£5 billion to help tackle the climate and nature emergency
Record funding of over £5 billion will support climate action and further develop Scotland’s renewable energy sector, creating green jobs and bringing benefits to communities, Climate Action and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin has said.
The major investment, unveiled in the draft Scottish budget for 2026-27, will help tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss by funding policies and actions aimed at cutting green-house gas emissions further, enabling communities to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change and protecting and restoring nature.
Gillian Martin reiterated the government’s financial commitment ahead of addressing the Scottish Renewables Offshore Wind Conference where she is expected to confirm further new investment in the sector.
The £5 billion allocation for climate action in the draft Scottish Budget includes a total of £2.9 billion of capital funding– representing 41% of the Scottish Government’s total capital budget proposed for next year – and supports actions to:
further develop Scotland’s renewable energy sector to ensure a fair and inclusive transition that creates more jobs and opportunities
deliver more energy-efficient affordable homes to tackle fuel poverty and reduce energy bills
invest in public and active travel projects, making it safer and easier for people to choose more sustainable ways of travelling for shorter journeys
Ms Martin said: “This draft Budget for the next year demonstrates the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to achieving net zero by 2045 and tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
“Done correctly, the transition to net zero can help to tackle poverty, restore nature, and improve health and well-being all while offering significant economic opportunities.
“Our record investment of more than £5 billion will help reduce household energy costs, support green jobs, restore nature and build healthy and resilient communities through the efforts set out in our draft Climate Change Plan.
“Offshore wind will be a major part of delivering on our climate ambitions and represents a huge economic opportunity for all of Scotland, delivering jobs and attracting major investment across the country.”
The draft 2026-27 budget also proposes:
more than £335 million for heat in buildings programmes, supporting households and businesses to transition to low carbon heating systems
£316 million in sustainable travel, low carbon and climate positive activities to support the switch to sustainable modes of transport and promote walking, wheeling and cycling for shorter journeys
£26 million for nature restoration as well as £37.4 million for woodland creation and £28 million in peatland restoration, to help sequester carbon and protect habitats
£22 million for domestic climate change – including £6 million to continue the national network of Community Climate Action Hubs which enable communities to develop local responses to climate change from flood mitigation, repair shops and local energy generation to food growing and tree planting
£12 million to support vulnerable communities in the Global South who have done the least to cause the climate crisis but are feeling its effects most acutely – especially women and young people
Corstorphine First Aid Support and Training is celebrating after being selected by Tesco customers to receive a £1,500 donation.
Shoppers at Tesco Extra Corstorphine voted for local community causes using Tesco’s famous blue voting tokens, with three groups receiving cash grants as part of the supermarket’s Stronger Starts campaign.
Corstorphine First Aid Support and Training was one of three local charities that customers voted for, receiving £1,500 as part of the scheme after receiving the most votes.
The winning charity is comprised entirely of volunteers, who are trained in first aid techniques and provide medical cover for events in Edinburgh and beyond, as well as first aid training to businesses and community groups.
The funds will allow the group to purchase essential first aid equipment so they can continue first aid training and help to keep people safe.
Dominic Burns, Chair at Corstorphine First Aid Support and Training, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this funding as part of the Tesco Stronger Starts campaign, and would like to thank our local community for their votes.
“Corstorphine First Aid is a community focused charity and this money will be used to support our activity in teaching and providing life saving first aid skills to people across Edinburgh.”
The other groups to receive grant funding from the store’s Stronger Starts blue token votes include The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland [RZSS] and Corstorphine Primary School, as well as Fox Covert Primary School.
The funding will support RZSS and Corstorphine Primary school in their joint initiative, which sees representatives from Edinburgh Zoo get the pupils involved with nature and animals through educational demonstrations within the school.
The grant awarded to Fox Covert Primary School, will support the school’s breakfast club, ensuring that all pupils can have a healthy snack and a good start to their day.
Stronger Starts helps schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, as well as purchasing equipment for healthy activities.
Deborah Brown, Community Champion at Tesco Corstorphine Extra, said: “Our Tesco team would like to thank all of our customers for their help in supporting these three fantastic causes through our Stronger Starts campaign.
“Every vote helps us to provide funding to groups making a difference in our community.”
Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco said: “We are incredibly proud to award Stronger Starts grants to over one hundred schools and local projects, supporting the vital work they do for our children and communities.
“Since we launched our grants programme in 2016, more than £120 million has been given to more than 67,000 local schools and community groups.”
Businesses in Edinburgh are being invited to meet with 30 Council services and business-facing partners face-to-face. Meet the Council will be held on Tuesday 3 February at the Assembly Rooms on George Street between 10am and 1pm.
Local businesses are encouraged to register in advance to secure a space to the drop-in, with opportunities throughout the day to meet with key Council teams and hear about opportunities for business growth.
Offering a single point of access for business support, the event will bring together Council officers from:
Business Gateway
Edinburgh Guarantee
Edinburgh Project Search
Parental Employability Support
The Edinburgh Employer Recruitment Incentive
Edinburgh Means Business
Commercial property
Trading standards
Forever Edinburgh
Cultural Partnerships, Events and Film
Visitor Levy
Procurement
Convention Bureau
Climate & Nature Strategy
Environmental Health
Street Enforcement
Licensing
Scientific Services
Building Services
Planning
Non-domestic rates
Throughout the day, external partners will also be on hand to present and share their expertise, including:
Capital City Partnership
DSL Business Finance
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network
Federation of Small Business
Scottish Enterprise Sustainability Team
Zero Waste Scotland
Forth Green Freeport
Adaptation Scotland
Supplier Development Programme
Councillor Tim Pogson, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Edinburgh continues to boast the strongest local economy outside of London and has the highest number of accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland.
“The innovation, success and resilience of Edinburgh business community play a key role in shaping our city as a distinctive and exceptional place to live and work.
“We are keen to build much closer relationships with local businesses, offering meaningful support, gaining a deeper understanding of the views, challenges and ambitions of business owners and working together to secure a vibrant, sustainable, and resilient economic future for the capital.
“We recognise the current economic climate presents real challenges. By working collaboratively with businesses and partners, there is significant opportunity to support and grow Edinburgh’s economy, champion the principles of Fair Work, and help to create a stronger, greener and fairer city for everyone.
“To support this, we are hosting an event that brings businesses together with our teams in person, offering the chance to engage directly with staff from a range of services that support the business community.
“Whether you’re looking for advice on funding opportunities, navigating licensing requirements, or exploring how we can better support employers, this event is an ideal place to connect with the right people and access tailored advice and support.
“The Meet the Council event is designed to support Edinburgh’s business community and help foster a thriving, greener, and fairer economy – as outlined in the Council’s Business Plan 2023-27.“
Draft budget confirmed continued funding for next three years to tackle retail crime
A police-led taskforce will continue its work to tackle shoplifting and violence against staff after securing funding in the draft budget for 2026-27.
The Retail Crime Taskforce was launched in April last year following £3 million investment from the Scottish Government to combat a rise in retail crime.
In the first year of operation, the Taskforce’s targeted approach to prevent, pursue, protect and prepare in areas identified as most at risk has resulted in 3,671 shoplifting charges and detections.
A further 508 charges under the Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act 2021 for offences against retail workers have been made along with a total of 807 arrests.
The funding announcement of a continued £3 million each year for the next three years, in the Scottish Government’s recent draft budget for 2026-27, comes in addition to an overall Police Scotland budget increase to over £1.7 billion – a rise of £81.5 million, or 5%, compared to the 2025-26 Autumn Budget Revision.
A dedicated unit to tackle retail crime has been established by @PoliceScotland – backed by £3 million from @scotgov.
The investment in the Retail Crime Taskforce is on top of record funding of £1.62 billion for policing in 2025-26.
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “Shop workers deserve to feel safe, and retailers deserve to trade without fear of shoplifting. In less than a year, Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce has provided a visible and measurable impact on retail crime, working directly with retailers to prevent offending, pursue criminals, and protect shop workers.
“That is why the Scottish Government is providing a further £3 million in each of the next three years to continue this vital work – both preventing crime and ensuring offenders are held to account.
“This is in addition of a record £1.7 billion policing budget, enabling Police Scotland to deliver on frontline priorities and progress its transformation agenda.”
Mark Millar, Director of Stores for Boots in Scotland, said: “Tackling retail crime is a collaborative effort, so we are fully committed to working with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to ensure that our retail stores and high streets remain vibrant, welcoming, and safe environments for our store teams and customers.
“As an active member of the Retail Crime Taskforce since its inception, we welcome this funding which will strengthen our ability to share intelligence between Police and disrupt public offenders.”
Assistant Chief Constable, Police Scotland, Tim Mairs said: “Since April 2025, the Retail Crime Taskforce has assisted local policing divisions across the country in tackling retail offences and bringing those responsible to justice.
“During this time over 3,600 crimes have been detected and more than 800 arrests made as a direct result of Taskforce-supported enforcement activity. In addition, our commitment to crime prevention has seen us liaise with numerous outlets throughout Scotland to offer specialist advice aimed at improving security and enhancing the safety of retail workers.
“The additional three-year funding we have received from Scottish Government is recognition of the significant progress made in the last nine months, but we know more must be done to tackle retail crime and we will not become complacent in our efforts to reduce crimes such as shoplifting and the assault and harassment of retail workers.”
An immersive exhibition of giant prehistoric animals opens at the animals opens at the National Museum of Scotland this weekend. Giants (31 January – 14 September 2026) showcases the enormous but often overlooked creatures that roamed the Earth after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
This is the Scottish debut of the spectacular touring exhibition developed by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and toured by Nomad Exhibitions.
Giants invites visitors on a journey through time, from 66 million years ago to the present day. The exhibition features life-sized 3D models, fossils and nearly complete skeletons including Paraceratherium species , the largest land mammal ever known to have walked the Earth, Otodusmegalodon, the mightiest shark of all time, and the terrific Titanoboa cerrejonensis, the world’s longest ever snake.
Immersive displays transport audiences into the natural habitats of these colossal beings, providing context to their existence and eventual extinction. Interactives also invite visitors to step into the shoes of palaeontologists and biologists, engaging with the scientific processes behind fossil discovery and reconstruction.
New giants have since emerged, such as elephants, rhinoceroses and whales, but they too are now under threat of extinction. Giants closes with a poignant reminder of nature’s fragility and the urgent need to protect these animals for future generations.
Dr Sarah Stewart, Assistant Curator Paleobiology at National Museums Scotland, said: “I am delighted that visitors will have the opportunity to experience the spectacular Giants exhibition from this weekend.
“Popular attention on prehistoric life tends to focus either on dinosaurs or on our own earliest human ancestors, which leaves a relatively neglected gap of around 60 million years of natural history.
“The exhibition is a striking invitation to us all to think about that period, to see how nature adapts over time, and also to reflect on the ways in which current human activity is denying that time to today’s endangered giants.”
Giants is supported by a programme of events including talks by award-winning wildlife photographers Doug Allan and Gordon Buchannan.
Tickets for Giants are available to book now at nms.ac.uk/Giants
SPARTANS AND FORRESTER HIGH SCHOOL AMONG THE WINNERS
36 community projects across Scotland benefitting from new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities
Boost will improve accessibility and sustainability, through multisport, all-weather pitches, goalsposts, floodlights and community hubs – with 50% going to 30% most deprived communities in the UK
Announcement made as UK Culture Secretary visited East Kilbride United Community Sports Club
Move supports drive to break down barriers to opportunity, give families affordable ways to stay healthy, and deliver an NHS fit for the future
Applications for £8.14 million of funding for Scotland to be distributed in 2026/27 to open
36 community projects across Scotland are benefitting from new all-weather pitches, extended playing hours through floodlighting, and modern changing facilities designed to welcome underserved groups like women and girls, in a new boost for grassroots sport facilities by the Government.
Among those projects are The Spartans, who receive £132,996 towards an artificial grass pitch upgrade and £136,913 towards an artificial grass pitch upgrade, spectator and technical area installation for Forrester High School.
The projects across the country have been awarded funding through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2025/26, with more beneficiaries to be announced soon.
These new or refurbished facilities will give families low-cost options to stay active on their doorstep, helping when many are facing cost-of-living pressures. It will also open up opportunities to underserved groups like women and girls. At least half of all funding will go directly to the 30% most deprived communities in the UK.
Sports clubs and organisations will also benefit from new goalposts, fencing and new changing pavilions – all of which help make sites more accessible and sustainable for local communities. To ensure broader participation beyond football, at least 40% of funded projects must have a multi-sport offer.
This approach will give more people access to a wider variety of sports and activities, such as rugby, cricket, and basketball.
Full details of all the 991 UK projects funded through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2025/26 at time of writing to date are attached and available on GOV.UK.
The announcement was made as Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy visited East Kilbride United Community Sports Club, who received £310,000 across 2024-26 for a new artificial pitch and changing pavilion at Kirktonholme. The upgraded facility now hosts women’s and girls’ teams, school PE lessons, and a walking football programme supporting men’s mental health.
Grassroots sport is at the heart of Scotland’s communities.
UK Gov has announced £8m for grassroots sports facilities in Scotland for 2026/27, part of a £400m UK boost.
Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said:“Scotland is a nation passionate about sports and it’s great to see how in the year that our men’s team returns to the football World Cup UK Government investment is benefiting local communities through new and upgraded sporting facilities at the likes of East Kilbride United.
“The UK Government is continuing to ensure communities the length and breadth of Scotland have access to quality pitches, changing pavilions, lighting, goalposts and other facilities essential for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.
“Grassroots sports are at the heart of Scotland’s communities and the UK Government is committed to helping local clubs – and the health and well-being of those who use them – flourish”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, said:“This is sport delivering for the nation. Every pound we invest in grassroots facilities is a pound that takes pressure off our NHS, supports mental and physical health, and opens doors for new community members to benefit from sport – like women and girls who’ve been shut out for too long.
“We’re supporting communities that have made do with run-down pitches and crumbling changing rooms for years. This government is turning that around – building the facilities that get people active, bring communities together, and nurture the next generation of sporting talent.”
Scottish FA President Mike Mulraney said:“We are grateful to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and partners for their continued support. This latest funding announcement will enable us to further invest in the infrastructure of our national sport, which I have made my number one priority as President.
“It will allow us to reinforce the Power of Football by increasing participation among all ages and abilities, and improving health and wellbeing as a result.
“The association has also committed to diverting profits to our Pitching In campaign and we look forward to strengthening our partnerships with the UK Government, Scottish Government, business and philanthropic communities and local authorities to transform our facilities estate.”
Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock visited Spartans at Ainslie Park today (Friday 30 January) and said:“This investment will make a real difference to communities across Scotland. Quality facilities are the foundation of grassroots sport – they’re places where children fall in love with the game, where communities thrive, and where people of all ages come together to stay active and healthy.
“It was brilliant to see what a difference it’s already made to Spartans FC’s facilities. By targeting funding at areas that need it most, we’re making sure everyone has the chance to benefit from sport, regardless of where they live or their background.”
Clubs and organisations are invited to apply for funding via:
Through new local sports facilities or critical upgrades to outdated facilities, the funding will deliver:
New 3G grass pitches enabling year-round play regardless of weather
Upgraded changing pavilions with more appropriate changing facilities for women and girls
Floodlighting to extend playing hours into evenings and car parking for better accessibility
New goalposts, fencing and storage facilities to improve safety and access
Priority use time slots for women and girls teams at funded sites
Facilities that can host PE and school activities alongside community use
Sites that support health initiatives and community outreach programmes
The funding is designed to promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion, remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups (such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities), and support the Government’s Plan for Change by breaking down barriers to opportunity and delivering an NHS fit for the future.
2026-27 funding:
Funding breakdown by nation:
England: £68.35 million (delivered through the Football Foundation)
Scotland: £8.14 million (delivered through the Scottish Football Association)
Wales: £5.735 million (delivered through the Cymru Football Foundation)
Northern Ireland: £2.775 million (delivered through the Irish Football Association)
Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis in England via the Football Foundation.
Application windows will open soon in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and the relevant FA websites will be updated with more details.
ONE YEAR EXTENSION TO INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES FUND
The Scottih Government has confirmed that Investing in Communities funding will be continued for a further year.
The announcement comes as a huge relief to community projects facing massive cuts to their funding, with services being slashed and some organisations facing closure.
Scottish Greens raised concerns over the uncertainty faced by many of Edinburgh’s third sector projects at a council meeting last month.
A looming catastrophe has been averted with the announcement of one year’s transition funding while a replacement to the Investing in Communities Fund is developed.
Edinburgh Northern and Leith MP Tracy Gilbert took up the case of local community organisations and yesterday received welcome confirmation that fears have been allayed – at least for now.
She said: “Following budget cuts, I raised concerns with the Scottish Government about the future of the Investing in Communities Fund. Ministers have now confirmed a one-year transition extension for existing projects ending in March.
“This will help in the short term, but it falls short of the long-term certainty our community organisations need. I’ll keep pushing for sustained funding and stability for the services people rely on.”
Local MSP Ben Macpherson has also been on the case. He said: “This morning I visited Dr Bell’s Family Centre to discuss a situation that was of real concern.
“Using my decade of experience – including how to get things done for local organisations – I’d written to The Scottish Government about it on Monday and followed this up today, working actively as their/your local constituency MSP … I was therefore very pleased that shortly after the matter had been resolved.
“I know it’s been a worrying time for the centre and am relieved that immediate worries have been lifted. My team and I will keep working with the centre to explore more funding streams, and support the impactful work they do in our communities.”
Screenshot
Edinburgh projects who received Investing in Communities funding (2023- 26) are:
About Youth, Calder Youth Action Project (part of Wester Hailes Together), City of Edinburgh, £105,822
Community Renewal Trust, Our Neighbourhood: A new hyperlocal Community Wealth Building partnership, City of Edinburgh, £300,732
Dr. Bell’s Family Centre, Start Well, Live Well: Wellbeing Support for Families in Leith, City of Edinburgh, £348,067
Edinburgh Food Social Cic, Changing Craigmillar Food Culture, City of Edinburgh, £325,847
Fresh Start, Fresh Connections, City of Edinburgh, £280,201
North Edinburgh Arts, North Edinburgh Arts Link Up, City of Edinburgh, £331,400
Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, Together We Can, City of Edinburgh, £350,000
The Venchie Children And Young People’s Project, Family Support Service, City of Edinburgh, £208,732
Transition Edinburgh South (Scotland) Ltd, Investing in Gracemount, City of Edinburgh, £302,196
Whale, The Arts Agency, Creativity, Place and Enterprise in Wester Hailes (part of Wester Hailes Together), City of Edinburgh, £332,494.
We are currently looking for volunteers at Leith Library and across the city to support our Library Link groups and Home deliveries for elderly, housebound and disabled service users.
Foysol Choudhury MSP has called for greater clarity and faster progress on plans for a new East Calder Health Centre, following a roundtable meeting at the Scottish Parliament today.
The meeting brought together elected representatives, NHS Lothian officials, local campaigners and community leaders to discuss the future of primary and community healthcare provision in the area and agree next steps.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that work will begin to develop detailed plans for new primary and community care infrastructure in East Calder. This progress reflects the efforts of dedicated local campaigners, alongside the continued support of MPs and MSPs.
“I was pleased to meet with local campaigners to discuss the future of East Calder Health Centre and the next steps for our community,” said Mr Choudhury. “It is encouraging to see progress being made, and I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point.”
Mr Choudhury has welcomed recent correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray. “I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary recognises East Calder as a key focus and that his team is working with NHS Lothian closely to ensure this project can progress.” he said.
He added that recent updates from NHS Lothian confirm that East Calder remains a central priority but stressed that significant questions remain unanswered.
“Local residents deserve clarity,” Mr Choudhury added. “We need to know when funding will be confirmed and when a timetable will be put in place for developing a business case. We also need transparency about the budget that has been allocated and what it will cover. Most importantly, we need a clear date for when construction of new facilities will begin.”
With the area experiencing rapid population growth, pressure on existing health services continues to increase. “While progress is being made, it is simply not happening quickly enough,” he said.
“The need for improved health facilities is urgent. Our community deserves timely action, not ongoing uncertainty. I will continue to press the Scottish Government and NHS Lothian for clear answers and real improvements on behalf of local residents.”
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has set out that Scottish Government funding will be deployed to boost skills and employment opportunities for workers facing redundancy at ExxonMobil’s ethylene plant at Mossmorran.
Options being considered include apprenticeships, a college-led training programme and investing in new employment opportunities at the plant.
A taskforce led by Fife Council meets for the first time today in response to the planned closure. The Scottish Government will use the meeting to further understand the needs of the workforce and local community to inform its decisions regarding the deployment of the £9 million investment.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “This is a worrying time for the workforce at Mossmorran and they rightly expect urgent action. I met worker representatives earlier this month to assure them that we are doing all we can to support them and the wider community.
“We have allocated £9 million over three years in our draft Budget to help staff and communities affected by the plant’s closure. Today’s meeting is an opportunity to engage with the UK Government, Fife Council, unions and local partners to agree how we best support individuals impacted by ExxonMobil’s decision.
“In the meantime, our Partnership Action for Continuing Employment initiative is providing skills and employability support for workers.”
