Month: January 2026

COSLA warns Scottish Budget falls short for local government

COSLA has set out concerns about the Scottish Government’s Budget settlement for Local Government, warning that while there is a modest increase in uncommitted revenue, the settlement remains insufficient to meet rising demand for essential local services.

Following a meeting of council leaders, it was stressed that the increase of £234 million in uncommitted revenue funding for 2026/27 does not address the scale of pressures facing councils, particularly in social care where demand and complexity continue to rise sharply.

COSLA also highlighted urgent concerns about the continued underfunding of the Real Living Wage policy.

While welcoming the increase in funding for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, COSLA warned that the capital funding position for local government is becoming increasingly unsustainable, threatening councils’ ability to invest in vital infrastructure and community assets.

Leaders also expressed significant concern about the medium-term outlook set out in the Spending Review, which suggests continued de-prioritisation of local government and further real-terms cuts over the coming years.

Cllr Ricky Bell, COSLA Spokesperson for Resources, said: “While we acknowledge the increase in uncommitted revenue funding for 2026/27, this settlement falls far short of what is needed to sustain essential local services. Councils are facing acute and growing pressures, particularly in social care, and the current level of funding simply does not reflect the scale or complexity of demand.

“We are especially concerned by the continued underfunding of the Real Living Wage across portfolios including social care. COSLA made a clear and urgent ask for significant additional investment of £750m to protect and strengthen social care, which the Budget as announced fails to deliver.

“Further to this, the medium-term outlook paints a worrying picture for local government, with continued de-prioritisation and the prospect of significant real-terms cuts.

“If councils are to continue delivering for communities, we are calling for urgent and meaningful engagement with the Scottish Government to ensure local government is properly funded to continue delivering the essential services communities rely on every day.”

COSLA reiterated its support for the introduction of additional council tax bands as an interim step towards fundamental reform, emphasising that any changes must be taken forward in close cooperation with COSLA and local government.

In addition, it welcomed the Scottish Government’s forthcoming legislation to remove the cap on council tax premiums for second and empty homes, describing it as a positive step in providing councils with greater local flexibility.

Greens highlight potential funding cuts to community organisations

At yesterday’s meeting of the city council’s Finance and Resource Committee (Thursday 15 January) the Scottish Greens presented an amendment which drew attention to a £15m Scottish government budget cut to community organisations and the end of Investment in Communities.

The shock proposed cut by the Scottish government risks a long list of local community groups being left high and dry as core funding for charities continues to be a pressing issue in the city (see list below).

Finance spokesperson Alex Staniforth said, “We’re glad our amendment passed at committee and officers will investigate the impact of these proposed cuts, but every time we think we’ve got a handle on cuts to the third sector some other proposal comes forward to squeeze it still further.

“The Scottish government should reflect on whether this is the best way to save £15 million given the vital work community organisations do in the city.”

List of Edinburgh organisations potentially affected:

  • About Youth, Calder Youth Action Project (part of Wester Hailes Together), City of Edinburgh, £105,822
  • Community Renewal Trust, Our Neighbourhood: A new hyperlocal Community Wealth Building partnership, City of Edinburgh, £300,732
  • Dr. Bell’s Family Centre, Start Well, Live Well: Wellbeing Support for Families in Leith, City of Edinburgh, £348,067
  • Edinburgh Food Social Cic, Changing Craigmillar Food Culture, City of Edinburgh, £325,847
  • Fresh Start, Fresh Connections, City of Edinburgh, £280,201
  • North Edinburgh Arts, North Edinburgh Arts Link Up, City of Edinburgh, £331,400
  • Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, Together We Can, City of Edinburgh, £350,000
  • The Venchie Children And Young People’s Project, Family Support Service, City of Edinburgh, £208,732
  • Transition Edinburgh South (Scotland) Ltd, Investing in Gracemount, City of Edinburgh, £302,196
  • Whale, The Arts Agency, Creativity, Place and Enterprise in Wester Hailes (part of Wester Hailes Together), City of Edinburgh, £332,494

Link to relevant part of Scot Government budget:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-2026-2027/documents

Food Standards Scotland: Vitamin D

In Scotland between October and March we do not get enough of the right kind of sunlight for our bodies to make Vitamin D.

People who are more likely to be deficient in Vitamin D are recommended to take a daily supplement all year round.

Those more at risk include:

  • infants and children under 5 years old
  • pregnant and breastfeeding women
  • people with low sun exposure, for example those who cover their skin for cultural reasons, are housebound, confined indoors for long periods or live in an institution
  • people from minority ethnic groups with dark skin such as those of African, African-Caribbean and south Asian origin, who require more sun exposure to make as much vitamin D

More information from Food Standards Scotland can be found here:

https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/…/vitamins…/vitamin-d

Keep The Promise: An Open Letter

37 organisations have joined us in our call for Scotland’s political parties to show their commitment to keeping the promise to children, young people, families, and care experienced adults.

With clear focus, brave decision-making, and sustained cross-party support in Parliament over the next five years, Scotland can keep the promise.

Thank you to all the partners and collaborators that have joined us so far.

If your organisation would like to sign the open letter, it is not too late and every voice counts.

Click here to find out more: https://ow.ly/l5bI50XVqlX

£0 Joining Fee Offer: It’s Not Too Late to Start Your Fitness Journey in 2026

As January routines begin to settle and New Year motivation turns into lasting habits, Edinburgh Leisure is reminding Edinburgh residents that it’s not too late to get started, with a £0 Joining Fee offer available until 31st January 2026.

The limited-time promotion removes the upfront cost of joining and applies to a wide range of adult memberships, including Fitness, Gym, Fitness Class, Swim, Climb, Golf, Evolve and Young Adult memberships, helping more people take the first step or return to regular physical activity.

A New Year’s Offer Designed for Real Life

Rather than focusing on short-lived resolutions, Edinburgh Leisure’s January campaign encourages a more balanced approach to wellbeing, centred on small, sustainable habits that fit into everyday life.

With no joining fee and no contract, new members can explore activities at their own pace, supported by welcoming venues and expert teams across the city.

At the centre of the campaign is Edinburgh Leisure’s Full Fitness membership, which offers broad access to gyms, swimming pools and fitness classes across multiple venues – all included under one flexible monthly price.

More Choice Across the City

For those looking for variety, Edinburgh Leisure’s wider membership range provides access to climbing facilities, golf courses, specialist fitness spaces and swimming venues, allowing customers to choose the membership that best suits their interests and goals.

The Full Fitness membership now also includes access to Evolve Meadowbank, Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship hybrid gym and training space, adding even greater flexibility and choice for members looking to train in different ways.

Throughout January, members and new joiners are benefiting from a packed programme of activity, including January gym challenges, expanded Les Mills class timetables and Free Friend Week (19-25 January) – reinforcing the role of motivation, community and enjoyment in staying active.

Local Fitness, Close to Home

With a strong local focus, the campaign continues to highlight key venues such as Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh International Climbing Arena Ratho and many more, supporting communities where demand for accessible, affordable fitness remains high. Whether returning after a break or trying something new, Edinburgh Leisure offers inclusive spaces for all ages, abilities and experience levels.

Join Before January Ends

With only weeks remaining to take advantage of the £0 Joining Fee offer, Edinburgh Leisure is encouraging anyone still considering joining to act before the end of January and carry their New Year momentum into the months ahead.Offer valid until 31st January 2026.

Find out more and join online:

https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/january-membership-offer/

Review of legislative landscape for children in care

Improving outcomes for children and families

Changes to improve, simplify and clarify the legislative framework for the children’s care system to benefit children in care, their families and the workforce that support them will be considered by an independent, expert-led review.

The review, to be led by Professor Kenneth Norrie, a leading authority on family law in Scotland,  is expected to conclude within 12 months. He will work in partnership with the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS) which works to improve policy and practice in supporting families.

The review will build on initial exploratory work carried out by The Promise Scotland and will gather evidence on whether the existing legislative framework should be revised, and advise on how doing so could deliver practical and tangible benefits for children, families and the workforce.

Natalie Don-Innes, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, announced the review as part of the Scottish Government’s response to the Stage 1 Committee report on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.

Ms Don-Innes said: “Our aim is for children and young people to receive the compassionate and considerate care they need throughout their care journey, so that they grow up loved, safe and respected.

“Individuals and organisations have told me how challenging it is both to access the right support at the right time and to interpret the law around the care journey.

“This independent review will consider any opportunities to simplify the legislative landscape, to maximise practical benefits for children, their families and the professionals that support them.

I am pleased that Professor Norrie has agreed to lead this work, which will sit alongside broader proposals within the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.

“The Bill will help us take forward our commitment to Keep the Promise, by providing a legal right to advocacy, expanding aftercare support, and supporting smoother transitions between children’s and adult services – which people with care experience have told us they need, and I urge members across the Chamber to back the Bill’s general principles at Stage 1 this week.”

Health Information Week at Drumbrae Library Hub

19th – 25th JANUARY

Next week is Health Information Week at Drumbrae Library Hub!

Check out all the amazing organisations that are coming along to share information about the services, help and advice that they provide.

Pop in for a tea or coffee and meet the representatives.

Back of the Net comes to Tollcross

Love football? Kick off the new year with Back of the Net, a new #football course for everyone aged 16 and over!

A place to share your football stories, meet other people and chat over a cuppa.

Starts Wednesday 21 January.

Contact Lorrane for more details via Lorrane.Borwick@ea.edin.sch.uk

Letter: Finding time to give back

Dear Editor, 

Many people want to give back to their communities, but sometimes finding the time to volunteer can be a real challenge. 

It’s not always easy to commit to a traditional volunteering shift, at a specific time or on a regular basis. Balancing giving back with work, family, and other responsibilities can be difficult. 

That’s why, thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Royal Voluntary Service has launched GoVo, a free platform created to make it easier for people to discover volunteering opportunities in their local area, or remote, suited to their interests, availability, and the causes they care about. 

Alongside the more traditional and regular volunteering roles people may already be familiar with, GoVo also offers flexible, one-off, remote, and more unexpected opportunities, with location dependent roles. These include dog walking for people with a terminal illness, DJing at discos for people living with dementia, knitting baby clothes for families in need, and providing exam support for young people with visual impairments.  

Time can be priceless, and volunteering your time can be even more so – not just for the causes and people it supports, but for you as a volunteer too. 

Volunteering can have a powerful impact on your own wellbeing, improving mental health, building confidence, developing new skills, and creating a sense of purpose and connection with others in your community. 

So, to anyone who would like to give volunteering a go – even if you feel short on time – I would encourage you to explore what’s available at GoVo.org, or to visit your local volunteer centre. There’s so much out there, and you may be surprised by just how easy it is to make a difference. 

Thank you, 

Dave Stott,

Director of Volunteering at Royal Voluntary Service

Community donations help create free boutique and vital support for homeless women in Leith

Hillcrest Futures’ Lauriston in Leith service has opened a free clothing boutique for women in supported accommodation, made possible by a strong response from the local community.

Staff at the service shared a request for donations on the I Love Leith Facebook group, asking if people could help set up a small clothing store for women moving into Lauriston in Leith with very few belongings. The response was overwhelming. More than 100 people replied and over 30 separate donations were received, including clothes in a wide range of sizes, accessories and clothing rails.

Unused cupboard space at the service has now been transformed into a well-stocked clothing store, which the women have named The Scorpio Boutique.

The boutique is based on a model that has already proven successful elsewhere in the city. Hillcrest Futures has long operated the Clothesline Project, a fashion boutique within its Bruntsfield House homeless accommodation service, which offers anyone in Edinburgh experiencing or at risk of homelessness access to free, good-quality clothing in a welcoming, retail-style environment.

Yvonne Donaldson, Service Manager at Lauriston in Leith, said: “We often see women arrive with very little after experiencing homelessness. We wanted to create something that was practical, but also positive and dignified.

“The response from the Leith community was incredible. People donated far more than we expected, and it has made a real difference to the women who live here.”

The Scorpio Boutique allows women to browse freely and choose items when they need them, with no limits on visits. Staff say the space has become both a useful resource and an enjoyable activity.

Yvonne added: “It is lovely to see the change in confidence when the women visit the boutique. They enjoy choosing things for themselves and often come back to show everyone what they have picked.”

The name The Scorpio Boutique was chosen by the women themselves, who put forward suggestions and voted, with Scorpio winning as many of the voters share that star sign.

One woman using the service said: “I was made homeless after my mum passed away and I lost my home and everything in it. I was left with nothing. Having the Scorpio Boutique means I can have things that belong to me again. It is not just essentials – being able to get accessories is also really important to me.”

The generosity of the local community also extends beyond clothing donations and into everyday practical support.

Recently, a staff member at Lauriston in Leith approached The Gull’s Grocery, an independent grocer in Leith, to ask whether they would consider donating any leftover fresh produce. The shop kindly agreed and is now providing a weekly supply of fresh fruit and vegetables to the women supported by the service.

These donations make a real difference, allowing residents to cook nourishing meals and enabling fresh pots of soup and other communal dishes to be prepared and shared together.

John Booth, Director of Futures, said: “This is a great example of what can happen when a community comes together.

“From clothing donations for The Scorpio Boutique to weekly fresh food from a local independent grocer, these acts of generosity help create welcoming and dignified spaces for women who have been through very difficult experiences.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed.”

Lauriston in Leith is a supported accommodation service in Edinburgh for women experiencing homelessness.

Hillcrest Futures would like to thank the Leith community, and local businesses such as The Gull’s Grocery, for their kindness and ongoing support.