Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

£253 million Contribution to Economy and new Strategic Plan revealed by National Galleries of Scotland

  • Art Matters: New Strategic Plan 2026-2030 to focus on children and young people
  • Free access to ticketed exhibitions for under 18s
  • Delivery of The Art Works building is a key priority

The National Galleries of Scotland has revealed it contributed £253million to Scotland’s economy through tourism, jobs and cultural activity in 2024/2025, according to a new independent report by BiGGAR Economics. The news comes as the organisation outlines its commitment to children and young people with the launch of its Strategic Plan 2026-2030: Art Matters. Read more about the strategy here.

The new strategy sets out the first steps in a long-term vision to transform access to Scotland’s national art collection on the path to 2050 and beyond. It’s driven by a clear ambition: to remove barriers to participation so that everyone in Scotland, regardless of age or background, can experience the benefits of art. From encouraging creativity to improving wellbeing, accessing and engaging with their national art collection is vital.

Throughout the duration of the strategy, the National Galleries of Scotland aims to increase the number of visitors aged 26 and under by 9%, recognising that early encounters with art can spark lifelong curiosity, creativity and wellbeing.

It will do this through:

  • Free entry to ticketed exhibitions for children and young people under 18, kicking off with Gwen John: Strange Beauties and Catherine Opie: To Be Seen. The rest of the galleries are already free to come and enjoy, ensuring cost is not a barrier to participation
  • A revised schools offer to connect more learners with the collection
  • Strengthening the families programme to support early engagement

The National Galleries of Scotland has three galleries in Edinburgh – the National, Modern and Portrait. In 2025/2026 they welcomed over 2.6million visitors, making them Scotland’s second most popular free attraction.

Discover treasures from Botticelli to Titian, the very best modern and contemporary art from Joan Eardley and Jasleen Kaur, famous faces and contemporary portraits of pop culture icons, and the largest collection of Scottish art in the world.

As an integral part of Edinburgh’s visitor proposition the National Galleries of Scotland are part of the foundations of Scotland’s tourism sector. Identified as a key motivator for almost two thirds of those visiting Edinburgh and almost half of those visiting Scotland, according to the report.

As well as conserving and researching the national collection, the National Galleries of Scotland is committed to reaching the widest possible audience through an active programme, including partnerships across Scotland, the UK and abroad, as well as online.

Key to the delivery of the Strategic Plan is The Art Works, a major project to build a new free-to-visit home in north Edinburgh for over 130,000 artworks, complementing those on display in the National, Portrait and Modern galleries or out on loan.

It’s a critical strategic enabler that will transform how Scotland’s art collection is experienced, shared and enjoyed, and support the National Galleries of Scotland to care for, preserve and share the nation’s art.

It will also make it easier for art to be loaned to local galleries across Scotland, the wider United Kingdom and internationally.

The National Galleries of Scotland’s ambition is that every child in Scotland will have the opportunity to interact with their nation’s art, by visiting The Art Works, seeing it online, in education or through loans in their local community. The Scottish Government has committed £56million over three years to help the National Galleries of Scotland to create The Art Works.

To deliver this incredible new building the National Galleries of Scotland will need to reprioritise some other areas of work. Its summer exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy building will move to a biennial schedule, following this summer’s Catherine Opie: To Be Seen the next exhibition planned to take place in 2028. This shift will enable the National Galleries of Scotland colleagues to prioritise The Art Works and to focus on bringing it to life.

Following opening of The Art Works the National Galleries of Scotland will look to its next capital project to renovate the Mound Level galleries at the National.

Art Matters also reaffirms the National Galleries of Scotland’s ongoing commitment to anti-oppression and anti-ableism, ensuring that its spaces, programmes and workforce continue to be inclusive and representative. This work will be embedded across all areas of activity, from how art is displayed and interpreted, to how audiences and communities are engaged.

The strategy is underpinned by growing evidence of the powerful role art plays in supporting health and wellbeing. 84% of visitors to the National Galleries of Scotland report that their visit has a positive impact on their wellbeing.

This aligns with emerging global research, including a recent study from University College London showing that regular engagement with arts and culture can have measurable biological benefits. In 2024/25, the health and wellbeing benefits generated by the National Galleries of Scotland were valued at £31.8million, the report states.

Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “Art matters because it has the power to change lives. Our new strategy sets out how we will increase access to Scotland’s national art collection over the next four years so that more people, and particularly children and young people, can enjoy the benefits art brings.

“These are our first steps towards 2050. By focusing on children and young people, removing barriers and investing in the future, we can ensure that art continues to enrich lives across Scotland. The impact of art goes far beyond the gallery walls, it supports mental and physical health, fosters connection and contributes to public wellbeing. Art matters for us to have a healthy and thriving society.

“Our priority is the creation and opening of The Art Works building. This vital investment will enable everything that follows.

It is the foundation for how we will care for the collection, expand access and share Scotland’s art for generations to come.”

Art Matters represents a significant milestone in a longer journey for the National Galleries of Scotland.

It lays the groundwork for a future where every child and young person in Scotland can build a meaningful relationship with their national art collection. By investing in access, participation and infrastructure now, the National Galleries of Scotland is positioning itself to deliver lasting cultural, social and wellbeing impact for decades to come.

To find out more, visit Plans and policies | National Galleries of Scotland.

Edinburgh community projects receive grassroots funding for environmental and food initiatives

HEALTHY PLANET, HEALTHY PEOPLE AWARDS

  • Edinburgh-based community research projects receive up to £5000 funding
  • Projects based at Lauriston Farm Cooperative and the Scottish Youth Parliament
  • Part of Healthy Planet, Healthy People awards administered by Royal Society of Edinburgh and Williamson Trust

Community groups in Edinburgh have received a share of over £339K as part of the Healthy Planet, Healthy People project run by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Williamson Trust.

These community research funding awards enable and encourage knowledge exchange and collaborative research practices amongst and between local communities. The resulting findings and outputs are often scalable, producing valuable insights that can be used by similar groups working in other areas of the country and beyond.

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) has been awarded almost £5000 to run a youth-led research programme into young people of colour’s safe access to green spaces. Through this project, theSYP aims to challenge the structural barriers faced by young people of colour when accessing natural spaces and provide evidence and tangible actions to decision-makers on what needs to change.

Daniela Onyewuenyi MSYP, board member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “We are so lucky that in Scotland our natural landscape, no matter how big or small, is full of beauty.

“However, there are many barriers to access these spaces. This is why as a working group we decided to look at how young people of colour access those spaces or, on the contrary, why they feel they can’t.”

Rhyze Mushrooms, based at Lauriston, were awarded £5000 to test the performance of a variety of different composts that can be made using business waste, such as coffee chaff, agricultural waste and food scraps.

Working with local food businesses, the Rhyze Mushrooms team will explore how vermicomposting can prevent business waste from ending up in landfill by transforming it into high-quality soil improvers that enhance the health, yield, and nutrition of crops.

Vermicomposting is the process of using worms to consume organic waste and convert it into nutrient-rich compost.

Roxy Minter, member of the Rhyze cooperative, said: “Rhyze is a community-led, Edinburgh-based workers cooperative specialising in transforming waste into food and soil amendments.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this grant by the RSE and Williamson Trust. With this support, we will run a first-of-its-kind trial in our worm farm: to compare whether and how the castings produced by composting worms vary according to what they are fed. This will help us to understand whether some varieties of castings benefit particular crops over others.”

The Seeds of Change project will support the development of the Scottish Seed Hub; a co-operative of growers based at the Edinburgh Agroecology Co-operative CIC in Lauriston.

The group has been awarded £5000, and are aiming to increase the production and dissemination of locally-adapted, open-pollinated seeds grown using optimal agroecological practices.

By improving access to seeds suited to this country’s climate, the Hub hopes to enhance the biodiversity, and resilience of Scotland’s food system.

Lisa Houston of the Scottish Seed Hub said: “The Scottish Seed Hub has been created by a group of Scottish agroecological mixed vegetable farms to increase the growth, sharing and selling, of open pollinated bio-regionally adapted seeds.

“The founding growers are delighted to receive support through the Catalyst award to undertake a participatory action research project to help develop an organisational framework to guide the Scottish Seed Hub’s formalisation and growth to help us grow, and create lasting impact towards seed sovereignty in Scotland.”

A total of £5000 has been awarded to a Scotland-wide project “Conifers aren’t just for Christmas”, run by conifer expert Jennie Martin in collaboration with Scottish Forestry and the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh.

She will create a simple and accessible field guide to conifers in Scotland, hoping to kick-start a more conifer-literate society amongst forest school leaders, ecological surveyors, wilderness guides, and nature lovers alike.

Jennie Martin MSc FLS Ethnobotany, Conservation, Botanical Literacy, said: “Conifers are vital to our landscapes, ecosystems, and climate, yet they are often overlooked due to the challenge of identifying them.

“I am extremely grateful to The Royal Society of Edinburgh and The Williamson Trust for the Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Catalyst Award, which will enable the creation of an accessible field guide to common UK and Irish conifers.

“This grant will support people to become more conifer literate by recognising and understanding these remarkable trees more effectively.”

First initiated in 2023, Healthy Planet, Healthy People Awards are now offered under two strands – Catalyst Awards and Change Awards.  

Catalyst Awards are designed to enable community-led research across any discipline that promotes the health of individuals by fostering healthy communities, environments, and food quality and supply. These awards offer up to £5000 to pilot a project. This year a total of £99,250 has been awarded to 20 projects across Scotland.

Change Awards are designed to support standout projects – that previously received Catalyst funding – with major funding to grow and scale their work. This year four projects in the Orkney islands, Isle of Lewis, Cupar and Kirkcaldy have been awarded a total of £240,217 between them.

Professor David Salt FRSE, Chair of the Williamson Trust, said: “As this community-led work continues to grow there can be no doubt communities across Scotland can build local solutions to ongoing challenges to our environment, our communities and our food.

This round we have projects spanning seed saving, community growing, fermentation and composting to coppicing, tree identification, accessing green space, transhumance and repair café. An amazing array of projects.

“The Trust hopes that with these new awards we continue to build a movement of committed people to find solutions to the challenges faced by local communities, and that these solutions can have wider impact.”

Royal Society of Edinburgh Vice President, Research, Professor Anne Anderson OBE FRSE added: “This marks the third successful round of Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Catalyst Awards, which were introduced to expand the type of research the RSE supports.

“We are also very pleased to announce the first recipients of the Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Change Awards; a new development of the Healthy Planet, Healthy People Programme, which extends the support offered to grassroots groups and demonstrates the Society’s commitment to empowering community-driven research focused on positively impacting sustainability, health, and community resilience.

“I congratulate all those awarded under both schemes, and I look forward to following their progress and achievements over the coming year.”

Green light for Taxi Outing

The annual Edinburgh Taxi Outing will now go ahead. Police have provided the following update on planning for the event:

Superintendent Neil Wilson said: “Our focus throughout has been to support the Edinburgh Taxi Outing as we have done for many years. We have held constructive discussions today with the event organiser and have agreed an outline plan which allows the event to run safely on its original route.

“Further discussions will take place in the coming days to finalise the police operation to support the event and ensure the children enjoy their day.”

First Homes Fund open by end of June

50,000 first-time buyers supported in this parliament

The first round of applications for a First Homes Fund will open by the end of June, providing first-time buyers with a £10,000 contribution towards a deposit on their first home.

The shared-equity scheme will be open to all prospective owners looking to make their first step on to the property ladder, with a limit of £300,000 on the value of the property purchased.

It is expected the first phase of the fund will support 2,000 households over the first 100 days of this Government and 50,000 over the course of this Parliament.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing Shirley-Anne Somerville confirmed the scheme’s opening to the Scottish Parliament yesterday.

Ms Somerville said: “For too many people across Scotland, particularly younger people and first-time buyers, home ownership has felt increasingly out of reach. In communities the length and breadth of our nation, we are hearing the same story; people saving what they can but finding that the cost of a deposit is simply too great a barrier.

“That is the context in which this Government will act. This is a direct response to the experience of people across Scotland. We have listened and are taking fast, decisive action.

“The Fund sits within a broader programme of action and supported by a record £4.9 billion investment in affordable housing over the next four years.

“We promised we would support first time buyers and we are delivering.”

Travelling for Hajj or Umrah? Health Protection Advice

If you’re travelling for Hajj or Umrah, it’s important to see a travel health professional before you go.

Visit NHS inform Travel Health or call 0800 22 44 88 for information on how to access an appointment in your local area.

Local Senior Carer celebrates twenty years of service with Strachan House Care Home

A Senior carer at Strachan House care home in Edinburgh has received a prestigious 20 Year Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for 20 years. 

Lyra Quintanilla now a senior carer started at Barchester in May 2006 and has worked with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years. 

Adele Keenan, Employee Services Director at Barchester said: “I’m always pleased to hear stories about the long service of Barchester staff and am delighted Lyra has achieved this milestone.

“It is dedication like this that ensures our residents are provided with a happy place to live.”

Fran Fisher General Manager of Strachan House said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating Lyra’s years of loyal service with Strachan House.

“She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year. I speak for all of us here at Strachan House when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Lyra!”

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 residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.

Progress on waiting times continues

150,000 additional appointments and procedures pledged surpassed

Waiting lists continue to fall in Scotland with new outpatient waits over a year decreasing for 11 consecutive months and inpatient and daycase waits reducing for 15 months in a row.

Latest Public Health Scotland statistics show that at 30 April 2026, new outpatients waits of over a year have fallen by 7.0% compared to March 2026. These waits have reduced every month since July 2025 with total waits over 52 weeks down by 76.5% in that period.

The data also shows long waits for inpatient and daycase procedures have fallen every month since July 2025 with 52 week waits decreasing by 47.4% in that period.

Waits for one of the eight key diagnostic tests are now at their lowest level since May 2021. Latest quarterly figures until 31 March 2026 show waits across endoscopy fell by 6% and radiology by 10% when compared to the previous quarter, with 52% of endoscopy tests and 78% of radiology tests having been ongoing for less than 6 weeks – the highest figure for both test types since March 2020.

Waits of over a year in these specialities also fell sharply, with endoscopy down 67% and radiology down 4% compared to March 2025.

This progress comes as Scottish Government pledges on extra appointments are surpassed. The promise to provide 150,000 additional appointments last year has been exceeded, with latest data showing 168,177 additional appointments and procedures were carried out in the financial year up to March 2026 compared to same period in the previous year.

New figures also show in the first 9 months of 2025-26, 34,089 procedures were carried out in National Treatment Centres, surpassing the commitment to see planned activity increasing to over 30,000.

Health Secretary Angela Constance said: “These new figures show our plan is delivering for the people of Scotland.

“We are seeing sustained decreases in waits of over a year with 11 consecutive months of progress in new outpatient waits and inpatient and daycase procedures reducing for 15 months in a row.

“We have seen significant decreases in waits over a year in these time periods with more and more people getting the treatment they need.

“On top of this progress, new data shows we surpassed our pledges to provide additional appointments last year – with 168,177 extra appointments and procedures delivered. This is testament to the hard work of our NHS staff across Scotland and I thank them for their continued outstanding efforts.  

“We know there is more to do, and I am determined to continue to build on this substantial progress and ensure people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.”

Positive progress on actions needed to adapt to climate change

Edinburgh is better prepared to cope with the effects of climate change thanks to progress made against a citywide action plan.

The first annual update on the Council’s Climate Ready Edinburgh Implementation Plan was presented to councillors yesterday (26 May).

Developed with partners, including Scottish Water, Edinburgh World Heritage and NatureScot, the two-year plan was agreed last March. It includes 125 actions required to deliver on the overarching Climate Ready Edinburgh Plan, which sets out the strategic approach needed to make sure that Edinburgh can adapt and respond locally to the risks and impact of climate change.

Tuesday’s update shows the positive progress made in the 12 months to March 2026, with 15 of the actions complete and 83 in progress and on track. These include:

  • Three new parks – Mill Lane Park, North Junction Street Park and Dalmeny Street Park – established in Leith as part of Edinburgh’s Nature Network – as part of a more strategic approach to manage, restore and enhance Edinburgh’s urban landscape. The new parks are vibrant community spaces, where both wildlife and people can thrive.
  • Delivery of a Climate Ready Craigleith project at Orchard Park to tackle frequent flooding of properties and streets. The project includes new sustainable drainage systems to help reduce flooding issues and increase biodiversity, alongside changes to the wider environment creating a pleasant place for people and wildlife.
  • A new cross-boundary river partnership for the Gogarburn area and progress of the Restore the Burn project. Addressing the impact that pollution, flooding and erosion have had on local communities, as well as the wildlife that lives along the burn, including an improved Active Travel Network and better-connected habitats with improved wildlife and biodiversity along the river corridor.
  • Production of new Edinburgh Design Guidance embedding climate adaptation, green-blue infrastructure and the nature crisis into how new development is shaped across the city. The guidance includes a focus on making sure that planning focuses on net zero, nature-positive places designed to limit greenhouse emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “We’re already seeing the impacts of a changing climate in Edinburgh, with more frequent severe storms causing flooding, damage to buildings and disruption to travel.

“We knew when we declared a climate emergency that we had to act quickly, both in terms of tackling the causes but also taking steps to prepare for the inevitable changes to the weather.

“We also knew we couldn’t do it alone and we needed the help of other city organisations – and our residents – to make a meaningful difference.

“I’m pleased, then, that we set the ambitious goals that we did, and that we’re now making good progress on delivering against our plans.

“As set out in this first annual update, we’ve completed a range of projects and initiatives that will make a real difference to communities in Edinburgh, while ensuring we’re better prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.”

Climate_Ready_Edinburgh_Implementation_PlanDownload

Over 321,000 children getting vital support

Scottish Child Payment key to eradicating child poverty

Across Scotland, 321,885 children are benefiting from Scottish Child Payment as of March 2026, according to newly published statistics. 

Launched in February 2021, the Scotland-only benefit is a weekly payment of £28.20, paid every four weeks to every eligible child under 16 within a household.

Scottish Child Payment is expected to keep 50,000 children out of relative poverty in 2026–27. This underlines the critical role that Scottish Child Payment plays in eradicating child poverty in Scotland.

Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “Eradicating child poverty and supporting families with the cost of living is a key focus for this government.

“It’s clear that the Scottish Child Payment is making a major difference to families which is why we will now go further by increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week for families with children under the age of one.  

We remain fully committed to doing everything we can to support families and give every child the best possible start in life. Scottish Child Payment remains central to that mission.”

Scottish Child Payment statistics to 31 March 2026: Scottish Child Payment statistics to 31 March 2026 – Social Security Scotland 

Arthur’s Seat fire: Witness Appeal

POLICE are appealing for information following a fire in Edinburgh. Around 7.05pm on Monday, 25 May, 2026, we received a report of a fire at Arthur’s Seat.

Emergency services attended, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service remained at the scene to dampen down hot spots.

No injuries were reported.

Enquiries are ongoing alongside partners to establish the cause of the fire.

Local Area Commander Alison MacDonald said: “We know that the area around Arthur’s seat was busy last night due to the good weather and would ask that anyone with any information surrounding the cause of the fire come forwand ard and speak with officers.

“Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2975 of 25 May, 2026.

“As the good weather continues, we will continue to work with our partner agencies and would encourage members of the public to stay safe and behave responsibly.”

Area Commander David Dourley is the Local Senior Officer for City of Edinburgh. He said: “At 6.50pm on Monday, 25 May, we were alerted to reports of a large grass fire on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.

“We know many people will be wanting to enjoy the good weather, but we ask they do so responsibly. Wildfires have the potential to destroy property, landscapes and wildlife, which is why it is so important that members of the public use extreme caution under these conditions.

“Please avoid lighting outdoor fires and be mindful that one spark can spread rapidly, causing a large amount of damage.

“If you spot an outdoor fire, please report it immediately by calling 999, providing your location, and any other relevant information so we can respond quickly.”

Jamie Hamilton, Senior Ranger at Holyrood Park said; “We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to the emergency services for their quick response to this incident and would encourage anyone with any further information to come forward.

“We know that people are keen to enjoy the good weather but would ask them to remain vigilant and not to use any form of naked flame within the parameters of the park, dispose of rubbish properly, and to report anything of concern immediately.

“The High Road within the park has been closed to vehicles, and we would ask visitors to continue to follow guidance from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and avoid the affected areas.”