£20 million investment to create jobs and drive growth
Efforts to regenerate nine towns in the south of Scotland have taken a major step forward with the publication of proposals developed by volunteer-led teams.
Town teams are now refining their ideas and preparing business cases ahead of final funding decisions as part of a £20 million Scottish Government investment. Proposals under consideration range from a promenade and indoor family attractions in Stranraer to a town centre regeneration project providing social housing and retail space in Galashiels.
On a visit to Galashiels town centre ahead of the Convention of the South of Scotland, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes toured MacArts, a music and arts venue being considered for funding. She said:“These proposals are an important step forward for towns across the south of Scotland.
“Local volunteers have worked hard to develop these plans and this £20 million investment aims to create hundreds of jobs, attract thousands of visitors and generate tens of millions of pounds for the Borderlands economy.
“Galashiels’ revitalisation over the past decade demonstrates the benefits of giving communities the tools and resources to shape their own future. In addition to this, as part of our draft Budget for 2026-27 we have allocated £47 million towards community-led regeneration across Scotland.”
Laurence Reid, Director of MacArts, said: “It’s exciting to see so much ambition for Galashiels and towns across the south of Scotland, building on the work of the Town Teams and local people as well as the success of the Borders Railway and the Great Tapestry of Scotland Museum.
“This potential funding could be the catalyst for future investment, helping secure the future of a vibrant world-class cultural hub in the Scottish Borders.”
Homes and businesses across Scotland will benefit from faster broadband through Project Gigabit.
This will help some of the hardest‑to‑reach communities get a better connection. It will bring fast broadband to many more homes and businesses.
Around 12,500 homes and businesses in Dumfries & Galloway are to benefit from gigabit-capable broadband.
The £18 million investment, funded by the UK Government and co-managed by the Scottish Government, will see premises in Dumfries & Galloway added to the existing Project Gigabit contract being delivered by Openreach.
This builds upon the 8,000 gigabit-capable connections already delivered in Dumfries & Galloway by the Scottish Government’s £600m+ R100 programme.
The Project Gigabit contract – where build started in Autumn 2025 – will now deliver gigabit-capable broadband to over 77,000 premises in Scotland covering some of the hardest-to-reach communities in the Highlands, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Argyll and Bute, as well as parts of Central and Southern Scotland.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Fast, reliable broadband is essential for connecting communities and supporting economic growth across Scotland.
“This additional investment will ensure that more homes and businesses in Dumfries & Galloway can access the gigabit-capable connections they need to thrive in the digital age.
“Through our own R100 programme and the management of Project Gigabit in Scotland, we are further boosting connections across the region to ensure that even more communities will benefit from faster, reliable broadband for generations to come.”
UK Government Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd said: “Whether it’s a farmer managing their business, or people video-calling loved ones, fast and reliable broadband makes everyday life easier.
“This investment will bring those opportunities to thousands more across Dumfries & Galloway.”
Openreach Partnership Director for Scotland Robert Thorburn said: “We’ve already started connecting some of Scotland’s most rural homes and businesses to Full Fibre through the Project Gigabit contracts, and we’re delighted to continue that progress in Dumfries & Galloway.
“We’re committed to making sure that people living and working across the country can access faster, more reliable broadband. With more than 1.7 million properties already able to benefit from Full Fibre, this latest investment will help even more communities thrive in the digital age.”
For the first time ever, Impact Arts is launching a manifesto ahead of the 2026 Scottish elections.
Our vision: A Scotland where people and communities benefit from life-transforming creativity that tackles inequalities and addresses poverty.
CEO Fiona Doring says: “For decades, Impact Arts has seen first hand how arts-based approaches transform their lives through improving wellbeing, strengthening communities, and developing life chances.
“Ahead of the 2026 Scottish elections, we urge decision makers to recognise the arts as a vital part of building a fairer, healthier, and more connected Scotland.”
OUR MANIFESTO ASKS
Scotland’s leaders, we urge you to:
1. Recognise Creative Engagement as a Public Health Approach
2. Improve Access to Creative Preventative Mental Health Approaches
3. Ensure Access to Arts-Based Therapies for Children Facing Trauma and Poverty
4. Embed Creative, Flexible and Person-Centred Approaches into Whole Family Wellbeing
5. Support Creative Ageing to Bring Joy to Later Years
6. Increase Access to Quality Arts-Based Education & Employment Programmes
7. Support Neurodiverse Young People Through Quality Arts & Creativity Projects
8. Promote Creative Home-Making as Key to Sustaining Tenancies & Preventing Homelessness
9. Celebrate Creative Placemaking
Impact Arts urges Scotland’s leaders to embed creativity across public policy. By investing in arts-based and creative approaches, we can build a more inclusive, stronger, and imaginative society.
Explore our extended manifesto featuring references to research and commentary from Culture Counts, Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland, Voluntary Health Scotland, Social Biobehavioural Research Group, National Academy for Social Prescribing, Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership, The Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland, Children’s and Youth Arts Advocacy (CYAA), Scottish Autism, Homeless Network Scotland, and SURF – Scotland’s Regeneration Forum.
Eight days until 31 January Self Assessment deadline
Miss the deadline and you may face an automatic £100 penalty
File your return now at GOV.UK and pay any tax due by 31 January – help and support available online
With just a week until the Self Assessment deadline, 8.6 million people have already filed their return for the 2024 to 2025 tax year.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging taxpayers and agents who haven’t filed, to act now or risk missing the 31 January deadline – and face an automatic £100 penalty.
More than 11.5 million customers successfully filed by the deadline last year and HMRC wants to help the 3.3 million still outstanding this time around to do the same.
Those who haven’t started can find help and support at GOV.UK, including guidance, webinars and YouTube videos. HMRC’s online services are available around the clock.
Once a return is submitted, the quickest and easiest way to pay any tax owed is via the free HMRC app, which takes less than a minute. A full list of payment options is available on GOV.UK.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said:“Don’t leave it until deadline day. Filing now will give you peace of mind that your tax return is completed and if you have tax to pay, you have a week to arrange payment.
“If you’re worried about paying your tax bill, you may be able to set up a payment plan online – search ‘difficulties paying HMRC’ on GOV.UK.”
This year’s deadline falls on a Saturday. Customers who need to speak to an adviser can call HMRC’s phone lines, which are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Phone lines close on Friday 30 January and reopen on Monday 2 February – after the deadline. For full phone support, contact HMRC before Friday 30 January.
an initial £100 fixed penalty, which applies even if there is no tax to pay, or if the tax due is paid on time
after 3 months, additional daily penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900
after 6 months, a further penalty of 5% of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater
after 12 months, another 5% or £300 charge, whichever is greater
There are also additional penalties for paying late. Penalties will be charged at 5% of the tax unpaid at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months. If tax remains unpaid after the deadline, interest will also be charged on the amount owed, in addition to the penalties above.
HMRC will consider customers’ reasons for missing the deadline. Those with a reasonable excuse may avoid a penalty.
Sole traders and landlords with qualifying income of more than £50,000 will be required to use Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax from 6 April 2026 and be required to submit quarterly summaries of their income and expenses to HMRC.
HMRC is urging eligible customers to act now – whether you’re signing up a client or yourself, get ahead of the curve by taking the first step and sign-up on GOV.UK to familiarise yourself with the new service and start preparing now.
Customers do not need to include their 2025 Winter Fuel Payment, or Pension Age Winter Heating payment in Scotland, on their tax return for the 2024 to 2025 tax year as payments received in Autumn 2025 will be recovered in the 2025 to 2026 tax return, due by 31 January 2027.Customers should be alert to the risk of scams.
HMRC will never ask for personal or financial information by text or email. Check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK.
Former serving personnel in police custody are to be offered a referral to a specialist trauma-informed veteran support service.
The formal partnership between NOVA Scotland and Police Scotland Custody Centres will expand efforts to identify, engage with and support Scottish veterans, aiming to break down barriers, such as fear of stigma and shame, that currently prevent veterans in contact with the Scottish criminal justice system from disclosing their service or asking for help.
NOVA Scotland is delivered by the Forces Employment Charity, the UK’s leading provider of justice services to the veteran community.
The majority of former serving personnel transition well to civilian life, but for some, factors including poor physical or mental health, homelessness, debt or substance misuse can lead them into contact with the justice system.
All veterans referred from Police Scotland to NOVA Scotland will receive an individual needs assessment informing a bespoke care plan to address any issues they need support with. This will help to reduce the risk of reoffending and improve outcomes for the veterans, their families and communities.
Marielle Curran, Operations Manager for NOVA Scotland, said: “This partnership marks a pivotal step in ensuring veterans in police custody can access the trauma-informed, specialist support they need to rebuild and redirect their lives.
“Our work saves lives and transforms futures. However, early engagement is critical. Our collaboration with Police Scotland will improve outcomes for veterans, while supporting police and contributing to safer communities across Scotland.”
The partnership, secured by an Information Sharing Agreement, builds on the proven support NOVA Scotland has provided to veterans in contact with Police Scotland’s Vulnerable Persons Unit since 2024.
Chief Superintendent Chris Stewart, Criminal Justice Services Division, said: “This new partnership with NOVA Scotland will provide specialist support to veterans who come into police custody by addressing the underlying factors that brought them into contact with the criminal justice system.
“We recognise that many people in custody do not routinely engage with support services or with their GP – and they are often in crisis. Our national arrest referral scheme connects these vulnerable people with organisations that can help them with issues such as mental health, substance misuse, debt and homelessness.
“Our partnership with NOVA Scotland is a welcome addition to this successful scheme and will enable veterans and their families to get the appropriate treatment and support they need.”
By strengthening early identification and intervention for veterans when they come into contact with the justice system, the partnership directly supports the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s recommendations in the 2024 report Veterans and the Law, specifically that there be a collaborative approach between statutory and third sector providers to prevent offending, support rehabilitation, and reduce reoffending.
Scottish Veterans Commissioner Susie Hamilton said: “I am delighted to see the development of this formal partnership between Police Scotland and NOVA Scotland, which reflects the recommendation in my ‘Veterans and the Law’ report that there be a collaborative approach between statutory and third sector providers to improve outcomes for the small minority of veterans who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
“By increasing access to effective, tailored support that recognises how service experience can shape behaviour, needs and identity, veterans facing complex challenges can be helped to get their lives back on track.
“In turn, this can help reduce the risk of reoffending, decrease the impact on potential victims and wider society, as well as delivering long-term value for the public purse.”
On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, The Eric Liddell Community, the Edinburgh-based care charity founded in memory of sporting legend Eric Liddell, was honoured to welcome its Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, to its annual Dinner for Dementia.
Hosted at The Caledonian Edinburgh, the evening provided an opportunity for meaningful conversation around the growing need for community based dementia care and highlighted the great work that The Eric Liddell Community plays in supporting individuals and families across Edinburgh.
The Eric Liddell Community is widely recognised for its vital dementia care services, offering practical day support, social programmes and much needed respite that help enhance wellbeing and reduce isolation.
Its community hub in Morningside now welcomes more than 7,000 people each month, serving as a crucial lifeline for families navigating the emotional and physical and financial pressures of long term caring responsibilities.
The evening featured an expert keynote speech from Dr Claire Durrant, Race Against Dementia Dyson Fellow, Emerging Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute and Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research, the University of Edinburgh.
Dr Durrant provided expert insight into current global dementia research and emphasised the critical importance of pairing scientific innovation with compassionate, community led care.
Dr Claire Durrant, expert keynote speaker at the event, highlighted the importance of community-led care:“Dementia is one of the greatest health and social challenges of our time and it is vital that scientific research and community based support work hand in hand.
“Events like the Dinner for Dementia create an important space for people to share experiences and raise awareness of the impact of dementia. I was delighted to be part of an evening that brings the community together.”
The Eric Liddell Community’s Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, had the opportunity to meet the charity’s dedicated staff, volunteers, carers, and those living with dementia who benefit so greatly from the charity’s services during her visit in April 2025.
The charity demonstrates the importance of having a welcoming place within the community, where one is greeted with kindness, a friendly smile, and genuine warmth, and how this can make an immeasurable difference to the lives of those who visit The Eric Liddell Community. Places like this are at the heart of our communities.
John MacMillan MBE, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, added:“We were deeply honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness to this year’s Dinner for Dementia. Her presence reinforced not only the significance of our work but the urgency of the growing dementia challenge in Scotland.
“The evening highlighted the power of collaboration and the vital difference that community led support can make to thousands of families every year.
“We were also delighted to have Dr Durrant speaking at the event. Dr Durrant’s input provided a unique insight into her world renowned research linked to finding a cure for dementia.”
New research from the Centre for Responsible Credit shows how concerns around credit scores can prevent people in financial difficulty from seeking help and should be viewed as one aspect of financial health, not the entirety.
Stats from the report show that:
Credit score concerns stop hard-up borrowers from seeking help: Industry-promoted fixation on credit scores deters three quarters of borrowers from seeking support, making debt problems harder to resolve.
Credit score messaging pushes people into hardship: A third (32%) of low-to-middle income borrowers; 6.4 million people are going without essentials like food and heating specifically to preserve their credit score.
“Your latest credit score is ready.” It’s a familiar email or app notification from credit score providers such as ClearScore, Credit Karma and Experian.
But it’s part of a marketing culture that could be encouraging low-to-middle income (LMI) borrowers to take on unaffordable credit and prioritise actions that maintain good scores over spending on essentials such as food and heating.
That is why we are now calling on the newly created Credit Information Governance Body and the Financial Conduct Authority to work with the credit scoring industry and consumer agencies to set standards for marketing dashboards. It’s one of five recommendations set out in this latest report, the second phase of our research in this area.
The first phase, published in July 2025, comprised qualitative interviews with thirty LMI borrowers. The interviews indicated there is a group of people who are highly sensitive to their credit scores, checking these on a frequent basis.
The frequent checking of scores seems to be encouraged by the many e-mails and app notifications that borrowers receive from credit score providers. When they respond to these and visit their credit score dashboards, they are often exposed to marketing offers for further credit.
Worryingly many participants felt that the best way to improve their credit scores was by taking out more credit and using it regularly. Many were also prepared to make considerable sacrifices to preserve their scores.
The scale of the problem
The second phase of our research involved a large-scale, representative, survey of more than 3,400 LMI adults in Great Britain; conducted on our behalf by Walnut Unlimited. Three-quarters of survey respondents used some form of credit (credit cards, Buy Now Pay Later, overdrafts or personal loans) with 40% using it to pay for daily expenses such as food and bills.
Most LMI borrowers check their credit scores at least once per month. Just under one fifth (18%) check their scores at least once per week, and an additional 15% do so more than once per month. A further fifth (21%) check their scores monthly.
When they do so, many enter on-line market places where they receive offers of further credit that may not be appropriate. Our survey indicates that over half (55%) of all survey respondents had received suggestions or offers for credit products from their credit score provider. Half of those (49%) felt that the offers they received encouraged them to take on more credit than they could afford, and over a quarter of (28%) reported feeling pressured to accept the offers that were made to them.
Nearly half (43%) of those being prompted to take up offers of credit by their score providers act on the suggestions they receive, but in many cases this results in financial distress within six months.
Around one in five saw their overall level of debt increase, and the same proportion (21%) experienced stress or anxiety. 18% struggled to make the repayments. 18% also cut back their spending on essentials, while 14% had to borrow more to cover the repayments, and around one in ten missed payments or defaulted.
And yet, alarmingly, three-quarters of borrowers said they would not ask for help from their lender. That’s because most people are unsure whether seeking advice or help will harm their credit score.
A disciplinary effect
Our survey also found clear evidence of a disciplinary effect, with one third (32%, equivalent to 6.3 million adults aged over 18) of all LMI borrowers telling us they have “cut back on day-to-day expenses to preserve” their credit scores.
This rises to 45% of borrowers who are using credit specifically to improve their scores, and to 55% of borrowers using credit to pay off other debts.
We also found a statistically significant relationship between the likelihood of cutting back on essentials to preserve scores and the frequency of score checking.
After controlling for age, housing tenure and incomes, over half (52%) of those checking their score more than once per week have cut back on essentials to preserve their score, as have 45% of those checking their score at least at few times per month.
Actions needed
To address the harms our study exposes, we are calling on Financial Conduct Authority, Credit Information Governance Body and credit score providers to ethically re-design, test, and set standards for credit score dashboards and their marketing.
This needs to include a review of dashboard messaging, so that providers don’t promote credit to people already showing signs of financial difficulties. Dashboards should make it clear that maintaining credit scores should not come at the expense of meeting basic needs.
More is also needed to encourage forbearance requests and debt advice seeking by ensuring dashboards proactively identify borrowers in financial difficulties and link these to independent advice and support, and there is a need to limit push notifications and dashboard marketing, to prevent borrowers from focusing on marginal score changes, and only allowing notifications when underlying credit report information has significantly changed.
The cost-of-living crisis has shattered the finances of millions, with more than a quarter of people currently unable to cover their basic expenses. It’s time for credit score providers to take action to make sure their marketing and processes are not compounding the problem.
Responding to research from the Centre for Responsible Credit, Adam Butler, Public Policy Manager at StepChange, said:“Whilst credit scores can help people understand how lenders may see them, the reality is that they are only one element of what lenders look at when assessing creditworthiness.
“Our research shows that people in financial difficulty often delay seeking help because of worries about the impact on their credit scores.
“This deepens the harm of problem debt and can lead people to take out further credit which exacerbates their financial problems. It’s important to note that seeking free debt advice and exploring options will not have an impact on someone’s credit score.
“The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has required the credit information industry to set up a new governance body with stronger consumer representation and make reforms to encourage struggling borrowers to seek help early.
“We want the industry to build on these steps and ensure people can seek help when they need it without fear of punitive credit reporting. As our recent polling found that 18 million people have an outstanding unsecured credit balance of some kind, a credit information system that works well for those who are struggling is vital.”
New solar hybrid lighting has been installed by Signify across several Edinburgh parks, making pathways safer and more welcoming for residents and visitors while supporting the city’s climate goals.
The City of Edinburgh Council has introduced the innovative lighting system in Baronscourt Park, Hailes Quarry Park and Ferniehill, with an off-grid solar solution installed at Dundas. The project includes both new lighting in previously unlit areas and upgrades to existing infrastructure where lighting levels were insufficient.
The hybrid lights use solar energy wherever possible and automatically switch to grid power when needed, ensuring reliable lighting all year round. Smart sensors dim lights when paths are empty and increase brightness when people approach, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists while reducing energy use and light pollution.
The improved lighting encourages greater use of parks during evening hours, supporting active travel, wellbeing and community use of green spaces. Smart dimming also helps protect wildlife by limiting lighting to areas and times where it is needed.
Edinburgh is the first city in the UK to implement this type of connected solar hybrid lighting in parks, setting a new benchmark for sustainable, people-focused public spaces.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener said:“Working with Signify on these park lighting projects has been transformative for our city. The innovative solar-powered lighting system has not only enhanced safety for park users during evening hours but also aligns perfectly with our sustainability and climate goals.
“By reducing grid energy consumption by 53% and minimizing ecological disruption, this project sets a new benchmark for environmentally sensitive urban development. I’m also pleased that the technology has been rolled out in three other parks, namely Ferniehill, Hailes Quarry and Dundas.
“The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re proud to lead the way with a solution that balances safety, sustainability, and innovation. This collaboration demonstrates how technology and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand to benefit both people and nature.
“This initiative sets a new standard for sustainable and connected public lighting systems. I’m proud that Edinburgh has taken the lead here as the first UK city to implement such a scheme.”
Michelle McLaughlin, Key Account Manager, said: “The vision for this project was rooted in environmental responsibility and community empowerment. The Council aimed to enhance safety by illuminating park pathways while minimizing reliance on grid electricity and protecting the park’s ecosystem.
“The solution also sought to adapt dynamically to user activity and provide actionable data for future improvements. We are proud to be a part of such a great initiative and are happy that our solutions can benefit the visitors of the parks.”
A man has been jailed for five and a half years for the attempted murder of a teenager in the Portobello area of Edinburgh.
Amar Mudawi, 22, pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 16 December, 2025. He was sentenced yesterday, 23 January, 2026, at the same court.
Around 10.55pm on Saturday, 12 April, 2025, officers were called to Mentone Avenue following a report of a 17-year-old male youth who had been found seriously injured following a disturbance on Bath Street. He was taken to hospital for treatment.
Detective Inspector Steven Dick said: “This was a serious and violent attack which could have had fatal consequences for the young victim.
“Violence of this nature will not be tolerated, and we continue to take action against those involved in such criminal behaviour.”
For the first time ever, Impact Arts is launching a manifesto ahead of the 2026 Scottish elections.
Scotland’s leaders, we urge you to:
Explore our extended manifesto featuring references to research and commentary from Culture Counts, 
