A free independent advocacy service has been launched to support families who have lost loved ones in prison custody.
Advocacy workers will offer practical and emotional support that is trauma-informed and tailored to the needs of each family. This will include helping bereaved families to understand and navigate the processes that can follow a death in custody, including fatal accident inquiries.
The service, provided by independent advocacy organisation AdvoCard, was developed with input from those who have experienced such a loss.
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy, and my thoughts are with the families affected. Keeping people safe in our prisons continues to be a top priority.
“For families who have lost a loved one in prison custody, shock and grief can be compounded by the investigations, legal processes and inquiries that follow. These can be complex and distressing, and no one should have to face them alone.
“This new free independent advocacy service will guide families through each step and make sure their voices are heard. I am grateful to the families who courageously shared their experiences and helped to shape the service so that others facing the same loss can get the support they need.”
Susan McGregor, whose brother died in prison custody, said: “As well as the heartbreak of losing my brother, we did not know what would happen next and then we were faced with complicated reviews and legal processes, which just added to the grief.
“I am pleased that with the launch of the AdvoCard service, other families in a similar position will be able to access support to help guide them through all this.”
AdvoCard CEO Arlene Astley said: “We support families through what can often be complex processes, including Deaths in Prison Learning and Audit Reviews (DIPLAR), NHS Significant Adverse Event Reviews and Fatal Accident Inquiries.
“Our dedicated advocacy workers offer one-to-one support, helping families understand these processes, to have their voices heard, and to access the information and support they need throughout their journey.’
£375,000 to help most vulnerable people affected by climate change
The Scottish Government will provide £375,000 for three programmes supporting human rights and disability inclusion in the global response to climate change.
In a world-first, Scotland will provide £100,000 in new funding to Christian Blind Mission to help disabled people’s organisations take part in international climate talks. Disabled people are often among those hit hardest by climate change, but are rarely included in decisions about how to respond. This funding will help make sure their voices are heard.
The funding includes £165,000 to continue Scotland’s support for the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights. A further £110,000 will extend funding for the Regions4 Just Resilience Action Platform, which helps Global South regions access climate finance by developing investment-ready projects and connecting them with donors. Scotland holds the Presidency of Regions4, a global network of governments.
Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “This funding continues Scotland’s efforts to make sure those who have done the least to cause the climate crisis but are most vulnerable to its worse impacts have a voice in international decisions.
“Climate justice is central to our approach. We want finance to reach those hit hardest, through locally led action that puts women, disabled people and Indigenous Peoples at the heart of climate solutions.
“For long-term change, we have made clear that the global debt system needs to be reformed if we are to achieve climate resilience. Climate vulnerable countries in the Global South should not have to choose between debt payments or recovering from climate change.
“The UK Government has an opportunity to use its upcoming G20 Presidency to make this a priority and I will continue to urge them to do so.”
Josephine Mwatibo and Gordon Rattray, UNFCCC focal points Disability Climate Caucus said: “The Disability Caucus is very grateful to the Scottish Government for its support, which is helping to make international climate action more disability inclusive.
For too long, persons with disabilities from the Global South, who are among those most impacted by climate change, have been shut out of the rooms where decisions are made.
“This funding means representatives from organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs/DPOs) can be at COP31, drawing on their lived experience and local knowledge to help shape outcomes that will affect their communities.
“The support will help to move the dial on seeing long term impact for some of the world’s most marginalised communities and towards climate justice. It goes beyond the logistics of travel, registration and preparation.
“It also covers the accessibility requirements that make participation possible, such as sign language interpretation, personal assistance and accessible accommodation. Without these, being at the event is not the same as taking part.
“The Scottish Government’s commitment is a practical demonstration that climate action must include persons with disabilities, and we hope it encourages others to follow.”
Elisa Morgera, the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights said: “The UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights is extremely grateful for the renewed funding from the Scottish Government, which supports the mandate’s international engagements including her participation in COP31, at a time when the UN liquidity crisis has prevented the mandate from receiving the UN budget allocated to her under the relevant Human Rights Council resolution.
“These international engagements are essential for the Rapporteur to listen to the concerns of and advise States, human rights defenders and a variety of experts who wish to contribute to the protection of the climate system and human rights, from local to national and international levels.”
The Scottish Government has delivered £36 million for climate justice, including £10 million for loss and damage, in the last parliamentary term.
Appeal for information after woman struck by vehicle on Edinburgh city bypass
Road policing officers are appealing for information after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on the A720 Edinburgh city bypass westbound near the Baberton junction.
The incident happened around 9pm last night (Wednesday, 11 November) and involved a black Citreon Berlingo.
Emergency services attended and the pedestrian, a 47-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The road was closed overnight in both directions for collision investigation work.
It re-opened at around 2.45pm this afternoon (Thursday, 12 November).
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a road traffic offence and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
Sergeant Grant Hastie said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the woman who died and her next of kin are aware.
“Enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing for information that could assist with our investigation.
“Please get in touch if you saw anything or have dash-cam footage that could assist officers.
“We are also asking anyone who saw a woman in the area before the incident to get in touch as you may have vital information that could help.”
Anyone who can help is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3879 of Wednesday, 11 November, 2026.
Join us on Saturday 28th November, 11am–2pm for a lovely festive day at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.
We have some fantastic sellers joining us, with a lovely selection of handmade crafts, gifts and festive goodies. There’ll also be a bake sale, refreshments, tombola and plenty of Christmas cheer!
Santa’s Grotto – Booking Now Open
If you’d like to book your child in for a visit with Santa on the day, please get in touch with us with your child’s name and age.
Visits cost £1 per child, payable on the day. Please remember that Santa will only be seeing pre-booked children, as he’s a very busy man at this time of year!
WE are absolutely blown away! With your support, our 2026 Art Exhibition raised a truly brilliant £20,913
Despite storm Boelo blowing a hoolie outside, you showed up and made our art exhibition a success once again. Special thanks to all our visitors, and of course to our wonderful artists for producing such beautiful work.
Thanks also to our loyal volunteers who gave up their time over the weekend, we couldn’t have done it without you!
Every purchase and donation directly impacts our community, so thank you all for your generosity. We are already looking forward to welcoming you for our 50th celebration exhibition next year!
Interested in exhibiting at next year’s event? Please contact:
A Leith church, a community garden in Dunbar and a community hub in Dalkeith have all received support from the Scottish Land Fund, helping local groups bring key community assets into ownership.
The groups are amongst 24 projects sharing in £3,010,576 from the Scottish Land Fund, which is marking 25 years of helping communities to acquire the land and assets that matter to them.
Leith St Andrews Trust has received £589,750 to buy a church in Leith that closed to worshippers in December 2024 with the intention of making it a home for physical and mental health activities.
Sustaining Dunbar has received £65,094 to purchase Belhaven Community Garden (BCG), an area they have been leasing since 2012.
The site is used as a hub for learning, social connection and developing locally grown food for the community and the group will purchase the asset through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) from East Lothian NHS.
And One Dalkeith has been awarded £516,469 to purchase the One Dalkeith Community Hub which they have operated since 2019. The group will continue to use the asset as a local hub, with a performance space, shop, community shed, kitchen, co-working space and rooms available for local groups.
Since 2001 the Scottish Land Fund has invested more than £138 million of Scottish Government and National Lottery funding in 955 projects across the country, helping to transfer village shops, community centres, church buildings, crofts, land for affordable housing, woodlands, pubs, moorland, community gardens, cinemas and even a 5,000 year old chambered cairn (The Tomb of the Eagles purchased in 2025 by South Ronaldsay and Burray Development Trust with the help of a £357,705 grant from the Scottish Land Fund) into the hands of local people.
In total the Fund has contributed significantly to the transfer of 853 assets into community ownership, representing 213,803 hectares of land and buildings across Scotland.
The Scottish Land Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Commenting on the impact of the Fund and of the current grants, Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, said: “For 25 years the Scottish Land Fund has helped communities realise their ambitions in providing vital services, protecting treasured landmarks and building sustainability into villages, towns and cities.
“This round, like so many before it, shows the breadth of ways this can be done – whether through providing much-needed housing, looking after people’s wellbeing or creating a focal point to the community.
“It is incredible to see how the fund has supported real change for so many people across Scotland and I look forward to seeing these projects develop and serve their communities. The Scottish Government has provided a total budget of £111 million to the Scottish Land Fund since 2012.
“A huge thank you must also go to staff at the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, who have administered the fund, working closely with community groups, helping to ensure it is a success.”
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair, said: “As we mark 25 years of the Scottish Land Fund, these latest awards are a powerful reminder of what communities can achieve when they have the opportunity to take ownership of the places that matter to them.
“Over the past quarter century, the Fund has helped transfer hundreds of assets into community hands, unlocking local ambition, creating jobs, supporting affordable housing, protecting vital services and helping communities build stronger, more resilient futures.
“From islands and crofts to churches, community hubs and green spaces, the story of the Scottish Land Fund is the story of local people stepping forward with a vision for their area and turning that vision into lasting change. The 24 projects supported today are the latest chapter in that story, and demonstrate that community ownership remains as relevant and transformative now as it was 25 years ago.”
Julian Grant, Chair, Leith St Andrews Trust said: “Everyone at Leith St. Andrews’ Trust is absolutely delighted that this beloved landmark will get a new lease of life and remain at the heart of the community.
“This funding will be crucial in delivering our mission to transform the church into a welcoming and vibrant hub for all Leithers while also ensuring that the many community groups who use the building currently can continue to call it home.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Scottish Land Fund for its invaluable support; we also offer a massive thank you to our volunteers and members without whom this wouldn’t be possible. There’s a lot of hard work still to come before the Trust’s vision is fully realised but everyone in Leith knows you need to persevere. We are thrilled to be continuing on this journey with the community.”
Jo McNamara, Chair, Sustaining Dunbar, said: “Belhaven Community Garden is the fruit of vision, commitment and thousands of hours of work by volunteers over the past 14 years. We are thrilled that the Scottish Land Fund recognises this energy and is backing us to take the garden into community ownership giving the garden a much more certain future.
“Now we will be able to realise our ambitions to involve even more people around our community in growing food and therapeutic gardening. The mature orchard, wildflower meadow and plots create a valuable setting for events and workshops or simply space to walk & enjoy the sense of wellbeing that it brings.”
Reflecting on its beginnings, Neil Ritch, Director for Scotland, The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “When the Scottish Land Fund was established with National Lottery funding in 2001, community ownership was still a relatively new idea. Twenty-five years on, communities across Scotland have used ownership to create homes, jobs, businesses, greener places and stronger local economies.
“As a delivery partner for the Scottish Land Fund and with experience of helping communities to own assets for many years, we have seen first-hand how ownership can unlock ambition, attract further investment and give communities greater confidence in their future.
“The projects supported through this latest funding round show that community ownership continues to deliver practical solutions to some of Scotland’s biggest challenges, from affordable housing and local economic development to environmental action and community wellbeing.”
Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, said: “The 25th anniversary of the Scottish Land Fund is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the difference community ownership makes across Scotland.
“Over the years, it has helped communities create jobs, provide affordable housing, safeguard vital local services, and develop new facilities, bringing lasting benefits to people and places.
“The grants announced in this latest round will give more communities the opportunity to take ownership of important local assets and unlock their ambitions for the future.”
Santa’s Grotto – Booking Now Open
There’s still time to be part of the magic this Christmas! 
We’ll hang it on our beautiful community Christmas tree for everyone to see – and the best bit? You get to keep your decoration too!
