Creating inspirational outreach to engage children and young people with the natural world has brought international recognition for Edinburgh’s Eve Armstrong.
School visits around the country, virtual lessons, and a series of videos have won her the Botanic Garden Conservation International (BGCI) 2026 Marsh Award for education in botanic gardens.
Since 2023 Eve, an Education Outreach Officer at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, has built up an extensive Scotland-wide outreach programme. She has engaged with over 7,000 pupils, by visiting schools from the Borders to Aberdeen and the Outer Hebrides.
In addition, she has reached a further 13,000 pupils in live streaming and enabling virtual visits to the research institute’s Glasshouses, Herbarium, Plant Nursery and Herbology room, as well as the Garden itself.
These interactive experiences have beamed into classrooms in 23 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. Along the way, Eve has enthused primary and secondary age pupils on topics ranging from Rainforests to Scottish Native Plants and Botanic Careers.
Amy McDonald, Project Engagement Manager, nominated Eve for the award. She explained: “Eve always goes the extra mile to share the joy and importance of plants. The enthusiastic feedback we receive shows that pupils and teachers love her approach and session content.
“She always finds innovative and creative ways to connect with pupils in-person and virtually. Her videos have seen her don waders to film in a pond and borrow an infrared camera to map the heat emitted from a magnificent Amorphophallus titanum.
“Many of her lessons encourage young people to think about what actions they could take to conserve biodiversity – from looking after the natural spaces around their home, school, or local area, to lobbying adults to take action.”
As well as professional recognition, Eve receives £1,000 in prize money.
She said: “I am very fortunate to be in the position of working with children and young people right around the country. They are the future guardians of our planet and the starting point for them should be about having fun, learning about the vast number of positive experiences they can have by engaging with plants.
“We need their enthusiasm. At a time when 40 per cent of all known species are in danger of extinction, the determination of the next generation can make massive changes for the better in combating the impact of the biodiversity crisis and climate emergency. To inspire a sense of wonder in the natural world turns out to be fun and inspiring for me as well as them.”
Funding for councils is failing to keep pace with rising costs and demand despite a small real terms increase in funding.
Councils’ revenue funding from the Scottish Government has gone up by two per cent. However, much of it is used to cover existing commitments such as teachers’ pay increases. Overall, Scotland’s councils face managing a budget gap of around £529 million for their 2026/27 daily operating costs – around three per cent of their revenue funding. Capital funding is down by 15 per cent.
That means councils will have to borrow more to build houses and other infrastructure, which heightens long-term financial risk.
Every local authority increased council tax by an average of 7.7 per cent for 2026/27, which should raise an extra £248 million. Councils expect to bring in around £1.2 billion from fees and other charges, such as for leisure centres and some refuse services. They are also planning to make savings of £180 million – around 1 per cent of councils’ total revenue budget. But these savings will have to increasingly affect services people rely on.
Social care makes up a high proportion of council spending and increasing demand for these services is putting major pressure on local budgets.
Anticipated reductions in Scottish Government funding over the medium term are expected to intensify these pressures and increase the risk of councils becoming financially unsustainable.
Derek Yule, a member of the Accounts Commission, said: “As things stand, councils will continue to face increasing financial pressures unless they stop, reduce, or significantly redesign services.
“Savings options are limited and will have to increasingly focus on changes to services people rely on. That makes it essential that councils talk to their communities about the difficult decisions they are facing.”
COSLA has responded to the Accounts Commission report on Local Government budgets 2026/27.
Read the full comment from Cllr Ricky Bell, COSLA Resources Spokesperson here:
We’re incredibly grateful to announce a gift of £1 million over five years from the Sir Tom Farmer Foundation, made in loving memory of Sir Tom and Lady Anne Farmer.
The donation will support St Columba’s Hospice Care wherever the need is greatest, helping us continue providing compassionate care to patients and families across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
This remarkable gift honours a legacy of generosity and support that has touched our Hospice for many years.
Five more centres to open in first 100 days of new government
A new GP walk-in service will open in the centre of Aberdeen later this month, Health Secretary Angela Constance has announced.
Based within Aberdeen Health Village on Frederick Street, the new clinic will open on 23 June for any member of the public to attend, with no appointment necessary.
The service will be open on a phased basis initially, run by GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and nurses, offering same day care and treatment for minor illnesses.
The Aberdeen city centre site will be the seventh GP walk-in service across Scotland to open since the start of the year, and the first of the five centres the Scottish Government has committed to open in its first 100 days.
Walk-in centres have opened in Edinburgh, Dundee, Western Isles, Stranraer, Lerwick and Hawick in just over four months and speaking on a visit to the site of the Aberdeen GP walk-in service, Health Secretary Angela Constance said: “The new walk-in centre in the heart of Aberdeen city centre will be an asset to local health services in the area and plans are progressing at pace to welcome patients from the 23rd June.
“We know that accessing GP services on the day, when you need urgent care, can be a source of frustration. That’s why we have opened GP-led walk-in services across the country to support with on the day care to address the ‘8am rush’ and relieve pressure on GP surgeries – freeing up capacity to focus on complex and long-term care.
“We value the key role and expertise that GPs have to play in people’s care. We are underpinning that by increasing investment in general practice by £531 million over three years to significantly boost recruitment from this year, helping to deliver the capacity needed to improve services for patients.”
Emma King, Primary Care Lead for Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership, said: “We are pleased to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to the Aberdeen GP walk-in centre as we make the final preparations for opening to the public later this month.
2We are looking forward to getting to work and testing this new approach to improving access to same-day care.”
16 GP walk-in services were planned initially, backed by £36 million of investment. Five of these, including the one in Aberdeen, are due to open within the first 100 days of this government.
A process to identify 14 more sites, to a total of 30, is currently underway.
Initial 16 planned GP walk-in sites
Phase One
Wester Hailes, Edinburgh – NHS Lothian
Lochee GP Practice, Dundee – NHS Tayside
Benbecula – NHS Western Isles
Stranraer – NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Lerwick – NHS Shetland
Hawick – NHS Borders
Invergordon – NHS Highland
Dunoon – NHS Highland
Aberdeen – NHS Grampian
Cardonald, Glasgow – NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Moray – NHS Grampian
Aberdeenshire – NHS Grampian
Sauchie, Alloa – NHS Forth Valley
Phase Two
East Ayrshire, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
Clydesdale, NHS Lanarkshire
Central Fife, NHS Fife
Locations for an additional 14 additional GP walk-in sites, taking the total number of planned services to 30, will be announced within the first 100 days of the new Scottish Government.
St John Scotland has unveiled its 300th Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) in Edinburgh city centre, marking a major milestone in the charity’s work to improve access to lifesaving equipment across the city.
The defibrillator was officially unveiled by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh during Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2026), a fitting moment to recognise the dedication and commitment of St John Scotland’s Edinburgh volunteers, whose efforts help make communities in the city safer every day. St John Scotland is now working with the local area to identify the best location for it.
PADs play a crucial role in improving survival rates from out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest. Having a defibrillator nearby, and people confident enough to use it, can make the difference between life and death while emergency services are on their way. For every PAD St John Scotland help place, volunteers provide CPR and defibrillator training to the hosts.
The installation of the 300th defibrillator in Edinburgh reflects years of sustained effort by St John Scotland volunteers in the city, working alongside local partners, communities and supporters to identify gaps in provision and help make lifesaving equipment more accessible.
The unveiling also recognised the long‑standing support of Mike Pinkerton, whose work with St John Scotland has raised over £20,000 to support the expansion of community lifesaving initiatives across Edinburgh.
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, said:“This impressive milestone is a testament to the power of community action and the incredible long-standing support for St John Scotland.
“Reaching 300 Public Access Defibrillators across Edinburgh is a fantastic achievement that the city can be truly proud of. It reflects the dedication and generosity of volunteers, partners, and supporters who give their time to help protect lives in their communities. Across the city St John Scotland public access defibrillators have been used to save lives.”
“I hope this success inspires even more organisations and community groups to get involved and explore hosting a Public Access Defibrillator at their building. “
John Craig, Edinburgh Chair of St John Scotland, said:“Reaching 300 Public Access Defibrillators in Edinburgh is a huge milestone for us, but it’s one that simply wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers.
“From installing and maintaining defibrillators to delivering training and raising awareness in their communities and much more, their commitment saves lives every day. It’s especially fitting to celebrate this during Volunteers’ Week.”
Mike Pinkerton said: “I know how lucky I am to still be here and to be able to do my bit for such a worthwhile cause. I’m also lucky to have had such great support from St John Scotland and their incredible team of volunteers.
“Of course, we hope these defibrillators are never needed but the truth is they will be and, when they are, we know we’re giving someone suffering a cardiac arrest the best possible chance of survival.”
St John Scotland’s volunteers give thousands of hours each year to support communities across Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland, delivering essential CPR education, transporting vulnerable patients to and from vital treatment and helping to build confidence in lifesaving skills.
With the support of existing host organisations across the city, St John Scotland has been able to expand access to lifesaving equipment in local communities. The charity is aiming to inspire more businesses, community groups and local organisations to host future defibrillators.
The charity continues to work towards its goal of safer, more resilient communities, ensuring that defibrillators are not only available, but visible, accessible and supported by training.
Feeling inspired by the World Cup? Or just fed up that the kids get all the fun?
Brand new for summer 2026
Our coaches are running informal tournaments for the grown ups in July and August. Everyone welcome (as long as you’re over 18) no matter your ability.
The Youth Arts Open Fund is now open for applications!
Artists, youth organisations and community groups across Scotland are invited to apply to the fund, which supports youth-led arts projects for children and young people who face barriers to accessing creative opportunities.
Freelance artists can apply for up to £10k, and organisations can apply for up to £20k.
Drivers want private parking ‘PCNs’ renamed to avoid confusion with council Penalty Charge Notices
91% of drivers say ‘Parking Charge Notices’ are confusing as they carry the same ‘PCN’ acronym as council fines – but are fundamentally different
The RAC expects the number of private parking tickets issued to drivers in the year to the end of March will hit a new record of 17m when government figures are published next month.
So far, car park management companies have sent out more than 13m parking charging notices in just three months, an average of 4.3m tickets a quarter. This would mean the 2024-25 record total of 14.4m is likely to be surpassed by as much as 3m this year.
Interestingly, new RAC research* has found half of drivers don’t realise there are major differences between public parking fines and private parking charge notices as they are named so similarly – and look virtually identical when stuck to a vehicle’s windscreen.
While 44% said they thought there were differences between a Penalty Charge Notice issued by a council for a parking violation and a Parking Charge Notice sent out by a private car park management company for an alleged infringement, 50% were confused as both are regularly referred to as PCNs. Of these, nearly four-in-10 (37%) were not sure of the differences and 13% didn’t think there were any differences. A further 5% hadn’t heard of either.
Of the 44% who stated they thought there were differences between the two types of PCNs, three-quarters (76%) correctly understood a Penalty Charge Notice is issued by councils and a Parking Charge Notice is issued by private car park operators. But 15% wrongly believed it was the other way round – that a Penalty Charge Notice is issued by private car park operators and a Parking Charge Notice is issued by councils. Eight per cent said they didn’t know what the difference was.
Despite both often being referred to by the same ‘PCN’ acronym and looking almost identical when fixed to a driver’s windscreen, Penalty Charge Notices are very different to Parking Charge Notices. A Penalty Charge Notice is issued to drivers by local councils and Transport for London after committing an offence by parking on public land. It’s a fine drivers have to pay and is backed by law. Drivers can appeal to the independently run Traffic Penalty Tribunal (England and Wales) or London Tribunals for contraventions committed in London boroughs.
In stark contrast, a Parking Charge Notice is issued to drivers by private parking companies when they believe drivers have breached the terms and conditions of parking on private land. In reality, it’s not a fine, but an invoice for an alleged breach of contract. Drivers can appeal to either of the appeals bodies set up by the two private parking trade associations – Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) or the Independent Appeals Service (IAS).
Nine-in-10 (91%) of drivers surveyed by the RAC felt the term ‘Parking Charge Notice’ is confusing as it shares the same ‘PCN’ acronym.
With a view to making the difference between ‘PCNs’ clearer, the RAC asked drivers confused by the acronym what a Parking Charge Notice issued by private parking operators should be renamed as. Three-in-10 (31%) felt it should be called a ‘Private Parking Charge’ (a PPC); 19% a Private Car Park Charge (a PCPC); 19% a Charge for Private Parking (a CPP); 14% an Invoice for Private Parking (an IPP); and 16% weren’t sure.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Drivers are clearly confused by the PCN acronym which is concerning as they are very different in terms of consequences.
“A PCN sent by the council is a fine and must be paid, whereas a Parking Charge Notice, issued by a private car park operator, is an invoice for alleged breach of contract.
“The fact both can be put on drivers’ windscreens in identical bright yellow colour doesn’t help, either. We suspect they’re deliberately designed to look very similar to a council penalty charge notice.
“While the two private parking trade associations have set their industry PCNs at £100, they are regularly discounted by at least 40% for payment within 14 days. Fines issued by councils vary but are generally lower outside London and are all discounted by 50% for early payment.
“Another very important difference occurs after the 28-day appeal window has closed, when an unpaid private Parking Charge Notice is often increased by £70 to £170 with a letter from a debt collection company.
“The RAC is firmly against this practice as it’s totally disproportionate to the alleged parking contravention. This is perhaps one reason why 36% of drivers surveyed for our annual Report on Motoring had concerns about the conduct of private parking companies when pursuing people for parking infringements.**
“As there’s so much confusion between the two PCN acronyms, drivers are very supportive of changing the name of private Parking Charge Notices to clear this up and help others understand the important legal difference.”
Recent RAC analysis of government data found that in the year to the end of September 2025 a record 15.9m parking tickets were handed out by private businesses, up 17% on the same period the year before.***
While the RAC accepts that part of the rise may be due to more car parks being privately managed, the figures show 48,000 tickets per day were issued between June and September last year, which it feels is ominously high considering most people don’t set out to get a private parking notice.
Simon Williams added: “This record figure says to us that something must be going badly awry, which is why the outcome of the Government’s latest Private Parking Code of Practice consultation can’t come soon enough.
“Drivers need to know they’re being treated fairly whenever they use a private car park.”
Pension savers will be better protected from scams under new plans announced yesterday (Tuesday 9 June 2026), as the Government acts to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraudsters who rob people of their lifetime savings
New safeguard proposed to tackle pension fraud.
Targeted safeguard to end misuse of Small Self-Administered Schemes with average losses rising to £38,400 per person.
Part of wider government programme to crack down on pension fraud to ensure more can save with confidence.
Pension scams are among one of the most damaging forms of financial fraud. Fraudsters trick savers into transferring their pension pots into bogus schemes, often leaving victims with no way to recover their losses.
The new proposals would mean that where there is no clear link between a saver and the SSAS scheme they are transferring into, a new warning flag would be triggered, enabling the transfer to be stopped.
The consultation also seeks views on cutting red tape that has been slowing down legitimate transfers, making the process simpler for savers who are not at risk of pension fraud.
Torsten Bell MP, Minister for Pensions, said: “Pension scams can rip away not just people’s savings, but the retirement they are looking forward to. This Government is determined to stay one step ahead of criminals who seek to exploit savers.
“Too often we see fraudsters trying to trick workers into transferring their savings into bogus pensions. We are stepping in to automatically block transfers where the warning signs are flashing red.”
The consultation is the first step in a wider government programme to tackle pension fraud working with government departments and industry stakeholders, including the Pension Scams Action Group (PSAG). Further measures, including potential new legislation, are being developed this year.
Gaucho Rasmussen, Executive Director of Enforcement & Executive General Counsel at The Pensions Regulator (TPR), on behalf of the Pension Scams Action Group (PSAG), said: Fraud wrecks lives – and tackling it demands strong, coordinated action.
“Through the Pension Scams Action Group, which TPR leads, we are working closely with the DWP, law enforcement, the pensions industry and other partners to identify emerging threats and stop fraudsters in their tracks.
“The targeted safeguard proposed is an important step forward in protecting savers. We urge trustees and administrators to have their say.”
Debt to water and energy companies reached more than £7 billion, while customers are missing out on support to help them manage debt, such as repayment plans and social tariffs
A third of customers did not find it easy to get in touch with their broadband providers when things go wrong
The NAO says regulators Ofgem, Ofwat and Ofcom must strengthen support for consumers in vulnerable circumstances, increase awareness of support and tackle the drivers of rising debt.
Millions of people are missing out on support for essential bills, such as water, energy and broadband, as debt to water and energy companies climbs over £7 billion1 – this is according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) published today (10 June).
The report examined how Ofcom, Ofwat and Ofgem support consumers in vulnerable circumstances and whether people can access the help they need from providers of essential services.
The watchdog found there has been a marked increase in household energy debt, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with energy debt more than double what it was in 2021, rising by 118%.2
Since the NAO’s last report on this topic in 2019, regulators have strengthened protections, introducing new rules on how companies treat customers and taking enforcement action – for example changing company licences to improve customer service and issuing multi-million-pound fines to providers where service and performance fall short of expectations. Now, NAO finds the regulators must now make changes to keep pace with consumer needs.
Consumers still struggle to contact their providers and are not always aware of support available to help manage their bills – such as social tariffs and repayment plans.
The NAO found only a third of eligible broadband customers and 39% of water customers who are struggling to pay their bills are aware of social tariffs, meaning people on low incomes and in vulnerable circumstances could be missing out on support to help manage debt. Energy customers on repayment plans owe around £1,000 less than those without one in place.
Ofwat and Ofgem have overseen an uptake in registration for company priority services registers (PSR)3, although consumer awareness remains low. The PSR does not extend to the broadband sector, which has separate requirements. Ofcom does not routinely monitor take up or awareness of support.
The NAO found regulators are not aligning their performance measurements with actual consumer experiences and outcomes.
The NAO recommends regulators:
Improve access to support – to make it easier for people to contact providers through a range of accessible channels that meet the diversity of consumer needs.
Increase awareness of available help – such as social tariffs, repayment plans and other support schemes, so eligible consumers are clearly signposted and not missing out.
Tackle industry drivers of rising debt – including addressing industry practices such as inaccurate billing, delays when people move home and barriers that prevent consumers from switching tariffs. The NAO found that industry practices account for an estimated 35% of customer energy debt.
Strengthen support for consumers in vulnerable circumstances – promoting services that are designed around need, improving how consumers are identified and supported, and making better use of data and data-sharing across sectors
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “Regulators have made progress to support consumers, but they’re not keeping up with the pressure now facing millions of households.
“With debt rising sharply, it’s more important than ever to make regulation work so that people know what support is available and can contact essential providers when they need to.”
Freelance artists can apply for up to £10k, and organisations can apply for up to £20k.
Deadline 21 July
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