While you’re celebrating the festive season, keep your personal safety your top priority.
Plan how you’re getting home before you go out.
Stick with friends.
Charge your mobile.
Don’t do drugs – there is no safe way to do so.
You can still be over the limit the morning after and if you’re caught drink-driving you can get:
– a minimum 12-month driving ban
– a criminal record
– up to 6 months in prison
– a fine of up to £5,000
For more information visit https://orlo.uk/8QAtj
Our new exhibition on the Mezzanine, Books as Art, opens this Saturday 3rd January, our first day of services in 2026.
This exhibition presents a selection of artists’ books from the Art & Design Library, revealing the remarkable range and freedom of a form that continues to challenge how we see, read, and move through the world.
Bringing together works from Britain and abroad, the exhibition traces the many ways artists use the book as a site of exploration—from walking, observing, and documenting the everyday, to testing the boundaries between text and image, material and message, intimacy and public voice.
The not proven verdict will be abolished in all new criminal trials in Scotland from tomorrow – 1 January 2026 – to help create a clearer, fairer and more transparent decision-making process.
On the same date, the jury majority required for a conviction will move from the current simple majority to at least two-thirds of the 15 jurors. In addition, measures to enable more detailed research into jury deliberations will also be commenced.
Abolition of not proven and the associated jury reforms are key measures in the landmark Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act, passed by the Parliament in September.
The Act will also make reforms to the Parole Board for Scotland including that the Board must take into account whether a prisoner has information about the disposal of a victim’s remains but has not disclosed it, and must consider the safety and security of any victim and/or family members as part of their decisions on release. These changes will be implemented through changes to the Parole Board Rules in 2026.
The Scottish Government has already announced plans to commission, as a priority, research into how ‘rape myths’ – false, stereotyped and prejudicial beliefs about sexual assaults – may affect verdicts.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Victims, families and support organisations campaigned long and hard for the abolition of the not proven verdict and I am pleased that this historic change will take effect for all new criminal trials from 1 January.
“Not proven is a widely misunderstood verdict and one with no statutory definition. I have heard compelling evidence about the devastating impact that the not proven verdict can have on complainers because of its lack of clarity or lack of closure for them, and it can leave a lingering stigma for the accused. Such a verdict risks undermining public confidence, while the two opposing verdicts of guilty and not guilty are unambiguous and clear.
“Moving from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority for a criminal conviction alongside the change to a two-verdict system is a proportionate and balanced reform that is mindful of the unique nature of the Scottish system.
“The reforms to parole to be introduced in 2026 will bring a further positive change for victims and their families by strengthening in law further factors that the Parole Board must consider in their decision-making. We want to ensure the parole system works for all those involved, which is also why we recently led a public consultation to inform improvements and ensure the system is transparent, trauma-informed, and delivers for everyone.”
The not proven verdict will be abolished for all new criminal trials in Scotland from 1st January 2026, under regulations laid at Holyrood.
This historic reform is part of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform Act, passed in @ScotParl in September.
Ronaq, one of Edinburgh’s leading Indian restaurants, is serving up a new year treat for customers with 50 per cent off its entire menu for the month of January.
Having introduced the offer last year, bosses have been inundated with enquiries from diners keen to know if there were plans to run something similar to kick off 2026.
The good news is that the big discount will once again be running from New Year’s Day at the Comely Bank eatery, which is also a BYOB.
Whether it’s fragrant biryanis, signature karahi dishes or Ronaq specials, customers can now enjoy it all at a fraction of the price.
“The name Ronaq means brightness and joy and we hope to bring lots of that to our customers in January with this offer,” said owner Mohammed Shoaib, who has been serving the finest Indian and Pakistani cuisine since opening in 2014.
“It was really popular last January and I lost count in recent weeks of the number of people asking if we were going to do the same this time.
“We want to give back to our loyal customers and what better way than by providing them with a memorable Ronaq dining experience at a memorable price?”
Opening times from 1 January are noon-2pm and 5pm-10pm, seven days a week
Make sure you order and collect your prescriptions early and know what to do if you need urgent care.
Check out our festive hours and advice on our website: https://services.nhslothian.scot/rightcare/public-holidays/
If you need emergency care out with opening hours, please call NHS 24 on 111.
More than 4,600 Self Assessment customers filed their tax return on Christmas Day.
In total, 37,435 customers filed between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, suggesting that for some, festive filing is becoming as much a tradition as watching the King’s Speech (or avoiding the washing up).
Not everyone’s convinced, though. When HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) spoke to Self Assessment customers at the Manchester Christmas markets, turkey – not tax returns – was firmly on the menu. You can watch their reactions on YouTube.
The festive filing breakdown shows:
HMRC is encouraging Self Assessment customers, who have not yet filed their tax return, to visit GOV.UK to start theirs today.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Millions of customers have already completed their tax returns and can start 2026 with one less thing to worry about.
“For anyone yet to file, don’t leave it until the last minute. Filing now means you know exactly what you owe and have time to arrange payment. Search ‘Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK to get started.”
Customers who file before 30 December may have the option of paying any tax owed through their PAYE tax code. Filing early also means more time to explore payment options if needed.
The HMRC app makes it simple to pay your Self Assessment bill and set up payment reminders. Customers can also find help online including YouTube videos, webinars and step-by-step guidance covering different sections of a tax return. For a list of all payment methods, search ‘Pay your Self Assessment tax bill’ on GOV.UK.
The new High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) PAYE digital service means thousands of Child Benefit claimants who are only in Self Assessment to pay HICBC can now opt out and can choose to pay the charge back through their tax code.
Eligible customers can call HMRC to de-register from Self Assessment before the filing deadline in a tax year. Where a tax return has already been sent, customers can choose to de-register from the following tax year. HMRC will then amend their tax code and they will be registered to pay HICBC through PAYE.
Customers do not need to include their 2025 Winter Fuel Payment, or Pension Age Winter Heating payment in Scotland, on their tax return for the 2024 to 2025 tax year as payments received in Autumn 2025 will be recovered in the 2025 to 2026 tax return, due by 31 January 2027.
HMRC urges customers to stay alert to scams. Never share your HMRC login details with anyone. Find advice on spotting scams on GOV.UK.
Are you interested in developing or rekindling a love of reading in 2026?
Introducing Januread, an exciting opportunity for you to develop the reading habits you want in the new year.
Recently, the Reading Agency found that only 50% of UK adults are regular readers, with 35% describing themselves as ‘lapsed readers’. Whether you’re a new reader, a lapsed reader, or are just looking for a wee reading re-set, Januread can help you develop the reading habit that will help you enjoy them more often.
Why does reading matter? Reading is an easy, accessible way to do something for you. Research proves that it:
Our Januread emails will offer you plenty of reading tips and advice – not to mention some fantastic book recommendations.
Once you’ve signed up, you can expect a welcome email followed by a series of emails throughout January.
To take part or to find out more, visit
Januread: Restarting the reading habit – Scottish Book Trust
Five-star homebuilder Cruden has donated £2,500 to St John Scotland through its charitable arm, the Cruden Foundation, supporting the charity’s vital work in providing Public Access Defibrillators, CPR awareness, and patient transport services across the country.
The charity’s work helps ensure people throughout Scotland have access to life-saving equipment and support when it matters most.
Cruden’s donation will help the organisation continue expanding access to defibrillators and CPR within local communities, equipping more people with the skills and confidence needed to act in an emergency.
Fraser Lynes, CEO of Cruden, said: “This is a cause close to all of our hearts. Earlier this year, one of our assistant site managers was very thankfully saved by the use of an on-site defibrillator when suffering from cardiac arrest.
“It highlighted the importance of having lifesaving defibrillators and trained CPR providers on sites, making all the difference in an emergency.
“Supporting St John Scotland allows us to give back to the communities we build in and help ensure others have the same chance of receiving timely, life-saving support.”
Barri Millar, Chief Operating Officer of St John Scotland, said: “We are very grateful for Cruden’s generous donation. The services we provide to install and support community defibrillators across the country offer vital equipment that, in an emergency, can truly mean the difference between life and death.
“Cruden’s contribution will help us expand this essential work even further, ensuring more people have access to life-saving equipment and the confidence to use it. We are truly thankful for their support.”
The Cruden Foundation is a private charitable funder established in 1957 and is part of Cruden’s wider commitment to supporting the communities where it lives and works. To date, the Cruden Foundation has donated more than £8 million and supports over 150 charities each year, helping organisations make a meaningful difference to people’s lives throughout the country.
Only a sustainable, multi-year funding model for Scotland’s third sector can address growing pressures on workers across the charity sector, new research has found.
The 2025 Voluntary Workforce Survey, carried out by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) – Scotland’s national membership organisation for the voluntary sector – spoke to more than 1,300 people working for charities and voluntary organisations.
Funding insecurity and uncertainty, and general funding shortages impacting on pay and resources, are all having a negative impact on staff, with representatives from across the sector warning that unless action is taken, the situation will not improve.
1 in 4 survey respondents reported being on fixed-term or temporary contracts, rising to 1 in 3 for front-line workers. This is far higher than the wider workforce where only 1 in 10 workers is on a non-permanent contract.
More than a quarter of voluntary sector workers (27%) felt it was quite or highly likely they would lose their job in the next 12 months, twice the rate reported in the wider workforce (13%).
Alongside this stress about their future, the number of staff who felt they had a good work-life balance has also dropped from 60% to 50% between 2015 and 2025.
Many respondents spoke of workloads increasing due to problems recruiting and retaining staff, often a knock-on effect of funding cuts and funding insecurity.
SCVO are calling for the Scottish Government’s own funding principles to align with SCVO’s definition of Fair Funding – developed through significant research and engagement with the voluntary sector.
This includes longer-term funding of three years or more; flexible, unrestricted core funding, which enables organisations to provide security; timely decision-making and the inclusion of inflation-based uplifts and full costs, including core operating costs in grants.
Despite the pressures facing them, workers also underlined their belief in their work, and the meaningful services they provide. 84% of respondents said that making a real difference to people and communities is one of best aspects of their work, while 87% saw their work as useful – far higher than the wider Scottish workforce.
While still generally positive, job satisfaction is down 15 percentage points from 79% in 2015 to 64% in 2025. The main factors driving this downturn in satisfaction appear to be higher workloads and stress, and most importantly funding.
SCVO Chief Executive, Anna Fowlie said: “Scotland’s voluntary sector is powered by people who care deeply about making a difference. Our workforce survey shows a strong sense of purpose among voluntary sector workers, and commitment to the work they do day in, day out.
“But it also highlights the significant strain being put on voluntary sector workers as a result of the financial pressures that have become all too familiar to the voluntary sector.
“Voluntary sector leaders will, of course, be up for the challenge of delivering rewarding, fair work. Too often this is being undermined by public sector funders. Budget cuts, short-term funding cycles, late payments, incoherent decision-making and poor communication have become all-too familiar.
“This needs to change – and our politicians know it. Ahead of the Scottish Budget and Spending Review, the Scottish Government has a real chance to create a funding landscape that is multi-year, sustainable, flexible and accessible. The people and communities served by Scotland’s dedicated voluntary sector workers deserve nothing less.”
Lucinda Godfrey, CEO of Charity Leadership Scotland, commented: “These numbers confirm what many leaders already feel: the work is vital, but the weight of it is heavy.
“At Charity Leadership Scotland, we are committed to collaborating on powerful research that assesses the wellness of Scotland’s voluntary sector and ideally leads to meaningful action to protect and support the individuals and organisations underpinning it.”
The voluntary sector in Scotland employs just over 136,000 people, meaning that 5% of Scotland’s 2.66million workers are employed in the voluntary sector.
Shauna Wright, lead officer for fair work in Unite the Union, commented: “Unite the Union stands with care and not‑for‑profit workers who have faced underfunding in their sector, resulting in higher stress levels and concerns about their future employment opportunities in an industry where they have not felt valued for the work they provide.
“Urgent action is needed to secure fair pay terms and conditions.”
We’ll collecting your Christmas tree when you’re finished with it, for free.
If it’s over 6 foot, please cut it in half before you put it out.
Check when we’re collecting from your street at:
