Pay day boost for thousands of Scottish workers

National Minimum Wage rise hits payslips

 ·                National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increase puts more money in the pockets of 220,000 of the lowest paid workers in Scotland. 

·                Real terms pay rise will boost wages by £1,400 per year for an eligible full-time worker, boosting living standards and kickstarting growth as part of the Plan for Change.  

·                Visit Check Your Pay to make sure you don’t miss out.  

Up to 220,000 workers in Scotland have started to receive boosted payslips as workers begin to see the benefits of the new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates taking effect.  

The changes will help provide families with better financial stability and living standards, delivering real terms pay increase of £1,400 per year for eligible full-time workers, supporting the Government’s plan to kickstart growth as part of the Plan for Change.  

This uplift delivers better financial security for working people and allows for further workers to potentially benefit from positive spill-over impacts including possible wage increases for those already earning more than the legal minimum. 

Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders said: “Workers across the country are beginning to receive the much-needed boost to their pay slips, as our Plan for Change is putting more money into their pockets.  

“By ensuring a hard day’s work is rewarded with a fair day’s pay, we’re raising living standards millions of families and ensuring that everyone is a part of this government’s mission to deliver economic growth to every part of the UK.  

“If you haven’t already, check your pay to ensure you aren’t missing out on a well-deserved pay rise for work done from 1st April.”    

To ensure workers were fairly compensated, for the first time this Government instructed the Low Pay Commission, the body which recommends the wage rates, to include the cost of living and inflation in its assessment.   

On top of this, the Employment Rights Bill, a key pillar in the Plan to Make Work Pay, will release an additional £600 a year to some of the lowest paid workers. This will ensure that these workers get receive an uplift to wages that delivers better quality of life.   

Workers in Scotland have earned this pay rise and they need to make sure they get it. Visit gov.uk/checkyourpay to check if you are eligible.  

The full increases from 1 April this year were:  

o        National Living Wage (21+) has increased 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour  

o        National Minimum Wage (18-20) has a record increase of 16.2%, from £8.60 to £10 per hour  

o        National Minimum Wage (under 18) has increased 18%, to £7.55 per hour  

o        Apprentice Rate has the largest increase of 18%, from £6.40 to £7.55 per hour  

o        Accommodation Offset of £10.66 per day  

·       The Accommodation Offset is the maximum daily amount which an employer can charge without it amounting to a reduction of pay for National Minimum Wage purposes.  

·       If someone is concerned that they’re not being paid the correct wage, they should speak to their employer. If the problem is not resolved, they can contact Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) by phoning 0300 123 1122, or complain to HMRC in confidence using the link www.gov.uk/minimum-wage-complaint. HMRC looks into every single complaint.  

·       You can find out more about the minimum wage, and whether you’re receiving what you’re entitled to:  

o        Check your pay – Check your pay  

·       You can report possible underpayment of the National Minimum Wage to the ACAS Helpline and also online to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC):  

o        https://www.gov.uk/pay-and-work-rights  

o        https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints  

Have you seen Kelvin?

POLICE are appealing to the public to help trace Kelvin Boamah (16) who is reported missing from the Craigmillar area.

Kelvin was last seen around 2pm on Tuesday, 15/04/25 in Greendykes.

He is described as 6ft tall (1.82cm). When last seen, he was wearing a black puffer style jacket, black trousers and white/black shoes.

Kelvin has access to public transport, and it is believed that he remains in Northeast Edinburgh.

Inspector Stewart Massie said: “We are growing increasingly concerned for Kelvin and would ask anyone with information to make contact with us“.

If you can assist, please contact police on 101 quoting reference 0882 of 25/04/25.

Making housing accessible in Edinburgh

COUNCIL HOSTS ACCESSIBLE HOUSING SUMMIT

An event held last week (Tuesday 22 April) at the City Chambers brought together the Council and partners to take steps toward building, adapting, and finding accessible homes across the Capital.

Hosted by the City of Edinburgh Council, the Accessible Housing Summit convened representatives from the third sector, housing associations and the private sector.

Through a series of roundtable discussions, participants explored three key areas: delivering new accessible homes, improving access to existing housing, and ensuring the best use of homes already available.

The event builds on insights from the 2022 Accessible Housing Study and feedback gathered from tenants, residents and partners gathered during consultations on the Council’s draft Local Housing Strategy.

In a tangible step forward, the Council recently began construction on a new residential development in Newington. Once complete, the site will provide 19 modern, fully wheelchair accessible homes available for social rent.

Attendees will now consider what actions can be taken forward to address improving access to information, advice on accessible housing and planning for new accessible homes in Edinburgh.

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “As Edinburgh’s population grows and changes, so do the housing needs of our residents. We must therefore strive to ensure that everyone – irrespective of their health circumstances and accessibility requirements – has a home they can live in with dignity and comfort.

“Whilst this is a national issue, the City of Edinburgh Council faces unique challenges, including being landlord of a high number of older, flatted properties which can often be harder and costly to adapt.  

“It is vital for us to understand the nature, context, and complexity of the barriers to providing fully accessible housing and to work closely and collaboratively with our partners and organisations leading this crucial work to deliver the accessible housing our citizens need now and in the future.”

BBC to take immediate action as it publishes independent review into culture

The review heard from around 2,500 employees and freelancers through one-to-one meetings, group discussions, a survey and written submissions

The BBC has said it will take immediate action to improve workplace culture, after publishing a comprehensive independent report. 

The report from Change Associates, led by Executive Chairman and Founder Grahame Russell, found no evidence of a toxic culture, but in a series of detailed findings and recommendations it highlighted key areas for improvement. 

The review heard from around 2,500 employees and freelancers; through one-to-one meetings, group discussions, a survey and written submissions. The review was commissioned by the BBC Board in August 2024, with work beginning in October. 

The report – published today – found the majority of people who work for the BBC are proud to do so and describe loving their jobs.  

Some staff, however, thought there were a minority of people at the BBC – both on and off-air – who were able to behave unacceptably without it being addressed. 

“Even though they are small in number, their behaviour creates large ripples which negatively impact the BBC’s culture and external reputation,” the report concludes. 

The BBC Board has fully accepted the report and its findings, as has BBC management. Both view it as a catalyst for meaningful change – to reinforce expectations around behaviour and act more decisively when standards are not met. 

BBC Chair Dr Shah told staff today: “There is a minority of people whose behaviour is simply not acceptable. And there are still places where powerful individuals – on and off screen – can abuse that power to make life for their colleagues unbearable.  

“The report makes several recommendations that prioritise action over procedural change – which is exactly right. It also addresses some deep-seated issues: for example, the need to make sure everyone can feel confident and not cowed about speaking up. 

“I support the idea that we need to reinforce the behavioural expectations and standards we have for everyone who works with or for the BBC.” 

He added: “In the end, it’s quite simple: if you are a person who is prepared to abuse power or punch down or behave badly, there is no place for you at the BBC.” 

Director-General Tim Davie said: “This report represents an important moment for the BBC and the wider industry. It provides clear, practical recommendations that we are committed to implementing at pace. I’m grateful to everyone who took part and contributed. 

“The action we are taking today is designed to change the experience of what it is to be at the BBC for everyone and to ensure the values we all sign up to when we arrive here – the values that, for most of us, are what made us want to come to the BBC in the first place – are lived and championed by the whole organisation each and every day.” 

The BBC is taking immediate action from today, including: 

  • Launching a refreshed and strengthened Code of Conduct, with specific guidance for on-air presenters. 
  • Implementing a more robust Disciplinary Policy, with updated examples of misconduct and clear consequences. 
  • Requiring all TV production partners to meet Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) industry standards. 
  • Rolling out a new ‘Call It Out’ campaign to promote positive behaviour, empower informal resolution where appropriate, and challenge poor conduct. 
  • Introducing clear Pledges for anyone raising concerns, setting out what they can expect from the BBC.  

The BBC will build on this over the coming months to embed long-term change by:  

  • Updating all future employment and freelance contracts to set out clear expectations around behaviour.  
  • Transforming how we manage concerns and cases, launching a new Resolving Concerns Helpline to help address issues earlier; providing a single point of contact for each case when concerns are raise, along with improved communication and support. To ensure cases are managed with rigour, consistency, and urgency, there will be investment in new resources to support those handling complex cases.  
  • Training all managers on our updated Code of Conduct and values and require them to lead regular team discussions on culture and behaviour.  
  • Introducing in-person inductions for all new joiners, with a strong emphasis on values and expected behaviours.  
  • Conducting regular, targeted culture checks within divisions to monitor sentiment, identify issues, and intervene swiftly where needed.  
  • Implementing succession planning for our most senior on-air roles.  
  • Expanding HR support with additional resources and capacity  

The Executive has agreed to update the Board on progress against its plan at regular intervals. 

Pilton Youth & Children’s Project: Back TODAY!

❗ New Term Programme ❗

We’re back! All clubs and groups back on starting today!

If you’re new and want to join in the PY fun, pop along to the project and pick up a consent form – we’d love to see you 🤩

Sugarier than Coke: Dentists press for government action on baby food

The British Dental Association has urged Government to step up and confront the baby food industry, after the most wide-ranging analysis of the UK baby food pouch market every undertaken has found no improvement in the sugar content. 

The professional body has noted that market leader Ella’s Kitchen, Piccolo and Aldi appear to have pre-empted the launch of this damning research on BBC’s Panorama tonight by confirming cosmetic changes to their labelling, to bring them in line with NHS guidance on not marketing products to infants under 6 months. While technically a ‘win,’ dentists’ leaders stress these changes do nothing to reduce grotesque levels of sugar or reign in ‘halo labelling’ claims. 

The BDA contacted Annabel Karmel, the worst offender from its last review in 2022, and was informed they have withdrawn from the UK market. 

Market analysis of 209 products aimed at children aged under 12 months – the largest such exercise ever attempted, and nearly double the BDA’s pioneering 2022 study – found: 

  • Top brands are actively undermining government guidance on weaning from around 6 months. At the time this research was undertaken market leader Ella’s Kitchen and Piccolo were pushing products to 4-month olds contrary to Government guidelines, simply stating that “every baby is different”.
  • It’s straightforward to offer lower sugar levels. While ‘natural’ levels of sugar are described by manufacturers as inevitable with fruit-based pouches, some brands offer products based on similar ingredients that contain a fraction of the sugar levels of the worst offenders. Aldi Mamia Organic’s Apple & banana porridge contains just 5.5g per 100g, a third of the levels of similar recipes at the very top of the table. Given there is no evidence of widespread systemic change, it underlines the need for government intervention.
  • Over a quarter contained more sugar by volume than Coca Cola, with parents of infants as young as four months marketed pouches that contain the equivalent of up to 184% of the sugar levels of the soft drink, dizzying heights not seen in the 2022 research. Those pouches are without exception fruit-based mixes.
  • ‘Boutique’ brands still appear to have higher levels of sugar than traditional baby food brands or own-brand alternatives. Market leader Ella’s Kitchen is now the worst offender, its Banana puree taking the sugar crown with 19.5g per 100g from Annabel Karmel’s now discontinued Apple, Blueberry and Banana, at 17.3g.
  • Nearly a quarter of products examined contained up to two thirds of an adult’s recommended maximum daily of free sugars. Neither the World Health Organization (WHO) nor the UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) cite a guideline limit for babies, simply stressing that as little should be consumed as possible.
  • The sector remains wedded to disingenuous language highlighting the presence of only “naturally occurring sugars” or the absence of “added sugars”, with others making opaque claims of products being “nutritionist approved”. All high-sugar products adopt ‘halo labelling’ principles, focusing on status as ‘organic’, ‘high in fibre’ or ‘containing 1 of your 5 a day’, misleading parents into thinking they are making healthy choices for their children. Kiddylicious offer a “bedtime blend” suggesting a product with 13g sugar per portion is appropriate before sleep.
  • Nearly 3/4  of the products examined exceeded the 5g of sugar per 100ml threshold set for the sugar levy applied to drinks. Dentists stress expansion of fiscal measures would likely have favourable outcomes in terms of encouraging reformulation.
  • Eating straight from the pouch. Since the withdrawal of Annabel Karmel from the UK market, the BDA has not been able to identify any manufacturers still recommending babies feed straight from the pouch. However, only two brands – Sainsbury’s and Lidl – rule out this out this approach, which adds to the risk of dental disease.  Asda specifically state that ‘eating straight from the pouch can contribute to tooth decay.’ 

The BDA are launching a petition to the Department of Health to double down in the fight on sugar, with mandatory regulation, and to build on tried and tested policies from both home and abroad.

BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: “Parents of infants are still being marketed products sugarier than Coke. 

“It shouldn’t take dentists naming and shaming the worst offenders to bring about needed change. Voluntary action has failed. We need government to step up and force industry to do the right thing.”

Full data is available to download here…

THE WORST OFFENDERS:

Ella’s Kitchen – Banana Puree https://www.ellaskitchen.co.uk/shop/bananas-baby-puree

With the highest sugar by volume, Ella’s Kitchen takes the sugar crown from past holders Annabel Karmel, who have now discontinued their line of pouches.

Ella’s Kitchen appear to have raced changes to packaging to pre-empt Panorama airing, removing messages that targeted the 4-month year old market, undermining official guidance by citing government advice on weaning from 6 months, but noting that “every baby is different!”

They look set to maintain all the ‘halo labelling’ cliches on ‘no added sugar’, being ‘organic’. The one redeeming feature is pouches offer guidance not to consume the puree straight from the pouch.

For Aisha: Pear & pomegranate https://www.foraisha.com/product/pear-pomegranate-pouch-100g/

A brand that prides itself on exotic flavours – the only pouch on the market featuring pomegranate – takes silver for sugar levels, at 16.4g/100g targeting infants aged 4 months+

Aldi Mamia Organic: Bananas & Apples https://www.aldi.co.uk/product/mamia-apple-bananas-pouch-000000000346206001

The highest amount of sugar in any pouch identified – with a portion size so large for its target 4- month plus market it represents nearly 2/3 of an adult’s RDA of sugar, and the same amount of sugar as half a can of coke.

Piccolo: Pure mango https://www.mylittlepiccolo.com/products/babies/pouches/pure-mango/?srsltid=AfmBOoq0ChT7IjUfbtLJnmyHtdHDhQDwJ2ReiNAKYMdiLaN2PsU8-NNr

Pure mango does exactly what is says on the tin, delivering 15g/100g of sugar to the 4-month+ market, also claiming that ‘every baby is different.

Street Soccer launches Kitback initiative

TACKLING SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY

Award winning charity, Street Soccer has today announced the launch of Kitback, a new charitable social enterprise designed to combine a collective love of football with social impact through the sale of pre-loved, upcycled football shirts.

All proceeds from the initiative will go towards supporting the life-changing work that Street Soccer addresses including homelessness, mental health, social exclusion, problem substance use and poverty.

Launching across the UK, Kitback will collect pre-loved football shirts from donors at dedicated drop-off points or by post and upcycle them in preparation for resale.

All shirts from teams, leagues, and countries across the globe are welcomed, offering a wide range of options for like-minded football enthusiasts to choose from. Each purchase made through Kitback gives fans a chance to own a piece of football history while contributing to greater causes.

Supporting the launch, football clubs, players and foundations are getting involved. Fulham FC Foundation have become the first professional club to donate to Kitback with others set to follow suit in the coming weeks and months.

As well as addressing key societal issues, the initiative also promotes environmental benefits by reducing waste and the demand for new clothing production, lowering football fans’ environmental footprint and keeping the circular economy moving.

As Kitback grows, another significant impact the social enterprise will have is to create jobs and volunteering opportunities for Street Soccer players and the wider community, helping to develop skills and experience that can be carried forward into the wider employment environment.

David Duke MBE, Social Entrepreneur & Founder of Street Soccer Scotland, expressed his enthusiasm for the new initiative: “Kitback is more than just a campaign; it’s a movement that brings together our shared passion for football and our collective commitment to helping our local communities.

“Football has a unique ability to unite people behind social causes and through Kitback, supporters can make a real difference. By donating your pre-loved football shirts and buying from Kitback when adding a new kit to your collection, you’re not only reducing environmental waste but also helping to empower and enrich people’s lives through everything we do at Street Soccer.”

Football fans, players and clubs are encouraged to come together with businesses and organisations to join the Kitback movement by donating and purchasing shirts, spreading the word, facilitating drop-off points and taking part in kit donation days during the year. Let’s change the world, one football shirt at a time!

TONIGHT: Safeguarding Scottish Dance Traditions for the Future

Safeguarding Scottish Dance Traditions for the Future 

MONDAY 28 APRIL, 18:30

On the eve of International Dance Day, the Pomegranates Festival (25-30 April) will discuss and demonstrate through dance, the importance of safeguarding Scottish traditional dance in an international context. 

Leading the discussion will be Steve Byrne Director of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), and an expert advisor to UNESCO on intangible cultural heritage. Joining Steve will be Rachel Hosker of the Centre for Research Collections, University of Edinburgh, Árpád Vörös, recipient of a knighthood for his lifetime contribution towards Hungarian folk dance and Sebastian Wanless, Chair Elect of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

The discussion will start with demonstrations of traditional dance accompanied by live music including Scottish Country Dance, Highland and Polonaise, Leading the display and accompanied on the bagpipes by Stephen Clark will be Eilidh Gammons, twice Junior World Champion in Highland Dancing, followed by Lily and Lucy Clark – all students at Helensburgh’s Margaret Rose School of Dance, run by Margaret MacInnes, a recipient of the British Empire Medal for services to Highland dancing. 

Edinburgh-based members of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Andrea Ritchie, Eilidh Garden, Faye McNeil, Rachel Shankland, Andrew Nolan, Jürgen Munz will perform a fine selection of Scottish Country Dances.

These will be followed by a short display of Polonaise(performed by members of Parzenica, Scotland’s  Polish Folk Dance Group – Anthony Carter, Fiona Lynch, Natalia Nowak and Renata Grillanda. 

The Polonaise was inscribed in UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage and list of humanity to be safeguarded in December 2023. It is hoped Scotland’s traditional dances will be put forward for inscription when the UK Government opens its list to nominations for intangible cultural heritage later this year. 

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) encompasses the rich tapestry of traditions, expressions, and practices that communities inherit from their ancestors and pass on to future generations. It resides in the realms of knowledge, skills, rituals, music, dance, language, and other forms of expression and is a dynamic and living heritage that constantly evolves, reflecting the collective wisdom, creativity, and identity of diverse communities worldwide. 

Wendy Timmons and Iliyana Nedkova, Festival Co-curators said: “We are delighted that this year’s Pomegranates Festival is themed around traditional dance and intangible cultural heritage, especially at a time when Scots are soon to be invited to nominate their favourite traditions to be included on an official living heritage list.

“Later this year, submissions for the list will be encouraged from all sectors of society, including the traditional dance communities and people who have brought dance traditions from overseas to the UK.”

Sebastian Wanless, Chair Elect of The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) said: “We are thrilled to participate in theFourth Pomegranates Festivaland to showcase Scottish country dance on the eve of the UNESCO International Day of Dance. 

“For over a century, we have championed the vibrant tradition of Scottish country dancing—an energetic blend of lively music, joyful movement, and deep-rooted culture. More than just steps and tunes, Scottish country dance is a unique social phenomenon that welcomes everyone, everywhere.

“Together with dancers from around the world, let’s celebrate movement, culture, and unity in the lead up to this special day.”

Speakers:

Steve Byrne was appointed as Director of TRACS in 2023. A noted performer, researcher, folklorist and community activist, Steve trained at the School of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh University, before embarking on a distinguished creative career. Steve is a founding member of Scottish folk band Malinky and has contributed to the digitisation of vital early recordings of Scottish music and storytelling.


Rachel Hosker is the University Archivist and Research Collections Manager. Rachel originally trained as an archivist, and now manages archivists, librarians and curators responsible for the University’s cultural heritage collections and welcomes IASH fellows to the Centre for Research Collections at the University. Rachel is Chair of the UK UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.

Árpád Vörös (Budapest) is a dancer and folk dance teacher. He was awarded a Knighthood of Hungarian Culture in 2020 for the care of Hungarian folk dance. From 1990, for ten years, he was a teacher at the Árpád Bókay Elementary School in Pestszentlőrinc, and founded the TÉBLÁB Dance Ensemble. Today, he is the president of the foundation that operates the school and a professional assistant and choreographer of several ensembles in Transylvania, Felvidék and Vojvodina, as well as an ethnographic researcher of the region.

Wendy Timmons (Chair) is a Senior Lecturer in Dance Science and Education at the University of Edinburgh, and co-producer of the Pomegranates Festival. She has many years of professional arts practice, and is well experienced in teaching and training dance artists, young dancers and dance teachers. 

Alongside her teaching, research and programme development,  Wendy has undertaken many knowledge exchange and applied Dance Science and Education research projects. She is currently Convenor for the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland and the Health & Wellbeing Trustee at Dance Base.

The Pomegranates Festival (25 – 30 Apr) is the annual platform for the diverse 250+ individual and organisational members of the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland to teach, learn and perform in new dance theatre and screen dance shows, as well as new productions and residencies.

This is the fourth edition of Scotland’s annual festival of international traditional dance, initiated, curated and produced by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland. It is presented in partnership with TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Central Library, Dance Base and the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

In 2025 the Pomegranates Festival is funded by Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding through TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland); the City of Edinburgh Council and University of Edinburgh through the Edinburgh Local Community Fund.

For tickets and more information visit https://www.tdfs.org/pomegranates/

Tomorrow: IT support for silver surfers at LifeCare

Are you over 50 and looking for a wee bit of help with your IT?  LifeCare Edinburgh and ACE IT are here to help.

Come along to CafeLife, 2 Cheyne Street, 10am-12noon on Tuesday 29th April to chat with the experts.  

We’ll be offering support and answering questions about how to use a device, access online content and how to stay safe online.  And any other burning technical questions you might have!

All advice is free thanks to support from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Three local projects backed by RSE and Williamson Trust

Three Edinburgh-based community projects have been awarded a total of more than £14,000 in research funding by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and Williamson Trust to promote healthy living.

Lauriston Farm and local environmental artist Natalie Taylor will benefit from a share of the funding pot, along with Leith-based Earth in Common.

Lauriston Farm, run by a workers’ cooperative, is dedicated to sustainable food production, biodiversity, and community. They will use their award of £4550 to develop a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers using Aerated Compost Teas, a process of mixing compost with water and then introducing oxygen into the mixture. 

Despite their potential, practical guidance for integrating compost teas into commercial market gardens and the potential benefits remains limited. The project is aiming to bridge that gap by refining recipes and protocols to make knowledge of Aerated Compost Teas production accessible and effective for both commercial growers and people at home.

Grower and Coop Director Jossie Ellis said: “This funding will enable us to advance our experiments using Aerated Compost Teas in the Market Garden, which will help to improve soil health, crop resilience, and sustainable food production.

“With this support, we hope to refine our methodologies, share findings with growers, and contribute to a more regenerative food system.”

Environmental artist Natalie Taylor has received £4500 for her Scran Fir Bees project to extend a series of existing public space artworks incorporating wildflowers to provide nectar-rich habitats and food sources for pollinators.

Her long-term vision is that these artworks, using large-scale text cut into the landscape, will join up to eventually form a bee corridor across the North of Edinburgh.

Natalie Taylor said: “I am so pleased to be able to work alongside local communities to design, develop and implement the new environmental artwork, sharing skills in meadow maintenance and strategic seeding to increase local biodiversity.

“Through fun, creative workshops, I will highlight the importance of our relationship with insect pollinators, which contribute vital services to roughly one-third of our food. I see this creative action for biodiversity as really important at the moment due to the ongoing crisis in pollinator populations, especially in urban environments such as Edinburgh where there are so many natural spaces where we can potentially help them.”

The Edinburgh projects are among 16 innovative community-led research projects across Scotland to receive funding from the RSE and the Williamson Trust.

A total of £73,625 has been given to a range of creative projects to foster healthy communities as part of the Healthy Planet, Healthy People awards.

Meanwhile, Earth in Common, based at Leith Community Croft, which includes a market garden, an orchard, and a community area shared by over 100 growers, has been awarded £5000.

The Croft is situated on Common Good land inspired by the Gaelic concept of dùthchas – the deep-rooted connection between people and the land.

They will use the funding to gather data on cultivated and wild plants and pollinators, which will help formulate strategies for biodiversity conservation and inform a guidance manual for urban green spaces across Scotland.

Evie Murray, CEO of Earth in Common, said: “This award will boost our mission to demonstrate that urban crofts, such as our model Leith Community Croft, can effectively address multiple societal and environmental issues. With its orchard, wild areas, market garden and unique system of group-shared food-growing plots, it has already been shown to foster great biodiversity.

“This will empower our ‘Crofters’ – local residents – to develop citizen-science skills to monitor and further increase biodiversity. This should benefit them as individuals and foster pride and engagement in land stewardship in densely populated Leith.

“We hope that the methodology we collectively develop will be widely shared and can have a significant positive impact on nature and people’s relationship with it across Scotland.”

This is the second year of the awards, generously funded by the Williamson Trust, a charitable organisation. The strength of the applications in the second round of the funding programme resulted in four additional projects being awarded financial support.

Professor David E Salt FRSE, Chair of the Williamson Trust, said: “This year, we again have an amazing diversity of projects, from dolphins, bees, seeds, orchards, woodlands and lochs to food banks, composting, urban crofts and coffee shops. We truly look to invest in hope and the power of ideas wherever they arise.

“The trustees at the Williamson Trust are excited to fund 16 great community-led projects from across Scotland.

“Applications to the Healthy Planet, Healthy People Community-led Research Awards continue to grow, demonstrating the strong desire of communities in Scotland to develop local solutions to the ongoing global challenges to our environment, our communities and our food.

“The Trust hopes that these locally focused projects can find solutions to the challenges the local communities face and that these solutions can also have wider application.”

RSE Vice President, Research, Professor Anne Anderson OBE FRSE, commented: “This marks the second round of RSE ‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’: Community-led Research Awards, which were introduced to expand the Society’s range of awards and the type of research we support.

“The health of people and the environment are closely connected, and I hope that these awards will strengthen these innovative research groups and drive positive change in both areas. I look forward to following their progress and achievements over the coming year.”