Christmas gift turns out to be long lost family heirloom

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? GIFT COINCIDENCE ASTOUNDS CARE HOME RESIDENT AND FAMILY

Betty Roy, a resident at Queens Manor care home on Queensferry Road, and her son Ivor were completely astounded to discover that a Christmas gift sourced by one of the home’s key workers, Clarissa, was actually a long lost family heirloom! 

Clarissa was looking for a unique and meaningful gift for Betty for Christmas and whilst browsing online happened  across ‘Aye Ready, The History of Edinburgh Fire Brigade, The Oldest Municipal Brigade in Britain’ (by Alexander Reid). 

Initially she wondered about gifting a ‘second hand’ item but decided it would be perfectly  appropriate for Betty as she often spoke of her father, Robert Thomas Wyllie, whose photo she proudly displays in her room.  Robert was Assistant Fire Officer at Edinburgh’s Laurieston Fire Station during the 1930’s. 

Betty was showing the book to son Ivor, who was amazed to discover that the book now in Betty’s possession was in fact his own copy, which had belonged to his father. Ivor had inadvertently donated the book along with other items to charity, many miles from Queens Manor and Edinburgh Fire Brigade.

Clarissa found it online purely by chance and now it has found its way home to Betty and Ivor – a chance in a million!

Ivor commented: “I couldn’t believe it when Betty told me she had a copy of the book. When she showed it to me, I realised it was the original copy given to me from my Grandfather’s things, because inside it contained an original letter with coupons which he had never cashed in – I recognised the piece of paper and the edges where it had been inserted in to the book all those years ago! 

“I didn’t even realise until today that the book was no longer in my house!”

Margaret-Ann Davidson, General Manager for Queens Manor, added: “This is a fantastic example of a person-centred gift, made even more special by the provenance. 

“There must have been many copies of the book, and for the family copy to find its way back to Betty and Ivor is incredible!  We’re very lucky to share in this story – all of our residents have lived interesting lives and we love to hear all about it. 

“This is a truly extraordinary coincidence and I’m sure it will be shared at many a family dinner table for years to come!”

Queens Manor is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. 

Queens Manor provides residential, dementia and respite care for short breaks and longer term stays. 

A Budget to tackle child poverty

SOCIAL JUSTICE SECRETARY VISITS PYCP

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has said the draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 is a “landmark intervention” in the Scottish Government’s drive to tackle the root causes of child poverty and increase living standards.   

Around £8 billion has been earmarked for the social justice portfolio, boosting support for vulnerable people and low-income families.

This includes plans to:   

  • introduce a new premium element of the Scottish Child Payment in 2027- 2028, raising weekly payments for eligible parents of children under the age of one to £40 per child, benefitting around 12,000 children  
  • create a new £50 million package to boost whole family support. This will further enhance existing support and will include help with transport, skills, and commits £20 million for third sector partners to deliver the support that people need in their communities
  • increase the Tackling Child Poverty Fund from £12.5 million to £61.5 million in 2026-27 
  • invest £7.2 billion in social security, supporting disabled people, unpaid carers, those on low incomes and others, while also providing help with energy bills

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville met parents in receipt of any of the Five Family Payments, including the Scottish Child Payment, on Thursday (15 January) at Pilton Youth and Children’s Project, and said: “Eradicating child poverty is this government’s driving mission – no child should have their prospects hindered by circumstances beyond their control.  

“This Budget is a landmark intervention in our work to tackle the root causes of poverty and reduce the pressure on household finances – from increased support for Scotland’s newest parents, to new initiatives to help increase household incomes and ensure families receive the right support at the right time.  

“With more than £330 million committed across three years to our Tackling Child Poverty Fund and to investment in Whole Family Support, we are laying the groundwork to drive continued progress in the year ahead, breaking the cycle of poverty in Scotland for good.” 

St. Mark’s: Your Unitarian Church

Although it has been stolidly nestling between Victorian buildings for nearly 200 years, St. Mark’s Unitarian Church in Castle Terrace, the only Unitarian church in Edinburgh, is one of the city’s best-kept secrets (writes MARTYN BAGULEY).

Unitarianism isn’t a New Age religion – there have been Unitarian congregations in Edinburgh since 1776 – but the meaning of the name has changed with time.

Originally used to affirm the oneness of God as opposed to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, it has evolved to represent a ‘unifying’ home for all of us who are on different spiritual journeys, from Christians to atheists.

Whilst drawing on the inspiration of Christianity and other religions, philosophies and nature, it encourages members to be open-minded and develop their own spiritual paths.

The welcome you will receive on arriving and the peaceful atmosphere of the church sanctuary are not unique to St. Mark’s, but you will find that aspects of the service are. Led by either the resident minister, The Rev. Janine Sim, a visiting minister or lay preacher, there may, or may not, be readings from the Bible, but there will be thought-provoking readings from secular works and references made to other religions.

There will be moments for meditation or prayer, a sermon on the theme of the service – which can be found up to 3 days before the service by Googling https://www.edinburgh-unitarians.org.uk  – musical interludes when a talented pianist plays the superb Weinbach grand piano (worth coming just for that!) and probably three hymns.

Some, but not all, of the hymn tunes may be familiar to you, but the words may not be. Don’t worry: you can sit or stand and just quietly reflect on the meaningful words. 

After the service you can enjoy light refreshments in the adjacent church hall where you will probably meet and make friends with people from not only Edinburgh but also from many other places in Britain and the world.

Who knows – you make want to come again – and again.

Teens charged after incident involving bladed weapons in city centre

Two males, aged 17 and 15, have been arrested and charged after a report of people with bladed weapons seen in Edinburgh city centre yesterday.

Officers, including specialist firearms officers, were called to Rose Street around 2.55pm on Friday, 16 January, 2026.

No one was reported as injured.

The 17-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 19 January.

The 15-year-old will be reported to the relevant youth justice authorities.

Detective Inspector Alan Sharp said: “We are grateful for the support shown by the public to our investigation so far.

“Further enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances. I would urge anyone who may have been in the area at the time and has not yet spoken to police to get in touch.

“You can call 101, quoting reference 1999 of 16 January, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

NAS Scotland launches ‘Act Now for Autistic Rights’ Campaign

The National Autistic Society Scotland is calling for real change for autistic people, ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in May. 

The new campaign calls on the next Scottish Government to introduce the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill to parliament as soon as possible. 

Autistic people in Scotland are waiting months, if not years, for an assessment and experience poorer health outcomes than the general population. At school, autistic pupils face exclusion and isolation due to lack of support, and in community settings autistic people face discrimination stemming from a lack of understanding and access to services. 

The campaign is split into four key areas: diagnosis and support; accessible healthcare; support in schools; and inclusive communities. The LDAN Bill can play a transformative role in each of these areas by introducing national and local plans to tackle waiting lists, introducing mandatory training in healthcare and education, and addressing a glaring lack of accountability in the public services and systems meant to support autistic people in Scotland.

Rob Holland, Director of the National Autistic Society Scotland, said: ‘Too often we hear from autistic people and families that do not have the support they need to live fulfilled lives on their terms, and who are continually being driven into crisis.

“Despite many good laws, strategies and policies in Scotland, there remains a gap between the support people should receive and what they actually receive, whether in school, social care, healthcare or employment. 

“The importance of the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill in tackling the inequalities faced by autistic people and their families cannot be underestimated. It is a vital opportunity to address systematic injustices and to improve outcomes for autistic people of all ages, and that is why we are calling on all political parties to commit to introducing the Bill in Government.”

Becca, NAS Campaigner, said: “We must be allowed to have equal access and opportunity. We are not a burden on society. We are useful, we are intelligent, we are creative. We are inspiring. We are contributors.

“We must be allowed the chance to belong, the chance to make a difference, to be educated and be educators, to be validated, taken seriously. We must be allowed to live in a fair and just society where we are not discriminated against and where we have the chance to live our lives fully and freely. 

“The LDAN bill will give autistic and neurodivergent people a chance to be involved in a fairer society. It will decrease the amount of discrimination and invalidation by making people aware, trained and knowledgeable.

“It will increase independence and choice, helping people to feel they are active in the decisions that affect their own lives whilst also receiving valuable support.”

You can read more about the campaign on the NAS website.

Act Now for Autistic Rights manifestoDownload

National Galleries Scotland: ‘Major step forward’ for The Art Works

We’re delighted to share a major step forward for The Art Works! 🎉

The Scottish Government has committed £56 million in funding over the next three years, enabling us to move ahead with confidence on this ambitious project in North Edinburgh, part of the National Collections Hub.

With around 97% of the national art collection currently in storage, The Art Works will provide a new, free-to-visit home, ensuring more of Scotland’s art can be seen and enjoyed. It will also give greater access to art, not just for people in Edinburgh but by enabling us to lend more art across Scotland.

Not only will you be able to walk among some of greatest Scottish treasures, but you can also pop in for a coffee, use the space for work/study, watch our conservators take care of beautiful, historic art and even more.

This investment will help us make the best use of public funding while continuing to care for and share the national collection for the benefit of current and future generations.

RoSPA: 8,000 people a day die in accidents worldwide 

Accidental deaths and life-changing injuries: A global tragedy

  • 1 in 20 deaths worldwide are due to accidents – making them the sixth biggest cause of death globally 
  • People in lower- and middle-income countries are much more likely to die in accidents 
  • RoSPA calls for greater investment in accident prevention to save lives, reduce inequalities and promote economic growth 

Accidents are the sixth leading cause of death worldwide, claiming over 3 million lives a year, and people in developing countries are far more likely to be killed in an accident than those in richer nations. 

That’s the shocking truth exposed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ (RoSPA)’s new report Accidental deaths and life-changing injuries: A global tragedy, in partnership with L’Oréal and Xylem. 

This groundbreaking study of international accident rates, based on analysis of data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other sources, reveals that:  

  • Accidents are now the sixth biggest cause of death worldwide 
  • 3.1 million people lost their lives in accidents in 2021 alone: over 8,000 every single day 
  • 1 in 20 deaths worldwide is the result of an accident. 
  • In addition, RoSPA’s research reveals enormous inequalities across the globe:  
  • 1.2 million people are killed in road collisions every year
  • 92% of road deaths happen in low- or middle-income countries – even though they have only 60% of the world’s vehicles 
  • 315,000 people are killed at work 
  • 94% of workplace deaths occur in lower- and middle- income countries 
  • Workplace deaths are highest in Africa and Asia 
  • Workers are almost three times more likely to die of a workplace accident in Asia than in Europe, and nearly four times more likely in Africa 
  • Agriculture has the highest number of deaths of any sector. 

Many of these inequalities may be explained by poor infrastructure, weaker regulations and inconsistent enforcement in developing nations. RoSPA has also found that 80% of deaths in working age adults take place outside of work, with road traffic collisions, falls, drownings and fires being particularly deadly.  

Together with the tragic human toll, with millions left unable to work or having to financially manage after a loved one has passed away, accidents also put an immense burden on economies, through a combination of lower productivity and the cost of medical care. 

In developing countries in particular, accidents can create a vicious cycle of lower growth leading to lower incomes and thus lower investment in accident prevention.  

With over 100 years of experience developing evidence-based solutions that have saved millions of lives on roads, in work and at home, RoSPA is campaigning for much greater investment in accident prevention across the world to drive growth, improve productivity, foster social justice and – most importantly – save lives.

 

Rebecca Hickman, Chief Executive at RoSPA, said: “Every day, thousands of people around the world are killed or seriously injured in preventable accidents. Each death or injury devastates families and communities. At RoSPA, we believe safety is a fundamental human right – one that should not depend on where you live. 

“These findings are stark: accidental deaths remain a major public health challenge, with lower- and middle- income countries facing the heaviest burdens. 

RoSPA’s vision is an accident-free world. This report provides a foundation for global action by governments, businesses, NGOs, and international institutions to act, because a safer world is not only possible, it is essential.” 

Malcolm Staves, Global Vice President of Health and Safety at L’Oréal, said: “Each year, millions of individuals tragically lose their lives, sustain permanent injuries, or develop long-term diseases due to unsafe and unhealthy environments, both within and outside the workplace.

“These perilous conditions often stem from a complex interplay of underlying causes, including governance gaps, deficient legislative frameworks, a pervasive lack of awareness or knowledge, insufficient resources, and a weak culture of prevention, both within workplaces and across society at large. 

“Our game-changing partnership with RoSPA, which provides health, safety, and wellbeing information and support to a wider community, epitomizes our values and our commitment to protecting people.” 

Autumn Crum, Director of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) at Xylem, said: “True safety leadership is caring for people and proactively addressing risk wherever it exists.

“With RoSPA’s Global Accident Data Initiative, we’re helping turn data into action to better protect people, families, and communities around the world.”  

Access the full report here 

Budget Bill published

Parliament to scrutinise spending plans

Legislation to implement the draft 2026-27 Budget with record funding for the NHS, landmark policies to tackle child poverty and enhanced cost of living support has been published.

The Budget Bill allows parliament to scrutinise the Scottish Government’s spending proposals of almost £68 billion before votes next month.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison said she hoped to secure support from across parliament as she urged constructive engagement with the next steps of the process.

Ms Robison said: “Our spending plans provide help for hard-pressed families and businesses alongside investment in public services and infrastructure.  

“The Budget expands our game-changing efforts to eradicate child poverty and provides greater opportunities to attain the necessary skills to gain from, and contribute to, our economy.

“Following earlier cross-parliament engagement, priorities of opposition members are included alongside the Scottish Government’s spending plans, including more money to improve neurodevelopmental assessments and care for children and young people.

“It is a budget worth voting for, and we will continue to seek to work constructively to ensure it passes.”

Budget Bill

Proposed income tax rates and bands, which will apply from April, are set out in a Scottish Rate Resolution that is subject to a separate vote before the final stage of the Bill.

The 2026-27 Budget includes:

  • a record £22.5 billion for health and social care, including a record £17.6 billion for NHS boards and resources to begin the national rollout of walk-in GP clinics, making it easier to access same-day appointments
  • significant extra funding for universities and colleges, with colleges seeing a combined increase of £70 million in resource and capital funding, equivalent to a 10% uplift,  targeted support to help retrain workers in the oil and gas sector and ongoing commitment to Scotland’s apprenticeships, which this year will provide more than 31,000 Scots with a pathway to sustainable, well-paid jobs
  • a cost of living package to: help families with funding to trial a programme of activities in a range of primary schools between 3-6pm; a Summer of Sport – free children’s sporting activities, including lessons on how to swim for every primary school child in the country; and a breakfast club for every primary school by August 2027
  • funding to increase Scottish Child Payment to £28.20 per week and investment to allow the introduction of a premium payment of £40 per week for eligible children under 12 months from 2027-28, bolstering efforts to drive down child poverty
  • continued investment in Scotland’s existing cost of living measures, including free prescriptions, free eye examinations, removal of peak rail fares on Scotrail, free tuition fees for young Scots, free school meals for thousands of children, including all pupils in P1 to P5, and free bus travel for under-22s and over-60s

Open Book Reading session at Drumbrae Library Hub

TUESDAY 20th JANUARY at 6pm

Join us for a relaxed and informal shared Open Book Reading Session where we will read aloud part of a book and poem, then an Open Book Lead Reader will help guide the discussion.

Tuesday 20th January at 6pm

Age 16+

This event is free although you will require a ticket which can be sourced through EventBrite:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/drumbrae-library-hub

Fatal Accident Inquiry Review

Scottish Government pledges to improve system following deaths in custody

Action to reform the Fatal Accident Inquiry system relating to deaths in custody will be taken following an independent review.

The review was commissioned by Justice Secretary Angela Constance, in consultation with the Lord Advocate, to examine how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of investigations into deaths in custody and ensure those affected are treated in a trauma-informed way.

Retired Sheriff Principal Ian Abercrombie KC, who chaired the review, has now published his report. It contains 34 recommendations aimed at improving the process, timescales and communication of Fatal Accident Inquiries held in response to a death in custody.

Many of the review’s recommendations will require collaboration and legislative change, and the Scottish Government will set up a multi-agency working group to drive forward action, which will include the Scottish Prison Service, Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and other key partners.

Ms Constance said: “I am very grateful to Sheriff Principal Abercrombie and the advisory group for this forthright review. Their report’s thorough and wide-ranging recommendations set out the evident need to improve the Fatal Accident Inquiry system.

“The message from families who gave evidence to the review is clear, they feel let down and their experience of the system has added to their grief.

“This needs to change and families who have lost loved ones in custody cannot wait for a lengthy process to conclude before they see improvement.

“Responsibility for acting on the recommendations sits with a range of justice partners, which is why I am setting up a multi-agency group to drive forward reforms.

“The group will consider the review’s recommendations and develop a shared action plan to improve the system of fatal accident inquiries for deaths in custody, with an emphasis on implementing reform as a priority.”