Applications are now open for grants of between £3,000 and £15,000 to community-based organisations in Scotland delivering activities and support that help people affected by dementia stay connected, supported and involved in their communities.
Funding for community groups supporting people living with dementia and unpaid carers.
Age Scotland, supported by funding from the Scottish Government, is offering grants of between £3,000 – £15,000 to community-based organisations across Scotland that support people living with dementia and unpaid carers. This funding is for activities and programmes taking place 1 April 2027 – 31 March 2028.
The Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity (ESGA) Fund helps local groups deliver activities that reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and strengthen community support for people affected by dementia.
Since the fund launched, more than £1.2 million has been awarded to grassroots organisations across Scotland.
Applications for the 2027 funding round are now open.
The Palestinian Circus, a circus troupe who train and live in Gaza’s West Bank, are performing their show A Step and a Half at Underbelly Circus Hub on the Meadows throughout Edinburgh Fringe 2026.
UK Government reveals the communities in over 40 locations eligible for cheaper electricity bills
Westminster Government reveals the communities in over 40 locations eligible for cheaper electricity bills
Households near new pylons could save up to £2,500 over 10 years
Upgrading an electricity grid largely built in the 1960s will lower energy costs for households across Britain
Thousands of households living near new or upgraded pylons are set to get money off their electricity bills. Payments will start from next year, as the first projects expected to be in scope of the government’s bill discount scheme are unveiled today (Wednesday 12 August).
From the Scottish Highlands to the south of England, communities in over 40 locations could benefit from hosting vital grid infrastructure that will provide cheaper, clean electricity to the whole country.
Those living within 500 metres of these projects are expected to get £2,500 off their electricity bills over 10 years.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Upgrading Britain’s electricity grid is a vital part of how we deliver secure, homegrown energy and unlock economic growth across the country.
“It is a moment of national renewal – upgrading what was built largely in the 1960s for the modern age to bring down electricity bills for households across the country.
“It’s vital we build again as a country and we are determined those communities which host pylons should benefit, which is why we’re bringing down the energy bills of those hosting this vital national infrastructure.”
With much of the country’s electricity grid built in the 1960s, the government is rolling out the upgrades Britain needs to connect new sources of electricity generation, strengthen energy security and deliver a more affordable energy system for billpayers.
This forms part of a wider plan to bring bills down for good, after government action to cut VAT on electricity bills to give families across Britain immediate cost-of-living breathing space.
The 43 transmission projects announced today form the first wave, with further projects to follow as the scheme is rolled out. It is expected that hundreds of thousands of homes will benefit from the scheme in total over the next decade.
People will only be in scope for the discounts once projects have secured all necessary consents and the main construction works have started. Projects where construction started on or after 10 March 2025 will be eligible.
Most eligible households will receive the discount automatically on their electricity bill every 6 months via their energy supplier. However, some households may need to apply – such as those on commercial meters. Households can expect to receive further information in the first half of next year, when they will be directly contacted by their energy supplier or Ofgem if they qualify.
The bill discounts build on wider government Community Funds guidance, which is set to drive millions of funding into communities hosting grid infrastructure across Britain. Under that guidance, people living close to National Grid’s Bramford to Twinstead reinforcement project are set to benefit from more than £4 million in payments to fund community projects in their area. In Scotland, communities near SP Energy Networks’ Chirmorie overhead line project would be eligible for around £2.4 million of community benefit funding to support local projects.
Earlier this month National Grid unveiled a commitment to support 5,000 young people who are not in employment, education or training to develop skills and access career opportunities in the energy and infrastructure sectors, after the Prime Minister unveiled plans to drive more young people into work.
The announcement also comes after new independent research, published in June, confirmed that building pylons remains the most cost effective way of upgrading Britain’s outdated electricity networks, so present the best value for bill-payers.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “Scotland is playing a central role in the UK’s energy transition, and as we build the modern grid needed to harness that power, it is only right that local families living alongside new pylons see real, direct savings on their electricity bills.
“These projects are essential for energy security and lower bills, and the communities hosting key infrastructure for this long-awaited grid upgrade deserve cheaper energy in return.
“I encourage households across Scotland living near these new or upgraded sites to check if they qualify for a discount.”
Ofgem Executive Director for Delivery and Schemes, Neil Lawrence, said: “Communities that host new electricity transmission infrastructure are playing a vital role in delivering the cleaner, more secure energy system Britain needs.
“The Bill Discount Scheme will help ensure eligible households living near these projects see a direct benefit through discounts on their energy bills. As the scheme administrator, Ofgem’s role is to make sure payments are delivered effectively, fairly and transparently to eligible customers.
“We look forward to working closely with government, electricity suppliers and transmission owners to ensure the scheme is ready to support households when payments begin.”
Nicola Connelly, CEO, SP Energy Network, said: “Communities are playing a role in enabling and supporting the greatest re-wiring of the UK energy system in decades and it is good to see them directly benefiting, through bills and our community benefit funds.
“Funds, shaped by the local communities that will deliver lasting, sustainable improvements for years to come.”
Christianna Logan, Director of Customers and Stakeholders at SSEN Transmission, said: “We strongly support measures that will see communities benefit from hosting the electricity transmission infrastructure that is required to deliver a cleaner, more secure and affordable electricity system for current and future generations.
“SSEN Transmission is committed to leaving a lasting legacy from this vital work, and our planned £29 billion investment programme will generate significant economic and social gains for the communities we serve.”
Alex Kaufman, Director of Land, Planning and External Affairs at National Grid, said: “Communities are playing an important role in enabling the delivery of new energy infrastructure across the UK, and we welcome the government setting out more detail on the Bill Discount Scheme.
“It will help ensure eligible households see a direct benefit from hosting this infrastructure, while providing greater clarity on how it will work in practice.”
The Timms Review launched last October with the aim of making sure PIP is fair and fit for the future. Its Interim Report, published in July 2026, found that PIP is no longer fit for purpose.
Fifteen workshops being held online and in person will help shape the recommendations of the Timms Review into Personal Independence Payment.
Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions invited to apply for workshops, with registration open from Wednesday 12 August 2026.
Comes following the Review’s Interim Report which found PIP to be no longer fit for purpose.
Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions are being invited to take part in a series of workshops that will help shape recommendations for the future of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Many people described assessment and decision-making processes as “stressful” and “dehumanising” and reported that PIP, while widely valued as a benefit, can itself create additional barriers to participation and independence.
Ahead of its final Report, due in Autumn 2026, the Review’s steering group is now developing emerging recommendations and will be seeking views on them from people across the UK.
The 15 workshops will be held online and in person across the UK during September and October 2026, ensuring people from all parts of the country can take part in discussing, testing and refining the recommendations.
The workshops are aimed primarily at disabled people and people with long-term health conditions and no previous experience of engaging with government reviews is required.
Alongside these workshops, the Review will also be contacting stakeholders including Disabled People’s Organisations, charities and MPs to test and refine its emerging recommendations over the same period.
Co-Chair of the Review and member of the shaping recommendations workshops working group Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE said: “Disabled people and people with long term health conditions know better than anyone how PIP works in real life where it helps, where it creates barriers, and where it needs to change. That experience has to be part of shaping what comes next.
“I would encourage anyone with experience of applying for or receiving PIP to register their interest in taking part. The purpose of these workshops is not simply to hear people’s experiences, but to test the Review’s emerging recommendations against real lives and understand what could make them fairer, clearer and work better in practice.
“Most importantly, I am committed to showing how what people tell us influences the recommendations we ultimately make.”
Feedback from participants in these workshops will be considered by the Review as it finalises it recommendations. These workshops, alongside intensive engagement throughout the process, will ensure the Review is grounded in the experiences of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions before the report is submitted to the government.
Prior to this, more than 38,000 responses to the Review’s Call for Evidence were received, alongside workshops and engagement with disabled people, their organisations and experts, to feed into the Review.
Registration for the workshops opens on Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 10am and closes on Friday 21 August 2026 at 5pm. Selected participants will be informed by 4 September 2026.
Selection will be done randomly but the steering group will review and ensure the people chosen represent a balanced range of characteristics. Where a particular characteristic is under-represented, applicants with that characteristic will be identified from the wider applicant pool and selected at random to fill any gaps.
Applications to take part in the workshops are now open:
Helping community groups cut energy bills and reduce carbon emissions
Community groups that want to install renewable energy projects and decarbonise their buildings will be able to access additional Scottish Government support this year.
Funding available from the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) will increase to £15 million this year, meaning more groups will be able to develop their own renewable energy projects such as onshore wind and solar, and cut the energy bills for their buildings by installing heat pumps and solar panels.
CARES has already delivered more than £83 million to communities across Scotland, supporting more than 1,200 projects and 75 Megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity.
The increase was announced by First Minister John Swinney ahead of a visit to Scalpay Community Centre in the Western Isles, which received CARES funding previously to install a heat pump, solar pv and battery storage.
Mr Swinney said: “We are moving beyond the idea of communities as passive hosts of energy infrastructure. Our approach supports them to become active partners by helping them to invest in, own and benefit from the clean energy future.
“That is why we are increasing the funding available from CARES to £15 million each year. More than 1,000 groups have already benefitted, empowering them to generate their own clean energy through local solutions, not only cutting emissions but also reducing costs and creating resilient communities.
“I would encourage organisations who have not already applied to check what support they may be eligible for.”
Gordon Ness, Chair of Scalpay Community Association said: “CARES funding has been instrumental in helping Scalpay Community Association SCIO transform our Community Centre into a more energy-efficient, sustainable and welcoming facility for everyone in our community.
“The support has enabled us to reduce our environmental impact while creating a warm, accessible space that will benefit local people for many years to come.
“Continued investment in CARES gives communities like ours the confidence to develop ambitious local projects that strengthen resilience, reduce carbon emissions and help secure a sustainable future for Scotland’s islands.”
CARES provides advice and funding, via grants and loans, to communities looking to develop renewable energy, heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects. It is administered by Local Energy Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government wants communities to benefit from the opportunities presented by renewable technologies, and make the best use of the land and assets Scotland already has.
To deliver that, the Scottish Government will refresh guidance for public bodies to remind them of the ways they can help community groups to deliver renewable projects on public land and encourage them to make land and buildings available for such projects.
The Scottish Government is also assessing the potential for deploying solar technology in underused spaces, so that even more of Scotland’s land and infrastructure can contribute to our energy ambitions.
Planning to watch the partial solar eclipse? Protect your eyesight!
A partial solar eclipse will be visible across Scotland on the evening of Wednesday 12 August. While it may be tempting to take a good look at this rare natural phenomenon, viewing the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage.
Remember:
Only use certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers
Consider a safe indirect viewing method, such as a pinhole projector
Never look directly at the Sun
Ordinary sunglasses won’t protect your eyes
Don’t use binoculars, telescopes or cameras without specialist solar filters
If you notice blurred vision, blind spots or any changes to your sight, your local optometrist should usually be your first point of contact.
Optometrists can assess a range of eye conditions and help ensure you get the right care in the right place.
Could You Take on A Kiltwalk for Bereaved Families This September?
Bereavement charity Child Bereavement UK is calling on people to take part in the Dundee Kiltwalk
Participants can raise as much as they like with no minimum sponsorship
Child Bereavement UK, the largest provider of grief support for when a child grieves or when a child dies, is calling on the local community in Edinburgh to take part in a sponsored Kiltwalk on Sunday, September 13th.
The charity is mustering well-travelled trekkers or fledgling footsloggers to don their kilts and take part in the Kiltwalk in Dundee to raise awareness and money for the support available to bereaved children and parents in Scotland.
Child Bereavement UK is the largest provider of bereavement support to grieving young people and parents bereaved of a baby or child, supporting families throughout the UK when a child grieves or when a child dies.
The Kiltwalk in Edinburgh offers participants the chance to enjoy beautiful city scenery while raising money for Child Bereavement UK. Walkers can choose between three challenge route distances, a 4.3-mile Wee Wander route, a 11.2 Big Stroll or a 20-mile Mighty Stride walk, making the event suitable for families and people of different ages and fitness levels.
Participants can take part with friends, family, or on their own, and there is no minimum fundraising target. Everyone who takes part receives a range of benefits, including a walker’s guide, a Kiltwalk finisher’s medal, snacks and refreshments, and plenty of entertainment and encouragement along the route.
The charity also provides a welcome email, fundraising pack, branded top, and support from a dedicated fundraising team to help participants make the most of their experience.
Kerry Waite, Events and Mass Participation Manager at Child Bereavement UK, comments, “The Edinburgh Kiltwalk is one of the most exciting events we have in our calendar, taking participants on an incredible journey with lovely scenery.
“So many people who come and get involved are themselves bereaved, either as young people or as bereaved parents, and they take this opportunity to walk in memory of their important person and in recognition of the tremendous steps through grief they have already undertaken.
“We hope that this important event will not only raise vital funds to support these people and families and also raise awareness of bereavement in childhood and for parents.”
The registration fee is nominal and starts from £7 for children and up to £20 for adults, with participants encouraged to raise as much as they can for the charity.
If you would like to summon your clan and take part in the Dundee Kiltwalk then please visit the dedicated page on the Child Bereavement UK website. There is also another Kiltwalk taking part in Edinburgh on the 13th of September that is also open for registration.
Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. We offer free, UK-wide, accessible online grief support to children and young people (up to 25) and parents bereaved of a baby or child.
Our trained bereavement specialists are available to speak with Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm (excluding bank holidays) by phone, email, text and WhatsApp, or via our website – childbereavementuk.org
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), which campaigns to improve services for vulnerable children and young people, has warned that a Scottish Government commitment to allocate 1 per cent of frontline NHS spending to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) by the end of the previous parliamentary term in 2026 is now IMPOSSIBLE to meet.
Figures from Public Health Scotland for financial year 2024/25, published today (11th August), show that spending on CAMHS accounted for 0.84 per cent of frontline NHS expenditure, up from 0.81 per cent in 2023/24 and 0.75 per cent in 2022/23 (see Notes to Editors).
Spending on CAMHS in 2024/25 stood at just over £146.5 million, an increase of £12.5 million from just over £134 million in 2023/24. Given the scale of the remaining gap, it is now impossible to see how the 1 per cent target id to be achieved in 2025/26, the final year of the previous parliamentary term.
A separate commitment to allocate 10 per cent of frontline NHS expenditure to mental health services more broadly also looks unlikely to have been met. The latest figures show that this stood at 9.14 per cent in 2024/25, compared with 9.03 per cent the previous year and 8.53 per cent in 2022/23.
The commitments to direct 1 per cent of frontline NHS spending specifically to CAMHS and 10 per cent to mental health services overall were made in the Scottish Government’s 2021 Programme for Government.
When the commitments were made, in financial year 2021/22, spending stood at 0.66 per cent for CAMHS and 8.66 per cent for mental health services more broadly.
While spending has increased since then, the pressures on children and young people have also intensified. The long shadow of the Covid pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and persistent poverty in Scotland’s most economically disadvantaged communities have all contributed to the scale of the mental health challenge.
With the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government due in September, the SCSC notes that this is a critical opportunity to reaffirm these commitments and set out a clear and credible plan for delivering them.
A spokesperson for the SCSC said: “While there has been progress in increasing investment, the figures are clear: the Scottish Government is falling short of its commitment to spend 1 per cent of frontline NHS expenditure on children and young people’s mental health services. The wider commitment to spend 10 per cent on mental health services also remains unmet.
“These targets matter. They reflect the scale of investment needed to address Scotland’s growing mental health challenges and ensure that children and young people can access the support they need, when they need it. Against the continuing impact of the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and poverty, the need for action has never been more urgent.
“With the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government due in September, there is a critical opportunity to reaffirm these commitments and set out a clear and credible plan for delivering them. We urgently need to see the necessary investment put in place to meet the 1 per cent CAMHS and 10 per cent wider mental health spending targets.
“But increased spending must go hand in hand with a decisive shift towards prevention and early intervention. Mental health needs to be at the heart of policymaking across government, tackling the underlying causes of poor mental health and ensuring support is available before children and young people reach crisis point.
“The Programme for Government must therefore turn these commitments into action. Scotland’s children and young people cannot afford further delay.
“Meeting these spending targets must be treated as a priority, backed by sustained investment and a clear timetable for delivery.”
Hear from current Board Members
£16,224 per annum
Closing date: 31 August 2026, 12 noon
Apply here: 
Planning to watch the partial solar eclipse? Protect your eyesight!
Only use certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers
Never look directly at the Sun
