Councillors have agreed to invest £100,000 towards the Regenerative Futures Fund (RFF), a new multi-million-pound initiative to make Edinburgh a fairer place to live.
Acting on the Capital’s pledge to take all the actions necessary to eradicate poverty in Edinburgh, the Council’s support will help kickstart an ambitious £5m to £10m fundraising plan.
With every £1 contributed by the Council, the Regenerative Futures Fund expects to leverage £5 to £10 from other sources of funding, significantly boosting the support available for community projects across the Capital.
The money will be used to support between 10 to 15 community organisations over the next decade, providing them with stable, long-term funding of up to £100,000 per year to create sustainable solutions that will address the root causes of poverty and inequality in Edinburgh.
It also builds on commitments made by the Council in February as part of its budget-setting exercise to prioritise poverty fighting projects, including £500,000 towards child poverty reduction, £100,000 for a Youth and Community Welfare Transition Fund, £25,000 to support the Big Hoose project which helps families experiencing hardship with household items, alongside close to £3m towards the city’s homelessness spend.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’m delighted that we’ve had support from Councillors to make this investment into the future fairness of our city.
“Back in 2020 Edinburgh became the first UK city to set a target date to end poverty and we remain committed to doing everything we can. We know that this is not an easy task but we must be ambitious and drive the change that is so greatly needed.
“The creation of the RFF not only directly responds to our poverty fighting goals, it answers the calls we heard loud and clear from the Edinburgh Poverty Commission: we need a city-wide partnership fund to help us end poverty together.
“Today’s decision is a promise to work hand-in-hand with those who understand poverty firsthand, ensuring that their voices help us towards Edinburgh’s solutions.”
Leah Black, Head of Regenerative Futures Fund, Foundation Scotland said:This is a significant step towards creating a more equitable and sustainable Edinburgh.
The Regenerative Futures Fund is driven by the principle of shifting decision-making power to those most impacted by poverty, allowing communities to lead initiatives based on their own experiences and insights.
“We’ve spent close to two years designing a scheme co-created by a diverse range of people including those with lived experience of poverty and I’m excited to see how it will empower our communities to effect real change in the lives of those living in poverty.”
An annual progress report on the program will be provided to the Policy and Sustainability Committee in Autumn 2025.
The construction of 2,800 mid-market rent homes will be supported by £100 million of investment from the Scottish Government.
As announced as part of the 2024-25 Programme for Government, funding will be used alongside institutional investment – such as pension funds – to grow to at least £500 million.
This commitment forms part of the Government’s approach to leverage in more private investment to deliver housing, making public funds go further.
It will build on the success of the Thriving Investments model which has grown an initial £47.5 million investment from the Scottish Government to £222.5 million to deliver up to 1,200 mid-market homes across Scotland.
Mid-market rent is a type of affordable housing aimed at assisting households on low to moderate incomes to access affordable rented accommodation and helps those who have difficulty accessing social rented housing, buying their own home or renting privately.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “Tackling the housing emergency requires a collective effort and bold decisions. We already have a strong track record in housebuilding in Scotland and this commitment will ensure public funds are used more efficiently.
“Since 2007, we have supported the delivery of more than 133,000 affordable homes, including more than 94,000 social rented homes. However, we know we can do more to tackle the housing emergency and encouraging more private investment into the sector is one key aspect of that.
“This new model will encourage more private investment into the mid-market sector that we know is willing and able to invest and it will deliver affordable homes that people need.”
Thriving Investments, (formerly Places for People Capital) was the successful bidder to the MMR Invitation launched in February 2016 to support the continued expansion of MMR in Scotland. A £47.5m loan agreement between SG and PfP was agreed in June 2018. Since then they have grown their fund to £222.5m.
Thriving Investments has delivered 736 affordable homes with an additional 335 properties due for completion by early 2025. It is anticipated that the fund will deliver around 1,200 MMR homes across Scotland.
Scottish Government will commission a fund manager to deliver the new fund.
The Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide – the UK’s best-selling beer and pub guide – is celebrating its 52nd edition with not one but two covers featuring two of the UK’s favourite locals: Coronation Street’s Rovers Return Inn, and Emmerdale’s Woolpack.
The Guide, which lists 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker’s guide for those seeking the best pints in the nations’ pubs – and is on sale now.
Despite the tough trading environment facing a lot of licensees, they continue to battle against the odds, and the 2025 Guide boasts over 900 pubs that are new to this edition.
Information in the Guide is collated by thousands of CAMRA volunteers who give up their time every year to select the best of the best across the UK. As well as covering 314 of the very best pubs across Aberdeen & Grampian, Argyll & The Isles, Ayrshire & Arran, Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Edinburgh & The Lothians, Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley, Highlands & The Western Isles, Kingdom of Fife, Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs, Northern Isles and Tayside, it includes 52 new pub entries across the counties.
The foreword of The Good Beer Guide 2025 has been written by multi award-winning Iain Macleod, ITV’s Executive Producer for Continuing Drama.
In his foreword, Iain MacLeod says: “… the story which threatened one of our pubs the most was also the one which most resonated with our times. In 2023, the Rovers Return closed its doors. A combination of the lingering legacy of the Covid lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis meant that landlady Jenny Bradley couldn’t afford to keep it open. The characters – and the viewers – lamented the news like the loss of a loved one. If it were needed, it was a timely reminder of the central place the nation’s pubs have in our lives and in our affections.”
CAMRA Chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said: “The Rovers Return Inn and the Woolpack represent the UK’s love of their local, and to have them featured on the covers for this year’s Guide is very exciting.
“CAMRA’s mission is to ensure support from both the UK and Scottish Governments as well as tangible legislation to protect pubs in this country. By next year’s edition of the Guide, we want to be talking about the beer and pub trade growing with the support of communities and parliaments alike.”
Coronation Street and Emmerdale are available to watch on ITV and ITVX. This year’s Guide is sponsored by Midland Snacks Traditional Pork Scratchings and endorsed by Cask Marque.
16 Kiltwalk Heroes, from Scotland to as far as Munich, took on the Mighty Stride on September 15th, marching 21 miles around Edinburgh to raise an incredible £10,500 for this new Scottish-founded international development charity, that changes lives through football, starting in Kalingalinga, Zambia.
Much of these funds were immediately spent by Africa On The Ball (AOTB) putting on a much needed First Aid course for the community, which ran last Friday.
The money will also enable a third solar powered drinking water station to be built for the 3 local schools and orphanage that AOTB supports, which is vital as Zambia suffers its worst drought to date. The rest will provide more coaches & ten academic and skills Scholarships for young people at the Lusaka Youth Resource Centre.
AOTB transforms communities across Africa by embracing the power of football to build a foundation for life-long success. They collaboratively inspire, empower and support communities in Zambia and throughout Africa, using the passion for football as a catalyst to improve education, healthcare, inclusivity and enterprise, creating sustainable brighter futures.
The charity began in 2013 after a Stirling University student Andrew Jenkin met an orphaned Zambian, Kelvin Chasauka who went on to play pro football in Norway, realised what football gave to him, and decided to come back to his community in Lusaka and help change lives positively through the power of football.
Together they set up a community football club that is so much more than a pitch with grassroots outreach development projects in education, health, equality and enterprise.
The players become local leaders helping to develop their community by working and learning together as a team to transform their lives.
So Africa On the Ball was founded in Scotland alongside a community football club in Glasgow (Glasgow On The Ball, with 4 teams playing in Sunday Leagues and open to all, #glasgowontheball) to share their passion for the game as well as help raise funds and awareness for the works of Africa On The Ball.
Eight GOTB players walked the Kiltwalk.
The AOTB club in Kalingalinga has over 15 teams of boys & girls, men & women, over 300 members supporting 4 schools, funded 57 scholarships, built 2 solar panelled water kiosks & staged many tournaments where vital health education messages are delivered alongside a competitive show.
‘a man who commits rape or serious sexual assaults will be recorded by Police Scotland as a male‘
Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell addressed the matter of gender self-identification during a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority Board in Edinburgh today – Thursday, 26 September, 2024:
The Chief’s Constable’s statement in full –
It is important to acknowledge that gender self-identification has been amongst the most emotive and arguably divisive areas of public policy and practice in recent memory.
Neither the Scottish or UK Parliaments have been able to set out a codified approach in legislation to the legal status, rights or duties pertaining to the concept of gender recognition in a way that reconciles with the Equality Act 2010.
It is within this context that Police Scotland and other public bodies have determined policy and practice in a way that achieves what we consider to be a legal and appropriate balance of rights and duties.
Policing needs to consider this in terms of the many situations and scenarios within which we encounter people and this is not restricted to criminal investigations.
However, I recognise that the focus of debate as it relates to gender self-identification is in the area of serious sexual offences.
DCC Speirs wrote to the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee this week to explain our approach with particular reference to sexual crime and I wanted to add to that today by providing clarification on my expectations as Chief Constable around our operational practice.
The purpose of policing in Scotland is to improve safety and wellbeing. Police Scotland take a victim centred approach to investigating crime. Improving the experiences of victims is at the heart of everything we do.
Being an organisation that effectively supports victims is central to the long-term vision I am setting out to the board, for the SPA’s endorsement today.
This also reflects the central emphasis that I have given to supporting victims of crime since I took up my role as Chief Constable nearly a year ago.
We have a critical role to play in preventing violence and safeguarding women and girls. Our aim is to support the development of a society and culture where women and girls live free from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and harassment.
I have been struck by the commentary from some quarters that Police Scotland under my leadership, in supporting policies that seek to respect the rights and dignity of transgender and other minority groups, is perpetuating a policy that is misogynistic. This is inaccurate.
I have spent my entire career of more than 30 years in policing facing and challenging misogyny while supporting the rights and progression of women. I will continue to do so.
I want to offer a strong reassurance today – our police officers and staff are trained to investigate crime in a way that focuses on a victim centred, trauma informed approach and which mitigates risk. We will continue to do this every day.
Let me also make clear my commitment and support for the LGBTQI+ community.
Everyone must know that when policing talks about keeping people safe, that applies universally.
Everyone must feel able to speak to the police, to report a crime or to share information knowing they’ll be treated with dignity and respect.
I stated in May that it was a matter of deep regret that these values, over a period of decades have not always applied to the LGBTQI+ communities of Scotland.
That remains my position – and as I said at the time, I am dedicated to building a service that all communities can trust, one that is inclusive, respects diversity, and protects the rights and dignity of all individuals.
In relation to sexual offending, our operational practice and decision making is sound but I have put myself in the position of our Custody sergeants and others on the operational frontline and I can see the benefit of clarifying our position today to ensure that our people continue to get this right.
I also understand the desire for clarity as it relates to sexual crime, a priority for policing in Scotland. To be clear – a male rapist cannot demand to be called a woman and further traumatise his victim – this would not happen. To my knowledge, this has never happened.
You can be assured that a man who commits rape or serious sexual assaults will be recorded by Police Scotland as a male.
By way of further reassurance, as it relates to serious sexual offending, Police Scotland obtain DNA samples from individuals accused of serious sexual assaults and from this sample a DNA profile will be obtained that will determine the person’s biological sex. This profile, and biological sex, is retained on the Scottish DNA Database and is available to be searched against crime scene samples to aid historic and future investigations.
I would only emphasise that the discussion around decision making on the operational frontline remains hypothetical – to my knowledge, we have never faced this scenario.
With regards to recording practice, Police Scotland’s procedures on the identification and recording of sex and gender is evidence-led and is in keeping with our values of policing with integrity, fairness and respect, and upholding human rights.
I note that the Chair’s report refers to the UK Government’s February 2024 commission of an independent review and best practice development around data collection issues – we strongly welcome that work and look forward to seeing its outcome in the months ahead.
In 2023, Police Scotland, through the Chief Data Office, conducted an analysis of Data collection and Data standards and our subsequent use of data as it relates to Sex & Gender.
This analysis was set against relevant pieces of legislation including the Data Protection Act, the Public Sector Equality Act as well as the Human Rights and Gender Recognition Act.
The report came at a time of continued public debate, it made a number of observations and continues to be considered within Police Scotland. To that end ACC Catriona Paton is reviewing the detail contained within the analytical report and will bring this through Police Scotland governance for further consideration.
Let me finish by being absolutely clear – a man who commits rape or serious sexual assaults will be recorded by Police Scotland as a male.
The organisation I lead is wholly committed to tackling violence against women and girls and to supporting survivors and victims effectively.
We will do this while upholding our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights.
Our commitment here is unequivocal and also central to our long-term vision for policing.
I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to respond to the issues raised recently, Chair.
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh 25 January – 27 April 2025 Free admission
An exhibition telling the story of the global effort to develop a COVID-19 vaccine will open at the National Museum of Scotland in January.
Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine explores the scientific principles and adaptation of innovative research behind this extraordinary endeavour. It looks at the UK-wide, behind-the-scenes work that accompanied the vaccines’ rapid development, production, transport and delivery and examines the sheer logistical challenges behind the worldwide rollout.
Revealing the inspiring stories of scientists and innovators collaborating around the globe to find solutions and save lives, the exhibition will show how these people have shaped the world we live in today.
Showcasing more than 100 objects and stories that were collected during the peak of the pandemic, it features artworks, interactives, and personal objects examining everything from the virus itself to the work done behind the scenes by volunteers and researchers to make huge innovations possible.
Highlights include the vial of the first COVID-19 vaccine to be administered worldwide, notebooks used by June Almeida, the Scottish scientist who discovered coronavirus in 1966 and artworks interpreting the story of the pandemic by artists including Luke Jerram, Angela Palmer and Junko Mori.
New content created for the exhibition’s Scottish run will explore some of the uniquely Scottish experiences of the pandemic.
Sophie Goggins, Senior Curator of Biomedical Science at National Museums Scotland said: “The development and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in record time is one of the greatest collaborative human achievements in recent memory.
“This exhibition tells the story of just how this extraordinary feat came to be; from the scientific breakthroughs which led to the creation of the vaccine to the countless individuals who helped to roll it out around the globe.”
Injecting Hope is presented by the Science Museum Group (SMG). It comes to the National Museum of Scotland as part of a national and international tour following its inaugural run at the Science Museum in London.
It forms part of a project with the National Council of Science Museums in India and the Guangdong Science Center in China, which, alongside the Science Museum, opened exhibitions in November 2022.
Injecting Hope builds on the work SMG has undertaken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its COVID-19 collecting project, hosting NHS vaccination centres within its museums and public engagement events and materials.
The Injecting Hope project, including the international tour and UK national tour, has been generously supported by Wellcome. The Huo Family Foundation is kindly supporting the national tour of the exhibition.
ASH Scotland is encouraging organisations and groups in Edinburgh to sign up for Scotland’s Charter for Tobacco-free Generation and help their communities and the country progress towards reducing smoking rates to 5% or fewer by 2034.
Since launching in 2015, more than 500 supporters Scotland have endorsed the health charity’s Charter through taking positive action in their communities to tackle the harms caused by tobacco and related products such as e-cigarettes.
Groups in Edinburgh interested in signing the Charter are asked to support its goal by pledging to take a two or more actions available under the themes of raising vital awareness about the harms caused by tobacco and related products; supporting stop smoking opportunities for staff, volunteers and service users; introducing a smoke and aerosol free environment; preventing tobacco companies’ promotions of their harmful products or helping to reduce youth uptake of tobacco or vapes.
There is also an option to make a higher level of commitment to become a Charter Champion and gain access to the charity’s engaging resources, special events and networking opportunities.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “With 10 years to go for Scotland to achieve a tobacco-free generation by 2034, we are inviting community groups across Edinburgh to sign up to support our Charter and play a vital role in reducing the harms caused by tobacco and related products.
“We look forward to welcoming local organisations in Edinburgh, especially those working with children and young people, who are committed to improving health and wellbeing in their communities to work with us towards a tobacco-free future.”
To sign up for ASH Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation and receive a welcome pack, visit www.ashscotland.org.uk/charter
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will collaborate with financial institutions to ensure Scotland becomes a global centre for green and sustainable finance and investment.
A new report from the Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Services makes 31 recommendations on how the public and private sectors can encourage and fund green investments and tackle the climate emergency.
It stresses the Scottish finance industry is particularly well placed to reap “profound benefits” from becoming a global hub and identifies four areas for action – policy, promotion, investment and skills.
Suggested initiatives include:
work to ensure Edinburgh and Glasgow sustain and improve their rankings in the Global Green Finance Index
new initiatives to attract more financial institutions to build their sustainable businesses in Scotland
collaboration across sectors and academia to improve the skills of Scotland’s workforce in sustainable finance
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who addressed the Ethical Finance Global Summit in Edinburgh yesterday , welcomed the findings.Ms Forbes said: “This report is a decisive action plan as we progress towards making Scotland the natural home for green and sustainable finance.
“The financial services sector is key to delivering the benefits of the transition to net zero and we will use this route map to work together and ensure that Scotland – one of the world’s oldest financial centres – is able to maximise the opportunities ahead of us.
“This report, complementing our Green Industrial Strategy and the action we are taking such as developing a series of investment opportunities and launching an online investment portal in 2025, will make Scotland more attractive for investment.”
Taskforce Chair David Pitt-Watson said: “Climate may be the greatest challenge facing humankind. Addressing it will require a huge investment and the services of the finance industry.
“Finance is a jewel in Scotland’s industrial crown. So not only should there be many opportunities for green investment in Scotland, from wind to housing, there is also a huge opportunity for its financial services industry to serve the world.
“The Taskforce has already stimulated a considerable amount of action. And there is so much more to do. This report is a strategy for Scottish finance to play its proper role in addressing the climate challenge.”
Chief Executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) Sandy Begbie said: “The work of the taskforce is a great example of collaboration between government and industry to enhance Scotland’s reputation as a global green and sustainable finance centre.
“There are significant recommendations in the report and I am pleased that today marks the start of a formal partnership between the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) and SFE to take them forward. GEFI will leverage its considerable global footprint while SFE will use its leadership position here in Scotland and our key relationships in London.”
Work to restore the iconic timber groynes on Portobello beach has been completed by the city council.
The five timber groynes constructed in the 1970s help to hold sand in place to prevent further erosion of the Capital’s important coastline.
In November 2021, one of them was damaged during Storm Arwen and partially collapsed. Following a survey of all of the groynes, work was commissioned to repair and restore them.
Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, Transport and Environment Convener, said:“By investing half a million pounds in the repair of the groynes we are helping to protect the sand and coastal environment at Portobello so locals and visitors can continue to enjoy this popular beach in Edinburgh for many years to come.
“This announcement is very timely as we are promoting all the work the Council is doing to address climate change as part of ‘Climate Week’.
“Unfortunately, due to the climate emergency, storms are becoming all too common and I’m really pleased their restoration means we have good protection in place. It’s also great to hear the excess timber wasn’t wasted and was donated to locals including a community garden and artists.
“The iconic groyne structures are well known to locals and visitors and have become part of the landscape in the area so it’s great to see them restored to their former glory.”
