The number of eligible children taking up the offer of a free school meal has increased for the second year running, according to the latest statistics.
More than two thirds of those eligible (67.7%) were able to benefit from a balanced and nutritious meal as part of their school day in 2023-24, up over three percentage points on the previous year (64.3%).
In August 2025, the free school meals programme was extended to 6,000 high school students in S1 to S3, backed by £3 million from the Scottish Government. This trial phase is for those in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment who attend selected schools in eight local authority areas, and takes the number of pupils being offered free school meals in Scotland to over 360,000.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Jenny Gilruth said: “We know how important it is for children to have access to a healthy meal during the day, and the role that nutrition plays in supporting their ability to concentrate, thrive and learn.
“It’s promising to see the number of pupils benefiting from a free school meal increase for the second year in a row, though it perhaps also reflects the pressures that families are experiencing, particularly in relation to food costs.
“That is why providing and expanding free school meals remains a crucial element of the Scottish Government’s commitment to eradicate child poverty and I would encourage all families who are eligible for free school meals to take up the offer available to them.”
In Scotland, universal free school meals are available during school term-time for over 230,000 children in primaries 1 to 5 and special schools, as well as eligible pupils in primary 6 to secondary 6.
First Minister meets President of the United States
First Minister John Swinney has met with the President of the United States Donald Trump at the White House.
The 50-minute meeting took place ahead of the US President’s State Visit to the United Kingdom next week, with the First Minister confirming to the President he would attend the State Banquet at Windsor Palace.
During the meeting in the Oval Office, where the President was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the First Minister used this latest opportunity to make the case for a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky.
The First Minister also raised the international situation including the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Qatar.
First Minister John Swinney said: “With the US state visit to the UK just days away, we are now entering the critical days on which hopes of a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky rest.
“Scotch whisky holds a unique position, as it can only legally be produced in Scotland. During my discussions with President Trump, I made the case to reduce the tariffs on the Scotch whisky industry – something the US industry supports.
“The United States is the largest market for Scotch whisky but Scottish distillers also spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year buying Bourbon casks from Kentucky.
“The negotiations themselves are, of course, for the UK negotiating team but given whisky exports to the US were worth almost £1 billion in 2024, its importance to the Scottish economy cannot be underestimated and I am determined to do all that I can to protect and safeguard this iconic Scottish product.”
The First Minister and the Scotch Whisky Association later met key Democratic and Republican members of Congress on Capitol Hill to promote a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky.
The House of Hope Scotland celebrated a remarkable fundraising achievement at its inaugural Gala Ball, raising £70,000 through silent auction, live auction and donations on the night at the prestigious Prestonfield House in Edinburgh.
The sell-out event, held on 5 September, brought together supporters and the Scottish business community for an incredible evening of education and celebration. The event was hosted by popular broadcaster Grant Stott and STV News Entertainment Reporter Laura Boyd, with Grant’s rendition of “That’s Fife!” proving a particular highlight of the evening.
“I’m honestly blown away by what happened on Friday night,” said Lisa Fleming, founder of The House of Hope. “To raise £70,000 is just incredible, especially in today’s economic climate. It shows how much people believe in what we’re doing and want to help others going through this journey.”
The funds raised will directly support The House of Hope’s comprehensive range of services, including wellbeing therapies, tailored workshops, classes and emotional support services, all of which are provided free of charge to people affected by breast cancer and their families.
The House of Hope is Scotland’s first dedicated wellbeing and support centre for people affected by breast cancer and their families. Founded by Lisa Fleming, who was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017, alongside husband Euan, the charity provides a welcoming, non-clinical sanctuary offering vital holistic support services.
The success of the Gala Ball was made possible through the generous support of sponsors including headline sponsor BTO Solicitors LLP, Hunters Gardens, and CF Services, alongside the continued partnership of partners Scotto and Estee Lauder Companies.
“The whole evening was just magical,” Lisa added. “From our amazing sponsors to Grant and Laura keeping everyone entertained, to every single person who bid in the auctions or made a donation, everyone played a part in making this happen.
A huge thank you as well to Prestonfield House and Signature Pub Group for donating the VIP and drinks receptions on the evening. This money will help us reach so many more people affected by breast cancer who need our support.”
I, Dhruva Kumar, Former MP Candidate for Glasgow South, write with great concern about the publication of the latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report.
At present, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture, with a fiscal deficit of £26 billion in 2024-25, equivalent to nearly 12% of Scotland’s GDP. The UK figure is larger in cash terms, unsurprisingly, but significantly smaller in relative terms at around 5% of GDP.
Once again, we are treated to the annual ritual of the GERS figures, paraded as though they were a true reflection of Scotland’s finances. The reality is very different.
Every year, the GERS report is wheeled out to suggest Scotland is running a deficit too large for independence. But GERS doesn’t measure the finances of an independent Scotland—it measures Scotland under Westminster rule.
GERS is not an account of what an independent Scotland would look like. It is a snapshot of Scotland under Westminster control. The figures are compiled largely by the UK Treasury, riddled with estimates and assumptions, and loaded with spending on projects that bring no benefit to Scots – from HS2 in England to Trident nuclear weapons on the Clyde.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s vast revenues from oil, gas, whisky, renewables, and exports are understated, or simply swallowed up into UK-wide accounts. The result is a manufactured “deficit” that is then used to tell us we are “too poor” to be independent.
If Ireland had listened to London’s version of its accounts in 1922, it would never have left the Union. Today, Ireland is more prosperous than the UK. The lesson is clear: the only deficit Scotland truly suffers is the deficit of self-government.
We will not accept Westminster’s rigged figures as gospel. Scotland is one of the most resource-rich nations in Europe. With independence, we can build an economy designed for our people, instead of living with a balance sheet designed to keep us in our place.
Big shout out and thanks to The Edinburgh Tool Library for bringing staff and volunteers here on Saturday to build stuff for the Neighbourhood Centre.
Also thanks to Andy and Matthew who are DNC volunteers for giving up their Saturday to help.
As you can see from the photos we built a massive planter 4.8m x 1.6m and put up some funky shutters on our summerhouse.
Last year the summerhouse came under regular attack by apples being thrown at it. Hopefully our new shutters mean little damage can be done should apples again find themselves on a flight path towards the summerhouse!
Self-Harm Network Scotland’s (SHNS) latest Impact Report has been published, which contains key information about how the self-harm support service has helped people during April 2024 – March 2025.
Anyone in need of self-harm support in Scotland (aged 12 and over) can refer themselves to the service’s one-to-one support sessions via the Contact Us page on their website. Support is provided remotely by Peer Practitioners, who all have their own lived experience of self-harm.
212 people received one-to-one support during April 24 – March 25, with a total of 1,805 one-to-one support sessions taking place, averaging seven to eight sessions per supported person. Almost two thirds (62%) of referrals that were received were for people aged 30 or under. Feedback from those who exited one-to-one support shows that all respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the service was trustworthy and reliable.
Dee, from Helensburgh, is one of the people who has benefited from Self-Harm Network Scotland’s one-to-one support. She said: “I have been battling with poor mental health and self-harm for over 30 years, but I know that I am not alone.
“I was offered one-to-one support within five days. Me and my Peer Practitioner Isabella had an instant connection, and I immediately felt at ease.”
“I wasn’t talking to someone who had read textbooks. I was talking to someone with personal, lived experience, and a deeper understanding. It was very different to the type of support that I had experienced in the past. I was encouraged every step of the way and was able to turn ideas into my own thing.”
SHNS also helps people in need of more immediate support for their self-harm and distress via an out-of-hours live webchat service, which is available on Self-Harm Network Scotland’s website every evening (6pm – 10pm), seven days a week.
599 support conversations took place on the Live Chat between April 2024 – March 2025.
The most discussed topics on the Live Chat were: Self-Harm (83% of chats), Mental Health (52% of chats), Emotional distress (38% of chats), Suicidal thoughts (26% of chats).
An end of chat survey asks supported people to rate the helpfulness of the chat, with 86% of 198 respondents to the survey rating it as ‘Very helpful’ or ‘Somewhat Helpful.’ Additionally, 55% of respondents reported that they had used the Live Chat before, which suggests that they trust the service and find value in the support they have received.
Self-Harm Strategy
SHNS is part of Penumbra Mental Health, a pioneering charity providing dedicated services for people with mild to serious and enduring mental ill health. SHNS works together with the Scottish Government and COSLA in delivering their Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. The action plan prioritises addressing discrimination, reducing stigma around self-harm, and improving support.
Self-Harm Awareness Training
SHNS develop and deliver informative and accessible Self-Harm Awareness training and resources to help improve understanding of self-harm, raise awareness, and reduce stigma.
During 2024/2025, 180 Self-Harm Awareness training sessions were delivered to 2,137 people. This included specific sessions for 67 organisations ranging from local authorities, health boards, education establishments, and a range of third sector organisations.
Self-Harm Awareness training continues to see strong and increasing demand from organisations, delivering to almost 500 more professionals than in the previous year. Participants’ experience of the training remains overwhelmingly positive, with evidence suggesting that the training is helping to increase knowledge and understanding of self-harm.
Our Impact Report shows that ninety-eight percent of people who gave feedback after taking part in Self-Harm Awareness training agreed or strongly agreed that they had a better understanding of where help and support exists for people who self-harm.
Darren Boyd, SHNS Programme Manager,said: “Self-Harm Network Scotland’s latest Impact Report reflects a year of significant change, development, and learning across the service, as we’ve continued to centre lived experience in all that we do.
“The past year has been about creating safer spaces, holding complexity without judgment, and responding to people’s pain with care and consistency.”
“We know that compassionate, person-centred support doesn’t just make a difference — it saves lives. At the core of everything we do is the belief that recovery is possible — and that it should be defined by the individual. It is voices like Dee’s that remind us why we do what we do – and who we do it for.”
