Homebuilder continues its commitment to supporting local groups with a share of £10,000 in funding
Miller Homes, Scotland’s leading homebuilder, is inviting local groups and causes near its West Craigs Manor and Edgelaw View developments in Edinburgh to apply for the next round of its Community Fund, offering those in need a share of £10,000. Applications are now open and will close on Wednesday 30 April 2025.
Since launching in 2022, the Community Fund has made a meaningful difference to local communities, awarding £284,100 in grants to 389 organisations.
In 2024 alone, over 131 groups received funding, with a total of £120,000 distributed to worthy causes. The initiative has helped a wide range of local projects, from supporting grassroots sports teams and music groups to funding environmental improvements and replenishing foodbanks.
David McGrath, David McGrath, Executive Managing Director, Scotland and North, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative: “We are committed to making a difference in the areas where we build, and the Community Fund allows us to provide much-needed support to a variety of local causes.
“Over the years, we’ve been able to help groups at all stages—whether they are just starting out or looking for additional funding to continue their valuable work.
“We encourage all eligible organisations to apply, whether they’re enhancing local green spaces, encouraging participation in sports and activities, or supporting wellbeing and education.”
Applicants will be asked to outline how they plan to use the funding to benefit their community. Grants will range from a minimum of £250 to a maximum of £2,000. Successful applicants will be notified in May, with funding awarded early summer.
For more information on the Community Fund or how to apply, visit:
RESIDENTS FROM LOCAL CARE HOME RECEIVE A VISIT FROM ZOO-LAB
Residents from Strachan House care home in Edinburgh were filled with joy as they received a surprise visit from Zoo-Lab. Residents were able to see animals from all around the world in person, and had a chance to enjoy holding giant African snails, snakes and all manor of creepy crawlies.
Residents were able to spend time getting to ask questions at an informative session led by an enthusiastic and encouraging Zoo-lab Ranger, and learnt interesting facts such as ‘cockroaches are potentially more than 280 million years old!’
Fran Fisher General Manager of Strachan House said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their day meeting different creatures and learning all about them. We had a lot of fun, residents were able to pet certain animals on the day which was quite therapeutic!”
Strachan House Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides Nursing, Residential, Dementia and Respite care for short and long-term stays.
There’s less than one week to go before the 4th Pomegranates Festival of International Traditional Dance (25-30 April) kicks off at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and various venues across Edinburgh.
The Festival celebrates Scottish traditional dance alongside traditional dance practised by cultural migrant communities across Scotland. The festival includes exhibitions, films, workshops, masterclasses, talks, shows, walking tours and ceilidh dancing.
Pomegranates is produced by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland and this year’s themes that run through the programme are Masks – the mystery and power they present when used in different dance traditions, and Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Programme highlights include:
● A discussion about safeguarding our Intangible Cultural Heritage and the opportunities for Scottish traditional dance with Steve Byrne Director of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), Rachel Hosker of the Centre for Research Collections, University of Edinburgh and Árpád Vörös, recipient of the knighthood award for lifetime contribution towards Hungarian folk dance. The discussion will be combined with demonstrations of traditional dance accompanied by live music including Scottish Country Dance, Step and Highland, with a Flowers of Edinburgh set by Scottish Step Dance artist Sophie Stephenson. There will also be a short display of two examples of traditional dances from Hungary and Poland that were recently inscribed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list: Csardas (performed by Hungarian folk dancer Árpád Vörös) and Polonaise (performed by Anthony Carter, Fiona Lynch, Natalia Nowak and Renata Grillanda of Parzenica, Scotland’s Polish Folk Dance Group).
● A packed programme of ten short films celebrating Scottish Step, Highland, Indian Classical, East African, Chinese, and more. Including two short films directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Marlene Millar: To Begin the Dance Once More and Bhairava;Home directed by Kes Tagney and featuring Scottish stepdancer Sophie Stephenson; new work Second Guessing by Bgirl Emma Ready; and The Bright Fabric of Life commissioned by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland in 2024 and created by Estonian filmmaker Mare Tralla.
● New dance theatre piece not for glory devised and performed by award-winning dance artists Jack Anderson, Charlotte Mclean, and in collaboration with composer, and musician Malin Lewis. This contemporary and radical performance piece combines mesmerising and unique sounds from bagpipe, fiddle and loop pedal with energetic and raw dance and movement. Claiming to dissect heritage and resuscitate tradition whilst exploring kilts, queerness and ceremonial violence.
● For International Dance Day (29 April) audiences will be treated to a new dance pieceHidden Faces created by festival choreographer Jonzi D with support from B-girl Emma Ready and B-boy Sean Edwards. This new piecewill be performed by more than 15 Scotland-based dancers. Jonzi D is a MC, dancer, spoken word artist and widely recognised for his influence on the development of the UK British hip hop dance and theatre scene. Emma Ready is a breakdancer, choreographer and creative educator based in Glasgow. Sean Edwards is a multi-disciplined award-winning artist with roots in community theatre, B-boying, street jazz, clowning and mime.
Plus, there are tours of Edinburgh’s Old and New Town’s dance history, with dance historian Alena Shmakova; a special festival edition of the Traditional Dance Forum’s Ceilidh Plus which includes three hours of Scottish, Polish and Hungarian trad dances, all called on the night, with live music; and this year’s festival exhibitions by Lorraine Pritchard: Masks at the Scottish Storytelling Centre until 12 May and Venice Carnival (also inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list) at the Edinburgh City Library celebrates the popularity of mask-wearing traditions and the making processes behind this traditional craft.
Pomegranate Festival co-producers Wendy Timmons and Iliyana Nedkova said:“We are delighted that this year’s Pomegranates Festival is reaching new heights. With 15 events serving a ‘fascinating cocktail of movement’ this year’s Pomegranates highlights the intimate links of traditional dance with live music, film, fashion, poetry, art and heritage craft.
“Once again, we celebrate Scottish traditional dance alongside world-traditional dance practised by New Scots and cultural migrant communities across Scotland. However, we have two new festival themes – Masks and Intangible Cultural Heritage which we are delving into with our festival partners and over 100 artists.
“We can’t wait to share our discoveries over the long festival weekend with our new and returning audiences! Heel, toe, we are ready to go!”
The Pomegranates Festivalwill run from Friday 25 April to Tuesday 30 April 2025 and is Scotland’s annual festival of international traditional dance. Initiated and curated by Traditional DanceForum of Scotland it is presented and produced in partnership with Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh City Libraries, Dance Base and the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Garments made from the new tartans, which are printed on fabric, will be part of the Degree Show staged in the Scottish Borders this May by final year students at the School.
Fourth year students Craig Taylor and Kayleigh Wyllie, who are both completing their Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Fashion, have both designed tartans as part of their final year ‘Honours Collection’ and are each making eight garments to showcase in the Degree Show.
Craig, 26, from the town of Beith in Ayrshire, has created designs inspired by the work of British horror movie writer and director Clive Barker – including punk subculture – and queer history.
He explained: “One of the big inspirations for Clive Barker’s film, Hellraiser, was punk subculture and wearing tartan was one of the hallmarks of this movement.
“I also looked at the queer side of Barker’s work and the of idea of liberation. For example, the English banned tartans in 1746 after the Jacobite uprising and the Battle of Culloden.
“My tartan design also includes an upside-down pink triangle, which is a queer symbol that originated in Nazi Germany as a way to shame gay men that were in concentration camps.”
Craig’s tartan is pink, red, black and white and gold, with pink triangle motifs in the squares created by the tartan’s crossing horizontal and vertical lines. Leather features alongside tartan in his garment designs, which include a cape, a dress and jacket set, a leather harness and matching jacket, a shirt and a pair of trousers. Dramatic three-dimensional structures including a large stand-up collar also reflect the visual style of Clive Barker’s movies.
Kayleigh, 22, is from the town of Glenrothes in Fife, but was born in the Philippines, a string of more than 7,000 islands between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Kayleigh moved to Scotland with her family when she was aged seven and wanted to create a tartan design that reflected both Filipino and Scottish cultures and also commemorated her Scottish father, who moved from Scotland to live in the Philippines and passed away in 2009.
“My dad and granddad often wore kilts at special events like weddings and funerals, so it was nice to create my own tartan just to pay homage to those two men,” Kayleigh said.
“My tartan design includes a navy colour from a kilt my granddad wore to my auntie’s wedding. For a personal touch, I’ve also included my dad’s handwriting. I got this from his university papers and have inserted his last name, Wyllie, as repeated parallel lines of text.”
To reflect her Scottish and Filipino heritage, Kayleigh’s tartan design also combines purple and green colours from the Scottish thistle and white from the national flower of the Philippines, a white jasmine called the Sampaguita, or Arabian jasmine
“I’ve combined both cultures by including the thistle and the national flower of the Philippines, which is a white flower with a small yellow centre,” Kayleigh explained.
The garments Kayleigh is making for the Degree Show include a tartan blouse with machine embroidered motifs; a tartan top with arched and pointed shoulders inspired by Scottish and Filipino architecture; a horizontal pleated large circle skirt and top; a corset; a shawl and a pillar-like top created with pintucks.
Both students opted to print their tartan designs onto fabric – as weaving them would take too long produce the lengths of fabric they needed to create their Degree Show garments.
After the show, Kayleigh hopes to gift some of the fabric to her family, and get experience in the design-and-make side of the fashion industry.
She said: “I’d like to give some fabric to my family, because there is a personal link to it. I’d also like to include some of it in my portfolio to show to industry – and that would hopefully show people that my designs are different.”
Craig hopes to create his own fashion brand in the future. He said: “I’d like my own brand, and to own a small business. That might be a good few years after I finish uni. First, I’d like to work in the industry for a while and get more insight into the day-to-day operations of how it works.”
The 2025 Degree Show of Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm daily between Saturday 17 May and Wednesday 21 May and will be staged at the High Mill building, a converted textile mill in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, where the school is based.
Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design is a centre of excellence in design and dates back to 1883, when classes in weaving, dyeing and chemistry were introduced to train workers for the local textiles industry.
Honorary Graduates include British designer Jasper Conran, the late British fashion icon Dame Vivienne Westwood and retail expert Mary Portas.
The Scottish Borders is at the heart of Scotland’s luxury textile and design industry and has a long history of textile production.
I am experiencing problems when trying to upload new pictures and graphics due to a database running at 100% capacity.
I will have to do some serious deleting to free up space so there won’t be any more new posts today. I’m sure I’ll come across lots of images that will spark happy memories, though!
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) marks its 20th anniversary on 18 April 2025.
Two decades on, the department is harnessing the spirit of then Chancellor Gordon Brown’s bold reforms and embarking on a new era of transformation.
Supporting the government’s Plan for Change and mission for growth, HMRC is now firmly focused on closing the tax gap, modernising and reforming, and improving customer service.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) marked its 20th anniversary yesterday on Friday 18 April 2025.
The department was established in April 2005 through the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, combining tax administrations to reduce overlap and enhance service delivery.
The creation of HMRC by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, marked a significant reform in public administration, bringing together both direct and indirect tax collection under one organisation.
Two decades later, HMRC is at the heart of the government’s Plan for Change, dedicated to providing the best possible tax and customs service that drives economic growth, and makes working people better off.
HMRC enforces the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage to make work pay, putting more money in people’s pockets. And in simplifying life for businesses through cutting red tape and improving digital services, it is helping them to grow the economy.
The new Child Benefit online claim service is also helping put money in new parents’ pockets, more quickly and easily, as well as boosting family finances through HMRC’s delivery of Tax-Free Childcare.
As the government works to deliver economic security and growth for working people, a more effective and digitally focused HMRC will be crucial to delivering a more productive and efficient state.
Key Milestones and Improvements
Over the past two decades, the decision to bring tax and customs together has enabled HMRC to undergo a transformative journey, marked by key milestones that have enhanced its operational efficiency.
Today, nearly every Self Assessment tax return is filed online. The top-rated HMRC app has been downloaded more than 7 million times, and our digital services continue to grow – making it easier for everyone to get their tax right and more difficult for evaders to cheat the system.
The introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT in 2019 has evolved customer interactions with the wider tax system, leading to a substantial increase in online VAT returns. And today, MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment is on the verge of being launched, in a move that will both make life easier for small businesses (sole traders) and tackle non-compliance to help close the tax gap.
HMRC has also reduced the number of its offices from more than 500 two decades ago to just 28 today, as it further reduces its office space in central London. The government is building on this journey of efficiency, as well as reinforcing HMRC’s status as a truly national organisation.
Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Second Permanent Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive, said:“For 20 years and for centuries before, HMRC and its predecessor organisations have been an integral part of the UK’s fabric.
“With the support of our dedicated tax professionals right across the UK, our impact is far reaching. From tackling complex challenges and catching wrongdoers to implementing a nation-defining program like furlough, our work is pivotal.
“Day in and day out, whether seen or unseen, in the UK and with international co-operation, we collect the money that funds vital public services and provides financial support to those who need it most.”
As HMRC embarks on the next 20 years, the commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency remains a priority. By adopting new technologies, HMRC is focusing on improving customer service and delivery through further system improvements and faster, more user-friendly digital platforms.
HMRC’s journey continues to evolve, benefiting taxpayers, families and the overall efficiency of revenue collection. As HMRC looks to the future, it remains dedicated to providing the best possible tax and customs service, to fully support the UK economy in helping rebuild Britain in a decade of national renewal.
Join the Great British Bake-Off star for an afternoon of sweet treats, expert insights, and a first look at luxury retirement living in Edinburgh
Great British Bake Off winner and Edinburgh local, Peter Sawkins, is hosting an exclusive talk at Cruden Homes’ luxury retirement living development, The Avenue, in Barnton.
The event will take place on Friday April 25, from 1pm – 3pm, providing a unique opportunity to meet the star baker and explore the luxurious retirement lifestyle available at The Avenue.
Guests will have the chance to hear Peter’s experiences as one of the youngest winners of the popular baking show, following his success on the 11th series in 2020. He is also the only Scottish winner of the programme. The event will include a biscuit or cake decorating demonstration, adding to the interactive experience.
Participants will also receive an exclusive first look at The Avenue’s newly completed show apartment, which overlooks the Royal Burgess Golf Club.
Together with Cruden’s friendly experts, attendees can speak with partner organisations, including The Senior Moves Partnership, who will provide tips on how to downsize belongings for later life moves and Glenmore Mobility, who will provide advice on adapting homes to support independence later in life, alongside propety managers, Taylor & Martin, PX Partners and property agents, Savills.
Situated in the scenic suburb of Barnton, Edinburgh, The Avenue offers an unparalleled living experience for retirees, blending elegant design with practical living and fostering a strong sense of community.
The development is located beside the prestigious Royal Burgess Golf Course and is surrounded by beautiful green spaces, providing tranquility and exclusivity in one of Edinburgh’s most sought-after locations. With 48 highly sustainable and energy-efficient apartments, penthouses, and executive villas, The Avenue is designed to the highest specifications, showcasing Cruden Homes’ renowned quality and craftsmanship.
Hazel Davies, Sales and Marketing Director at Cruden Homes, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Peter to The Avenue for an exclusive talk, a fun biscuit decorating session, and a first look at our incredible new Avenue Show Apartment.
“The Avenue offers homebuyers over 55 a unique opportunity to become part of a like-minded, vibrant community. The development is designed with a focus on relaxed yet luxurious living, offering beautifully landscaped gardens, exceptional communal areas, and the added benefit of a 24-hour concierge service.
“This event is a fantastic way for prospective buyers to experience first-hand the lifestyle on offer at The Avenue – combining quality, comfort, and connection in one of Edinburgh’s most desirable locations.”
RSVP today to secure your spot, as places for this exclusive event are limited and must be booked in advance. Email: theavenue@crudenhomes.co.uk
Scots with disabilities and health conditions are being urged to check if they’re eligible for financial support worth up to £5,740 a year. The advice comes from the UK’s largest community of unpaid carers ahead of the benefit being made available across Scotland next week.
Pension Age Disability Payment – a benefit aimed at helping disabled people above retirement age cover care costs – is replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland, with applications opening nationwide from 22nd April. Pension Age Disability Payment rates also increased this month. Yet Scots are at risk of missing out.
Whilst those already claiming Attendance Allowance will automatically be transferred to the new support, an estimated 1 million people are missing out on the outgoing benefit. This puts Scots amongst this group at risk of losing out on Pension Age Disability Payment, too.
The care experts at Mobilise aim to raise awareness of the disability benefit and the difference it could make for Scots missing out, if they check they are eligible and apply.
What is the Pension Age Disability Payment?
Almost half (45%) of people above retirement age in the UK have some form of disability. Pension Age Disability Payment aims to help these individuals cover the cost of care.
The monthly payment is split into two rates, depending on the level of care which is required. Both rates increased on 7th April:
The lower rate (for those who require either day or night care) increased from £72.65 to £73.90 a week – £3,842.80 a year, in total
The higher rate (for those who require both day and night care, and those who are terminally ill) increased from £108.55 to £110.40 a week – £5,740.80 a year, in total
Who is eligible for Pension Age Disability Payment?
To be eligible for Pension Age Disability Payments, you must meet certain criteria, including:
Be of state pension age (66) or over
Have a disability or health condition (you can still apply if you’re waiting for, or do not have, a diagnosis)
Have required care for at least six months (you can also apply before this point, as payments will begin six months from when successful applicants’ care needs started)
If you live in a care home and your care is funded by the local authority, you are unlikely to be eligible. However, if your care is privately funded, you may still apply.
How to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment
From 22nd April, anyone who believes they are eligible for Pension Age Disability Payment can apply – either online using myaccount or via the post. Postal applications can be started by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222. There is a separate fast-track application process for those who are terminally ill.
If you already receive Attendance Allowance you do not need to apply as you will automatically be moved to Pension Age Disability Payments.
There are two parts to the application form. You will need certain information to hand to complete each part and must submit these within 2 weeks and 8 weeks respectively, or contact Social Security Scotland if you need more time. Details about the information required is available here. A loved one or carer can also help you complete the application form.
What support is available for carers?
It’s not just people that need care who are eligible for support. If you look after a loved one, you could also be entitled to help from the Government.
Carer Support Payment is the main benefit available to carers living in Scotland, and comes in the form of monthly payments. As with Pension Age Disability Payments, the rate increased this month. From April, Carer Support Payments are rising from £81.90 to £83.30 a week – £4331.60 a year, in total.
To be eligible for Carer Support Payment, you must meet a number of requirements. You can check if you’re eligible using Mobilise’s free claim checker tool. If you’re entitled to Carer Support Payment, you can apply online, by phone, by post, or in-person. See the Scottish Government’s website for full details.
For more guidance on the financial support available to people with care needs and unpaid carers, care experts are on hand to help via the Mobilise website.
Living conditions for families in military housing will be improved under a new Consumer Charter, as Defence Secretary John Healey promised to “stop the rot” in military housing
New Consumer Charter for families in military homes, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.
Measures will include higher move-in standards, more reliable repairs, renovation of the worst homes, and a named housing officer for every family – all in place before the one-year anniversary of 36,000 military homes being brought back into public ownership.
Pledge comes alongside the announcement of an independent, expert team appointed to help deliver a rapid Defence Housing Strategy – with work already underway.
The Charter will be part of a new Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, which will set out further plans to improve the standard of service family homes across the country.
Under the Charter, basic consumer rights, from essential property information and predictable property standards, to access to a robust complaints system, will be rapidly introduced. These will be underpinned by new, published satisfaction figures, putting forces families front and centre.
The wider Defence Housing Strategy – overseen by the Defence Secretary and the Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns – will also turbocharge the development of surplus military land, creating opportunities for Armed Forces homeownership. It will further support the delivery of affordable homes for families across Britain as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
It follows the Government’s landmark deal, completed in January, to bring back 36,000 military homes into public ownership, reversing a 1996 sale described by the Public Accounts Committee as “disastrous”, and saving the taxpayer £600,000 per day by eliminating rental payments to a private company.
The announcement follows the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to deliver “homes for heroes” and means that under this government, support will be there for veterans at risk of homelessness. This included removing local connection tests for veterans seeking social housing, meaning as of November, veterans will have access to the housing support they need.
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: Our Armed Forces serve with extraordinary dedication and courage to keep us safe. It is only right that they and their families live in the homes they deserve.
“For too long, military families have endured substandard housing without the basic consumer rights that any of us should expect in our homes. That must end and our new Consumer Charter will begin to stop the rot and put families at the heart of that transformation.
“We cannot turn around years of failure on forces housing overnight, but by bringing 36,000 military homes back into public ownership, we’ve already taken greater control and are working at pace to drive up standards.
“This is about providing homes fit for the heroes who serve our nation, and I’m determined to deliver the decent, affordable housing that our forces families have every right to expect.”
We brought 36,000 military homes back into public ownership.
Today, we announced a new Consumer Charter to improve standards for forces families.
The new Consumer Charter will include the following commitments:
A strengthened move-in standard so families can have confidence that the home they are moving into will be ready on time and will be clean and functional.
Improved, clearer information for families ahead of a move, including photographs and floor plans of all homes when a family applies for housing.
More reliable repairs, including an undertaking to complete urgent repairs within a set timeline consistent with Awaab’s Law, and a new online portal for service personnel to manage repairs.
Raising the minimum standard of forces family housing with a new programme of works targeted at the worst homes, with up to 1,000 refurbished as a downpayment on the broader programme of renewal to be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy.
Better and clearer communication for families, including a named housing officer for every service family who they can contact for specific housing related queries.
A new, simpler complaints process that will shorten the process to two stages in line with industry best practice, so that service personnel and families have a quicker resolution, backed up by the new Armed Forces Commissioner.
Modernising policies to allow more freedom for families to make improvements, giving them a greater sense of pride in their homes.
These improvements will be in place by the one-year anniversary of the announcement to buy back military homes last December, with final detail to be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy following consultation with military personnel and their families.
Many of the commitments in the Charter will be achieved by driving better performance – and better value for the taxpayer – from existing suppliers of maintenance and support for service family housing.
The new standards will be underpinned by new published customer satisfaction measures and enhanced accountability so families can have confidence in the improvements being made. This will sit alongside an independently conducted stock survey, as recommended by the Kerslake review of military housing which was published last year.
The Defence Housing Strategy will be driven by an independent review team whose members have been announced today, and which will be chaired by former Member of Parliament and housing expert Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE, drawing on expertise from industry and forces families.
In the meantime, the Defence Secretary and the Minister for Veterans and People have instructed the MOD to immediately plan improvements for the new Consumer Charter, as part of a short-term action plan to enhance the family homes after years of neglect.
Natalie Elphicke Ross, Chair of the Defence Housing Strategy Review said: Our pride in our armed forces must include pride in our military homes.
“Delivering better housing, boosting home ownership opportunities for service personnel and improving the experiences of service families will be at the heart of our work.”
David Brewer, Chief Operating Officer of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, said: We are dedicated to making changes that will bring real improvements to the lives of families living in military homes and the plans set out in the new charter are an important step towards doing this.
“The advisory team, announced today, brings together an exceptional group of individuals, who through their expertise and experience will help ensure our housing strategy maximises benefits, not just to families living in military homes, but to communities and industry more widely.”
Antony Cotton MBE said: Our Armed Forces community are the backbone of our society, so improving the standard of service family housing is essential if we are to continue to retain and recruit the soldiers, sailors and aviators that protect us selflessly, every day.
“I welcome this consumer charter as a starting point to give our military families an improved service, and homes they deserve.”
Four NHS Lothian nurses and a nursing team have been named as finalists in the prestigious RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2025, which celebrate excellence and dedication in nursing across Scotland.
Gillian McAuley, Nurse Director – Acute Services, has been shortlisted for the Clinical Leadership Award for her person-centred approach and leadership of key initiatives such as the 5-year Nursing and Midwifery Strategy and inclusive career programmes.
Stacey Boyle, Midwife, and Marianne Hay, Senior Charge Midwife, are finalists for the Inspiring Excellence – Nursing Innovation and Research Award for their innovative Cozy Cuddle Scrubs—designed to support skin-to-skin contact between birth partners and newborns.
Kath Williamson, Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist in Bariatric Care, is also a finalist for the Inspiring Excellence – Nursing Innovation and Research Award and has been recognised for her pioneering research to improve care for people with severe obesity, including those who are housebound.
The South East Forensic Healthcare Team have been shortlisted for the Nursing Team of the Year Award for delivering trauma-informed care to vulnerable individuals in the justice system, including public health, addiction, and mental health support.
Scott Taylor,Co-Chair of the Scottish Learning Disability Lead Nurse Group, has also been recognised for his outstanding leadership in advancing learning disability nursing in Scotland.
Alongside Kerry Anderson, he has championed improved clinical practice, influenced national policy, and raised awareness of the health inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities—leaving a lasting impact on both the workforce and patient care.
Alison Macdonald, Executive Nurse Director at NHS Lothian, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to congratulate all our staff who have been shortlisted for an award.
“Being named as a finalist is a fantastic achievement and a true reflection of the outstanding care, compassion, and dedication our nurses bring to their patients every single day.
“I’m incredibly proud of them all and wish each of them the very best of luck.”
Winners will be announced at the ceremony on 12 June 2025.
