Just Transition Fund reopens for applications

£8.5 million to support new projects

Communities across the North East and Moray will benefit from over £8 million of funding to create jobs in low carbon industries and enhance green and net zero skills.  

The Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund (JTF) helps finance industry and community projects working towards the transition to net zero by creating green jobs, supporting innovation, and securing the highly skilled workforce of the future.   

The JTF will be reopen for applications for the first time since 2022, and the Scottish Government is urging organisations, businesses and communities to apply for funding to support new projects. 

Since 2022, a total of £75 million has been invested through the fund supporting projects including:     

  • a ‘Digital Innovation Lab’ which provides immersive technology to help the construction sector decarbonise   
  • a travelling skills hub which provides training, STEM engagement and job up-skilling sessions to communities across the North East    
  • interventions designed to meet training needs based on work done to identify net zero training opportunities and areas of future demand  
  • industry-led development of an energy skills passport, a free tool for offshore oil and gas workers to identify training and qualifications routes into roles in the offshore wind sector  

Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin announced the JTF will reopen for applications during a site visit to offshore wind assembly company, Sarens PSG.

The organisation received £150,000 through the JTF’s Supply Chain Pathway and Energy Transition Challenge Fund delivered by ETZ Ltd, to upgrade their site to train the next generation of offshore wind technicians, engineers and operators.   

Ms Martin said: “Scotland’s innovation, expertise and vast renewable energy resources will not only benefit the planet – but deliver new economic Opportunities and new jobs for households and communities across the country.   

“It is vital that as we move towards net zero, workers, communities and businesses are able to capture the opportunities that the transition brings, and I have seen first-hand today the positive impact that the Just Transition Fund is having on people in the North East.    

“From enabling pioneering research that is accelerating the energy transition to providing skills interventions that directly support the transferability of the existing workforce – the Just Transition Fund is helping to safeguard jobs and livelihoods in the region for future generations.    

“This new £8 million funding from the Scottish Government responds directly to the immediate priorities within the region and will support projects with a specific focus on jobs, skills and economic opportunities.

“I strongly believe the North East will continue to be a titan in energy and that Scotland’s greatest contribution to the global climate challenge is our renewable energy potential.

“The Just Transition Fund is an important part of a wider programme of investment to deliver on that potential, including the Energy Transition Fund and our £125 million investment in the City Region Deal.” 

Maggie McGinlay, Chief Executive of ETZ Ltd, said: ““The supply chain is the very lifeblood of our energy sector and it is vital that we provide companies with the support required to capitalise on the vast opportunities that energy transition provide.

“The Challenge Fund was established to accelerate the development of new industry-related facilities, new equipment and existing infrastructure upgrades – including digital infrastructure – and to drive innovation and market entry into low carbon and green energy opportunities.

“To date, the fund has awarded £5.27 million to 41 companies across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray, successfully unlocking an additional £12.85 million in private investment so the strong appetite for energy transition across the region’s supply chain is evident. We welcome the Scottish Government’s ongoing support for this targeted initiative and the role ETZ Ltd has played as a valued partner of choice in delivering it.”

David Reid, Highlands and Islands Enterprise Area Manager for Moray, said: “We’re pleased that JTF funding for 2025-26 has opened for applications.

“Moray has many close ties, economically and geographically, to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. This puts us in a strong position to capitalise on being part of the area on which the fund is focused.

“I’d therefore encourage businesses, third sector enterprises and public sector partners with projects across Moray to register their interest in support from the fund.”

Applications will open on Tuesday 6 May at Just Transition Fund.   

Mercedes Azpilicueta: Fire on the mountain, light on the hill

COLLECTIVE ANNOUNCES NEW SUMMER EXHIBITION

We’re excited to announce our next exhibition, Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill, by leading visual and performance artist Mercedes Azpilicueta, originally from Buenos Aires, now based in Amsterdam. 

The exhibition will run from 20 June – 7 September 2025, and will be her first solo show in Scotland. Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill will form part of Edinburgh Art Festival’s programme, taking place from 7 – 24 August 2025.

The exhibition is centred on a monumental human-scale Jacquard tapestry entitled ‘Potatoes, Riots and Other Imaginaries’ (2021). Accompanying the tapestry will be a sound piece that introduces whispered gossip and glimpses of songs from social demonstrations.

This mixed media installation weaves together historic and contemporary themes – inspired by the artist’s research of the 1917 Potato Riots in the Jordaan neighbourhood of Amsterdam, directly organised by working class women of this community in response to the extreme food shortages they faced during the First World War.

The work also references contemporary collective action in the form of Ni Una Menos – the feminist grass roots social movement in Argentina, in which Azpilicueta has played an active role since 2015.

A newly commissioned performance on Friday 22 August will draw connections between the themes of the tapestry to Collective’s site on Calton Hill. 

Azpilicueta has come together with award winning, Edinburgh-based artist and choreographer Janice Parker to devise this live event along with other Scottish performers. The exhibition will present drawings relating to the choreography and costumes that will be worn as part of the performance for Edinburgh Art Festival’s closing weekend. 

Azpilicueta’s work is committed to an exploration of care and resistance, often considering and revealing less well-known stories from history, and platforming the role of women who have made a difference in the past, and who continue to inspire in the present. 

Her recent exhibitions include a solo exhibition at Centro de Creación Contemporánea de Andalucía-C3A, Córdoba (2024), alongside presentations at the Barbican, London (2024) and Gasworks, London (2021).

Health Secretary Tours Site of Scotland’s Largest Vaccine Producer

Neil Gray MSP visits Valneva Scotland

Scotland’s largest vaccine producer, Valneva Scotland Ltd, recently welcomed Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, for a tour of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Livingston.

Valneva is a specialty vaccine company that develops, manufactures and commercialises prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases with unmet medical needs. Most recently Valneva was awarded Best Biotech of 2025 at the 16th Annual Vaccine Industry Excellence Awards in Washington D.C. 

During the visit, Neil met with some of Valneva Scotland’s leadership team and wider employees at its manufacturing centre of excellence in West Lothian. The tour covered various aspects of Valneva’s operational lifecycle from the Quality Control Sample Lab in the Manson building to the cleanroom manufacturing area in the new Almeida facility which boasts some of the highest specification lab space in the UK. 

Scottish Government Health and Social Care Secretary Neil Gray said: “I was pleased to see the continued success of Valneva in Scotland and its valuable contribution to improving health and the economy.

“Vaccine development for infectious diseases can help keep people safe at home and abroad; I congratulate Valneva on their pioneering and ongoing research in this field.

“Life sciences is a key sector of our economy, recognised internationally for its distinctive businesses and research institutions. As well as protecting people from infectious diseases, Valneva’s research has potential to support high value jobs.”

Greig Rooney, Managing Director at Valneva Scotland Ltd added: “It was a pleasure to welcome Neil to our manufacturing facility and showcase the ingenuity of our talented workforce and the sustainable practices we deliver every day.

“The UK continues to be a global leader in life sciences investment, thanks to its thriving manufacturing sector, and we’re proud to play our part in that success. 

“To realise the ambitions of the UK’s Life Sciences Vision, we must continue to build momentum and strengthen domestic biotech manufacturing capacity.

“At Valneva, we remain committed to working closely with the Office for Life Sciences, the UK Government and devolved administrations to improve public health outcomes and support the UK’s world-class research and development ecosystem.”

For more information about Valneva, please visit: www.valneva.com. 

Major new displays at National Galleries Scotland

Modern One to offer a chance to discover works by leading modern and contemporary artists for free

Discover some of the biggest names in modern and contemporary art at Modern One this Summer with a series of free ARTIST ROOMS displays in Edinburgh from 12 July 2025.

The national touring collection, cared for jointly by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate, offers the opportunity to see compelling works by pioneering artists of our time. Experience impactful new displays by Louise Bourgeois, Helen Chadwick and Robert Mapplethorpe, each offering distinctive and diverse approaches to the ideas of self-expression, identity, and the complexity of our inner life.

Visitors will encounter Louise Bourgeois’s giant Spider (1994), standing at an impressive three metres high, innovative works by Helen Chadwick, and Robert Mapplethorpe’s striking self-portraits.

Themes in these three exciting ARTIST ROOMS presentations have provided the starting point for a series of new displays across Modern One, showcasing further works from the nation’s magnificent collection.

Explore paintings, drawings, prints and photography by artists such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Sarah Lucas, Jasleen Kaur, Edvard Munch, Lee Miller and many more! Offering something for everyone, these displays provide a place to think, dream, and reflect.

Explore the works of French-American Louise Bourgeois, one of the most influential artists of her generation whose career spanned eight deades, from the 1930s until 2010. Her endlessly inventive work, inspired by her own experiences, included paintings and drawings, sculptures using fabric and rubber, and monumental installations.

The display will draw out the ways Bourgeois used art as an act of catharsis, with works exploring selfhood, family connections, motherhood and memory. Visitors will discover two important works on paper – 10 am is When You Come to Me (2005) and Spirals (2005) – and a rare early painting, made by Bourgeois in 1946-7.  

Discover her late sculpture Untitled (1996) made when Bourgeois was eighty-five, representing a portrait of the artist’s aging body using clothes and undergarments she had worn during her lifetime.

Be inspired by the radical, sensuous, and often playful works of British artist Helen Chadwick.  One of the first women artists to be nominated for the Turner Prize in 1987, her innovative and unconventional use of materials was hugely influential on a younger generation of British artists.

Her death in 1996 at 42 curtailed a career marked by inventive transgression, questioning gender representation and the nature of desire. Early photographic works in this display will explore how she used her own body to consider autobiography, self-knowledge, the cycles of life and familial relationships.

Discover how Chadwick developed her practice to incorporate other matter as stand ins for the body, as found in Self Portrait (1991) and Meat Abstract (1989), both held in Scotland’s collection.  

The display will feature Chadwick’s major sculptural installation, Piss Flowers (1991-2), lent by Tate having recently been donated as part of the D.Daskalopoulos Collection Gift. Throughout all her work Chadwick addressed deeply philosophical questions about the interconnectedness of physical and emotional states, life and death, beauty and decay, and attraction and repulsion.

ARTIST ROOMS features one of the largest and best collections of photographic works by the American Robert Mapplethorpe in existence.

A pioneer of black-and-white photography, within his relatively short career, Mapplethorpe was recognised as one of the most significant fine art photographers of the late 20th century, making images that both challenge and engage with classical notions of beauty.

The display will focus on a selection of the artist’s iconic self-portraits, demonstrating how Mapplethorpe examined his own persona. Made over a period of more than 10 years, they show the powerful ways Mapplethorpe captured the many facets of his own evolving identity.

Delve into displays showcasing the breadth of Scotland’s modern and contemporary collection as you wander through the rest of Modern One. Come face to face with compelling self-portraits by some of the most well-known international artists of the 20th and 21st century.

Be moved by striking works exploring connection and care, including two works by Turner Prize winning artist Jasleen Kaur acquired in 2024 for the nation.

Explore how artists such as Bill Viola, Pablo Picasso, Everlyn Nicodemus, Pat Douthwaite and Don McCullin have addressed personal and collective grief.

Find your moment of pause and reflection in a room pairing contemplative paintings by acclaimed American abstract artist, Agnes Martin (from the ARTIST ROOMS collection) with Shirazeh Houshiary’s 1992 Round Dance series, offering a place of calm.

Dive into Summer with captivating experiences at Modern One. Families can pack a picnic and relax in the stunning grounds surrounding the gallery. On arrival you will be in awe of the spiralling Landform in front of the gallery, designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks.

Pick up a free copy of the sculpture trail for kids or download it before you arrive and enjoy it on your device as you set off to discover sculptural works by major artists including Barbara Hepworth, Joan Miró and Tracey Emin.

A Family Art Basket can be collected for free, packed with everything you need to find, chat and make together – be inspired by the fascinating art both inside and outside the gallery and allow your own creativity to flow.

Lucy Askew, Chief Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art said: ‘We’re delighted that from this July, visitors to Modern One can explore new, free displays from the nation’s collection.

“Art can be a source of insight and delight, helping us make sense of our place in the world. At the heart of these displays will be presentations of works by Louise Bourgeois, Helen Chadwick and Robert Mapplethorpe, featured as part of our ARTIST ROOMS collection.

“All three artists considered deeply what it is to be human, expressing this in dynamic, intriguing and often playful ways. Their art not only reflects shared experiences, bringing attention to the things that connect us, but also offers a window onto different perspectives.

“We hope visitors will be inspired by their vision and creativity, and by the work of the many other impressive and engaging artists featured. There is truly something for all to discover.’

Keep Scotland Beautiful: Natural Scotland Week

LIVE LESSONS 12 – 16 MAY 2025

We are very excited to announce that our full programme of #LiveLessons for Natural Scotland Week is now available to view on our website.

Throughout the week, we have lessons for P4-S2 featuring Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and NatureScot.

On Tuesday we have an amazing story time for early years to P3 with author Allison Galbraith. Thursday includes a brilliant lesson in #Gaelic. We round off the week with an all ages assembly.

All lessons include a follow up activity and there is an overall activity for the week to make a place for nature with prizes to be won.

Want to join us? Visit https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/live-lessons/ for more information.

Thousands of veterans to benefit from new UK-wide support network

Veterans across the UK will have easier access to essential care and support under a new VALOUR system being announced today, as part of the Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who have served through the Plan for Change.

  • As nation prepares to celebrate VE Day, the Government announces new UK-wide veteran support system, called VALOUR.   
  • New VALOUR network will deliver easier access to care and support with new regional networks connecting housing, employment and health services in every corner of the UK. 
  • Backed by £50m of funding, VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is truly data driven.  

Veterans across the UK will have easier access to essential care and support under a new VALOUR system being announced today, as part of the Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who have served through the Plan for Change.  

£50m of funding will establish a new network of VALOUR-recognised support centres across the UK and and deploy Regional Field Officers to connect local, regional and national services – while harnessing the power of data to shape better services.  

Defence Secretary John Healey MP and Veterans Minister Al Carns are announcing the new service during VE week, marking a major milestone in meeting this government’s manifesto promise to fully implement the Armed Forces Covenant.    

The new Regional Field Officers will bring together charities, service providers and local government to provide more evidence and feedback driven support for veterans, across housing, employment, health and welfare.  

The first VALOUR support centres will be operational next year, tailored to the specific needs on the ground and focused on the demands for each location. This could include advice on how to book GP appointments, access welfare or support with housing issues. 

The Ministry of Defence is announcing today it will invite veterans to help design VALOUR through research, focus groups and feedback. While VALOUR will initially focus on veterans, the service is designed to be scaled up to support the wider Armed Forces community in the future.  

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: “The nation owes a duty to those who’ve served to defend our country, and it is only right that the Government steps up our support to them. The Armed Forces set most people up for success in life but when veterans need help then support is too often a postcode patchwork.  

“Our plan to develop a UK-wide veterans support service will work with enterprising health, employment and housing charities and it is backed by the one of the largest ever Government funding commitments to veterans.  

“This Government is delivering on our Plan for Change and renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve.”

VALOUR will harness the power of data to shape better service provision and ensure the right type of support is available for veterans at a local level.   

As the delivery arm, field officers will work with local services including local government bodies, to share best practice and guidance. This will include applying the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, the nation’s promise to support the armed forces community and their families, which will soon gain legal footing as part of the manifesto commitment. 

Veterans Minister, Al Carns, said: “As a veteran who served for 24 years, I recognise the unique challenges they’ve faced and the skills they possess. This new investment will ensure that every veteran, regardless of where they live, can access joined up support services in the way they need it.   

“We are creating the UK’s first ever data-driven framework for veterans’ services, ensuring our resources are channelled to where they’re most needed and can make the greatest difference to those who have courageously served their country.”

Director General of the British Royal Legion, Mark Atkinson, said:  “The Royal British Legion welcomes today’s announcement to improve and better coordinate government support for veterans under VALOUR.

“Whilst there are a range of government services already in place for veterans, these services can vary depending on where you live and your access to information about the services available. Improved coordination across health, housing, employment, and mental wellbeing services is crucial to helping veterans lead successful lives.  

“We look forward to working closely with government and partner organisations to help turn these commitments into meaningful change.”

Over the past year, the Government has delivered for veterans, including by removing the local connection requirement for veterans seeking social housing and awarding £3.5m of new funding for homelessness services. The recent launch of Op ASCEND has been critical in ensuring veterans can get onto the career ladder and access meaningful jobs. 

Letters: Deaf Awareness Week

Dear Editor,

Deaf Awareness Week

In May we mark Deaf Awareness Week, when we celebrate deaf culture and raise awareness about how we can make the world a more deaf-friendly place.

Everyone has big dreams, but deaf children grow up in a world that doesn’t really understand their needs. The barriers they face can often hold them back from fully realising their incredible potential. Help us change all that.

The National Deaf Children’s Society champions the rights of the UK’s 50,000 deaf children and their families. And you can do your bit too, by following some simple deaf awareness tips or even learning one or two useful signs in British Sign Language. You’ll find little bit of deaf awareness goes a long way, and you can find out all about it on our website, www.ndcs.org.uk  

Please join us in our call for more support for deaf children and their families. With the right support, anything is possible for deaf children.

Simon Want,

Head of Policy and Influencing, the National Deaf Children’s Society

www.ndcs.org.uk

The National Deaf Children’s Society

  • There are more than 50,000 deaf children in the UK; three babies are born deaf in the UK every day.
  • The National Deaf Children’s Society is the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for every deaf child.
  • We aim to make every moment count in the life of a deaf child, from the moment their deafness is identified to their first day at school and beyond, both in the UK and around the world.
  • We empower families to make informed choices and champion their child, offer specialist support and bring families together so they feel part of a supportive community.
  • For more information about the work of the National Deaf Children’s Society and to download the free My NDCS app, featuring tailored information, support and resources, please visit www.ndcs.org.uk
  • For advice and support, please contact us via our Helpline on 0808 800 8880 (voice and text), on SignVideo (signvideo.co.uk), by email on helpline@ndcs.org.uk or through online chat at www.ndcs.org.uk/livechat.

Urgent water safety advice issued

Survey reveals dangerous mistaken belief

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is issuing urgent water safety advice to parents after a survey revealed a misconception that could be playing a role in an increasing number of children drowning. 

More than half of parents surveyed (55%) believe they would hear if their child was struggling in water as they think they would thrash about and make a lot of noise. 

The water safety charity is warning that child drownings happen quickly and silently. Leaving a child’s side for a moment can be enough time to miss a child quietly slipping under the water. 

RLSS UK has launched its spring campaign, ‘Splash Safety at your Pad’, which was created in response to the charity’s Child Drowning Update. The report, which was written in collaboration with the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), found that across a four-year period, 51 children drowned at home in England – amounting to over one child a month, on average. 

The campaign will be running throughout May and is focusing on water safety in outdoor spaces at home, such as paddling pools, ponds, hot tubs and more. 

Matt Croxall, Interim Charity Director at RLSS UK, said: “The importance of our campaign was highlighted when we discovered such worrying statistics surrounding parents’ understanding of water safety risks. 

“We want to take these misconceptions and educate more families to be aware of the risks, so they can keep their children safe around water at home, particularly as the weather warms up and more people are out enjoying their gardens. 

“Our latest campaign, focusing on water safety advice across outdoor spaces, will ensure parents have a greater understanding around the importance of supervising their children when in and around water at home.” 

In the last four years, 86% of child drownings occurred when the child was left unsupervised.

As the experts in water safety education, RLSS UK has issued the following advice to ensure that families can enjoy water safely in their outdoor spaces: 

Stay together  

Young children should always be kept within arm’s reach. Never leave your child unattended or under the supervision of child siblings.   

Secure  

Almost 90% of parents of under 5s have at least one potential water hazard in their outdoor space at home1. Lock doors and gates to outdoor spaces to prevent unsupervised access.  

Prepare  

Get any towels, toys, nappies and dry clothing ready to go before children start their water play. This will ensure you won’t need to leave their side.  

Avoid distractions…  

…such as using a mobile phone when children are playing in or around water. In a group of adults, appoint a ‘water watcher’ to ensure children are supervised at all times.   

Empty it out, cover it up  

After your children have enjoyed splashing about in their paddling pool, empty the water out straight away to avoid accidents.   

In the case of larger pools and hot tubs, ensure that the cover is securely replaced immediately after use to prevent children from accidentally falling in.   

Tidy   

When you’ve finished playing, it’s best to totally clear up your space – turn off the hosepipe at the tap to block access.  

Clear away or turn over paddling pools and any other water containers, like buckets, as these can unexpectedly fill up with water if it rains.   

For more helpful advice and tips for staying splash safe at home, including bath time visit the campaign pages on the RLSS UK website: www.rlss.org.uk/splash-safety 

NHS Lothian working to improve workplace culture in Women’s Services

As part of the ongoing programme of improvement work in women’s services, NHS Lothian has commissioned a report to help strengthen its ‘valued and dedicated’ teams.

Researchers worked with staff over a number of weeks to provide clear insight about their views on workplace culture and how it impacts them. 

It comes as part of an intensive improvement programme after concerns were raised in a whistleblowing report about patient safety and working culture within women’s services in NHS Lothian.

Patient safety was obviously prioritised and a tremendous amount of work has since been carried out to robustly review all aspects of care and workforce, including working patterns, training and environment. There has also been investment in 31 additional midwives and other staff in the directorate. 

The focus has now turned to the concerns around working culture and the need to improve support for hard-pressed frontline staff.

Caroline Hiscox, Chief Executive, NHS Lothian, said: “Our colleagues are the backbone of NHS Lothian and the improvement work in women’s services continues to be taken extremely seriously.

“That is why I asked our Deputy Chief Executive and our Director of People and Culture to provide Executive leadership for the improvement programme which includes oversight of these next steps to ensure staff can trust in our commitment to them.”

Tom Power, Director of People and Culture, NHS Lothian, said the report identified positives and negatives in workplace culture, revealing extra support is needed to address issues in the directorate to bring it into line with the organisational values.

He added: “Our improvement plan prioritised patient safety and care to give us assurance that we were providing safe care to women and babies.

“Now, in this latest round of work, we are focussing on our teams and our leadership to make sure staff feel supported at work, safe to raise concerns and able to thrive.

“We commissioned this independent research because we wanted to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to get a truly comprehensive picture of the experience of our teams in Women’s Services.”

The review praised frontline staff for their dedication, compassion and teamwork and noted the strong sense of peer support and collaboration among clinical staff, to help maintain safe, high quality care.

However, the findings also indicate relationships with leaders were often strained, causing problems with general work wellbeing, stress and even bullying or perceptions of unfair treatment and frustration.

He added: “I apologise to those who have been let down at work and reassure them that we are determined to support them better to do the job they love.

“During the focus sessions, many of our staff talked about their role in women’s services as being a “calling”, such is their level of dedication to providing care for women and babies.

“I would like to reassure women and their families, as the report make clear, that they and their babies will receive high-quality care from our committed and professional staff.”

The findings and suggested actions have been discussed directly with teams and they have been merged into the overall improvement plan which began in August 2024.

It began after a whistleblowing report raised questions about patient safety and working culture within women’s services. It also focussed on a rare incidence of maternal death which is the subject of a forthcoming Significant Adverse Event (SAE) review.

NHS Lothian continues to await the outcome of the SAE and address any recommendations from that, however actions in relation to the whistleblowing concerns are already underway.

All aspects of patient care and workforce as well as staff working patterns, training and environment have been reviewed. Engagement with staff was immediate and an improvement plan was designed with staff in an open and transparent process.

This work with the independent consultancy was part of that wide-ranging programme.

ELREC: Efficient and Healthy Cooking Course at Heart of Newhaven

Following the successful completion of five sessions, our Efficient Healthy Cooking Project is now launching sixth round starting on May 13th.

Limited spaces are available, if you’re interested in joining, please get in touch.

#cooking

#eathealthy

#flexibletime