As temperatures plummet, we urge people to keep a caring eye on stray and abandoned cats without access to shelter or food. For them, the risk of hypothermia or painful frostbite is real.
In the past 12 months, Cats Protection has taken in more than 26,000 cats left behind by life, including over 3,000 kittens from unwanted litters.
Through no fault of their own, these cats have been given up or abandoned. They know only cold, fear and hunger. But we’re here for them until the tough times pass.
Our winter fundraising and awareness campaign (cats.org.uk/alfie) aims to provide food, shelter and care for neglected cats.
We have some simple tips to help all cats stay safe and warm this winter:
Provide warm, draught-free resting spots. Self-heating pads are ideal for older cats.
Tap your car bonnet and check underneath before starting up – cats love to hide there.
Check sheds and garages to ensure that cats seeking shelter don’t become trapped inside.
Wipe your cat’s paws and coat when they come in. Grit, salt or antifreeze can be toxic if licked.
Provide fresh water, checking it cannot freeze over. An indoor litter tray means your cat doesn’t have to venture out.
Keep your cat in at night – and lock cat flaps to prevent them sneaking out in the cold.
Cats are good at finding warm places to rest but for outdoor cats struggling to find shelter, we have tips to create a safe and dry winter bolthole that might save a life this winter.
Dundee Rep Theatre today launches its 2026 season, a celebration of community, world premieres, new voices, classics, and fresh work that invites audiences to connect with the life of the building and far beyond.
To introduce the season, we asked our community participants to make a special film at locations across Dundee, reflecting and solidifying the theatre’s place within the city and inviting audiences to join them in the year ahead.
The season takes flight with the much-anticipated brand-new musical production of The High Life, co-produced by Dundee Rep Theatre and National Theatre of Scotland in association with Aberdeen Performing Arts and Capital Theatres.
After a thirty-year delay in the departure lounge, the full original cast of Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson,Siobhan Redmond and Patrick Ryecart reunites for a landmark world premiere directed by Dundee Rep Theatre Artistic Director Andrew Panton. Co-written by Johnny McKnight, Alan Cumming, and Forbes Mason, the production opens in Dundee from 27 March to 4 April before touring Scotland and returns to the Rep 6 to 9 May.
April sees the return of our Rep Stripped Festival, Dundee Rep Theatre’s platform for fresh work, new voices and bold ideas – this time under the creative direction of Fraser Scott.
Built on the success of previous editions, which have included early stagings of No Love Songs and A History of Paper, the festival continues to celebrate creativity, innovation and the future of performance, offering audiences the chance to be the first to discover new work. Call-outs for submissions open in January 2026.
Willy Russell’s award-winning modern classic Educating Rita follows, in a funny, tender and life-affirming new production directed by award-winning director Debbie Hannan. This story of self-discovery, second chances and the power of learning brings together Rita, a spirited hairdresser hungry for change, and Frank, a disillusioned academic who has lost faith in his work and in himself.
First performed in 1980 and later adapted into the acclaimed film starring Julie Walters and Michael Caine, the piece has won multiple BAFTAs and received three Academy Award nominations. This fresh revival promises a heartfelt return to one of Britain’s most loved plays from 23 May to 13 June.
An exciting and original collaboration hits the stage next summer. Dundee Rep Theatre and Solar Bear, in collaboration with Aberdeen Performing Arts and the Traverse Theatre, present The Singer, written by Cora Bissett with Jamie Rea. With songs multi-award-winning KT Tunstall, featuring Deaf artist Jamie Rea and directed by Cora Bissett, The Singer is a thrilling new gig-theatre drama about Joe, a deaf artist who “sings” with his hands, and Andy, a washed-up musician hungry for a comeback. As their unlikely partnership ignites something extraordinary, ambition, betrayal and belonging collide in this powerful story of music, identity and the fight to be heard.
The Singer previews at Dundee Rep Theatre in late July, premieres at the Traverse Theatre during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and plays the Citizens Theatre Studio in Glasgow and the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen before returning to Dundee in September.
Tony Roper’s much-loved Scottish classic The Steamie then returns for a nationwide tour in a new production from Rerr Terr Productions in association with Neil Laidlaw Productions and Dundee Rep Theatre.
From 27 August to 12 September, audiences are invited into a 1950s Glasgow washhouse on Hogmanay where hot water, lively chat, laughter and secrets accompany the final wash of the year.
One of the most anticipated productions of 2026, A History of Paper, by Oliver Emanuel and Gareth Williams (creators of The 306 Trilogy, National Theatre of Scotland),returns in a major new production starring Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson.
This musical about unbounding joy, impossible grief and the small pieces of paper that shape a life first captivated audiences at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe, where it won a Fringe First, the Music Theatre Review Best Musical Award and the CATS Award for Best Director for Dundee Rep Artistic Director Andrew Panton.
This new co-production with Pitlochry Festival Theatre brings back a work that moved audiences and critics alike. The production runs from 8 August to 12 September at Pitlochry Festival Theatre and from 16 to 19 September at Dundee Rep Theatre.
Following the success of The Glass Menagerie, Dundee Rep Theatre will once again collaborate with The Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, and Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, with full details of the Autumn 2026 production to be announced early next year.
The season comes to a glittering finale with a magical new production of Dundee Rep Theatre’s 2018 Christmas hit The Snow Queen, created by Noisemaker, the partnership of award-winning writing duo Claire McKenzie and Scott Gilmour (Oor Wullie, Ceilidh, Scots)and directed by Emily Oulton. This snow-stopping musical celebrating friendship, courage, and festive spirit is set to delight audiences of all ages from November 28 to December 30.
Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre remain committed to making theatre and dance accessible to as many people as possible and are expanding our pricing to offer greater choice, flexibility and affordability in 2026.
New initiatives include £15 tickets for every Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre production and £5 preview tickets for under 30s, designed to welcome and inspire the next generation of theatre-goers, and focusing on the future of the arts here in Dundee and Scotland.
Alongside this, a new free ticket initiative will allocate tickets across the season to individuals and communities with limited access to the arts, ensuring they can experience live performance, feel at home in the building, allowing us to open our doors to even more people.
Scottish Dance Theatre celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026, and the full programme will be announced on 20 January.
Complementing Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre’s own work, the venue will present a vibrant programme of visiting companies throughout Spring 2026.
These include ABBA Forever on 7 February, Macbeth from 19 to 21 February, BalletLORENT’s Snow White on 27 and 28 February and the musical satire SCOTS by Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie, directed by Jemima Levick,from 7 to 11 April. The Rep also welcomes What I am Here For on, an immersive multilingual collaboration from Vanishing Point and Teater Katapult, followed by family fun with There is a Monster in Your Show and many more.
This season also marks the arrival of Kath M Mainland CBE as Executive Director, bringing more than two decades of international cultural leadership to Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre.
Mainland joins the organisation after senior roles at Adelaide Festival, RISING Melbourne, Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. Originally from Orkney, she returns to Scotland to help lead the organisation’s next chapter, marking an exciting moment for the organisation.
This new season is announced at a time when Dundee faces proposed cuts to arts funding, and Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre continue to demonstrate how essential its work is to the cultural, social and economic life of the city.
The Rep provides opportunities for Dundonians of all ages to experience connection, learning and belonging as well as contributing significantly to the well-being of communities across Dundee and playing a key role in Dundee’s tourism and global cultural identity.
As consultation begins, the organisation encourages residents to share their views and to champion the vital role that the Rep and other cultural organisations play in the life and future of their city.
Artistic Director Andrew Pantonsaid: “We are proud to be a creative home for our community and a national stage for new voices, major productions and collaborations.
“Our 2026 season celebrates Dundee, Scotland and beyond and celebrates the people who shape our work. The Rep plays a central role in the cultural life of this city while contributing greatly to the wider Scottish and international cultural landscape, and this programme is a testament to that reach and responsibility.
“As Dundee enters consultation on proposed arts cuts, we are reminded of the importance of protecting the creativity, opportunity and connection that cultural organisations provide.
“I hope audiences across Dundee and Scotland will continue to stand with us, take part in the consultation and help ensure a vibrant future for the arts.”
Global real estate advisor, CBRE, has been appointed by Lowe Dalkeith Farms to market a rare commercial development opportunity at Sheriffhall Interchange, a 60-acre site located on the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720).
Zoned for employment use, the site represents one of the most significant mixed-use development opportunities in the Central Scotland market.
It is strategically positioned at the junction of the A7, the Edinburgh City Bypass and the A6106, and a short distance from the A1, offering direct access to key regional and national transport routes.
The location benefits from immediate proximity to Sheriffhall Park & Ride and Shawfair Station on the Borders Railway line, providing direct services to Edinburgh Waverley. Edinburgh City Centre and Edinburgh Airport are both within a 20-minute drive, ensuring excellent connectivity for future occupiers.
The site comprises a level site with multiple access points. It offers scope for large-scale commercial, industrial and motor dealerships subject to planning. The site is further enhanced by Transport Scotland’s committed upgrade to the Sheriffhall Interchange, which will improve traffic flow and accessibility across the region.
The industrial market across Central Scotland continues to face a significant shortage of available accommodation for industrial, warehouse and manufacturing uses. According to CoStar, the regional vacancy rate has now fallen below 2%, with occupier demand constrained by limited existing and pipeline supply.
Development opportunities remain scarce, with many suitable sites allocated within Local Development Plans for residential or alternative uses such as student accommodation or Build to Rent.
Established industrial estates are operating at or near full capacity, driving sustained growth in both rental and land values.
Bryce Stewart, Senior Director at CBRE Scotland, said:“This is a rare opportunity to secure a development site of genuine scale and strategic importance within the Scotland market.
“Sheriffhall Interchange is already a key transport hub for the city and wider region, and with the planned infrastructure improvements it will only become more attractive to occupiers and investors.
“With strong connectivity, proximity to Edinburgh’s workforce and flexibility for a range of employment uses, we expect significant interest from both national and international parties.”
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) is celebrating five decades of helping millions of people resolve workplace issues and improve working relationships across Britain.
Since 1975, Acas has been the nation’s trusted voice in workplace relations, evolving from addressing industrial disputes to tackling modern workplace challenges while maintaining its commitment to impartial, expert guidance.
In 1975, the Conciliation and Arbitration Service added the advisory function to its dispute services to become Acas.
To coincide with the anniversary, Acas has published a report showing that almost half (44%) of working age adults in Britain experienced conflict at work in the past 12 months.
Niall Mackenzie, Acas Chief Executive, said:“This year marks 50 years since we became Acas and started providing workplace advice, as well as resolving disputes.
“For 50 years, Acas has been at the heart of workplace relations, helping employers and employees navigate change and find common ground even in the most challenging circumstances.
“Our report into conflict prevalence shows that there is still a need for Acas’s experts to bring their experience and cool heads to workplace disputes.”
The research found that:
Capability and performance issues were the most common cause of conflict (38%), followed by personal disagreements and relationship issues (33%)
Stress, anxiety and depression was the most common impact of conflict, affecting 57% of involved, followed by a drop in motivation or commitment (49%)
Retail workers faced the highest levels of conflict, with half (50%) of wholesale and retail trade employees reporting conflict
Disabled people whose disability significantly affects their daily life reported the highest prevalence of conflict at 68%
The most common person to report experiencing conflict with was another colleague in the organisation (34%) or the person’s line manager (32%)
Most conflicts were resolved through informal discussion with managers (45%) or directly with the other person (30%)
Niall added: “Disputes at work might be inevitable, but the knock-on effects can be very costly if they are not managed and resolved properly.
“It is encouraging to see that informal methods to prevent and resolve disputes are already being used by bosses.
“Part of Acas’s role, as we mark 50 years of providing workplace advice, is to make sure managers and leaders have the skills to build more harmonious workplaces.”
Acas continues to demonstrate its vital role in supporting the UK economy and workforce. This year alone, the organisation has:
Found resolutions for 9 out of 10 potential employment tribunal claims without needing a tribunal hearing
Increased the number of people reached through training and advisory services by 78%.
As Acas marks this milestone anniversary, the organisation is positioning itself for the challenges and opportunities of the next 50 years and recently launched a new five-year strategy.
Beyond supporting the Employment Rights Bill implementation, Acas continues to innovate and adapt its services to meet the evolving needs of modern workplaces, from supporting flexible working arrangements to addressing new forms of workplace conflict.
Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden said:“For half a century, Acas has given workers a voice and supported employers to build stronger, more productive workplaces. Its work resolving conflict and improving employment relations has delivered real benefits for organisations and significant savings for the economy.
“Early dispute resolution is vital to a modern, growing economy, and Acas will remain central to our plans to modernise industrial relations in a way that works for both workers and businesses.”
To bring in the Christmas spirit, we are hosting our annual Christmas community meal on Friday, the 19th of December, for free!
This means that anyone who fills in the link below can guarantee a spot at the meal and take part in the festive cheer! So bring along the whole family and celebrate Christmas early with FetLor!
The City Art Centre presents the new exhibition by Michael Fullerton (b.1971), whose work spans painting, printmaking, and sculpture, from Saturday 22 November 2025 to Sunday 1 March 2026.
Known for his focus on portraiture, Fullerton engages with complex figures, exposes socio-political power dynamics, and brings to light hidden or forgotten histories. His practice brings attention to overlooked individuals, often connecting disparate ideas and images to form new meanings.
For this exhibition, Fullerton presents a new series of paintings created following his time living and working at the Hilltop Hotel in Carlisle. At the time, the hotel was used as accommodation for people seeking asylum in the UK.
While employed there, first as a general assistant and later in the kitchen, Fullerton developed close relationships with members of the community who hailed from various countries. The resulting portraits reflect these encounters, giving visibility to people and stories often absent from public view.
Alongside these new works, the exhibition includes a selection of prints spanning more than 20 years of Fullerton’s career. Working primarily with silkscreen on newsprint, he has used printmaking as both an extension and counterpoint to his painting, exploring the medium’s capacity for mass-production.
To accompany the exhibition, Fullerton has produced a new commissioned screenprint. His reinterpretation of John Thomson’s ‘Abbotsford, The Home of Sir Walter Scott’ (1828) considers the continuing influence of Romanticism and the legacies of Thomson and Scott in shaping ideas of Scottish national identity.
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “Edinburgh’s cultural institutions are central to our city’s identity, and exhibitions like this remind us of the importance of art in helping us understand the world around us.
“I’m delighted that the City Art Centre continues to champion artists who contribute to Scotland’s vibrant and inclusive culture, and Michael Fullerton’s work speaks directly to this by exploring themes of identity and socio-political power dynamics, and the way we tell and preserve our stories.
“By drawing attention to people and experiences that are often overlooked, his work encourages us to reflect on belonging and the shared humanity that connects us all.”
Curator Stuart Fallon said: “Michael is an artist who asks important questions in new ways, inviting his audiences to deeply consider, or reconsider, the subjects of his works.
“Alongside, the display of his print archive brings together an extraordinary body of work created over 25 years. Together they showcase the practice of one of the most significant Scottish artists of his generation.”
Pupils across Scotland are set to benefit from a £150,000 funding boost as school library projects across the country secure grants through the 2025-26 School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF).
Administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government, SLIF supports creative initiatives in line with Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools, the national strategy for the development of school libraries.
This year, 17 innovative projects across 78 schools have been awarded funding.
The successful projects focus on developing employability skills, digital literacy, creativity and family learning, with initiatives designed to boost pupils’ love for reading, support neurodiverse pupils and strengthen the bond between parents and children through reading.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, said: “School libraries play a vital role in getting children and young people excited about reading, empowering them to learn and preparing them for the future. That’s why we’ve proudly supported the School Library Improvement Fund since it started in 2017.
“This year’s funding means that over £1.8 million has been made available to help schools create innovative programmes that bring pupils closer to books and stories.
“This helps improve literacy skills and supports our work to close the poverty-related attainment gap, and I’m confident that the projects announced today will have a positive impact for pupils across Scotland.”
The 2025-26 successful SLIF projects:
Aberdeen: Holy Family RC Primary School – The Nest Library: Assistive Technology for Inclusive Reading
Angus: Liff Primary School – Hear to Read, Read to Lead
Argyll and Bute: Colgrain Primary and Pre-5 Unit – Our Connected Learning Community
East Lothian: Dunbar Primary, Dunbar Grammar and Families Together – Getting It Right for Every Reader
East Renfrewshire: Eastwood High, Woodfarm High, Police Scotland – Open Goal: Fostering Emotional Intelligence Through Football
Falkirk: Grangemouth High, Carrongrange High and cluster primaries – Myths and Legends
Highland: Culloden Academy and five primaries – Reading is for Everyone
Inverclyde: 20 primary schools – Couch to Classroom: A Story Sharing Project
North Lanarkshire: Shawhead Primary – Developing Our Pupils’ Digital Minds
Renfrewshire: Across primary and secondary schools – Renfrewshire Read for Empathy Project; St John Ogilvie Primary and cluster primaries – Young Voices, Big Ideas: Empowering Pupils Through Podcasting
South Lanarkshire: Wester Overton Primary – Family Lending Library – Working Together; Duncanrig Secondary – Extraordinary Lives Project
Stirling: Riverside Primary – Read to Thrive; Fallin Primary, Wallace High, Fallin Community Library – Let’s Read a Story
West Lothian: Bathgate Academy – Beyond the Shelf: A Digital Hub for Inclusive Reading; Armadale Academy and cluster primaries – Butterflies
www.paulphoto.co.uk
Alison Nolan, chief executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), said: “School libraries are safe, inspiring spaces that help young people learn, grow and reach their full potential, and the School Library Improvement Fund champions that spirit of creativity and innovation.
“This year’s 17 successful projects reflect the ingenuity of school library teams who are committed to developing employability skills, strengthening digital literacy and fostering family learning in their communities.
“This latest investment will help school libraries continue to evolve and adapt to the needs of pupils, parents and teachers and we’re excited to see these trailblazing initiatives come to life.”
The 2025-26 SLIF brings the total investment from the Scottish Government to £1.87 million since the scheme’s inception.
Open to all state-run nurseries, primary and secondary schools, the fund allows schools to apply individually or collaboratively, ensuring wide and equal access to this transformative support.
Brain tumour patients and family members who have lost loved ones gathered at the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, a game-changing collaboration with Beatson Cancer Charity, in Edinburgh to learn more about the world-class research taking place there and call on the Scottish Government to increase investment in and widen access to clinical trials.
This urgent call comes ahead of the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group (CPG) on Brain Tumours meeting today (Tuesday 25 November), convened by Brain Tumour Research. Attendees, including Convener Beatrice Wishart MSP and MSP Finlay Carson, will hear about the latest clinical innovations in the field, and about inequitable access to genomic testing.
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of brain tumour tissue reveals powerful information about the underlying biology driving tumour growth and helps to inform what drugs could be used to target specific cancer-causing pathways. This information unlocks access to clinical trials based on cancer biology rather than location in the body. Without it, the pool of trials that patients can be part of shrinks.
In Scotland, WGS is not routinely offered through the NHS and access is largely limited to research studies. The lack of routine testing means patients are not accessing treatment options based on the biology of their individual tumour when needed. It also means that patients won’t be eligible for more personalised treatments such as immunotherapy that may become available in the coming years.
Among the families calling for more action is Nadia Majid, from Airdrie, who lost her four-year-old son Rayhan to a brain tumour. On 13 December 2017, an MRI scan revealed that little Rayhan had a high-grade medulloblastoma brain tumour.
Two days later, Rayhan underwent a 10-hour operation. Surgeons removed most of the tumour, but not all, as it was touching his brainstem. Despite three further surgeries and six weeks of radiotherapy, Rayhan tragically died just four months after diagnosis, shortly after starting chemotherapy.
“You think that with medicine today, there would be effective treatments and even a cure,” Nadia said. “But shockingly, brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.
“Added to this, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002. It shouldn’t be left to charities to fund research.
“We can’t allow Scottish families to be left behind in the search for more effective, kinder treatments and ultimately a cure.”
Brain Tumour Research Patron Theo Burrell will join supporters at the CPG this week. Theo is supporting our active campaigning on the need for greater access to, and patient-led uptake in clinical trials.
Theo Burrell, Brain Tumour Research Patron and glioblastoma patient, said: “Being diagnosed with a brain tumour is devastating enough, without finding out that patients in Scotland are being left behind in the hunt for new treatments due to a lack of routine testing.
“I am working with Brain Tumour Research – the Secretariat of the Brain Tumours Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament – to make it clear to the Scottish Government that 100% of brain tumour patients should be offered genome sequencing. The technology is there – let’s use it to stop this injustice.”
New figures from Hospice UK reveal that two thirds of Scottish hospices either have already made cuts or are planning to make cuts within the next year.
Hospice UK says this reflects severe and unsustainable financial pressures across the hospice sector in Scotland at a time when demand for palliative care is at an all-time high. Hospices have had to make redundancies to both clinical and back-office staff, cut beds and reduce vital community services.
They are struggling to keep pace with rising costs, leaving people at risk of missing out on vital care at the end of life.
Helen Malo, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Scotland at Hospice UKsaid: “Hospices are an essential part of Scotland’s health and care system, easing pressure on the NHS by helping people stay out of hospital and receive expert care in their own communities. These are the services that should be growing to meet rising demand.
“But years of underfunding have left them stretched to breaking point, with many now being forced to cut services at a time when they’re needed more than ever. Without urgent action, more families will face the end of life without the expert care and compassion they deserve.”
The figures come as MPs debate amendments to the assisted dying bill today (Tuesday 25 November) including Jackie Baillie’s amendments to assess and mitigate the impact of the Bill on palliative care and create a code of practice for palliative care providers.
These amendments are vital to support hospices and the palliative care sector to be robustly prepared should the Bill become law and to ensure assisted dying is not introduced at the expense of existing palliative and end of life care services.
Helen Malo said: “Hospice UK has no collective view on whether the law should change on assisted dying, yet we feel it would be a moral and practical failure if a single person in future felt compelled to seek an assisted death due to a lack of available palliative care. Every person in Scotland should be able to access high-quality care and support at the end of life, wherever they live.”
With the Scottish Budget approaching, Hospice UK is urging the Scottish Government to include dedicated funding for hospices in the 2026/27 budget to protect vital care and support.
Looking ahead to the Holyrood elections, we’re also calling on the next Scottish Government to make palliative and hospice care a national priority and commit to a long-term plan to reform and invest in palliative and end of life care.
Jackie Stone, CEO, St Columba’s Hospice Care, said: “Demand for hospice care is rising year after year, yet the funding we rely on continues to fall behind. Hospices are being asked to deliver more complex care for more people, but with resources that are already stretched to breaking point. That gap is simply not sustainable.
“Hospice care is not optional; it is a vital part of Scotland’s healthcare system. We need the Scottish Government to recognise the essential role hospices play and to commit to fair, sustainable funding, so that every family can rely on the care and compassion they deserve when it matters most.”
Jacki Smart, Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group, said: “Without secure, long-term funding, hospices across Scotland are facing devastating choices – cutting back services, reducing staff, or even turning patients away for the first time. These hospices care for thousands of people every year, offering comfort and dignity at life’s most difficult moments.
“If funding falls short, families will lose vital support, and pressure on the NHS will grow. Hospices are a lifeline for communities, and we need urgent action to protect them.”
Hospice UK says that with the right investment, hospices stand ready to help the Scottish Government deliver its long-term ambition to shift more care into communities, providing expert, person-centred care closer to home.
