UK Government announces a package of up to £10 million support to help the people of Myanmar following recent earthquake
£10m of UK support pledged to help deliver humanitarian response to the natural disaster
UK Government working with local partners to get help to those most in need
British nationals receiving ongoing consular support
The UK Government has announced a package of up to £10 million support to help the people of Myanmar following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the country’s central region on Friday.
This UK funding will increase support in the hardest hit areas of the earthquake and geared towards food and water supplies, medicine, and shelter.
Baroness Chapman, Minister of State for Development, said: “The UK is sending immediate and life-saving support to the people of Myanmar following the devastating earthquake.
“UK-funded local partners are already mobilising a humanitarian response on the ground, and this £10m package will bolster their efforts.
“I offer my deepest sympathies to the people of Myanmar after this tragic event.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is offering support to British nationals in both Myanmar and Thailand following the earthquake.
British nationals in Myanmar who require consular assistance can call British Embassy Yangon on +95 (01) 370 863/4/5/7.
British Nationals who require consular assistance in Thailand can call British Embassy Bangkok on +66 (0) 2 305 8333.
Anyone in the UK and concerned about a British national in Myanmar or Thailand you can contact the FCDO on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Family members involved in deaths in custody Fatal Accident Inquiries (FAI) are to have immediate, free access to legal aid support and advice.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed that she is using existing Ministerial powers to remove means-testing for legal aid in such cases, so that from 7 April families will not have to provide information on their income.
Ms Constance announced the move as she updated the Scottish Parliament on a range of actions to address systemic failures identified by Sheriff Collins in his FAI determination relating to the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay (also known as William Brown) at HM Prison & Young Offenders Institution Polmont.
This followed the Justice Secretary’s previous statement to Parliament on the issue in January this year.
All of the Sheriff’s 25 recommendations have been accepted and work on these will be delivered at pace and progress will be closely monitored.
Ms Constance outlined the measures being implemented, which include:
• The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has initiated a dedicated operational taskforce, chaired by the SPS Chief Executive, and involving NHS partners, to ensure all of the recommendations are actioned.
• His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland will provide the Justice Secretary with an initial report by the summer on how the implementation of Sheriff Collins’ FAI recommendations will be independently reviewed.
• The Scottish Prison Service is overhauling its Suicide Prevention Strategy ‘Talk to Me’ across the prison estate. The strategy will be published at the end of this year, with a full training package to be rolled out in 2026.
• In consultation with the Lord Advocate, an independent review of the FAI system has been commissioned to focus on improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and trauma-informed nature of investigations into deaths in prison custody. The appointment of a Chair is expected to be announced shortly.
Ms Constance said: “I was grateful to have had the opportunity to again meet with the families of William Lindsay and Katie Allan today and extend my deepest condolences to them, as I do to all those affected by a death in custody.
“It is through ongoing and decisive action that we will create the lasting change they rightly demand and deserve. We have made substantial progress since my January statement to Parliament.
“We will continue to drive forward change and strengthen accountability. This is about changing the system and the culture that underpins it.”
The UK aid budget will no longer be linked to changes in the UK’s gross national income, instead being given a fixed budget potentially protecting it from spending by other departments, the Labour Government has confirmed.
The announcement could mark a major shift in the way that UK aid spending is allocated.
In a letter to the Chair of the International Development Committee, Minister Baroness Chapman (above) said the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will lose its role as the Government’s aid ‘spender and saver of last resort’, meaning that it will no longer need to adjust its budgets to hit a spending commitment if gross national income (GNI) changes or other department’s costs increase.
The Minister also confirmed that bilateral aid spending has been set to meet only existing contracts, suggesting that with a few exceptions there will be no new additional bilateral aid programming in 2025/26.
Exceptions include full aid allocations for Ukraine, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan, and the Overseas Territories.
Sarah Champion MP, Chair of the International Development Committee, said: “I’m very nervous about what these changes signify. Aid programmes deliver benefits over years and decades, not months.
“What UK aid needs above all is stability. Vital programmes for the world’s most vulnerable people must be protected from the ebb and flow of domestic priorities.
“The measures announced could represent a positive step forward. Unshackling aid from percentage targets could protect aid spending from drains on its resources like reckless Home Office spending on asylum hotels at home.
“But we need more information. Will the aid budget rise as well as fall, if income forecasts improve? Which specific programmes are set to be cut? Which areas are high priorities for ministers?
“Until we know, it is impossible to assess whether the Government is serious about its international commitments and the potential risks these changes present.”
INCLUDING A FIRST-EVER WICKED MOVIE SING-A-LONG EVENT!
This Easter, The Centre, Livingston is hosting a variety of activities for children, including a first-ever Wicked Sing-a-long Movie Night, with all profits going to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, CHAS, free arts and crafts and storytelling sessions and back by popular demand, football sessions, in partnership with West Lothian Youth Foundation.
The first-of-its-kind Wicked Sing-a-long event will take place in the shopping centre, after hours, on Saturday, 12th April, with tickets costing £10 plus booking fee and all profits going to the charity, CHAS, which provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.
On the night there will also be free painting and everyone attending is welcome to dress up as their favourite Wicked character.
From Saturday, 5th until Friday, 11th April, The Centre, Livingston will also be running free football sessions, in partnership with West Lothian Youth Foundation, who are back by popular demand following their pop-up last summer, which was a big hit with young avid footballers and parents too! The free sessions will take place each day from 12 – 4pm next to Waterstones.
The aim of West Lothian Community Foundation is to use football as an activity to promote the educational and health development of people of all ages in the community, with particular emphasis on targeting those who are less engaged with sporting activities, to help them reach their full potential.
There will also be a host of free activities in the Easter Garden beside New Look from the 14th until the 20th April at 11am – 4pm, featuring a cherry blossom tree, giant daffodil, colourful eggs and bunnies. Kids can join interactive storytelling sessions every day at 11am and 3pm and take part in arts and crafts, including floral wreath making and plant potting. They can also enjoy super-sized games like 4 in a Row.
Tess Sundberg, Marketing Manager at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We are really looking forward to running our activities for families this Easter, including the first-ever Wicked Movie Sing-a-long, which is guaranteed to be great fun!
“It is also fantastic to be partnering with the local charity, West Lothian Youth Foundation again as their pop-up last year was really popular, resulting in lots of enquiries since to get them back in again.”
Zhenya Dove, Community Fundraiser at CHAS, said: “We are so grateful to The Centre, Livingston and everyone taking part in this incredible Wicked Sing-a-long Movie Night.
“Knowing that families will come together for a night of music and fun while also helping us bring moments of happiness to children with life-shortening conditions – means the world to us.
“Every ticket sold, every song sung helps us continue our vital work supporting families across Scotland. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”
Graham Jarvis from West Lothian Youth Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with The Centre, Livingston again during the Easter school holidays.
“Our portable pitch will give people the opportunity to practice and improve their football skills, or for younger children, have a go at kicking the ball in the net for the first time.
“We are really looking forward to it, especially as we had such great fun last year and learned a trick or two ourselves!”
Full details of all activities, check out the website, www.thecentrelivingston.com and @shopthecentre on Facebook and Instagram.
13-year-old Eilidh has won with her sweet image of dog Lexie
A young teen from Scotland has been named winner of the RSPCA’s Young Photographer People’s Choice Award after securing over 1,000 votes.
15 images were shortlisted in the awards from children and young people across the UK who were all vying for the public vote. Eilidh Shannon, 13, from Inverurie, was the stand-out winner with her photo ‘Keeping a Look Out’ which shows spaniel Lexie poking her head out of the cat flap.
Eilidh said: “I’m so pleased to have won the People’s Choice Award. It’s an incredible feeling! My dogs are like best friends and I find that you can just sit next to them and whether happy or sad they’re there for you, they’re so lovely and kind. Lexie always likes to know what’s going on. If I go out into the garden without her she can’t bear it if she is not allowed to come too. She uses the cat flap to keep a close eye on me!”
Andrew Forsyth, RSPCA photographer and judge of the RSPCA’s Young Photographer Awards, added: “This photo captured the hearts of the public and captured Lexie’s personality and her love for Eilidh perfectly. The image is a very worthy winner!
“We’d urge all budding young photographers to please keep an eye out for the opening of submissions to the competition this year, or you can register your interest now at YPA25@rspca.org.uk and we’ll send you full information when we launch.”
The other shortlisted images were:
‘Spotted, the young lady’ featuring a ladybird larvae, photographed by Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb, aged 10, from Hampshire
‘Paws’ features a cat’s paws as they climb a tree taken by Megan Smith, 12, from Edinburgh
‘Hungry Fish’ featuring a carp, by Tom Wiseman, aged 15, from Kent
‘The Portal’ featuring a reflection of a dog by Iceni Newcombe, aged 15, from Kent
‘The elegant slug’ featuring an image of a slug at a waterfall in Whitby, taken by Eva Steel, aged 14, from Cornwall
‘Frisbee Lion’ shows dog Betsie catching a frisbee, taken by George Avery, aged 12, from Cornwall
‘It Lurks’ shows a jellyfish at an aquarium, snapped by Ellie Tsang, aged 17, from London
‘Behind the Leaves’ features cat Luna hiding in bushes snapped by Eliza Harvey-Keightley, aged 14, from Surrey
‘3,2,1…Go!’ shows Emily the cat mid-run, snapped by last year’s YPA winner Anwen Whitehead, 15, from Wales
‘Biscuit?’ features dog Herb as he rests his chin on a table desperate for a treat, by Henrietta Stewart, aged seven, from Bedfordshire
‘Funny Face’ shows dog Jess pulling a face as she tries to catch a ball, by Ella Moakler-Woodhouse, aged 10, from Leeds
‘Beautiful Moth’ shows a moth perched on a window and taken by Rehana Nelson, aged 15, from Staffordshire
‘Star Catching’ features dog Robin on an evening walk, by Grace Marshall, aged 18, from West Sussex
Entries for the main RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2025 will open on Tuesday, 6 May and will be judged by a panel of photographic experts.
The Tartan Army’s ‘Hampden Roar’ is as loud as a jet plane on match day, new research from Specsavers revealed.
As the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, Specsavers recently put the decibel level of the famous Hampden Roar to the test.
The passionate Scotland home support has had some memorable moments down the years, leading to its reputation for having some of the best and loudest matchday atmospheres in the world.
Notably, Leigh Griffiths’ two free-kicks against England back in 2017, Gary Caldwell’s winner against France in 2006 and more recent dins as Scotland have made it to back-to-back European Championships are famous and revered throughout Scottish culture.
Looking to capture some of that magic, audio experts took in the Nations League play-off second leg against Greece at Hampden Park last weekend.
Scotland went down 3-0 to Greece on the night, nevertheless, the Glasgow crowd did their best to cheer Steve Clarke’s team on as, throughout the evening, they maintained an average decibel level of 90dB – which is the equivalent of an electric drill.
The atmosphere at the national stadium built up nicely ahead of the match as the Tartan Army reached 100dB when crowd-favourite Scott McTominay’s name was read out over the loudspeaker – a cacophony akin to a jackhammer for the popular midfielder.
It was crackling inside Hampden Park as the teams came out, reaching ambulance siren levels of 115dB, while the noise peaked for the national anthem – Flower of Scotland – as boisterous Scottish lungs soared to jet engine levels of 121dB.
Early first-half chances kept the racket steadily above 100dB, before dipping to between 70 and 90db in the second period as Greece headed towards victory.
Jenny Stephenson, Divisional Chair for Scotland, said: ‘Hearing loss affects people of all ages and, unfortunately, the longer we leave hearing issues, the worse they can become. That’s why it is so important to look after your hearing and have regular hearing checks.
‘Not only is it good for your health, it means you’ll be able to hear our famous Scottish symphonies loud and clear at matches.’
As the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, Specsavers is here to change lives through better sight and hearing, by making expert care accessible and affordable for all.
Its hearing experts provide comprehensive free hearing checks in stores across the country and can help you find the right hearing device to suit your needs and lifestyle.
Visit www.specsavers.co.uk or go in store to book an appointment with one of our hearing experts.
Exhibitions & displays National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine Until 27 Apr 2025 Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3 Free
Injecting Hope is a new, free exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland that presents the science behind the COVID-19 vaccine. This exhibition brings together more than 80 objects that were acquired in real time during the peak of the pandemic by curators across the UK. Learn the science behind the creation of the vaccine and understand the logistics behind its global roll-out.
Cold War Scotland Until 4 Jan 2026 10:00 – 17:00 Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Free
Scotland’s unique geography and topography provided a useful base for Allied military preparations and research during the Cold War, a 40-year nuclear stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union following the end of the Second World War.
Cold War Scotland is an output of Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project between National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling. The project explores how the Cold War heritage is represented and how museums can adapt to tell this story in future. The exhibition will explore both the visible and invisible legacies of the war in Scotland. Find out more nms.ac.uk/ColdWarScotland
COMING SOONMonkeys: Our Primate Family 28 Jun – 30 Nov
See some of the rarest and most endangered primates on Earth in Monkeys: Our Primate Family at the National Museum of Scotland. This exhibition explores the remarkable lives of our primate relatives and demonstrates how they have adapted to survive in different habitats. The exhibition brings together more than 50 species of monkeys, apes, lemurs and lorises.
Events National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Edinburgh Science Festival 2025 5 – 20 Apr All pricing and booking through Science Festival website
Join us as we host two weeks of science-fueled exploration, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks and events. The 2025 Edinburgh Science Festival will explore the challenges of living on a planet with finite resources, through the lenses of science fiction and space exploration.
Mission Planet Earth 5 – 20 Apr 10:30 – 16:00 Free, drop in
As part of the Edinburgh Science Festival, join us in Hawthornden Court for a landing capsule game aand the chance to create your own mission craft at one of our craft tables. Our Learning Team will also be at the sparkcart with fascinating facts and stories behind our collections as well as our handling objects.
Relaxed Morning 6 Apr & 4 May 10:00-12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30) Free admission, drop-in
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.
This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore some areas of the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment.
Sensory Sunday 6 Apr 11:00-12:00 and 14:00-15:00 Free, booking required
Exciting, hands-on sensory play sessions for children with additional support needs. Families with children with additional support needs and disabilities are invited to join our programme of sensory play sessions.
Explore the museum’s collections, get creative and meet other families. Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating. You are welcome to come and go at any point during a session.
Communicating Science Through Art 17 Apr 19:30 – 20:15 Online via Zoom Free with optional donation
In this online panel discussion, artists Angela Palmer and Alec Finlay, whose artworks feature in our current Injecting Hope exhibition, will explore artistic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and consider how art can help us gain new insights into and understandings of complex science and shared experiences.
Museum Socials 18 Apr 10:30-12:00 Learning Centre Seminar Room, Level 4 Free, booking required
Museum Socials are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling and creative crafts. And tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.
Join us for a film screening and discussion exploring the Scottish Deaf community’s experiences of lockdown.
Trudi Collier, Deaf Heritage Coordinator, and Will Clark, Deaf filmmaker, will present a film screening exploring experiences of Scotland’s Deaf community during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Centre for Open Learning: Understanding Colour 24 Apr – 26 Jun 2025 11:00 – 13:00 £215 for 10 sessions
National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore our collections with experts.
This course offers an introduction to the uses of colour using the National Museum of Scotland’s collections. Examine objects from the Art & Design, Natural Science and Science & Technology galleries to consider the role of colour in our world. Students will be shown some simple techniques to record the colourful images, creating a lasting reminder of their studies.
Centre for Open Learning: Georgian Scotland 24 Apr – 26 Jun 2025 11:00 – 13:00 £215 for 10 sessions
National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore our collections with experts.
This course on Georgian Scotland explores Scotland’s great changes and developments between 1714–1815. Making extensive use of National Museum Scotland’s collections, the course covers the Enlightenment and the growth of universities, trade, transportation and industry, as well as the impact of Jacobite rebellions and events overseas, from France and Spain to the American colonies.
Centre for Open Learning: Scotland: Romance and Reality 23 May 10:30 – 16:30 £55 (concessions available)
This one-day course explores the Romantic images of Scotland formed in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Using contemporary primary sources and objects on display in the National Museum of Scotland, the course will discuss the influence of art, literature, transport and tourism on the Romantic image of Scotland, as well as the role played by figures such as Queen Victoria and Walter Scott.
Join us for a day of free pop-up performances and activities for the whole family as we kick off the 2025 Edinburgh International Children’s Festival. The ever-popular Family Day returns for 2025. Experience exciting pop-up performances and creative encounters with local artists – from theatre and dance to walk-about characters – there is something for the whole family to enjoy.
National Museum of Rural Life Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Spring Explorers 8 – 11 Apr Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Become a Spring Explorer this April at the National Museum of Rural Life. Our Spring Explorers family activities are back, and this time they’re all about pollination! Get hands on with seeds, soil and planting and sign up for storytelling, before exploring the museum galleries and historic farm.
This free family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life 22 Apr 14:30-17:00 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Afternoon for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Woolly Weekend 24 & 25 May 10:30 – 15:30 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Celebrate all things woolly with a weekend of family fun at the National Museum of Rural Life. With themed activities and crafts throughout the museum and farm, there’s plenty for all ages to enjoy! See woolly farm friends up-close, take part in wool-themed crafts in the museum and explore the galleries with our Dolly the Sheep Trail. Then head out to the farm to watch YouTube sensation Cammy Day at work with our Scottish Blackface flock. Learn how, when and why sheep are sheared and see demonstrations of some traditional and modern shearing techniques.
Tractor Tots 4 & 7 Jul 10:30 or 13:30 blocks £20 per child for block of 3, £15 per Member child for block of 3 Ages 0-4
Running in blocks of three Friday morning sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to the museum and farm, and bringing it to life through interactive creative play.
Each session will take place in a different location at the museum and working farm, and will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside.
National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00
Sustainable Skies 14 – 18 Apr 11:00-16:00 Free with museum admission
Join us for family activities across five days at the National Museum of Flight, as part of Edinburgh Science Festival. As well as family-friendly fun, you’ll also learn about the future challenges faced by flight and their solutions.
This free family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Relaxed Morning 13 Apr & 11 May 10:00 – 12:00 Free with museum admission
Join us for a Relaxed Morning at the National Museum of Flight, for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment.
This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children, neurodivergent young people and adults, adults living with dementia, adults and children with mental health problems, and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray welcomes Chancellor’s £2.2billion defence budget boost
Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week pledged a new era of security and national renewal as she delivered a Spring Statement to ‘kickstart economic growth, protect working people and keep Britain safe’.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has welcomed her measures, including a £2.2 billion increase in the UK-wide defence budget for 2025-26, on top of £2.9 billion announced at Autumn Budget.
Mr Murray said: “We are living in an increasingly insecure world, and the extra £2.2 billion for defence – on top of the £2.9 billion announced at Autumn Budget – will make Britain stronger and safer.
“This is a huge boost for Scotland’s world-leading defence sector, which delivers Scottish economic growth and more highly-skilled jobs. The increase will also mean better homes for our military personnel and families, including the thousands based in Scotland.
“Today’s announcements underpin the great strides being made by the UK Government in achieving stability in our public finances. There have been three interest rate cuts since the general election.
“Next week the increase in the minimum wage will mean a pay rise for hundreds of thousands of workers in Scotland and our employment rights legislation will deliver the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.
“The Spring Statement also delivered an extra £28 million for the Scottish Government. That is on top of their £4.9 billion extra from the budget, creating a record £47.7 billion settlement for 25/26, announced at the Autumn Budget.
“This is the biggest budget settlement in the history of devolution and an end to austerity. The Scottish Government must now use that wisely – to improve Scotland’s failing public services.”
This latest defence boost builds on the Chancellor’s recent visit to Babcock in Rosyth where she also announced that UK defence exporters would benefit from a £2 billion increase to UK Export Finance lending capacity.
Her Spring Statement underlines that growth is at the heart of the UK Government’s Plan for Change with £13 billion of additional capital spend allocated alongside the defence funding boost.
It follows the Budget in the autumn where it was announced that the Scottish Government will be provided with a £47.7 billion settlement in 2025/26 – the largest in real terms in the history of devolution. This includes an additional £3.4 billion through the Barnett formula, with £2.8 billion for day-to-day spending and £610 million for capital investment.
The measures announced this week top up these Barnett consequentials by a further £28 million in 2025/26.
The Scottish Government continues to receive over 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK, translating into over £8.5 billion more in 2025-26. Block Grant funding from 2026-27 onwards will be confirmed at Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which concludes on 11 June 2025.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury will meet with his counterparts from the devolved governments to discuss their priorities ahead of its conclusion.
