One of Edinburgh’s best-known historic venues is preparing to host Christmas celebrations for the first time since reopening following a major refurbishment.
Teviot reopened its doors in March after a two-and-a-half year refurbishment, marking a new chapter for the 137-year-old building in the heart of Edinburgh.
First opened in 1889 and known as the world’s oldest purpose-built students’ union, Teviot has been part of Edinburgh life for generations – from student events and celebrations to performances and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Its refurbishment has introduced improved accessibility, facilities and energy efficiency while retaining much of the character of spaces including the Debating Hall and Library Bar.
This December marks another milestone for the venue as Teviot hosts its first Christmas season since reopening.
Edinburgh University Students’ Association is opening the venue to businesses, organisations, university departments, societies and groups from across the city, with Christmas events available from 1–20 December 2026.
While Teviot may be best known as a home for generations of Edinburgh students, its event spaces are open to everyone and are managed by an experienced events team, who are available to look after food, drinks, décor and entertainment.
Some of the building’s most recognisable rooms, including the West Reading Room for groups of 40–80 and the Debating Hall for larger celebrations up to 140 guests, are available for Christmas celebrations.
The return of Christmas events follows a busy year for Teviot, which has welcomed people back into the building since its reopening and returned as a major Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue over the summer.
Vice President Activities & Services 2026/27, Vasil T, said: “Teviot means a lot to generations of people in Edinburgh, so it feels really special to be welcoming Christmas parties back into the building this year.
“A lot of people will remember Teviot from their own student days, while others may never have had a reason to step inside before.
“We want people to know that you don’t have to be a student or connected to the University to celebrate here – our venues are open to everyone.”
Every booking helps support the charitable work of Edinburgh University Students’ Association. Income generated through Teviot supports our work to enhance student experience and services at the University of Edinburgh.
With Teviot now entering its first full festive season since reopening, the team hopes Christmas will give businesses and groups from across Edinburgh another reason to rediscover one of the city’s most distinctive buildings.
Aldi Scotland is calling on sports clubs in Edinburgh & the Lothians to apply for its annual Sports Fund initiative, with £50,000 up for grabs nationwide.
Now in its eleventh year, the fund offers local clubs the chance to secure vital funding, including a top prize of £3,000, helping them continue to grow and thrive within their communities. Additional funding packages of £1,250 and £750 will also be distributed.
Launched in 2016, Aldi Scotland’s Scottish Sport Fund has spent the past decade championing grassroots sport, supporting more than 650 clubs and distributing over £500,000 to date. From improving facilities to providing essential kit and equipment, the fund has played a key role in widening access to sport across Scotland.
Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund welcomes applications from all sporting organisations that meet the specified criteria. Last year’s Sports Fund saw the retailer support an array of sports clubs across the region, including Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club, Currie Chieftains Girls and Castlevale YDC.
This year, the top three shortlisted clubs in each region will be selected by an Aldi Scotland judging panel before going to a public vote on social media. The winning club will receive £3,000, with the two runners-up each awarded £1,250.
Tom Brearey, Regional Managing Director at Aldi Scotland, said:“Over the past decade, we have seen the real impact this funding has on clubs and communities across Scotland. Through the Scottish Sports Fund, Aldi has helped clubs invest in the equipment, resources and spaces they need to grow and succeed.
“In what is a monumental year for sport globally, we are proud to continue playing our part in supporting sports clubs here in Scotland and remain committed to making sport more accessible nationwide.
“The response each year is incredibly positive and we look forward to working with even more clubs in 2026. I encourage clubs in Edinburgh & the Lothians to apply and take advantage of this opportunity.”
Sports clubs located across Edinburgh & the Lothians have from Monday 28 September to Sunday 25 October to apply for funding.
One applicant will be selected to receive £3,000 of funding, two applicants will each receive £1,250 and one club will each receive £750. Applications can be made via the application form found on https://www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund.
The Aldi Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria. All applications will be considered by the Aldi judging panel and entrants will be notified of the outcome of their funding application within six weeks from the region’s deadline.
Please see the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund FAQs and Terms & Conditions for more information.
Fake delivery texts and Amazon alerts to watch for
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days returns on 6 and 7 October, with shoppers across the UK preparing to hunt for discounts. But consumer scam protection experts at TrendLife are warning people not to let the rush for a bargain cloud their judgement.
With shoppers expecting more promotional emails and delivery updates than usual, scammers can use the noise around Prime Day to make fake messages and offers feel more convincing. TrendLife’s Scam Hunting team found that around the previous Prime Day event in June, 89.7% of the Amazon-related scam activity it detected in the UK appeared just before the event began.
TrendLife’s Scam Hunting team has identified the following scams for consumers to look out for this Prime Day:
Fake delivery messages arrive when parcels are expected: TrendLife detected 17 UK scams impersonating carriers including Evri, Royal Mail and DPD, with 58.8% appearing during the Prime Day window
Urgency is used to make shoppers act quickly: Common messages claimed there had been a “missed delivery”, a signature was required or an address needed updating within 12 or 24 hours
Some messages ask recipients to reply ‘Y’: This tactic can be used to get around protections that block links from unknown senders and should be treated with suspicion
Prime membership alerts are another route in: TrendLife has observed phishing emails claiming that a Prime payment has failed or an account is at risk of cancellation, with more advanced versions designed to steal Amazon credentials, personal information and payment details.
With shoppers likely to receive more offers, order updates and delivery messages over the coming days, Brett Parker, Consumer Partnerships Lead at TrendLife, provides advice for staying safe this Prime Day:
Go directly to Amazon. If you receive an email or text about a deal, payment issue or account warning, avoid following the link. Open the official Amazon app or website yourself instead
Check delivery updates through the official carrier. If you receive a missed delivery or address update message, check your order status directly through Amazon or the delivery company’s official app or website
Never reply ‘Y’ to activate a link. Messages asking you to reply before reopening a link should be treated as a red flag
Be wary of requests for financial information. Reputable organisations will not unexpectedly contact you asking for card or bank details. If you are unsure, contact the company directly using verified details
Check the sender and website carefully. Fake sites can closely copy legitimate branding, so scrutinise email addresses and URLs before entering personal or payment information
Use security tools: TrendLife and Cifas’s JustMe can help you verify whether a link or website is legitimate before you share any personal or payment information
“Prime Day is a great opportunity to pick up a bargain, but where there’s excitement, urgency and lots of people ready to spend, scammers won’t be far behind,” said Parker.
“Fraudsters know shoppers are looking for limited-time deals and expecting more emails and delivery updates than usual, and they will use that to their advantage. A fake payment warning, missed delivery text or account alert can look completely believable when you’re already waiting for an order.
“The best way to stay safe is to slow down, stick to official sources and take a few moments to verify before you click. If something doesn’t look right, go directly to Amazon or the delivery company rather than following a link in a message.
“A little caution can make the difference between grabbing a bargain and handing your details to a scammer.”
New research conducted by Carers Trust and policy and research consultancy Public First predicts a shortfall of up to ONE MILLION unpaid carers within a generation.
The expected shortfall is calculated from new projections that draw on current trends and future forecasts. It highlights how intense demand for care from an ageing society is set to outstrip the supply of care available unpaid, from family members and friends at an ever-increasing rate over the next two decades.
The shortfall is the difference between the projected ‘demand’ for carers based on the rising number of people with care needs (7.8 million carers needed by 2050) and the ‘supply’ of carers based on the profile of people who care today (6.7 million carers available by 2050).
Under this projection, the number of people able to provide unpaid care will fail to keep pace with ever-greater need, while paid social care – including care homes and home care – will not expand in line with need. this leads to a shortfall of 600,000 unpaid carers by 2035, and an even more alarming one of one million by 2050.
Such a shortfall would have a crippling impact on the provision of care across the UK: a greater number of people would be left with unmet care needs; overall capacity to provide care would be further stretched; and more families and friends would need to step in to fill gaps – from providing sporadic hours of care to caring for multiple people at once.
These changes would have a potentially devastating knock-on effect on unpaid carers’ wellbeing, employment, and the economy.
With care pressures expected to increase across the board in coming years, the research also found that:
10.3m people will need care by 2050, up from 8.4m in 2025
1.2m unpaid carers already provide care hours that equate to a full-time job
1.6m unpaid carers will be in poverty by 2035, rising to over 2m by 2050
The research predicts that the number of people in need of care will have soared by almost two million between 2025 and 2050. Over the same period, without action, the supply of both paid and unpaid care will grow at a much slower rate, thereby failing to keep pace.
These changes are already taking place in society. Over the last 10 years the supply of carers has not increased with rising need, and the average burden on each carer has increased. In the absence of action, the rate at which the gap opening up between supply and demand for care will only quicken over time.
The research comes at a time when Baroness Casey is running her ‘Big Conversation’ amongst the public into the future of social care and follows the announcement by the Prime Minister that he will use what ‘political capital he has’ to reform the system.
Louise Casey has already identified that the work of unpaid carers is one of the main reasons the system continues to function. This research shows that, if nothing changes, this will cease to be the case, with knock on effects on the NHS, public services and the economy.
Carers Trust, as the largest UK charity supporting unpaid carers through its network of 130 local services, is also highlighting the impact on unpaid carers of the current levels of care they are undertaking:
Fewer than three in ten unpaid carers providing care for more than 35 hours a week are in paid work.
Mental and physical health outcomes are consistently worse for unpaid carers than for non-carers.
Unpaid carers are more likely to live in poverty than the broader population, with living conditions worst for those with the most intense caring roles.
Around three in five people in the UK will become carers at some point in their lives. This can happen overnight, often through circumstances that are impossible to predict or plan, such as a family member being diagnosed with a long-term illness or the birth of a child with a disability.
Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive of Carers Trust, said:“Almost all of us will either care for a loved one or be cared for in turn at some point in our lives. However, as a society, we’re simply not facing up to that fact.
“The gap between soaring demand and shrinking supply of care is opening up like a crocodile’s jaws and, unless we act now, it’s unpaid carers, those they care for, and the system itself that will be swallowed whole.
“This grim future is on the horizon, but there is still time to avoid it if we are willing to do the political hard yards now. The Prime Minister’s commitment to fixing our broken social care system is encouraging, but reform needs to focus on more than care home beds, budgets, and the paid workforce. It has to reckon frankly and fairly with the millions of unpaid carers that are holding the system together – at huge personal cost.
“It could be you, your mother, brother, or child who needs care in the future, or who becomes a carer in turn. We cannot go on asking unpaid carers to absorb yet more pressure, and we cannot let the worst-case scenario set out in this research become our reality.
“We need well-funded local support that reaches carers before they hit crisis point, real, comprehensive financial and wellbeing support, and a system that recognises carers as essential and equal, not invisible and expendable.”
Andrew Harrop, Director at Public First, said:“Today family carers provide the lion’s share of support for people with care needs. But Public First’s projections show that the future supply of carers may not keep up with the demand. In 10 years’ time the UK may need 600,000 more people to care than are in a position to do so.
“The number of people with care needs is rising quickly, because more people are reaching late old age. Meanwhile the number in the generation below who typically provide care is barely increasing.
“The shortfall in carers will mean that more people’s needs go unmet and more intensive pressures on those who are able to care.”
Queen Margaret University’s growing reputation for Gaelic football is helping create a strong sense of community for students from across the UK and Ireland, with the University’s successful teams offering a welcoming home away from home alongside opportunities to compete at a high level.
The 2025/26 academic year has been another successful season for QMU Ladies Football Club, with the club growing to more than 70 members and securing its fifth consecutive Scottish Championship League title.
The team also celebrated winning the British Championship Shield in Birmingham in 2025, competing against university teams from across the UK.
The men’s Gaelic football team has also enjoyed significant success in recent years, winning the Scottish University Championship in both 2023/24 and 2024/25 and finishing both seasons as unbeaten champions.
Following some time away from competition, the team’s re-establishment has been supported by the large Irish community studying at QMU, while also providing an opportunity for students from Scotland and elsewhere to get involved in the sport and Irish culture.
The success of QMU’s Gaelic football clubs is also helping attract prospective students, particularly those from Ireland who are looking to continue playing the sport while studying in Scotland.
For some students, the opportunity to join a successful Gaelic football club is an important factor when choosing where to study.
Nicki Carr, an MSc Speech and Language Therapy student from Dublin, said: “The QMU Gaelic Football team has been a big part of my first year at QMU and has really helped me settle into university life.
“Moving to a new country and starting a busy postgraduate course was a big change, so being part of the club gave me a great way to meet people, make friends and feel more settled.
“I really enjoyed being able to continue playing a sport I love without there being too much pressure around performance. The team was a good balance of football and socialising, and I got to meet people from different courses and years that I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise.
“Having a thriving Ladies Gaelic Football Club team was actually one of the things that attracted me to QMU when I was applying, as I knew it would be a good way to meet people and get involved in university life. Looking back, joining the team has been one of the best parts of my first year and has given me so many good memories and friendships that I’m really grateful for.”
Although Gaelic games are deeply rooted in Irish culture, QMU’s clubs welcome students from all backgrounds and experience levels. Whether students have played Gaelic football or camogie (an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women) for years, are new to the sport, or simply want to try something different, everyone is encouraged to get involved.
The men’s team has seen first-hand how quickly new players can take to Gaelic football, with students with little or no previous experience able to develop their skills alongside more experienced players. For the 2025/26 squad, creating a “home away from home” has been an important part of the club alongside building on its recent success on the pitch.
Ciara Brady, Social Secretary for QMU Ladies Gaelic Football Club, said: “The inclusive culture created within the clubs means that members quickly become part of a close-knit community, with friendships formed through training sessions, matches, travel and social events throughout the year.
“The success on the pitch reflects the commitment and dedication of players, coaches and committee members, but the clubs’ impact extends far beyond trophies. They provide opportunities for students to grow in confidence, meet new people and create memories that last well beyond graduation.”
The club’s achievements have also been recognised through the QMU Students’ Union Excellence in Sport Award, with the Ladies Gaelic Football Club receiving the award for two consecutive years.
Joe Agnew, QMU’s Student Union President of Activities, said: “Sport plays an important role in the student experience at Queen Margaret University, and our Gaelic football clubs are a fantastic example of how extracurricular activities can help students build connections.
“The achievements of our women’s team, alongside the continued success and growth of our men’s team, demonstrate the strength and enthusiasm for Gaelic games at QMU. The clubs give students the chance to compete at a high level while developing skills and connections that can last throughout their time at university and beyond.”
With both clubs continuing to grow, QMU’s Gaelic football teams are combining sporting success with opportunities for students to try something new, develop their skills and become part of university life.
A cafe classic of baked tatties for lunch, and we’re still planning dessert, so it’ll be a surprise! Check our page on Monday to find out what we’re making.
We welcome everyone along to our community cafe – so hope to see you there!
We are publishing this report at a critical crossroads in Scotland’s journey to a possible future, one free from poverty.
In this year’s election campaign and programme for government, we have consistently heard the First Minister describe eradicating poverty as his defining mission (Scottish Government, 2026a). This commitment is welcome, but there is an increasing disconnect between the Scottish Government’s rhetoric and the reality of life for families in poverty across Scotland.
New data for 2022–25 shows that:
17% of people in Scotland were in poverty, 11% in deep poverty and 7% in very deep poverty. Around 2 in 5 people in poverty in Scotland are in very deep poverty
relative child poverty sits at 21%
over 9 in 10 children in poverty are in one or more of the Scottish Government’s priority families.
Despite some progress, the legal target to reduce relative child poverty to 10% by 2030/31 is set to be missed by a wide margin. Interim targets have been missed, and the Scottish Government’s current plans will not deliver the scale of change needed to shift the dial.
We want a better start for all children in Scotland, and there is clear evidence of overwhelming public support for more, and more effective, action on child poverty.
The Scottish Government’s plan to review Scotland’s landmark statutory child poverty targets risks delaying action and lowering ambitions. New targets need to be genuinely stretching, grounded in income as a central measure of poverty, and have teeth to hold the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament to account for meeting them.
In parallel, the Scottish Government needs a new, much bolder and properly funded plan to reduce poverty in Scotland. Only 1 in 4 people (26%) somewhat or strongly agreed that the Scottish Government is doing enough to tackle child poverty in Scotland (Birt, 2026a).
This year, as well as assessing the national picture, we have focused on the vital role of local government in reducing poverty, backed by new public attitudes data and engagement with people with lived experience.
In findings that must shape live discussions about the future of local governance and public service reform in Scotland, we have heard that:
people think councils are too underfunded to provide the services needed in their area
there is significant public disaffection with councils, regardless of people’s backgrounds and across Scotland’s different communities
councils are not doing enough to tackle poverty, with people on low incomes and living in more deprived areas reporting worse experiences of services and higher levels of disaffection.
To fix this, the Scottish Government and local government will need to work more effectively – in their own right and in collaboration.
Every council needs to ask itself, just as the Scottish Government should do, whether they have genuinely prioritised child poverty reduction and if their services are best where they are needed the most.
Fundamentally, these should be the core questions of public service reform; otherwise it simply becomes a numbers game of reductions in the number of councils and/or budgets. It is also clear that public service reform needs to go hand in hand with a fundamental rethink of local government funding to rewire our services and tax system to radically reduce poverty.
It is also vital that national and local government’s bandwidth across this parliament is not consumed by bureaucratic strife; families in poverty need to see rapid progress in the immediate term.
We want the Scottish Government, as part of its renewed drive to reform local government in Scotland, to:
provide local government with a more stable platform for anti-poverty work — avoiding single-year funding settlements and allowing councils greater freedom to adapt to their communities’ needs
take steps to fundamentally reform local government finance in Scotland
ground public service reform in 2 key questions: would the changes reduce child poverty and will they make services best where they are needed the most?
We want all councils to:
prioritise preventing poverty in their communities, and make full use of their levers including economic development, childcare, employability, transport, housing and schools
provide better-quality and more joined-up local services to support families in or at risk of poverty, with genuine partnership with the third sector, co-location of services, a ‘no wrong door’ approach and better use of data
significantly improve day-to-day communication with the public, underpinned by deeper and more meaningful work to involve people with lived experience of poverty in local decision-making.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Poverty in Scotland 2026 report
Executive Summary
COSLA Resources Spokesperson Cllr Kelly Parry has responded to ‘Poverty in Scotland 2026′ by @jrf_uk :“This report is a stark reminder that far too many children and families in Scotland are still being denied the security and opportunities they deserve.”
Edinburgh’s Christmas Polar Ice Bar on sale now, with new Viking theme from Hamilton Ice Sculptors
The Polar Ice Bar with Icelandair– a bar where everything from the tables and chairs are sculpted from ice by experts Hamilton Ice Sculptors – returns with a brand-new theme for 2026, with spellbinding hand-carved Viking themed ice sculptures in the magical Edinburgh’s Christmas attraction on George Street.
The hugely successful Family Ice Experience with Icelandair is back by popular demand, with more family-friendly sessions in the Polar Ice Bar this year than ever before. This year’s ice bar, which sits at a cool minus 8 degrees, will be Viking themed, featuring dazzling hand carved sculptures and fire and ice elements.
The Polar Ice Bar welcomes guests with jackets and gloves on arrival and complimentary mocktails or cocktails served in a glass made of ice.
Visitors can enjoy 30 minute slots for frozen festive fun at the coolest bar in town and then warm up at The Coorie Inn just next door – inspired by luxury Highland lodges, the free-to-enter Coorie Inn will serve up piping hot drinks, festive warmers and host a programme of live music, quizzes and craft workshops.
Polar Ice Bar and Family Ice Experience tickets are available from edwinterfest.com.
