Month: March 2026

Arrests following Old Firm disorder

‘ROBUST’ INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING

Nine people have been arrested following disorder around the Scottish Cup quarter final match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday (8 March).

A ‘robust’ investigation is ongoing and Police Scotland is working with both clubs and the Scottish Football Association as enquiries continue.

Three men, aged 54, 23 and 20, have been arrested and charged in connection with a serious assault of a man on Helen Street following the match. The men are due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date.

A number of officers and members of the public were injured during the scenes which took place on the pitch at the conclusion of the match.

Items, including pyrotechnics, were thrown and a 10-year-old child was struck by a coin.

A 54-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with a police assault. He was released on an undertaking to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date.

A 47-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with an assault on a coach and player at the end of the match. He was also released to appear at a later date.

There were also other arrests in relation to a number of offences including abuse towards officers and culpable and reckless conduct.

Vandalism and graffiti within the stadium are also being investigated.

Chief Superintendent Emma Croft, Greater Glasgow Divisional Commander said: “These were utterly disgraceful scenes and must be condemned by everyone involved in football and the wider society.

“No one should have to face such extreme levels of violence and hostility, and those responsible will be identified and face the consequences.

“Several officers and members of the public, including a child, were injured as a result of what unfolded. This is totally unacceptable and shameful behaviour.

“It begs the question, does someone need to be critically injured or worse before this behaviour is treated with the seriousness it deserves?

“Policing will play its role in addressing these issues but it requires collective action by a number of organisations with whom we are currently engaging.

“Crucially, however, I would also call out the need for individuals who see fit to behave in such a despicable manner to take personal accountability. No game of football should be overshadowed by the behaviours of a few.

“A policing enquiry team has been established today to investigate all incidents pertaining to the quarter final fixture and I would appeal to any member of the public who has information which may assist those enquiries to contact Police Scotland as soon as possible.

“I want to give my assurance that our investigation will be very thorough, and further arrests will be made in due course. For those involved in this kind of disorder, the message is simple: it is not a question of if, but when we will identify and come looking for you.”

Anyone with information can call 101 or can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Information can also be sent directly to the investigation team. The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) is a website that gives the public access to a form to pass information, images and footage directly to the Major Investigation Team and can be accessed here.

£2.2 million boost for volunteering across Scotland

Volunteering Support Fund 2025-27 grants announced

More than 100 grassroots organisations across Scotland will share £2.2 million to recruit and support volunteers in their communities.

Over the next two years, the Volunteering Support Fund 2025-27 will benefit small and medium sized third sector organisations from the Highlands to the Borders with grants of up to £20,000 to projects that are making a real difference to people’s lives.

Projects receiving funding include the Inverness Tool Library which enables people to borrow equipment they might not otherwise afford and Toryglen Community Youth Project, a fully volunteer-run charity improving the lives of children and families in deprived communities.

Edinburgh projects to receive funding are:

EdinburghAction Porty
EdinburghDoor in the Wall Arts Access CIC
EdinburghEdinburgh Street Pastors
EdinburghFirsthand Lothian
EdinburghJock Tamson’s Gairden
EdinburghLINKnet Mentoring Limited
EdinburghNo Boundaries School CIC
EdinburghPianodrome Community Interest Company
EdinburghPilmeny Development Project
EdinburghRhyze Mushrooms Co-op CIC
EdinburghStarpic Project
EdinburghThe BIG Project
EdinburghThe Linda Tremble Foundation (t/a SupportED)
EdinburghThink Circus SCIO
EdinburghVintage Vibes
EdinburghWester Hailes Growing Communities

Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Volunteers are the backbone of our communities. Day in, day out, they give their time, energy and compassion to help others, asking for nothing in return, and I want to thank every volunteer for their selflessness.

“This £2.2 million investment recognises the incredible contribution volunteers make across our country. From supporting refugees to tackling loneliness, from running youth projects to protecting our environment, volunteers are there making Scotland a better place.

“I would also encourage anyone considering volunteering to take that step whether you have a few hours a week or a few hours a month. Volunteering offers the chance to learn new skills, meet new people and experience the genuine fulfilment that comes from helping others.”

Toryglen Community Youth Project trustee Kay Wright said: “The Volunteering Support Fund is helping us to remove barriers and create opportunities for people in our community to get involved.

“The support empowers us to do more, especially for those who have lacked opportunities in the past, by creating personalised and bespoke pathways into volunteering.”

Head of Operations and Development for the Impact Funding Partnership Diane Wilson said: “As the only fund specifically supporting volunteer development programmes nationally, the Volunteering Support Fund is vital to the 116 organisations receiving a grant. 

“It enables them to employ essential co-ordinator roles, develop and strengthen policies and procedures, and provide bespoke support to engage with people experiencing barriers to volunteering. This funding will contribute to stronger organisations and more connected communities.”

The Volunteering Support Fund is managed by Impact Funding Partners on behalf of the Scottish Government. Following a competitive application process, 116 organisations were selected from 252 applications.

The full list of funded organisations is available here: 

www.gov.scot/publications/volunteering-support-fund-projects-funded   

Can You Help? Police appeal to trace 30-year-old Patryk Michalak

POLICE in Edinburgh are appealing for information to help trace 30-year-old Patryk Michalak. He was last seen around 7.20pm on Sunday, 8 March, 2026, in the Ferry Road Place area.

Patryk wears glasses and has a beard. He was last seen wearing a three-quarter length dark woollen jacket, a blue hooded top underneath with black leather sports shoes and dark tracksuit bottoms. He was carrying a dark coloured backpack.

Police Sergeant Tom Archer said: “We are growing increasingly worried for the welfare of Patryk and would appeal to anyone who knows his whereabouts to get in contact with us.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0914 of 10 March 2026.

Buy a Ticket. Back New Writing. Keep Arts Alive in Edinburgh

In times of crisis, access to the arts is not a luxury — it is essential. It gives young people a voice, builds resilience and offers joy and connection when the future feels uncertain. 

For over 18 years, Leith-based charity Strange Town has provided life-changing access to the arts for hundreds of young people across Edinburgh each year.

Through youth theatre groups, holiday programmes, film skills workshops, stage management experience, a Young Company and professional agency support, the organisation nurtures the next generation of Scotland’s creative talent — many of whom would not otherwise have access to these opportunities. 

Strange Town is committed to creating meaningful professional pathways for early-career artists — opportunities that are increasingly rare in today’s funding landscape. All artists and practitioners are paid fairly and supported throughout.

The charity also extends its impact beyond Edinburgh, enabling local performers to progress to stages in London’s West End and onto the small screen and major streaming platforms. 

This March, the charity shines a spotlight on its Young Company (18–25), returning to Summerhall following previous sell-out runs with a newly commissioned production: 

Aphrodite Rogue

by Eleanor McMahon

Set in a near-future Edinburgh, Aphrodite Rogue follows four flatmates navigating heartbreak, climate dread and a flat that is quite literally falling apart. When one of them begins to suspect that something — or someone — is quietly sabotaging their lives, tensions rise in this sharp, timely comedy about love, uncertainty and the importance of trying again. 

  • TechCube0, Summerhall, EH9 1PL 
  • Friday 27th & Saturday 28th March 
  • 7.30pm (1 hour) 
  • £14 / £12 
  • Open to ages 14+ 

Tickets: https://strangetown.org.uk/styc-aphrodite-rogue-by-eleanor-mcmahon/

CPAG Survey on Two Child Cap

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

The Child Poverty Action Group (UK) – CPAG are carrying out research to understand the impact of the two child policy on children and family life prior to abolition of the policy in April.

This is so they can conduct further comparative research later in the year on the impact of getting rid of the policy.

It would really help them if you can spare a few minutes to answer some questions about your experience of the two child limit.

They want to hear from parents who are not receiving tax credits or universal credit for a child born after April 6 2017.

The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

No information will be used that could identify anyone involved.

Take the survey here: https://f.mtr.cool/mvoinbqtdb

You can find more information about the Child Poverty Action Group here – https://f.mtr.cool/pambkzwiyp

If you can spare a few minutes we’d be really grateful 💚

Playlist for Life: Getting Started

Want to make a personal playlist for yourself or someone you know, but not sure where to start?

Our ‘conversation starters’ leaflet has easy-to-use prompts to get people talking about the songs that give them that flashback feeling.

Use one prompt or all, each one will give you a start in creating a personal playlist for use in dementia care and support.

Access and download here for free: https://sbee.link/cx3vby6jwd

More than one in four people have experienced housing insecurity in the past five years, new Better Society Index reveals

More than a quarter (27%) of people in the UK say they or someone close to them has experienced housing insecurity in the past five years, according to new research from Better Society Capital (BSC).

Among younger adults aged 18-34, this rises to 47%, highlighting the growing prevalence of housing instability across younger generations in the UK.

Housing insecurity includes experiences such as sofa surfing, the risk of eviction, or time spent in temporary accommodation. Together, the findings suggest that housing insecurity has touched the lives of more than 13.5 million people* across the UK in recent years.

Despite this widespread experience, public understanding of how homelessness is funded and addressed locally remains limited. On average, people believe that 28% of their council tax goes toward homelessness services, which is almost ten times higher than preliminary local authority returns suggest. Half of respondents (52%) say they do not know how much is spent in their area.

Over half of the public surveyed (56%) support the use of public-private partnerships to deliver housing and homelessness services, with just 8% opposed, and emphasise proof of value for money, transparency and local accountability as drivers that would increase their level of support.

Charities and social enterprises are regarded as the most trustworthy organisations to deliver housing and homelessness services effectively with 71% of respondents saying they would trust them to deliver, followed by housing associations (55%) and local authorities (47%).

Similarly, more than half of respondents (52%) said they would be willing to invest a portion of their own savings or pension in products tackling social issues such as homelessness, provided this had little impact on their financial returns.

10% of respondents overall said they would be willing to do so regardless of the impact on returns. With just 0.05% of total UK pension assets currently allocated to social impact investment – an approach to investing that seeks to tackle social issues generating positive social impact alongside financial returns – this suggests significant untapped potential.

These pressures are already being felt by councils. Local authorities responding to the inaugural Better Society Index reported a combined £1.65bn in expenditure on homelessness services in 2024/25, with a median year-on-year increase of 10.62% (mean of 18.57%).

Temporary accommodation continues to be a major driver of costs, with councils recording more than 3,000 people needing housing every night for the last year alone. At the same time, there is wide variation in both spending and demand between areas, with urban councils typically facing higher levels of pressure.

In more than half of local authorities, cost pressures from homelessness services outstrip entire planning and development budgets and are on par with expenditure on highways and transport services.

Table 1: Region by Region Breakdown of Spending Trends (2023/2024 – 2024/2025)

Across the UK, the spending trends across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales suggest an average spending increase 2023/2024 – 2024/2025 of 18.57 per cent.  However, regional disparities emerge, as set out in Table 1 below.

Region/NationRegional Average Year on Year Percentage Change in Spending (2023/2024 – 2024/2025)(positive % is an increase, negative % is a decrease) 
London43.67%
South East32.52%
Yorkshire and The Humber28.95%
East Midlands28.54%
North East17.50%
West Midlands15.45%
North West11.64%
East of England10.94%
Northern Ireland9.45%
South West5.78%
Scotland4.36%
Wales-2.53%

Drew Ritchie, Director of Better Society Capital comments: “This data freshly reminds us that homelessness is not a fringe issue. It is a major and pressing concern for both the public and the local councils working on their behalf.

“However, the analysis also highlights an appetite for innovative solutions. A majority of savers and pension holders would like to see their money make a difference.

“Public attitudes to private investment working alongside Government are positive and the public overwhelmingly trusts charities and social enterprises to deliver those services effectively.

“Social investment combines these key ingredients, building partnerships to deliver innovative finance solutions to tackle entrenched social issues and ensuring tax payer money goes further.

“After more than 10 years of investing into housing, we believe that social investment should be a bigger part of the solution to homelessness in the UK.

“The new Office for the Impact Economy in Cabinet Office is well-placed to coordinate efforts and use this insight into public attitudes to unlock impact finance solutions across government.

“We look forward to seeing how their partnership with social investors, philanthropists and responsible-driven business evolves to tackle joint problems.”

New exhibition explores the power of books to build community

Past Shelves: Histories of Queer Reading, now open at the Museum of Edinburgh, brings together interviews, books, magazines, and artefacts to examine how LGBTQ+ lives have been shaped by reading.

A collaboration between the City of Edinburgh Council and Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive, the exhibition celebrates the vital role that queer bookshops have played in Scotland’s LGBTQ+ community.

Visitors can listen to interviews reflecting on the groundbreaking 1980s and 1990s LGBTQ+ bookshops Lavender Menace and West & Wilde and discover how these spaces became hubs for sharing information on everything from health issues to activism.

The exhibition features a rich array of content, including the original West & Wilde bookshop sign, ACT UP health awareness materials, slogan t-shirts, and posters. Visitors can also browse a wide selection of LGBTQ+ books while learning more about key genres in queer publishing and the ways in which these texts fostered connection, visibility, and pride.

Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “Past Shelves highlights an important part of Edinburgh’s recent history and the role that local bookshops played in supporting the city’s LGBTQ+ community.

“It’s great to see these stories and collections brought together in a way that recognises their significance and makes them accessible to a wide audience.

“I’d encourage everyone to visit the exhibition and discover this powerful chapter of our shared history for themselves.”

Curator Vicky Garrington, Museum of Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with the Lavender Menace archive.

“They do so much to preserve LGBTQ+ history as well as support today’s community. Their team have selected objects from our collections and given them fresh context, highlighting just how significant our LGBTQ+ collections are.

“More than anything, this exhibition explores the power of books and reading to bring people together, despite the challenges they may be experiencing in society.”

Curator Anna Broomfield, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive, said: “We are so excited to celebrate the legacy of Lavender Menace and West & Wilde bookshops, the history of LGBTQ+ publishing, and the profound impact this had on Scotland’s LGBTQ+ community.

“Our interviewees have generously shared their stories with us, and we are delighted to combine these stories with a treasure trove of material from both the City of Edinburgh Council and the Lavender Menace Archive.”

The exhibition, which is free to enter, is open until Sunday 3 May 2026. More information is available on the Culture Edinburgh website.