Households with specific tumble dryers manufactured by Haier must check if their machine needs an urgent safety repair
Households with specific models of integrated heat pump tumble dryers manufactured by Haier must check if their machine needs an urgent safety repair because of the risk of fire.
Affected brands include Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Lamona, Iberna and Montpellier. Owners should check their model number and serial number online to see if their appliance is affected and contact the manufacturer to arrange a repair.
The appliance must not be used until the repair has been completed. If the plug is accessible, owners should switch off and unplug the appliance.
The manufacturer started a corrective action programme earlier this year for 103,000 affected machines. However the Office for Product Safety and Standards told Haier to halt its initial repair programme because of concerns the modification was still unsafe.
Following an updated modification, Haier has resumed its programme and begun contacting consumers again. Haier initially focused on arranging a second repair for machines that had previously been modified and are now arranging repairs for the remaining 85,000 owners whose appliances still present a fire risk.
Owners must stop using affected appliances immediately. An internal short circuit can occur during normal use, causing the tumble dryer to ignite.
Check if your tumble dryer is affected – and contact the manufacturer if it is.
The Cockburn Association, Edinburgh’s oldest conservation body, yesterday celebrated its 150th anniversary in Edinburgh’s City Chambers.
In celebratory mood, a diverse mix of the charity’s members and supporters from civic society, academia and business gathered to champion its achievements over a long history of campaigning.
Edinburgh could well have been criss-crossed by inner city motorways, had it not been for the efforts of the Cockburn Association, according to the opening address by the The Rt. Honourable Lord Provost, and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Councillor Robert Aldridge.
Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, said: “Over the last 15 decades, the Cockburn Association has played an important role in shaping public policy and in protecting and enhancing our ancient built and natural heritage.
“On behalf of the city I would like to congratulate and thank the Cockburn Association for 150 years of achievements, a milestone that stands is testament to the continuing commitment, enthusiasm, and talent of all of those involved at all levels of the organisation. As we celebrate this anniversary, we can also look forward with confidence, knowing the Association will continue its work.”
The Association’s Chair, Dr Lesley Martin, compering the event, revealed how the Association’s namesake, Lord Henry Cockburn, had written a famous – or infamous – letter to the then Lord Provost in 1849.
It expressed concern about the planned “monstrosities” that would irreparably damage the city’s “beauty and amenity”. Dr Martin went on to emphasise that the role of the modern Association was to fulfil the charity’s civic function, bringing together diverse interests in productive conversations.
Chair, Lesley Martin, elected in May this year said: “In fulfilling our role as Edinburgh’s civic trust, the Cockburn Association must aim to include as wide a range of voices as possible and to try to ensure that the quieter, less powerful voices are heard, and listened to”.
The Association’s long history has seen successive waves of modernisation, most recently its wooing of younger trustees and volunteers and the appointment of the current all-female leadership team for the first time in its history.
The Association’s Director Rowan Brown, lauded the role of volunteers and their role in the Association’s success. She said: “Edinburgh has been shaped by ordinary citizens willing to stand up for its built and natural heritage, access to green spaces, dramatic beauty and unique identity.
“As we celebrate our 150th year, our book Campaigning for Edinburgh honours that legacy, illustrates the Edinburgh that might have been and challenges us to think boldly about the city we want to create for future generations.”
“The Cockburn has been built on civic action for civic good, and there are few better examples than the monumental collective seventy year contribution of the Association’s Archival Volunteer Team – Ann Stark, Ruby Dickson, Alan, Margaret Jessop, Lexi Christian and Doreen Parker – who have protected, catalogued, researched and shared the contents of the Cockburn Association’s vast archive.”
Dr Martin ended by putting the charity’s success down to its unique breadth of interests, its focus on “pragmatic solutions” its people, and its streadfast devotion to campaigning for a better future for Edinburgh.
Recent findings show the public wants politicians to safeguard rights, not weaken them
As the world marks Human Rights Day today (Wednesday 10 December), Amnesty International UK says it is a vital moment to reflect on the fact that, despite political manoeuvres, most people across the country strongly support human rights protections and believe they matter now more than ever.
Recent polling conducted by Savanta for Amnesty International UK found:
• More than 8 in 10 people say human rights protections are as important or more important today than when they were created after the Second World War • 87% believe rights and laws must apply equally to everyone • 78% say rights should be permanent and protected from government interference • Support for the UK remaining in the European Convention on Human Rights is almost twice as high as support for leaving (48% vs 26%)
Across regions and communities, people are clear that human rights should not be up for political grabs.
National tragedies such as Grenfell, the Hillsborough disaster, the infected blood scandal and the Windrush scandal were each identified by the public as key moments that show why Britain needs strong legal protections that can secure truth, justice and accountability.
Tom Morrison, Amnesty International UK’s Human Rights Legal Frameworks Campaign Manager, said: “There is a growing global trend where some attempt to whip up anti-rights sentiment and sow division between people. Human rights exist precisely to stop the powerful from dividing us, and harming the vulnerable.
“Human Rights protections were not designed only for fair weather. They were built for the storms, the moments when authoritarianism, institutional failure or abuses of power put people at risk.
“Thankfully, the UK public instinctively understands this. Seventy-five years on from the creation of the European Convention on Human Rights, people are telling us they want their rights protected permanently. They do not trust politicians to mark their own homework or decide which rights people should or should not have.
“This is a day to celebrate our national pride in human rights and the equality they guarantee. These protections are a hard-won legacy of our grandparents’ generation. We must be responsible custodians, so that future generations inherit them too.”
Local relevance and shared belief
Human Rights Day offers communities everywhere the chance to stand together for fairness and dignity, values that an overwhelming majority of people in the UK say remain essential to modern life.
From the right to a fair trial, to the right to privacy and family life, to the right to be treated with dignity and respect, the findings show that human rights are fundamental to everyday life and to the kind of country people want to live in.
The number of pupils reaching expected levels of literacy and numeracy in Scotland’s schools is at the highest level on record, latest statistics show.
In primary schools, expected levels in literacy have increased to the highest level ever (74.5%), while for numeracy the figure of 80.3% is the same as last year’s record high. In secondary, the proportions of S3s reaching the expected level in literacy (89.8%) and numeracy (90.9%) are also the highest on record, according to the Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels 2024-25.
The last year has also seen a narrowing of the poverty-related attainment gap to a record low at all levels.
Meanwhile, attendance rates increased in schools to 91% in 2024-25, up from 90.3% the previous year, while absences, both authorised and unauthorised, are down, according to separate figures published today.
Teacher numbers have also increased nationally in 2025, with the pupil-teacher ratio improving, while average primary class sizes also reduced, according to the latest Pupil and Teacher Characteristics 2025.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government has been determined to drive forward educational improvements in Scotland’s schools and these statistics show clear progress is being made across several measures.
“Attainment levels are at record highs in literacy and numeracy following Scottish Government investment of £1.75 billion in the Scottish Attainment Challenge over the past decade – aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty.
“We know that better engagement leads to better outcomes, so it’s hugely encouraging to see the improvement in attendance and a fall in absences, including a noticeable reduction in persistent absence levels, after the work being done to address this since the pandemic.
“The rise in teacher numbers reflects our investment in the workforce, which means that Scotland continues to have the lowest pupil-teacher ratio and the best paid teachers in the UK.
“We recognise there is more work needed to return these numbers to their 2023 levels and we will continue to work with councils towards this.
“This evidence further underlines the strong recovery we are seeing in schools following the pandemic, after this year’s national exam results showed the poverty-related attainment gap narrowing at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels.
“It is testament to the hard work of pupils, teachers and staff in schools and I am committed to working with them to deliver further improvements.”
The Educational Institute of Scotland has noted yesterday’s flurry of education statistic releases from the Scottish Government, and highlighted that the figures confirm the Scottish Government’s failure to meet its commitments on the employment of additional teachers as a means to tackle excessive teacher workload.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “Scottish Government education statistics releases are increasingly like buses – you wait a long time for one to turn up, then five arrive all at once.
If this is an attempt to bury any bad news in a quagmire of statistics, it does not appear to be a successful tactic.
The figures released today confirm that the Scottish Government has absolutely failed in the delivery of their 2021 manifesto commitment to recruit 3,500 additional teachers into Scotland’s schools during the term of this parliament – we now have almost a thousand fewer teachers than when the pledge was made, so we are more than 4,000 teachers down on the level that was promised in that 2021 manifesto commitment.”
Ms Bradley continued, “The Scottish Government’s associated pledge to reduce teachers’ class contact time, supported by the recruitment of the additional teachers, was a clear recognition of the need to tackle excessive teacher workload in our schools.
“The failure of government and local authorities to recruit additional teachers, and the failure to deliver any meaningful progress on the commitment to reduce teachers’ class contact time, has led to the current workload dispute.
“The EIS is currently running a statutory industrial action ballot over these failures, and encourages all our members to use their vote in this important ballot and to vote Yes to both strike action and action short of strike.
“We must send a very clear message to the Scottish Government, and also to local authorities, that class contact time must be reduced, as promised, as a means to reducing excessive teacher workload.”
Ms Bradley added, “Compounding this, the high level of employment precarity for newly qualified and recently qualified teachers is a national scandal, with large numbers of new teachers offered only unstable short-term contracts, if they are fortunate enough to be offered teaching work at all.
“Scotland needs more teachers in our schools, to deliver an enhanced learning experience for students, to help reduce excessive teacher workload by delivering the Scottish Government’s commitment to lower teachers’ class contact time, and to ensure that the increasingly diverse learning needs of all students can be met.
“There are now 43% of pupils in our schools with an identified Additional Support Need, and this huge increase has not been matched by an increase in resource to meet those needs. We desperately need more teachers in our schools.”
Ms Bradley concluded, “The newly and recently qualified teachers are available for permanent employment to help to address all of these issues , but they are not being offered secure teaching jobs, with the result that many will either look to other countries for employment or opt, reluctantly, to leave teaching entirely and pursue other career options.
“It shouldn’t be this way, and it doesn’t have to be this way – the Scottish Government and local authorities must ensure that many, many more newly and recently qualified teachers are employed in Scotland’s schools.”
Head of Kenova Sir Iain Livingstone has called for the UK Government to publicly name Stakeknife after publishing its final report which detailed how the agent had committed “grotesque serious crime” including torture and murder.
Sir Iain also urged Government to use the principles of the Kenova model for legacy investigations as he presented the 164-page document to his predecessor, and current Chief Constable of Police Service of Northern Ireland, Jon Boutcher marking an end to the nine-year investigation into Stakeknife’s offending and state handling. The Kenova final report also outlined the other separate enquiries carried out by the Kenova team, namely Operations Mizzenmast, Turma and Denton.
The report contains updates on the 10 recommendations made in the Interim Report published in 2024 and urged Government to depart from the Neither Confirm Nor Deny policy (NCND) in regard to Stakeknife on grounds of public interest.
Sir Iain said: “Having spent my life in policing and justice, I support NCND and know its value. Although the policy’s definition and use require review, Kenova has no intention to undermine NCND.
“However, NCND must be exercised in a proportionate and necessary manner and should not be an absolute bar to providing truth and justice. It cannot be used to protect agents who commit grotesque serious crime, leaving victims and families ignored and their demands for information and answers dismissed.
“As this Final Report makes clear, we in Kenova believe there is a compelling ethical case for the UK government to derogate from the NCND policy regarding the agent Stakeknife’s identity. It is in the public interest that Stakeknife is named.”
Stakeknife findings
Operation Kenova was initially set up to investigate the activities of the alleged army agent ‘Stakeknife’ within the Provisional Irish Republican Army’s Internal Security Unit.
The Final Report provides an overview of Stakeknife’s time as an informant, from his recruitment in the late 1970s through to the early 1990s. Investigators discovered a military unit known as the ‘Rat Hole’ was set up solely to assist the management of Stakeknife, and he was given a dedicated phone line which he could call at any time.
In total Kenova discovered 3,517 intelligence reports from Stakeknife including 377 in an 18-month period.
However, it found that ‘time and again’ the reports were not acted upon, with the protection of the agent apparently more important than protecting those who could and should have been saved.
The investigation revealed evidence of Stakeknife’s involvement in serious and unjustifiable criminality, including kidnap, interrogation and murder.
Prosecution files submitted to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland implicated Stakeknife in 14 murders and the abduction of a further 15 individuals.
MI5 further material recovered
The report outlines state failures around the handling of Stakeknife and describes the late discovery of further material by MI5 after publication of the Kenova Interim Report in 2024. The further material revealed MI5 had earlier and greater knowledge of the agent than previously stated.
Sir Iain said: “While the information in the additional files would not have altered prosecutorial decisions, further investigative opportunities were undoubtedly lost.
“The very fact that material owned and held by MI5 was not timeously disclosed understandably undermined the confidence of communities that state authorities had cooperated fully with Kenova. It was a significant failure on the part of MI5.”
Recovered evidence
The report details how Kenova investigators were able to use new techniques to re-examine exhibits seized during initial investigations such as tapings which had been used to bind or blindfold victims.
These tapings, along with bullet casings, confession tapes and letters and a firearm allowed detectives to identify suspects and even a victim of a non-fatal punishment shooting who was subsequently located as a key witness.
Scientific examination of these exhibits recovered DNA profiles and linked offences or suspects.
Future of legacy investigations
The report refers to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which will repeal the 2023 Legacy Act and establish a reformed Legacy Commission and a joint Independent Commission for Information Retrieval.
In welcoming the new Bill, Sir Iain suggested there was an opportunity to build upon the experience of Kenova to ensure comprehensive, independent investigations and a focus on victims.
Sir Iain said: “Kenova has shown that the truth can be uncovered, but it requires determination, independence, and a commitment to those victims and families. Our work demonstrates the need for rigorous, transparent investigations and for the interests of those most affected to be placed at the centre of legacy processes.
“It is also crucial that sufficient investigative powers and resources are allocated to a reformed Legacy Commission to ensure every piece of available information is accessed and that families are given the whole truth of what happened to their loved ones.
“The lessons from Kenova should inform the new legacy legislation.”
Mizzenmast and Turma
The Kenova Final Report outlines the additional investigations and reviews that PSNI asked Kenova to conduct beyond its initial commission regarding the conduct of the agent Stakeknife.
It summarises Operation Mizzenmast, the investigation into the murder of Jean Smyth-Campbell in 1972, and gives an overview of the background to Operation Turma, the murders of Sergeant Sean Quinn and Constables Paul Hamilton and Allan McCloy in an explosion at Kinnego Embankment in 1982.
Denton
Operation Denton was a thematic review of sectarian attacks by loyalist paramilitaries, referred to as the Glenanne series, between 1972 and 1978. The review examined over 98 incidents resulting in 127 deaths, assessing allegations of collusion between security forces and loyalist terrorists.
It found clear evidence of collusion by some security force members who committed or facilitated horrific acts of sectarian violence including murder. The review also addressed previous investigations and the impact on victims and families, emphasising the importance of transparency and engagement.
The review concluded that no discrete ‘Glenanne gang’ existed but rather there was a broader network involving loyalist paramilitaries and some corrupt security force members. While collusion at the individual level was evident, some of it long established before Denton was initiated, there was no evidence of collusion at a political or strategic level. Denton’s findings included that the Belfast UVF was responsible for the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
With regard to the entirety of Kenova’s work, Sir Iain said: “The Kenova team has worked intensely to seek answers, provide explanations and pursue justice. At times some of our findings did not align with what victims and families expected. However, our duty was to seek the truth relentlessly and then share as fully as we could with those who deserved to hear it and who had endured the traumatic attacks.
“Victims and families from the Troubles consistently demonstrate dignity and grace in the face of appalling suffering from brutal terrorism, at times compounded by state failures to act legitimately or with empathy and care.
“Kenova has from the outset put the interests of victims and families at the heart of its approach. We learned that an outcome through the criminal justice process may in fact not always be achievable or even what is desired. Kenova detectives prioritised listening and being responsive to questions unanswered for decades.
“This authentic engagement with victims and families is a key factor which distinguishes Kenova and must be adopted if the reformed legacy arrangements are to succeed.”
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, has responded to the Operation Kenova Final Report into the activities of an alleged agent known as ‘STEAK KNIFE’, which has been published by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The Secretary of State said: “I want to begin by commending the Kenova team, led by Sir Iain Livingstone and Jon Boutcher, for the exemplary way they carried out their work, built trust with families, put victims first and provided many answers about what happened to their loved ones.
“Operation Turma, which was part of Kenova, resulted in the prosecution of an individual, now extradited from Ireland and awaiting trial, for the murder of three RUC officers in 1982.
‘Kenova has set a standard for future legacy investigations, and we have drawn on a number of those lessons in drafting the Troubles Bill.
“I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to all the families who lost loved ones in the appalling circumstances described in this sobering report.
“Operation Kenova was asked to establish whether there was evidence of criminal offences by the alleged agent known as STEAK KNIFE, or their alleged handlers.
“The behaviour described of the alleged agent, and their role in the Provisional IRA, is deeply disturbing. It should not have happened, and in recent decades, there have been significant reforms to agent handling practice, including through legislation. The use of agents is nowadays subject to strict regulation, overseen by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
“On Operation Kenova’s request to the Government to name STEAK KNIFE, I told Sir Iain Livingstone in August that: “Due to ongoing litigation relevant to the Neither Confirm Nor Deny [NCND] policy, namely the Thompson Supreme Court appeal, a substantive and final response to your request will be provided after judgment has issued in that case.”
“The Government’s first duty is of course to protect national security, and identifying agents risks jeopardising this.
“Today’s Report also makes public the high-level findings of Operation Denton, which looked at killings carried out by the UVF Glennane Gang. The behaviour reported on, including collusion by individual members of the security forces, is shocking.
“The Government will respond to the full Denton Report when it is published, bearing in mind that there are related legal proceedings ongoing in this case and in the case of STEAK KNIFE.”
Stakeknife has been identified by the press as FREDDIE SCAPPATICCI, a leading member of the Provisional IRA’s notorious Internal Security Unit known as The Nutting Squad. He was involved in 14 murders and the abduction of a further 15 people during The Troubles. Scappaticci died in 2023.
Supporting communities to generate their own power
Communities on the island of Mull, the V&A Dundee and King’s Church in Aberdeen are amongst 23 local projects being awarded a share of £1.8 million to deliver renewable energy projects.
Two Edinburgh projects – one from Porty Energy and the other from Edinburgh Leisure – are among the successful applicants.
The funding will enable community groups to generate their own power through renewable energy projects such as wind turbines and solar, while giving successful applicants the ability to earn money from their projects by selling excess energy generated.
Supported through a combination of Scottish Government and Great British Energy funding, the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme’s (CARES) Community Energy Generation Growth Fund will provide grants for equipment, installation and feasibility work for projects including:
Emmaus Glasgow – to install renewable energy in a homeless centre
the decarbonisation of Robert Gordon University’s sports hall in Aberdeen
the installation of Solar PV energy generation at Saints Community Football club in St Johnstone
This year, the Community Energy Generation Growth Fund has made a total of 71 funding offers – totalling more than £7.3 million – to community energy projects across the country.
Speaking ahead of the CARES conference, Climate Action and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Community-led energy projects are at the heart of Scotland’s journey to net zero.
“By empowering local groups to generate their own clean energy with local solutions, we are not only cutting emissions but also reducing costs and creating resilient communities. These projects show what can be achieved when people come together with a shared vision for a sustainable future.
“This funding is giving communities the tools and confidence to take control of their own energy needs, keep money circulating locally, and build a fairer, greener economy.
“Scotland’s transition to net zero must be inclusive and fair, and community energy is a vital part of ensuring that everyone benefits from the opportunities of a clean energy future.”
UK Government Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said: ““Great British Energy is empowering communities in Scotland to take a stake in their own energy.
“This is our clean energy superpower mission in action – putting communities in the driving seat of energy generation and making sure working people and local businesses profit.”
Local Energy Scotland Manager Chris Morris said: “It’s great to see more community groups and charities developing energy projects and we’d like to congratulate all our successful applicants.
“We know how much effort goes into developing these inspiring proposals and we’re looking forward to working with them to deliver lasting impact – locally and across the country.
“This is a crucial time for community energy projects in Scotland. Through CARES, we’re helping local groups turn ambition into action, creating projects that not only reduce carbon emissions but also deliver long-term social and economic benefits for communities.”
Community energy projects allow local groups to participate directly in Scotland’s transition to net zero, delivering financial and social benefits while helping communities take control of their energy supply.
Up to £1.8 million of funding will be awarded through the latest round of the Community Energy Generation Growth Fund:
Applicant Name
Project Title
Total amount (£)
The Antonine Sports Centre, Clydebank
Solar PV and Battery on Antonine Sports Centre
£102,400
Islamic Education Trust, Cumbernauld
IETC Solar and Battery
£102,176
King’s Church, Aberdeen
King’s Church Aberdeen Solar PV Project
£102,334
Prestwick Tennis and Fitness
Prestwick Tennis Centre Solar Panel Project
£124,800
Loch Arthur Camphill Community
Micro-grid at Lochend
£159,576
McLaren Community Leisure, Callander
McLaren CLC Green Energy Pooling Sustainable Power
£241,275
Islay Energy Trust
Castlehill Solar Array Phase 2
£152,000
Rosewell Development Trust
Greener Communities Rosewell
£46,065
Porty Community Energy, Edinburgh
Porty Community Solar
£51,119
Emmaus Glasgow
Solar Panel Renewable Energy for Homeless Centre
£113,750
Design Dundee Ltd
V&A Museum- Net Zero Installation
£193,864
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
RGU Sport Decarbonisation of electricity
£23,600
Loch Arthur Camphill Community
Micro hydroelectric plant
£20,000
Winchburgh Community Development Trust
Winchburgh Solar- Commonwatt
£12,000
Birse Community Trust, Banchory
Hydro Power feasibility study
£20,000
Glasgow East End Community Carers Ltd
Project Green Space
£72,790
Blairgowrie Community Energy
Blairgowrie Community Energy
£5,470
Saints Community Football SCIO (St Cuthberts), St Johnstone
PV Energy Generation Scheme
£96,167
Edinburgh Leisure
Solar PV & feasibility Study
£74,208
East Lothian Climate Action Newtork Hub Ltd
Commonwatt 2
£20,000
Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT)
Scaling up community energy in Mull
£19,500
Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust
Upscaled Orkney Site Feasibility Options Appraisal
£47,000
Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh (Barra & Vatersay Community) Ltd
For Celia, Christmas isn’t about sparkle, it’s about survival
For those who provide round the clock care to loved ones, the festive season requires military level organisation around medication schedules, hospital appointments and the unpredictable demands of caring.
Carers Trust Scotland have heard from many unpaid carers that they started their festive season shopping and planning many months ago. This kind of early planning is common for many of Scotland’s 800,000 unpaid carers, who often have very little free time and disposable income. These individuals provide care worth £15.9 billion annually, yet their efforts often go unseen.
“I started buying gifts last Christmas,” says Celia, who cares for her son Paul. “I can’t just pop out when I want, so I plan ahead. When I see offers, I buy doubles and store them away.
“By December, I’m juggling food, drink and all the little extras that add up, it’s like paying double bills at this time of year.”
But festive cheer comes with added challenges. Rising energy costs have hit unpaid carers hard:
“Paul can’t regulate his body temperature, so the heating used to be on all the time,” Celia explains. “Now, with prices soaring, I’ve had to put it on a timer. This morning, Paul came up and said, ‘Mum, my hands are cold.’
“When I do put the heating on, he thanks me like I’ve given him an extra present. That’s heartbreaking.”
Research from Carers Trust Scotland highlights the pressures carers face, even during the holidays:
• 41% of unpaid carers on Carer Support Payment are struggling financially.
• 28% of unpaid carers living in a home with just one adult carer are in fuel poverty.
• Almost half (49%) of unpaid carers on Universal Credit and living alone are fuel poor.
• 74% worry about affording energy bills and 12% have used a food bank. • Only 30% say Carer Support Payment makes a meaningful difference.
Celia’s story reflects these realities. She’s not only managing the festive season on a tight budget but also fighting to restore her son’s care package after it was stopped without warning:
“Paul has a rare brain disease. He could die at any time. I’ve had to remortgage my house, and I’m thousands of pounds in debt just to keep his life as it was. If his routine changes, his anxiety could trigger another collapse.”
Despite these struggles, Celia remains determined to make the festive season special:
“Paul is an absolute joy. Every day he brings light and life to our home. He even makes his own Christmas cards, after six years of therapy just to hold a pencil.”
Carers Trust Scotland works with a network of local carer organisations to provide support, funding and advice to unpaid carers across the country. Reaching around 66,000 adult and young carers, the charity aims to ensure unpaid carers are recognised and have access to the resources they need to live fulfilled lives.
“Three out of five of us will become carers at some point in our lives,” says Becky Duff, Carers Trust Scotland Director. “This Christmas, we want people to understand the reality of caring and to celebrate the resilience and love that unpaid carers bring to their families every day.”
As Scotland approaches a new chapter in 2026, there’s an opportunity to ensure unpaid carers are better supported and recognised. Carers Trust Scotland will continue working closely with government and partners to shape policies that reflect the realities of caring.
A Little Help Goes a Long Way
Since April 2025, our small grants programme has provided nearly £130,000 in direct support to carers, funding essentials like heated blankets, tablets to reduce isolation, and respite breaks.
Every gift counts: £30 could keep a carer warm this winter, £100 could help an isolated carer stay connected.
Learn more about our work and how you can support unpaid carers at Fundraising for Carers in Scotland | Carers Trust Scotland
For the first time, Heart of Newhaven is delighted to be an official livestream venue for this year’s CHRISTMAS LECTURES® from the Royal Institution.
Join us on the evenings of Thursday 11th, Saturday 13th, and Tuesday 16th December as we stream the lectures live from London.
Bring your curiosity and excitement — families from across the local area are warmly invited to watch the lectures come to life in real time and be among the first to uncover the mysteries of the Universe with Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock!
🎟 Free Events — Please Pre-Register
Although the events are free to attend, please help us manage numbers by pre-registering on our Eventbrite page
Each lecture is suitable for all ages, and you’re welcome to attend one, two, or all three evenings.
City council pushes forward with controversial Portobello parking controls
The City of Edinburgh Council is set to decide on introducing year-round parking controls in Portobello, based on surveys conducted during peak tourism months – despite widespread community opposition and the possibility of a legal challenge if the proposals proceed.
The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Sub-Committee will meet on 16 December to consider a recently published report recommending that councillors advance the TRO, despite the vast majority of consultation responses opposing the scheme, and with more than 1,900 people having signed a petition calling for its rejection.
Jane Grant, Chair of the local Traders Association, which represents over 50 small businesses, said: “The Council is pushing forward with a plan that will pile yet more financial pressure on already struggling households and lead to fewer people shopping locally.
“If approved, these parking controls will damage a vibrant and welcoming seaside community, make it harder for disabled people and those with caring needs to live fulfilling lives, and force more working class families to leave the area.
“As local residents and business owners we have tried to engage with the Council at every stage and will continue to do so, but if this poorly-designed and unwanted parking plan goes ahead we reserve the right to challenge its legality and process by which the Council has designed this plan.
“We are a strong and united community and will not allow the Council to ignore local people and impose these measures unchallenged.”
A local campaign group, Portobello and Joppa Residents & Businesses Against CPZ claim that the Council’s data used to justify year-round parking restrictions is flawed, inconsistent, and unrepresentative.
In a letter to the committee members (see below), issued ahead of the vote, the group highlighted that the surveys were conducted only in June and September – at the height of seasonal, temporarily heightened traffic levels, and the methodology behind the parking “heat map” remains undisclosed, with no clarity on data sources, weighting, or modelling applied.
The campaigners also highlight that Saturday parking analysis relies on just two survey days, both during peak visitor periods and unusually warm weather conditions. They assert that drawing conclusions about typical Saturday parking from such a small sample is statistically unreliable.
Furthermore, ongoing roadworks during the survey period distorted normal parking patterns, casting further doubt on the data’s reliability.
Local campaigner and resident Nikki Middleton said: “Although the Council report claims sixteen survey events, the actual data covers only seven days, with no surveys in winter, poor weather, or during term-time.
“Summer surveys, conducted during peak tourism months, have been used to justify this scheme, yet no explanation has been provided on how seasonal bias was accounted for.
“Portobello’s year-round parking pressures are very different from the summer months. This is not only unethical but goes against every principle of good governance and objective data validation.”
The proposals suggest implementing parking controls in the western part of the proposed Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), while the eastern section (Joppa) would be reviewed within the first year.
In practice, this allows council officers to introduce controls in the eastern areas without further legal process if deemed “necessary,” effectively keeping the door open to expand the scheme at any time, but preventing proper scrutiny and input from local people.
Nikki Middleton added: “The Council pretends to reduce the CPZ boundary, but in reality, they are only temporarily shrinking it while leaving the door wide open to extend it back to their original plans within a year – a cynical ploy intended to gather more cash from local people already struggling amid a cost of living crisis.”
The proposals also adjust CPZ operating hours to Monday–Saturday, 08:30–17:30, removing Sunday restrictions – an apparent attempt, the campaigners argue, to soften public perception without addressing core concerns.
The Council received 2,341 consultation responses. While the report acknowledges strong community opposition, it omits the exact percentage of objections.
The most significant concerns cited include the cost of parking – described by about 35% of respondents as “unaffordable, unwanted, excessive, or penalising residents”- and over 15% expressing the belief that the scheme is a money-making exercise for the Council.
Nikki Middleton added: “While the Council insists this isn’t about revenue, the report itself confirms that, after operational costs, the Portobello CPZ is expected to generate an annual surplus of around £500,000.”
Community members, traders, and campaigners continue to call on the public to attend the Sub-Committee meeting next week and urge the Council to halt the CPZ proposals and respect the clear, overwhelming opposition of those who live, work, and spend time in Portobello.
Communities across Scotland are to receive new funding to ensure everyone can benefit from the creative arts.
Eleven grassroots projects – including one involving pupils from Craigmillar’s Castlebrae High School – have been selected to receive a share of £320,000 from the Scottish Government’s Creative Communities Scotland fund, which supports organisations delivering activities such as dance, filmmaking, creative writing, music-making and storytelling.
The fund aims to support and empower communities to develop cultural activities that benefit individual and collective wellbeing, with a focus on reaching those who face barriers to taking part in creative activities
The programme will be managed by Inspiring Scotland, which will also provide project support to successful organisations while they plan, deliver and assess the impact of those activities.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Creativity can transform lives and create confidence within communities – so I’m very pleased that so many projects, from Galashiels to Orkney, Aberdeen and Govanhill, have been successful in their applications.
“These grants will enable community-led organisations to develop and deliver projects that harness the power of creativity in supporting people and the communities they serve.
“The Creative Communities Scotland fund forms part of a £34 million increase in support to the culture sector this year to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to take part in and benefit from the creative arts, no matter their background or location.”
Erica Judge, Director of Funds at Inspiring Scotland, said: “The high level of interest in Creative Communities Scotland shows the incredible potential of creative and cultural activities to positively impact people’s lives.
“By supporting 11 organisations working across 9 local authorities, this funding will help communities overcome barriers to cultural participation – creating opportunities to enjoy the arts, reduce loneliness, strengthen communities, develop new creative skills, and experience joy and pride.”
Dave Close, Executive Director of the Hot Chocolate Trust said: “Some young people are bursting with talent but can’t access the resources to make music and learn. Some have been told that they’re ‘not musical’. Some have got things they need to say but they can’t find the words yet.
“With support from Creative Communities, the Beautiful Noise project at Hot Chocolate Trust is about releasing all these new possibilities and making something special together.”
A Place in Childhood – £20,034 Craigmillar, Edinburgh City
Working with 20 S1-S3 pupils from Castlebrae High School in Craigmillar, this participatory project will give young people a professional-grade experience of all aspects of film making: script development, filming, production, post-production, editing and finally a screening of their work.
Camglen Buddies Leisure & Social Club – £11,933 Cambuslang/Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire
Working with a videographer and a theatre professional, adults with additional support needs will have the opportunity to produce their own film, addressing key aspects from storyboarding, creating sets/props, filming and finally, celebrating their production.
Eildon West Youth Hub – £23,572 Galashiels, Scottish Borders
‘Chromonauts: Demolition Art’ is a year-long, youth-led visual arts programme for young people who face multiple barriers to creative participation. The project will work with young people to reclaim ‘overlooked corners’ of Galashiels to create new art-works/civic spaces.
Empower Women for Change – £29,372 Glasgow City
Participants will co-design and co-facilitate a programme of creative arts activities called Freedom in Expression: Joy in Creativity. This will provide safe, culturally relevant spaces where women from ethnic minority backgrounds, particularly refugees and asylum seekers, can express themselves through creative writing, painting, clay, glassmaking, collage, yoga, mindfulness, and storytelling.
ESOL Scotland – £34,293 Glasgow City
This year-long programme of workshops will integrate English language learning with film making and photography, contributing to a community exhibition and screening that ‘celebrates the voices and journeys of our learners’.
Forgan Arts Centre – £33,439 Newport-on-Tay, Fife
Building on a previous pilot, the organisation will run two strands of creative workshops for adult and young carers. Working with professional artists, the workshops will focus on building creative participation, wellbeing, and connection between carers.
Friends of Sanday Kirk – £31,720 Sanday Island, Orkney
Focused around Sanday Kirk and a Craft Hub, the project will create three separate pieces of art using different techniques: community mosaic project, mural project on Craft Hub’s gable wall, and the design and construction of a herring-shaped public bench to celebrate the island’s fishing heritage and its former herring yard, benefiting the whole community.
Gorebridge Community Development Trust – £34,423 Gorebridge, Midlothian
The Create365 arts project aims to improve wellbeing for the community and reduce isolation through four strands of work: 1) weekly rhythm sessions focused on art, music and writing; 2) monthly themed sessions; 3) seasonal sessions; and, 4) a ‘big year’ showcase presenting the output from the three other strands.
Hot Chocolate Trust – £34,413 Dundee City
This project will provide a year-long set of music producing activities aimed at 12-21 year olds. These sessions will offer young people the opportunity to begin their engagement with music all the way through to exploring professional music pathways.
Romano Lav – £32,448 Govanhill, Glasgow City
Co-produced with community members and co-facilitated by Roma staff, this community arts programme will support participants of all ages and genders to take part in a range of art forms including visual/digital arts, storytelling, ceramics, film and photography. It will culminate in a final exhibition as part of the Govanhill International Festival.
Touch of Love Outreach – £34,291 Aberdeen City
The ‘New Young Scots: Fix & Design Lab’ will work with young people to collect, repair and redesign everyday items. Its aim is for the young people involved to gain practical and social skills, reduce isolation and celebrate identity and culture through arts-based upcycling.
