On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, The Eric Liddell Community, the Edinburgh-based care charity founded in memory of sporting legend Eric Liddell, was honoured to welcome its Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, to its annual Dinner for Dementia.
Hosted at The Caledonian Edinburgh, the evening provided an opportunity for meaningful conversation around the growing need for community based dementia care and highlighted the great work that The Eric Liddell Community plays in supporting individuals and families across Edinburgh.
The Eric Liddell Community is widely recognised for its vital dementia care services, offering practical day support, social programmes and much needed respite that help enhance wellbeing and reduce isolation.
Its community hub in Morningside now welcomes more than 7,000 people each month, serving as a crucial lifeline for families navigating the emotional and physical and financial pressures of long term caring responsibilities.
The evening featured an expert keynote speech from Dr Claire Durrant, Race Against Dementia Dyson Fellow, Emerging Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute and Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research, the University of Edinburgh.
Dr Durrant provided expert insight into current global dementia research and emphasised the critical importance of pairing scientific innovation with compassionate, community led care.
Dr Claire Durrant, expert keynote speaker at the event, highlighted the importance of community-led care:“Dementia is one of the greatest health and social challenges of our time and it is vital that scientific research and community based support work hand in hand.
“Events like the Dinner for Dementia create an important space for people to share experiences and raise awareness of the impact of dementia. I was delighted to be part of an evening that brings the community together.”
The Eric Liddell Community’s Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, had the opportunity to meet the charity’s dedicated staff, volunteers, carers, and those living with dementia who benefit so greatly from the charity’s services during her visit in April 2025.
The charity demonstrates the importance of having a welcoming place within the community, where one is greeted with kindness, a friendly smile, and genuine warmth, and how this can make an immeasurable difference to the lives of those who visit The Eric Liddell Community. Places like this are at the heart of our communities.
John MacMillan MBE, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, added:“We were deeply honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness to this year’s Dinner for Dementia. Her presence reinforced not only the significance of our work but the urgency of the growing dementia challenge in Scotland.
“The evening highlighted the power of collaboration and the vital difference that community led support can make to thousands of families every year.
“We were also delighted to have Dr Durrant speaking at the event. Dr Durrant’s input provided a unique insight into her world renowned research linked to finding a cure for dementia.”
New research from the Centre for Responsible Credit shows how concerns around credit scores can prevent people in financial difficulty from seeking help and should be viewed as one aspect of financial health, not the entirety.
Stats from the report show that:
Credit score concerns stop hard-up borrowers from seeking help: Industry-promoted fixation on credit scores deters three quarters of borrowers from seeking support, making debt problems harder to resolve.
Credit score messaging pushes people into hardship: A third (32%) of low-to-middle income borrowers; 6.4 million people are going without essentials like food and heating specifically to preserve their credit score.
“Your latest credit score is ready.” It’s a familiar email or app notification from credit score providers such as ClearScore, Credit Karma and Experian.
But it’s part of a marketing culture that could be encouraging low-to-middle income (LMI) borrowers to take on unaffordable credit and prioritise actions that maintain good scores over spending on essentials such as food and heating.
That is why we are now calling on the newly created Credit Information Governance Body and the Financial Conduct Authority to work with the credit scoring industry and consumer agencies to set standards for marketing dashboards. It’s one of five recommendations set out in this latest report, the second phase of our research in this area.
The first phase, published in July 2025, comprised qualitative interviews with thirty LMI borrowers. The interviews indicated there is a group of people who are highly sensitive to their credit scores, checking these on a frequent basis.
The frequent checking of scores seems to be encouraged by the many e-mails and app notifications that borrowers receive from credit score providers. When they respond to these and visit their credit score dashboards, they are often exposed to marketing offers for further credit.
Worryingly many participants felt that the best way to improve their credit scores was by taking out more credit and using it regularly. Many were also prepared to make considerable sacrifices to preserve their scores.
The scale of the problem
The second phase of our research involved a large-scale, representative, survey of more than 3,400 LMI adults in Great Britain; conducted on our behalf by Walnut Unlimited. Three-quarters of survey respondents used some form of credit (credit cards, Buy Now Pay Later, overdrafts or personal loans) with 40% using it to pay for daily expenses such as food and bills.
Most LMI borrowers check their credit scores at least once per month. Just under one fifth (18%) check their scores at least once per week, and an additional 15% do so more than once per month. A further fifth (21%) check their scores monthly.
When they do so, many enter on-line market places where they receive offers of further credit that may not be appropriate. Our survey indicates that over half (55%) of all survey respondents had received suggestions or offers for credit products from their credit score provider. Half of those (49%) felt that the offers they received encouraged them to take on more credit than they could afford, and over a quarter of (28%) reported feeling pressured to accept the offers that were made to them.
Nearly half (43%) of those being prompted to take up offers of credit by their score providers act on the suggestions they receive, but in many cases this results in financial distress within six months.
Around one in five saw their overall level of debt increase, and the same proportion (21%) experienced stress or anxiety. 18% struggled to make the repayments. 18% also cut back their spending on essentials, while 14% had to borrow more to cover the repayments, and around one in ten missed payments or defaulted.
And yet, alarmingly, three-quarters of borrowers said they would not ask for help from their lender. That’s because most people are unsure whether seeking advice or help will harm their credit score.
A disciplinary effect
Our survey also found clear evidence of a disciplinary effect, with one third (32%, equivalent to 6.3 million adults aged over 18) of all LMI borrowers telling us they have “cut back on day-to-day expenses to preserve” their credit scores.
This rises to 45% of borrowers who are using credit specifically to improve their scores, and to 55% of borrowers using credit to pay off other debts.
We also found a statistically significant relationship between the likelihood of cutting back on essentials to preserve scores and the frequency of score checking.
After controlling for age, housing tenure and incomes, over half (52%) of those checking their score more than once per week have cut back on essentials to preserve their score, as have 45% of those checking their score at least at few times per month.
Actions needed
To address the harms our study exposes, we are calling on Financial Conduct Authority, Credit Information Governance Body and credit score providers to ethically re-design, test, and set standards for credit score dashboards and their marketing.
This needs to include a review of dashboard messaging, so that providers don’t promote credit to people already showing signs of financial difficulties. Dashboards should make it clear that maintaining credit scores should not come at the expense of meeting basic needs.
More is also needed to encourage forbearance requests and debt advice seeking by ensuring dashboards proactively identify borrowers in financial difficulties and link these to independent advice and support, and there is a need to limit push notifications and dashboard marketing, to prevent borrowers from focusing on marginal score changes, and only allowing notifications when underlying credit report information has significantly changed.
The cost-of-living crisis has shattered the finances of millions, with more than a quarter of people currently unable to cover their basic expenses. It’s time for credit score providers to take action to make sure their marketing and processes are not compounding the problem.
Responding to research from the Centre for Responsible Credit, Adam Butler, Public Policy Manager at StepChange, said:“Whilst credit scores can help people understand how lenders may see them, the reality is that they are only one element of what lenders look at when assessing creditworthiness.
“Our research shows that people in financial difficulty often delay seeking help because of worries about the impact on their credit scores.
“This deepens the harm of problem debt and can lead people to take out further credit which exacerbates their financial problems. It’s important to note that seeking free debt advice and exploring options will not have an impact on someone’s credit score.
“The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has required the credit information industry to set up a new governance body with stronger consumer representation and make reforms to encourage struggling borrowers to seek help early.
“We want the industry to build on these steps and ensure people can seek help when they need it without fear of punitive credit reporting. As our recent polling found that 18 million people have an outstanding unsecured credit balance of some kind, a credit information system that works well for those who are struggling is vital.”
New solar hybrid lighting has been installed by Signify across several Edinburgh parks, making pathways safer and more welcoming for residents and visitors while supporting the city’s climate goals.
The City of Edinburgh Council has introduced the innovative lighting system in Baronscourt Park, Hailes Quarry Park and Ferniehill, with an off-grid solar solution installed at Dundas. The project includes both new lighting in previously unlit areas and upgrades to existing infrastructure where lighting levels were insufficient.
The hybrid lights use solar energy wherever possible and automatically switch to grid power when needed, ensuring reliable lighting all year round. Smart sensors dim lights when paths are empty and increase brightness when people approach, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists while reducing energy use and light pollution.
The improved lighting encourages greater use of parks during evening hours, supporting active travel, wellbeing and community use of green spaces. Smart dimming also helps protect wildlife by limiting lighting to areas and times where it is needed.
Edinburgh is the first city in the UK to implement this type of connected solar hybrid lighting in parks, setting a new benchmark for sustainable, people-focused public spaces.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener said:“Working with Signify on these park lighting projects has been transformative for our city. The innovative solar-powered lighting system has not only enhanced safety for park users during evening hours but also aligns perfectly with our sustainability and climate goals.
“By reducing grid energy consumption by 53% and minimizing ecological disruption, this project sets a new benchmark for environmentally sensitive urban development. I’m also pleased that the technology has been rolled out in three other parks, namely Ferniehill, Hailes Quarry and Dundas.
“The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re proud to lead the way with a solution that balances safety, sustainability, and innovation. This collaboration demonstrates how technology and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand to benefit both people and nature.
“This initiative sets a new standard for sustainable and connected public lighting systems. I’m proud that Edinburgh has taken the lead here as the first UK city to implement such a scheme.”
Michelle McLaughlin, Key Account Manager, said: “The vision for this project was rooted in environmental responsibility and community empowerment. The Council aimed to enhance safety by illuminating park pathways while minimizing reliance on grid electricity and protecting the park’s ecosystem.
“The solution also sought to adapt dynamically to user activity and provide actionable data for future improvements. We are proud to be a part of such a great initiative and are happy that our solutions can benefit the visitors of the parks.”
A man has been jailed for five and a half years for the attempted murder of a teenager in the Portobello area of Edinburgh.
Amar Mudawi, 22, pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 16 December, 2025. He was sentenced yesterday, 23 January, 2026, at the same court.
Around 10.55pm on Saturday, 12 April, 2025, officers were called to Mentone Avenue following a report of a 17-year-old male youth who had been found seriously injured following a disturbance on Bath Street. He was taken to hospital for treatment.
Detective Inspector Steven Dick said: “This was a serious and violent attack which could have had fatal consequences for the young victim.
“Violence of this nature will not be tolerated, and we continue to take action against those involved in such criminal behaviour.”
The Scottish Government’s Mind to Mind mental wellbeing campaign is encouraging people across the country to look after their mental health.
Latest available data highlights the ongoing challenges many face in opening up about their mental health. The research from See Me reveals that more than a quarter of Scots feel that not talking about their mental health is better than having an awkward conversation, whilst one in five are held back from talking about how they feel by a fear of being judged.
The campaign aims to remind everyone that they are not alone and that help and support are available, especially for those who find it difficult to talk about how they are feeling.
Mind to Mind offers a helpful starting point for anyone struggling. The campaign directs people to a dedicated NHS Inform site, where they can explore resources in their own time and from spaces they feel comfortable in.
The Mind to Mind site features over thirty videos of people sharing their personal stories. These ‘lived experiences’ are especially important when considering that fear of being a burden prevents nearly a third of people from discussing their wellbeing.
By seeing others share their journeys, individuals are reminded that their feelings are valid. In addition, the site also provides practical advice from contributors on what has helped them, alongside commentary from a range of professionals and clear signposting to further help and support services.
These resources cover topics from dealing with anxiety and panic, coping with money worries and stress, to navigating loneliness and grief.
Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Tom Arthur, MSP, said: “With this campaign, we want to send a clear message to everyone in Scotland that support is always available and it’s okay not to be okay.
“We know that taking the first step and talking about things can be the hardest part. The Mind to Mind website helps bridge that gap by offering compassionate advice and powerful stories from people who have been through similar experiences.
“It is an invaluable resource that empowers people to find support in a way that works for them, reminding us all that we are not alone.”
The campaign acknowledges that mental health discussion and stigma can manifest differently across communities, and remains a highly stigmatised topic within many communities. Mind to Mind aims to support everyone, recognising the diversity of experiences to help reduce this stigma.
If you are going through a difficult time, you are not alone. Find out how others are taking care of their mental wellbeing at www.nhsinform.scot/mind-to-mind.
He was the biggest Traitor, but now faithful Harry Clark is laying down a mission of his own – to help fight poverty.
Harry – the winner of series 2 of the hit BBC show The Traitors – is backing SCIAF’s ‘Big Lent Walk for Water’ which asks people to walk to Walk for Water in return for donations to its WEE BOX Appeal.
Harry said: “We filmed The Traitorsupin Scotland, so I’m proud to support SCIAF’s Big Lent Walk for Water this Lent. Raise money for an incredible cause and explore this beautiful country on foot. Get involved today … and be a Faithful!”
SCIAF’s Lorraine Currie said: “In the places SCIAF works, like Ethiopia, women and young girls and boys walk for miles every day to collect water for their families. This Lent, you can stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world by walking with them during our Big Lent Walk for Water.
“Commit to a distance, contact your friends and family for sponsorship, then commence your walking challenge!
“Money raised will help keep hope flowing in the places SCIAF works, helping provide life essentials like food, shelter, healthcare and clean water.
“Instead of walking miles every single day, women, young girls and boys can have access to safe, clean water sources closer to home, affording them the time to invest in educational opportunities to build a better future.”
If you want to be a SCIAF faithful, all you need to do is sign up at:
To find out more, you can call 0141 354 5555. If you’re taking part as a school or parish group, you can email getinvolved@sciaf.org.uk and if you’re walking it yourself you can contact Catriona at cmunro@sciaf.org.uk.
Due to staff shortages, the garden will be closed this Sunday, 25 January. Thank you for your understanding.
We will be open tomorrow, Saturday, 24 January, from 1–3 pm. It’s looking like a wet day, so please come prepared for rain and muddy paths if you do visit.
Even in the rain, the garden has its own quiet charm, and we’d love to welcome you if you’re feeling hardy. Thank you for supporting the garden
For parents looking to kick-start their search for the right nursery, Bright Horizons is opening its doors for its Winter Open Day tomorrow – Saturday, 24th January.
Bright Horizons’ Cramondis inviting parents to drop in and speak with early years professionals about places, funding and admissions, with the opportunity to watch your child enjoy some of the activities the nursery has to offer.
What: Bright Horizons Cramond Winter Open Day When: Saturday 24th January 2026 between 10am – 1pm Details: Reserve your spot today here: Open Days | Bright Horizons
The open day is designed to be informal and flexible – from brief drop-ins to longer visits – allowing parents to explore the setting at their own pace, meet the team and learn more about The Nurture Approach, Bright Horizons’ unique child-centred framework.
The SNP government voted down Sarah Boyack’s Wellbeing and Sustainable Development bill yesterday (Thursday), despite promising to deliver such a bill in their manifesto.
Ms Boyack has been working on this bill since 2021, and it was formally introduced in March 2025.
The SNP Government initially put forward a consultation in 2023 on their own wellbeing and sustainable development bill before not progressing with it.
Ms Boyack highlighted in her speech that the Deputy First Minister had assured her that the Scottish Government would work constructively with her on her bill.
However, the government then came out in opposition to Ms Boyack’s bill.
Dozens of stakeholders and industry experts came out in support of the bill and took part in the consultation process.
The bill aimed to create a Future Generations Commissioner, to deliver guidance and have investigatory powers, to ensure that key policy decisions are made with the long-term interest in mind.
It would also have delivered a legal definition of sustainable development that public bodies would have to abide by.
Speaking after the vote, Ms. Boyack said: “I am extremely disappointed with today’s decision.
“The SNP promised this bill in their manifesto but now vote it down just weeks before an election.
“Instead of ensuring Scotland is a world leader in sustainable development, the SNP Government has kicked the issue into the long grass.
“I hope after the election, the new government takes this issue on board and finally cements joined up, long-term thinking into Scottish policy making and decisions.
“I am certain Scotland can and will be a world leader in sustainable development and deliver the change people urgently need but we must have a government that is willing to prioritise the long-term over short-term gains.”
What: Bright Horizons Cramond Winter Open Day
When: Saturday 24th January 2026 between 10am – 1pm
Details: Reserve your spot today here: 
