Come along on Monday to our breakfast café, 9 – 10:30am for some tasty hot filled rolls and hot drinks.
We also have lunch on from 11:30am – 12:30pm. A firm favourite – baked potatoes on the menu!
The Monday Café is open to everyone, and all meals are free; a small donation is appreciated if you are able.
Sir/Madam,
The latest Public Health Scotland figures on waiting times for musculoskeletal (MSK) services should be a cause for concern.
Between August 2025 and March 2026, only 52.4 per cent of patients were seen within the Scottish Government’s four-week waiting time target. Meanwhile, the number of people waiting for care increased to 75,128 by the end of March 2026.
Behind these figures are people living with arthritis and other MSK conditions who are experiencing pain, reduced mobility and uncertainty while waiting for support. MSK conditions affect around 1.7 million people in Scotland and are the leading cause of pain and disability. Timely access to services such as physiotherapy is often critical to helping people manage their condition and maintain their quality of life.
Arthritis UK is calling for a national MSK Action Plan to improve access to diagnosis, treatment and support. We are also urging the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Care and Sport Committee to undertake a dedicated inquiry into musculoskeletal health, an area that has never been the subject of a parliamentary inquiry despite its significant impact on individuals and the health service.
These latest figures highlight the need for urgent action to improve outcomes for people living with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions across Scotland. People living with this cannot afford to wait any longer.
Alan McGinley
Policy and Engagement Manager (Scotland)
Arthritis UK
Edward House
199 Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow, G2 3EX
Thanks to everyone who came along to LifeCare on Sunday to the repair café and thank you to The Repair Café Champions for all their hard work!
It was wonderful to see such a variety of things coming in for repair, and so many successes. We hope everyone left with new skills, knowledge or confidence to try mending before throwing away. 
Millions of taxpayers are choosing to go digital and check their pay via the HMRC app, as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reveals the service was used almost 100 million times last year.
Publishing its Transformation Roadmap – Update, HMRC is setting out how it is transforming and modernising the way taxpayers interact with HMRC’s services, while also making tax easier to understand and simpler to engage with.
The department highlights how its top-ranked app has been used by 7.6 million people in 2025 to 2026 – up 28% on the previous year, with user experience improved in recent months. HMRC has an ambitious target to reach 10 million users by April 2027.
That means one-in-seven Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxpayers have now used HMRC app to check their pay before it lands in their bank accounts, allowing them to plan and understand their finances better.
The HMRC app is driving the digital-first agenda. The app allows customers to check their pay before pay day and check their National Insurance number, tax code, income and benefits, and users can make Self Assessment payments, track letters, get tax estimates and more.
The number of letters HMRC has issued to customers has reduced by 15 million in the last 3 years and call waiting times have almost halved over the last 2 years, down to an average of around 12 and a half minutes.
Speaking at the Institute for Government this week, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Dan Tomlinson MP set out how HMRC is transforming the way it supports its customers. He also announced that HMRC will bring an end to the era of post by default.
From summer 2027, over 100 personal tax letters, that currently account for more than half of the 120 million letters HMRC sends every year, will be available digitally for the first time.
The department has committed to reducing the number of postal letters issued by up to 75% by 2028 to 2029, saving £50 million a year and giving customers faster, simpler ways to manage their tax.
One year on from publishing its five-year Transformation Roadmap, key reforms already delivered include:
More than 350,000 sole traders and landlords have already signed up to MTD for Income Tax. Launched in April 2026, it is the most significant change to how many customers interact with the tax system in 30 years.
Around 2 million businesses already using MTD for VAT have found that keeping digital records means an average saving of 26 to 40 hours on administrative tasks a year.
Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: “HMRC is transforming so that dealing with the tax system is simpler, faster and more convenient. We’re making big progress, and I hope people will download the HMRC app to see how well it works for themselves.
“There is more to do, but this is an important milestone on our journey towards a modern tax authority that saves people time, supports economic growth and helps ensure everyone pays the right tax.”
JP Marks, HMRC’s Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, said: “This roadmap updates on the progress we have made in year one of HMRC’s transformation and openly sets out our plans for the future.
“We are determined to go further, transforming digital customer experiences and strengthening our foundations for a more modern and secure tax, customs and valuation system. We are answering phones faster, collecting more debt, with tax receipts and HMRC yield up at record levels, with more to come.
“We remain focussed on delivering an improved service for our customers and bringing in the revenue that underpins the vital public services on which we all depend, and I hope this roadmap helps explain the progress we have made, and our next steps.”
The roadmap update also highlights how HMRC is investing in AI technologies to identify non-compliance earlier and more precisely. Several private sector organisations are currently on a 12-month programme to test AI-driven solutions to tackle non-compliance and help close the tax gap.
Following the integration of the Valuation Office (VO) into HMRC in April 2026, the VO’s plans to become a digital-first, high-trust organisation are now included in the HMRC roadmap.
The progress HMRC has made during the first 12 months underpins the ambitious plan to deliver a modernised tax and customs system that works for everyone, with planned activity for the year ahead focusing on further improving customer experience and strengthening compliance.
The Transformation Roadmap – Update 2026 can be found on GOV.UK
Lumo has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the communities it serves by providing complimentary rail travel for a group of young interns from Dr Scott Arthur MP’s Edinburgh constituency during a visit to Parliament.
The five interns travelled with Lumo to Westminster as part of an educational visit designed to give them first-hand insight into the UK’s democratic process and the work of Parliament.
By supporting the visit, Lumo helped remove the cost of travel, enabling the group to experience national politics and public service while strengthening connections between communities and decision-makers.
The initiative comes shortly after Lumo was named the UK’s best value train operator, recognising the company’s commitment to delivering affordable, high-quality rail travel while connecting communities across its growing network.
Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access, said: “At Lumo, we’re passionate about connecting communities, not just through affordable and sustainable rail travel, but by helping create opportunities for people across the regions we serve.
“Being recognised as the UK’s best value train operator reflects our belief that rail should be accessible to everyone. Supporting visits like this is another way we can help break down barriers and ensure young people have the opportunity to experience Parliament first-hand, regardless of their background.
“We’re proud to work with parliamentarians and local partners to invest in the next generation, broaden horizons and demonstrate that rail can play a positive role far beyond simply getting people from A to B.”
Dr Scott Arthur MP said: “It was a pleasure to welcome these interns from my Edinburgh constituency to Parliament. Opportunities like this can make a real difference in helping young people see how politics works in practice and understand how decisions are made.
“By supporting their travel, Lumo has helped remove a simple but important barrier and made it easier for them to take part in a valuable educational experience.
“I’m grateful for their support in helping open up access to Parliament and encouraging the next generation to engage with public life.”
Lumo operates affordable rail services connecting Edinburgh, Newcastle and Morpeth with London, with new services also serving Stirling, Motherwell, Carlisle and Preston. Through initiatives such as this, the operator continues to support education, social mobility and stronger links between the communities along its route.
Don’t spend the summer scrolling!
Our youth work team have got a relaxed, fun and FREE summer programme 
Please come and join us us, we’d love to see you! 
#Hereforgood
Here is our holiday programme for WB 6th July!
COST OF LIVING CRISIS – PUBLIC MEETING
SUNDAY 5 JULY at 4pm – ST AUGUSTINE UNITED CHURCH
Don’t Miss Out – Bookings Are NOW OPEN!
Be part of Edinburgh’s largest volunteer recruitment event and connect with over 1,000 people actively looking to volunteer.
The Volunteer Recruitment Fair is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your organisation, raise awareness of your work and meet enthusiastic potential volunteers face-to-face.
Organisations of all sizes — local and national — are invited to take part in this energetic and inspiring event, bringing together charities, community groups and volunteers from across the city and beyond.
Why Take Part?
About the Fair
Tuesday 1 September
10am – 5.30pm
St Paul’s and St George’s Church, York Place
With free public entry, a welcoming café space and a lively atmosphere throughout the day, the fair continues to be one of the most rewarding volunteer engagement events in Edinburgh.
Secure Your Stall Today
Bookings are quick and easy via our online shop or the red button below.
All stallholder terms and conditions, along with helpful planning resources, are available on our website using the short URL voled.in/fair
Booking deadline: Friday 21 September
For full event details and to secure your stall, visit edvolfair.org.uk
Three Scottish Fire and Rescue Service firefighters deployed to Venezuela remain on the ground supporting ongoing search and rescue operations as part of the UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) response.
Working alongside colleagues from fire and rescue services across the UK, Station Commander Gavin Brown, Crew Commander Ian Hodgson and Firefighter Brian Richards continue to provide specialist expertise in challenging conditions.
The team has worked tirelessly alongside emergency service personnel from a number of countries, combining their expertise, training and operational experience to deliver coordinated search and rescue operations in support of communities affected by the earthquakes.
The UK ISAR team was deployed through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) at the request of the Venezuelan government and includes firefighters and staff from 14 fire and rescue services across the UK. Their ability to collaborate effectively in challenging conditions has been instrumental in delivering assistance to those most in need.
Speaking from Venezuela, Station Commander Gavin Brown said: “There are personnel from a range of fire and rescue services across the UK, and the ability to work together in a close-knit environment and adapt to any scenario has been incredibly important.
“Drawing on the skills we use in our day-to-day roles has enabled us to work effectively as a team and get the job done.”
SFRS Group Commander Andy Buchan, the UK ISAR Team Manager in Scotland, said: “Our firefighters remain in Venezuela supporting ongoing search and rescue operations as part of the wider UK ISAR response.
“The commitment, professionalism and resilience shown by everyone involved has been outstanding.
“What our team are experiencing during this deployment is intense. The scale of the devastation they have encountered is unlike anything they would face in their day-to-day duties back home, and they are dealing with those challenging circumstances every day throughout their deployment.”
Andy continued: “We continue to assess and support our firefighters before, during and after deployment to ensure their needs and overall wellbeing are being met, and that they have access to the right support at every stage of the process.”
