Month: February 2026

Get ready for HeartUnions

HeartUnions week is a chance to tell the story about why unions are vital for everyone at work, and to encourage people who aren’t yet in a union to join.

HeartUnions week 2026

HeartUnions belongs to union members and union branches all over the UK. So use the week to raise the profile of your union branch and your workplace priorities in the way that works for your members and activists. 

This HeartUnions Week we’re shining a spotlight on why it pays to be a union member.

When workers join together they increase their bargaining power. That’s why unionised workplaces deliver higher pay, safer conditions and better job security.

Through organising in their unions millions of workers are winning new rights at work . Sick pay from day one, guaranteed-hours contracts and an end to fire-and-rehire. 

That’s the difference unions make. And it’s why we’ll keep fighting for fair wages and secure conditions so every worker can thrive, not just survive.

With the cost of living putting real pressure on household budgets there’s never been a more important time to join a union. 

When unions do well working people do well.

Five things you can do 


1. Run a workplace event, rally, or a street stall

HeartUnions is our opportunity to highlight the good work unions do. Tell us about your event by adding it to the map. 

2. Join an event near you

Each year, people across the country run events during HeartUnions Week to highlight why trade unions are essential for everyone in the workplace. Find an event near you.

3. Order your HeartUnion merchandise

If you are organising HeartUnions events in your workplace or community, you can order HeartUnions materials and merchandise here, or contact your TUC regional office who can provide free resources.

4. Speak up on social media

Use the #heartunions hashtag to speak out loudly and proudly: if you want to make work pay, it’s time to join a union. Download our social media graphics to make a visual impact.

5. Inspire others to become union members

It’s always good to join a union that’s already active where you work – ask your colleagues, or look for information on your union website or on staff web pages.

Some jobs have unions that look after them specifically. Other jobs don’t – but they are looked after just as well by general unions, who have specialist sections.

If you’re confused about which union to join, our online union finder will help you find the right one.

There’s strength in numbers. So why not see if your friends and colleagues at work want to join up to a union too, and all do it together.

Use the Join a union tool now

Keep Scotland Beautiful: Entries open for Pocket Garden design competition

Entries are now open for this year’s Pocket Garden competition!

We’re celebrating the competition’s 10th anniversary this year and the theme is ‘fresh water’. As a country with more than 125,000 km of rivers and streams (that’s enough to go round the Earth three times!) and over 30,000 freshwater lochs, we think it’s a very fitting 10th anniversary theme.

Designs must be submitted no later than Friday 20 February 2026.

All the information you need is right here:

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pocket-garden/

Portobello robbery: Woman arrested

A 40-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with robberies at premises on Portobello High Street.

The first incident happened around 4.55pm on Saturday, 31 January, 2026 and the second around 10.40am on Sunday, 1 February, 2026.

She is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Tuesday, 3 February, 2026.

Edinburgh Leisure triumphs with National Sustainability Award

Groundbreaking composting project sets new standard for food waste reduction in Sports and Leisure

Edinburgh Leisure is thrilled to announce a remarkable achievement – winning its first National Sustainability Award at the prestigious Green Apple Environment Awards, hosted by The Green Organisation.

Perrotine Orr (Director of Operations) and Jill Johnstone (Energy & Sustainability Officer) proudly accepted the 2026 gold award, which recognises Edinburgh Leisure’s outstanding efforts in food waste reduction within sport and leisure venues.

This accolade marks a major milestone for Edinburgh Leisure, reflecting the success of an innovative composting project funded by the Solar Co-operative Community Benefit Fund. The initiative is already transforming how food waste is managed across venues, setting the bar for sustainable practice in the sector.

By harnessing the collaborative spirit of the Sustainability Team, Café Venue Teams, and Grounds Maintenance Team, the project set out with a clear aim – to drastically reduce food waste by establishing on-site composting facilities.

The project owes its inception to one of Edinburgh Leisure’s passionate Green Champions, Ed Bethune, whose grassroots idea has blossomed into a model of environmental stewardship.

Five HotBin composting units have now been installed at pilot venues; Meadowbank Sports Centre, Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, and Tumbles at Portobello, ensuring food waste from both customers and staff is collected and composted on-site.

Early results have been nothing short of outstanding. Edinburgh Leisure has already generated high-quality, nutrient-rich compost, which the Grounds Maintenance Team is using to enrich greenspace and planting across multiple sites.

Jill Johnstone said, “By producing our own compost, we are not only reducing waste and carbon emissions, but also making a significant saving on operational costs by replacing commercially purchased compost”.

This award-winning project is a shining example of what can be achieved when teams work together with a shared purpose. It represents an important stride towards Edinburgh Leisure’s net zero plan and environment sustainability strategic aim. The collaborative efforts and targeted funding have enabled meaningful environmental impact, propelling Edinburgh Leisure to the forefront of sustainable practice within the industry.

With this recognition, Edinburgh Leisure reaffirms its commitment to expanding greener operations and building a more sustainable future for all.

Further information on Edinburgh Leisure environmental and Net Zero aims can be found in the most recent Impact Report:

Fit for the Future: Edinburgh Leisure’s Impact in Motion | Edinburgh Leisure

A90 remains closed northbound following road accident

The A90 remains closed northbound from Cramond Bridge towards the Queensferry Crossing due to a crash reported to police at around 11.10pm last night (Monday, 2 February, 2026).

Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

Helping people into work

£90 million investment to tackle economic inactivity

A series of measures to address long-term unemployment, boost economic growth and tackle child poverty have been detailed by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.

Funding of £90 million in the draft Scottish Budget for 2026-27 is expected to help up to 7,500 people furthest from the labour market into work, with thousands more expected to benefit from qualifications and training.

Initiatives will include:

  • A £40 million package to help parents most at risk of poverty into jobs and training courses
  • Investment of £5 million in specialist services to help disabled people access and sustain meaningful employment
  • £39 million for No One Left Behind to support people furthest from work towards employment

Ms Forbes also announced a major marketing campaign providing parents with advice to help them get back into work.

Visiting McTaggart Construction, a business which provides on-site training to help people into work as part of the Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind approach, Ms Forbes said: “Our employability services are helping people into work who may otherwise face barriers to employment due to factors such as illness, disability or simply taking time out to have a family.

“With the involvement of employers like McTaggart Construction, we are building people’s confidence and providing access to new skills.

“Tackling economic inactivity is a win-win situation – it boosts the economy and tackles child poverty by providing families with a secure income – and our £90 million Budget commitment will enable more people to access employment support.”

Liam Long, a new dad secured training and then a full-time job at McTaggart Construction with the support of No One Left Behind services after being out-of-work due to a period of illness, said: “Coming through the All in Glasgow programme and First Step Future Training gave me the opportunity to get my foot in the door.

“That placement opened the door to a permanent role with McTaggart Construction.

“I’ve just become a dad and the two weeks’ paternity pay meant everything to me. I’m proud to work for a company that genuinely invests in its people and supports them through moments in life.”

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – Are you eligible?

People who have chosen to defer their State Pension are encouraged to apply for this year’s Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.  

The payment has been made automatically to most people over the age of 66 this winter, but some people in this age group will need to apply for the benefit. People who have deferred their State Pension since they were last paid Pension Age Winter Heating Payment or the Winter Fuel Payment will need to apply. 

They can apply by phone or by post. The deadline to apply for winter 2025 to 2026 is 31 March 2026.   

Find out more about who needs to apply and how to do it.  

200 singers from 25 different nationalities to come together on Usher Hall’s stage

Collaboration between Edinburgh Royal Choral Union and Brussels Choral Society

  • Two masterworks of the choral repertoire will be performed by one of the UK’s oldest and most distinguished choirs, Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, and special guest collaborators, the Brussels Choral Society.
  • The two ensembles consisting of 200 singers from 25 different nationalities will be joined by the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and Sòlas Ensemble, a young vocal quartet formed at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
  • Sunday 15th March – Poulenc’s Glora and Bruckner’s Mass in D Minor, conducted by Michael Bawtree. Tickets on sale now.

The Edinburgh Royal Choral Union (ERCU), one of Scotland’s oldest and most distinguished choirs, will join forces with the Brussels Choral Society for an exciting collaborative concert at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, on Sunday 15 March 2026 at 3pm.

Bringing together choirs from Scotland and Belgium, this special spring concert promises an afternoon of choral music on a grand scale, performed by 200 singers in one of the city’s most iconic venues.

The collaboration follows a sold‑out performance of the same programme by ERCU and Brussels Choral Society at the renowned Bozar concert hall and arts venue in Brussels in December 2025, which received a rapturous response from the audience.

The concert will be conducted by Michael Bawtree, ERCU’s longstanding Chorus Director, whose musical leadership has shaped the choir’s artistic identity for many years. Widely admired for his clarity, depth, and commitment to choral excellence, Bawtree will direct the combined forces alongside the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, one of the UK’s leading opera orchestras.

Michael Bawtree said: “After a wonderful weekend in Belgium in December, where we were warmly welcomed by our friends in the Brussels Choral Society, we are now delighted to host them in Scotland’s capital and the country’s finest concert hall for this exciting springtime concert.

“I look forward to conducting two incredible choral masterpieces with 200 singers from over 25 countries, alongside four of Scotland’s brightest young soloists and the instrumentalists of Scotland’s national opera company.”

Solo roles will be performed by the Sòlas Ensemble, a young vocal quartet formed at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Their involvement reflects Edinburgh Royal Choral Union’s ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging professional talent and supporting the next generation of performers alongside established ensembles.

The programme offers a striking and emotionally rich pairing of two masterworks from the choral repertoire: Francis Poulenc’s Gloria and Anton Bruckner’s Mass in D minor. Together, the works span contrasting musical worlds while sharing a profound spiritual intensity and expressive breadth.

Poulenc’s Gloria, composed in 1959, is celebrated for its vibrant energy, playful rhythmic drive, and moments of radiant lyricism, combining modern harmonic language with a deep sense of joy and devotion.

In contrast, Bruckner’s Mass in D minor stands as one of the composer’s most powerful sacred works, a monumental setting that reflects his unwavering faith, dramatic orchestration, and architectural musical vision.

Performed side by side, the two pieces offer audiences a compelling journey from exuberant modern vitality to towering Romantic grandeur.

Founded in 1858, Edinburgh Royal Choral Union has played a central role in Scotland’s musical life for over a century and a half. The choir is best known for its annual New Year performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Usher Hall, a tradition established in 1888 and continued without interruption, even through two World Wars, alongside an ambitious programme of large-scale choral works and international collaborations.

This concert marks a major cultural exchange between Scotland and Belgium, celebrating the unifying power of choral music and the shared traditions that transcend national borders.

The collaboration with the Brussels Choral Society brings together singers from two countries in a performance of exceptional scale, ambition, and artistic impact, highlighting the enduring vitality of amateur choral music at the highest level.

Tickets are on sale here, ranging from £17 to £42, with £5 concessions for students and under-16s.

Care Home residents touch the future with new interactive touch pad

Barchester Healthcare care home Strachan House located in Blackhall has added to their services with a new high-tech touch pad at the home (writes Strachan House Care Home’s JANE LONGSTAFF).

A care home which provides expert care to residents with mobility restrictions as well as those living with dementia, the sensory trolley has allowed residents of all capacities and mobilities to enjoy different, sensory experiences without even leaving their rooms.

The specially-adapted, fully-accessible display features immersive technology, which enables users to move shapes, colours and objects through gesture and movement. The touch pad has a number of features designed to help those suffering with with dementia to relax; the cart also helps de-escalate stressful and upsetting situations experienced by those suffering with different forms of the disease.

The unit is designed with a number of key features that include: a 4K screen which allows residents to take immersive voyages anywhere in the world, a variety of dementia-friendly apps which allow multi-sensory experiences, a virtual piano, a 3D chess set and other virtual games, large piece jigsaws and other activities for residents with mobility restrictions.

The 65” screen allows residents with visual difficulties to participate in activities they would otherwise be unable to see.