Day: January 26, 2026

RoSPA: Take extra care as Storm Chandra brings snow and rain 

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging people to take immediate safety precautions as amber weather warnings are issued ahead of the arrival of Storm Chandra. 

Storm Chandra, the third major storm to affect the UK this month, is expected to bring a combination of damaging winds and heavy rainfall from Monday into Tuesday. The Met Office has issued an amber wind warning for eastern Northern Ireland, with coastal gales and gusts of up to 75mph likely, creating dangerous conditions and large waves that may overtop sea defences.  

An amber rain warning is also in place for south‑west England, where 30–50mm of rain is expected widely, rising to 60–80mm over higher ground, increasing the risk of flooding on already saturated land. 

RoSPA safety advice 

RoSPA advises the public to take immediate steps to reduce the risk of injury and disruption: 

  • Avoid unnecessary travel, especially in areas under amber warnings or where flooding is likely. 
  • Keep mobile phones and essential devices fully charged in case of power cuts.
  • Monitor official weather updates and follow instructions from local authorities. 
  • Secure outdoor items such as bins, signage and garden furniture to prevent damage or injury. 
  • Prepare a basic emergency kit with torches, batteries and non‑perishable food. 
  • Stay indoors during periods of severe weather and ensure windows and doors are securely shut. 
  • Check in on vulnerable neighbours, particularly those living alone or in rural areas. 

Driving safety during heavy rain and flooding 

RoSPA is reminding drivers that severe weather greatly increases the risk of road collisions: 

  • Heavy rain reduces visibility and can double stopping distances – slow down, allow extra space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front and plan manoeuvres early. 
  • Use windscreen wipers at all times in poor conditions, and use washers and dipped headlights as appropriate. 
  • Aquaplaning occurs when tyres lose grip on surface water – reduce speed, maintain correct tyre pressure and tread depth to avoid aquaplaning, and if it happens, ease off the accelerator and avoid harsh steering or braking until grip returns.
  • On flooded roads, avoid deep water near kerbs and never drive through water if the depth is uncertain. Find an alternative route.  

Rebecca Guy, Senior Policy Manager at RoSPA, said: “Storm Chandra is expected to bring hazardous conditions that significantly increase the risk of injuries, particularly from falls, flying debris and dangerous driving conditions.

“Taking simple precautions now – such as avoiding unnecessary travel, securing loose items and staying informed – can make a real difference in keeping people safe.” 

RoSPA is urging the public to prioritise safety and avoid taking unnecessary risks while severe weather warnings remain in place. 

QMU’s Chartered Management Institute Accreditation will empower next generation of business leaders

Queen Margaret University’s suite of undergraduate Business Management degrees has gained Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 5 Dual Accreditation, helping students develop the skills, and professional recognition to succeed in exciting graduate roles, and the confidence to secure future leadership opportunities.  

This new partnership with the CMI – the UK’s only chartered body for management and leadership – will provide QMU students with an outstanding opportunity to gain a dual qualification, combining academic study with an internationally recognised professional credential. 

Through this accreditation, QMU students studying one of the undergraduate Business Management courses will not only earn their degree, but will also achieve a CMI Level 5 qualification in Management and Leadership at no additional cost, giving them a competitive edge in the job market. 

QMU’s new CMI Dual Accreditation offers: 

  • A dual qualification: Students will earn both a QMU Business Management degree and a respected CMI Level 5 professional qualification, boosting employability and career readiness. 
  • Chartered status: Graduates can progress towards Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) or the prestigious Chartered Manager (CMgr) status – the highest professional accolade in management. 
  • Exclusive CMI membership: Students receive complimentary CMI membership throughout their studies, gaining access to professional development resources, career tools, networking opportunities, and leadership events. 

Thomas Peschken-Holt, Head of the Queen Margaret Business School, said: “Accreditation from CMI is a powerful addition to our Business Management offering.

“It aligns perfectly with QMU’s focus on employability and real-world learning, ensuring our graduates not only understand management theory, but also demonstrate professional competence and leadership in practice. 

“We look forward to continuing to enhance the curriculum and learner experience.” 

The CMI supports over 230,000 members worldwide and collaborates with more than 1,000 businesses and education providers. With over 75 years of expertise and a Royal Charter, CMI equips people at every career stage to develop the confidence and skills to lead effectively. 

Research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) highlights the strong impact of CMI accreditation on student outcomes and employability. According to CMI, 87% of students say that CMI dual accreditation makes them more employable, and graduates with CMI Dual Accreditation see average salary increases of around 8%. In addition, nine out of ten university partners agree that CMI accreditation improves overall student satisfaction, demonstrating the value of this recognition for both learners and institutions. 

This partnership with the CMI confirms the University’s commitment to preparing students for successful, impactful careers in the business industry. 

QMU’s final-year Business Management students have already been briefed on the CMI accreditation during on-campus sessions and are enthusiastic about accessing CMI support materials, participating in industry events, and expanding their professional networks.

Further follow-up sessions will be held later this semester, with CMI inductions for third-year students scheduled to roll out later this year. 

Palliative care learning hub launched

Free online resource for Scotland’s health and social care workforce

A new online learning hub providing free palliative care education resources for Scotland’s health and social care workforce launches today.

The Palliative Care Learning Hub brings together recommended learning materials from NHS Education for Scotland, Scottish Social Services Council, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Health Boards and third sector organisations in one accessible place.

The hub supports staff and students wherever they work or study – offering advice on providing compassionate end-of-life care – that reflects the refreshed 2025 Palliative Care Education Framework launched in November. It offers free, flexible ways to support learning and development for individuals, teams, and organisations.

Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto said: “Everyone deserves compassionate, high-quality care at the end of their life. This new learning hub will help ensure our health and social care workforce has the knowledge and skills to provide that care.

“By bringing together palliative care learning resources in one accessible place, we are making it easier for staff across Scotland to access the education and support they need. This is an important step forward in delivering on our commitment to improve palliative care for people of all ages.”

The hub is a key action from Scotland’s palliative care strategy and delivery plan, supporting the outcome that health and social care staff caring for people of all ages with life-shortening conditions, have access to recommended education and learning resources.

Palliative Care Learning Hub: 

https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/86009/palliative-care-learning-hub

MISSING: Have you seen Alison?

POLICE are appealing for the public’s help to trace 60-year-old Alison Gibbens who has been reported missing in Edinburgh.

Alison was last seen on North Gyle Avenue around 10.30am this morning – Monday, 26 January, 2026.

She is described as white, around 5ft 3in tall, of slim build, with brown hair. When last seen, Alison was wearing a black jacket.

Inspector Caroline Herbert said: “Concerns for Alison are growing and we are keen to trace her as soon as possible.

“We are appealing to anyone who has seen her, or has any information on where she may be, to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 1103 of Monday, 26 January, 2026.

Lethal pandemic disease slowing down the extinction of amphibians in tropical climates, study shows

A new, global study led by Queen’s University Belfast reveals that tropical amphibians have evolved resistance to the most lethal wildlife pathogen recorded to date.

Chytridiomycosis is a devastating infectious disease, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or Bd, commonly associated with the alarming decline of amphibians worldwide.

These accelerating declines overtake the loss of most organisms on Earth, and this fungal pandemic disease, also referred to as a panzootic, is regarded as a predominant driver behind the massive global population declines and extinctions of frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders.

Published in the world-leading journal, Global Change Biology, the research compares previous data to more recent figures to examine the amphibian species infection status in tropical regions as well as in colder climates.

Dr Daniel Pincheira-Donoso from the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s, the principal investigator on the project, said: “The idea that this infectious disease has been a dominant cause of the rapid loss of amphibian biodiversity has become a form of paradigm amongst the scientific community to produce volumes of data from thousands of species on a global scale.

“This collective effort created an opportunity for us to gather a comprehensive database spanning the global diversity of amphibian species, including the threatened and non-threatened, and all the thousands of species in which the presence of the disease has been tested.

“We now know that the role of this infectious disease in the extinction of amphibians is not exactly as we thought, with tropical species getting over the panzootic, while these panzootic effects are still ongoing in amphibians from colder climates.”

Dr Pincheira-Donoso adds: “An explanation is that the seasonality of colder climates added to the low density of amphibians in these regions may have acted as ‘natural lockdowns’ and ‘social distance’ effects that have made the impact of the pandemic slower, slowing down the evolution of their resistance.”

Many locations throughout the world have already been successfully invaded by one or more Bd variants, and these findings suggest that the most susceptible species have either already gone extinct or have undergone past declines and developed some form of tolerance to the disease.

This means there is the potential that these amphibian populations may coexist with Bd, and that a once declining species may have stabilised in numbers or even be in recovery.

This research indicates that there are region-specific and time-specific patterns of extinctions, with tropical amphibian species no longer experiencing declines of the same intensity and non-tropical amphibians continuing to decline further.

Luke Goodyear, a PhD Researcher from the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s who led the research, commented: “This new research is very exciting as it shows two different ways this disease has affected amphibians.

“We see early signs of possible stabilisation in environments around the equator, which were initially hit very hard by the disease. Although many species are still at risk in these regions, it seems that the peak of devastation might be behind us.

“Then in colder climates, like Europe, we see the opposite. This is the first research to show the increasing impact on these amphibian species at this scale. Hopefully this can speed up conservation action while there is still time to prevent the mass declines we saw in tropical climates.”

The paper can be read in full here.

Musselburgh Racecourse adds Irish accent to season’s premier jumps meeting

The pinnacle of Musselburgh Racecourse’s jumps season takes on a distinctive Irish theme this weekend.

The Bet365 Scottish Cheltenham Trials Weekend over Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February will celebrate the spirit and heritage synonymous with the famous Cheltenham Festival staged every March at the iconic racing venue.

With more than £400,000 in prize money over the two days, the East Lothian track’s standout jumps fixture typically attracts the UK and Ireland’s leading trainers, owners and horses to what is now established as the largest Cheltenham Trials weekend in Scotland.

Racegoers can enjoy the infectious sounds of traditional Irish music bands, including Savage Cabbage and The Good Roosters, and spontaneous pop-up Irish dance performances across the racecourse, filling the day with colour, rhythm and the unmistakable energy of the Emerald Isle.

Musselburgh has partnered with famous Edinburgh Irish pub Dropkick Murphy’s to add to the Irish-inspired atmosphere, piper Lewis Saunders will play on the Saturday and Irish dancers will perform. On the opening day there will also be an After Race Party following the final race (4.11pm) with live music providing a fitting finale to round off celebrations.

Racegoers booking admission tickets before midnight on Friday 30 January can save £3 per person on the normal admission price, which is £35 on Saturday and £30 on Sunday.

Saturday’s card is headlined by the prestigious £80,000 bet365 Scottish Champion Handicap Chase and the £50,000 Listed bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial, races that regularly unearth future stars bound for glory at the Cheltenham and Aintree spring festivals.

On Sunday, elite jumps racing continues with the bet365 Edinburgh National run over 3 miles 7 furlongs, and which attracts quality stayers being prepared to challenge at the premier spring jumps meetings.

Aisling Johnston, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Musselburgh Racecourse, said: “The road to the Cheltenham and the Grand National Festivals starts here at Musselburgh with our bet365 Scottish Cheltenham Trials weekend.

“With an electric atmosphere, an excellent choice of places to eat and drink, and the opportunity to see the country’s top owners, trainers, jockeys and horses in action, this is a must-attend event for all jumps racing fans.

“This year we are imitating the unique Irish-influenced atmosphere prevalent at the Cheltenham Festival proper, with quality entertainment and by partnering with Dropkick Murphy’s to add to the enjoyment and spectacle of what is one of Scotland’s premier racing events.”

Musselburgh will also welcome students from across Scotland to the Sunday meeting, carrying on the tradition of introducing younger racegoers to the sport.

Following feedback from last year, the raceday experience will be enhanced with additional bars for students, while guests holding regular raceday tickets can enjoy dedicated facilities, including The Rockavon bar and Café 1816.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk

PICTURES: Alan Rennie

Simon Howie’s sold-out Puddin’ Race for SAMH hailed a Burns Night success

The Scottish Butcher, Simon Howie, has hailed the launch of its first-ever 5km Puddin’ Race a resounding success, after the Burns Night-inspired run sold out within just a few weeks with over 500 runners keen to ‘pud’ on their running gear and run for a haggis in support of mental health.

Held on Sunday 25 January 2026, Burns Night, at Simon Howie’s HQ in Dunning, Perthshire, the first-ever event welcomed runners of all abilities and all ages to take part in a feel-good race designed to boost wellbeing, celebrate Burns Night, and raise funds and awareness for SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health).

The morning kicked off with the Kids’ Fun Run. While this race wasn’t officially timed and was all about having fun, we have to give a special shout-out to Alex Martin and Ainsley Young as the first boy and girl home.

Huge well done to all our young runners!

Despite the slightly drizzly weather the 5k started in high spirits with a piper accompanying the runners over the start line. The 5k route is quite a challenging route with some steep uphill and traily sections so the winner Alastair Marshall was quite rightly hailed The Great Chieftain o’ The Puddin’ Race, setting an extremely impressive time of 15:58.

Donations were invited from all runners signing up to the event and over £1000 was raised for SAMH, to support the charity’s vital mental health services across Scotland, before the race even started.

The Puddin’ Race formed part of a wider January fundraising drive by Simon Howie, which also included the brand’s Sideburns Night campaign, a nationwide challenge encouraging supporters to grow their sideburns in the lead-up to Burns Night and donate £5 to SAMH. Together, the two campaigns combined Burns Night tradition with light-hearted fundraising to tackle the January blues and support mental wellbeing across Scotland.

Founder Simon Howie said: “As the UK’s number 1 haggis brand and a family business putting on a family friendly event that welcomes people of all ages, both from the local community but also from further afield, to join us here in Dunning to celebrate Burns Night has been extremely special.

“The weather this month has been brutal but this really has been a celebration of us hardy Scots. We don’t let a bit of rain stop us turning up, especially if there’s a haggis to win!

“Our organising team, Clair Howison, James Tree and Scott Thomson have pulled out all the stops, so I want to thank them personally for all that they have done.

“What began as a bit of a whacky idea has turning into a massive post-Christmas blues-buster. We were blown away by how quickly the race sold out and delighted by the money it raised for SAMH so while it was a lot of work to juggle during our busiest time of the year, we also hope this will be the first of many to come.”

Participants crossed the finish line to receive a celebratory haggis and commemorative medal, with many also sporting exclusive Puddin’ Race T-shirts and tote bags. The event atmosphere reflected its core aim of bringing people together, tackling the January blues and highlighting the positive impact of physical activity on mental wellbeing.

Hazel McIlwraith, Director of Fundraising and Major Appeal at SAMH, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Simon Howie and everyone who took part in the Puddin’ Race.

“Community events like this play a vital role in helping us continue our work supporting mental health across Scotland, while also encouraging people to look after their own wellbeing.”

Following the success of the inaugural event, Simon Howie has confirmed it is exploring plans for future editions of the Puddin’ Race.

People across Scotland asked to help inform future plans by sharing their experiences of flooding

People across Scotland are being invited to share their experiences of local flooding issues to help inform how flood risk is managed in their communities, as work continues on Scotland’s next Flood Risk Management Plans.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) public consultation, launched on Wednesday 21st January, focuses on finding out about local flooding concerns in areas identified as having the highest flood risk. The feedback will help inform Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMP) covering 2028 to 2034, which will set out how Scotland reduces the impacts of flooding and builds resilience for the future.

Flooding is already affecting communities across Scotland, and climate change is increasing the likelihood of heavier rainfall and more frequent storms. SEPA’s most recent National Flood Risk Assessment (2025) shows that around 400,000 homes, businesses and vital services, around one in eight across Scotland, are currently in areas at medium risk of flooding. This number is projected to rise to around 634,000 by 2100 as the climate continues to change.

The FRMP consultation builds on work carried out in 2024, when Potentially Vulnerable Areas were reviewed, and consulted on, to identify where highest flood risk is most likely now and in the future. These areas help focus attention and investment where flooding is most widespread or complex, and where partnership working is essential to reduce impacts.

The current consultation marks the next step in that process, focusing on gathering local insight to ensure future plans reflect lived experience. Running until 22nd April, it asks communities to share their main flooding concerns and highlight projects, initiatives or actions already helping to manage flood risk.

The aim is to help develop Flood Risk Management Plans that support resilient, well-informed communities, recognising the role of individuals, organisations and partnerships alongside national agencies and local authorities in adapting to a changing climate.

Eleanor Cooper, SEPA’s Head of Environment Forecasting and Warning, said: “Flood risk in Scotland is increasing as our climate changes, and many communities are already experiencing the effects.

“The National Flood Risk Assessment published last year shows why it’s so important to plan ahead and work together to reduce the impacts of flooding.

“This consultation is about listening to communities and learning from local experience. By sharing concerns, experience and knowledge, people can help inform our understanding of flood risk in their area and support the development of flood risk management planning.”

The consultation is part of a two-stage process. A second, more detailed consultation will begin from December 2026, when further information on flood risk, objectives and proposed actions will be published in partnership with local authorities. The final Flood Risk Management Plans are due to be published in December 2027.

People can find out more and take part in the consultation at:

 Flood Risk Management Phase 1 Consultation – Scottish Environment Protection Agency – Citizen Space.

Specsavers expands audiology services in Edinburgh city centre

SPECSAVERS’ new state-of-the-art audiology hub in Edinburgh city centre has officially opened.

Specsavers Shandwick Place, which is locally owned and run, launched the dedicated hearing care service at the start of January, with audiologist Kate Baxter, an experienced audiologist who has lots of experience in both the NHS & private sectors, at the helm alongside fellow directors Aly Uka and Susan McIntosh.

The new hub was in response to growing customer demand in Edinburgh, and is now open 7-days a week, making it easier for the local community to access much-needed hearing services.

Kate Baxter and the team will carry out in depth private assessments, including comprehensive hearing checks, hearing device fittings and maintenance, hearing protection, along with advice about looking after your ears.

Ear wax removal will also be available, and Specsavers Shandwick Place has also expanded its facilities to improve accessibility for customers.

Kate says: ‘Maintaining healthy hearing is vital for overall well-being, so we are delighted to be offering a dedicated hearing service for the people of Edinburgh, and the team and I are excited to grow the business and provide the very best care for our customers.’

Aly Uka, dispensing director and senior dispensing specialist at Specsavers Shandwick Place, says: ‘We’re delighted to have a dedicated hearing hub now open that can offer high-quality hearing care to local people.

‘We’re committed to expanding our services in the area to meet customer need, and to improving local health and wellness in any way we can.’

Specsavers Shandwick Place is located at 14-16 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH2 4RN, and is easily reachable on foot or public transport, including trams and buses.

For more information about the Specsavers Shandwick Place store, visit:

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/shandwickplace, or call 0131 240 8860.