer our members something truly special with the discounted launch offer.”
Whether you’re chasing performance or just looking to play for fun, book now via the Edinburgh Leisure app and website:
The UK government has confirmed it will progress work on the next generation of new towns across England, following publication of an independent report that recommends 12 locations as potential new towns.
The government is determined to begin building in at least three new towns in this Parliament and is prepared to progress work on a far larger range of locations if it proves possible.
The government yesterday published an initial response to the report in which it welcomes all 12 recommended locations and its wider recommendations on delivery and implementation. The government response also states that at this stage sites at Tempsford, Crews Hill and Leeds South Bank look most promising.
A New Towns Unit will also be established by the government to progress development on new towns. The Unit will work with all departments and their agencies to ensure new towns are a test bed for innovation and to unblock barriers to delivery.
The New Towns Taskforce, led by Sir Michael Lyons, was commissioned by the government to explore different approaches to large-scale development. In its report, the taskforce has recommended a mixture of large-scale communities including urban extensions, urban regeneration, and standalone greenfield sites should be built.
It says each new town should have at least 10,000 homes with an ambition for a minimum of 40% affordable housing and half of which will be for social rent. The Taskforce has also set out a range of recommendations for delivery, including the importance of accountable delivery bodies who are able to provide long term certainty for communities in new towns.
A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be undertaken to understand the environmental implications of developing new towns. No final decisions on locations will be made until this assessment concludes and preferred locations could change as a result of the process.
The government will be looking for assurance that any location can be effectively and efficiently delivered in partnership with local communities, has a clear economic purpose, and will support economic growth. Different delivery vehicles will also be tested to learn lessons for how future large settlements are delivered and to contribute to a wider transformation of housing supply.
The government will publish the draft proposals and final SEA for consultation in Spring, before confirming the locations that will be progressed as new towns soon after. This will be alongside a full government response to the New Towns Taskforce’s report.
The 12 recommended locations are:
A standalone settlement in Adlington, Cheshire East; to serve the growing industries in Greater Manchester and Cheshire, as identified in the government’s Industrial Strategy.
A corridor of connected development in South Gloucestershire, across Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc; building in one of the highest productivity areas in the country with a high value research, advanced engineering and technology economy.
An expanded development bringing together Chase Park and Crews Hill in Enfield; delivering green development and helping address London’s acute housing need.
Redevelopment of the former airbase at Heyford Park in Cherwell; connecting to Oxford and building on the existing progress and commitment to high-quality placemaking; referencing the area’s past and supporting its future in innovative technology industries.
Urban development in Leeds; catalysing on the city’s existing economic prospects and capturing the benefits of the governments £2.1 billion local transport funding allocation for the Combined Authority by delivering well-connected, high-quality homes in the South Bank to support the city centre.
Inner-city development and densification in Manchester, Victoria North; supporting continued growth and attracting high-skilled workers to service the city’s diverse industries.
A standalone settlement in Marlcombe, East Devon; strengthening the region’s labour supply and supporting the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone.
A ‘Renewed Town’ in Milton Keynes; reinvigorating the city centre and expanding to the north and east whilst reshaping the way people travel, by delivering a Mass Rapid Transit system.
Densified development in Plymouth; evolving Britain’s Ocean City and capitalising on the government’s £4.4 billion investment in HMNB Devonport, Western Europe’s largest naval base.
A new settlement in Tempsford, Central Bedfordshire; to maximise the benefits of East West Rail by building a well-connected new town in the heart of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
The creation of a riverside settlement in Thamesmead, Greenwich; unlocking inaccessible land in the city and improving connectivity if the proposed extension of the Docklands Light Railway can be delivered to enable the development.
Expanded development at Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon; accelerating delivery around the existing train station to help meet regional housing need and act as a model for sustainable, carbon neutral development.
Responding to the government’s New Towns announcement, countryside charity CPRE’s Chief Executive, Roger Mortlock, said: “‘CPRE recognises that well-designed new towns with proper infrastructure have a role to play. Yet with growing pressure on our finite land, all development, including new towns, should follow a brownfield-first approach, led by targets.
“Too many of these sites will needlessly see great swathes of countryside and the Green Belt lost to development while the list of brownfield sites grows.
‘Many rural communities on this list are already faced with a huge hike in housing numbers following the government’s recalculation of the formula, unrelated to local housing need or demand. Faced with a new town, housing targets in these areas should be radically reduced to reflect the huge changes to their communities that a new town will bring.
‘The focus in the Taskforce’s report on urban regeneration, a new approach to housing density and affordable housing is welcome, but the definition of affordable needs rethinking and matching to local incomes if it is to tackle the housing crisis.
‘There is a massive opportunity to rethink how we build new places, faced with the climate and nature crises, that still needs more emphasis. Putting nature at the heart of these communities is not the icing on the cake; it should be the starting point.’
The New Towns Taskforce report and the government’s initial response can be read here.
SCOTLAND’S CLIMATE WEEK 28th SEPTEMBER – 5TH OCTOBER 2025
Workers and communities across the North East of Scotland will benefit from £8.5 million in new funding to support the shift to clean energy careers.
Four projects are receiving funding this year through the Just Transition Fund focus on offshore wind infrastructure and supply chain development, demonstrating the Scottish Government’s commitment to economic development and supporting communities through the energy transition.
The successful projects include:
Cable Handling Facility, Maritime Developments Ltd – £2.9 million
Orah Assembly and Deployment, Verlume Ltd – £2.5 million
Enabling Renewable Energy Infrastructure, Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners – £2.4 million
Large Scale Synthetic Mooring Line Test Rig, ORE Catapult – £500,000
The investment targets areas that have provided energy security through oil and gas for generations, ensuring these communities remain at the centre of Scotland’s energy future as the country accelerates towards net zero.
The funding marks the beginning of Scotland’s Climate Week, with First Minister John Swinney officially opening Scotland’s largest energy transition skills hub at North East Scotland College in Aberdeen – a new centre of excellence which will train young people for highly skilled roles in the growing renewables sector.
The Hub received £4.5 million from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund and represents a collaboration between the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ), North East Scotland College, Shell UK, and the Scottish Government.
First Minister John Swinney said: “This new round of funding responds to the immediate priorities of energy businesses in the North East. It focuses on projects that have a clear goal of supporting jobs and maximising economic opportunities in the region.
“The North East has long been a titan of the oil and gas industries and we must move forward together towards a cleaner, more sustainable world. Just Transition funding aims to ensure no one is left behind and that communities continue to play a vital role in the country’s clean energy future.
“I’m also looking forward to opening the ETZ’s Energy Transition Skills Hub, at the start of this year’s Climate Week. Supported by £4.5 million of Scottish Government funding, this centre of excellence will prepare local young people for the highly skilled jobs and opportunities of the future in the renewable energy industry.”
