A man has been convicted of sexual offences while he was working as a politician.Jordan Linden, 30, was convicted of ten offences following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court of crimes which included sexual assault, stalking, and sexual communication.
The victims were all boys or young men, and the offences took place between 2011 and 2021. The age of the youngest victim was 14.
One of the offences saw Linden sexually assault two victims at a house party in Dundee after a Pride march in 2019.
Linden, who was former leader of North Lanarkshire Council and earlier chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, was arrested and charged by specialist officers from Police Scotland in February 2024.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Diane Barr said: “This was a protracted investigation which involved speaking with a broad range of people, many of whom regarded Linden as being in a position of trust.
“He abused this position to befriend young males who were seeking his support and the opportunity to learn from his work, however his conduct toward them was far from professional.
“I’d like to thank the victims who came forward to report their experiences to police. Their testimony and support ensured that we were able to bring Linden before the courts.
“No-one should be subjected to sexual offending, and we will always investigate reports, regardless of when they occurred or who the perpetrator is.”
Linden was placed on the sex offenders register and is due to be sentenced in May.
Education, Children and Families Convenor, Cllr James Dalgleish writes about work to address child poverty across schools and communities:
It has a been ten years since the introduction of our 1 in 5 Raising Awareness of Child Poverty campaign – ambitious and extensive work to tackle the stigma associated with poverty and to support families and children.
We built on this in 2018 with the rollout of our Making Education Equal for All framework, providing schools with practical guidance on how to help those in their communities living in poverty. I’m pleased that an updated version has just been launched.
A decade on and around 18,000 children and young people citywide are still living in poverty. It is hard to comprehend what this means day to day unless you’ve seen or experienced it first-hand. The tired faces of children starting the school day with an empty tummy, the endlessly forgotten school trip money – and on top of this the extra burden of shame, isolation and exclusion that living in poverty can bring.
It is unacceptable that this is Edinburgh’s reality and it is imperative that we continue to do everything we can to level the playing field for all children and young people.
It is positive that in the last ten years, the action we’ve taken has narrowed the poverty related attainment gap, helped more learners to take part in activities and to achieve, and supported families with their wellbeing and finances.
Reducing the cost of the school day – including removing/reducing the cost of uniform, trips and extra-curricular activities has been a priority. We went even further last year, when we removed the requirement for branded school uniform – minimising unnecessary costs and reducing pressure on family finances.
Our Active Schools teams provide extra-curricular sport activities, before and after school and at lunchtimes at no charge. We have also invested in musical instruments to enable more pupils to learn an instrument and to progress – it is fantastic that those who wouldn’t have done before, are now taking part in our ensembles.
I firmly believe that our schools should be a place of equity, where regardless of a child’s background, where or who they live with – they have every opportunity to achieve their goals and ambitions.
There is still a long way to go to remove poverty-related barriers. We are committed to doing all we can to make sure that all children and young people in Edinburgh have equal access and opportunities to participate in, and make the most of, their school experience – and every chance to succeed.
This article fist appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News
The team at Amazon’s Dunfermline fulfilment centre enjoyed a celebratory event recently at Glen Pavillion to mark the company’s busiest trading period.
Hundreds of Amazon employees gathered to mark the successful completion of ‘peak’ – the weeks leading up to Christmas when customer orders reach their highest levels of the year.
The festive shopping period sees Amazon welcome thousands of seasonal colleagues across its UK operations network, all working alongside permanent team members to ensure packages arrive on time for customers nationwide.
The post-peak celebration has become an annual tradition, giving teams the opportunity to come together and reflect on their collective achievements.
Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “While many businesses are quietening down for the holidays, our teams come together to deliver for our customers locally and around the UK.
“This celebration is our way of saying thank you to every single person who played their part in making Christmas special for our customers.
“It’s been fantastic to bring everyone together to celebrate what we’ve accomplished as a team, and I’m excited about what we’ll achieve together in 2026.”
Christina Watson, an Amazon employee who attended the celebration, said: “The party was a great way to celebrate everything we accomplished together during our busiest time of year.
“There’s a real sense of camaraderie here, and it’s brilliant to work alongside such a dedicated team. I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of 2026 brings.”
The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture stands in solidarity with our friends, partners and colleagues in Trongate 103.
One of the most important outcomes of Glasgow’s crowning as the European City of Culture in 1990 has been its reinvention as a city which embraces its cultural heritage and supports its cultural future.
It is well known in city planning strategies that cultural activity drives regeneration. Glasgow understood this and took considerable steps to expand and develop this strategy, establishing the city as a hub for innovation, art, design and culture after the demise of its heavy industry.
These industries once also fuelled a magnificent explosion of forward thinking in art, architecture and design, the resulting Glasgow School of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his circle continues to be world-renowned.
The spotlight has once again turned to Glasgow for its extraordinary position as a creative hub. The world looks at Glasgow as a leader in this field. But this reputation is easily destroyed and lost.
In the wake of the European City of Culture year, the city saw increased regeneration which enabled the development of Trongate 103 with the promise that the 25-year lease would stand.
This agreement is now being reneged upon and new tenancy agreements issued with a four-fold rent increase. This is unaffordable by the grass roots venues which call Trongate 103 their home – organisations which not only provide a service to artists and the community but support a wider ecosystem of artists, collectors and agencies. Trongate 103 is a beacon for Glasgow on an international stage.
We stand with the tenants of Trongate 103 today as they peacefully demonstrate their right to fair treatment. Let Glasgow flourish.
Britain’s leading match funding charity Big Give, which runs the UK’s biggest fundraising campaign, has announced that TV personalities Lorraine Kelly, Ruby Wax, Deborah Meaden and Megan McCubbin have become ambassadors, strengthening the charity’s network of prominent supporters.
Big Give, which enables donations from the public to charities taking part in its campaigns to be doubled, has raised over £427 million to date.
Its flagship campaign, the Christmas Challenge, became the UK’s biggest public fundraiser in 2024 when it overtook more established campaigns such as Children in Need and Comic Relief. Last year, the Christmas Challenge raised a record £57.4 million in one week for 1,591 charities taking part.
The charity has previously worked with high profile supporters of charities participating in its campaigns, including Dame Judi Dench, Gary Lineker and Dame Joanna Lumley.
Now, as it seeks to spread the word further about the power of match funding, it has appointed four celebrity ambassadors.
Lorraine Kelly is one of the UK’s most familiar and respected broadcasters, best known as the long-standing host of ITV’s Lorraine. With a television career spanning decades, Lorraine has become a trusted presence in British households and a consistent supporter of charitable causes.
She has previously pledged her support to charities taking part in Big Give campaigns, most recently encouraging people to support The Muscle Help Foundation during last year’s Christmas Challenge.
Ruby Wax is a comedian, writer, broadcaster and mental health campaigner who rose to prominence with her sharp, often confrontational celebrity interviews on television shows such as The Full Wax and Ruby Wax Meets.
In recent years she has become a prominent advocate for mental health awareness, drawing on her own experiences of depression, earning a master’s degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy from the University of Oxford and receiving an OBE in 2015 for services to mental health. She has previously worked with Big Give when her mental health charity Frazzled Café has taken part in its campaigns.
Deborah Meaden is a business leader, investor and author, widely recognised for her role on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den, which she joined in 2006. She has been an active supporter of environmental and conservation initiatives throughout her career. She has previously supported Big Give campaigns through her involvement with Tusk, the conservation charity of which she is a trustee.
Megan McCubbin is a zoologist, conservationist, wildlife photographer and television presenter. She is best known for presenting the BBC wildlife programmes Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, and for her work highlighting biodiversity and environmental issues. She has previously worked to highlight Big Give’s second largest annual campaign, Earth Raise, which is the UK’s biggest environment-focused fundraiser.
Their appointments reflect a shared commitment to effective philanthropy and high-impact fundraising. Big Give’s match funding model enables charities to multiply the value of public donations, encouraging people to give more and more often.
Deborah Meaden, Big Give ambassador, said: “I have been impressed with how Big Give has championed match funding, bringing in companies, foundations and individual philanthropists to double donations from the public. It is clear that multiplying people’s generosity in this way encourages people to give more.
“Given my longstanding interest in environmental issues, I am especially pleased to be supporting Earth Raise, which has grown to become the UK’s biggest green fundraising campaign. I encourage everyone to get involved when the campaign launches on April 22nd.”
Lorraine Kelly, Big Give ambassador, said: “I am absolutely delighted to become an ambassador for Big Give. I know they have worked so hard to establish the Christmas Challenge as the UK’s biggest fundraiser, and other campaigns such as Earth Raise, Arts for Impact and Women and Girls have become vital moments in the fundraising calendar.
“I have seen the difference Big Give can make to individual charities taking part in its campaigns and match funding is such a brilliant way of making people’s donations go further.
“I am proud to be supporting Big Give in making such a positive difference.”
Ruby Wax, Big Give ambassador, said: “I have seen how powerful match funding can be when my charity Frazzled Café has taken part in Big Give campaigns. Telling people their donations will be doubled is a brilliant incentive to give.
“Big Give has raised incredible sums already and established the Christmas Challenge as the UK’s biggest public fundraising campaign. They have set an ambitious goal to raise £1 billion for good causes by 2030, and I am really happy to be able to play a part in that work as a new ambassador.”
Megan McCubbin, Big Give ambassador, said:“I have worked informally with Big Give on different campaigns involving charities I support for some time, and am thrilled to be taking on a broader role to help spread the word about the work.
“Match funding is a superpower – Big Give have shown that it can consistently deliver better and better fundraising results. The fact that the Christmas Challenge raised £57.4 million in one week last year is really incredible – and this year we want to do even more.”
James Reed CBE, Chair of Trustees at Big Give, said: “Lorraine Kelly, Ruby Wax, Deborah Meaden and Megan McCubbin are all powerful and trusted advocates for positive change, and we are delighted to welcome them as ambassadors at Big Give.
“Their profiles and commitment to charitable causes will help shine an even brighter spotlight on the importance of match funding and effective philanthropy.”
A high-quality, energy efficient development at Coatfield Lane, Leith will deliver much-needed family housing and improved greenspace.
Plans to deliver 49 new affordable homes at Coatfield Lane have been approved, marking a significant step forward in the Council’s ongoing programme to increase the supply of high-quality affordable housing across the city.
The new homes will be delivered on behalf of the Council by CCG (Scotland) Ltd in collaboration with Collective Architecture. The development, designed to meet a range of housing needs will include a mix of 1–4 bedroom flats and family houses and will be located in the heart of the Leith Conservation Area, close to the historic Kirkgate.
The homes will be well insulated and highly energy efficient thanks to a combination of advanced construction methods and the adoption of air source heat pump technology.
In addition to the homes, the project will provide improvements to the existing public realm including greenspaces, rain gardens and biodiverse planting.
Councillor Tim Pogson, the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “This approval is a vital step in tackling the housing emergency facing our city. Unfortunately too many people are struggling to find a safe, secure and affordable place to call home and developments like this are a key part of the solution.
“The 49 new homes will not only provide much-needed accommodation for residents, but they do so in a way that is sustainable, inclusive, and community-focused. And, as we build these new homes, we’ll create well designed places that respect the historic character of the area while delivering modern high-quality homes.
“I look forward to seeing work get underway and to welcoming the first residents into a vibrant new part of the community.”
CCG Managing Director David Wylie said: “We are delighted that plans for 49 affordable homes at Coatfield Lane have now been approved.
“Our team has worked collaboratively with the design partners to develop the proposals and realise the Council’s aspirations to deliver what will be a transformative development for the Leith community, and we look forward to commencing construction later this year.”
Collective Architecture said: “We’re delighted that the scheme has received planning approval.
“The new homes are sensitively integrated into the historic Kirkgate setting, sitting comfortably within the existing urban grain and immediately adjacent to the Category A-Listed Linksview House.
“Our proposals enhance the surrounding public realm and prioritise high quality architectural and urban design, incorporating social and environmental needs. This approach ensures meaningful benefits for both new residents and the existing community in Leith.”
From 30 May, discover leading Scottish photographer Wendy McMurdo’s biggest exhibition to date, spanning over 20 years of the artist’s career, for free at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait.
Explore McMurdo’s photographic reflections on childhood, the digital world, learning and make-believe in Wendy McMurdo:The Digital Mirror. Featuring over 50 works, visitors will find some never-before seen photographs as well as several rarely seen digital animations newly configured to respond to the context of the historic Portrait gallery building.
McMurdo has blazed a trail in the experimental use of computers and digital tools in photography, from the early days of computer-based learning in schools to the growth of the internet and networked gaming. Wendy McMurdo: The Digital Mirror presents the ground-breaking work of the artist, made between 1995 and 2018, exploring the evolving role of computers in children’s lives.
Coming at a time when the digital landscape is changing faster than ever before, with technology offering limitless possibilities and children spending more and more time online, the exhibition offers a fascinating response to the impact of technology on learning and play in childhood.
Growing up in Edinburgh and attending Edinburgh College of Art, McMurdo became a regular visitor to galleries and museums. She was influenced by key works in Scotland’s national art collection such as Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch (The Skating Minister), and the sculptural work of Leith-born artist Eduardo Paolozzi.
Showing how the artist takes inspiration from the past to create photographic works like Avatar (i) and the Robot Workshop series, both the iconic Skating Minister and several Paolozzi sculptures will be displayed in the exhibition alongside McMurdo’s photographs. Visitors will also be able explore a range of other objects which have influenced the artist’s practice.
Thinking about the evolution of play, McMurdo has selected a collection of early 20th century dolls on loan from the Museum of Childhood, Edinburgh. McMurdo has included them in the exhibition to share the lasting impact they have had on her work and ideas, and in recognition of the importance of local museums on her own creative development.
Discover McMurdo’s moving image works, created using digital animation and source material such as conversations from online gaming chatrooms.
See how she has presented these in new configurations within the National Galleries Scotland: Portrait Library and Upper Balcony areas in response to the historic building and the collection it holds.
Installed at the centre of the exhibition, is McMurdo’s large moving image work, Indeterminate Objects (Classrooms), which was originally commissioned by The Photographers’ Gallery, London in 2017.
The work combines photography with three-dimensional animated forms similar in appearance to those associated with computer games such as Minecraft.
McMurdo uses hovering shapes to cast a shadow on an empty classroom to explore how children – like adults – are increasingly subject to a world augmented by data and simulation. In making this work, McMurdo was reflecting on her observations of the pervasive nature of online games and virtual worlds and the way these digital spaces shape how children think, play and learn about themselves, each other and the world.
The exhibition will also include a display of McMurdo’s working photography contact sheets, revealing some of the technology and processes she has evolved to generate her own dreamlike imagery. McMurdo’s photographic works often start as a result of group workshops. From multiple tests and countless variations, new bodies of work then emerge.
Many of the works in the exhibition were made during a period of rapid technological development, McMurdo delves into the ways in which the introduction of computers for example changed children’s educational experience and the changing nature of play.
Discover Let’s Go to a Place, an installation that explores the collision between real and digital worlds, through a series of portraits of primary school children.
This body of work was created around the same time as the mobile game, Pokémon Go was at the height of popularity, the work reflects on the impact of location-based gaming and technology on children’s play, capturing the dual existence in both the physical and virtual worlds.
McMurdo is a pioneering figure in Scottish art and a key contributor to Scotland’s international reputation as a centre for experimental contemporary art. This exhibition coincides with the bicentenary year of the Royal Scottish Academy to which McMurdo was the first woman photographer to be elected.
To coincide with the exhibition, visitors to the Library in the Portrait gallery will be able to read a new brochure. The free publication includes two new pieces of writing on McMurdo’s work by Patricia Allmer, Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art History, University of Edinburgh and David Hopkins, Emeritus Professor of Art History, University of Glasgow.
Wendy McMurdo said: “With new legislation focussing on the impact of online culture on children’s lives, now is a particularly apt time to revisit this body of work.
“It is an invitation to celebrate play and creativity and to consider the wider implications of new technologies on the lives of young people.”
Ben Harman, Senior Curator of Photography and Lead Curator of Wendy McMurdo: The Digital Mirror at the National Galleries of Scotland said: “We’re excited to have this opportunity to celebrate a pioneering body of photographic work by an artist based in Edinburgh with an internationally-renowned reputation in the world of contemporary photography.”
Wendy McMurdo: The Digital Mirror is a free exhibition opening at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait on 30 May 2026.
Edinburgh café launches reusable cup offer with sustainability at its heart
MONDAYS could soon feel a little brighter in Edinburgh as a city centre café launches reusable cups alongside a new half-price hot drinks offer.
Located beside Surgeons’ Hall Museums in the heart of the capital, Café 1505 is encouraging customers to switch to its reusable cup by offering 50% off hot drinks every Monday.
The discount is available exclusively to customers using the café’s own reusable cup, combining value with a more sustainable choice.
The campaign is being introduced by Surgeons Quarter, which manages Café 1505 as part of its wider commercial activity across the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh campus. Profits support the College’s charitable work in surgical education, training and improving patient outcomes worldwide.
Scott Michell, Managing Director of Surgeons Quarter, said: “Monday can be the toughest day of the week for customers and for hospitality businesses, so this is a simple way to give people a lift while also encouraging a more sustainable choice. It is about making the start of the week a little brighter, while reflecting the values behind Café 1505.
“We know people are thinking more carefully about the choices they make every day. This offer gives them a good reason to come in on a Monday, while also shining a light on the ethical and environmental thinking already built into the café.”
Café 1505 serves Caffia Grown by Women coffee, using beans produced by female farmers in cooperatives across regions including Peru, Nicaragua and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Used coffee grounds are also recycled at Cyrenians Farm for composting.
The reusable cup launch forms part of a wider sustainability drive across Surgeons Quarter’s commercial operations.
Its four-star Ten Hill Place Hotel has held a Gold Green Tourism Award since 2008, with further environmental measures including the removal of single-use plastic bottles and the use of 100 per cent renewable energy.
By linking value with sustainability, Café 1505 aims to give workers, students, visitors and local residents another reason to rethink their Monday routine.
The Café 1505 reusable cup is available to purchase for £19, which includes the first hot drink free – with every Monday thereafter offering 50% off for cup holders.
Edinburgh Science Festival – the world’s first public celebration of science and technology as a festival – returns from 4 to 19 April.
This year’s theme of Going Global reflects on science as a shared human story: connecting people across countries and continents, joined in scientific breakthroughs and failures, conducting experiments and sharing results. The Festival goes global while also celebrating the local: universities, laboratories, hospitals, schools and cultural spaces.
Science for Adults – Highlights
Amongst this year’s exciting line-up of speakers, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chairs a panel on the First Women of Science at the Festival’s special Opening Gala (2 April).
Great British Bake Off 2023 Finalist, DrJosh Smalley, teams up with Edinburgh’s own 2020 winner Peter Sawkins to present a mouth-watering, science-fuelled tour of Scotland’s Food and Drink (8 April).
On 12 April enjoy a science filled day on as Wildlife photographer Hamza Yassin shares his adventures in nature and Helen Sharman speaks about her remarkable experience as Britain’s First Astronaut.
Celebrating the extraordinary life and work of Jane Goodall PhD, DBE, her former colleagues will be sharing personal reflections alongside images and video from her remarkable career (15 April).
Science for Families – Highlights
Over half the Festival is devoted to young science-curious minds, and families can enjoy a selection of workshops and shows including ‘Dig Up A Dinosaur’ and ‘The Rocket Show’ as part of Science Festival Favourites (From 13 April), and delve into Hands-on Exploration at Science Under the Lens (4 – 19 April) alongside the newly commissioned large-scale installation The Great Instauration.
