Drop-in Gardening starts again on Thursday 15 January, and Tuesday 20 January 1pm-3pm …
If you’re looking for a way to learn about growing food …
or to share the knowledge you have…
or for community…
or for some fresh air and gentle exercise…
or to feel like you’re making a difference…
or for a reason to get out the house – try coming along!
Newcomers and beginners always welcome. Please try to arrive 10 minutes before the start time on your first day (12:50pm) – after that, it’s drop-in anytime during the opening hours.
You can get involved with growing fruit and veg in the shared plot, wildlife habitat enhancements, and taking care of the wildflower mound and Community Orchard.
Just come along on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon and you’ll be welcomed in.
We’ve got outdoor work kit you can borrow, plus gloves, and we supply all the tools. Just bring yourself.
Landmark contribution marks the Tattoo’s largest ever investment in arts and cultural organisations
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has announced the largest charitable donation in its history, awarding a monumental £1.5 million to good causes following the success of its 2025 Show, The Heroes Who Made Us.
The record-breaking total will support 15 military and arts charities, significantly increasing funding across the Tattoo’s full charity portfolio and ensuring vital support reaches organisations working with communities and individuals most in need.
Between 2016 and 2019, the Tattoo donated £1 million annually to charitable causes, before contributions were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Setting an ambitious goal to return to and surpass this figure by 2025, the organisation has now exceeded expectations, marking a major milestone in its 75-year history.
The announcement follows an additional £157,000 donation to St Columba’s Hospice, generated through a 2025 initiative that saw 75p from every ticket sale donated to the Edinburgh hospice.
The charity milestone comes as the organisation looks ahead to its 2026 Show, A Call To Gather, with creative ambitions continuing to evolve under the Tattoo’s Creative Director, Alan Lane (above).
The Show is inspired by tradition rooted in Scottish identity, which saw the gathering of the clans become a gathering of nations, allies, friends, and kindred spirits, all with a shared purpose. The call has gone out to attend the must-see Tattoo performance in the summer of 2026.
Bill Morris LVO, Board Chairman of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “This extraordinary £1.5 million donation represents the very heart of what the Tattoo stands for which is using our global platform to make a meaningful difference.
“The success of the 2025 Show has allowed us not only to honour our past, but to invest in causes that will have a lasting impact on lives across the UK and beyond.
“We are immensely proud of what has been achieved and grateful to everyone who played a part in reaching this milestone.”
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “2025 was a monumental year for the Tattoo, and it’s incredibly special to see that success translated into tangible support for so many charitable causes.
“We are of course proud to continue our long-standing support for our military colleagues, but this year also marks our largest ever donation to the arts. At a time when arts organisations are under increasing pressure, this contribution recognises the powerful connection between the arts, performance and the military – a connection that the Tattoo embodies so successfully.
“This achievement belongs to our performers, our teams, and the audiences who joined us night after night and sets an exciting foundation as we enter 2026.”
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo returns for their 2026 Show, A Call to Gather, from 7 – 29 August and tickets can be purchased at:
New funding will allow every primary pupil in Scotland to access a breakfast club, the First Minister has said.
The Scottish Budget will provide an additional £15 million in 2026-27 to expand breakfast club provision and help schools, councils and third sector partners prepare for the introduction of universal breakfast club services by August 2027.
The Scottish Government then plans to invest £44 million per year from 2027-28 to deliver the clubs for all primary school children in Scotland who want to access them. Every pupil attending a school specifically for children with additional support needs will also benefit.
Breakfast clubs not only give children a nutritious meal before school starts, they can also help improve school attendance and confidence in children, and the option of an early drop-off means parents have more flexibility so they can work or study.
First Minister John Swinney said: “My government is focused on delivering the priorities of the people of Scotland and through our budget, we are acting to provide help with the cost of living and doing all we can to eradicate child poverty.
“We know extending the school day before and after class can help children and their parents, particularly families who might be struggling with balancing the demands of getting to work early as well as the cost of the weekly food shop.
“Breakfast clubs are a perfect example of how we can give families the option of some extra support. Children can get a healthy start to their day as they eat breakfast and play with their friends, while parents are better able to get to work, or to take up training or study, knowing their children are being well looked after – there are clear benefits for the whole family.
“That is why we will invest £44 million each year to deliver a national breakfast club programme across all primary and special schools from August 2027, with the Scottish Budget investing £15 million in the coming year to support the expansion and help partners prepare.”
Scottish Government funding through the Bright Start Breakfasts programme currently supports 490 clubs and up to 20,000 children.
The 2026-27 Scottish Budget will provide £3 million to continue to support existing Bright Start Breakfasts clubs and a further £15 million to help prepare for expanded provision from August 2027.
A universal breakfast club offer will be available to all children attending primary or special schools in Scotland.
The RCN says the practice must end urgently, as testimony from members shows its damaging effects
Corridor care has become such a permanent fixture in NHS hospitals that nursing staff are in danger of “losing all hope”, with collapsing care standards devastating morale, according to new testimony from nursing staff.
The Royal College of Nursing is reiterating its call for urgent, fully funded action plans to eradicate the practice, including investment in beds, the nursing workforce, community services and social care.
Nursing staff say the lack of action by governments has left them feeling “ashamed”, “angry”, and “embarrassed” about the unsafe, undignified care they are forced to deliver to patients.
The RCN is aware of a worsening picture this week as hospitals declare critical incidents and is encouraging members to raise any concerns about patient or staff safety. Read on to find out how we can offer practical support.
Our members report shocking examples of a patient being left in a chair for four days, while another patient died after choking undetected in a corridor.
Nursing staff have also resorted to holding up sheets to protect patient dignity when performing intimate procedures, with a corridor in one hospital so tightly packed that an elderly patient was left to eat next to someone vomiting.
One nurse in the south of England said: “We would not treat animals like this in a veterinary practice, so why in a hospital?”
Another, working in an NHS board in Scotland, told us: “It’s very stressful and distressing at times. There’s a sense of frustration and hopelessness.”
A mental health nurse in Wales said corridor care is a “regular occurrence”, with staff having to increase monitoring because unsecured corridors contain objects and fittings that raise the risk of self‑harm and suicide.
A nurse in Northern Ireland said: “I’ve had resuscitation attempts in the waiting room and corridor due to no capacity. It is inhuman and undignified.”
Practical support for nursing staff
If corridor care is happening at your workplace, it’s important to raise your concerns. Find out more in our raising concerns toolkit and get information on RCN support available from member support services.
We believe this latest testimony shows the unacceptable practice of corridor care is spreading beyond emergency departments, including acute assessment units, respiratory wards, surgical wards and elderly care wards.
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said: “This new testimony from nursing staff reveals once again the devastating human consequences of corridor care, with patients forced to endure conditions which have no place in our NHS.”
As a result of our pressure, the Westminster government committed to publishing data on incidences of corridor care in England in February 2025, but so far has failed to do so.
The HSSIB – the patient safety investigation body for England – released a report in January 2026 on the widespread and normalised nature of corridor care, highlighting that some trusts are reportedly installing call bells and plug sockets in corridors.
As many as two in 10 (18%) UK adults have witnessed NHS care in non-clinical spaces such as a corridor in the last six months, according to new YouGov public polling. Further RCN analysis shows that when looking at only those who accessed care, the figure is more than one in three (37%).
The polling also shows the public want faster action on the issue, with seven in 10 (69%) of respondents in England saying Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s pledge to eradicate the practice by the end of parliament is “too slow”.
“The fact remains that there can be no safe, dignified care delivered in a corridor, store room or dining room, but that has become the norm,” Nicola added.
“It’s taking a terrible toll on staff, but ministers mustn’t allow them to lose hope. Decisive action can restore care standards and stop staff morale collapsing past the point of no return.
“Now is the time for ministers to stop dragging their feet and publish the data, alongside announcing a fully funded action plan and timeline for eradication.”
We want to thank our members who have raised their voices on corridor care to show why this issue matters and why it demands urgent action.
RCEM: Nurses’ corridor care testimonies ‘distressing, damning’
NURSE: ‘CONDITIONS ARE A TYPE OF TORTURE’
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has described new testimony from nurses about the state of corridor care across the UK as ‘distressing, damning and exactly what we see every single day in our departments’.
And the College says this reinforces the need to address this crisis.
More than 430 nurses described the conditions they are working in and what patients are enduring in a survey conducted by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), that has been published today (15 January 2026).
Just some examples shared include how a nurse witnessed a patient left in a chair for four days, a patient dying after choking undetected in a corridor and nurses holding up sheets to try and protect the dignity of a patient while they underwent an intimate procedure.
One nurse went as far as saying the conditions are “a type of torture”.
Their accounts were gathered between 2 January and 9 January 2026, revealing nursing staff are treating patients in cold corridors, dining rooms, staff kitchens and offices.
The experiences of nurses build on and updates the RCN’s report published this week last year, titled ‘On the frontline of the UK’s corridor care crisis’.
Dr Ian Higginson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said: “This work by the Royal College of Nursing makes for incredibly tough reading. It’s distressing, damning and exactly what we see every single day in our departments.
“These deeply personal testimonies aren’t just stories – it’s the daily reality for patients and their nurses, who work alongside our members and their colleagues in Emergency Departments.
“Last year, when RCN released their first report on corridor care, we said that it must represent a watershed moment for the government, a line in the sand. Yet, 365 days on, the nurses voices show our patients are still in corridors, and there is no credible plan to get them out.
“So called ‘corridor care’ takes an immense toll on patients, who will be facing long waits in these conditions. And it takes an immense toll on our clinicians who are trying their upmost best to deliver quality care in these conditions.
“Our patients are being forced to endure these conditions, often for hours, if not days, because hospitals are full to bursting. We can’t move patients out of our departments, and into wards, because there are no available beds for them.
“Those beds are often taken up by patients who have experienced delays in their care, and who no longer need to be in hospital, but can’t leave, because of the lack of social care options.”
The new report also contains public polling which found:
As many as two in ten (18%) UK adults have witnessed care being delivered in a corridor or other non-clinical spaces in the last six months.
88% of respondents across the UK said tackling unsafe care is an urgent priority
Meanwhile in England, 69% said Wes Streeting’s pledge to end corridor care by the end of parliament is too slow.
Dr Higginson said: “Nurses have given their verdict loud and clear. So too have our members, and the public – they all want the crisis in EDs tackled with urgency.
“The Health Secretary said this week the government is ‘determined to consign corridor care to the history books’ and has committed to ending corridor care by the end of 2029. We welcome this. This problem can’t be solved quickly. It has been years in the making. But we do need a credible plan that starts now.
“We look forward to working with the government, and healthcare leaders, to implement meaningful solutions, many of which lie outside the walls of our EDs.”
It comes after the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Emergency Care last year published a report, compiled by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, on corridor care. It found almost one in five patients in EDs were being cared for in trolleys or chairs in corridors in England during summer.
A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment following the death of a man in Edinburgh.
Paul Menzies was found guilty of the murder of a 53-year-old man, Brian Ramsay, today (Wednesday, 14 January, 2026), following a trial at Edinburgh High Court.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 18 years.
Officers were called to Westfield Road in the city centre around 12.55pm on Friday, 7 June, 2024, following concern for a man within a property. Mr Ramsay was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Chief Inspector David McAlinden said: “This was a violent attack that cost Brian Ramsay his life, and Menzies will now face the consequences of his despicable actions.
“While this conviction cannot change what has happened, I hope it gives Brian’s family and friends some closure.
“I want to reassure the public that violent incidents such as this will not be tolerated in our communities, and our officers will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”
NEIL GRAY PRAISES STAFF AFTER SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT
Health Secretary Neil Gray has thanked NHS staff for their efforts as latest figures show that in the 12 months to November 2025 the number of operations carried out increased by 5.3% on the same period the year before.
A total of 272,465 operations were performed during this time according to the statistics from Public Health Scotland.
In November alone, 794 operations took place each day – up from 756 a day in November 2024.
The 12 month period also saw the highest number of operations performed in a single month since January 2020, with 25,261 procedures carried out over the 31 days of October.
Today’s statistics come after Public Health Scotland figures last week showed progress in other areas including a 12.8% fall in the number waits over 52 weeks for a new outpatient appointment between October and November 2025
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “It is welcome to see sustained and continued improvement in the number of operations carried out, despite ongoing pressures on services. This is further evidence that our NHS has turned a corner.
“I am extremely grateful to all the staff who work so hard every day to make progress like this possible.
“We want to build on this success and we are investing £135.5 million to tackle the longest waits for procedures and operations.
“Our record investment in the NHS this year is allowing us to target specific areas that are experiencing long waits, reducing backlogs and getting people the appointments and treatments they need as quickly as possible.”
The UK’s first safer drug consumption facility, known as The Thistle, marks its first year in operation on 13 January 2026.
Since opening, 575 individuals have registered to use and access services provided within the facility.
The Thistle offers drug users a clean and safe environment in which to inject drugs, obtained elsewhere, under the supervision of nursing and social care staff, as well as access to other health and treatment services.
The facility has been accessed 11,348 times by the 575 people (448 male 127 female) who have so far registered to use the service.
There have been 7,827 injections, with 93 medical emergencies all safely managed within the facility by staff.
Councillor Allan Casey, City Convener for Workforce, Homelessness and Addictions, said the first year has been remarkable and hopes the services continue to be well used.He said: “The first year has been very encouraging.
“People are engaging with the service and trusting it as a safe space. Each of these 10,000 visits represents an opportunity to reduce harm, connect individuals with support, and ultimately save lives.
“We know there is still much to do, but what we are seeing from the first-year data is the real impact of a compassionate, evidence-based approach to this public health emergency and reinforces why progressive policies matter and why Glasgow continues to lead the way in tackling complex challenges with practical solutions.”
The Scottish Government has committed to making up to £2.3 million available per year for the development, set up and running of The Thistle service in Glasgow from 2024/25 which will continue to be overseen by Glasgow City Integration Joint Board.
Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “The Thistle, which complements other harm-reduction and treatment and recovery services, has had a profound impact in its first year.
“Through the ability of staff to respond quickly in the event of an overdose it has undoubtedly saved lives. Backed by £2.3 million in Scottish Government funding, it continues to demonstrate the value of an evidence-based approach to safeguarding life and reducing drug-related harm.
“I would like to thank all staff and partners for their work in establishing the service, working with some of the most vulnerable people in our society to help save and improve lives, and their continuing efforts to support and engage with the local community.”
Prior to opening, the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership (GHSCP) carried out extensive engagement with the community, stakeholders and businesses.
Pat Togher, Chief Officer for the GHSCP with overall responsibility for the service, expressed his gratitude for the staff at the Thistle.He said: “The progress in the first year of the Thistle commencing has exceeded expectations and is testament to the commitment from all concerned, including the important role of lived and living experience in helping shape the service.
“As the first of its kind in the UK, the Thistle service has, as expected, been the focus of much media and public attention and we strive to ensure our communication and engagement remains a key priority.
“Staff from a range of health and care services are involved in helping people who use the Thistle get the support they need when they need it and we remain keen to develop this.”
Dr Saket Priyadarshi, Associate Medical Director and Senior Medical Officer for Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services,said: “We are delighted with how well the Thistle is being used.
“The service has exceeded any expectations we had for the first 12 months. It has been great to see service users engaging with the wider services from showers and clothing to referral for treatment and care. I would like to thank our colleagues delivering the service safely and effectively on a daily basis.
“The rising numbers in recent months is a positive sign and is promising for the year ahead, as well as our plans to progress a smoking/inhalation space in the facility.”
The Thistle is a three-year pilot. It will be monitored and evaluated to demonstrate the impact it has on the local area and those who use the service. The evaluation will look at various aspects including litter levels, discarded needles, anti-social behaviour and crime.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) is set to grow for the fifth consecutive year as it launches its funded programme of events.
Taking place from 23rd February – 1st March 2026, the annual initiative is this year supporting 63 projects and events across Scotland, with hundreds more expected to be staged across the week.
Applications for their Small Grants Scheme, funded by Bòrd na Gaidhlig and Scottish Government, broke records once again, up almost 20% on 2025 as even more people sought to get involved in the nationwide initiative and celebrate Gaelic in their community.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig highlights the vitality and enduring presence of Gaelic as a living language. The 2026 theme, Use It or Lose It (Cleachd i no caill i), emphasises the importance of actively using Gaelic to keep it thriving.
2026 is the first time World Gaelic Week will be staged since Gaelic became an official language of Scotland in law, signalling a historic milestone in the recognition and protection of the language, and underscoring its vital place in Scottish life and cultural identity.
This year’s week-long celebration will see activities and events staged up and down the country including across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Individuals, community groups and organisations with any level of Gaelic can stage their own events or host an activity in their community that promotes the language.
Events can be added to the World Gaelic Week website at:
Seachdain na Gàidhlig also encompasses the popular Say a Gaelic Phrase Day which engages thousands online each year and returns on Thursday 26th February 2026.
Joy Dunlop, Director of Seachdain na Gàidhlig, said:“Seachdain na Gàidhlig celebrates Gaelic as a living language, highlighting its vitality, enduring presence and growing popularity. The initiative provides a platform for speakers, learners, and advocates to promote Gaelic locally and globally.
“We’re so excited to unveil our programme of funded events for 2026 which showcase the diversity of ways to celebrate Gaelic. Each activity is tied into this year’s theme, cleachd i no caill i (use it or lose it), which is a powerful reminder that the future of Gaelic depends on us all actively using and sharing it in our daily lives.
“Whether you’re fluent, learning, or simply curious, Seachdain na Gàidhlig is an opportunity to connect with the language, celebrate its rich heritage, and ensure its place in Scotland’s future. We’re thrilled to see the enthusiasm and creativity of people across Edinburgh, the Lothians and beyond as they come together to make Gaelic visible, vibrant and valued.”
Supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Scottish Government, and spearheaded by the Scottish traditional culture and music organisation Hands Up For Trad, Seachdain na Gàidhlig draws inspiration from other minority language movements such as Seachtain na Gaeilge in Ireland and Mìos nan Gàidheal in Nova Scotia.
The week-long initiative was the first official nationwide language week of its kind in Scotland, providing a platform for Scottish Gaelic speakers, learners, and advocates to honor and promote the language locally and globally, fostering greater national awareness and recognition.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig has grown year on year, with 170 events and 40,000 participants in 2025. Participation in the schools programme increased by 32% in 2025, reaching 16,700 students. People celebrated World Gaelic Week in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, England, New Zealand, Northern Ireland and the USA.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026 will take place from 23rd February – 1st March 2026. Visit seachdainnagaidhlig.scot.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig is delivered by cultural charity Hands Up for Trad and donations make their work possible.
This January the city’s only high street energy hub is celebrating Warm Welcome Week, starting on ‘Blue Monday’ and running from 19 to 25 January.
January can be the coldest and loneliest month of the year. It’s the time of year when Warm Welcome Spaces such as Utilita’s Energy Hub are needed most. Warm Welcome Spaces are a lifeline to those who are struggling to keep warm and those feeling lonely or isolated.
Hub Supervisor Natasha Baillie says: “Warm Welcome Week is all about raising awareness of Warm Welcome Spaces like ours, so more people can find a place of warmth and connection close to home.
“In Warm Welcome Week, we’re taking ‘Blue Monday’ back by giving it a colourful makeover. We’re asking everyone to wear warm colours and get creative with pinks, oranges, reds, and purples to chase the blues away and raise awareness of Warm Welcome Spaces.
“We don’t want anyone to feel cold or lonely this winter, which is why we are working hard to send a message that our Energy Experts are waiting to welcome you in.”
The hub aims to serve the community, offering energy advice to absolutely anyone that requires it, and the team of Energy Experts also engages in community events, as well as working with local charities.
Natasha continues: “We want more people to know about Warm Welcome Spaces like ours. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with others, make new friends, and have some fun. We want everyone to know that a warm welcome is waiting for you just around the corner.
“People coming to our space say they always leave with a smile on their face. We’d love you to come along and get to know us over a cuppa. Please help us to spread the word so everyone can find our Warm Welcome Space.”
David Barclay, Warm Welcome Campaign Director, adds: “We know demand for Warm Welcome Spaces will be high again this winter, not only supporting people struggling to pay the bills but also playing a vital role in connecting communities and giving people a place of belonging.
“The dark winter days and nights of January can be extremely tough. We don’t want anyone to feel cold or alone this winter.
“We’re asking everyone to join us in Warm Welcome Week to raise awareness so more people can find a place of belonging and connection close to home and by encouraging more community spaces to become Warm Welcome Spaces.
“Everyone can get involved; whether you simply pop on an old orange bobble hat or get creative with craft or cooking, together we will chase away the blues. In Warm Welcome Week, we will create a surge of warmth and positivity in the coldest week of the coldest month.”
The Utilita Leith Energy Hub is open from Monday to Saturday at 41 Newkirkgate, Edinburgh, EH6 6AA and anyone interested in using the hub’s dedicated community space free-of-charge can book a session by emailing edinburgh@utilita.co.uk.
