The Scottish Government’s failure to include a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill in its Programme for Government is hugely disappointing.
A recent Scottish Parliament committee report highlighted the stark reality facing families, with children and adults frequently waiting years for ADHD and autism assessments. It called for urgent action to ensure clear and consistent pathways to support across Scotland.
Yet the Government has failed to introduce the legislation that could help deliver this. An LDAN Bill could tackle inequalities through national and local strategies and mandatory training for health, social care and education staff.
After years of discussion and consultation, warm words are no longer enough. Thousands of children, adults and families need action.
Service improvements are welcome, but without clear targets and timescales there is no guarantee they will deliver the lasting change that children, adults and families desperately need.
The Government itself acknowledges that legislation can drive accountability and change. It should therefore set clear, measurable timescales for improvement – and commit to introducing an LDAN Bill if these are not met.
An Edinburgh writer and filmmaker living with multiple sclerosis (MS) is encouraging other people affected by the condition to come together at MS Walk Glasgow this month, saying that community can be a powerful antidote to the isolation that many people experience after diagnosis.
Roby Walsh, 38, who is based in Leith, will join family and friends from across Scotland at Glasgow Green on Saturday 19 September for the MS Society’s annual MS Walk Glasgow.
Roby, who was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 2017, will take on the 5K route. In 2022, she underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in Florence after previous MS treatments had not worked for her.
She says the experience was one of the most difficult periods of her MS journey, making her participation in MS Walk Glasgow particularly meaningful.
She says the event is about much more than crossing the finish line: “For me, it’s become almost like a tradition. I used to take part in similar walks when I was living in Australia.
“It’s important to support and bring awareness, and of course to support funding and research. But it’s also a good way to bring people together and talk about MS.”
MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms are different for everybody and often invisible – they can be mild or severe, and include fatigue, pain and mobility issues.
Roby lives with a range of symptoms that aren’t always visible to other people. Speaking about her experience of MS, she says: “My MS is really invisible. If you see me, you would never say I have a disability, because I think I’m good at putting on a façade. But something that doesn’t go away is the pain. I’m always in pain. From when I wake up until I go to bed early, around 9pm, I’m always in pain.
“Sometimes that affects me psychologically and drains me. You have to be kind to yourself.”
Fatigue can also affect Roby’s social life: “You want to go out with your friends and have a nice night, but by 9pm I’m like, ‘Guys, I’m going home,’” she said. “You have to adapt. That’s the word: adapt.”
For Roby, one of the most important messages she wants to share with other people living with MS is not to isolate themselves. She said: “Sometimes when we get diagnosed with something like this, we tend to isolate. I feel that isolation is a big part of people’s experience with MS.
“Maybe we need to find the courage sometimes to come out and find your people, or just ask to have a chat with someone else. You will find there are so many other people like us, and it’s okay.
“I’ve done it. I pushed a lot of people away. But I’ve learned from that mistake, and that’s the advice I would give: don’t isolate yourself.”
Since moving to Edinburgh in 2019, Roby has thrown herself back into the creative world. She is now a writer and director, has published a children’s book and made her first short film, Glitch, which is currently being shown at film festivals.
She has also found a new sense of purpose in using her experiences to raise awareness and champion greater representation of disabled people in creative industries: “I’ve connected with so many other women with different kinds of disabilities, including invisible disabilities like mine.
“I find this fire in me, thinking we need so much more empowerment around us. There can be so much more representation in industries like modelling, acting and film.
“I want people to see that there is so much more to a person, and this doesn’t define you.”
Roby hopes that message will encourage others to join her at MS Walk Glasgow, whatever distance they choose.
Participants can walk, roll or stroll routes ranging from 1K to 20K, making the event accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
“You don’t have to go for a run. You don’t have to do 20K,” Roby said. “You can just start with something like 5K.
“Even if you want to do it alone, you’re not going to be alone, because you’re going to meet so many people there. You make friends.
“I would say, do it. It’s a really amazing experience.
“In the end, you’re like, ‘Yes, I’ve done it.’ It’s a challenge with yourself as well. If I go back to some of the most difficult points in my MS journey, I could never have imagined doing these walks.
“Now, looking back, I’m really proud. I’m so proud of everything. I’m proud to be able to do the walk 100% and continue that tradition.”
Jo Anderson, Director for Scotland at the MS Society, said:“More than 17,000 people in Scotland live with MS. Roby’s story is a powerful reminder that MS is different for everybody, and that many of the symptoms people experience are invisible to those around them.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Roby for sharing her story and for fundraising for the MS Society through MS Walk Glasgow. I’m really looking forward to meeting her and cheering her on at Glasgow Green on the day.
“MS Walk Glasgow is a chance to come together, celebrate the strength of the MS community and raise vital funds to support everyone affected by MS. Every person who walks, rolls or strolls will be helping us continue our work supporting people with MS and funding pioneering research.”
MS Walk Glasgow takes place at Glasgow Green on Saturday 19 September. With 1K, 5K, 10K and 20K routes available, there’s a distance for everyone to walk, roll or stroll.
Sign up today and help raise vital funds to support people affected by MS and fund pioneering research.
Find out more and register on the MS Society website:
Tracy Gilbert, Member of Parliament for Edinburgh North and Leith, has today (Friday 4 September 2026) raised concerns over a lack of consistent guidance for midwives across Scotland caring for surrogate mothers and babies.
Through Freedom of Information requests the Edinburgh North and Leith MP has uncovered serious gaps in vital guidance for midwives and wider clinical teams when supporting births where a surrogacy arrangement is in place.
Tracy Gilbert’s FOI requests to all of Scotland’s NHS Boards found that only NHS Ayrshire & Arran and NHS Fife have active guidance in place for midwives and clinical teams on the care and treatment of surrogate mothers and babies.
Of the remaining NHS Boards:
Five have no policy at all
Four have a policy where the review is overdue
One has a policy currently in draft form
One referred to Department of Health and Social Care guidance
The Edinburgh North and Leith MP raised the issue during a debate on the Infants, Parents and Carers Bill in the House of Commons, warning that midwives and maternity teams should not be left to navigate these legal, clinical and safeguarding issues without clear and up-to-date guidance.
Tracy warned that the lack of consistent guidance could leave maternity staff without the information they need to ensure surrogate mothers and babies receive the best possible care.
Speaking after raising the issue in Parliament, Tracy Gilbert MP said:“Every mother and baby deserves the very best care with their needs put first in all decisions. However, I have exposed worrying gaps in the guidance available in some areas of the country for staff caring for families involved in surrogacy.
In many cases midwives will come across no or very few surrogacy cases in their careers; up-to-date guidance is therefore even more essential so that those midwives have access to the support and signposting that they need.
“The Scottish Government should now make sure that health boards across Scotland have this important guidance in place.”
An overview of the findings of the FOIs across health boards is as follows:
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
Policy in place Dec 2025, due for review in Dec 2028
NHS Borders
Policy in place March 2022, Review overdue (March 2025)
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Refer to Department for Health and Social Care guidance
NHS Fife
First policy effective from May 2026, to be reviewed May 2029
NHs Forth Valley – First guidance
April 2015, reviewed October 2021, review overdue (October 2024)
NHS Grampian
No guidance
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
No guidance
NHS Highlands
Guidance in draft
NHS Lothian
Guidance in place Feb 2022, review overdue (Jan 2023)
NHS Orkney
No guidance
NHS Shetland
No policy
NHS Tayside
Policy put in place Jan 2019, review overdue (Aug 2025)
Historic illustrations from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s archive collection will be brought to life in a new way this winter as Christmas at the Botanics returns for its landmark 10th anniversary.
Running from 19 November to 30 December, the much-loved trail will celebrate its milestone year by bringing together the Garden’s rich history and living collections. Historic illustrations will be brought to life through art and animation, while 10 remarkable trees from the living collection will be highlighted along the trail to mark 10 years of Christmas at the Botanics.
Returning favourites will also feature, including the iconic Christmas Cathedral and the man of the moment, Father Christmas himself.
At the heart of this year’s trail will be a breathtaking projection across Inverleith House, created by innovative design studio NOVAK. The installation will incorporate botanical illustrations from the Garden’s archive, reimagining the images as luminous forms at scale through light and animation.
The projection will feature illustrations from the work of Pierre-Antoine Poiteau and Joseph Jacob von Plenck, offering visitors a chance to experience part of the Garden’s rich botanical heritage in an entirely new way.
Adam Finlay, Director of NOVAK, said: “Working with the Botanics’ archivist team to source the illustrations for this year’s projection has been a fascinating and hugely rewarding experience.
“Through our experimental creative process, we’ve discovered new techniques to present the illustrations in a memorable way for the audience that complements Inverleith House and celebrates the winter season.”
Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Professor Julia Knights, said: “This year’s trail is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate 10 years of Christmas at the Botanics while shining a light on the extraordinary plants, collections and stories that make the Garden so special.
“From seeing historic botanical illustrations brought to life across Inverleith House to discovering some of the remarkable trees growing here, visitors will be able to experience the Garden from a completely different perspective this winter.”
Visitors who have made a trip to the Botanics during the festive season a tradition over the last decade will also be excited to see several reimagined ‘crowd-pleaser’ installations, including:
Pealit Tree – Embellishing the Garden’s impressive Japanese Wingnut, in frosty white pea lights that glisten against the velvet winter night sky. Created by Culture Creative.
Flowing Stream of Light – depicting a sweeping stream of dynamic colour-changing pixels that illuminate a ripple effect against the pathway. Created by Culture Creative.
Light Sphere – With its luminous colours reflecting off the Pond, this dazzling orb will mesmerise visitors with glowing geometric shapes. Created by Studio Vertigo.
Zoe Bottrell, Managing Director of the trail’s organisers, Culture Creative, said: “Having worked collaboratively with the Garden for 10 years to create a memorable Christmas trail, it is such an honour to be a part of this milestone anniversary.
“Over that time, we’ve built a strong relationship with the Garden and the artists we work with, finding new ways each year to create a festive experience for visitors while reflecting the Garden’s important work.”
For those looking to make an evening at Christmas at the Botanics even more memorable, Signature Festive Dining Packages will also be available to book. Hosted in the Garden’s demonstration kitchen, visitors can indulge in a special festive menu before setting off to explore the trail.
Tickets for Christmas at the Botanics are on sale now. With peak weekend and pre-Christmas dates expected to sell out quickly, visitors are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.
What can you do in one visit to our Harvest Festival? Quite a lot, as it turns out!
Press apples – see our fresh apples turned into juice
Get your bike checked with Dr Bike, or have a go at making a bike-powered smoothie
Get your face painted or some gorgeous henna art
Pick up something delicious from the bake sale and have a go at the tombola
Take home something new for your garden from our plant sale
Listen to the drumming or join in and make some noise
Enjoy a free lunch from the Scran Van
And that’s just some of what’s happening!
Come along to our Harvest Festival on Saturday 5th September, 11am–2pm and spend as little or as long as you like enjoying the garden, activities, food and community.
A new prevention-focused approach and rapid rehousing will be at the heart of work reduce homelessness in Scotland over the next five years.
The Scottish Government unveiled plans for a shift in approach from crisis management to prevention as part of this year’s Programme for Government.
Measures to tackle homelessness include:
an additional 1,500 Housing First tenancies, supporting people with complex care needs into permanent housing
continued roll-out of the Homelessness Prevention Fund of £50 million over 10 years
£1 million from the Homelessness Prevention Fund for the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Homeless Network Scotland to strengthen tenancy sustainment activity by registered social landlords in Glasgow
£2 million for the ‘fund to leave’ scheme to become permanent, offering support for women and children to leave an abusive partner.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing Shirley-Anne Somerville visited homelessness charity Simon Community Scotland in Edinburgh, which is involved in two Scottish Government prevention pilot projects.
One is in partnership with Police Scotland while the other is in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service – which will enable police officers and ambulance staff to identify housing instability and homelessness risk and provide tailored individual support.
Ms Somerville said: “The best way to end homelessness is to prevent it from happening in the first place. That is why we are shifting our approach from crisis management to prevention and rapid rehousing.
“We will do all we can over this Parliament to help people off the streets and end the use of unsafe and harmful temporary accommodation.
“I was pleased to meet staff and tenants at Simon Community Scotland Streetreads library to hear first-hand how their early identification of housing problems is helping to make a real difference to people’s lives. Their homelessness prevention pilots are generating valuable learning and knowledge transfer, and we want to replicate this across the country.
“Over the next five years we will drive progress through our £50 million Homelessness Prevention Fund, our Housing First programme which will provide 1,500 permanent tenancies for people experiencing homelessness, and our £2 million for the ‘fund to leave’ scheme which supports women to leave an abusive partner.
“Our record investment of up to £4.9 billion over the next five years will deliver around 36,000 affordable homes.”
Chris Murray MP has welcomed the official opening of the Edinburgh Innovation Hub at Queen Margaret University, a major new centre for innovative businesses which has received £28.6 million in UK Government funding.
Chris Murray MP attended the launch of the new Hub, opened by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland Melanie Ward and Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn.
The £40 million Edinburgh Innovation Hub is a joint venture between East Lothian Council and Queen Margaret University (QMU), and forms the first phase of the planned Edinburgh Innovation Park.
It is part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. It is supported by £28.6 million from the UK Government,£1.4 million from the Scottish Government and £10 million from East Lothian Council.
The new facility provides specialist laboratory, office, meeting and conference space for innovative businesses, with a particular focus on life sciences, food and drink, technology, start-ups and related sectors.
The Hub has already welcomed companies including Forge Minerals, Aurora Avionics and Riverwood Ecology, with a further life sciences company recently signing a lease to move around 40 employees into the facility.
The opening represents a significant investment in Edinburgh and the region’s innovation economy and is intended to support the growth of high-value businesses and create highly skilled employment.
Chris Murray MP said:“It was fantastic to be at the opening of the Edinburgh Innovation Hub and to see the businesses already making use of this impressive new facility.
“This part of Scotland has been short-changed for too long, with not enough Government support to create the jobs of the future.
“So as the local MP, I am delighted to see such significant UK Government investment, driven by our brilliant Scottish Labour Ministers. This money will help to create opportunities for innovative businesses to scale up and deliver high-skilled jobs right here in Edinburgh and East Lothian.
“Andy Burnham and the Labour Government are determined to deliver growth and invest in good jobs in the industries of the future, and the Edinburgh Innovation Hub is a great example of what that ambition looks like in practice.
“We have an enormous amount of talent and potential across Edinburgh and Musselburgh, across life sciences, technology, aerospace, environmental innovation and more. This Hub will allow this talent to build the businesses of the future right here in Musselburgh.
“I look forward to working with the Hub, Queen Margaret University, the Scottish Government, East Lothian Council and the UK Government to make sure that potential is realised.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Melanie Ward MP said:“The opening of the Edinburgh Innovation Hub is a vital step in backing Scottish innovation and building a modern, resilient economy.
“Significant UK Government investment of over £28 million is giving start-ups the specialised lab space they need to accelerate breakthroughs, scale up quickly, and create high-skilled jobs across the region.
“This project shows the tangible impact of targeted UK Government support. While the Hub acts as a flagship engine for the regional economy, its impact links directly into communities right across Scotland.
“By connecting cutting-edge innovation with national supply chains – from Scotland’s space sector to freshwater ecology – we are using targeted regional investments to bring growth, high-skilled jobs, and economic opportunities to every postcode across Scotland.”
Check out what our workshop participants said last time and join us on Saturday, 5 Sept, 12-13:30 for another round of drumming with Morgan Motika Njobo and Ramcise Modie.
The results of the Southside/Newington (Ward 15) and Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) by-elections have been announced at Waverley Court.
Ruth Elliott (Scottish Labour Party) and Lorenzo Martinico (Scottish Greens) have been duly elected to serve in the City of Edinburgh Council for Ward 15 and Ward 17 respectively. Ruth Elliot received 2,153 votes, and Lorenzo Martinico (Scottish Greens) received 1,781 votes.
The new councillors were elected through the Single Transferable Vote system.
The turnout was poor – 6,741 votes (27.3%) in Ward 15 and 6,427 votes (22.9%) in Ward 17.
The declaration was made in the early hours of this morning (Friday 4 September) by Depute Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Chris Highcock.
Depute Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Chris Highcock, said: “I would like to welcome Councillors Elliot and Martinico into their new roles and wish them all the best as they begin serving their wards.
“My thanks goes to everyone who took part in these by-elections, alongside our elections team and council colleagues, who have been working hard behind the scenes over the last few months.”
SCOTTISH GREENS HAIL HISTORIC BY-ELECTION WIN
Portobello housing campaigner Lorenzo Martinico has made history by becoming the first Scottish Green to win a council by-election in the City of Edinburgh.
Lorenzo is a local housing campaigner and was previously a postdoctoral researcher at Edinburgh University, specialising in computer security and digital privacy.
Reacting to the result, Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer MSP said: “This is a truly historic day for Edinburgh and the Scottish Greens. For the first time ever our capital has elected a Scottish Green councillor at a by-election, showing the failing Labour administration that Edinburgh demands better.
“By electing Lorenzo, voters in Portobello/Craigmillar have demanded radical change in Scotland’s capital. Just a few months ago, Greens won our first ever Holyrood constituency here in the heart of the city. This result confirms that we are fighting to win next May’s council elections in Edinburgh.”
“I know that Lorenzo will make a huge difference for the people of Portobello/Craigmillar. He will push to deliver urgently needed rent controls, tackle the climate emergency, and build a more affordable Edinburgh.”
Edinburgh Green Group co-convenor and fellow Portobello/Craigmillar councillor, Cllr Alys Mumford said: “Portobello-Craigmillar is now the first ward in Edinburgh to be represented by two Green Councillors, and residents there will benefit hugely from Lorenzo being their new local Councillor.
Alys added: “We’d like to congratulate Lorenzo on his election and also pay tribute to Isabella, who narrowly missed out on securing our second by-election win in Southside/Newington, but whose vote share increase reflects a growing desire for change.
“Green volunteers and activists ran a fantastic campaign across both wards and the results show that our message of hope is resonating with the people of Edinburgh.”
Lorenzo Martinico, the newly-elected Green councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar, said: “I am really honoured that my neighbours in Portobello/Craigmillar have chosen me to represent them as their councillor.
“I would like to thank the hundreds of Scottish Greens volunteers and supporters who have spent the last two months campaigning for us, securing our first by-election wins in the city.
“It’s been an honour to be part of such a positive and energetic campaign. When I first moved to Edinburgh, I could never have imagined I would be elected as a councillor.
“There are thousands of people like me who weren’t born here but have chosen to make Edinburgh their home – I hope my election gives them a bit of hope, at a time when some in our community feel unsafe because of how they sound when they speak, because of the colour of their skin or their religion.
“I am looking forward to working to make a difference for the people of Portobello/Craigmillar.”
The by-elections were initiated by the resignation of two SNP city councillors who were elected as MSPs in May’s Scottish Parliament elections. Another two city councillors – Green Kayleigh Kinross‑O’Neill and Lib-Dem Sanne Dijstra Downie – also became MSPs in the Holyrood elections but both decided to stay on as councillors, carrying out dual roles until next May’s council elections.
Press apples – see our fresh apples turned into juice
Get your bike checked with Dr Bike, or have a go at making a bike-powered smoothie
Get your face painted or some gorgeous henna art
Pick up something delicious from the bake sale and have a go at the tombola
Take home something new for your garden from our plant sale
Listen to the drumming or join in and make some noise
Enjoy a free lunch from the Scran Van
. A truly incredible amount raised at our annual dinner last night 
