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Scottish Government: Supporting people to buy their first home

Delivering further support for first-time buyers

A scheme to help people on low incomes and in priority groups buy their first affordable home has opened for applications.

The Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE) is available for first-time buyers and priority access groups who can’t afford the full price of a home. This includes social renters, disabled people, people aged 60 and over, members of the armed forces and veterans.

The scheme, along with the First Homes Fund, provides financial assistance to prospective homeowners and is part of the Government’s programme of action to provide affordable housing across the country.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “This Government is delivering on affordable housing and this scheme, along with our First Homes Fund, will provide a vital support for those looking to buy their first home.

“We know how hard it is to get that first foot on the property ladder – our shared equity schemes assist households who can sustain mortgage repayments but find it difficult to accumulate the necessary savings to secure a purchase. 

“I encourage everyone who is eligible and looking to buy a home to apply to these schemes. Giving more people the chance to buy an affordable home also plays a crucial role in reducing homelessness and eradicating child poverty across the country.”

The Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE) is open for applications. It is a shared equity scheme designed to help eligible buyers on low-to-moderate incomes purchase a home on the open market by funding a percentage of the price (usually 60% to 90%) while the government holds the remaining equity stake.

The First Homes Fund was introduced by the Scottish Government in June this year. This offers a £10,000 contribution to first-time buyers that struggle to save enough for a full deposit.

TODAY: Free community lunch menu at Empty Kitchens Full Hearts

Menu for Friday 14th of August 🥣

We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you tomorrow. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and a delicious pudding.

What’s on the menu today:

Root veg medley soup

Crispy chicken

BBQ-style beans

Halloumi pastries

Lemon cheesecake with blueberry compote

Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens. And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out! Do come along and enjoy. Thank you!

Scotland’s rivers remain under pressure as very low flows persist

Water scarcity continues to put pressure on Scotland’s rivers and the businesses which rely on them, as hot and dry conditions return following recent rainfall. 

The latest Water Situation Report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows river flows remain very low across much of the country, with some catchments which had recovered now returning to very low levels. 

The River Teviot and Ettrick Water have now experienced 39 consecutive days of very low flows. Restrictions on water abstraction remain in place in these catchments and will continue until river flows have recovered sufficiently. 

Lower Dee and Water of Feugh have also moved to Significant Scarcity. There are no impacted abstraction licence holders in this area.  

Without sustained rainfall, the Dee in Galloway and Urr Water could reach Significant Scarcity within the next week. 

Other catchments which previously reached Significant Scarcity and recovered following rainfall are now experiencing very low river flows again, demonstrating the continuing pressure on Scotland’s water environment after months of dry conditions. 

SEPA officers have been carrying out visits in catchments where abstraction restrictions are in place and have seen good levels of compliance. Abstractors affected by restrictions are required to comply with the conditions set out by SEPA to protect the water environment. 

Shona McConnell, SEPA’s Head of Compliance, said: “This has been a challenging summer for businesses which rely on water from the environment, and we recognise the impact restrictions can have on them. 

“Our officers have seen good compliance with the restrictions currently in place. These are regulatory requirements designed to protect rivers when they are under significant pressure, and it is important that businesses continue to comply. 

“Recent rainfall has helped in some places, but we’ve also seen rivers return to very low levels. That underlines why we can’t look at individual periods of rainfall in isolation, recovery depends on sustained rainfall over time. 

“As our climate changes, rainfall is becoming less predictable and water may not always be available where and when it is needed. Building resilience means planning for that uncertainty, adapting how we use water and taking action early rather than waiting until water availability becomes a problem. 

“We’ll continue to monitor conditions closely, work with abstractors and take action where necessary to protect Scotland’s water environment.”

Further investment to tackle child poverty in Scotland

Ensuring support is available where and when families need it

TEN charities will receive a share of a £20 million fund in 2026-27 to deliver wide ranging support to improve wellbeing, boost incomes, and help parents towards employment as part of the Scottish Government’s drive to eradicate child poverty.

The charities involved estimate that up to 35,000 families could benefit from the Scottish Government’s package of whole family support, spanning almost all of Scotland.

The beneficiaries include:  

  • Salvesen Mindroom Centre (Mindroom), which will expand its support into new areas of Scotland, such as Dundee, to pair parents of neurodivergent children with a Family Adviser to help boost incomes and improve children’s outcomes
  • Home Start Caithness which will bring together nine organisations to provide one-step gateway to financial and wellbeing support in the region
  • Borders Community Action who will work with 30 local charities under a new partnership to embed support in rural communities, where poverty can be harder to identify and the right support more difficult to access
  • Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector which will coordinate a new partnership between more than 30 local organisations to deliver help specific to the needs of communities across the city

In Dundee, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville met with families of neurodivergent children to hear about the difference that effective support at point of need can make. Mindroom will use this funding to expand into new areas of Scotland.

Ms Somerville said: “We have made great strides in our ambitious mission to eradicate child poverty. Within the powers we have, we have boosted incomes while delivering a transformational cost of living support package.

“But we know that more needs to be done, which is why we are driving whole family support. This is about making sure that people can access the help they need easily, as simply as possible, and as quickly as possible.

“To remove barriers, we need to empower local charities and local people and bring them together with other services so that there are clear and easy ways to access the right support, in the right place and at the right time.

“I am proud that this ambitious programme, which we will deliver in partnership with charities across Scotland, does just that.”

CEO of Mindroom Alan Thornburrow said: “We see the benefits that whole family support brings to parents and children on a daily basis, so we are pleased to receive support from the Scottish Government to expand our services, including into Dundee.

“Neurodivergent children and their parents have historically found it challenging to access the right support, in the right place – but we are determined to be there for them, tailoring services to meet their individual circumstances, and giving children the best start in life in the process.

“This funding will help us do so on a larger scale, enabling us to reach more people in varied communities. We look forward to pressing ahead with this work.”

tackling-child-poverty-delivery-plan-2026-2031Download

Children and families – Cost of Living Support Scotland

Information on benefits – Social Security Scotland

The funding comes from the Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund, announced as part of the latest Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, Bringing Hope,Building Futures, and, subject to confirmation during the annual Scottish budget process, it is expected to continue on an annual basis while the programme is in operation.

The 10 organisations that secured funding following a competitive application process are:

  • Community Enterprise in Scotland Ayrshire
  • Borders Community Action
  • Early Years Scotland
  • Citizens Advice Scotland
  • Capital City Partnership
  • Salvesen Mindroom Centre
  • Big Hearts Community Trust
  • Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector
  • Home Start Caithness
  • One Parent Families Scotland

Scottish Ensemble to tour Bach & Blood this September

  • A new collaboration with NYCOS showcasing the power of strings and voice, which will include the UK premiere of David Fennessy’s composition Blood
  • Opening at Lammermuir Festival before performances in Perth, Glasgow, and London from 16 September – 02 October

Inhale. Exhale.

Every breath resonates and each string sings, in a new performance that brings together Scottish Ensemble and singers from the Chamber Choir of the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS).

Bach & Blood will present a programme showcasing the atmosphere and power of strings and voice, emphasising the virtuosic solo violin as performed by Scottish Ensemble’s Artistic Director Jonathan Morton. Musical voices from across the centuries are united by ritual, reflection, and transcendence.

J.S. Bach’s Chaconne, famously described as “the greatest structure for solo violin that exists”, is illuminated by accompanying “Ghost chorales” relating to death and resurrection, that reveal emotional depths beneath the soloist. It is complemented by the ethereal, mystical power of Arvo Pärt’s Greater Antiphons for strings, which unfolds in shimmering stillness with a sense of timeless devotion.

The performance will climax with the UK premiere of Glasgow-based composer David Fennessy’s work Blood. Originally commissioned by the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the piece is based on a short melody written by the 12th century composer and mystic Hildegard of Bingen; Blood expands and draws out the sound until it morphs into something completely new.

A solo violin weaves and flows through haunting vocals from the NYCOS choir, led by their Artistic Director Christopher Bell. Consonants are erased and vowels stretched into an emotional, primal stream of sound. What emerges is a work of profound power, where ancient chants merge with a resonating body of orchestral strings to create a startling new sonic landscape, pulsing with visceral, muscular energy.

Bach & Blood will open with a performance at St Mary’s Church in Whitekirk as part of the 2026 Lammermuir Festival. It will then tour to St John’s Kirk in Perth, and to Glasgow Cathedral as part of the 2026 Glasgow Cathedral Festival programme.

Finally, in October, the performance will visit London’s Milton Court, as part of Scottish Ensemble’s Company in Residence season with The Barbican.

Listings Information

Wednesday 16 September, 3pm

St Mary’s Church, Whitekirk

Part of the 2026 Lammermuir Festival

Tickets: From £18, half-price tickets for under-25s

Thursday 17 September, 7pm

St John’s Kirk, Perth

Tickets: From £6, free for under-26s

Friday 18 September, 7pm

Glasgow Cathedral

Part of the 2026 Glasgow Cathedral Festival

Tickets: From £7 – Limited number of £1 tickets available for local residents.

Friday 02 October, 7.30pm

Milton Court, London

Part of Scottish Ensemble’s Company in Residence season with The Barbican

Tickets: From £24

Ticket booking at scottishensemble.co.uk

Crewe Toll Roundabout resurfacing to start on Monday

TRAFFIC DISRUPTION LIKELY FOR TWELVE WEEKS

‼️ MAJOR WORKS TO CREWE TOLL ROUNDABOUT ⚠️

Local Lib Dem councillors report: We’ve been alerted to major works to resurface the Crewe Toll roundabout and upgrade the pedestrian crossings.

The project will start on Monday 17th August and last for approximately 12 weeks.

The works will be completed via overnight shifts (between 7.30pm and 6.30am) but will require temporary closures of Crewe Road South, Crewe Road North, or the Ferry Road West approach.

Only one of these approaches will be closed at any one time.

Phase 1 will start with the closure of Crewe Road South at its junction with the Crewe Toll Roundabout. During these temporary road closures, traffic on the remaining four approaches will be managed via temporary traffic lights.

A signed diversion route will be in place for each of the closed approaches.

SCIAF launches Emergency Appeal for Colombia

SCIAF has launched an emergency appeal to help those affected by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia. 

The earthquake struck in the remote Chocó region of Colombia, where SCIAF has active projects. 

The tragedy has killed at least 224 people, with more than 2,600 injured. It’s also thought that around 1,100 homes have been destroyed and 8,000 damaged by the quake, with health centres, education institutes and community centres also affected.

These figures are likely to increase as information comes in from the most remote areas where communication has broken down, especially with thousands still missing.

Geraldine Hill is SCIAF’s Programme Officer for Colombia and lived in the Latin American country for two years. SCIAF has been working in Colombia since the 1980s. 

Geraldine said: “It’s heart-breaking to see communities in Chocó bear the brunt of this latest earthquake. These communities are already very poor and live surrounded by violence, the earthquake is just the latest challenge to confront them. Once again SCIAF’s local partners are responding as soon as the crisis happens.

“SCIAF sets aside emergency funds in our focus countries to speed up locally-led response. We have immediately released £10,000 from these funds for partners, and we are liaising closely with them to determine how best to help. 

“Through our partners in Chocó, we can immediately reach out to those most in need. Our local Caritas partners are already there, working tirelessly to provide emergency relief where it’s needed the most. Please support this response through SCIAF’s appeal.” 

To donate to SCIAF’s Colombia Earthquake appeal please visit:

sciaf.org.uk/colombia-earthquake or call us on 0141 354 5555. 

EdFest opens new live ticket box office on the Mound, powered by a giant real-time offers screen

EdFest has opened a box office on the Mound, beside the Assembly Hall. 

Above the cabin, a 4x2m screen displays a constantly-updating feed of ticket offers from across EdFest’s seven venues, pulled live from Edfest.com/offers , where participating companies can claim their show and run their own marketing offers. The box office also serves normal sales for the Assembly Hall. Edinburgh,

With Fringe well under way after a bumper first weekend, Edfest.com the shared ticketing, marketing and discovery platform uniting Assembly, C ARTS, Gilded Balloon, Just the Tonic, Pleasance, Underbelly and ZOO — has taken its offers on to the street.

A new box office on the Mound, next to the Assembly Hall, is now selling tickets in person for Assembly Hall shows, while a 4x2m screen mounted above the counter runs a live rota of daily offers from companies across all seven EdFest venues.

The screen draws directly from edfest.com/offers, the same feed available to audiences online, so any deal a company sets up, a percentage off, a fixed ticket price, or a 2-for-1, appears on the Mound within minutes.

Companies playing in any of the seven EdFest venues can claim their show on edfest.com, set their own offers, and add further content such as media reviews, giving them a direct, self-managed route to passing Fringe footfall as well as to edfest.com‘s online  audience.

The launch comes as ticket sales across edfest.com and Love the Fringe run 50% ahead of the same point last year. For the seven EdFest venues, which together account for around 70% of all Fringe ticket sales, shows can be added to a single basket and bought in one transaction directly on edfest.com, at 0% box office commission, with booking fees capped at £5 per transaction.

Beyond the Fringe, edfest.com also brings together listings for Edinburgh’s other festivals year- round, including the Edinburgh International Festival, the International Book Festival, the Film Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with booking handled directly through each festival’s own site.

The Mound box office sits alongside Love the Fringe, EdFest’s audience membership programme, now in its third year and grown from 500+ members in 2024 to 1,000+ in 2025.

Membership, from £30, gives access to free tickets, venue and bar discounts, and curated daily review digests across the festival.

William Burdett-Coutts, said: “This is a great step forward for the Fringe. Our drive is to try and reduce costs for performers and find ways of making the festival more efficient.

“With Edfest we have already reduced box office commission for companies to zero provided they put 4% of their tickets into Love the Fringe.

“A win win for the audience and shows alike. Which is why a physical, live-updating box office on the Mound matters during peak Fringe footfall, and how it gives companies a direct way to reach passing audiences.

!Audiences can also save up to £1.50 on booking fees probably making this the cheapest box office service in the city.”

EdFest and Love the Fringe are live now at edfest.com.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: Deliberate Fires

In 2024-25 the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended 10,468 deliberate outdoor fires. Many of these involve young people.

Make sure children & young people are aware of the risks of playing with fire and the consequences of deliberately setting a fire.

More: https://rb.gy/lwjmgh

fire0settingDownload