SATURDAY 13th DECEMBER at 2pm
ST MARY’s CATHEDRAL, PALMERSTON PLACE
This Saturday (13th December) at 2pm, come and sing Community Carols with us!
No booking required, just come along for a good sing of carols round the piano.
All welcome, with refreshments afterwards.
ASH Scotland is encouraging youth workers in Edinburgh to access the charity’s new resources on vaping illicit substances to build their knowledge and confidence in starting conversations to help educate young people to protect their long-term health.
The charity’s ‘Understanding illicit substance vaping’ briefing features insights from young people across Scotland which were shared with the charity’s Youth Conservations Hub.
The resource is published at a time when the emerging major public health issue of youth vaping and the availability of illicit substances in e-cigarettes is causing immense concern for people working with children.
The briefing provides up-to-date facts covering a range of important topics including how younger people are accessing vapes. and the risks and side effects associated with vaping illicit substances such as Spice (man-made drugs designed to mimic the effects of cannabis) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol which is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis).
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “With concerned youth workers across Scotland regularly contacting us for advice about vaping cannabis, THC and Spice, it is vital that those working with young people in Edinburgh can access robust, evidence-based information to engage and empower youngsters to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
“Our new ‘Understanding illicit substance vaping’ briefing can enable youth workers to promote a vape-free culture and encourage the younger generation in Edinburgh to understand the risks associated with vaping illicit substances and make positive choices to protect their physical and mental health.”
The new resource can be downloaded at https://ashscotland.org.uk/illicit-substance-vaping/, and people who work or volunteer for youth groups can join ASH Scotland’s Youth Conversations Hub at www.ashscotland.org.uk/hub.
A charitable trust, established by a family member of one of Scotland’s largest media companies, will help continue the NSPCC’s work to keep children safe online after pledging a donation of £150,000.
The Northwood Charitable Trust, which was set up by a member of the DC Thomson family in 1972, has pledged to donate £50k annually over the next three years to the children’s charity to support its campaign and research work on online safety.
DC Thomson is famous for publications such as the Beano, The Courier and the Sunday Post.
The core purpose of the Northwood Charitable Trust, which has supported the NSPCC for over a decade, is making communities better and more supportive places for people to live, work and prosper.
Their additional funding will be used for the NSPCC’s work to help protect children and young people online, including a youth-led project collaborating with the Scottish Youth Parliament which aims to ensure that young people’s voices are central to the development of a safer internet.
The NSPCC continues to advocate for stronger protections in online gaming and digital platforms, trying to ensure children are protected from harm wherever they spend time online.
Blair Thomson, head of the Northwood Charitable Trust, said: “The Trust is proud to support the NSPCC’s pioneering work in online safety.
“In an increasingly digital world, we believe no child should ever feel unsafe or unheard. The NSPCC’s efforts give vulnerable young people a voice and safeguard the innocence every child deserves.”
Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the Northwood Charitable Trust for their continued support. This generous donation strengthens our work to keep children safe online and ensures that young people’s voices are heard where it will make the most impact.
“In a fast-changing digital world, it’s vital that we stay ahead of emerging risks and advocate for stronger protections across platforms- so that every child can explore and connect safely.
“With this support, we can continue pushing for meaningful change that protects children now and into the future.”
Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.
If you are concerned about a child you can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 or email: help@NSPCC.org.uk.
Job seekers are being warned of fake delivery driver work being listed over the festive period, enabling insurance details to be stolen by fraudsters.
Stolen identities are highly valuable to fraudsters, who use them to carry out harmful scams such as Crash for Cash and Ghost Broking. Cases of identity theft reported to the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) have risen annually, with a sharp 42% increase in the past year alone [1]. Amid this trend, several insurers have told the IFB they’re finding more people are having their personal information stolen through fake delivery driver roles for insurance scams.
With Christmas and the January sales bringing a rise in courier vacancies, job hunters are being urged to be extra vigilant and report any evidence of insurance fraud to the IFB’s CheatLine.
Nicola Smith, Intelligence and Investigations Manager at the IFB, said: “We’re concerned that more people are being caught out by fake delivery driver jobs and having their insurance details stolen for organised fraud.
“With more of these roles appearing in the run-up to Christmas and January sales, it’s crucial for those looking for delivery work to be aware and stay vigilant.
“Victims are misled into believing they’ve secured a job and are encouraged to hand over copies of their insurance certificate, driving licence and other sensitive documents. The consequences are serious – fraudsters may take out multiple insurance policies in victims’ names, third parties can pursue them for costs, and their credit scores can be badly damaged.
“Young people may also be more vulnerable to this scam, as fraudsters exploit their need for work and they may be less aware of how important it is to protect their personal information.
“We want everyone to recognise the value of their personal information and protect it at all costs. We’re working closely with the industry and law enforcement to tackle this issue. If you believe your details have been stolen for an insurance scam, report it to our confidential CheatLine.”
Mike Haley, CEO of Cifas, added: “The rise in fake job adverts targeting delivery drivers is part of a broader trend of identity fraud that continues to dominate the fraud landscape.
“In the first half of 2025 alone, Cifas members reported a record 217,000 fraud risk cases, with identity fraud making up 118,000 (55%) of all filings.
“These figures underline how quickly criminals adapt to exploit seasonal opportunities. Our advice: apply only through official job sites, seek a second opinion on offers, and never share sensitive details under pressure.”
How does the scam work?
Insights show that fraudsters advertise courier roles on social media and classified ad websites. Applicants are told their application has been successful and are then asked for personal details – including their name, address, date of birth, car insurance information and a copy of their driving licence – supposedly to set them up as delivery drivers.
Fraudsters may use this data to take out policies in the applicant’s name and resell them as doctored policies, by posing as fake insurance brokers in a fraud known as Ghost Broking. This is a scam that tricks people who struggle to afford cover into buying fake car insurance online.
The fraudsters may also hijack genuine insurance policies to stage fraudulent claims in a scam known as Crash for Cash, which involves causing deliberate collisions for compensation. A type of this activity known as moped scams – which has been rising across London and Home Counties – is often driven by identity theft.
In such cases, the fraudster will use details stolen from the job seeker to fraudulently admit liability in their name, while the fraudster or an accomplice of theirs acts as the injured party. Doctored images and documents are then used to support the claim, often exaggerating damage, injuries and costs to inflate the payout.
The warning comes as the IFB recently announced cases of ID theft linked to organised insurance fraud have risen year on year, with levels in the past year now over seven times higher when compared with 2021. To help tackle the issue, the UK’s top policy fraud hotspots were revealed following an analysis of 2.4 million insurance policies, to highlight areas where people appear to be at greatest risk.
The rise also follows a recent announcement by Cifas, a not-for-profit organisation which protects public, private and voluntary sectors from fraud, reporting a 25% increase in insurance fraud linked to identity theft and false applications.
How can I protect myself?
People who are looking for delivery driver roles are encouraged to be vigilant, apply to reputable companies and ideally through their website to help ensure personal information is kept secure.
Simple measures can also protect personal information:
Report insurance fraud
The IFB is a not-for-profit organisation which leads the insurance industry’s collective fight against insurance fraud. Evidence of an insurance scam can be reported to the IFB’s confidential CheatLine online or via its phoneline (powered by CrimeStoppers) on 0800 422 0421.
Advice is available for anyone who believes their identity has been stolen in an insurance scam.
In Scotland, we believe in justice and compassion. We want to see everyone with enough to live a decent life – and the opportunities to flourish – through an economic system that prioritises people and the planet.
We know that this is possible.
That is why the 2026 Scottish Parliament election is so important. With one in five people in Scotland held back by poverty, the time for action is now.
We are proud to present our 2026 Scottish Parliament election manifesto. We are clear that tackling poverty must be given the priority it deserves in the commitments of all political parties.
Our overarching ask of the next Scottish Government and Parliament is to progress the delivery of a Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland. We believe that the delivery of this bold idea would provide us all the freedom to create a more secure life for ourselves and our households, and a better society for everyone.
To make this progress, we need to see action to deliver:
Fair, well paid jobs;
Accessible public services;
Strong social security;
Reformed devolved taxation;
Fair funding for community and voluntary organisations; and
Just climate action.
You can find our full manifesto here:
A Bill to raise funds towards Scotland’s cladding remediation programme carries “significant risk” to the housing market, says a parliamentary report published today.
Holyrood’s Finance and Public Administration Committee says it is “unconvinced” that the Scottish Government has fully considered the implications of the Bill on the nation’s ‘housing emergency’.
The committee has decided, therefore, to make no recommendation on the general principles of the Bill – a first time for this committee – and says it hopes the government will respond positively to its findings.
The committee is also calling on the government to carry out market ‘sensitivity analysis’ prior to deciding levy rates and reliefs, and to monitor the effect of the new tax on the housing sector.
Finance and Public Administration Committee convener Kenneth Gibson said: “Our committee understands the Scottish Government’s intent behind this Bill, but we believe the introduction of the levy carries significant risk.
“We have concerns regarding its potential impact on the housing market, and on the delivery of houses in areas where the viability of building sites is already challenging.
“We are unconvinced that the government has fully considered the implications for its self-declared housing emergency when designing the policy approach for this levy. We also believe the policy design has been focussed on the arbitrary figure that the levy could raise, and not sufficiently focussed on developing a good, well-structured levy that is sustainable.
“On the basis of the evidence received, our committee makes no recommendation on the general principles of the Bill. We trust that the Scottish Government will respond positively to our recommendations to inform further discussion of the general principles during the Stage 1 debate in the chamber in January 2026.”
Calling for regular reports on the housing market impact, Mr Gibson said: “Our committee recommends that the reporting requirements in the Bill be strengthened, so that the government is required to report every three years on how the levy is working. That report should include an assessment of how the levy is impacting the Scottish housing market in practice.”
Mr Gibson went on: “Our committee does not consider the levy to be fully reflective of the sensitivities of the housing market in Scotland.
“We therefore recommend the government undertakes a sensitivity analysis, to assess in more detail, the impact of the levy on the housing market – in particular on rural sites and on SME developers.
“The analysis should be published in time to inform the government’s decisions in setting levy rates and, where applicable, any reliefs, through secondary legislation.”
Other findings and recommendations:
Minister Ivan McKee announced in November 2025 that introduction of the levy rates will be pushed back by more than a year to April 2028.
The Stage 1 debate on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill is expected to be debated by Parliament in the new year.
OFCOM’s latest Online Nation report explores how adults and children in the UK experience life online. From the sites and apps we use every day, to how people feel about what they do and what they encounter online.
Adults now spend an average of four and a half hours online a day – up by 10 minutes on last year. Women spend 26 minutes a day longer online than men, with a daily average of 4hrs 43 mins.
Most of time online is spent on a smartphone, where adults use an average of 41 apps a month. WhatsApp, Facebook and Google Maps are the three most commonly used apps among adults.
Two major tech firms now account for more than half of the time people in the UK spend online.
YouTube is the most used Alphabet-owned service, used by 94% of adults. Time on YouTube is increasing, reaching an average of 51 minutes a day, not including the TV set. The combination of Facebook and Messenger (93% adults) is the most widely used Meta service, followed by WhatsApp (90% adults).
Google Search is used by four in five (82%) adults. It is by far the most used search service in the UK, with 3 billion searches a month.
AI is changing the UK’s search experience. About 30% of searches now show AI overviews, and more than half (53%) of adults say they see these summaries often. In most cases, they aren’t seeking these but finding them now included by their search services.
Generative AI services are gaining traction, with more people actively seeking them out. ChatGPT had 1.8 billion UK visits in the first eight months of 2025, up from 368 million in same period of 2024.
This year, only a third of adults (33%) said they feel the internet is good for society – down from 40% last year. And while nearly two-thirds (65%) of adults believe the personal benefits of being online outweigh the risks, this figure has declined steadily from 71% two years ago.
Fewer adults feel freer to be themselves online than offline this year (25%, down from 30% last year), and only 35% feel they can share opinions more easily online than offline.
Younger Gen Z and the eldest Gen Alphas are mobile-first, video-native internet users. Children aged 8–14 spend almost 3 hours online daily, rising to 4 hours for 13–14-year-olds and about two hours for 8–9-year-olds. This only counts time on smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers – not games consoles.
YouTube and Snapchat lead the way when it comes to screen time. Across 8–14s, children spend about 48 minutes a day on YouTube and 45 minutes on Snapchat – together making up around half of their total online time. Almost all 8-14-year-olds use YouTube (96%) and Google Search (95%). WhatsApp (63%) and TikTok (58%) also rank highly.
Late-night scrolling is common. Across four of the main services used by children – YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp – 15-24% of the time spent for the whole 8-14 age range happens between 9pm and 5am. 4–10% of usage happens after 11pm, depending on the platform.
Overall, nine in ten (91%) children aged 8-17 say they are happy with the things that they do online.
Teenagers use social media and messaging apps to stay connected. Almost three-quarters (72%) of 13-17s who use these platforms say they help them feel closer to friends. Girls aged 13-17 are more likely than boys of the same age to see being online as good for helping to build and maintain friendships (71% vs 60%).
Overall, seven in ten (69%) 13–17-year-olds go online to support their wellbeing, mainly to relax (45%) or lift their mood (32%). Nearly eight in ten (78%) say the internet helps with schoolwork, and more than half (55%) use it to learn new skills.
Some of the children we spoke to reflected on the negative impacts of spending too long scrolling on their smartphone. They used the term “brain rot” to describe both the type of content and the feeling it leaves behind. This content is fast-paced, chaotic, and often nonsensical and can leave viewers overstimulated and disoriented.
While we found that seven in ten 11-17 year olds had seen or heard harmful content online in the last four weeks, we also found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of them had taken action after encountering such content.
Actions included using platform tools like the ‘dislike’ button (15%), reporting content (11%), blocking the person who posted the content (10%), or telling an adult (10%).
Importantly, we spoke to children about this before our Protection of Children Codes of Practice came into force in July 2025. Under our new rules, sites and apps must take steps to prevent children from encountering the most harmful content relating to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and pornography. These steps include age checks and ensuring this content doesn’t appear in children’s ‘for you’ feeds, and they must also have improved reporting tools for children to use. They must also act to protect children from misogynistic, violent, hateful or abusive material, online bullying and dangerous challenges.
Almost six in ten (58%) children aged 8-17 said they had spent money online in the past month, whether on social media sites, video-sharing platforms, or while they were gaming.
Children tell us that they were encouraged to spend money in various ways online, including character customisation (30%), adverts (27%), recommendations from friends or family (23%) and influencer content (22%).
But a third of children (32%) regretted the purchases they’d made in-game, and 43% regretted purchases made on social media. While 42% were unclear on what they even were buying in games.
With flu cases continuing to rise, NHS Lothian has organised a number of pop-up vaccinations in community facilities across the city:
TODAY (THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER)
HAYS COMMUNITY HUB, (PLACES FOR PEOPLE) HAY AVENUE
TOMORROW – FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER
TRON KIRK MOREDUN CHURCH, CRAIGOUR GARDENS
MONDAY 15 DECEMBER
ROYSTON WARDIEBURN COMMUNITY CENTRE, PILTON DRIVE NORTH
THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER
CRAIGENTINNY COMMUNITY CENTRE, LOANING ROAD
FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER
GORGIE CHURCH, GORGIE ROAD
TUESDAY 23 DECEMBER
RICHMOND CRAIGMILLAR CHURCH, NIDDRIE MAINS ROAD
People who care for more than one disabled person may be eligible for a new Scotland-only payment.
Carer Additional Person Payment, worth up to £520 a year, will be available from March 2026.
Carers may be eligible for more than one Carer Additional Person Payment if they are caring for more than one additional person.
This is the latest in a series of improvements being made to support for carers from Social Security Scotland, which will come into effect in March.
The time Carer Support Payment is paid following the death of the cared-for person will also be extended from 8 to 12 weeks, while Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be replaced by Scottish Carer Supplement which will be paid weekly alongside Carer Support Payment rather than in two annual payments as it is currently – meaning carers receive extra support more consistently and regularly.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We’re making changes to benefits for carers to recognise the important contribution they make and to help ease some of the pressures that can come with a caring role.
“Scotland’s carers are better off than anywhere else in the UK, and the upcoming improvements will make sure that this remains the case.”
The Cabinet Secretary met with a group of carers from Lanarkshire Carers in Hamilton to mark the December payment of Carer’s Allowance Supplement and upcoming changes to social security support.
Barbara McAuley, Chief Executive Officer at Lanarkshire Carers said: “We were delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to Lanarkshire Carers Centre for an engaging visit with carers and staff.
“During the session, the Cabinet Secretary listened to carers’ experiences and participated in meaningful discussions on key issues, including social security benefits, working carers, older carers and carers’ rights.
“We are grateful for this chance to ensure carers’ voices are heard at the highest level.”
From March 2026, in addition to Carer Support Payment, eligible carers will be able to receive:
The switch from Carer’s Allowance Supplement to Scottish Carer Supplement will happen automatically for current recipients. Information on accessing the Carer Additional Person Payment will be provided in the new year.
In November, Young Carer Grant was extended to include 19-year-olds – potentially benefiting an additional 1,200 carers next year and allowing young carers to get up to four payments from the age of 16.
Over 95,000 carers received Carer’s Allowance Supplement in December with a payment of £293.50.
School Shouldn’t Cost: Young People’s Poverty and Education Manifesto 2025-31 was published on Tusday and over the coming weeks will be presented to MSPs and candidates ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election in May 2026.
This manifesto sets out what thousands of young people across Scotland say should happen to reduce the impact of poverty in their schools.
Young people say the next Scottish government must:
In a letter to Scottish party leaders the young people, members of the Cost of the School Day Voice network shared why this work needs to happen:
“There are great things happening in lots of our schools to help with costs and support us. But poverty is still affecting our education in so many ways. Poverty can affect how ready we feel to learn, what equipment we have for classes, basics like uniform and food and access to school trips that spark passion for subjects. Poverty can have a detrimental effect on our learning and can hold us back.”
Network members stressed the urgency of taking action on poverty in schools:
“The cost of the school day is such an important matter that we think it needs to be fixed everywhere for everyone as soon as possible. It’s important that you listen to the calls we are making because your decisions affect our lives. This can help us have equal opportunities and equal chances and a better future.”
Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day Project Manager at Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland reflects on what’s happening in Scotland’s schools and local authorities: “There has been so much progress when it comes to reducing costs and poverty-related barriers at school, but there’s more we can do.
“Politicians across the political spectrum need to pay attention to the calls young people are making loud and clear because these are the things young people say will help support them to thrive and achieve at school, no matter how much money they have at home.
“Investment in equity has been making a difference to young people’s experiences at school but while young people are still experiencing poverty and while financial barriers to education remain, we can’t afford to lose focus.”
Throughout “School Shouldn’t Cost” young people are clear that further change is needed in schools, and that it needs to be happening in all parts of the country.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Sierra (S6) from Levenmouth Academy in Fife describes why this manifesto is important: “When we talk about child poverty, we’re not talking about numbers on a page. We’re talking about the child who pretends they’re not hungry because there’s no food left at home.
“We’re talking about the young person who avoids school trips because their family can’t afford it and they’re too embarrassed to say why. We’re talking about parents who go without meals so their children can eat and about the silent worry that sits in so many homes every single day. The cost of the school day should never cost a child their confidence, dignity or dreams.”
