In just one week (21 June) over 1,000 yoga enthusiasts will be namaste-ing at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow as part of a World Yoga Day event with renowned PYPT practitioner, Sadhvi Devaditi.
Tickets for the event – believed to be the biggest of its kind – are being snapped up quickly with over 900 already reserved, and organisers are encouraging others to secure their spot now and join the movement. The clincher: tickets are completely free!
This year’s event promises to be the biggest and most dynamic yet, with a live international broadcast from the Emirates Arena.
The event is a major part of Scotland’s contribution to World Yoga Day, recognised globally on 21 June.
In the lead-up to the big day, the city is embracing yoga like never before. Free yoga classes will be offered to offices, schools, and community groups across Glasgow and Edinburgh from 16 to 23 June, helping people of all backgrounds experience the physical and mental health benefits of yoga.
This special event is hosted by the Consulate General of India, Edinburgh, and Patanjali Yog Peeth (UK) Trust, with support from Glasgow Indians Association
The events are designed to introduce people to yoga, celebrate the community spirit of new and experienced yogis across Glasgow, and supports the bringing together of from across Glasgow to celebrate the benefit of yoga.
Sunita Poddar, Chairperson of the Patanjali Yog Peeth (Scotland) Trust, said:“Yoga is for everyone – it transcends age, background, and ability.
“At PYPT, we are committed to promoting holistic health and wellbeing by reconnecting communities with the ancient wisdom of yoga. Our aim is to inspire positive change, both physically and mentally, and empower individuals to take control of their own wellbeing.
“This celebration at the Emirates Arena is a chance to come together and experience the transformative power of yoga – we welcome everyone to be part of this special day.”
Sunita Poddar is the founder and chief executive of Glasgow-based care home group, Oakminster Healthcare. Part of her mission to root her businesses and approach to person-centred resident care in health and wellbeing will see the team of care home wellbeing enablers trained to deliver low-impact yoga sessions for residents across the five care homes in Govan, Kinning Park, Pollokshields, St George’s Cross and Knightswood.
The PYPT Yoga Event is free, but registration is essential via Eventbrite.
To enquire about free yoga events for schools, offices or community spaces email: admin@pypt.org.uk
This week, Rachel Reeves announced in the House of Commons the outcome of the Spending Review for both resource and capital budgets across departments and devolved administrations (write MAIRI SPOWAGE and JOAO SOUSA).
It was a speech long on detail about many capital projects, but much of the lead was buried. In our preview last week, we noted that the envelope set out in the Spring Statement promised to be a reversal of Robert Chote’s 2015 quip about a ‘rollercoaster ride’: largesse in the short-run, followed by pretty steep subsequent cuts in real (and in some cases cash) terms in future years.
Capital spending brought forward, with defence the big winner
Not only has that proved to be the case on day-to-day spending (more on that below), but capital budgets have got in on the act.
If we exclude financial transactions – which are lending to the private sector rather than capital investment by the government – the profile of capital spending has been brought forward even further. We are now looking at a one-off boost to investment budgets of 6% in real-terms next year, followed by falls in each year.
Chart 1: Annual real-terms growth in capital budgets excluding financial transactions
Source: HM Treasury
In fact, the figures only get starker once we take into account that so much of the boost to investment is on defence. Non-defence capital spending falls by -0.9% a year in real terms going forward, meaning it’s nearly 4% lower by 2029-30 than this year.
This pattern is broadly reflected in the Barnett consequentials for Scotland. The Scottish capital block grant increases by £0.6 billion (7.7% in real terms) next year, but then fall back to below 2025-26 levels by the end of the decade.
One big risk to this plan is whether the capacity will be available to deliver all these capital projects at once. Major projects already have a habit of seeing larger cost increases than foreseen, and bringing so much capital spending forward could cause prices of inputs and labour increase to eat up the additional budgets – something to keep an eye out for in the coming months.
The pattern is similar on day-to-day spending, though less dramatic
Here too the pattern is for bigger spending increases in the short-run. The big exception is the NHS in England, which sees a nearly flat 3% boost in real terms, and which generates significant Barnett consequentials. Budgets other than health, schools and defence see a relatively healthy 1.4% increase next year, but this is followed by 1.5% and 1.1% falls in each subsequent year, meaning that their budgets are 1.2% lower in real terms by 2028-29 than this year.
The UK Government will no doubt argue that its efficiency drive will make it possible to do this while not cutting services, but we’ll reserve judgement on that. Similar initiatives in the past have had disappointing results; this one may well succeed, but it will have to buck the trend of history to do so, which would be no mean feat.
Chart 2: Annual real-terms growth in resource budgets
Source: HM Treasury, FAI analysis
What does this mean for the Scottish Government?
On the day-to-day spending side, funding grows at an average of 0.8% a year after accounting for inflation. This is slightly below the average for overall resource spending, so a bit less than we thought it might in our preview blog – largely because schools in England have done less well than we expected.
This allocation is also slightly lower than what the Scottish Fiscal Commission included in their outlook just a couple of weeks ago. The capital allocation is also less generous than the SFC had predicted, although there is an increase the financial transactions allocation.
Table 1: Comparison between block grants and SR 2025 and
Block grant (£bn)
2025-26
2026-27
2027-28
2028-29
2029-30
Resource
SR 2025 allocation
41.5
42.7
43.8
45.0
SFC forecast (May 2025)
41.6
42.9
44.3
45.6
Difference
-0.1
-0.2
-0.5
-0.6
Capital
SR 2025 allocation
6.3
6.9
6.7
6.8
6.7
SFC forecast (May 2025)
6.3
6.6
7.0
7.0
7.1
Difference
0.0
0.3
-0.3
-0.2
-0.4
FTs
SR 2025 allocation
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.4
SFC forecast (May 2025)
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
Difference
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.2
Source: HM Treasury, Scottish Fiscal Commission, FAI analysis
We have seen some Labour MPs and MSPs describing this event as increasing the block grant by £9.1 billion over the Spending Review period. While it is true that Barnett consequentials add up to this figure (across different periods for resource and capital), this doesn’t seem like a particularly transparent or helpful way of describing the changes. It essentially assumes that no additional funding would have been made available for the Scottish Government in cash terms relative to that in 2025-26 – which is not a credible baseline.
A much more insightful – though perhaps less cheery – conclusion from looking at the SFC’s forecast is that by 2028-29, funding will be £0.7 billion lower than their central estimate published on 29 May.
What about other spending in Scotland?
There were some additional announcements that will affect Scotland, though not through the funding of the Scottish Government. Clearly defence manufacturing – a significant part of which will happen in Scotland – will benefit, as will the investments in science in Edinburgh and in carbon capture and storage in Aberdeenshire. There was also an additional growth deal for Falkirk and Grangemouth.
GB Energy funding was also included in this Spending Review, although it seems that much of it will be in the form of financial transactions – although we’ll await confirmation of this. Nonetheless, if it serves to create additional investment by the private sector, it will benefit the areas where those investments take place.
How important will this Spending Review turn out to be?
As we discussed last week, spending reviews tend to be big processes across departments, but not necessarily of setting the stance of fiscal policy. As a reminder, today’s announcement nearly fully stuck to the totals set out in March.
But the track record of spending reviews constraining public spending is much less clear, as chart 3 shows. Successive UK governments have topped up budgets between SRs, so that the totals and allocations laid out today may bear less resemblance to what will happen than you might think.
Chart 3: Breakdown of difference between planned and actual real-terms increases in spending during SR periods
Source: HM Treasury, OBR, FAI calculations
Of course, there is a lot more detail now that before the SR was conducted. It’s as if we’ve upgraded from a compass (totals and spending assumption prior to the SR) to a sat-nav. But just because we have a more detailed route doesn’t necessarily mean we know the actual route we will take – especially if unexpected obstacles arise in the future.
Nonetheless, the Scottish Government now has a baseline to work from. Clearly it’s not that different a baseline from what the SFC produced a few weeks ago (especially in the next couple of years), so one might wonder if the Medium-Term Financial Strategy could have been produced then after all.
Nonetheless, we look forward to seeing how this SR is reflected in the MTFS and the new Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan in two weeks’ time.
I am heartbroken by the passing of my dear friend, father figure, and mentor, Professor Sir Geoff Palmer OBE KT (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY).
Geoff wasn’t just my dad’s good friend; he was a father figure to me. From my teenage years, he took me under his wing, offering wisdom, guidance, and a sense of purpose that helped shape the person I am today.
He led by example, with a quiet strength and unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and humanity. His intellect was unmatched, yet it was his kindness and humility that truly defined him.
Sir Geoff inspired me every step of the way, not just through his ground-breaking work and public service but through the way he lived with courage, compassion, and a deep-rooted sense of integrity. It is a huge personal loss, and I know many across Scotland and beyond are feeling the same pain.
Geoff’s legacy is vast, and while there is so much to say about his contributions to equality, science, civil rights and education, for me, his greatest gift was the way he made people feel seen, valued, and empowered.
My sincere condolences to his family & all who knew and admired him. I hope they find comfort in knowing how deeply he touched the lives of so many and how his spirit lives on in each of us who had the honour of knowing him.
I am forever grateful for the memories, conversations, and unconditional support and love he gave me over many years. I will miss him more than words can express. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy continue to inspire generations to come.
A wonderful human, gone but never to be forgotten.
Reluctantly, we have postponed the busy Introduction to Composting workshop and fully-booked W.O.R.M.S Appreciation Day that were set for Saturday 14 June, because of the weather warnings for thunderstorms and heavy rain.
The worm participants didn’t see this issue with this, but the humans thought it could be a pretty miserable wash out and better to postpone!
We hope to re-schedule very soon – updates will go in all the usual places (and if you booked tickets, you should already have an email via Eventbrite)
Do still look out for other @poweroffoodfestival events, which are on from 14-21 June
More than £1.5 million targeted funding over two years
Families most at risk of living in poverty are benefitting from expanded childcare offers through projects backed by the Scottish Government’s Access to Childcare Funding.
Almost £1.5 million funding will support the seven initiatives situated in areas from Glasgow to Shetland over the next two years. Organisations will use funding to deliver free or subsidised breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, term-time and holiday childcare, as well as specialist provision for children with complex additional support needs. The expanded childcare offers for these families is improving outcomes for children while also supporting parents and carers to enter or sustain employment.
Confirming the funding, Children’s Minister Natalie Don-Innes met families attending an after-school club at Fairview Primary run by Support, Help, and Integration in Perthshire (SHIP).
SHIP provides after school and holiday clubs for children aged 5-18 years with complex additional support needs, sensory and physical disabilities.
Ms Don-Innes said: “Since 2020, we have provided over £4.5 million through the Access to Childcare Fund to support projects delivering activities, childcare, food and family support.
“Eradicating child poverty is the Scottish Government’s defining mission, and we know what a difference access to affordable school-age childcare can make for families that need it most.
“The projects receiving Access to Childcare Funding over the next two years are demonstrating the important role that school age childcare services play in supporting children’s health, wellbeing and relationships, and in enabling more parents and carers to balance caring for their children with work commitments, thereby helping increase household income.”
The Access to Childcare Fund is supporting families most in need with expanded childcare offers. Children’s Minister @NatalieDon_ confirmed the funding on a visit to a project in Perth. SHIP provides term-time and holiday care for children with complex additional support needs. pic.twitter.com/qtVx8iXrfx
Lucas and Marc are 16 years old and have autism. They have been supported by SHIP since they were five years old. Their dad Brian said: “SHIP has played a critical role in providing our sons with social opportunities and vital support with meeting their sensory needs that we would not as a family been able to.
“The term time clubs and holiday clubs have provided year round support for the boys, and the happiness and confidence this has given them is genuinely immeasurable.”
SHIP will receive £273,000 funding over two financial years through the Fairer Funding pilot. General Manager at SHIP Nicola Schelbert said: “SHIP provides essential support for children and young people aged from 5–18 with complex needs, delivering youth clubs, Saturday clubs, after-school and holiday clubs.
“Access to Childcare Funding supports our after school clubs and childcare spaces at our holiday club, which enables parents to work or take respite.
“Families we work with tell us that without SHIP, continuing employment would be impossible, which would have a negative impact on their families’ wellbeing.
“This vital service strengthens families and ensures children receive the support they need.”
Breakdown of latest Access to Childcare Fund projects and funding:
Fairer funding pilot – funding over next two financial years
SHIP is a parent-led childcare provider in Perthshire providing holiday clubs and after-school clubs for children with complex additional support needs, sensory and physical disabilities aged 5-18 – £135,000 in 2025-26, £138,000 in 2026-27
St Mirin’s Out of School Clubdelivers free or subsidised childcare for children aged 4-12 with term-time indoor and outdoor play at breakfast clubs, after school clubs and a holiday club in Glasgow – £135,005.92 in 2025-26, £141,787.72 in 2026-27
Indigo offers both childcare and family support through their family matters programme for families in Castlemilk. They provide children aged 4-12 with breakfast clubs and after school clubs and holiday clubs – £196,325 in 2025-26, £196,325 in 2026-27
Stepping Stones for Families provides a School Age Childcare service at their Flexible Childcare centre in Possilpark Glasgow. They deliver school-age childcare for children aged 5-12 years during term time as well as during the school holidays – £77,531 in 2025-26, £79.450 in 2026-27
SupERkids is led by volunteer parents of disabled children and provides children aged 5-18 with additional support needs with after-school activities during term-time, as well as offering unsupported family activities during holidays in East Renfrewshire – £98,700 in 2025-26, £103,635 in 2026-27
Grant funding – financial year 25-26 only
Hame Fae Hame provides wraparound childcare for children aged 5-12 with a breakfast club and after school subsidised childcare during term-time, and childcare during school holidays and in-service days, in Scalloway, Shetland – £37.880 in 2025-26
The Wee Childcare Companyprovides after-school clubs for children aged 4-12, after-school clubs and 25 days of holiday provision across four sites in Angus, with breakfast clubs at two of these – £218,360.44 in 2025-26
Over 110 people from Scotland who have contributed to their community and country are celebrated in HM The King’s Birthday Honours List 2025 today.
This year’s awards celebrate individuals making exceptional contributions to public life or their community in keeping with the theme of ‘public service’.
Professor Ursula Martin has been appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to science and education.
Those being awarded a CBE include Professor Ewan MacDonald OBE, Professor and Head of the Healthy Working Lives Group at the University of Glasgow for services to Occupational Medicine and reducing health inequalities; Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Scientific Adviser to Scottish Government; and businessman and philanthropist Dr John Watson OBE for services to education and charity.
Among those receiving an OBE are Lorna and John Norgrove, Co-founders of the Linda Norgrove Foundation for services to Women and Children Abroad and in Scotland; Karen Watt, lately Chief Executive Officer for the Scottish Funding Council for public service and Peter MacDonald, Head of Research for Scottish Tartans Authority is recognised for services to the tartan industry.
Those receiving MBEs include Jennifer Gill, Founder of LoveOliver for services to families affected by childhood cancer, and Alistair Moffat, founder of Borders Book, Lennoxlove Book Festivals and Kelso Arts Festival for services to literature and culture.
Among those honoured with a BEM are the co-founders of Calums Cabin, husband and wife Duncan and Caroline Speirs and Duncan’s twin sister Jenna, for services to charitable fundraising; Shirley Jamieson, former school crossing patrol person in Juniper Green, Edinburgh and Karen Wylie, Founder of the Grub Club for services to ending hunger in the community in Lochside.
Gary Ritchie, Assistant Chief Constable Police Scotland will receive The King’s Police Medal. The King’s Fire Service Medal will be awarded to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Volunteer Leader Gerry Ralston, and Watch Commander John Aitchison. Sarah Stevenson, Scottish Ambulance Service Corporate Risk Manager, will receive The King’s Ambulance Service Medal.
The First Minister said: “My congratulations and thanks to The King’s Birthday Honours recipients who have each made outstanding contributions to community and public life in Scotland.
“The recipients of The King’s Police, Fire or Ambulance Service Medals demonstrate lives dedicated to keeping others safe and supporting communities. I sincerely thank them for their service and commitment.”
1215 recipients in total have been awarded for their exceptional achievements, with a particular focus this year on those who have given their time to public service.
This year’s recipients include dedicated community champions, role models in sport, pioneers in the arts, passionate health workers, and supporters of young people.
Recipients from Scotland make up 9% of the total number of recipients receiving honours this year.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This year’s Birthday Honours List is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and service that exists in every corner of our country.
“From community champions to cultural icons, each recipient reflects the very best of Britain. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to them all.”
The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, said: “I am delighted to congratulate all those recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list, particularly John and Linda Norgrove on their well-deserved OBEs for their extraordinary humanitarian work in Afghanistan through the Linda Norgrove Foundation. Their dedication to improving the lives of Afghan women and girls, born from personal tragedy, exemplifies the very best of Scottish compassion and resolve.
“Communities across Scotland benefit from the extraordinary effort of those honoured. From Dr Richa Sinha Chair of the Scottish Hindu society and their work to tackle Hinduphobia, to Zahrah Mahmood Chair of the Rambling Society to Heather Hall founding The Usual Place in Dumfries.
“I would also like to extend special recognition to Scotland Office’s own Moira Vance on receiving her MBE. Moira’s unwavering commitment to public service has been instrumental in the work of our department for 44 years, and this honour reflects her exceptional contribution to the people of Scotland.
“The Honours list showcases the remarkable achievements of individuals across Scotland who have gone above and beyond in their respective fields. Their service to our communities represents the spirit of dedication and excellence that makes Scotland proud.”
Anyone can nominate someone for an honour. If you know someone who has achieved fantastic things worthy of recognition, go to https://www.gov.uk/honours to find out more about how you can put them forward.
Scottish duo help 200,000 children annually with surgery network
Scottish charity leaders recognised in King’s Honours for life-saving work
A HIGH-PROFILE Scottish husband and wife have been jointly awarded MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours List for their remarkable contribution to children’s healthcare across the globe.
Garreth and Nicola Wood have been recognised for services to health and charity, particularly surgery for children internationally- a nod to their transformative work through the charity they co-founded, Kids Operating Room.
Founded in 2018, Kids Operating Room is a Scottish-based global health organisation creating permanent paediatric operating rooms in low- and middle-income countries. With projects in more than 40 countries, the charity has helped build capacity for nearly 200,000 life-saving operations annually.
Professor George G Youngson CBE, Trustee of Kids Operating Room, said: “The impact that our charity has had on the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of children across the world is a testament to the leadership, commitment and energy shown by our co-founders, Garreth and Nicola Wood.
“Kids Operating Room is delighted that Garreth and Nicola have both been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2025, a richly deserved recognition.”
As co-founders, Garreth and Nicola have helped guide the charity from an ambitious idea into a globally recognised organisation working to solve a critical and largely hidden global health emergency – the lack of access to safe surgical care for children in low-resource countries.
Pic:Andy Barr
Garreth Wood MBE, Executive Chairman of Kids Operating Room, said: “From co-founding Kids Operating Room together, to championing causes close to our hearts here in Scotland and around the world, our journey has always been about giving every child a fairer start in life.
“Nicola and I were deeply honoured to each receive an MBE for ‘Services to Health and Charity, particularly Surgery for Children internationally’.
“It’s humbling to be recognised in this way, and even more special to share this moment side-by-side with Nicola.”
Kids Operating Room invests in building local capacity for paediatric surgery by installing state-of-the-art surgical infrastructure, providing training and equipment to local teams, and pioneering the use of solar-powered operating rooms to combat unreliable power supply in remote regions.
Over the past seven years, the charity has installed close to 100 paediatric operating rooms across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Its innovative solar surgery systems have been deployed in over 200 hospitals, allowing uninterrupted life-saving operations even during blackouts.
It recently installed solar panels at Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya to avoid disastrous power outages that resulted in the hospital only able to use one theatre, causing huge back logs.
. ***Credit should read Sandy Young/scottishphotographer.com***
Nicola Wood MBE, Co-founder and Trustee, said: “We’re so incredibly grateful to everyone who has been a part of this journey. The dedication, passion and belief of our colleagues around the world, who are working tirelessly to build a fairer world for children, inspires us every day.
“These awards are a tribute to the entire team at Kids Operating Room. We are more motivated than ever to keep going.”
Kids Operating Room achievements include preventing more than 11 million years of disability and generating over $20 billion of economic benefit for partner countries.
The charity’s long-term vision is to become redundant – a world where every nation has the infrastructure and expertise to care for its children without relying on external aid.
Sandy Young/scottishphotographer.com***
David Cunningham, CEO of Kids Operating Room said: “I cannot think of two more worthy recipients of an honour. Each and every day, both Garreth and Nicola transform the lives of children around the world.
“It takes tremendous generosity to work so tirelessly to make the lives of complete strangers so significantly better. Everyone at Kids Operating Room is extremely proud to be part of their team and of the work they have inspired and continue to lead with such energy and enthusiasm.”
Kids Operating Room has ambitious plans to scale further. In 2019, it pledged to install 100 operating rooms by 2030. That goal was met four and a half years early. Now, the charity is doubling down with a new pledge to install another 100 rooms by the end of 2030.
Despite ongoing challenges in the global funding landscape, the charity continues to grow. Garreth and Nicola have personally pledged to underwrite core running costs for the next six years, helping ensure that every external donation goes directly to front-line projects.
With headquarters in Edinburgh and a Global Operations Centre in Dundee, Kids Operating Room continues to punch well above its weight on the world stage. The charity remains a shining example of Scottish innovation and global solidarity in healthcare.
Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory boss receives OBE in King’s Birthday Honours List
A retired Major in the British Army and the manager of the historic Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh has been named in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Major Charles Pelling (Retd) will receive an OBE for Services to Veterans.
The 65-year-old served in the Royal Tank Regiment, the oldest tank unit in the world, over a 24-year period from 1978 to 2002. He then completed a Master of Business Administration and enjoyed life in France for a while before returning to Scotland where he accepted the post of manager at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in 2007.
He has spent the last 18 years dedicating his time to helping disabled ex-servicemen and women secure employment within the busy Factory.
The close-knit team of veteran’s handmake thousands of poppy wreaths and produce millions of sustainable paper poppies as a symbol of remembrance each year.
Major Pelling, who lives in Edinburgh, said: “I am delighted to receive this honour. I hope it will highlight the ongoing and critical work that Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory and Poppyscotland undertake every day with the veteran’s community in Scotland.”
Michael Fahy, Head of Marketing and PR at Poppyscotland, said: “On behalf of everyone at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory and Poppyscotland, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Charlie on this wonderful honour of an OBE for Services to Veterans.
“It is thoroughly deserved for a man who has dedicated his life to the British Army and also to supporting both serving and former members of the Armed Forces. Congratulations Charlie!”
Other notable recipients across Scotland include:
Zahrah Mahmood from Glasgow who at 34 receives an MBE for voluntary service. She is the president of Ramblers Scotland and known as ‘The Hillwalking Hijabi’ for her work addressing the barriers faced by ethnic minorities and providing practical advice to beginners, demonstrating her commitment to making the outdoors accessible to all.
Duncan, Caroline and Jenna Speirs from Argyll and Bute who each receive a BEM for services to charitable fundraising. They provide holiday homes for children with cancer through Calum’s Cabin as well as flats in Glasgow close to cancer treatment centres, allowing families from across the country to stay together in welcoming, home-from-home surroundings during extended periods of treatment. The idea was inspired by their son, and Jenna’s brother, Calum, who passed away from a brain tumour.
Scottish historian Alistair Moffat from Ettrick and Lauderdale receives an MBE for services to literature and culture. He is the author of more than 40 books on Scottish history and played a prominent role in the creation of The Great Tapestry of Scotland. He also founded the Borders Book Festival, one of the most highly regarded literary festivals in the UK.
Paula Mary Daly from Ayrshire and Arran who receives an MBE for services to Fishermen and their Families. Paula manages the Fishermen’s Mission’s regional centre in the Port of Troon where she works to connect the isolated and marginalised with the services they need.
Monty Cowen from Giffnock, who at 92 receives an MBE for services to the Jewish Community. He assisted with the merger of the synagogue in Giffnock to a bigger building now known as Giffnock Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, is Honorary President of the Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society and is actively involved with the Association of Jewish Ex Servicemen and Women.
The King’s Birthday Honours 2025 – Police, Fire and Ambulance
Recipients of blue light service medals in Scotland
King’s Police Medal
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie, Police Scotland
King’s Fire Service Medal
Volunteer Leader Gerry Ralston, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Watch Commander John Aitchison, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
King’s Ambulance Service Medal
Scottish Ambulance Service Corporate Risk Manager, Sarah Stevenson, Scottish Ambulance Service
Former Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie joined Strathclyde Police in 1991 and retired in April 2025 after 33 years’ police service. He was an experienced Major Events Commander, Strategic Firearms Commander, and Public Order Gold Commander. He was instrumental in the roll-out of naloxone to all frontline police officers, making Police Scotland the first force globally to implement a nationwide roll-out of the opioid reversing medication. Under his leadership, a national naloxone co-ordination unit was established, prior to national rollout. During his time at Police Scotland, 13,216 operational officers completed the training, more than 10,500 frontline officers were equipped with naloxone while on duty and officers administered naloxone to over 630 individual incidents involving suspected opioid overdoses.
In 2021, ACC Ritchie was instrumental in the creation, development and delivery of Police Scotland’s International Academy and the wider international strategy for Police Scotland. He has represented and showcased Police Scotland globally, hosting visits to the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Germany, and Columbia. In 2023, he led a Scottish delegation to the Global Law Enforcement & Public Health Association Conference in Sweden where he outlined Scotland’s public health approach to addressing underlying inequalities. That same year, ACC Ritchie was appointed Executive Lead for Operational Support, a broad area of responsibility ranging from road policing to the planning and preparation for events and counter terrorism incidents. He was responsible for major events planning in Scotland and was involved in the COP-26 conference held in Glasgow, Operation Unicorn, following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the Interpol General Assembly, which saw senior policing officials from across the world descend on Glasgow to discuss international cooperation. ACC Ritchie also led on Royalty and VIP Protection in Scotland, ensuring Police Scotland worked closely with the Metropolitan Police in relation to the security of protected persons.
KING’S FIRE SERVICE MEDAL
Volunteer Leader Gerry Ralston, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Volunteer Leader Ralston is an On Call Firefighter recognised for his work at Salen Community Fire Station on the Isle of Mull, and across East and West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute. The on-call firefighter joined the Salen Volunteer Unit as a Firefighter in 1988. He has helped design and deliver initiatives aimed at improving how the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service identify, recruit, and retain On Call Firefighters. Volunteer Leader Ralston also helps drive forward programmes aimed at educating and informing the community, such as CPR awareness, and delivers engagement sessions to Tobermory High School.
He has organised and raised over £8000 for different causes and charities including The Fire Fighters Charity, Cancer Research UK, Stroke Foundation, the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow and, in July this year, will tackle a 62-mile event for Cancer Research UK. During the pandemic, he facilitated test and protect at Craignure Community Fire Station, taking time out with his main employment to assist the community. He has been at the forefront of all fundraising efforts undertaken by Salen Community Fire station and regularly supports Tobermory Fire Station with their annual open day including donations supporting the Firefighters Charity and other deserving local charities and projects.
Watch Commander John Aitchison, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Watch Commander John Aitchison has been a member of the Fire and Rescue Service in Scotland for over 21 years – initially joining Grampian Fire Brigade – where he was first posted to Altens Fire Station, Aberdeen. He was promoted to Crew Commander in 2006, where he served at Aberdeen’s Central Fire Station. It was while working here in 2007 that he became a member of Operation Florian, a charity that organises fundraising for international humanitarian aid. In 2008, as part of the project, Watch Commander Aitchison led a convoy of donated fire engines from Aberdeen to Macedonia. On their arrival, the watch commander and his team provided two weeks of training to local fire crews with the donated equipment. He would go on to complete the trip a further two times – returning to provide further training and equipment.
In 2011, Watch Commander Aitchison joined the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue as a Crew Leader and Sector Medic, and is on standby to attend national and international emergencies. As a member of this team, he was sent to help the response to the Nepal Earthquake in 2015 and the earthquake in Türkiye in 2023. His work in this area led to difficulties with his mental wellbeing. Determined to not let this define him, he went on to co-found Talk Group 20 Aberdeen – a peer support group for firefighters which aims to safeguard mental wellbeing. He also co-founded the organisation, Fire Aid Nepal, a project which aims to support, and future prepare the Nepalese community following the devastating quake 10-years-ago. In 2023, he played an integral role in forming the first ever fire and rescue service for the Mount Everest region and, in 2024, received a Pride of Scotland Award for his work in Nepal which has also attracted letters of thanks from King Charles III. He was promoted to Watch Commander in 2020, where he is currently a national urban search and rescue instructor.
KING’S AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL
SAS Corporate Risk Manager, Sarah Stevenson, Scottish Ambulance Service
As Corporate Risk Manager for the Scottish Ambulance Service, Ms Stevenson has worked tirelessly to embed robust and effective risk management arrangements across the organisation, embedding this at local and board levels.
She also recently led a significant project to replace a 20-year-old IT risk management system to record risk and adverse events. This two-year project has resulted in substantial improvements for all staff, including easier reporting access and annual recurring savings of more than £13000.
Ms Stevenson personally led the training and awareness programme for the new system, leading staff engagement sessions and developing video tutorials and other tools to assist staff and improve accountability and responsibility. The system – which went live in March this year – has received positive feedback from Scottish Ambulance Service staff.
Officers investigating the violent incidents in the East and West of the country have made two further arrests, bringing the total to 44.
Following the recovery of a firearm in the Roseburn Path area of Edinburgh on Wednesday, 11 June, 2025, a 25-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged in connection and was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Friday, 13 June.
Officers also executed warrants this morning at addresses in South Queensferry and Edinburgh.
A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with fire-raising of a vehicle on Peacocktail Close in Edinburgh on Friday, 16 May. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 16 June.
A 21-year-old man has also been reported to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with wilful fire-raisings at two properties in Glasgow and one in Shotts in April.
A dedicated team of officers from our Specialist Crime Division, with support from local divisions across the country, continue to carry out extensive enquiries to gather vital evidence and reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “Our continued activity and arrests show our commitment to targeting organised crime and bringing those responsible to justice.
“We continue to investigate and follow a number of positive lines of enquiry. The support and response from the public has been excellent, and I am grateful for the assistance given to us and that continued support from local communities is crucial as we progress our enquiries.
“If you know anything that could assist our ongoing investigation, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
A Edinburgh law firm has raised an impressive £10,800 by participating in an annual charity Will-writing campaign – making it the second highest donating firms across Scotland this year.
McEwan Fraser Legal has taken part in the Will Aid campaign since 2019, raising a grand total of £23,555, by volunteering their time and expertise to write Wills and, instead of charging their usual fees for writing basic Wills, inviting clients to make a donation to Will Aid.
The funds raised go to Will Aid’s partner charities, which support a range of important causes, from providing humanitarian aid to protecting vulnerable children here in the UK.
Ken McEwan from the firm, said: “Taking part in Will Aid is something we look forward to each year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to give back -not only by helping people secure their future with a professionally written Will but also by raising funds for charities that make a real impact.
“Our team is incredibly passionate about supporting charities, and knowing our efforts are helping both our community and those further afield is truly rewarding. We are delighted to have played our part in this year’s campaign and to have raised such a significant amount.”
Since its launch in 1988, Will Aid has raised more than £24 million in donations, with millions more pledged in charitable legacies, thanks to the generosity of participating solicitors.
Lauren Poole, chair of Will Aid, said: “A huge well done to McEwan Fraser Legal for their incredible fundraising efforts this year.
“It’s inspiring to see so many legal professionals come together to make a difference – helping people gain peace of mind with a professionally written Will while supporting charities that change lives.
“We’re grateful to every solicitor who gives their time to this campaign, and on behalf of our partner charities, I’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to McEwan Fraser Legal and all the firms who participated this year.”
Peter de Vena Franks, Will Aid’s campaign director, added: “This year’s Will Aid campaign has been another resounding success, thanks to the dedication of firms like McEwan Fraser Legal.
“Their generosity and commitment mean that more people can get the will they need while also supporting crucial charitable work. It’s wonderful to see such enthusiasm for giving back.”
Will Aid takes place every November and involves solicitors waiving the fee for writing a basic will and instead inviting clients to make an upfront donation to Will Aid.
The suggested donation for a basic single Will is £100, and £180 for a pair of mirror Wills.
Donations are shared between Will Aid’s partner charities: Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, SCIAF and Trócaire.
To meet growing demand, Will Aid is always looking for more solicitors to take part. For more information, visit www.willaid.org.uk.
Poppyscotland, working in partnership with Legion Scotland, are calling for volunteers to help man collection stations on the upcoming Armed Forces Day in Edinburgh.
Taking place on Saturday, June 28, volunteers are needed to help at Waverley or Haymarket train stations during timed slots over the course of that weekend (28th and 29th).
Armed Forces Day is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving personnel to Service families, veterans and cadets.
There are many ways for people, communities and organisations across the country to show their support, including making a donation to Poppyscotland to allow us to continue the valuable work we do in helping countless men, women and families with issues linked to their time in the Armed Forces or with struggles adjusting from military to civilian life.
We even help with needs that have arisen long after someone has left the Armed Forces. Whenever, wherever support is needed, we are here.
If you would be interested in volunteering on Saturday, June 28 at Haymarket train station then please sign up now at https://www.poppyscotland.org.uk/AFDHaymarket
or
to volunteer on either Saturday, June 28 or Sunday, June 29, at Edinburgh Waverley station, please sign up at www.poppyscotland.org.uk/AFDWaverley.
For more information on Poppyscotland and how we can help, please visit, www.poppyscotland.org.uk
A FLOOD ALERT has been issued for Edinburgh and Lothians
From the early hours of Saturday morning rain is expected to spread northwards to affect this area. The rain may persist through most of Saturday and at times there could be some intense, heavy, thundery rain.
If the rain falls on the transport network or built-up areas, there is potential for some disruptive surface water flooding impacts, including: flooding to low-lying land and roads, disruption to travel and flooding of properties.
Small rivers may also respond and could cause similar impacts. SEPA will continue to monitor the situation and further updates will appear here if the situation changes.
Remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property. Advice and information is available on our website or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
This FLOOD ALERT is now in force until further notice and was sent by email, SMS and/or phone, free of charge to registered Floodline customers.
If you wish to register, view or amend any of your account details, or deregister, please visit myfloodline.sepa.scot or call Floodline, select option 2 for Scotland then option 3 to speak to an advisor.
