BRINGING THE LIBRARY TO PEOPLE’S DOORSTEPS!
We are currently looking for volunteers at Leith Library and across the city to support our Library Link groups and Home deliveries for elderly, housebound and disabled service users.
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/…/libraries-elderly…
For more information, please email:
edinburghhomelibrary@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
or visit royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Foysol Choudhury MSP has called for greater clarity and faster progress on plans for a new East Calder Health Centre, following a roundtable meeting at the Scottish Parliament today.
The meeting brought together elected representatives, NHS Lothian officials, local campaigners and community leaders to discuss the future of primary and community healthcare provision in the area and agree next steps.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that work will begin to develop detailed plans for new primary and community care infrastructure in East Calder. This progress reflects the efforts of dedicated local campaigners, alongside the continued support of MPs and MSPs.
“I was pleased to meet with local campaigners to discuss the future of East Calder Health Centre and the next steps for our community,” said Mr Choudhury. “It is encouraging to see progress being made, and I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point.”
Mr Choudhury has welcomed recent correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray. “I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary recognises East Calder as a key focus and that his team is working with NHS Lothian closely to ensure this project can progress.” he said.
He added that recent updates from NHS Lothian confirm that East Calder remains a central priority but stressed that significant questions remain unanswered.
“Local residents deserve clarity,” Mr Choudhury added. “We need to know when funding will be confirmed and when a timetable will be put in place for developing a business case. We also need transparency about the budget that has been allocated and what it will cover. Most importantly, we need a clear date for when construction of new facilities will begin.”
With the area experiencing rapid population growth, pressure on existing health services continues to increase. “While progress is being made, it is simply not happening quickly enough,” he said.
“The need for improved health facilities is urgent. Our community deserves timely action, not ongoing uncertainty. I will continue to press the Scottish Government and NHS Lothian for clear answers and real improvements on behalf of local residents.”
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has set out that Scottish Government funding will be deployed to boost skills and employment opportunities for workers facing redundancy at ExxonMobil’s ethylene plant at Mossmorran.
Options being considered include apprenticeships, a college-led training programme and investing in new employment opportunities at the plant.
A taskforce led by Fife Council meets for the first time today in response to the planned closure. The Scottish Government will use the meeting to further understand the needs of the workforce and local community to inform its decisions regarding the deployment of the £9 million investment.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “This is a worrying time for the workforce at Mossmorran and they rightly expect urgent action. I met worker representatives earlier this month to assure them that we are doing all we can to support them and the wider community.
“We have allocated £9 million over three years in our draft Budget to help staff and communities affected by the plant’s closure. Today’s meeting is an opportunity to engage with the UK Government, Fife Council, unions and local partners to agree how we best support individuals impacted by ExxonMobil’s decision.
“In the meantime, our Partnership Action for Continuing Employment initiative is providing skills and employability support for workers.”
PEOPLE in Lanarkshire will have access to the skills and opportunities they need to chase the jobs of the future, as AI is put to work to transform communities and livelihoods.
Delivered by home-grown data centre company DataVita around their data centre site in Airdrie – and in partnership with AI cloud firm CoreWeave – the Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone announced by the Technology Secretary today (29 January) will bring more than 3,400 jobs over the course of the coming years (note), including delivering 50 apprenticeships to nurture the next generation of Scottish AI expertise.
Of these jobs, around 800 are expected to focus on the high-paying AI jobs of the future, including everything from AI researchers and coders through to permanent staff who will run and maintain data centres. The rest will be made up of immediate construction jobs, as attention turns to building out the entire site, including data centres, supportive infrastructure, and a renewables park.
Alongside £8.2 billion in private investment that will drive economic renewal in the local area, a new community fund will inject up to £543 million into support for a range of local programmes over the next 15 years (note). The money will come as a direct result of the work carried out at the site, being raised as data centre capacity comes online.
From skills and training packages which will give people the tools they need for jobs in and working with AI, through to after-school coding clubs, and support for local charities and foodbanks – this is how the government is ensuring AI is delivering frontline support and opportunity for communities and playing an active role to bring down the cost of living.
AI Growth Zones are just one of the many commitments the government has delivered one year on from the publication of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. In total the government has met 38 of its 50 commitments (note) with the public able to track progress in detail at a newly published interactive dashboard.
In the past 12 months, the government has laid the foundations for long-term success, increased its AI computing power tenfold and launched a major skills drive which has already seen over one million free AI courses delivered.
It is already delivering practical benefits – a third of chest x-rays in the NHS are AI-enabled, while AI is also helping the government function more efficiently by reducing the time taken to identify fraud by 80%.
Meanwhile, Extract, the government-backed tool to digitise planning, is expected to be made available to all councils by Spring 2026, with a target to digitise all planning documents by the end of 2026.
AI tutoring tools to narrow the attainment gap will also be co-developed this Summer and begin trials at the start of the next academic year.
The UK AI sector is already the largest in Europe, raising £6 billion in 2025, which is an 80% increase from 2024.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Getting on in life should not mean travelling miles from your community for work while struggling to pay the bills at home.
“By bringing billions of pounds of investment into Lanarkshire, we are creating good, wellpaid jobs and funding support that directly helps families with the cost of living.
“With strong progress made on our AI Opportunities Action Plan over the past year, now is the time to put our foot on the accelerator and ensure working people feel the benefits in every corner of the UK.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: ”Today’s announcement is about creating good jobs, backing innovation and making sure the benefits AI will bring can be felt across the community – that’s how the UK government is delivering real change for the people of Scotland.
“From thousands of new jobs and billions in investment through to support for local people and their families, AI Growth Zones are bringing generation-defining opportunity to all corners of the country.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “Seizing the opportunities of AI is vital for getting jobs and growth in every part of the country.
“Our AI growth zones are doing just that – creating new opportunities for local communities and unlocking investment so businesses can grow and scale up, building an economy that works for working people.”
Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: “North Lanarkshire’s proud industrial heritage helped power Britain through the last century – from coal and steel to manufacturing. Today, we’re writing the next chapter, as this community becomes home to an advanced AI site. The area will once again be at the very heart of Scotland’s and Britain’s industrial story.
“This is the UK government’s economic growth in action. Scotland’s AI Growth Zone, backed by £5 million of UK government investment will create more than 3,400 jobs and attract billions in investment. With 5 AI Growth Zones now across the UK, we are cementing our position as Europe’s leading tech sector.
“The UK government’s AI Growth Zone will bring new industries, good jobs and fresh opportunities to North Lanarkshire, but also boost the economy of the whole of central Scotland.”
Danny Quinn, Managing Director of DataVita, said: “Scotland has everything AI needs, the talent, the green energy, and now the infrastructure. But this goes beyond the physical buildings.
“We’re creating innovation parks, new energy infrastructure, and attracting inward investment from some of the world’s leading technology companies. This is a massive opportunity for North Lanarkshire & Scotland, and we want to make sure local people share in it.
£The £543 million community fund means the benefits stay here, good jobs, new skills, and investment that actually reaches the people who live and work in this area.”
Ben Richardson, Managing Director of CoreWeave International, said: “The Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone marks a meaningful step in moving the UK from AI ambition into AI in production.
“We’re proud to make this £1.5 billion investment with DataVita, delivering a production-grade AI cloud designed to run, scale, and evolve as AI becomes embedded across the economy.
“That long-term approach is what supports economic growth and strengthens the UK’s position in AI.”
Bolstering the benefits for local communities even further, DataVita’s parent company HFD Group will also contribute a separate £1 million per year towards local charities and community groups.
When completed, Lanarkshire will be one of the most advanced AI sites anywhere in the world, with DataVita planning to include the generation of more than 500MW of on-site power to drive AI breakthroughs in the next 4 years.
It will also explore cutting-edge solutions to one of the most pressing challenges facing AI – energy consumption. The energy powering this new Growth Zone will be drawn from on-site renewables, while excess heat – produced by cooling systems as they keep cutting-edge computers and tech in top working order – will also be put to good use. Once the site is fully up and running, plans will be explored to see this excess heat re-directed to power the nearby University Hospital Monklands – Scotland’s first fully digital and Net Zero hospital.
Being in striking distance of land ripe for development for solar and wind power source will help to ensure the UK can realise its AI ambitions without compromising on its clean energy superpower mission.
This is a pioneering new approach to AI development – harnessing renewable energy to power advances in the technology while ensuring those benefits always filter down to benefit local communities.
CoreWeave will be one of the key backers of the site, rolling out cutting edge NVIDIA GPU chips so researchers and innovators can power their work. This deployment will be part of the £2.5 billion investment the company has made to AI projects in the UK.
It joins a stable of 5 AI Growth Zones announced in the 12 months since the launch of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, joining Oxfordshire, North and South Wales, and the North East of England as jewels in the UK’s AI Crown.
All told, AI Growth Zone announcements over the last 12 months have been bolstered by commitments to add up to 15,000 jobs for local communities, and at least £28.2 billion in private investment.
WITH welfare and benefits in danger of becoming a political football in the Holyrood election campaign (see today’s FMQs for starters – Ed.), Scotland’s Poverty Alliance has spoken out:
Poverty Alliance Policy & Campaigns Manager Gary Christie said: “When it comes to ending the injustice of poverty and investing in a better future, the Poverty Alliance works constructively with leaders from all political parties.
“One of the things we ask of all is that they avoid creating false division between people. Very few politicians would criticise someone for using our NHS or claiming Pension Credit. So, it’s morally wrong to point at others who use our shared social security system.
“Nearly 40% of the people on Universal Credit are in work. Nearly 1 in 3 people referred to Trussell Trust foodbanks are in working households.
“We all pay into our shared public services, and we all benefit. People who don’t pay income tax contribute every time they buy something that has VAT on it. And many people on the lowest incomes in Scotland have higher tax rates than the wealthiest in society. We are all in it together.
“Instead of risking stigmatising and hurting our friends, neighbours and fellow citizens, it would be good for politicians to look at their own responsibilities first. They have the power to move towards a Minimum Income Guarantee based on fair work, strong services, and a just social security system for all of us. These must be pursued together, not traded off against one another to score political points.
“The Scottish Child Payment is a vital building block of that future. It helps give a decent start in life to more than 300,000 of Scotland’s children.
“Rather than talking about unjustly cutting some children off from that vital help, politicians can boost the value of the payment as one important stepping stone towards the Minimum Income Guarantee.”
Eighteen projects have been awarded a share of around £77,000 from this year’s Scottish Connections Fund to help strengthen Scotland’s international diaspora.
Launched by the Scottish Government in 2023, the Scottish Connections Fund supports new initiatives led by Scotland’s overseas community that build international networks and promote the country’s reputation and interests around the world.
The fund received 79 applications from across six continents bidding to secure grants of up to £5,000.
Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs Angus Robertson said: “I am delighted to see the Scottish Connections Fund growing year on year. It’s a testament to the dedication that the members of Scotland’s international community have to celebrating their links to Scotland.
“Scotland’s diaspora around the world is vibrant and diverse – and the variety of this year’s projects shows that in action. I share my congratulations for all of this year’s successful fund recipients.”
One of the successful applicants was ‘Whanganui X Dundee: Textile Legacies’, based in New Zealand, which will receive £4,795.
Emma Bugden, Focal Point at UNESCO City of Design Whanganui said: “We are delighted to receive the funding from Scottish Connections, Textile Legacies is a residency programme that connects indigenous and ancestral textile practices between Whanganui, New Zealand, and Dundee, Scotland, to foster meaningful cultural and creative exchange.
“The project initiates a new connection between two UNESCO Cities of Design, supporting the development of contemporary textile design specialists.”
Annie Marrs, Lead Officer at UNESCO City of Design Dundee, added: “The project recognises the deep-rooted history of textile production in both cities, and the significance of textiles in expressing and sustaining ancestral and familial connections within both Māori and Scottish cultures.
It also acknowledges the vital role that the reclamation of traditional textile practices plays in cultural revitalisation in both Aotearoa New Zealand and Scotland. We are looking forward to developing the programme thanks to this additional funding.”
The third round of the Scottish Connections Fund was launched in July 2025 to help Scottish diaspora organisations and their members set up projects to promote Scotland’s reputation and interests.
Applications closed on 9 September 2025. All projects align to the aims and objectives of the Scottish Connections Framework.
International organisations and their members were able to apply for a maximum of £5,000. Applications were assessed using a competitive scoring process.
The available budget for 2025 to 2026 was £75,000. A total of 79 applications were received, with a very high quality demonstrated. We are able to fund the following 18 projects, with a total value of up to £77,737.51.
Ref No: SCF25-26-01
Grantee: Business Improvement District (Not for Profit) BID4Oban
Grant: £4,500
Title: Round the World Clipper Yacht Race – bringing Oban and Argyll to the global diaspora
Oban has successfully secured host post status for the prestigious 2025-26 Round the World International Yacht Race.
We want to leverage this event by working closely with Clipper Events, Visit Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Argyll and Bute Council, SAMS, Diageo and BID4Oban. We are partnering with Washington DC, the American Scottish Foundation, the British Embassy in US and the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations to promote the Highland heritage and Gaelic links in Oban to the US diaspora and to develop digital content and events which can be used to attract more trade links, visitors, and students.
Ref No: SCF25-2 -12
Grantee: The Charleston Pipe Band
Grant: £1,244.51
Title: The Teaching Tent: An Open Invitation for Making Scottish Connections
The Charleston Pipe Band’s “Teaching Tent” initiative will encourage meaningful connections between potential students and knowledgeable piping and drumming tutors for on-the-spot teaching moments. Interactions such as these will remove the above-mentioned impediments to making inquiries about how to learn to play the pipes and drums. Through “The Teaching Tent” initiative, the Charleston Pipe Band plans to be more strategic about “growing” our Scottish pipe band, while supporting the scope of Scottish traditions connections through musical participation. Inside “The Teaching Tent,” curious passersby will have the opportunity to meet with an experienced piper and/or drummer for casual drop-in group instruction. These hands-on sessions throughout the event day will provide the opportunity for the public-at-large to experience playing the practice chanter and/or snare drum pad.
The project will encompass public appearances to capitalize on the outreach initiative of “The Teaching Tent” at the following events from October 2025 to March 2026.
October 11 2025: 30th Anniversary Showcase of Celtic Connections: Hosted by The Charleston Pipe Band with invited guest Celtic musical groups based in Charleston.
November 1 2025: Charleston, South Carolina Scottish Games
February 22 2026: Northeast Jacksonville Florida Scottish Games and Festival
March 14 2026: North Charleston, South Carolina St. Patrick’s Day Block Party
March 15 2026: Hilton Head, South Carolina St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 17 2026: Charleston, South Carolina St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Ref No: SCF25-26-17
Grantee: Ceilidh Stockholm
Grant: £4,000
Title: Ceilidh Stockholm goes to Gothenburg
Our project is to organise and deliver a traditional Scottish ceilidh in Gothenburg, Sweden, in March 2026. This event will celebrate Scottish culture, foster community spirit among the Scottish diaspora, and introduce Scottish music and dance to a wider Swedish audience. Ceilidhs are renowned for being welcoming, lively, and family-friendly occasions that encourage participation from all, regardless of age or experience. We have identified Gothenburg as having one of the largest Scottish communities in Sweden, yet opportunities for cultural connection remain limited. Numerous Scots and locals have approached us about hosting a ceilidh in Gothenburg, but until now, costs have made this impossible. Our aim is to establish the ceilidh as an annual event, laying the foundation for ongoing community building and cultural exchange.
Ref No: SCF25-26-21
Grantee: Erli Sarilita, BDS, MSc, PhD Director Non Degree Education, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia
Grant: £5,000
Title: Scottish Higher Education and Cultural Festival in Indonesia
The Scottish Higher Education and Cultural Festival in Indonesia will highlight Scotland’s academic excellence, cultural heritage, and creative industries in partnership with Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad). The week-long programme at the Unpad Knowledge Theatre will showcase Scottish films, present profiles of leading Scottish universities, and feature a cultural photo booth with traditional costumes alongside authentic Scottish cookies. The festival will be officially opened by the Rector of Unpad. By fostering meaningful people-to-people connections, the event will strengthen Scotland’s visibility in Southeast Asia and build sustainable education and cultural partnerships.
Ref No: SCF25-26-22
Grantee: Social Enterprise Academy
Grant: £5,000
Title: Connecting Scotland and Canada – Community-led Tourism Leaders Sharing and Learning Together.
Social enterprises in the community-led tourism sector support the sustainable development of remote rural communities across northern Canada and the Highlands & Islands of Scotland. These communities have a shared Gaelic and Celtic heritage. Community-led social enterprises lead the tourism sector in these areas with peripheral communities and are already stepping up and doing things for themselves. This project will bring together practitioners in this space across Northern Scotland and Scotland’s diaspora in Northern Canada (particularly Nova Scotia), in a collaborative, online learning programme across four evenings to identify best practice and develop networks for future collaboration.
Ref No: SCF25-26-26
Grantee: The Victorian Scottish Heritage Cultural Foundation (VSHCF)
Grant: £1,320
Title: The Big Melbourne Kilt Run
When you visit Melbourne it is a must that you either walk, jog or run Melbourne’s iconic ‘Tan Track’ around the beautiful Botanic Gardens beside Melbourne’s Yarra River. The Tan, Melbourne |The Long Run Australia
Suitable for participants of all abilities, The Tan has become one of the most popular running/walking tracks in the world. The Tan will be the high profile, publicly visible location of the inaugural Big Melbourne Kilt Run and is open to individuals, families, workplace, club & school teams. The event’s aim is to promote our Scottish connections, reach out to the Australian Scottish diaspora, connect with young 2nd and 3rd generation Australian/Scots and be inclusive of our wider multicultural community in a fun, outdoor activity which promotes health, wellbeing, mental health and community inclusion.
Entrants are encouraged to wear kilts or an item of tartan clothing and will be greeted by pipers. Highland Dancers in traditional dress who will act as arrival course marshals. Prizes will be linked to Scottish connected companies or themes
Ref No: SCF25-26-31
Grantee: Greater Moncton Scottish Association
Grant: £4,953
Title: Tartan & Tides: A Saint Andrew’s Day Celebration
Tartan & Tides: A Saint Andrew’s Day Celebration launches the lead-up to the Greater Moncton Scottish Association’s 20th anniversary Highland Games & Scottish Festival. This variety concert & community gathering will invite acclaimed artists such as Gaelic singer Cathy-Anne MacPhee, World Highland Dancing Champion Marielle Lesperance, award-winning New Brunswick fiddler Samantha Robichaud, & talented local youth, showcasing Scotland’s living traditions while fostering diaspora pride in Atlantic Canada. Outreach to school music & drama programs will engage young performers, while a full recording will be shared with seniors’ residences, extending access to those unable to attend in person & ensuring lasting cultural impact across generations.
Ref No: SCF25-26-35
Grantee: Chris Moser, CEO, Redwine Productions LLC
Grant: £5,000
Title: THE SCOTS-IRISH – A MUSICAL HISTORY
Our two-hour documentary film for U.S, U.K. and Ireland television will combine narrative and music performance to explore the important role of the Scot-Irish in the history of American democracy. There will be significant attention to Irish and Scottish history to provide context. This grant will support field production in Scotland and development of a section of our website previewing the film’s content related to Scotland. Topics will include Scottish migration to Ulster, influence of the Scottish Enlightenment and Scottish Presbyterianism on the American Revolution, and Scottish/American traditional music connections.
Ref No: SCF25-26-36
Grantee: The Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York
Grant: £5,000
Title: Finding Scotland in the Declaration of Independence
This project will highlight the influence of the Scottish Enlightenment on the founding of the United States, with a particular focus on Scotland’s role in shaping the Declaration of Independence, addressing a potential gap in public awareness. The project will deliver a lecture supported by an educational booklet, held in partnership with the Fraunces Tavern Museum. The lecture will be recorded and shared with the public on our website. The event seeks to deepen appreciation of Scotland’s intellectual impact on the formation of our country, foster transatlantic collaboration, and provide lasting educational resources for use in future events or commemorations.
Ref No: SCF25-26-40
Grantee: Scottish Society of Ottawa
Grant: £4,950
Title: The Scots of Bytown Part of Bytown’s Bicentennial celebrations (1826–2026) by Scottish Society of Ottawa with Scottish Connections
The Scots of Bytown is a new historical play by acclaimed playwright and performer Pierre Brault, known for his award-winning historical works such as Blood on the Moon and Dief the Chief. This original piece celebrates the vital role of Scottish immigrants in the founding of Bytown (later Ottawa) and the building of the Rideau Canal in 1826. Through humour, history, and lively Scottish voices, Brault’s script conjures up engineers, masons, navvies, doctors, entrepreneurs, and families whose resilience and spirit shaped the future Canadian capital. The play honours the Scots’ enduring legacy with wit, humanity, and a strong sense of cultural pride.
Ref No: SCF25-26-41
Grantee: MacPB Inc dba MacMillan United Pipe Bands
Grant: £4,900
Title: Recruiting and Training the MacMillan Youth Pipe Band
MacMillan United Pipe Bands is starting a youth pipe band to effect change in 3 key areas:
1. Enriching the Scottish Arts in the United States: we will build the first youth program based in Virginia with plans for expansion into Maryland and Washington, DC.
2. Create Competitive Success: we will train and bring students to competitions across the US, Canada, and Scotland
3. Train the next generation of music leaders and performers in Highland Piping & Drumming: this band will be managed and led by its members, giving youth opportunities to develop leadership skills alongside world-class instruction for their musical success.
Ref No: SCF25-26-42
Grantee: The Chicago Scots, Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care
Grant: £3,725
Title: Advancing Dementia Care: A Collaborative Symposium on Best Practices & Future Possibilities from Scotland & U.S.
Chicago Scots will convene leading experts from Scotland and the U.S. to discuss and exchange knowledge on research advances and best practices addressing the global rise of dementia which is estimated to triple by 2050. This symposium will help shape the recommendations and solutions Chicago Scots will model to create a “Centre of Excellence in Memory Care” at the senior community it has owned and operated for more than 100 years – Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care. The symposium will be multidisciplinary bringing together neurologists, neuroscientists, social workers, epidemiologists, geneticists, neuropathologists, and leaders in dementia care.
Ref No: SCF25-26-48
Grantee: Scots in London Events Ltd
Grant: £3,800
Title: Kidlit Scotland Roadshow and St Andrew’s Day Reading Record
In this new initiative, we will bring award-winning children’s authors from Scotland (KILTS – Kidlit Scotland), to facilitate events for London schools, both in-person and virtually for a wider reach. We will launch a lasting partnership with London schools to participate in the annual St Andrew’s Day Reading record (current record over 13k pupils and over 150 schools reading something Scottish simultaneously). The aim is to champion Scottish books beyond Scotland’s borders. We will also offer public family events over the weekend.
Ref No: SCF25-26-49
Grantee: Leisure & Culture Dundee
Grant: £4,795
Title: Whanganui X Dundee: Textile Legacies
Textile Legacies is a residency programme that connects indigenous and ancestral textile practices between Whanganui, New Zealand, and Dundee, Scotland, to foster meaningful cultural and creative exchange. The project initiates a new connection between two UNESCO Cities of Design, supporting the development of contemporary textile design specialists.
The project recognises the deep-rooted history of textile production in both cities, and the significance of textiles in expressing and sustaining ancestral and familial connections within both Māori and Scottish cultures. It also acknowledges the vital role that the reclamation of traditional textile practices plays in cultural revitalisation in both Aotearoa New Zealand and Scotland.
Ref No: SCF25-26-52
Grantee: Digital Skills Education
Grant: £4,600
Title: “Code Your Own Tartan – Live Lesson for young people”
Can you use code to craft a digital tartan?
This workshop is a mashup of Scotland’s heritage and traditional tartan design with creative computer coding and generative digital art.
In this interactive online event, thousands of teenagers will learn about how tartan is designed and woven, then use computer code to create their own unique tartan patterns.
Participants will reflect on what these new tartans mean in today’s digital world – how do we identify as belonging to a group or “clan”?
This live massive collaborative lesson mixes digital skills, textile design, and storytelling, all centred around Scotland’s cultural history.
Ref No: SCF25-26-62
Grantee: The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA
Grant: £5,000
Title: THE BURNS PROJECT / US Tour
THE BURNS PROJECT is a new piece of theatre by Scottish performer and educator James Clements, commissioned by the National Trust for Scotland and based on the Trust’s recently digitized archive of Robert Burns manuscripts. The work conjures a complex, irreverent, and honest portrait of Scotland’s national hero and a global cultural icon. THE BURNS PROJECT premiered at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2025 and, following a tour to Trust properties across Scotland, will come to the US in March 2026 for performances and post-show talk backs in New York City, Washington, DC, and Chicago.
Ref No: SCF25-26-64
Grantee: The DataKirk
Grant: £4,950
Title: African-Scottish Educational Diaspora Digital Storytelling
This project will create a series of high-quality digital stories, including videos and podcasts, to showcase the contributions of the Scottish educational diaspora from Africa. By highlighting the academic and professional achievements of this community, the project aims to strengthen connections between Scotland and Africa, enhance Scotland’s global reputation, and inspire future generations. The content will be hosted on a dedicated section of The DataKirk’s website and promoted via social media, providing a lasting resource that celebrates the diaspora’s role in promoting Scottish interests
Ref No: SCF25-26-75
Grantee: The Washington Tattoo
Grant: £5,000
Title: Drams, Drums & Diplomacy: Scotland in America 250
Drams, Drums & Diplomacy: Scotland in America 250 is a three-event cultural diplomacy and business engagement series in Washington, DC, led by The Washington Tattoo. Running from December 2025 to March 2026, the programme will showcase Scotland’s music, whisky, food, textiles, and innovation in the build-up to America’s 250th anniversary. With Scottish music as the constant heartbeat, the series will highlight Scotland’s heritage, strengthen diaspora and political connections, and create pathways for trade, cultural exchange, and investment, ensuring Scotland’s story is visible at this once-in-a-generation commemoration.
The Scottish Parliament has installed a new Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) outside the public entrance to the Parliament building.
The installation is a collaboration between The Scottish Parliament and St John Scotland.
Every year, over 3000 people in Scotland suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, an event which is fatal unless CPR and defibrillation are started by bystanders within minutes.
The installation provides 24 /7 access for the public 365 days a year to the PAD.
The Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament said: “We’re pleased to partner with St John Scotland to give the public access to a defibrillator outside the Parliament building.
“Evidence shows the chances of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can be increased two-to-threefold by the immediate provision of bystander CPR and defibrillation so this is a very positive step which can help save lives.”
Barri Millar, Chief Operating Officer, St John Scotland said: “St John Scotland is proud to support the Scottish Parliament with a new Public Access Defibrillator. We are committed to strengthening community resilience across Scotland and ensuring lifesaving equipment is accessible in every community.
“Together with our ‘Save a Life for Scotland’ partners, we continue to expand CPR awareness and increase access to defibrillators — helping save lives across the country.”
Parents and carers in Scotland have until midnight on 28 February 2026 to apply for over £300 of support for children when they are old enough to start primary school.
School Age Payment is worth £319.80 for each child to help with the cost of preparing for school.
The payment helps carers and families facing additional costs at a key stage in a child’s development. The money can be spent on anything a child needs for school, including clothes, school trips and stationery.
Part of the Best Start Grant package, which is unique to Scotland, School Age Payment is available for children born between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021. Parents and carers can receive the payment for multiple children born during this time and there is no requirement to take up a place at school.
Since the launch of Best Start Grant in 2018, Social Security Scotland has delivered School Age Payment to more than 114,000 parents and carers.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “Families and carers should not miss out on support they are entitled to – especially at such an important milestone in a child’s life.
School Age Payment helps ease the financial pressures of starting school while playing an important role in our mission to tackle child poverty. I strongly encourage parents and carers to check if they are eligible and apply before the February deadline to make sure their child gets the best start possible.”
To apply for School Age Payment, visit: https://www.mygov.scot/best-start-grant-best-start-foods/how-to-apply
Eligibility:
A person may be able to get Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods if they or their partner meet all these conditions:
The person or their partner must get one of these qualifying benefits to be eligible for Best Start Grant and Foods:
People under 20 years old who do not get one of these payments, may still be able to get Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.
Social Security Scotland automatically pays School Age Payment to eligible people who get Scottish Child Payment. If people do not receive Scottish Child Payment or have opted out of automatic payments, they are encouraged to apply before the deadline on 28 February 2026.
Some families who are not eligible for Scottish Child Payment might still be eligible for the School Age Payment. This includes parents and carers who receive housing benefit; are under 18 and do not receive any other benefits; or are 18 or 19 and dependent on someone else who receives benefits for them.
School Age Payment has not replaced School Clothing Grant. School Age Payment does not affect payments of School Clothing Grant in any way. Eligible parents and carers can apply for both payments.
Social Security Scotland usually only makes each of the payments once for the same child. If responsibility for the child changes, they may make extra payments to the person who’s now responsible for the child. For example, if a child moves to live with a different kinship carer or adoptive parent within the same application window.
Whilst councils have made significant savings, the cost of delivering services is rising faster than available funding. This risks the financial sustainability of councils over the next three to five years, says public spending watchdog.
Although Scottish Government funding to councils has been increasing, this hasn’t kept pace with rising costs and demand. Councils are overspending on delivering services and borrowing more.
In its latest update on council finances, the Accounts Commission report that councils face a budget gap of nearly £1 billion by 2027.
In 2024/25, councils met 90 per cent of their savings targets. But for the first time in six years, they reported a collective overspend on the costs of delivering services. Debt levels are increasing. Many are relying on reserves.
Whilst councils are increasing the amount of money they raise through fees and charges, income generated isn’t keeping pace with rising costs and inflation.
With Scottish Government funding to deliver capital projects falling, councils are also taking on more debt to deliver local infrastructure projects such as building schools and housing.
Derek Yule, member of the Accounts Commission, said: “Despite increased funding and income, councils are struggling to cope with the financial pressures they face. A growing gap between costs to deliver services and funding available is risking the financial sustainability of councils.
“We’re already seeing the impact on services – the pace of improvement is slowing, some services are being cut or are harder to access and there are growing levels of dissatisfaction from communities. Councils must fundamentally reconfigure how they operate and deliver services.”
Commenting on the report, Cllr Ricky Bell, COSLA Spokesperson for Resources, said: “While we acknowledge increases in uncommitted funding in the local government settlement, today’s report reinforces the message that local government finances are under severe and growing strain.
“Councils have worked hard to manage budgets responsibly, delivering significant savings year on year and meeting the vast majority of savings targets. However, there is a clear limit to what can be achieved without impacting the services communities rely on. Increasing reliance on reserves, borrowing and fees and charges is not a sustainable long-term solution.
“As we look ahead to 2026/27, the budget settlement falls far short of what is needed to sustain essential local services without difficult decisions being made locally.
“We are especially concerned by the continued underfunding of social care and the Real Living Wage across portfolios.
“The medium-term outlook for local government is deeply concerning, with continued de-prioritisation and the prospect of significant real-terms cuts. If councils are to remain financially sustainable and continue delivering for communities, there must be a more honest conversation about funding, priorities and local flexibility.
“Urgent action is needed to ensure councils have the resources and certainty required to support Scotland’s people and places now and in the future.”
Scotland’s bakery sector came together yesterday at Fife College, Dunfermline in a spectacular celebration of skill, creativity and jam filled ambition at the Scottish Baker of the Year 2026 Empire Biscuit Challenge.
The event marked the official launch of the Scottish Baker of the Year Awards, which will take place in May 2026.
Hosted by Great British Bake Off winner Peter Sawkins, the high energy challenge saw four bakeries go head to head to create the world’s largest Empire Biscuit, and attempt to break an unofficial world record.
Industry Icons Harry Gow and McGhee’s competed against Local Heroes Company Bakery and John Gillespie & Sons, pushing the limits of scale and structure in a bold test of baking expertise.
An expert judging panel crowned industry icon Harry Gow the “Empire Biscuit Champion” for their incredible 78 inches Empire Biscuit, claiming the title of the largest Empire Biscuit ever created. The victory adds to Harry Gow’s impressive credentials as previous Scottish Baker of the Year winners.
David Gow, Managing Director at Harry Gow Bakery, said: “Being part of the Empire Biscuit Challenge has been an absolute blast. The scale, the detail, the friendly rivalry, it was all amazing.
“Huge congratulations to everyone who took part, and we’re delighted to bring the win home for the Icons today!”
Peter Sawkins, The Great British Bake Off winner 2020 and host of the Empire Biscuit Challenge, added: “There was such a great atmosphere throughout the day, competitive, yes, but also incredibly supportive.
“Everyone involved should be proud of what they achieved. It’s events like this that remind you how strong and connected the Scottish baking community really is.”
Lesley Cameron, CEO at Scottish Bakers, commented: “What a brilliant day celebrating the incredible talent across Scotland’s baking industry. Whether you’re a Local Hero or an Icon, today was about pushing creativity, precision, and teamwork to the next level.
“We’d also like to thank our Awards Partner BAKO, the leading supplier of Bakery Products and Ingredients servicing customers across the UK, for their invaluable support. Congratulations to our winners and to every baker who took part, you’ve made history and made Scotland very, very jammy!”
McGhees and Company Bakery donated their empire biscuits to local food banks, while Harry Gow and John Gillespie & Sons have gifted their empire biscuits for Fife College to enjoy.
The Empire Biscuit Challenge officially launches the new look Scottish Baker of the Year Awards 2026, a one day and night competition celebrating excellence across Scotland’s bakery sector. Driven by industry insight and expert judging, the awards aim to boost bakery pride, unite bakers, and raise consumer awareness of the skill behind Scotland’s baking.
Entries for the Scottish Baker of the Year Awards 2026 are now open. Bakeries across Scotland are invited to enter.
Find out more and enter at https://bakeroftheyear.scot/.
IMAGES: Sandy Young Photography
