BBC launches Bitesize Parenting as parents look for guidance on how to support children through school

New resources help parents support learning from primary to secondary

BBC Bitesize, the UK’s number one trusted education brand, is now the home of Bitesize Parenting, a new service from BBC Children’s & Education to support parents through their children’s education from primary school to right through to exams.

As the nation’s teenagers prepare to for GCSE and A Levels, new research conducted by Ipsos reveals parents are feeling overwhelmed and under pressure when it comes to supporting their children through exam season.

The new parenting offering includes a range of resources to help parents support learning from primary school years to secondary, and beyond.

The free resources such as a glossary on what to say and what not to say during revision, expert advice from psychologists on supporting your child’s mental health, and ways parents can avoid burn out provide easy to use, practical information and the ability to see and engage with your child’s learning on Bitesize.

The expert led resources include a brand-new podcast series, Bitesize Parenting Teens, hosted by actress and comedian Kerry Godliman, with advice and support on the trickier aspects parenting teens, launching with an episode on exams and revision.

As exams start from May, the new research goes on to suggests many parents are unsure how to help with revision, with 1 in 5 saying they are not confident in how to support their teenager during this time, and 35% saying revision season makes them feel anxious as a parent.

The research highlights common challenges driving this anxiety, including managing their child’s screen time and distractions (33%), helping their child cope with exam stress (25%), and worrying they will say the wrong thing about revision (19%).

Revision season is also putting pressure on family life, with 21% of parents surveyed saying it leads to more arguments or tension at home. Children are feeling the strain too, with 37% of parents saying their child becomes more irritable or emotional during this period.

The research suggests parents are taking practical steps to help, often at the expense of everyday life. 44% have helped create revision timetables, 38% have reduced social plans to prioritise revision, and 36% have paid for revision guides or learning materials.

But despite their efforts, many parents surveyed feel they are navigating this without clear guidance. Almost half (48%) say they find it difficult to keep up with the range of revision resources available.

In conversations with parents, the BBC found just how much pressure exam time is putting on family life. One parent said their child “gets more stressed about me suggesting he revise than he does about exams,” highlighting how difficult it can be to strike the right balance.

Another parent described the experience as “a super stressful period for all concerned,” while others said they have to “put my own emotions to the side to keep [their child] calm.”

BBC Bitesize Parenting aims to engage parents in their child’s education journey, helping to reduce stress and giving families the confidence to support learning at home. According to the latest Socioeconomic Impact Of BBC Children’s And Education report, the BBC provides education resources like Bitesize, that are associated with better exam results, improved life opportunities and social mobility.

Kerry Godliman says: “Exam season can feel intense for the whole family. As a parent, you want to help, but it is not always clear how to do that without adding more pressure. This podcast is about honest conversations and helping parents feel less alone.

And it’s not just revision we talk about on Parenting Teens. We tackle familiar challenges like screen time, how to get your teen to tidy their room, and the much-feared hormones.”

Cerys Griffiths, Head of BBC Bitesize, says: “Parents are telling us they feel unsure and overwhelmed when it comes to supporting their children, particularly during high-pressure moments like exam season.

“Bitesize Parenting has been developed in response to what families say they need most, bringing together trusted, expert-led advice in one place.“

BBC Bitesize aims to be the most trusted, accessible and used education platform in the UK, and this is about making sure families can access simple, practical support that helps them navigate learning at home and feel more confident supporting their child.”

Bitesize Parenting content, including new Parenting Teens Podcasts are available on the BBC Bitesize website and on BBC Sounds.

OMNi To Host The Big Meet Event in May After £5M Transformation

OMNI NEARS COMPLETION OF £5 MILLION TRANSFORMATION AND INVITES  EDINBURGH TO BIG REVEAL EVENT ON SATURDAY 2 MAY 

Edinburgh’s leisure and entertainment destination, OMNi, is adding the finishing touches  to its fresh new look as the £5 million pound refurbishment enters its final stages – signalling the start  of an exciting new chapter for the much-loved city centre destination. 

The refurb project has delivered significant enhancements to the public realm with the aim of creating  a more welcoming space for visitors to meet and enjoy.

Improvements include new flooring throughout  the centre, an upgraded and more visible main entrance, modern LED lighting, new seating zones,  and extensive internal structural improvements. 

Neil Mackie, OMNi Centre Manager, said: “OMNi is on a mission to get Edinburgh to meet more and enjoy more. With a renewed focus  on community and connection, the revitalised OMNi aims to become the go-to spot for affordable fun, and meeting point for everyday moments in Edinburgh, from morning coffees  before exploring the city and family meals after a day out.

“We’re excited for everyone to  experience the newly refurbished entertainment destination for all.” 

The refreshed centre marks the start of a new chapter for OMNi and brings with it a programme of  planned and surprise enlivenment and events into 2026 and beyond.

To celebrate new beginnings,  OMNi is hosting The Big Meet on Saturday 2 May – a free event designed to bring the people of  Edinburgh together and give back to the community. 

The Big Meet will bring a burst of feel-good energy to the centre between 11am and 5pm. OMNi brand  ambassadors will be surprising visitors with complimentary coffees, meals, cinema tickets and other  treats, while brands offer up one-day-only deals. Guests can also take home a personalised sketch  from a live illustrator, along with a few extra surprises along the way. 

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the local community, OMNi has donated a significant £180,000 over three years to the University of Edinburgh’s Access Edinburgh Scholarship  programme, which supports students from low‑income backgrounds.

The funding will aid 30  undergraduates, with each scholar receiving a total of £3,000 per year. This is funded equally from  OMNi and the University, to help students with personal and academic costs.

Thomas Archer Bata, Director at Triple B, said: “At Triple B, our ambition is always to enrich the lives of the communities we serve.

“OMNi is  especially meaningful to me, having studied at the University of Edinburgh and seen first hand the role it plays as an important social hub for the city. Its transformation reflects our  commitment to creating a welcoming place for the local community to come together and  enjoy accessible, affordable fun.

“We’re proud to build on that by supporting the University of  Edinburgh’s Access Edinburgh Scholarship programme, helping students focus on their  studies without financial strain.” 

Visit the OMNi website for full details on The Big Meet event on 2 May 2026. Join OMNi on its social  channels for latest information and behind the scenes content: Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. 

OMNi is open 6am – 1am, Monday to Sunday. Individual brand opening times may vary, including  Bank Holidays.

Pensioners urged to be alert to Winter Fuel Payment scams

  • Winter Fuel Payments paid in winter 2025 will be recovered from pensioners with income above £35,000
  • Check if your payment will be reclaimed at GOV.UK – you don’t need to contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • Scammers may try to trick customers into handing money over

Pensioners are being warned to be on high alert for scams as the recovery of Winter Fuel Payments begins this month.

Almost two million people are expected to repay their winter 2025 payment due to their annual income being more than £35,000 – for most, an automatic process.

HMRC saw more than 25,000 Winter Fuel Payment scam referrals over the last 12 months and is warning that scammers may now use the recovery process as a hook to use texts, emails and phone calls to target this group.

For most, the payment will be recovered through a change to their PAYE tax code from this month (April 2026) with no need to contact HMRC.

For those in Self Assessment who file online, the payment should be pre-populated in their 2025 to 2026 tax return, due by 31 January 2027. Customers should check and add it manually if it is not shown.

Paper filers will need to add it on their tax return, due by 31 October 2026. 

This applies across the UK – including in Scotland, where the payment is known as the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment and in Northern Ireland, where payments were made by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. In all cases, recovery is handled by HMRC.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: ““Criminals are great pretenders and often use fake letters, emails, calls and texts to impersonate HMRC and trick people into giving them money.

“I’d encourage anyone who’s unsure to use our online tool at GOV.UK to check whether and how their payment will be recovered – there’s no need to call us”

HMRC will never contact people by text or email to ask them to repay their Winter Fuel Payment, or to request bank details.

People can use HMRC’s online checking tool at GOV.UK to see whether their payment will be reclaimed and how.

Man convicted of attempted murder of police officer

A 29-year-old man has been convicted of the attempted murder of a police officer in Edinburgh.

Thomas Malone pleaded to guilty to attempted murder, dangerous driving and abduction charges at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Tuesday, 14 April).

The incident took place at a petrol station on Stenhouse Road on the evening of Tuesday, 9 July, 2024.

The officer was struck by Malone, who was driving a stolen Mercedes GLE, while on foot attempting to bring the vehicle to a stop. Malone had stolen the vehicle from the Gorgie Road area earlier in the evening.

A 16-year-old boy was a passenger within the vehicle at the time it was stolen but escaped prior to the crash with no injuries.

The officer was met with immediate assistance from colleagues and Malone was arrested.

He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment to serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

Detective Inspector Alan Sharp said: “This was a terrifying incident for the officer involved, who was left with serious injuries as a result of Malone’s actions, and our thoughts remain with those involved.

“The courage and determination shown by the officer and his colleagues, who were simply doing their job, led to the swift arrest of Malone and ensured that the threat he posed to officers and the community was quickly contained.

“I hope this conviction brings some comfort to the officer and his colleagues, as well as the boy involved, and sends a message that this type of violent behaviour against police officers and staff will not be tolerated.”

Superintendent Andrew Barclay, of Road Policing, said: “I want to express my thanks and gratitude to those involved for their bravery and professionalism when faced with such danger.

“Every officer has the fundamental right to come home from each shift unharmed. This type of incident shows the unpredictable and dangerous situations police officers can face, while doing their utmost to keep people safe.”

Shopping with PEP!

Need transport for your weekly shop? PEP has you covered!

🚌 Pick-ups start at 9:30 AM

🛒 Enjoy 2 hours to shop (and time for a cuppa ☕)

⏰ Bus leaves at 12 PM to take you home

✔️ 2 bags per person limit

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It’s a friendly, easy, and convenient way to get your shopping done!

📞 Book your spot today: 0131 315 4466

Spaces are limited—don’t miss out!

#PEP

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#EdinburghLife

Free fun at West Pilton Park

EDINBURGH and LOTHIANS GREENSPACE TRUST

Looking for some free fun this Easter holiday in your local park?

Head along to any or all of these workshops all about nature in West Pilton Park!

Takeaway cup recycling made easier in Edinburgh

Recycling takeaway cups in Edinburgh is now easier thanks to a collaborative scheme Keep Scotland Beautiful has launched with the National Cup Recycling Scheme and City of Edinburgh Council.

Dedicated cup bins will be deployed on Market Street, Waverley Bridge and outside Haymarket Station to collect single-use cups in a new trial to test the effectiveness of on-street cup recycling and see if it is possible to boost the number of cups being recycled in Scotland – currently 4% – and prevent them from ending up as litter or in landfill.  

Furthermore, the partners have teamed up with retailers including Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, Greggs and McDonald’s to launch Take It Back in Edinburgh. 

This is the first time our Cup Movement campaign has taken place in Edinburgh and will build on the previous success and learnings of trials in Glasgow and Dundee. 

More than 30 stores in Edinburgh are participating in Take It Back, allowing customers to take a single-use cup back to any of the above retailers to be recycled.  

Heather McLaughlin, Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Campaigns Manager, said: “Single-use cups make up a huge percentage of the items polluting Scotland’s environment. 

“More than half of people in Scotland (59%) often see littered single-use cups. In Edinburgh alone a recent bin audit of on-street bins outside Waverley Station found that single-use cups made up 59% of the drinks waste. 

“The reality is that these single-use products are already ending up as litter. We need to address our over consumption of single-use products and make an effort to choose reusable options. 

“However, we know that reuse is not always possible or practical. This scheme will make it easier for people who use single-use cups to ensure they are recycled properly.” 

Hannah Osman, National Cup Recycling Manager at Valpak Ltd, said: “Transport hubs are some of the highest footfall locations in Scotland, and we know from our data that a significant volume of single-use cups are consumed on the go.  

“By targeting key commuter routes, this trial allows us to test how dedicated infrastructure in the right locations can capture more material and significantly increase recycling rates. 

“Through this partnership, we’re using real-time data and evidence from previous trials to understand what works, measure contamination levels, track capture rates, and build a scalable model for on-street cup recycling. 

“The goal is simple: make cup recycling visible, convenient and data-driven so it can be rolled out effectively across other cities in Scotland and beyond.” 

Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, City of Edinburgh Council’s Environment Convener, said: “Increasing recycling rates in the city is one of our key priorities. 

“It’s important we support targeted projects like this to make it easier for people to dispose of takeaway cups, which have become so popular in recent years and the prominent locations of these three new dedicated bins will hopefully do that. 

“I’d also always encourage residents and visitors buying a regular cuppa to wherever possible take their own cup into takeaway stores to cut down on the need to use the disposable ones at all.” 

Typical single-use hot drink cups cannot go into standard recycling bins or be recycled at home. To avoid cups ending up in landfill, it is really important to #TakeItBack.  So, even if you forget your reusable cup, you can still help reduce the negative environmental impact of single-use cups if you #TakeItBack. 

Find the participating Edinburgh stores on our interactive map.

Read more on our website and remember to #TakeItBack next time you’re in Edinburgh: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/…/takeaway-cup…/

Operation Portaledge: Man convicted of machete attack in Edinburgh

A 50-year-old man has been convicted following a violent offence in Edinburgh.

Anthony Brown pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday (Tuesday, 14 April, 2026), to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.

Officers were made aware of the attempted murder of a 54-year-old man on Pitcairn Grove in Greenbank around 9.20pm on Thursday, 22 May, 2025.

Brown was arrested and charged in connection with the incident on Friday, 4 July, 2025, following the execution of a warrant.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “Another individual has been convicted in relation to this violent incident.

“This conviction is testament to the hard work and dedication by detectives, specialist officers and partners across the country.

“Police Scotland remains committed to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy.”

Operation Portaledge is the ongoing investigation into violent incidents in the East and West of the country.

Scotland’s Bishops say it’s not too late to get behind SCIAF’s WEE BOX appeal

The Archbishop of Edinburgh and St Andrew’s Diocese Leo Cushley, together with Scotland’s other Bishops, has given his blessing to SCIAF’s WEE BOX annual fundraising appeal and the issue of access to safe water.

SCIAF – the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund – is the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Compelled by Christ’s love, it works with those in the world’s poorest places to end poverty, protect our common home, and help people recover from disaster. SCIAF inspires loving action in the Scottish Catholic community to sustain its work. 

Staff from SCIAF visited the Bishops as they gathered for regular conference at the Schoenstatt Retreat Centre. 

Chief executive Lorraine Currie said: “We are so grateful to the Bishops of Scotland and Catholics across the country for their support already this Lent. Our supporters in Scotland are so generous and their support for people living in poverty around the world is really overwhelming.

“This year’s WEE BOX campaign aims to highlight the issue of access to clean water and the transformational work that SCIAF supporters are funding. It is genuinely changing lives. Bringing clean water close to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It was amazing to see the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives.”

Bishop Brian McGee is SCIAF’s Bishop President. He said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water?  We are so lucky here in Scotland and we just take it for granted that the water from our taps will always be there.  

“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this. Please give what you can.” 

Please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.  

For more details on how to donate, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox.

To donate £10, please text SCIAF to 70580. Texts will cost £10 plus your standard network charge.  

Teddy Bears’ Picnic at LifeCare Centre

4th MAY from 11am – 1pm

With Spring in full bloom, we are inviting you to our Teddy Bears’ Picnic!

Bring your little ones (and their favourite teddy!) along for a fun-filled morning of lunch and children’s entertainment.

The picnic will be held at The LifeCare Centre, our fully accessible community hub on the 4th of May 11am – 1pm. Children under 12 months go FREE of charge.

Don’t forget to bring your teddy bear for the full picnic experience! We hope to see you there.

Grab your tickets now: [https://events.humanitix.com/teddybears-picnic]