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The Scottish Hindu Foundation Celebrates Diwali 2025

The Scottish Hindu Foundation, in collaboration with The Scottish Parliament, proudly hosted its Annual Diwali (Deepavali) Celebrations at Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh, bringing together communities, leaders, elected reps, and well-wishers to mark the Festival of Lights — a celebration of hope, unity, and renewal.

The evening opened with uplifting kirtans led by Prana Prabhu Ji and devotees from International Society of Krishna Consciousness [ISKCON]. The formal proceeding began with a traditional Hindu ceremony to mark and bless the occasion led by Pandits and Acharyas from all of Scotland’s Hindu Mandirs in pooja hymns with explanations, offering insight into the spiritual meaning of Diwali.

A diya-lighting ceremony by all Hindu Mandir Presidents across Scotland reinforced the spirit of unity among Hindu communities. The ceremonies capped the first Hindu cultural performance of the evening; Siddharth Bhagchandani, an ode to Lord Ganesh highlighted the vibrant classical dance performances, symbolising removal of obstacles. 

Ms Kirsty McNeil opened the evening by reflecting on the growing relationship between Queen Elizabeth House and the Scottish Hindu Foundation, marking the fourth time they have had the honour of hosting the Diwali celebration.

She spoke about the enduring lessons of Diwali — the power of community, and the triumph of light over darkness — values that continue to resonate deeply across Scotland. She also congratulated Dr Sinha on her being awarded an MBE in 2025 for her work on Hinduphobia. 

Dr Richa Sinha MBE, followed with remarks on the vital role the Scottish Hindu Foundation plays in safeguarding the community and advocating for its interests. She noted that while only a fraction of the Foundation’s work is publicly visible, achievements such as its efforts to address Hinduphobia and the success of Scotland’s International Yoga Day stand out as testaments to its ongoing impact.

Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP delivered an inspiring keynote address, sharing his joy at being part of the celebration and reflecting on what Diwali means to him and his family. He spoke warmly about the festival’s message of light overcoming darkness and the importance of carrying that light — of hope, compassion, and community — into everyday life.

Former MP Martyn Day also shared heartfelt insights about celebrating Diwali at home, drawing from his experience of being married into a Hindu family. He spoke appreciatively about the warmth, values, and traditions that make the festival so meaningful, while commending the Scottish Hindu Foundation for its tireless advocacy in representing and supporting the Hindu community across Scotland.

The event progressed to its second Hindu cultural item, a symphony of divine expression and artistic brilliance as National Award–winning artist Debabrata Pal captivated the audience with his signature dance concept, NrityaChitram — a rare confluence of live painting and classical dance performed in perfect harmony on stage.

The evening also celebrated outstanding community contributions through the Scottish Hindu Foundation Annual Awards.

The Guiding Star Award was presented to Mrs Brij Gandhi MBE in recognition of nearly five decades of dedicated service to the community and her leadership in numerous charitable projects.

The Rising Star Award honoured Ms Sowparnika Gopalakrishnan for her remarkable efforts in supporting Hindu students and her role as a founding member of the Edinburgh Universities Hindu Society.

The Hindu Business Award was conferred upon Dr Niveditha, CEO of GoKrsna, a pioneering Glasgow-based enterprise championing sattvik and sustainable food practices.

The Shooting Star Award recognised Dr Pradeep Dhvij a Neuroscientist by profession Dr Dhvij has applied his knowledge to wellbeing, technology and community enhancing ancient Ayurvedic knowledge for a modern audience. 

A Diwali-themed Interactive quiz, brought engagement and proceeding to an entertaining and joyful close to all attendees, and the grand prize won by Mr Ali representing the Ahmadi Muslims in Scotland. 

The celebration concluded with a warm vote of thanks from Mrs Naina Penman the Vice Chair of the Scottish Hindu Foundation and a networking opportunity with the sharing of Sattvic food, chai, and desserts, fostering fellowship and togetherness.

The Scottish Hindu Foundation extends heartfelt gratitude to all partners, guests, sponsors and volunteers who made this event a luminous celebration of Scotland’s multicultural spirit.

cycling safety roadshow

Cycling is growing in Scotland – for commuting, fitness, and leisure – but with it comes the responsibility to make our roads safer for everyone.

The Cycling Road Safety Roadshow brings together experts from law, policing, advocacy, engineering, and local government to share knowledge, discuss solutions, and build stronger partnerships for safer cycling across Scotland.

Whether you’re a cyclist, campaigner, policymaker, or simply passionate about safer roads, this free event is for you.

Hear from a panel of leading voices in road safety and cycling:

Roz Galloway – Partner, Cycle Law Scotland

Expert in representing injured cyclists and championing legal rights on Scotland’s roads.

Scott Runicman – Cycling UK (Scotland)

Advocate for everyday cycling and accessible infrastructure.

Simon Bradshaw – Cycling Scotland

Specialist in cycling policy, training, and active travel initiatives.

Stewart Sinclair – Police Scotland Road Policing

Insights from law enforcement on cyclist safety, collisions, and enforcement.

Eric Hill – Sweco UK

Perspective from transport planning and infrastructure design.

Malcolm Hall – Glasgow City Council

Bringing a local authority viewpoint on cycling infrastructure and policy.

ALL DONATIONS TO SAMH WHEN REGISTERING

Appeal to trace Ruth Hannah, 80, missing from Bruntsfield area

POLICE are asking for the help of the public to trace an 80-year-old woman reported missing from the Bruntsfield area.

Ruth Hannah was last seen around 10.55am yesterday (Thursday, 30 October) at a supermarket on Colinton Road.

She is described as around 5ft 4ins, of average build with short dark hair and wears glasses. When last seen she was wearing a dark-coloured coat, a grey jumper, black trousers and black shoes. She was carrying a shoulder bag with a long strap.

Inspector Caroline Herbert said: “Concerns are growing for Ruth’s welfare and it is important we make sure she is safe and well.

“We are asking anyone who has seen Ruth or knows where she might be to get in touch. Please also check gardens and sheds in case she has sought shelter.”

Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2329 of Thursday, 30 October, 2025.

New taskforce to ensure safe maternity services

Health Secretary Neil Gray has announced new measures to ensure the continued safety and quality of maternity and neonatal services, following the publication of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s (HIS) inspection report on Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

In a statement to Parliament, Mr Gray said he was establishing a new Scottish Maternity and Neonatal taskforce to provide additional leadership.

He also confirmed that NHS Lothian maternity services will be moved to level 3 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework. This will ensure additional support is in place to allow the board to act immediately to implement the 26 recommendations made by HIS. 

Mr Gray said: “We are taking these concerns extremely seriously and have escalated NHS Lothian Maternity Services to Level 3 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework. This intervention will provide enhanced support and scrutiny and I expect to see evidence of improvement before the end of the year.

“In Scotland, we are working towards our shared vision of continuous improvement in maternity services. The HIS inspection programme is giving us vital insight into what is working and what needs to change, holding services to account and ensuring lessons are learned quickly.

“To further strengthen national oversight, a new Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will be established, chaired by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health and including voices of maternity service users and frontline staff, senior figures from across the health system, independent bodies, third sector and advocacy organisations.

“Our commitment to continuous improvement across our NHS is vital. We must empower our services and staff to ensure the safest and highest-quality maternity care in Scotland.”

The Health Secretary’s statement to Parliament is available on the Scottish Government’s website.

The HIS inspection report on Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is available on its website. 

“Don’t let bonfire night turn to chaos”: Charity plea as new campaign launched across Scotland

With Bonfire Night approaching, two major campaigns were launched last week across Scotland by independent charity Crimestoppers and its youth service Fearless. As the initiatives gather momentum, the charity is today urging both young people and adults to play their part in preventing the kind of fireworks-related disorder seen last year.

The charity’s dual approach aims to reach both young people and adults, following significant fireworks-related disorder in pockets of Scotland in 2024.

Emergency workers were attacked, communities disrupted, and animals harmed – including the tragic death of baby red panda Roxie at Edinburgh Zoo – on Bonfire Night last year.

Giving young people a voice

Fearless’ new campaign has been co-designed with young people themselves. It followed a major engagement event last month that brought together over 160 young people, emergency services and third sector partners.

Insights from the event showed:

  • Adults supplying fireworks illegally to under-18s is a major concern.
  • Alcohol, peer pressure and social status are strong motivators for misuse.
  • When they hear the impact of fireworks misuse, young people really do care.
  • Young people want safer, silent community alternatives and feel unfairly stigmatised for the actions of a minority.

These findings have helped shape the Fearless campaign, which will run on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram, with content designed by and for young people. It’ll include a youth-created soundtrack, “red flag/green flag” videos and impact stories from firefighters, bus drivers, animal carers and more.

Resources have also been developed for parents, carers and youth workers, giving them the tools to start supportive conversations with young people and to understand the laws in place.

Adults must play their part

The Crimestoppers campaign, launched in parallel, is focusing on adults – calling on communities to speak up 100% anonymously about illegal firework sales, proxy purchasing and planned attacks on emergency workers.

Angela Parker, Scotland National Manager at Crimestoppers, said: ‘Our charity believes everyone has the right to feel safe. We want everyone to have a safe and fun Bonfire Night, but we are here for communities and front-line crews who experience serious disorder and fire-raising attacks.

“Our guarantee of anonymity has already prevented serious attacks on crews, so we know that it’s vital that people speak up if they know who is involved.”

Lyndsay McDade, Fearless Scotland Manager, added: “The vast majority of young people already make safe, positive choices. They care about their families, their friends, and their communities. But risks increase when there’s peer pressure, lack of knowledge or when adults put them in unsafe situations by supplying fireworks illegally.

“Behind every poor decision by a young person, there’s often an adult who has placed explosives in their hands. That’s why it’s so important that if you know who is selling, buying or supplying fireworks to under-18s, you speak up before serious harm occurs.

“This campaign is about equipping young people with knowledge and confidence, while also supporting adults to have positive conversations. By listening and working with young people, we make them part of the solution – and that benefits all of us across Scotland.”

Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “We want everyone to enjoy Bonfire Night safely and responsibly. “Misuse of fireworks puts communities and emergency services at risk and the Crimestoppers and Fearless campaigns are a stark reminder of the harms that can be caused.

“The Scottish Government has brought in a number of measures to improve firework safety, including a ban on providing fireworks to under-18s and making attacks on emergency workers using fireworks an aggravating factor that courts can take into account when sentencing offenders.

“We have also provided local authorities with powers to designate firework control zones in local areas and a number of these are/will be in place this year.

“I would encourage anyone who has information or concerns about criminality to report it. This can be done anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting the Crimestoppers or Fearless website.”

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs from Police Scotland said: “The campaigns by Crimestoppers and Fearless are vitally important to the multi-agency commitment to tackling fireworks-related disorder over the Bonfire Night period, as they encourage the public to make positive choices when it comes to fireworks and not engage in activities that can have a detrimental impact on communities across Scotland.

“We will continue to have significant local, national, and specialist resource in place throughout the key dates between Halloween and Bonfire Night to keep communities safe and respond to any incidents that arise, but we know that intervention and prevention work is equally important as the enforcement activity we undertake.

“I am grateful for the continued support and co-operation of all key partners as we work towards a shared aim of a safe and peaceful Bonfire Night period.”  

Fireworks and the Law

  • Age: You must be 18 or over to buy most fireworks.
  • Times: Normally between 6pm–11pm (midnight on Bonfire Night; 1am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year).
  • Places: Fireworks can’t be set off in the street, in parks, or in Firework Control Zones.
  • Offences: It’s illegal to sell, buy or supply fireworks to under-18s, to throw or set off fireworks in public areas like parks, streets or roads, or to cause unnecessary suffering to animals.

Local councils may also designate Firework Control Zones, and Police Scotland can introduce Dispersal Zones in areas where antisocial behaviour is a problem.

How to speak up – 100% anonymously

Both services are completely anonymous: no names, no phone numbers, no IP tracking.

Please note: No-one will ever know you contacted Crimestoppers. With Fearless.org and Crimestoppers-uk.org, computer IP addresses are never traced. For telephone calls to the independent charity’s UK Contact Centre, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility.

You will stay 100% anonymous. Always.

Edinburgh youth charities awarded over £450k in dormant assets funding

Young people in Edinburgh are set to benefit from a share of more than £3 million (£3,092,915) awarded today (Wednesday 29th October) to 40 project across Scotland run for and by young people. 

Seven youth projects from across Edinburgh will share a total award of over £450,000. These are Granton Youth, Multicultural Family Base. Passion4Fusion, Children in Scotland, Lothian Autistic Society, The Fruitmarket Gallery and Think Circus.

The dormant assets funding from Young Start and delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, helps 8-24 year olds build confidence, develop confidence and thrive in their communities.  

Each organisation will use its share of funding to deliver projects that will boost wellbeing, encourage community involvement and equip young people with the skills to excel and champion their voices. See full list of projects.
 
Passion4Fussion receives £65,529 to develop and expand its sports outreach, volunteering and peer mentoring programme to support at least 180 children and young people in Edinburgh and West Lothian, helping them to build their confidence and leadership skills.  

Vinomaandero Tjihumino, 22, joined the charity as a young person before becoming a volunteer coach.  

He said: “When I first came to Edinburgh, I had no friends and felt isolated as an immigrant. Joining Passion4Fusion changed everything, I made so many friends, grew in confidence, and later became a volunteer.

“The organisation supported me through my coaching licence, and now I’m studying a sports programme at university! I’m so proud that I can give back to my community and help others overcome the same challenges I once faced.” 

When asked what the Young Start funding means for the charity, Isaac Akhadelor, Project Coordinator, Passion4Fusion said: “This funding will be transformational for our sports programme.

“It’s empowering us to reach more young people across Edinburgh and West Lothian, using sport as a tool for inclusion, confidence-building, and community connections.” 

Another organisation, The Fruitmarket Gallery, also based in Edinburgh will use its £57,286 grant to launch and run its Youth ART Connects project, which aims to engage young people aged 16 to 25 who are blind and or visually impaired, from ethnically minoritised communities, and or identify as LGBTQIA+, to create three bodies of work to be exhibited at The Fruitmarket Gallery. 
 
The Youth ART Connects project will run over two years supporting young people through the creative process and providing career and access opportunities within the arts and culture sector.  
 
Tracy Morgan, Community Engagement Manager, The Fruitmarket Gallery said: “Delivered by Fruitmarket in partnership with leading artists and youth organisations across Scotland, this programme aims to reshape how galleries engage with young people – creating lasting change by amplifying the voices and visions of those who deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated.”  

EDINBURGH AWARDEES:

Children in Scotland £62,250

This group will use funding to run the two year ‘My Rights, My Say. Building Bridges’ project, led by young advisors aged 12-15 year old with additional support needs (ASN), aims to empower and connect children and young people with ASN across Scotland while bridging the gap with education professionals.

Granton Youth Ltd £53,481

This group will use the funding to support up to 60 young people aged 14-25, in Granton, across two years. The young people will be supported to volunteer, peer mentor and work toward accreditation with recognised awards.

Lothian Autistic Society £99,518

This group will provide wrap around support and mentoring for 45 young people with autism and other developmental disabilities, aged 12-18 years old in Edinburgh and the surrounding area, over three years.

Multi-Cultural Family Base £65,785

This group will use two years funding to deliver and expand their Young Ambassadors programme, for 60 young people aged 12-15.

Passion4Fusion £65,529

This group will use funding to develop and expand their sports outreach, volunteering and peer mentoring programme for up to 200 young people from ethnically minoritised communities, aged eight-24 years.

The Fruitmarket Gallery £57,286

This group will use their funding to engage with young people from three underrepresented groups (blind and visually impaired, ethnically minoritised communities, and LGBTQIA+ young people), over two years, in Edinburgh within the arts sector to create three bodies of work to be exhibited at the Fruitmarket Gallery.

Think Circus SCIO £49,415

This group will use the funding to support up to 65 girls from primary six to first year in high school in Edinburgh, over two years.

See below for full list of successful applications:

LOTTERY – YOUTH GRANTSDownload

Announcing the funding Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said:  “Organisations such as Passion4Fusion and The Fruitmarket Gallery empower young people to play an active leadership role in their local and wider community.

“Equipping them with the skills, network and confidence they need to unlock their full potential.  
 
“We’re incredibly grateful to support them on this journey through this latest round of Young Start funding, that will improve the lives of young people across Scotland, through 40 inspiring projects.” 

Young Start helps young people aged eight to 24 become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential. Funding of up to £100,000 is available for youth led projects.

Groups can apply by emailing advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or calling 0300 123 7110.                 

Find out more at:

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/young-start         

RIE Maternity staff ‘Overwhelmed, unsupported and not listened to’

Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Inspection report Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian

Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Wednesday 29 October) published a report relating to a Maternity Services Safe Delivery of Care inspection visit to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian. 

We carried out the unannounced inspection of maternity services at the hospital on 23-24 June 2025.   

Speaking of the report, Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “During our inspection of the maternity services we saw staff working hard to provide compassionate and responsive care in very challenging circumstances.  All interactions observed during inspection between women, babies and families were positive and respectful.

“We saw good teamwork and innovation within the maternity triage department involving extended members of the multidisciplinary team including obstetricians, midwives and the healthcare support team.

“However, during the course of this inspection, we escalated serious concerns within NHS Lothian to senior staff and Scottish Government. These concerns related to culture, oversight of patient safety and staff wellbeing within Edinburgh Royal Infirmary maternity services.

“Some staff were complimentary and described their line manager as supportive. However, the majority of the multidisciplinary team we spoke with were frustrated at staffing levels and told us this presented a safety risk, which they’d raised on multiple occasions with managers.

“They shared their concerns and feelings of being overwhelmed, unsupported and not listened to. They said this has impacted staff confidence to escalate staffing concerns.

“During the inspection we observed delays to the induction of labour process of up to 29 hours and other delays to women who required ongoing care within the labour ward due to lack of staff availability, capacity and the complexities of patient conditions.

“Staff described suboptimal skill mix and challenges in providing and maintaining one to one care for women within the labour ward, as well as delays to observations or escalation of clinical concerns.

“Our inspection has highlighted gaps in incident reporting and a reluctance to submit incident reports, with staff describing a culture of mistrust. These are concerning issues that may have significant impact on the learning from adverse events in the system and reduce opportunities to improve safety.

“Women told us of mixed experiences within the hospital, whilst some were complimentary of their care, they also informed inspectors of poor communication that left them feeling uninformed and with no ‘voice’ in their care.”

Other areas for improvement identified included fire safety requirements, safe storage of cleaning products and improvements to the environment.

Speaking of our expansion of Safe Delivery of Care inspections into maternity services, Eddie Docherty, Director of Quality Assurance and Regulation, said: “In response to Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Neonatal Mortality Review in 2024, we made a commitment to expanding our Safe Delivery of Care inspection approach to include inpatient maternity services.

“The maternity inspections will provide women, and families with an assessment of the quality of care provided by their local maternity service and an independent review of any required improvements.

“Our organisation is also producing a set of standards for maternity services, which will in time support our inspection process for maternity services.”

The maternity services inspection at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh resulted in five areas of good practice, two recommendations and 26 requirements.

An improvement action plan has been developed by NHS Lothian to meet the requirements for maternity services.

The full Lothian maternity inspection report is available to view at:

https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/edinburgh-royal-infirmary-safe-delivery-of-care-inspection-october-2025

Pre-empting the report, NHS Lothian issued a statement yesterday:

KEY MESSAGES FOR PATIENTS

You are likely to read or hear some stories in the media this week about maternity services in NHS Lothian.

A new BBC documentary will air on Tuesday and will explore challenges in maternity services across Scotland. It is looking at situations and cases in the bigger units of Glasgow and Edinburgh and is following up on the improvement work that is already underway in NHS Lothian.

Then on Wednesday, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) will publish a report into Women’s Services following two unannounced visits in June.

You might understandably have some questions or concerns about what is going on. It is also to be expected that you may feel more anxious than normal.

We can reassure you that your health, and that of your baby, is our main priority.

If you have any questions at all, please raise them. If your expert midwife can’t answer them, they will be able to find someone else who can help.

A phoneline has also been established to help answer any questions or concerns. It will be manned by our Patient Experience Team with a local contact in Women’s Services for any specific issues.

You can make contact on: Tel 0131 536 3370 (open Mon-Fri, 9am to 2pm) and on email: LOTH.Feedback@nhs.scot

Many of the things to note are:

  • We know these reports will be concerning and we apologise to women, people who use the service, and their families and can reassure them that these issues are being taken extremely seriously. 
  • A major improvement programme began last year and is already underway across women’s services in NHS Lothian.
  • Many of the points we expect to be mentioned in the BBC documentary and many of the findings in the HIS report actually reinforce the work that is already underway and serve to strengthen the improvement plan.
  • The issues are being taken extremely seriously, and we have always been clear that wider ranging matters, such as staffing, recruitment and working culture within the department, will take time to resolve.
  • Significant investment and improvements have already been made, and many new posts have been filled, but there is still more to do to ensure our staff feel supported at work, safe to raise concerns and able to thrive.
  • We are working to enhance patient safety, quality of care and improve working conditions for our teams.
  • The first and ongoing phase of improvement work focussed on patient care. The second phase is focussed on staff working culture, training and environment.
  • As part of the programme, we have improved triage and escalation increased staffing, boosted training, altered placement rotation and created robust patient pathways.
  • The report highlighted some areas of good practice, particularly our maternity triage system which is one of areas already targeted by the ongoing improvement programme.

Aldi deputy store manager celebrates 30 years of service

Aldi Livingston deputy store manager, Vikki Devlin, is marking an incredible milestone as she celebrates 30 years with the retailer. 

Vikki, 53, from Livingston, first joined Aldi in 1995 at the original Bathgate store, before transferring to the Livingston store on Almondvale Road in 1998.

Since then, she has become a familiar face to generations of customers, working her way up from Store Assistant to Deputy Store Manager and helping to shape the store’s welcoming, community atmosphere. 

Vikki joked: “I’ve spent my whole adult life at Aldi, my whole married life, my son’s whole life, I don’t really remember life before it!” 

Reflecting on her early days, Vikki said: “When I started, there were only two Aldi stores in Scotland, and I’d barely heard of it until my auntie told me about the one in Wishaw.

“The recruitment process was tough – we had to memorise a full price list and sit a test at the end of the week. If you remembered correctly, you were offered a job. Thankfully, I passed!” 

Over the years, Vikki has seen the Livingston store transform with two major extensions, new technology and countless memories made along the way.

“The changes have been incredible,” she said. “When I started, we were cash only and had to introduce a separate card area when they became the more common way to pay. Now we’ve got digital price cards, scanners and card tills, it’s a totally different world.” 

Vikki’s three decades with Aldi have been marked by enduring friendships and a real sense of family.

“I’ve made some lifelong friends who started as colleagues,” she said. “I’ve worked with Debbie for 23 years and Kevin has been my manager for 22 years.

“We’ve watched all our kids grow up together – it’s more like a family than colleagues. Our store is unusual in that so many people here have celebrated years of long service, and that’s definitely down to Kevin.

“He’s completely transformed the shop and the atmosphere.” 

Vikki’s warmth and care extend beyond her team to the customers she serves. “There’s one couple, Nan and Davie, who I’ve served my whole career, and now I serve their three daughters too. I always say they’re my adopted parents! I even get them Christmas presents,” she said.

“Some customers will queue just to come to my till, and I get birthday cards and pictures from their kids. It’s those moments that make the job so rewarding and special.” 

Having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis eight years ago, Vikki says the support from her colleagues has been “tremendous”. “They help me with day-to-day things like setting up the till and are always looking out for me. It’s that kind of support that makes Aldi such a special place to work.” 

Over the years, Vikki has also played a big part in supporting and training younger team members. “I’ve helped to train lots of young apprentices who had 101 questions,” she laughed. “Now some of them are managing their own stores across the country.”  

Kevin Regan, Store Manager, Aldi Livingston said: “Vikki is the heart of this store. Her warmth, humour and kindness shine through every day, whether she’s supporting a colleague or chatting with customers at the till.  

“She’s been a fantastic role model to everyone who’s worked alongside her and has made a real difference to our store and our community. We’re so proud of her and delighted to celebrate this incredible 30-year milestone.” 

Billions squandered on asylum accommodation by Home Office mismanagement

SCATHING HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT PUBLISHED

Flawed contract design and incompetent delivery left the Home Office unable to cope with the surge in demand for asylum accommodation, a report by the Home Affairs Committee has found.

Hotels went from a temporary stop-gap to the go-to solution for asylum accommodation, leading to a failed system that is expensive, unpopular with local communities and unsuitable for asylum seekers.  

As the cost of asylum accommodation contracts more than tripled, inadequate oversight meant failings went unnoticed and unaddressed. The Home Office failed to keep costs down and underutilised mechanisms to penalise providers for poor performance and reclaim excess profits.

No performance penalties are applied for poor performance at Napier, Wethersfield or asylum hotels, despite hotels accounting for over 75% of spending on asylum accommodation. 

Break clauses in 2026 and the end of the contracts in 2029 offer the Home Office an opportunity to end the failed system. However, without a clear long-term plan and the institutional capability to deliver a model that is more effective and offers value for money, past failures risk being repeated, the Committee warns. 

The Home Office’s approach has been a series of hasty, short-term responses. It must now learn from past failures and deliver a clear long-term strategy for asylum accommodation that provides value for money, adequate standards of accommodation and takes account of the impact on local communities.  

Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, Dame Karen Bradley said: “The Home Office has presided over a failing asylum accommodation system that has cost taxpayers billions of pounds.

“Its response to increasing demand has been rushed and chaotic, and the department has neglected the day-to-day management of these contracts. The Government needs to get a grip on the asylum accommodation system in order to bring costs down and hold providers to account for poor performance.  

“Urgent action is needed to lower the cost of asylum accommodation and address the concerns of local communities. While reducing hotel use is rightly a Government priority, there will always be a need for flexibility within the system, and the Home Office risks boxing itself in by making undeliverable promises to appeal to popular sentiment. It shouldn’t set itself up for more failure.   

“The Home Office has not proved able to develop a long term strategy for the delivery of asylum accommodation. It has instead focused on short term, reactive responses.

“There is now an opportunity to draw a line under the current failed, chaotic and expensive system, but the Home Office must finally learn from its previous mistakes or it is doomed to repeat them.”

Scotland urged to put housing justice at heart of next election

People with lived experience of homelessness are uniting with dozens of leading organisations to demand urgent action on Scotland’s worsening housing crisis.

Their joint manifesto will be launched today at Scotland’s Annual Homelessness Conference, hosted by Homeless Network Scotland, on 27 and 28 October in Perth.

It calls on all political parties to commit to a programme of housing justice that will ensure everyone in Scotland has a safe, secure place to call home.

The scale of the crisis has been laid bare in recent statistics, with more than 17,200 households currently trapped in temporary accommodation, a 6% increase in one year, including over 10,000 children.

Nearly 250,000 people are on waiting lists for a social home, and 40,688 households have applied to their local council for help with homelessness last year. On average, those in temporary accommodation wait 238 days for a settled home.

The call comes from members of Everyone Home, a collective of nearly 40 third and academic sector organisations focused on ending homelessness, and All In for Change, a platform that unites lived experience and practitioner insight of homelessness across Scotland to enable decision-makers to drive real change.

All in for Change said: “In the Change Team, we see every day how the housing emergency hurts people who are homeless and those trying to help them. Frontline workers do amazing work, but they’re trapped in a broken system with too little housing and support to fix it.

“Some of us have been homeless ourselves, so we know the reality first-hand. But we believe this can be made better for others, with real political commitment and funding being used more wisely.

“We’ve laid out clear expectations for party manifestos, and we’ll keep pushing to shield people from the worst of homelessness in this housing emergency.”

Set almost 18 months after Scotland’s housing emergency was formally declared, the manifesto outlines a practical, values-led approach to resolving a crisis that continues to deepen inequality and exclusion.

It sets out five priority actions for the next Scottish Government, under the banner of SCALE. It calls for the launch of a national ‘Big Build’ programme to dramatically increase the supply of social housing, with a target of nearly 16,000 new homes each year of the next parliament backed by at least £8.8bn.

The manifesto urges political leaders to coordinate support services more effectively, so that housing is fully integrated with health, social care and justice to ensure no-one falls through the cracks.

It demands that public funding decisions align with housing priorities, including the use of tax powers and long-term investment plans that can give frontline workers and those they support greater certainty.

It insists that housing rights must be protected and fully resourced, warning that too many local authorities are currently struggling to meet their legal obligations.

Finally, it calls for fast-track housing and support for groups facing systemic exclusion, including people affected by poverty, discrimination, trauma, gender-based violence and UK immigration policy.

Maggie Brünjes, chief executive, Homeless Network Scotland, said: “Scotland’s housing emergency is a plan gone wrong, driving homelessness and deepening inequality. To reverse this, we must invest in more social housing, higher incomes, proactive prevention and support that is fully integrated across health, housing, justice and social care. 

“The Everyone Home collective manifesto is a plan to put that right and a call for Housing Justice. Combining first-hand, professional and academic insight, the manifesto outlines real-world measures to reduce inefficient spending, prevent the worst harm among the worst off, and scale solutions for a Scotland where everyone has a home.”

The manifesto launch will take place at Scotland’s Annual Homelessness Conference, this year titled ‘It’s Personal: the human face of the housing emergency’.

The two-day event will shine a light on the real-world, human impact of the crisis, through people with lived experience, advocates and experts sharing knowledge and practical ideas to deliver lasting change.

Helen Murdoch, Asst. Director of Strategic Operations & Development (Scotland) at conference delivery partner The Salvation Army, said: “This year’s conference takes place in the shadow of a housing and homelessness crisis that tests our compassion, our resources and our collective resolve.

“The demand for services that support people experiencing homelessness is far outstripping supply – that must change and change quickly. Conference is an opportunity to explore our role in bringing about that change and The Salvation Army is proud to be an event partner.

“It is also a time to look beyond the headlines and statistics, to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary courage and resilience of teams working in communities, the third sector, local authorities and religious bodies to support people experiencing homelessness.”

Keynote speakers include Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan MSP, who will address the event, renowned children’s rights campaigner and author Baroness Floella Benjamin, and rising social justice advocate Eireann McAuley, named one of the Young Women’s Movement’s ‘30 under 30′.

Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE said: “Having a safe and secure home is the key building block for living a happy and fulfilling life, yet today that basic human need is being denied to too many people. The impact on them is heartbreaking.

“All it takes is the grit, perseverance and determination to face the challenges and to keep on pushing for positive change. There is no shortage of people willing to fight this fight and I support all those who are working to change people’s lives.

“When I address Scotland’s annual homelessness conference I hope to energise and inspire the audience, to bring them joy amid the struggle. I want to remind people that even though it sometimes doesn’t feel like it, the work they do every day can and does change lives. So never give up.”

The launch marks the start of a national conversation aimed at ensuring housing and homelessness are top-tier priorities ahead of the 2026 election.