Team LifeCare invites runners of all abilities to join Scotland’s biggest running festival
Local runners are being encouraged to kick off their New Year fitness goals – or keep their good habits going – by signing up to run for a cause at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2026.
With standard entries for the Full and Half Marathon now sold out, the charity-exclusive entry period is officially underway. That means the only way to secure a place in these flagship events is by running for charity – and LifeCare Edinburgh is calling on the local community to join Team LifeCare!
Taking place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend 23/24th May 2026, the Edinburgh Marathon Festival offers nine distances, from 5Ks to the full 26.2 miles, all set against some of Edinburgh’s most stunning routes. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just getting started, there’s a challenge to suit every ability.
Why run for Team LifeCare?
By running for LifeCare, every mile you cover helps support older people in our community to live healthier, more connected lives.
Guaranteed charity place in the Full or Half Marathon when you fundraise
A choice of nine distances, from 5K to Full Marathon
Unforgettable routes through and around Edinburgh
Be part of something meaningful while achieving a personal fitness goal
Final entry deadline: 1pm, Saturday 31 January 2026 (Full & Half Marathon charity places)
What your fundraising could support
Funds raised by Team LifeCare runners help deliver vital services for older people across Edinburgh, including:
Nutritious meals delivered directly to older people’s homes
Health and wellbeing activities that reduce loneliness and support unpaid carers
Social clubs, entertainment and companionship for older people
One-to-one care and support that helps people stay independent for longer
Ready to start your New Year challenge?
Places are limited, and demand is high. Runners are encouraged to sign up now to avoid disappointment.
A major £3 million Scottish Water project on a key arterial route linking west Edinburgh with the city centre is about to get underway.
Gorgie Road will be closed between Robb’s Loan and Hutchison Crossway for approximately SIX MONTHS from Sunday (25 January 2026).
The existing unscreened overflow is to be replaced by a new overflow chamber with a powered screen to filter out sewer related debris during heavy rain.
Part of Scottish Water’s £500million Improving Urban Waters programme, the project will protect the nearby Water of Leith in Saughton Park.
Senior Project Manager Ethan Gillies Denning said: “We are acutely aware Gorgie Road is one of the key transport routes linking west Edinburgh with the city centre.
“As well as being home to Tynecastle stadium and close to Murrayfield, it is also home to thousands of residents, and crucial for local businesses, schools, universities and emergency services.
“But the road also sits above critical Victorian-era waste water infrastructure that helps protect homes and businesses during heavy rain.
“This project will significantly reduce sewer related debris entering the Water of Leith, supporting cleaner rivers and a healthier local environment for people and wildlife including otters.”
The project is part of Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters programme, an additional £500million package of investment to improve the environment and make it more enjoyable for customers to explore their local area.
Working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Water has identified priority storm overflows for improvement or replacement for water quality or aesthetic – sewer related debris – reasons.
Under the banner ‘Draining the Rain, Enhancing the Environment’ the investment will help prevent sewer related debris such as wet wipes from entering the environment during periods of rainfall.
Ethan Gillies Denning added: “We have launched a comprehensive campaign of radio and social media adverts to make sure as many as people as possible are aware of the work starting.
“There will inevitably be disruption, but we have worked closely with a range of agencies including Edinburgh City Council and the emergency services to anticipate and mitigate any major issues.
“We would ask people to follow all diversion signs and to allow extra time for journeys particularly at peak times and please be patient.”
The project is being delivered by Scottish Water’s alliance partner, Caledonia Water Alliance and is expected to be completed by July 2026.
The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has launched its 2026 Manifesto for the upcoming Holyrood Elections, setting out a clear call to all political parties to champion fair regulation, evidence-based policymaking and sustainable growth across Scotland’s £1bn self-catering sector.
The manifesto, Championing Scotland’s Self-Catering: Fair Regulation, Strong Partnerships, Sustainable Growth, highlights the vital role self-catering plays within Scotland’s tourism economy, one which supports more than 29,000 jobs, driving local employment and spending in rural, island and urban areas alike.
The ASSC also calls for a reset in the relationship between government and tourism businesses, with a move away from piecemeal regulation towards proportionate, coherent and market aware policy that supports sustainable growth while addressing genuine community concern.
The six key priorities set out in the ASSC’s manifesto include:
· Fair, lawful and proportionate reform of short-term let regulation: secured through a clearer separation of planning and licensing, as well as protection for compliant operators from disproportionate enforcement.
· Ending the scapegoating of self-catering in housing policy: self-catering accounts for just 0.8% of Scotland’s housing stock while boosting the economy by £1bn, so it is time to change the narrative.
· A new partnership model between government and industry: the creation of a new statutory Tourism & Hospitality Partnership Forum with earlier, structured engagement on policy design.
· Future-fit regulation reflecting market conditions and cumulative regulatory impact: using impact assessments before introducing yet more regulation or taxation affecting tourism.
· A fair fiscal framework for tourism: with much-needed reform of Non-Domestic Rates and recognition of the sector as a key growth industry in Scotland’s economic strategy.
· A simple and deliverable visitor levy: use of a simple flat rate for those councils who wish to proceed, and shifting liability from operators to guests supported by QR-code or online payment systems.
The ASSC argues that tourism remains one of Scotland’s most resilient and dynamic industries, and that self-catering underpins its success, particularly in sustaining local economies and communities.
The manifesto therefore recommends the next Scottish Government to champion tourism through a dedicated Minister for Tourism.
Commenting on the launch,Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “Scotland’s £1bn self-catering industry is at the heart of this country’s tourism success, supporting jobs, local communities and economies in every corner of the land.
“As we look ahead to this important election, our message is clear: fair regulation, strong partnership and evidence-led policy are essential if tourism is to continue delivering for Scotland.
“This manifesto sets out a positive, practical route forward, one which reflects the real-world experience of thousands of small businesses. The ASSC wants to usher in a new era of collaboration between government and industry, and we are calling on all parties to work with us to reset the relationship with business, rebuild trust, and create the conditions for sustainable growth which benefits us all.”
Tackling harmful drinking was the focus of an event at Holyrood last week, sponsored by Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands.
MSPs and other stakeholders, the third sector, Police Scotland and representatives from the drinks industry, were given the chance to see for themselves the work supported by the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership (SAIP) and delivered across the country to tackle harm and promote an increasingly moderate and responsible approach to alcohol.
Several of the organisations that the SAIP and its members work with were represented at the event, including Drinkaware, Community Alcohol Partnerships, Best Bar None and the Portman Group.
Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islandssaid: “ It was fantastic to get the opportunity to host the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership at Holyrood, bringing industry and partners together to tackle harmful drinking.
“Scotland has a complicated relationship with alcohol, and it’s important that we prevent its misuse and the damage that can be done by drinking too much, while recognising the importance of alcohol culturally, socially, and economically.
“As a Highlands and Islands MSP, I know how important whisky is locally, and we need to empower people to enjoy that without it negatively impacting their health and relationships.
“Alcohol-related hospital stays are on the decline, and last year saw a welcome decrease in alcohol deaths, but effort is needed to make sure that trajectory continues in the right direction – industry must be part of that effort.”
Paul Waterson, SAIP Chairsaid: “Our industry has an important role to play in encouraging moderate consumption and in tackling harmful drinking.
“The event highlighted the range of targeted interventions being taken forward in partnership across the industry, in addition to work that many companies also do individually.
“We want to have a prosperous, vibrant alcohol industry whilst at the same time driving down harmful consumption. Progress is being made but more work remains to be done.”
New research reveals depth of country’s reading enjoyment challenge
Scottish authors, Dennis the Menace and primary school children join Her Majesty to launch the National Year of Reading in Scotland
Campaign inspire nation to ‘Go All In’ on their passions through reading launches as new National Literacy Trust research reveals just 3 in 10 Scottish children and young people enjoy reading and 1 in 6 read daily [report attached]
Offering hope, the research also spotlights opportunities to reconnect Scottish children and young people with reading through their passions and visual media, including comics
Power of comics to inspire reading celebrated at event, while school children present Her Majesty with bespoke Dennis the Menace comic strip
Her Majesty The Queen launched the National Year of Reading in Scotland yesterday alongside iconic Scottish authors, beloved comic characters, 150 local primary school children, and supporting publishers, businesses and charities at the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh.
The initiative from the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, of which Her Majesty is Patron, seeks to address the steep decline in the nation’s reading enjoyment and launched in Scotland amid new research from the charity revealing startlingly low numbers of children and young people in the country who enjoy reading and read daily in their free time.
To help address this challenge, the campaign is asking the nation to ‘Go All In’ on their interests and passions and (re)discover how reading can unlock the things they already love – from music and sport to films, food and family time – in whatever way works for them.
Backing the campaign, award-winning Scottish authors Jackie Kay, Val McDermid and Sir Ian Rankin were unveiled as National Year of Reading ambassadorsat yesterday’s event.
Award-winning author Val McDermid said: “Reading is the greatest gift we can give our children. And ourselves.”
Government,business and charity partners including Education Scotland, DC Thomson, Scottish Book Trust andThe Scottish Library and Information Council (SLiC)also showed their support for the campaign, joining a roundtable discussion, which Her Majesty visited, to agree the priorities and actions required across the year to spark of love of reading in Scotland’s early years settings, schools, communities and homes.
The National Literacy Trust’s latest research provides compelling evidence to underpin the urgent need for the initiative. Based on a survey of 7,739 children and young people aged 8 to 18 in Scotland, the report revealed that just 3 in 10 (30.3%) said they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2025, while only 1 in 6 (16.8%) said they read daily in their free time.
Vast numbers of children and young people in Scotland are therefore missing out on the vital benefits that reading can bring, including enhanced reading skills, wellbeing, empathy and confidence, as well as additional gains outlined in today’s report around supporting relaxation (61.4%), learning (54.0%) and creativity (48.0%).
Further insights from the research, which help to identify ways to tackle low levels of reading engagement amongst Scotland’s children and young people, underscore the principles of the National Year of Reading’s ‘Go All In’ campaign to encourage people of all ages to dive deeper into the things they already love through reading in all its forms – from print books to audiobooks, digital magazines to graphic novels, and more.
Indeed, children and young people in Scotland who don’t currently enjoy reading said that finding reading materials based on their passions, as well as visual media, would motivate them to read, such as books relevant to their interests and hobbies (37.4%), compelling book covers and titles (29.7%) and autonomy of choice in what materials they read (25.4%).
The research also found song lyrics, fiction, non-fiction and comicsto be the most popular reading materials for Scotland’s children and young people. Comics could provide a particularly unique opportunity to engage boys, who continue to lag behind girls in their enjoyment of reading (23.5% vs 36.3%) and daily reading (13.5% vs 19.7%), as significantly more boys than girls read comics in print (32% vs 25%) and on screen (14.4% vs 10.4%).
Tapping into the power of comics to engage Scotland’s children and young people with reading and bringing the spirit of the National Year of Reading to life, today’s event saw Beano immerse 150 local school children in the magic of reading, writing and illustrating comics.
Using a bespoke three panel Beano comic strip featuring The Queen and Dennis the Menace as a story starter – a special print of which was later presented to Her Majesty by pupils – Beano’s Directors of Mischief (Mike Stirling) and Mayhem (Craig Graham) worked with local pupils from Granton Primary School and The Queen herself to create a mischievous National Year of Reading comic strip.
Her Majesty proceeded to join a group of pupils from Granton Primary School and Clovenstone Primary School to try their hand at illustrating Dennis the Menace’s pet dog, Gnasher, with comics artist and cartoonist Nigel Auchterlounie. Comics artist Laura Howell also helped children draw their own Minnie the Minx characters.
Her Majesty then attended a special reception with National Year of Reading partners, ambassadors and supporters before listening to speeches from David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading, Amina Shah, Chief Executive of the National Library of Scotland and National Year of Reading ambassador Val McDermid to celebrate the launch of the initiative in Scotland.
All 150 school children gathered to bid Her Majesty farewell, displaying their favourite things to read, from children’s books to comics and magazines, and waving National Year of Reading flags.
To continue their reading journeys at home, generous donations from DC Thomson, HarperCollins and Penguin Random House meant all 150 children were gifted a mix of brand new Beano comics, Beano books and extra children’s books to keep.
Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said:“The National Year of Reading provides us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate the UK’s relationship with reading and change people’s life stories.
“With incredible ambassadors, events and partnerships at the fore, in addition to the invaluable support of the National Literacy Trust’s Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, the National Year of Reading can inspire every child, young person and adult to go all in on their passions, feed their curiosities and connect with others through reading – in 2026 and beyond.”
David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading, said:“Reading is one of the most powerful tools we have to learn, create and grow. But right now, too many people are switching off from it.
“The National Year of Reading’s ‘Go All In’ campaign will transform how the nation sees reading, reaching people where they are and getting them excited about rediscovering the power, joy and relevance it can bring to their lives.
“Today’s event captured the energy and optimism we need to put reading back at the heart of our culture. Reading in all its forms can unlock the things we already love, so whatever your passion: if you’re into it, read into it.”
Val McDermid, award-winning author and National Year of Reading ambassador, said: “Reading is a window on the world beyond our own. It shows us possibilities and gives us the tools to make them realities. Reading is the greatest gift we can give our children. And ourselves.”
Working together with a network of national, local and community partners, the National Literacy Trust will lead the delivery of the National Year of Reading in Scotland. The charity is committed to supporting communities across the UK where low literacy and poverty are having the greatest impact on people’s lives.
In Scotland, the charity works intensively in Dundee, where despite overall improvements in literacy achievement seen since 2017, the gap between pupils from the most and least deprived areas has remained relatively steady.
More broadly across the country, in response to research indicating that 1 in 4 (25%) primary schools in Scotland does not have a library, the charity and Penguin Books’ Libraries for Primaries campaign has transformed library spaces in 100 Scottish primary schools – including Granton Primary School and Clovenstone Primary School, whose pupils attended today’s event.
For more information about the National Year of Reading, visit: goallin.org.uk
On Friday evening (16th Jan) a packed Glasgow University Union approved by acclimation the motion that Scotland and the UK should rejoin the European Union.
Alyn Smith, the SNP’s Scottish Government candidate for Stirling and a former Member of the European Parliament, was the lead speaker for the motion. He was supported by Sir Ian Forrester.
Sir Ian, who was knighted in the New Year’s Honour for services to international law, is a Glasgow University graduate and was a leading student debater. He was a judge at the General Court of Justice of the European Union, until the UK left the EU.
Student debater, Emilia Faulkner, a second-year law and Spanish language student, who has won public speaking awards, was the final speaker for the motion. She used her time to also call for a revival of foreign languages teaching across the UK.
The opposition was led by Glasgow University political scientist, Dr Michael Scanlan and by award winning student debaters Harry Braid and Harry Olden.
While accepting that Brexit is a failed policy, the team argued that rejoining the EU should not be part of the UK’s politics at present.
The debate, which was organised jointly by the European Movement in Scotland and Glasgow University Debating Society, was chaired by Convener of Debates, Colson Merrill.
Colson Merrill said: “This was a fantastic debate argued with facts, analysis, humour and passion by both teams.
“We had insightful and knowledgeable questions from the audience in the gallery. The debate was about serious politics of the highest importance, conducted in a wholly constructive way.”
Speaking for the European Movement in Scotland, its President, David Martin said: “Our primary aim was to have the issue of our place in Europe aired and discussed by a generation of students who were too young to vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
“When they were asked to vote for or against the motion, the students overwhelmingly opted for Scotland and the UK returning to the EU.”
Glasgow University Union is one of the most successful university debating unions in the world. It has been world debating champions five times and won the European Championships in 2017 and have been British and Irish Champions a record 16 times.
Former Presidents of the debating society include the journalist Andrew Neil, former Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine, Conservative politician Liam Fox, and Labour MSP Paul Sweeney.
Late politicians who were Presidents include Lord “Ming” Campbell, Charles Kennedy, who both led the UK Liberal Democrats; Scotland’s first First Minister Donald Dewar and John Smith, who led the UK Labour party.
As we step into 2026, many people will be thinking about the positive changes they’d like to make in the year ahead. For anyone looking to give back to their community, volunteering with the NSPCC is a meaningful way to support children and young people across Scotland.
One of the ways to support children is by becoming a Childline counsellor. Our Childline bases in Aberdeen and Glasgow are always looking for new volunteers to support children and young people through our phone and online services. With a child contacting Childline every 45 seconds, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, volunteers play a vital role.
Another rewarding opportunity is with our Schools Service. Volunteers deliver our Speak out, Stay safe workshops in primary schools, helping children understand their right to be safe, recognise the signs of abuse, and know who they can turn to for support. Last year, the programme reached more than 60,000 across Scotland, and in 2026 we hope to reach even more.
Full training is provided, and visits can be arranged around work or family commitments. Every shift is different, and volunteers often tell us that the enthusiasm and curiosity of the children they meet is what makes the role so special.
If this sounds like something for you, visit the NSPCC website to find out more.
Starting pay for Store Assistants in Edinburgh will increase to £13.35 per hour, with higher rates of £14.30 available based on length of service
Updated pay rates for Store Assistants take effect from Sunday 1st March 2026
Aldi is also enhancing maternity pay, extending full pay to 26 weeks
Aldi store colleagues across Edinburgh are set to receive market-leading rates of pay as part of a £36 million investment in pay and benefits by the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket.
From Sunday 1st March 2026, starting pay for Store Assistants in Edinburgh will rise to £13.35 per hour, rising to £14.30 per hour based on length of service.
Aldi is also increasing pay rates for Store Apprentices in Edinburgh to £12.02 per hour. These rates are significantly higher than the minimum wage for a first-year apprentice.
Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do.Their hard work and dedication is what allows us to offer customers the quality, value and service they expect from Aldi.
“That’s why we’re making such a significant investment in our promise to never be beaten on pay for our colleagues.”
All Aldi colleagues will see their pay rise over the coming months, as well as receiving enhanced family-friendly benefits, with maternity pay extended to 26 weeks at full pay.
Aldi also remains the only supermarket to offer paid breaks to all its store colleagues – a benefit worth up to £1,470 a year to store colleagues.
