Join us at LifeCare’s free Christmas Fair on Sat 6 Dec, 11 AM–3 PM at The LifeCare Hub, 2 Cheyne Street, EH4 1JB!
Enjoy festive stalls, treats, gifts, and community cheer. Perfect for all ages — come along, support local, give to a good cause and celebrate the season together
Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland and ScottishPower Foundation for making our free support possible.
A woman whose late husband, Jonathan Bolton, was born and raised in Edinburgh, is joining forces with three other widows this Christmas to ensure no one grieving the loss of a partner feels alone.
Natalie Bolton is launching #WidowedAtChristmas, a new campaign offering solidarity, comfort and community at a time of year that can feel painfully isolating after bereavement.
Natalie, 49, has joined forces with fellow widows Nicky Wake, Heather Smith and Rosie Moss to create the campaign.
They have all endured the heartbreak of losing their partners and the emotional weight of navigating Christmas during grief. United by their lived experience, they have come together to share support, guidance and hope with others who are facing the season without the person they love.
The four women are all board members of The Widowed Collective, the free, peer-to-peer support organisation founded earlier this year.
The group is backing the campaign by sharing the women’s stories, advice and resources throughout December, and inviting widows and widowers across the UK to join the conversation using #WidowedAtChristmas.
Natalie met Edinburgh native Jonathan in 1998. They married in 2002 and welcomed twin daughters in 2007, Amelia and Isobel. In March 2021, on Mother’s Day,
Jonathan died unexpectedly at home from a sudden cardiac arrest, leaving Natalie to raise their girls alone as teenagers. His death came without warning, devastating a family built on laughter, closeness and deep affection.
Natalie, who is now based in Manchester, said: “Jonathan adored being a dad. He was wrapped around the girls’ fingers from day one. Our home was full of laughter, noise and love, and then suddenly it was just gone.
“Our first Christmas without him was something we simply couldn’t face. It was awful, painful in a way I didn’t know was possible. We did the only thing we felt able to do and ran away.
“We went to Mauritius because the idea of being at home without him was unbearable. The grief came with us, of course, but at least there was space to breathe.
“Now, as I approach my first Christmas hosting at home again, I know there will be joy and sadness , and that’s okay. Grief doesn’t take a holiday. You’re allowed to cry one minute and laugh the next.
“You’re allowed to scale things back or create new traditions. Christmas can hold grief and hope at the same time. Widowhood is lonely, misunderstood and full of stereotypes. We’re here to break those open and make sure people feel seen, heard and supported, especially at this time of year.
“My advice to anyone dreading Christmas is allow yourself to feel whatever comes. There is no ‘right’ way to do this. Let people help you. And remember that tiny moments of joy do not erase your grief, they coexist with it.”
Launched earlier this year, The Widowed Collective provides free peer-to-peer support for anyone who has lost a romantic partner.
It offers a moderated online community, practical guidance on legal matters, finances, solo parenting and wellbeing, and a growing programme of online and in-person meet-ups across the UK.
Open to widowed people of all ages, genders, sexual identities and marital statuses, the organisation provides a safe, stigma-free space led entirely by those with lived experience. Its board is made up exclusively of widows and widowers, ensuring every aspect of the organisation reflects the realities of life after loss.
In December, The Widowed Collective is also launching free online weekly drop-in sessions for widows and widowers, taking place every Monday evening, including during Christmas week.
For more information about #WidowedAtChristmas, or to join The Widowed Collective for free, visit www.TheWidowedCollective.com, find The Widowed Collective on Facebook, or follow @TheWidowedCollective on Instagram.
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Scotland’s leading STEM charity, TechFest has announced the winners of its global essay competition, STEM Next, which saw students competitively discuss topics in energy, medicine, and science.
The individual writing competition invited students aged 16-18 across the world to submit an essay between 1000-3000 words that addressed one of the provided essay questions, with three categories available: Energy & Innovation, Medicine & Psychology and Chemistry & Biological Sciences.
A record-breaking 715 secondary school students from 39 countries took part in this year’s global competition, showcasing TechFest’s growing impact in inspiring the next generation of STEM talent across the UK and beyond. Among them were 612 participants from the UK, with the winners and runners-up in the different categories representing England, Bahrain, Indiaand the USA.
Nine talented students were recognised in the international essay competition, with the top three essays in each category awarded Amazon vouchers: £200 for first place, £100 for second, and £50 for third.
Winners include Vikrant Shetty Tomar, Maximilian Newlands, and Ishan Garg in Energy & Innovation; Yeva Kolobova, Ariane Edwards, and Sanvi Krishnan in Medicine & Psychology; and Louie Francis, Hana Ahmed, and Serah Abraham in Chemistry & Biology.
Martha Gavan, Managing Director at TechFest, said: “The calibre of young people taking part in the STEM Next essay competition has been truly inspiring.
“Their drive, curiosity, and passion for science and technology are evident in every submission. The dedication and creativity these young people demonstrate in their essay submissions underscore the strength and promise of the next generation of leaders in STEM.”
The STEM industry is facing huge employment challenges over the next decade due to young people not choosing STEM as a career pathway. TechFest’s inspirational initiatives are making STEM education more engaging and inclusive throughout the nation, with this year’s competition seeing an uptake of 146 secondary pupils.
All participants who competed in the STEM Next competition are also eligible for CREST Awards; providing an opportunity for students to add additional achievements to their UCAS application.
In addition, STEM NEXT develops young people’s research and writing skills while connecting them with industry professionals for first-hand insight.
This year’s edition was delivered in partnership with CNOOC International, Serica Energy, SSE, and Thistle Wind Partners (TWP), the programme inspires the next generation of STEM innovators.
Victoria Allan, Buzzard Onshore Mechanical Engineer at CNOOC, said: “At CNOOC International, promoting safe and sustainable energy goes hand in hand with STEM Next, where this year’s competition revealed innovative solutions from exceptional young talent.”
Mike Seaton, Coire Glas Project Director at SSE, said: “STEM NEXT is shaping the skilled workforce needed to tackle future challenges.
“We are overjoyed we could a part and mentor the young minds who will make up the future workforce in STEM industries.”
Ian Taylor, Project Director at Thistle Wind Partners, said: “Encouraging the next generation in STEM is at the heart of what we do at TWP.
“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed supporting TechFest’sSTEM Next competition and celebrating the achievements of this year’s winners.”
Elise Murray, Environmental and Compliance at Serica Energy, said: “Serica Energy is committed to driving a responsible energy transition and we believe STEM NEXT has offered remarkable insight through the fresh perspectives of young people.”
STUDENTS at Edinburgh College have teamed up with Cancer Research UK on a design project to breathe life into second hand clothes.
Adaptive fashion is clothing designed to be on trend while including features that make dressing easier and more comfortable, including for people with disabilities.
Edinburgh College curriculum team manager, Kim Gunn, said: “We have seen some amazing transformations. “This project showcases exactly what can be done with imagination, creativity and flair.
“I’m proud of the students, of their focus on sustainability and their enthusiasm. It’s been great to collaborate with Cancer Research UK. So many families are touched by cancer so it’s a charity close to all our hearts.”
HND student Calder Ferguson, 35, designed a two-piece skirt and top by combining a dark windbreaker, a pair of blue leggings and a high-vis vest.
His focus was on creating an eye-catching outfit that would make dressing easier for someone with limited mobility. He was inspired by a student he met while on work placement in Brazil.
Calder said: “The client has low finger dexterity so magnet closures and an elasticated waistband were chosen to avoid fiddly fastenings.
“I’ve really enjoyed working on the project and it’s great to see the outfits on show in the shop. I lost my uncle to brain cancer and I know so many families are affected by the disease. It’s good to be able to give something back.”
Freyja Lavender, 19, from Portobello, created a maternity outfit by repurposing a trench coat, a pair of men’s trousers and summer hiking shoes.
Freyja said: “The outfit is designed to make the wearer feel confident, sleek and comfortable all the way through their journey with pregnancy and I hope they’d be able to wear it after the baby was born too.
“Sustainability is important. There are so many clothes already out there in the world. It’s much better for the environment to repurpose clothes rather than buying new clothes all the time. We have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect the environment.”
Mature student Sandra Cameron of Edinburgh made an adaptive garment, specially designed for people with dementia.
The outfit was in memory of her mum, Lily Bathgate who died from dementia in March 2025. It was created using a handbag, shoes, jacket and trousers.
Sandra said: “Dementia robs people of so much of their personality and dignity. “My mum was a vibrant lady who loved colour.
“The clothing items I was given were dark so the first thing I wanted to do was put colour back in by dyeing them. I used magnetic buttons to make the outfit as accessible as possible.”
In Scotland, around 34,800 people are diagnosed with cancer every year*.
Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen cancer survival in the UK double in the last 50 years.
Money raised in the charity’s shops helps scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease – to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
Cancer Research UK shop manager, Suzy King, said: “We’re excited to showcase these designs in our Stockbridge shop.
“The students have shown creativity turning donated items in to something special.”
Last year Cancer Research UK spent more than £38m in Scotland on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.
For more information about Cancer Research UK’s shops, visit: www.cruk.org/shops or follow @CRUKShops on Instagram.
Three in five adults in Scotland believe children face an increased risk of abuse (64%) and exposure to domestic violence (68%) during the Christmas holidays.
New polling from the NSPCC also reveals that one in eight adults have had concerns for the safety of a child they know over the festive period.
The YouGov survey of 4,259 UK adults, which includes 315 from Scotland, analysed the dangers that adults believe children face over Christmas and the potential reasons why young people are at increased risk.
When asked why they were concerned about children experiencing harm or abuse at home during the holidays, adults identified:
The majority of respondents believe the most effective way to keep children safe at Christmas is for adults to be aware of the warning signs of abuse and neglect and ensuring young people know who to contact if they need support.
The new NSPCC poll comes as the charity launches a hard-hitting campaign shining a light on how, for some children, Christmas is the most dangerous time of year.
Last year thousands of young people from across the UK contacted the NSPCC’s Childline service with concerns about abuse across the winter period.
A young person told Childline: “Dad’s drinking always gets worse at Christmas. Then the drinking leads to arguments and the arguments turn into him hitting mum. I wish I could protect her, but dad is so much stronger than us both. I want to call the police, or social services, but who will come out at Christmas?”
The campaign advert, now showing on TV and running across radio, is inspired by the true story of a woman who was abused by her father. It follows a little girl Sarah, who returns home from school at the end of winter term and is confronted by the presence of her abusive father.
Another child, aged 16, told the service: “It always all kicks off at Christmas. Mum goes crazy at dad; she hates him trying to speak to his family, even to say Merry Christmas.
“She hates him speaking to anyone else really. I can hear her calling him lazy and useless for not doing enough again this year and she’s made him cry. I want to walk out, but where would I go on Christmas? I’ve locked myself in my room with my sister for now; when mum’s done with dad, she might blow up on us next.”
Natalie Dormer, actor, producer and NSPCC’s Ambassador for Childline, said: “These findings reveal an uncomfortable truth that often goes unspoken during the festive season. While many of us look forward to Christmas, far too many children face a season filled with uncertainty, anxiety and fear.
“The campaign advert, inspired by a real survivor’s story, captures the heartbreaking moment of dread when the school term ends and a child’s safe space disappears.
“Behind the closed doors of homes across the country, children are suffering in silence while the rest of us celebrate. This NSPCC campaign sends a crucial message: Childline will be there for every young person who needs support.”
This Christmas, Childline is reminding young people that it is there for them 24/7 via the phone on 0800 1111 and online through the 121 chat on the Childline website.
Adeniyi Alade, head of Childline in Scotland, said: “We know from the children who reach out to us that the festive season can be one of the hardest times of the year. While many look forward to Christmas, for some young people it means being trapped at home with the very problems they fear most — whether that’s violence, substance misuse or simply feeling invisible.
“We want children in Scotland to know that Childline is always open, day and night, even over Christmas. No matter what’s happening behind closed doors, they can talk to us in confidence and we will listen.”
Chris Sherwood, CEO of the NSPCC, said: “This new research highlights a troubling reality that Christmas – which should be a time of joy and happiness for all children – can instead be a period of heightened danger for far too many children.
“Financial pressures, increased alcohol consumption, and strained family relationships are all factors that can heighten the risk of child abuse in the home over the festive period.
“That’s why our Christmas campaign is so important, reminding children they are not alone and that Childline is here for them day and night over the festive period.”
Any adults concerned about a child’s safety or wellbeing can contact the NSPCC Helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or by calling 0808 800 5000.
Around 550,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by 2030 – the biggest reduction in a single parliament since records began – as the Government launches its Child Poverty Strategy today (Friday 5 December).
Following the reversal of the two-child limit, the strategy tackles the root causes of poverty by cutting the cost of essentials, boosting family incomes, and improving local services so every child has the best start in life.
The strategy found that children growing up in poverty do less well in school, are more likely to be unemployed when older and earn less throughout their lifetimes. Failure to tackle this problem has been holding back the economy, as well as stifling children’s potential.
New interventions in the strategy include more accessible childcare for working parents on Universal Credit. Childcare costs are one of the biggest barriers for parents who want to work and those starting or returning to jobs can particularly struggle to cover upfront childcare fees before they receive their first payslip.
From next year, the rules will change to make it easier for new parents who receive Universal Credit to get back to work by extending eligibility for upfront childcare costs to those returning from parental leave. This will prevent new parents from facing a debt trap meaning more parents can get back to work and get on in work faster.
To support more parents with more than two children into work, families who receive Universal Credit will also be able to get support with childcare costs for all their children.
Children living in temporary accommodation are living in one of the deepest forms of poverty, this has a devastating impact, particularly on children. A stay in temporary accommodation increases a child’s experience of family disruption, missed schooling and damage to physical and mental health.
The strategy will also end the unlawful placement of families in Bed and Breakfasts beyond the six-week limit. To support this, the Government is investing £8 million in Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots in 20 local authorities that have the highest use of Bed and Breakfasts for homeless families – continuing the programme for the next three years.
Alongside this, the government will provide £950 million through the fourth and largest round of the Local Authority Housing Fund from April 2026 to deliver up to 5,000 high-quality homes for better temporary accommodation by 2030. Further details will be set out in the upcoming Homelessness Strategy.
A new legal duty will also be introduced for councils to notify schools, health visitors, and GPs when a child is placed in temporary accommodation, so no child is left without support. This enables health and education providers to deliver a more joined up approach to support children experiencing homelessness.
The UK Government will also work with the NHS to end the practice of mothers with newborns being discharged to B&Bs or other forms of unsuitable housing.
The government will also support families with the cost of essentials by helping families to buy more affordable infant formula. The cost of some infant formula brands has risen by 25% in two years, putting pressure on families who cannot or choose not to breastfeed.
The government will set clear guidance for retailers that – together with allowing families to use loyalty points, vouchers, and gift cards to purchase formula – could save parents up to £540 in a baby’s first year and remove unnecessary barriers for low-income families.
Taken together, the measures in the strategy will lift 550,000 children out of relative low income at the end of this Parliament, with 7.1 million children seeing household incomes rise, including 1.4 million in deep material poverty – the largest reduction in child poverty by any Government in a single Parliament.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life, with their future no longer determined by the circumstances of their birth. Yet too many children are growing up in poverty, held back from getting on in life, and too many families are struggling without the basics: a secure home, warm meals, and the support they need to make ends meet.
“I will not stand by and watch that happen, because the cost of doing nothing is too high for children, for families, and for Britain.
“This is a moral mission for me. It’s about fairness, opportunity, and unlocking potential. Our strategy isn’t just about reversing the failures of the past, it sets a new course for national renewal, with children’s life chances at its heart.”
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden said: “Tackling child poverty is an investment in working families and our country’s future.
“There is a direct link between children in poverty growing up to be adults not in work, education or training – we cannot afford to waste a generation’s potential and talents.
“Our strategy will deliver support where families need it most, giving every child a good start in life and giving them the opportunity to succeed.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Child poverty is a stain on our country. I’ve seen the damage poverty does first hand, and bearing down on it sits at the very core of this government’s mission.
“This strategy, lifting over half a million children out of poverty, represents an historic moment for generations of families now and into the future.
“And whether it’s expanding free school meals, rolling out free breakfast clubs, or revitalising family services, we are determined to give every child the very best start in life.”
It comes as the Prime Minister visits a children centre in Wales today with the Welsh First Minister to meet families and children who are set to benefit from the interventions in the strategy.
It follows his visit to Glasgow yesterday where he spoke to Child Poverty Campaigners, MSPs, and other key partners to discuss the Government’s strategy to cut child poverty across the UK.
Stacey, from Changing Realities an organisation which has supported the development of the Child Poverty Strategy, discussed her experiences with the Prime Minister in Wales today. She said: “This strategy makes a good start to the essential work of addressing record levels of child poverty in this country.
“Lifting the two-child limit is a step on the road to investing in our children and our social security system, and can only be a good thing in lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.
“After championing the removal of the two-child limit over the last year, even though my own family won’t benefit it is great to finally feel listened to and knowing the difference this change will make.
“As a parent who knows first-hand the harm poverty causes, I stand ready and determined to continue the work required to ensure that no child in this country faces poverty. I call on all of us to do the same.”
Shortly after the election, the Prime Minister set up the Child Poverty Taskforce to bring together government and experts to explore how Government could use all its available levers to drive down child poverty.
This strategy is the first step on our road to ending child poverty and delivers on the commitment to reduce child poverty this parliament.
It comes as child poverty levels in the UK has reached a historic high. Today, 4.5 million children (around 31%) are living in relative poverty after housing costs, 900,000 more since 2010/11. Around 2.6 million children are growing up in households without enough food, and last year 1.1 million relied on food banks.
In England alone, more than 172,000 children are living in temporary accommodation and three quarters of children in poverty now come from working families.
Children growing up in poverty are more likely to not be in education, employment or training as an adult, earn less than their peers and less likely to achieve good GCSE results or do well at school.
Acting now will cost significantly less than the long-term consequences of poverty.
Tackling child poverty is not just a moral imperative – it is an investment in Britain’s future.
That’s why the Labour government is reversing the two-child limit in Universal Credit – a failed policy experiment that punished children and been one of the biggest drivers of hardship since its introduction in 2017.
The majority of families who will gain from the removal of the limit are in work. Around 300,000 children are in poverty directly because of this policy, equivalent to 100 children pushed into hardship every day. Without intervention, 150,000 more would have fallen into poverty by 2030.
Removing the two-child limit is the most cost-effective way to drive down child poverty rates – lifting 450,000 children out of poverty in the final year of this Parliament, rising to 550,000 alongside other measures such as the expansion of free school meals, help with energy bills and the government’s childcare offer.
Priya Edwards, senior research and policy manager at Save the Children UK, said: “Families will be better off under this plan with 7.1 million children seeing their household incomes boosted by the end of this Parliament.
“Scrapping the two-child limit to benefits, expanding free school meals, and increasing childcare support for families including for those returning to work after maternity leave are bold measures to improve childhoods’ – not the sticking plaster measures of the past.
“Ministers involved in creating the strategy listened extensively to children impacted by deep poverty over many months and we hope this way of working is used as a blueprint for creating policy in future that impacts young people.
“We welcome this expansive and historic plan, and we look forward to seeing the difference it can make to children’s lives in the years to come.”
Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: “here is no excuse for child poverty, which damages countless children’s lives every single day. This is the moment when we must draw a line in the sand – and as a country do everything in our power to turn the tide for children growing up in poverty and hardship.
“We applaud the publication of this Child Poverty Strategy. If fully delivered, the commitments made today have real potential to transform children’s lives. Our focus now is on ensuring these promises translate into action on the ground, helping to put food on tables, stability in households and hope back into children’s lives.
“We stand ready to work with government to help make that happen.”
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said: “This morning, the government published its full Child Poverty Strategy, setting out plans to reduce hardship for children growing up in the UK by the end of the parliament.
“It’s a crucial commitment to delivering on one of their central manifesto promises.”
For the first time, this government will also target reductions in deep material poverty as part of the strategy, which goes beyond a family’s income, to understand children’s experience of poverty and measures the number of children in the UK who are going without essentials such as three meals a day or growing up in a damp-free home.
Two million children (14%) are currently in deep material poverty, lacking at least 4 of 13 essential items.
This is a UK-wide strategy, with ministerial roundtables in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales which were attended by ministers of the respective nations, and ministers and officials having visited all the regions of England to meet with key child poverty representatives and visit frontline delivery projects.
Respecting devolution settlements and complementing work that is already underway in nations and regions is central to this strategy. Each nation has its own distinct devolution settlement which sets out powers to tackle child poverty.
These powers vary across nations, with some levers being devolved to the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while others remain reserved to the UK government.
Devolved governments also receive funding through the Barnett formula.
