Thank you to everyone who rolled up their sleeves and did a litter pick as part of #SpringCleanScotland 2026.
The results are in:
– Scotland’s largest mass litter pick event
– 34,702 people involved
– 3,340 litter picks recorded
– 46,877 bags of litter removed from polluting our country
Barry Fisher, our Chief Executive, said: “I’d like to extend our gratitude to every person who has made an effort to clean up their part of Scotland – we all have a part to play and your activity is truly appreciated by us all.”
Check out the impact report and see if you can spot your litter pick photos:
A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to more than six years for attempted murder and other offences at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Lewis Burns pleaded guilty in May this year to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and attempted murder.
It follows an investigation into an incident which occurred on Tuesday, 3 February, 2026, when police were called to a report of a collision involving a pedestrian and a vehicle on Lochend Drive.
Detective Inspector Gavin Howat said: “Burns deliberately drove at his victim not once but twice. He used his car as a weapon that day and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.
“I hope today’s outcome affords the victim a degree of justice as they continue to move forward with their life.”
Burns was also banned from driving for more than eight years.
Shoppers and families could soon have even more reasons to visit Fort Kinnaird, as plans have been submitted for more than 42,500 sq ft of new retail and leisure space, creating more than 60 jobs for the local area.
If approved, the centre would welcome a new food store of c.19,750 sq ft on the ground floor, alongside c.22,785 sq ftof leisure space on the first floor, supporting the continued growth of the destination’s leisure quarter and enhancing the overall visitor experience.
The new building would be located alongside Fort Kinnaird’s established leisure and food offering, including ODEON cinema, Wagamama and Nando’s.
The announcement follows last year’s refurbishment of the Eastern Terrace, which saw more than 20,000 sq ft of retail space upgraded and welcomed new stores including Lush, Rituals and Clintons.
It builds on Fort Kinnaird’s position as one of the UK’s largest retail parks, extending across more than 560,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space in total.
Liam Smith, Centre Director at Fort Kinnaird, said:“This is a really exciting time for us. We have no doubt the new development, if approved, will prove exceptionally popular with our visitors. It will offer convenience for everyday shopping but also more choice when spending quality time with family and friends.
“Beyond that, we’re really proud this project will create over 60 new jobs in the local area. The development is about strengthening Fort Kinnaird as a destination for the whole community.”
Designed with sustainability in mind, the new building would incorporate Air Source Heat Pumps and solar photovoltaic systems to help reduce energy consumption and support lower-carbon operations.
Subject to planning approval, consent is expected in November 2026, with works anticipated to begin in January 2027 and completion targeted for January 2028.
Fort Kinnaird is co-owned by retail landlord, British Land, which recently also submitted a 60,000 sq ft retail and leisure expansion at Glasgow Fort, reflecting its confidence in investing in destinations that bring together shopping, dining and entertainment.
For further details or to plan your visit to Fort Kinnaird, please visit:
More than one-quarter (26%) of workers feel their managers and employee representatives are ineffective at working together to prevent and resolve conflict, according to a new Acas survey.
The survey, carried out by YouGov, also found that nearly one in three (31%) workers do not have any employee representatives who could help prevent conflict.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 gives new access rights to trade unions which makes effective employer and trade union relationships critical.
The government has consulted on a Code of Practice on the new independent right of trade unions to access workplaces that is expected to come into force in October 2026. It will provide guidance on how access is requested, agreed and implemented.
Acas is calling on government, trade unions and employers to work together positively to achieve access and prevent conflict.
Kevin Rowan, Acas Director of Dispute Resolution, said: “We know there is a conflict management skills gap in Britain, and our survey shows too many cases where employee representatives and managers are not effective enough at working with each other, leading to conflict and disruption.
“Effective relationships between employee representatives and managers can help build trust, prevent disputes and contribute to productive organisations.
“I’m pleased the new draft Code recognises the valuable work that Acas collective conciliators do to build positive relationships between trade unions and employers. There is need for a balance on both sides on the right for trade union access outlined in the Code.”
Acas’s response to the Government’s consultation makes several recommendations, including how the Code should:
balance rights and responsibilities, clarifying that effective access arrangements be meaningful, regular and could be in-person or digital, and unions and employers should work together positively to achieve access
promote voluntary agreements on access between unions and employers, rather than rushing to formal procedures, and ensure the Code clearly signposts Acas services
Acas offers training, advice and a free service for managers and representatives to help prevent, manage and resolve conflict at work.
Acas collective conciliation involves working directly with employers and groups of workers or their representatives to settle a dispute. It gives both parties the chance to come to an agreement without taking legal or industrial action.
In 2024-25, Acas handled 522 collective conciliations and helped to resolve 93% of cases.
Two men have been jailed for attempted murder following a wilful fire-raising incident on 4 April, 2025, in Hay Drive.
Kurtis Young, 42, was sentenced to 11 years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow and 19-year-old Richard Ordish was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday, 16 June, 2026.
Both men pled guilty to wilful fire-raising, causing danger to life and attempted murder, in connection with serious organised crime.
The investigation was part of enquiries into violent incidents in the East and West of Scotland under Operation Portaledge.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “This was a reckless and dangerous act and Kurtis Young and Richard Ordish will now face the consequences of their actions.
“Today’s sentence sends a message that there is no place for this type of behaviour in our communities.”
The ‘savings’ announced yesterday will deliver around £160m of the £500m target of savings over the next three years
The BBC has confirmed the first phase of its proposals to make £500m of savings over the next three years.
Staff were informed today that 550 roles would be closed across the News, Nations and Content divisions by the start of 2027/28. These divisions would also be making a reduction in commissioning spend of around £80m by the end of 2027/28.
The savings announced today will deliver around £160m of the £500m target, which will see an overall reduction to headcount of around 1,800 to 2000 and a cost reduction of 10%, over the next three years.
Further savings across all divisions will be set out in the coming months. This includes corporate divisions, where around 700 roles are expected to close.
Proposals announced today:
BBC Content
A target to deliver a minimum of £100m of recurring annual savings by the end of 2027/28
A reduction of around 100 roles by the end of this financial year
A review of broadcast TV channels and radio network portfolio as audiences move online
A reduction of 100-150 hours of originated programmes across all commissioning genres by the end of 2027/28
In audio, by the end of 2027/28 we expect a reduction of around 350-400 hours across stations and genres, while protecting many of our prime daily programmes
Nations
A total of £33m of savings by the end of 27/28, with the expected closure of around 250 posts in this first phase expected to be broken down as follows:
Savings of £9m in Wales and a reduction in headcount of around 50 roles
In Northern Ireland, £4m of savings and up to 50 roles
In Scotland, over £10m of savings and up to 60 roles
BBC News will be reducing costs by at least £51m by next April with further announcements expected over the next few months detailing further post closures amounting to a level similar to that announced today.
Staff have been told voluntary redundancy will be available, but compulsory redundancies are also possible.
Programme closures will be guided by three main principles:
To sustain output with the highest audience value and impact
Meet audiences where they are, reducing spend elsewhere
Make the BBC simpler and faster – reduce duplication, clarify accountability, and increase the speed of decision making. This includes reducing senior leaders by at least 10%
Further announcements will be made in due course.
The NUJ has warned that further brutal BBC cuts will be “devastating” for workers and audiences, urging management and the government to prioritise investing in the broadcaster.
The NUJ had previously sounded alarm after the BBC announced plans to cut between 1,800-2,000 jobs as part of a 10% reduction to its total costs by the end of 2028-29.
Matt Brittin, BBC director general, yesterday (17 June) announced that the first wave of cuts could lead to a reduction of 550 roles across the BBC’s news, nations, and content teams.
Subsequent communications from BBC management have confirmed that BBC News would lose around 200 roles while BBC Nations would lose around 250 roles – including around 90 roles in BBC Local – “with further reductions to come”.
Many divisions have already started offering voluntary redundancy, with Brittin stating that the BBC will “work hard to avoid” compulsory redundancies.
In addition to cuts to jobs, the BBC plans to close programmes – including Radio 4’s The World Tonight and the Midnight News and the World Service’s The Conversation and The Fifth Floor. On BBC One, the Sunday morning edition of BBC Breakfast will end this September.
The director general has also announced an £80 million reduction in commissioning across news, nations and content for 2027/28, alongside a review of the broadcaster’s TV and radio stations.
The BBC said it plans to “prioritise digital content” and “making greater use of mobile technology” instead of using crews to film stories.
The NUJ has called for the BBC to change course and for the UK government to provide urgent intervention to stop the constant cycle of cuts to jobs and programming.
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said: “Largescale cuts to the BBC would be devastating – not only for dedicated workers at the broadcaster whose jobs are at risk – but also audiences and communities across the UK.
“The need for accurate, independent, locally relevant and universally accessible journalism is greater than ever with increasing media monopolisation, mis- and disinformation, and AI fake news rife on social media.
“This is not the time for the BBC to retreat from its public service commitments and its core mission to inform, educate, and entertain. The BBC cannot provide quality journalism without the talented and experienced workers who make it possible.
“Our members are already being asked to produce more with fewer resources, leaving workers across newsrooms at risk of burnout. Previous rounds of cuts have resulted in unmanageable workloads, low morale, loss of staff, and fewer opportunities for freelances or career progression.
“This constant cycle of cuts and cost-saving must end. With Charter Renewal underway, the BBC and government should instead be focussing on securing positive reforms that guarantee a bright future for our public broadcaster.
“Our ‘Back The BBC’ campaign sets out members’ priorities for Charter Renewal: increased funding, worker representation on the BBC board, and truly independent governance.
“However, Charter Renewal won’t come soon enough to stop these cuts, which is why we are calling on the government to urgently intervene.
“The NUJ will be supporting members collectively and individually though these difficult times. We strongly encourage BBC workers to stand with us and get involved in the union. Working together gives us a stronger collective voice and helps us fight to protect jobs and programming.”
The dementia care charity’s Royal Patron celebrates ‘unsung heroes’ during National Carers Week
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, has hosted a special reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to recognise and thank the volunteers and unpaid carers of The Eric Liddell Community, whose unwavering dedication transforms the lives of people living with dementia across Edinburgh.
The royal reception took place at a highly symbolic time, bridging the conclusion of Volunteers’ Week (1–7 June) and Carers Week (8–14 June). The event celebrated the vital, often unseen contributions of those who give their time, energy, and compassion to others, while highlighting the importance of high quality, specialist dementia services across the city.
Thirty volunteers and unpaid carers represented the charity’s core operations at the Palace, including its flagship Dementia Day Care service, Cafe, and the dedicated carers support team.
As Royal Patron of the charity, Her Royal Highness met individually with guests to hear firsthand about their caregiving and volunteering experiences.
Before concluding the event, Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, addressed the group collectively, expressing her deep gratitude for their ongoing commitment to supporting some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable citizens.
Megan Veronesi, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, said: “We were deeply honoured to join Her Royal Highness in recognising the incredible contributions our volunteers and unpaid carers make every single day. Their compassion, dedication, and generosity are at the absolute heart of everything we do.
“As the need for specialist dementia support continues to grow across the city, community-led services that keep people connected, active, and supported have never been more critical.”
Our Dementia Day Care service provides life-changing support for individuals living with dementia, while giving family carers a much needed break, secure in the knowledge that their loved one is in safe, expert hands.
The royal recognition comes at a pivotal moment of growth for The Eric Liddell Community. With rates of dementia rising rapidly, more families are increasingly seeking safe, stimulating, and deeply person-centred environments for individuals diagnosed with dementia.
To address this need, the charity provides subsidised and self-funded day care places for people from across Edinburgh, which are designed to provide individuals with meaningful activities, crucial social connections, and expert care, while simultaneously offering family carers valuable respite and peace of mind.
The charity also provides a range of groups for people living with or at risk of dementia, and their carers, to enjoy time together. This includes our dementia-friendly music group, Liddel Lion’s lunch, and a range of wellbeing activities.
This summer, the City Art Centre will present Start from the Level, the largest exhibition ever staged of the work of Sandra George (1957–2013).
Start from the Level is produced in partnership with Craigmillar Now, an arts and heritage centre based in Craigmillar, who hold Sandra’s collection in their community archive, and is part of the Edinburgh Art Festival.
Opening on 27 June and running until 27 September 2026, the exhibition brings together photographs spanning more than two decades, many of which will be shown publicly for the first time. Drawn from Sandra’s extensive archive, the exhibition offers a powerful portrait of Edinburgh’s communities and explores themes of identity, activism, motherhood, belonging, and social justice.
Born in Nottingham and raised between Jamaica and the UK before settling in Edinburgh, she became widely known for her work as a community organiser and advocate. Alongside this, she developed a prolific photographic practice, documenting everyday life across Edinburgh and beyond from the late 1970s through to the early 2000s.
Through her lens, she captured both intimate personal moments and wider social movements, creating a remarkable visual record of the city and the people who shaped it. Her photographs are united by a deep sense of humanity and a commitment to representing people with dignity, openness, and care.
The exhibition takes its title from Sandra’s own words: her desire to “start from the level people are based”. This guiding principle informed her work throughout her life, resulting in an extraordinary body of photography that remains as relevant and resonant today as ever.
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “Sandra George’s photographs offer an invaluable record of Edinburgh and its communities, seen through the eyes of someone deeply committed to social justice, equality, and human connection.
“This landmark exhibition celebrates not only her extraordinary talent as a photographer, but also her lasting contribution to the cultural and community life of our city.
“We are proud to bring this important body of work to audiences and ensure that Sandra’s legacy continues to inspire future generations.”
In addition to the exhibition at City Art Centre, a special outdoor presentation of Sandra’s work will be displayed on street-side billboard and poster sites across Edinburgh from 22 June for three weeks in partnership with BuildHollywood.
Featuring photographs taken throughout the city, the displays will appear in Fountain Park, Teviot and Meadowbank, bringing George’s images directly into the public spaces she documented.
A special multicultural event celebrating the contributions of New Scots to Scotland’s cultural life, is set to take place in Edinburgh this weekend as part of Refugee Festival Scotland.
The New Scots Extravaganza, organised by Hibernian Community Foundation, will bring together performers from Scottish, Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, African, Afghan and Indian communities through music, dance and storytelling.
Taking place on World Refugee Day, this Saturday 20 June, at Edinburgh’s Norton Park, the performances will celebrate community, art and culture, championing the diverse cultures that contribute to life in Scotland and exploring themes of roots, memory, displacement, resilience and belonging.
Combining authentic cultural expression with moments of artistic collaboration, the event highlights how diverse traditions continue to live, evolve and enrich the cultural life of Edinburgh.
The New Scots Extravaganza aims to create a space where communities are seen, heard and valued, and where Scotland is celebrated as a place shaped by many voices, stories and cultures.
Organiser Vitaliia Melnyk said: “For me, this event is important because it creates a space where people from different backgrounds can be seen, heard and valued. It is an opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity, and recognise the experiences, contributions and stories of people who have made Scotland their new home.
“As a Ukrainian living in Scotland, I have seen how culture can create connection, even when people come from very different places. New Scots Extravaganza is about building those connections and showing that Scotland is enriched by the people who have arrived here and become part of its communities.”
This year’s Refugee Festival Scotland sees hundreds of events staged across Scotland, all designed to put solidarity centre stage and bring people together in celebration of art, culture and community.
Run by Scottish Refugee Council, the annual festival showcases the music, dance, food, art, film, language and ideas that enrich communities.
Refugee Festival Scotland Manager, Mónica Laiseca said: “Refugee Festival Scotland is a festival for everyone. This year’s programme brings together artists, communities and audiences from across the country to share culture and time together in meaningful ways, with each event, artist and participant bringing their own perspective to the programme.
“We’re proud to showcase the creativity, resilience and hope that refugees bring to Scotland, and highlight the richness of culture that flourishes when everyone feels they belong. In a time when calls for unity and compassion are more important than ever, this festival is a reminder of what we can achieve together.”
New Scots Extravaganza takes place at Norton Park, Edinburgh at 2pm, Saturday 20 June and is free to attend.
REMINDER – GRANTON WATERFRONT DROP-IN, MON 22 JUNE
Monday 22 June 2026, 4.00pm – 7.00pm
Granton Station
