Over 500 children visit a loved one at HMP Edinburgh every month. For many, it can be an overwhelming experience. That’s why our staff work tirelessly to make every visit as positive and supportive as possible.
Putting children first is at the heart of everything they do. Through their Play Learn Connect (PLC) sessions, often referred to as bonding visits, children can spend meaningful time with their dads in a more relaxed and natural environment. Unlike traditional prison visits, these sessions allow families to move around freely, play together and take part in shared activities.
As one visitor, who brings her newborn grandson to visit his dad, explains: “The bonding visits are just a chance for dads to let their guard down and be more authentic with their kids, in a way that they can’t really do if there are other prisoners around.”
She spoke about the impact imprisonment has had on her family: “Although he’s been in and out of jail for a while, this is the time that it feels like it’s truly punishment because he can’t be there.”
However, she also praised staff for the support they’ve provided to help maintain their connection: “When the baby was a couple of weeks old, they did handprints and footprints. They also got a photo taken together at the bonding visit. Obviously there’s no phones, so there’s no opportunity to get a photo of your baby otherwise.”
Staff also organise a range of family-focused experiences and events throughout the year, including sports days, movie nights, and Christmas and Easter celebrations. If a child has a birthday approaching, staff will even arrange for a cake to be shared during a PLC session, giving families the opportunity to celebrate together.
Nicola Leatherbarrow, a First Line Manager at HMP Edinburgh, is always looking for new ways to create meaningful shared experiences for children and their dads. Future plans include an outdoor area where children can learn to ride a bike with their dads, as well as homework packs that families can complete together. “I’m trying to do things that we take for granted,” she says.
Recently, 1919 Magazine spent time at HMP Edinburgh to better understand the experiences of visiting families. The team visited the Visitors Centre, run by our partners Barnardo’s Scotland, and spoke with staff and families about the importance of maintaining family connections.
The Council’s Transport and Environment Committee may have voted to prioritise the Sothern section this week, but the debate about the Northern tram route – should it ever happen – continues:
LIB-DEM Inverleith Councillor Hol Osler said on social media: ‘On Thursday at the Transport and Environment Committee there was a report to consider the next steps on the Granton to Bio Quarter leg of the tram.
‘The Liberal Democrat’s put an amendment in to remove the Roseburn Path from being used for the Northern Leg and consideration given to other proposals.
‘Unfortunately Labour/SNP/Greens voted to keep the Roseburn Path in.
‘Presently there is no funding and priority is being given to progress the southern part of the route.
‘I am very disappointed that Labour/SNP/Greens, having been given another chance to remove the Roseburn Path and consider other options, have again voted to keep it in. This is despite the SNP having committed that they would not support Roseburn as an option.’
PRIME Minister Andy Burnham has responded to John Swinney’s request for a meeting to discuss comments he made at Westminster this week.
In a letter to Scotland’s First Minister, Burnham explained: ‘I was simply highlighting that there is no consensus for an independence referendum in Scotland’ and goes on ‘As I made clear to you personally when we met recently in Glasgow, independence and a referendum are off limits as it would take our focus away from growing the economy and helping families with the cost of living.’
The Scottish Government has not formally responded but Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay said on X: “We have already endured far too many years of obstruction, hurdles and political games from UK governments.
“It has gone on for far too long.
“The Scottish Parliament should have the power to trigger that referendum!”
With November being men’s mental health awareness month we wanted to make a powerful statement in addressing it and what better way.
Frank Bruno MBE is a former WBC world heavyweight champion who has faced many challenges in boxing and with mental health and we are delighted he is going to share some of these stories with us on the night.
The evening will consist with doors opening at 6 with some welcoming refreshments (non alcoholic), a photo with Frank and then listening to Franks journey. With the evening coming to an end around 8.15.
Tickets are on sale now for all BLAST members or affiliations.
On general sale from September 18th.
Please note, tickets are limited to only 100. This is a very small and intimate event.
Please contact the FB page with any enquiries or to secure your space.
A consortium led by Spartans main shareholder Scott Davidson have been given EFL/IFR approval to purchase Shrewsbury Town FC.
The deal has yet to be finalised and is yet to receive SFA approval. The proposed new Board of Shrewsbury Town FC will be chaired by Scott and will also include fellow Spartans directors Will Dotson and Craig Graham, subject to IFR clearance which is expected this week, as well as Brad Friedel the US International and ex Premier League goal-keeper.
There will be an informal relationship between Spartans FC and Shrewsbury Town FC which will allow both of us to benefit from sharing knowledge and experience.
We also both have excellent Community Foundations, this deal will provide valuable opportunities for collaboration and mutual learning.
Further information will be shared as the acquisition process proceeds.
UK drivers hit with £37.7 million in bus lane fines in the first six months of 2026, new analysis reveals
MoneySuperMarket requested Freedom of Information (FOI) data to reveal the cities issuing the most fines for bus lane and bus gate infringements
More than 1.17 million fines for driving in bus lanes and gates were issued in the first six months of 2026 – the equivalent of one fine every 13 seconds
In the first half of 2026, an average of £200,000 was collected each day from British motorists for bus-related driving penalties
British drivers have been issued more than 1.17 million bus lane and gate Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) during the first half of 2026, generating more than £37.7 million in fines, according to new analysis by car insurance expert MoneySuperMarket.
Though most drivers will be aware of bus lanes, the road lanes reserved for buses, and often taxis, cyclists and motorbikes, bus gates may be more unfamiliar. These ‘gates’ block a short stretch of road to all traffic except buses, rather than restricting one lane. Both bus lanes and gates are enforced by CCTV or automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and can result in PCN fines being issued for rule breaches.
The analysis, based on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made by MoneySuperMarket to 77 councils and transport authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, reveals the scale and cost of bus lane enforcement across Great Britain. The data shows the equivalent of one fine issued roughly every 13 seconds – more than £200,000 collected from motorists per day.
The research also reveals which authorities issued the most PCNs across the first six months of the year, with Transport for London (TfL) taking the top spot with 90,511 fines issued. Outside of London, Manchester follows in second place with 77,878 fines issued, while Sheffield ranks third with 59,011 PCNs issued.
Number of PCNs Issued for Bus Lane and Gate Infringements, By City/Authority
Rank
City/Authority
Total PCNs issued for bus lane/gate infringement(Jan – June 2026)
1
Transport for London (TfL)
90,511
2
Manchester
77,878
3
Sheffield
59,011
4
Bristol
56,882
5
Leeds
53,009
6
Birmingham
51,687
7
Southampton
42,216
8
Reading
36,583
9
Liverpool
35,526
10
Coventry
35,265
Manchester generated the most revenue from fines paid for bus lane and gate infringements, with the council receiving over £2.7 million in revenue in the first six months of 2026. Despite issuing more PCNs, TfL generated just under £2.4 million in revenue for the same time, with Birmingham (£2.17m) placing third.
Total Revenue from Bus Lane and Gate PCN Fines, By City/Authority
Rank
City/Authority
Total revenue from bus lane/gate infringement fines(Jan – June 2026)
1
Manchester
£2,726,409
2
Transport for London (TfL)
£2,374,283
3
Birmingham
£2,165,600
4
Sheffield
£1,700,741
5
Glasgow
£1,699,474
6
Leeds
£1,412,740
7
Southwark
£1,409,105
8
Bristol
£1,265,641
9
Edinburgh
£1,186,458
10
Liverpool
£1,166,222
Alicia Hempsted, Car Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, says: “Bus lanes and gates are an important part of our road infrastructure, so it’s important to keep them clear of cars and allow them to flow freely, particularly during busy periods.However, for many drivers, a brief lapse of attention or navigating an unfamiliar street can have expensive consequences.
“PCNs are civil penalties, rather than criminal notices, so unlike offences for speeding or drink-driving, they won’t have any impact on your car insurance. If you do receive a PCN for a bus lane or gate infringement, you should try to address it as soon as possible as fines are often reduced by 50% if they’re settled within 14 to 21 days, though this does vary between locations.
“You should always review the details of the PCN carefully before paying it to confirm they are correct. You can dispute a PCN by contacting the issuing council or TfL, which you should do as soon as possible if you feel it’s incorrect.
“However, if you fail to pay a PCN within the given time period, these can be escalated to a County Court judgment or bailiff action, which could show up on credit checks in the future.”
On World Suicide Prevention Day, 10th September, venues across Edinburgh’s iconic skyline joined landmarks across Scotland in lighting up green to raise awareness of suicide prevention and Samaritans’ charity.
Buildings and landmarks across Scotland united in shining a light on suicide prevention and the support available for people in crisis on Thursday. In Edinburgh, Museum on the Mound, Camera Obscura and the Balmoral Hotel were some of those landmarks shining green, Samaritans’ well-known colour.
Joining the venues were Lerwick Town Hall in Shetland; Discovery Point in Dundee; Stirling Castle, Glasgow Science Centre; the Kelpies; Marischal College and King’s College in Aberdeen.
Samaritans is the charity that prevents suicide through human connection, and this World Suicide Prevention Day, the charity’s message to people in Scotland is that you don’t have to be an expert to save someone’s life. Small, everyday interruptions and actions could help someone who is suicidal by distracting them from their thoughts.
It could be a face-to-face conversation, a phone call, a text or any other way of connecting with someone. It could be as simple as asking someone you’re worried about if they are OK, perhaps making a positive comment on something you notice about them (for example, their shoes or coat), or even giving them something to touch or hold, which can help to distract somebody and help them feel grounded.
For Paul, 45, an unexpected interruption from a taxi driver simply asking if he was OK was all it took to change the course of his life:
“That taxi driver probably doesn’t know the impact he had that day or how much it helped me,” said Paul. “It seems a bit dramatic to say I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that conversation, but that is the reality. It shows that anyone can save a life, just by showing that they care.”
After struggling to balance a high-pressure job and family life, Paul reached crisis point and decided to take his own life. But a passing taxi driver stopped and got out to check on him.
“I had started to feel like I was the root cause of every problem and if I removed myself, then that would fix everything. I felt tired, burnt out and broken. I decided I was going to take my own life.”
“I was crossing the road when the taxi stopped me. I suspect the driver initially thought it was some idiot not paying attention, but he must’ve recognised that something wasn’t right. He got out to check if I was OK and said something like, ‘You need to talk to someone.’”
“So, I called Samaritans. I don’t remember much about that call, but they helped me get through the night. They listened and allowed me to offload. It helped me go to bed and try again the next day.”
A life-saving interruption for Paul, and a reminder that an interruption can make an enormous difference when it matters.
A new survey commissioned by Samaritans revealed thatalmost three quarters (74%) of respondents in Scotland felt that society is increasingly being designed to avoid interaction, with just over two in five (43%) saying they interact with people less than they did five years ago.
But despite the direction of travel towards less interaction with others, people still place huge value on human connection.
More people in Scotland say they would prefer to turn to a stranger (50%) than AI (23%) if they needed help – showing that we can all have a role to play in looking out for one another.
It can be difficult to know what to say or do if you think someone may be experiencing a suicidal crisis. Samaritans has put together advice suggested by people with lived experience to help guide others through these moments:
Ask them if they’ve felt like this before and what, if anything, has helped them, and then do something they’ve suggested if possible.
If you feel able to, stay with them and sit quietly, letting them know you’re there if they want to talk.
Do not coerce or force anything on the person. Meet them as they are in that moment.
Let them know they are not alone.
Let them know that an emotion or thought does not last forever. An emotion or thought does not have to define them. It does not need to lead to a decision they can’t reverse.
Ask them what things they care about and what they like.
Samaritans’ Executive Director for Scotland, Neil Mathers, said: “As Scotland glows green on World Suicide Prevention Day, we’re reminded of the power of connection. Each light represents hope, a moment of support, a conversation, and the reminder that Samaritans is here to listen.
“Suicide is preventable. The more openly we talk about suicide, the easier we can make it for people experiencing suicidal thoughts to speak honestly about how they are feeling.
“We’re urging people across Scotland not to be afraid to ask someone if they are feeling suicidal. It can be a difficult conversation, but you don’t need to be an expert or have all the answers. What matters is being there, listening without judgement and showing that you care.”
Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK and Ireland dies by suicide. But suicide isn’t inevitable. This World Suicide Prevention Day, Samaritans is encouraging everyone to be prepared to interrupt if they’re worried someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. Find advice on how to start a conversation, listen and support someone at www.samaritans.org/interrupt.
Samaritans provides a vital lifeline for people and communities across Scotland. Our helpline is available for anyone struggling to cope with suicidal thoughts, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE, any time, from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. Or you can visit www.samaritans.org.
I welcome the comments made by First Minister John Swinney on the issue of the burqa and, in particular, his clear statement that women should be free to choose what they want to wear (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY).
In Scotland, we should be proud of being a diverse and multicultural country where people are free to practise their faith, express their culture, and make their own personal choices without unnecessary interference from the state.
My Work in Parliament
I have consistently raised these vital issues in the Scottish Parliament to ensure our legislation, debates, and public policy reflect our core values of equality, personal autonomy, and human rights. Through parliamentary questions to the Scottish Government, I have formally challenged dangerous proposals to restrict religious dress and pressed Ministers on how they intend to safeguard minority communities.
Specifically, I have raised questions in Parliament pressing Ministers on:
Protecting Civil Liberties: What explicit measures the Scottish Government is taking to protect individual rights and ensure women retain the freedom to choose their own clothing free from state control or harassment.
Community Cohesion: How the Government is monitoring and mitigating the damaging impact that toxic political rhetoric and divisive debates have on minority communities across Scotland.
Tackling Hate Crime: What proactive steps are being taken to ensure women who choose to wear religious garments, such as the burqa or hijab, are protected from discrimination, harassment, and abuse in public spaces.
Stopping Political Hate and Division
It is deeply alarming to see some politicians actively using the floor of Parliament and public platforms to spread hate, target specific religious groups, and divide our communities.
When politicians play politics with people’s identity and faith, it is not harmless debate — it is dangerous, and it needs to be stopped.
Inciting Hatred and Division: Rhetoric that singles out Muslim women normalises Islamophobia and prejudice. It signals to the wider public that certain groups are acceptable targets for hostility.
Fueling Abuse on the Streets: Words spoken in Parliament have real-world consequences. Inflammatory political debates directly increase the risk of verbal and physical harassment faced by minority women in their everyday lives.
Undermining Democratic Trust: Politics should be about bringing people together to solve shared problems. When politicians use their platform to pit communities against one another, it erodes social trust and weakens the democratic principles of equality and mutual respect.
The Real Impact of Ban Proposals
Proposals to ban or restrict religious dress do not liberate anyone, they actively harm the women they purport to discuss.
Increasing Isolation: Rather than empowering women, dress bans risk forcing visually identifiable Muslim women out of public life, restricting their access to education, employment, and public services due to heightened fears for their safety.
Eroding Freedom for Everyone: Allowing the government or political parties to dictate what women can or cannot wear sets a dangerous precedent that undermines fundamental bodily autonomy and religious freedom for all citizens.
A Scotland Built on Freedom and Equality
For many women, religious and cultural clothing is an important part of their identity and faith. This is not unique to Muslim communities. Scotland is home to people from many different ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds, all of whom contribute enormously to the country we share.
We must reject attempts by politicians to divide us. We should be having a conversation about freedom, equality, and choice, not using the parliament to tell women what they can and cannot wear.
Women must have the right to decide what they wear for themselves. That freedom must apply equally to everyone, whether someone chooses to wear a burqa, hijab, turban, traditional cultural dress, or no religious clothing at all.
Scotland is strongest when everyone can feel that they belong.
Diversity is a strength to be celebrated, and protecting people’s freedom to express their faith and culture is fundamental to building a fair, safe, and inclusive society.
Foysol Choudhury MBE is a former Member of the Scottish Parliament & Shadow Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
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