Due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the rising costs of running the Home have outpaced the funds we’ve been able to raise, despite the continued generosity and support of our incredible community.
If we do not take immediate and decisive action, there is a genuine risk that the Home will no longer be able to continue in the years ahead. This is not an outcome we can accept, as we know how much the Home means to the many people and pets we support across the country.
As we face these unprecedented challenges, we have had to undertake a restructuring exercise to ensure we can continue to operate effectively and sustainably for the long term.
This means that we have made the difficult and unavoidable decision to become a smaller team as well as make a slight reduction to our opening hours.
We’re so grateful to all our team who have stood by the Home during this tough time, continuing to deliver exceptional care and support to pets and their owners, and thank them for their hard work and dedication to our important mission.
Our mission remains the same, as we project that the need for our services will only increase. We are fully committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect the future of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home and the pets and pet owners we support.
Amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill have been lodged by the Scottish Government setting out how rents will be capped in rent control areas.
The proposed measures will help protect tenants facing cost of living pressures and rising energy prices, whilst providing appropriate protection for the property rights of landlords and supporting investment.
Rent increases in control areas would be limited to the CPI annual rate of inflation plus 1%, up to a maximum increase of 6%. If approved, the rent cap will apply both to rent increases during the term of a tenancy, and in between tenancies, in areas where rent control is applied.
Ministers will determine which areas should be subject to rent control in order to protect tenants. The amendments build on a package of renters’ rights already in the Bill including the right to keep pets and to decorate rented properties without having those unreasonably refused.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Eradicating child poverty remains this government’s top priority and having a home can make a direct contribution to achieving this.
“Ensuring families can have secure and affordable homes that meet their needs is part of our approach to tackling the housing emergency. These measures will also help protect tenants against a backdrop of a continuing cost of living crisis and rising energy costs. We are doing what we can with the powers that we have as we know our policies are working to improve the lives of families in Scotland.
“Scotland already has some of the strongest rights in the UK for tenants, but we want to improve the renting experience even more to create an affordable, high-quality and fair rented sector.
“We have been working closely with tenants’ organisations to develop provisions in the Housing Bill to improve renters’ rights, including a system of long-term rent controls that is fair for tenants and encourages investment in the sector.
“Our rented sector is a crucial part of tackling the housing emergency and these measures provide important certainty for tenants.”
A 24-year-old man has been arrested in relation to two wilful fireraisings in Edinburgh.
The incidents which took place on Thursday, 6 March, 2025 and Sunday, 16 March, 2025 in Albert Street and Milton Road East, respectively, are linked to the recent discharge of firearms and other fireraising incidents in the city.
The man has been arrested for wilful fireraising and reset of a stolen vehicle. Enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger said: “I want to reassure the community that we are continuing to work on this investigation and this is just one of many arrests over the coming weeks.
“If you have any information that can assist our investigation, please get in touch.”
extended opening of five-star exhibition, Everlyn Nicodemus
There is something for everyone to discover at the National Galleries of Scotland over the upcoming Easter and May bank holidays.
Visitors will have the chance to enjoy a programme of family events and experience Everlyn Nicodemus on Monday 26 May, with an extra day added to allow bank holiday revellers to enjoy the exhibition.
Spanning the gallery’s entire ground floor of Modern One, Everlyn Nicodemus is open now and free for everyone to visit. Experience Everlyn’s colourful, defiant and searingly honest artworks, with over 80 drawings, collages, paintings and textiles from over 40 years of her career, from 1980 through to the present day.
Families can also get involved with some joyful Easter artmaking inspired by Everlyn Nicodemus. Over the Easter holidays, from Monday 14 to Friday 18 April 2025 between 2–4pm, families can drop into Art Space 1 at Modern One to play with patterns, create shapes, mix colours and more.
Or for those looking for autism-friendly activities this Easter, a drop in event will be held on Tuesday 15 April 2025, 10.30am–12pm. Meet other families, explore the galleries and take part in creative activities with an experienced team of artists.
Autism-friendly sessions at the National Galleries of Scotland are for children and young people on the autism spectrum – with their families – who may benefit from smaller group sizes and tailored activities to suit individual needs.
For those looking to dive deeper into the world of Everlyn Nicodemus, join the panel discussion on Friday 23 May, 3-4pm for free at the National or via the YouTube livestream.
To mark the end of her first ever retrospective, Everlyn Nicodemus will be in conversation with writer JJ Fadaka and artist and curator Khadea Santi. Together they will chat about the lasting legacy of Everlyn’s amazing exhibition. Plus, livestream ticketholders can watch back anytime.
There is even more to discover when visiting the Moderns, with a completely free offering across two galleries and two sculpture parks. Weave your way through two exciting buildings featuring leading artists’ works which define the Modern era.
At Modern One, delve into displays, shows and installations from the leading artists of today, both inside and outdoors. As well as Everlyn Nicodemus, discover a celebratory display to mark Bruce McLean’s 80th birthday. Bruce McLean: I Want My Crown traces the Glasgow-born artist’s humorous, provocative and engaging six-decade long inquiry into sculpture.
Through works made across a range of media including photography, performance, painting, printmaking, film, and ceramics, this one-room display invites you to challenge your thinking about sculpture and expand your ideas of what art can be.
Get ready for captivating, light-hearted and all-encompassing experiences at Modern One. On arrival you will be in awe of the striking land feature Landform in front of the gallery, designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks. Explore the grounds and discover further sculptural works by other major artists including Pablo Picasso, Barbara Hepworth, Jackson Pollock and Tracey Emin.
Once you’ve explored Modern One why not head across the road to Modern Two to further explore the grounds. Plus, you can celebrate the centenary of the remarkable Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) taking over the ground floor of Modern Two.
Or why not head to one of the National Galleries of Scotland’s other sites. At the National, drop into the Family Art Hub, open until 20 April. Designed to help you and your family explore the Scottish galleries together.
The space offers a place to create and share your art, read the books on offer and play. You can watch short films about different art techniques or listen to what children and artists think about art and what it is for. Spark your senses and make shadows and shapes in the play area.
At the Portrait visit Connections,a relaxed space for visitors to draw, read and chat about some of the ways in which we make connections through art. Bringing together communities, partner organisations, and artists, the displays highlight how we use art to find shared interests, discover social histories, explore issues and identities, and create new objects to tell new stories.
Current displays include portraits of Govanhill, a project exploring different issues that impact young people across Scotland today. Using photography as a creative tool, the voices and views of young people from Big Noise Govanhill are represented.
Welfare reforms must be shaped by and for disabled people, the Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said today [Monday 7th April], as the official consultation on the government’s proposals begins.
Publication of all accessible versions set to trigger the start of official consultation into welfare reforms announced by Work and Pensions Secretary.
Disabled people and those with health conditions are encouraged to have their say so their views are at the heart of the new system.
Reforms will fix the broken welfare system by giving people genuine support to unlock work and boost living standards as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
Welfare reforms must be shaped by and for disabled people, the Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said today [Monday 07 April], as the official consultation on the Government’s proposals begins.
It comes as the government commits to the establishment of ‘collaboration committees’ to further develop the reforms, bringing together groups of people for specific work areas to provide discussion, challenge, and make recommendations.
Announced on Tuesday 18 March, the proposed reforms will ensure that sick and disabled people have the same opportunities to work as anyone else, and will unlock work, boost living standards, and help grow the economy as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
They will also seek to overhaul the broken benefits system so it supports those who need it, while helping those who can work into jobs and delivering fairness to the taxpayer.
The Minister for Social Security and Disability is urging those likely to be affected by the changes – either individually or through disability charities and organisations – to have their say through the consultation, ensuring their views help shape the proposed changes.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: “We inherited a broken welfare system, which incentivises ill-health, locks people out of work and isn’t fit for a future in which so many of us will face long-term health conditions.
“We want a system that genuinely works for disabled people and those with health conditions, as well as the country and the economy, and we want to hear their views and voices at the heart of the new system.
“I encourage people to engage so they can have their say as we listen, learn and deliver support which will help millions into work, put welfare spending on a more sustainable path, and unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.”
The 12-week consultation on reforms to health and disability support officially launches today with publication of all accessible versions of the Pathways to Work Green Paper.
The proposed reforms aim to support people into work, protect people who can never work and put the welfare system on a sustainable footing so that it can continue to support those in need now and into the future. One in three of us faces a long-term health condition, so we all need a system that can support us to stay in work or get back into work.
The measures are the latest step in the government’s drive to build a modern welfare system that helps people get jobs rather than creating unnecessary barriers, with ministers’ proposed plans set to:
Provide more tailored employment support for those who can work, breaking down barriers to opportunity.
Simplify the system and reduce unnecessary assessments, cutting bureaucracy and making it easier to navigate.
Improve the way financial support is assessed and delivered, ensuring it reaches those who need it most and that people using the system have a better experience and are treated with dignity and respect.
Build a more flexible approach that recognises the diverse needs of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
Without changes, it is forecast that the system could cost as much as £70 billion a year by the end of the decade and risk not being there for people when they need it in future.
Issues open for consultation include:
Supporting people to thrive with the new support offer.
Supporting employers and making work more accessible.
Reforming the structure of the health and disability benefits system.
These are part of the wider reforms that also include reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and aren’t indefinitely written off, targeting Personal Independence Payments for those with higher needs, and rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit.
Men With Pens is a series of creative writing and letter writing workshops for men living with mental health conditions.
Working with groups in Perth and Edinburgh. Each participant will be paired anonymously with a participant from the other group. The men will be encouraged to write letters, creating pen pals, to discuss their mental health.
We will also work together, using reading and creative writing as a tool for maintaining well-being.
The workshops will be led by Ross MacKay, an award-winning writer with lived experience of his own mental health conditions.
Monthly Wednesday evening sessions at Granton Library on:
14th May – 5.30-7.30
11th June – 5.30-7.30
9th July – 5.30-7.30
6th August – 5.30-7.30
7th August – Evening Celebration at Edinburgh International Book Festival
The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate will be changed to make it easier for industry to upgrade to make electric vehicles
2030 phase out date of new petrol and diesel car sales confirmed with hybrids to be sold until 2035 and small manufacturers exempt
firms given greater freedom on how to meet the target – easing pressure on industry
£2.3 billion to boost manufacturing zero emission vehicles and help working people make the switch
Prime Minister says new era means we must go ‘further and faster’ on the Plan for Change to spur growth that puts more money in working people’s pockets
British car brands like Rolls-Royce, Vauxhall and Land Rover are being given certainty, stability and support as the Prime Minister sets out plans to back industry in the face of global economic headwinds today (7 April 2025).
The Prime Minister will say the new era of global insecurity means that the government must go further and faster reshaping our economy through the Plan for Change.
The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate will be changed to make it easier for industry to upgrade to make electric vehicles while delivering the manifesto commitment to stop sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, which will help even more British consumers access the benefits of cheap to run electric vehicles.
The package will be backed by a modern Industrial Strategy, to be published in full this spring, which will help British businesses realise the potential of industries of the future.
The changes, which reflect extensive consultation, will help the car industry by:
increasing flexibility of the mandate for manufacturers up to 2030, so that more cars can be sold in later years when demand is higher
allowing hybrid cars – like the Toyota Prius and Nissan e-Power – to be sold until 2035 to help ease the transition and give industry more time to prepare
continuing to boost demand for electric vehicles, on top of the £2.3 billion we’re already spending on boosting British manufacturing and improving charging infrastructure – with a new charge-point popping up every half an hour
pressing on with tax breaks worth hundreds of millions of pounds to help people switch to electric vehicles
Support for the car industry will be kept under review as the impact of new tariffs become clear.
This package is the latest in a series of pro-growth measures that the Prime Minister is announcing to counter the impact of new global headwinds and build a strong, resilient economy with more well-paid jobs.
Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: “Global trade is being transformed so we must go further and faster in reshaping our economy and our country through our Plan for Change.
“I am determined to back British brilliance. Now more than ever UK businesses and working people need a government that steps up, not stands aside.
“That means action, not words. So today I am announcing bold changes to the way we support our car industry.
“This will help ensure home-grown firms can export British cars built by British workers around the world and the industry can look forward with confidence, as well as back with pride.
“And it will boost growth that puts money in working people’s pockets, the first priority of our Plan for Change.”
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “We will always back British business. In the face of global economic challenges and stifled by a lack of certainty and direction for too long, our automotive industry deserves clarity, ambition and leadership. That is exactly what we are delivering today.
“Our ambitious package of strengthening reforms will protect and create jobs – making the UK a global automotive leader in the switch to EVs – all the while meeting our core manifesto commitment to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.
“Once again, the Prime Minister’s decisive and bold actions show how we’re on the side of British business while harnessing the opportunities of the zero emissions transition to create jobs and drive growth, securing Britain’s future, and delivering our Plan for Change.”
In recognition of the changing global trading landscape, the government has worked with the industry to both strengthen its commitment to the phase out and introduce practical reforms to support industry meet this ambition.
Demand for electric vehicles is already rising, with the latest data showing sales in March were up over 40% on last year, which will help with the transition.
There is a huge opportunity to be harnessed here – with the UK being the largest EV market in Europe. Over £6 billion of private funding is lined up to be invested in the UK’s chargepoint roll-out by 2030. Since July, the government has also seen £34.8 billion of private investment announced into UK’s clean energy industries.
The updated ZEV Mandate will ensure flexibilities support UK manufacturers by:
maintaining the existing phase-out dates and headline trajectories for cars and vans
extending the current ability to borrow in 2024-26, to enable repayment through to 2030
extending the current ability to transfer non-ZEVs to ZEVs from 2024-26, out to 2029, giving significant additional flexibility to reward CO2 savings from hybrids – caps will be included to ensure credibility
introducing a new flexibility by allowing for van to car transfer, i.e. 1 car credit will be exchanged for 0.4 van credits, and 1 van credit will be exchanged for 2.0 car credits
The wide-ranging package of measures introduced today will also exempt small and micro-volume manufacturers – supercar brands including McLaren and Aston Martin – from the 2030 phase out, preserving some of the UK car industry’s most iconic jewels for years to come.
Vans with an internal combustion engine (ICE) will also be allowed to be sold until 2035, alongside full hybrids and plug-in hybrid vans.
Employing 152,000 people and adding £19 billion to our economy, the UK’s automotive industry is a huge asset to our nation – and the transition to zero emissions is the biggest opportunity of the 21st century to attract investment, harness British innovation, and deliver growth for generations to come.
Owning and buying an EV is becoming increasingly cheaper, with drivers able to save £1,100 a year compared to petrol if they charge overnight at home. Half of used electric cars are sold at under £20,000 and 29 brand new electric cars are available from under £30,000.
The UK was also the largest EV market in Europe in 2024 and the third in the world with over 382,000 EVs sold – up a fifth on the previous year. There are now more than 75,000 public chargepoints in the UK – with one added every 29 minutes – ensuring that motorists are always a short drive from a socket.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “The world is changing but we are determined to deliver for working people, protect their jobs and put more pounds in their pockets.
“That is why we are backing British business and investing in industries of the future, including our car manufacturers.”
Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “It is very important that the government has strengthened our commitment to our world leading EV transition plan.
“This plan will benefit UK consumers by expanding the market for cars that are cheaper to run. And it will support our domestic manufacturing so we can seize this global opportunity.”
Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said: “This pro-business government is taking the bold action needed to give our auto sector the certainty that secures jobs, drives investment and ensures they thrive on the global stage.
“Our Industrial Strategy will back the country’s high growth sectors, including advanced manufacturing, so we can grow the economy and deliver on the promises of our Plan for Change.”
This year World Health Day is being marked through a campaign called, ‘Healthy beginnings and hopeful futures’, which aims to protect mums and babies from preventable deaths and promote women’s longer-term health and wellbeing.
Ensuring that pregnant women and those who have a young baby take up the benefits they are entitled to is vital. A range of resources are available to help stakeholders raise awareness about Best Start Foods and Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment.
Best Start Foods is a pre-paid card which aims to tackle the impact of child poverty by improving access to healthy foods and milk for eligible families on a low income. It can be used in supermarkets and convenience stores throughout the country.
The Scottish Government has a cash-first approach to ending the need for food banks in Scotland and improving access to healthy foods for low-income families.
Adequate nutrition and diet are cornerstones of how young children grow and develop. These payments help reduce the diet related health gap between people on low incomes and better off families.
Women can claim Best Start Foods as soon as they know they are pregnant and can continue to be paid until a child is three years old.
Best Start Foods provides:
£21.60 every four weeks throughout pregnancy
£43.20 every four weeks from birth until a child turns one or reaches the first anniversary of its estimated delivery date, whichever is later
£21.60 every four weeks from one until a child turns three.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment helps with the costs of being pregnant and having a baby. People can apply for the payment from the end of the 24th week of pregnancy up until 6 months after the baby is born. Pregnancy and Baby Payment is £767.50 for the first child and £383.75 for a second child and any more after that.
A study into Best Start Foods found the payment helps people buy more healthy foods. Families who benefit from Best Start Foods develop healthier shopping habits and buy healthier snacks for their children, instead of high fat or high sugar foods like crisps or chocolate. The payment gives people the freedom to experiment with new healthy recipes without worrying about wasting money or food.
Best Start Foods provides vital support to the families who need it most. It has been called a ‘lifesaver,’ by some families. For others the payments have freed up money for things like household bills or clothes for their children. Healthcare professionals also report that their clients seem less worried about money thanks to Best Start Foods.
World Health Day marks the foundation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948. It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic.
