Police have released images of a man they believe may be able to assist with their investigation into a serious assault in Edinburgh that took place on Clerk Street around 10.45pm on Tuesday, 12 August 2025.
The man in the image is described as white, around 30 to 40 years old and of slim build. He was wearing a white t-shirt with a collar and carrying a black Fox Racing rucksack on his back.
Detective Sergeant Mark Richmond said: “We would encourage this man, anyone who may recognise him, or anyone with information about this incident to get in touch.”
Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 4130 of 12 August 2025. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
More people impacted by drugs have received support after the Scottish Government funded 225 community-based projects across the country.
The National Drugs Mission Funds distributed almost £13 million in grants in 2024-25 through the Corra Foundation. In 2024-25, there were more than 51,000 interactions with support services, an increase from 33,613 the previous year thanks to sustained funding.
The multi-year funding helps people in crisis and provides continued support throughout their recovery, including access to medication assisted treatment and residential rehabilitation.
Drugs Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “These funds are enabling vital, community-led work that supports people affected by drug harm with care, compassion, and dignity.
“The projects are focused on a wide range of areas, including recovery, mental health, reducing stigma and supporting young people.
“This report highlights the progress and impact of these projects and the types of support provided directly to people, their families and communities impacted by drugs. I have been especially struck by the creativity, resilience and partnership shown by organisations delivering support which is rooted locally, with more than 51,000 interactions this past year.
“I’m proud to continue the work of those who came before me, and to be part of a mission that is turning hope into action. My sincere thanks go to Corra, and to every person and project involved – these efforts are saving lives and helping to build a Scotland where recovery is real and support is always within reach.”
Corra Foundation Chief Executive Carolyn Sawers said:“Corra is honoured to work in partnership with organisations that are making a meaningful difference to the lives of people affected by drug use in Scotland.
“This report recognises the vital work of these projects, the committed efforts to reduce drug harm and the challenges encountered in addressing the issue.
“It makes clear the importance of access to multi-year funding to provide security for organisations to sustain their work.”
Take One Action has launched its 2025 film festivals in Edinburgh, with the theme of Real Utopias, using cinema as a way to gather together to explore and imagine local and global solutions to some of the pressing issues of our time.
Festival dates are 17-21 September in Edinburgh, with most screenings taking place at the freshly re-opened Filmhouse.
Our opening night event and a radical documentary workshop will be hosted by Grassmarket Community Project today and Friday.
The Edinburgh festival will feature films from Mexico to Kenya via the US, UK and Philippines and will explore ideas from community responses to climate change to trans identity and thriving, workers’ rights and speculative futures where prisons no longer exist.
We’re excited to present the Scottish premieres of creative documentaries Power Station, How To Build A Library and NIÑXS, as well as exploring unions and community organising through Amazon documentary Union and housing justice in Scotland through archive film Red Skirts on Clydeside in collaboration with local branches of Living Rent (full details on these films in Editor’s Notes below).
For the first time we have included a grassroots co-programming strand across our festivals – working with groups in different cities to hand over the reins of programming and support screenings that reflect their priorities and interests.
In Edinburgh, for our opening night event, we are screening Black Butterflies and The Miracle on George Green tonight in collaboration with Empowering Multicultural Communities Alliance, and there will also be a discussion on how to get into filmmaking for change, featuring local filmmakers Laura Carreira, Razan Madhoon and Maria Paz Gonzalez. This event has already sold out but there are still some tickets available for most of the others.
Take One Action director Rachel Hamada says: “We can’t wait to kick off our 2025 Take One Action film festivals here in Edinburgh today, and we are delighted to open with a collaboration with local migrant-led women’s group Empowering Multicultural Communities Alliance.
“That screening is already sold out, showing the demand for cultural events that are community-driven. But you can still join us for some of our other screenings – the selection of films and events we have for you embody this year’s theme of Real Utopias – both messy and beautiful. All of our screenings and workshops should hopefully leave you with a spring in your step and ideas for what to do next.”
Curator Xuanlin Tham says: “At Take One Action, we know people regularly come to us for a sense of connection and active hope, which is a responsibility we take seriously. In ever-darker and more violent, despairing times all over the world, it’s utterly crucial for us to root into a sense of imagination and possibility – to harness our collective power, understand our intertwined and collective struggles, and begin to build the world we deserve right on our doorstep.”
You can see the full programme, dates and booking details on our website here. After Edinburgh the festival will take place on 25-28 September in Glasgow, with films and workshops at GMAC; 10-12 October in Inverness at Eden Court; and 7-9 November in Dundee at the DCA and Dundee Libraries’ Steps Theatre.
Take One Action are pleased to keep building on their access provision year on year. Commitments include:
– All films presented with descriptive subtitles
– Live BSL/English interpretation at a selection of events
– Live captions at a selection of events
– Tickets available on a pay-what-you-can basis across all venues – Audience access fund for travel and childcare
– Detailed content notes and access notes available for each film
Take One Action’s 2025 film festivals have been made possible by an array of funders and supporters, including The National Lottery through Screen Scotland’s Film Festival and Screening Programme Fund, Film Hub Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council’s Local Events Open Fund, the Regenerative Futures Fund and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, as well as our generous crowdfund supporters and community members.
We are also grateful for the support of The National Lottery’s Awards for All Scotland for supporting our community-led local action and advocacy work.
Glasgow’s biggest ever city-wide event to celebrate people in recovery will be held on Glasgow Green on Saturday, 20 September from 12-5pm.
The free event – People Make Recovery – will bring together individuals, community members, families and services from across the city who are working hard to help break the stigma surrounding addiction and promote Glasgow as an inclusive city where people are free to recover without judgement.
It’s organised by the Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP), Freed Up and other key partners to celebrate the achievements as a city with an event that raises the profile of recovery in Glasgow.
People Make Recovery will be on from 12pm – 5pm at Glasgow Green with a host of activities and events for all the family.
Cllr Allan Casey, City Convener for Homelessness and Addiction Services, said: “We want to show that people can and do recover from addiction – we have around 1000 residents in the city who attend recovery groups every week.
They do remarkable work. People in recovery are often stigmatised. Our recovery communities each have a full programme of activity supported by teams of volunteers at different stages of recovery.
We hope this event will encourage people affected by addiction to come along to Glasgow Green and see for themselves that support is available and people do recover.”
Glasgow’s Recovery Communities provide peer led, aftercare support to people seeking recovery from alcohol and/or drug issues. Since their beginnings in 2014, recovery communities have grown considerably through the efforts of volunteers in recovery and are now established, commissioned services with charitable status and very significant partners in the ADP.
September is Recovery Month and serves as a vital platform to raise awareness about alcohol and substance use recovery, celebrate the achievements of individuals in recovery, and promote services and community groups supporting people in recovery.
Services across the city host events and celebrations to acknowledge the contributions made by their volunteers, the hard work of their staff and the achievement of those on their recovery journey.
Pat Togher, Chief Officer for Health and Social Care Partnership said: “This event is about showcasing the great work of our recovery volunteers and the lived experience of those who continue to make improvements in their lives despite the challenges they are faced with.
“This event focuses on moving forward positively but equally recognises the scale of complexity involved – the positive work going on in and around communities, the work of the volunteers and staff in recovery and to let people know support is available. People do recover and we should recognise and embrace this.”
Activities on the day include:
Talking Library: Individuals sharing inspirational personal recovery stories, providing hope and encouragement to others.
Resource Fair: ADP partner organisations offering information about treatment programs, peer support groups, employability, recovery events.
Main stage: live music, drama, poetry readings, spoken word, highlighting the role of creativity in recovery.
Holistic Therapies: Massage, Reiki, Sound bowls
Family Activities: Face Painting, Outdoor games, Soft Play
The event will be alcohol and drug free with snacks and soft drinks being provided by national charity, Rapid Relief Team.
The Recovery movement in Glasgow is supported by numerous partners and services, including the community Recovery Hubs, the residential crisis and stabilisation services, the residential rehab services, counselling services and fellowship groups. There are 35 organisations represented on the ADP Recovery subgroup. Key partners include Freed Up, With You, Crossreach, SISCO, Turning Point Scotland and Glasgow’s Recovery Communities.
More information about Glasgow’s Recovery Community’s can be found via links below:
Greens will protect families in Edinburgh with introduction of rent controls
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, has urged all parties to back the introduction of rent controls and stronger protections for tenants when parliament votes on the Housing Bill next week.
Scottish Government statistics show that between 2010 and 2024 average rents for a newly-let 2 bedroom flat in Edinburgh reached £1358, an increase of 104%.
This Bill is only happening because of the Scottish Greens, who introduced it to ensure that rent controls and new rights for renters were at the heart of the legislation.
Lorna Slater said: “The introduction of rent controls will be a big step forward for people in Edinburgh, and will finally help to end the imbalance of power between them and their landlords.
“The rental market is broken, and fundamental change is needed. Rents in the capital city have skyrocketed while wages have stagnated. Rogue landlords have been able to get away with ripping off renters for far too long.
“Greens introduced this bill to protect renters. No-one should be forced to shell out so much of their pay on rent, while landlords rack up cash. I am proud of the work that we have done to put renters’ rights at the heart of this legislation.
“All renters and families deserve financial stability, and should not have to worry about losing the roof over their heads. Homes are for living in and not for profiteering. We need to make unaffordable rent hikes become a thing of the past.”
Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Agesaid: “The latest statistics for 2024/25 show that, unacceptably, the number of people aged over 65 who submitted an application for homelessness in Scotland has risen to 1,195.
“This number has increased 34% over the five years since 2021/22, when 890 older people submitted an application for homelessness. Tragically, 55 of these older people have experienced rough sleeping in the past three months.
“Older people across Scotland tell us that they have significant housing issues, including unaffordable rent, low awareness of their rights as renters, and difficulty finding appropriate housing. Today’s figures are evidence that the housing system is not delivering for older people on low incomes.
“That’s why we’re calling on the Scottish Government to improve the situation for renters of all ages, including those in later life.
The current Housing Bill working its way through the Scottish Parliament will improve homelessness prevention and recent announcements on social housing are welcome. However, it’s clear we need further action to support older people, including making sure that Discretionary Housing Payments can be accessed to make up the rent shortfall faced by many low-income older renters.
“We also want to see the UK Government commit to uprating Local Housing Allowance every year, so older people, and all renters on a low income, aren’t forced to give up essentials in order to pay their rent.”
We’re thrilled to welcome author Kent Hung on Wednesday 24th September for a special evening celebrating the release of his third novel, “Stary Stary Night”.
This story concludes his moving trilogy that began with “Letting Go” and “Entitled”—three novels that explore compassion, peace, and the journey of finding closure with the past in order to move forward in life.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kent Hung about his writing, the themes behind the trilogy, and what it means to truly heal.
Minister for Mental Wellbeing Tom Arthur says a fall in the number of probable suicides last year makes him more determined to continue expanding and improving prevention work.
Official statistics from National Records of Scotland show the number of probable suicides in 2024 was 704 – a decrease of 11% compared to 2023 and the lowest number since 2017.
Visiting The Neuk mental health crisis centre in Perth, Mr Arthur said: “These figures remind us of how vital it is to support those who are struggling with their mental health.
“Every person lost to suicide is someone’s loved one and when someone takes their own life, the impact on everyone around them is devastating. My sympathy is with all those affected by the loss of a family member or friend through suicide.
“The decline in the number of probable suicides is encouraging, but we will not be complacent. Our aim is for anyone, regardless of age, who has thoughts of taking their own life, or is affected by suicide, to get the help they need.
“Together with COSLA and our partners, Suicide Prevention Scotland, we are driving forward our 10-year Suicide Prevention Strategy to deliver on our ambition to reduce suicide deaths in Scotland.
“At its heart is tackling the underlying factors and inequalities which cause suicide and supporting people most at risk including those living in poverty, middle aged men and those in rural areas.
“We increased our investment in suicide prevention to £2.8 million for the current financial year, meeting our commitment to double the suicide prevention budget in the current parliamentary term.
“We are committed to building a Scotland where everyone feels valued, supported, and connected. We will continue to listen, learn, and act – guided by evidence and compassion.”
Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, said: “Behind these statistics are individuals, families and communities deeply impacted by suicide.
“Local Government and our partners have a vital role in improving mental health and wellbeing across Scotland. We’re committed to enhancing our ongoing suicide prevention efforts to create conditions where no one feels they must take their own life.
“COSLA will continue working with the Scottish Government to deliver our joint ‘Creating Hope Together’ strategy. This includes tackling inequality across all public services – from schools and workplaces to community services.”
Wendy Given, Chief Operational Officer at The Neuk, said: “At The Neuk, we see the ripple effects of suicide every day and we are here to provide a safe, compassionate space where people in crisis are listened to, supported, and shown compassion.
“Services like ours must remain visible, valued, and sustainable, so that hope and connection are always within reach.”
The Neuk’s lead wellbeing mentor Louise McQueen said: “Working at The Neuk is more than a job, it’s being part of a community where every conversation can change a life.
“I’ve seen people walk through our doors at their lowest point and leave with hope. Being able to listen, connect, and support someone in that moment of crisis is a privilege, and it reminds me every day why this place matters.”
Anyone affected by these issues can access support from the following services:
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kent Hung about his writing, the themes behind the trilogy, and what it means to truly heal.
