Significant concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding the costs of a proposed restructuring of Scotland’s tertiary education and training funding landscape have been raised by a Holyrood’s Education, Children and Young People Committee.
The Scottish Government’s Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill aims to consolidate the funding landscape for apprenticeships and national training programmes, improve processes and governance at the Scottish Funding Council, and clarify the procedure for providing student support to Scottish students studying at private institutions in the UK.
MSPs on the Committee report that they support the Government’s ambitions to make funding more responsive to the needs of learners and the economy and improve the operation of the Scottish Funding Council.
The evidence the Committee heard demonstrated to MSPs that the approach towards administrating and delivering apprenticeships, which offer valuable opportunities to learners and businesses in Scotland and make a vital contribution to the economy, needed to be improved.
The MSPs also saw the benefit of measures to improve the governance of the Scottish Funding Council, which the Committee hopes could help protect the finances of Scotland’s university and college sector.
However, the Committee has taken the unusual step of not making a recommendation on whether the Scottish Parliament should pass the Bill after concerns arose about a lack of clarity over the potentially significant costs of these changes.
In particular, the Committee has outlined that it is essential that the Government clarifies the cost of transferring staff from the Skills Development Scotland pension scheme to the Scottish Funding Council. The Scottish Government estimated this could cost up to £23 million, but the Chief Executive for Skills Development Scotland believed the cost could be higher.
The Committee also thinks it is vital that staff at both organisations are kept informed and engaged about the process after hearing concerns of a lack of meaningful consultation and widespread uncertainty during evidence.
Douglas Ross MSP, Convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, said: “The value of apprenticeships to learners and businesses across Scotland is clear – and that’s part of the reason why our Committee supports elements which underpin this Bill. Funding should be responsive to what Scotland’s learners and economy needs.
“However, we’ve taken the unusual step of not making a recommendation on whether the Parliament should support the Bill in principle because of our significant concerns around the lack of clarity over the costs of the proposals. The Scottish Government must make progress on clarifying these if the Bill is to progress further.
“It is essential that we see a comprehensive update on the costs of the proposals before the Scottish Parliament votes on whether to proceed with the Bill later this autumn.”
Nearly one million people face hunger across Scotland, with growing numbers of working families turning to food banks, new research has found.
· Trussell estimates that nearly one million people in Scotland faced hunger in 2024 due to lack of money, reveals Trussell’s ‘Hunger in Scotland’ report, published today
· Nearly a quarter (24%) of people referred to food banks in the Trussell community in Scotland are in working households– showing paid employment no longer protects people from hardship
· Alarmingly, one in four children (25%) live in food insecure households, as parents struggle to make ends meet
· The charity warns that severe hardship is being ‘normalised’ as thousands of Scots are on the brink of hunger without turning to a food bank or charitable food provider, and having to go without essentials like food or heating as a routine part of life
· Trussell is calling on the UK and Scottish governments to urgently strengthen social security and deliver on manifesto commitments to end the need for emergency food
Trussell’s analysis reveals that across Scotland in 2024, a million people, including 210,000 children, faced hunger in the previous year due to a lack of money. That’s more than the combined populations of Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen.
The charity’s landmark report also reveals the growing reality that paid work is no longer enough to prevent people from needing a food bank.
A survey conducted among people referred to food banks in the Trussell community in Scotland found that nearly a quarter (24%) of people are part of a household where someone is in work – an increase since 2022 (17%).
People in manual and service jobs – such as factory workers, bus drivers and hospitality staff – are among the working people most likely to face hunger, despite having a job.
Alarmingly, the survey, conducted by Ipsos, also reveals that one in four (25%) children across Scotland live in food insecure households.
Trussell finds that very low incomes are the main driver of growing hunger and food bank need in Scotland. Overwhelmingly, this is caused by flaws in the design and delivery of the social security system, compounded by too many jobs being inaccessible, insecure and not paying enough to cover essential living costs.
Brian Cox, Scottish actor and Trussell supporter, said: “From my own experience, I know the harsh reality of growing up in poverty and the lasting impact it has. The constant worry of how to put food on the table is a feeling that never leaves you. No child should have to know what a food bank is, let alone need one.
“When 24% of people referred to food banks in the Trussell community in Scotland are part of a household where someone is in work, it’s clear that paid work isn’t enough to protect people from hardship.
“The UK Government must scrap the two-child limit to ensure children have the best start in life. Because no child should be held back by hunger.”
The survey of people referred to food banks revealed that people at food banks in Scotland are being left with just £148 a week after housing costs – to cover essentials like food, utility bills, travel for work or school, and toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste. That’s just a quarter (23%) of what the average household in Scotland has left after rent or mortgage.
Too often, social security isn’t providing the protection people need when work doesn’t pay – the majority (71%) of people in working households in Scotland who have needed to turn to food banks are also eligible to receive Universal Credit to top up their income.
Trussell also finds that thousands of people are facing hunger without reaching out to charitable food providers, revealing how hunger is becoming increasingly normalised in communities across Scotland.
Research among the general population in Scotland shows that over two-thirds (67%) of households facing hunger did not access any form of charitable food provision in the past year, usually because they didn’t feel like they should.
The most common reason, given by almost half (48%) of people is that they did not use these services because they did not feel they were facing financial hardship, while a third (32%) said this was because they thought other people might need it more.
But when people’s incomes are so low, the research shows that even a small change in household circumstance – such as a car breaking down, a bus route being cut or an unexpected bill – can be the tipping point that leaves them with no option but to turn to a food bank. This comes at a time when food banks are already under enormous pressure and many are struggling to meet extremely high levels of need, with 239,503 parcels provided by food banks in the Trussell community across Scotland in the past year alone.
Michaela Taylor, former hospitality worker from East Lothian, said: “When my relationship ended, it was a really dark period in my life.
“I worked in hospitality for 25 years, but when I became a single parent, I had to leave my job too, because I couldn’t find childcare which covered my shift patterns. I went from a household with two full time incomes, to none at all.
“The benefits system was really difficult for me to navigate – so for nine months I had absolutely no income at all. I had to choose between putting money on the meter or skipping meals myself so I could feed my daughters. Nobody should have to make that decision.”
Despite the Scottish Government’s commitments to end the need for food banks and eradicate child poverty, and the UK government’s manifesto promise to end the need for emergency food, there has been little progress on reducing hunger and hardship, the charity says.
The lack of improvement from 2022 provides further evidence of hardship becoming more normalised in communities across Scotland.
Trussell says urgent action is needed to deliver a tangible reduction in food bank need, and that next year’s elections are an opportunity to call on politicians to ensure that everyone has enough money to afford the essentials like food, bills and toiletries.
The charity is calling for urgent action by the Scottish government by the end of this parliament to reduce hunger and hardship, including:
· Following through on commitments to fully mitigate the two-child limit
· Increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week
· Providing a grant to mitigate against the five-week wait for Universal Credit
· Better support for disabled people to get into, and stay in, work
· Increasing funding for the Scottish Welfare Fund, using the Barnett consequentials* from the new Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Trussell says the UK government must also make sure that there is a reduction in hunger, and that children across Scotland have the best start in life.
Cara Hilton, senior policy manager for Trussell in Scotland, said: “Hunger and hardship are increasingly seen as a normal part of everyday life in Scotland, with working people and families with children being hit particularly hard.
“We need to see urgent change, now. Our country should not be seeing one in four (25%) families with children in food insecure households.
“This is not an inevitable trend, but the result of systems that urgently need updating – particularly our social security system. It isn’t right that so many Scots from all walks of life – including pensioners, disabled people, working families, and carers – are struggling to make ends meet.
“Nobody in Scotland should face hunger. Both the Scottish and UK governments need to keep their word and ensure every child has the best possible start in life and that everyone has the dignity of being able to put food on the table. We need urgent action on hunger and hardship, or this government risks seeing more people having to turn to food banks on their watch. This research is the benchmark against which they will be judged.”
Crystal Clayton, project manager at Renfrewshire Foodbank, said: “After reading the report I am shocked and stunned that the number of people that fall below is the poverty line in our country.
“This is not good enough, hunger should never be normalised because people can not afford the essentials. In Renfrewshire we have seen the number of referrals have go up and up, year on year.
“This is 2025 foodbanks should not should not be in existence, we need to see a systematic change that will allow everyone to afford to food and other essentials, not having to turn to a foodbank.
“As rents go up, bills go up, and the cost of food goes up, incomes aren’t going up and this means we’re seeing more people in work coming through our doors. It feels like there is no way out of poverty for some people, and we need the government to take action now.”
First Minister meets President of the United States
First Minister John Swinney has met with the President of the United States Donald Trump at the White House.
The 50-minute meeting took place ahead of the US President’s State Visit to the United Kingdom next week, with the First Minister confirming to the President he would attend the State Banquet at Windsor Palace.
During the meeting in the Oval Office, where the President was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the First Minister used this latest opportunity to make the case for a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky.
The First Minister also raised the international situation including the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Qatar.
First Minister John Swinney said: “With the US state visit to the UK just days away, we are now entering the critical days on which hopes of a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky rest.
“Scotch whisky holds a unique position, as it can only legally be produced in Scotland. During my discussions with President Trump, I made the case to reduce the tariffs on the Scotch whisky industry – something the US industry supports.
“The United States is the largest market for Scotch whisky but Scottish distillers also spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year buying Bourbon casks from Kentucky.
“The negotiations themselves are, of course, for the UK negotiating team but given whisky exports to the US were worth almost £1 billion in 2024, its importance to the Scottish economy cannot be underestimated and I am determined to do all that I can to protect and safeguard this iconic Scottish product.”
The First Minister and the Scotch Whisky Association later met key Democratic and Republican members of Congress on Capitol Hill to promote a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky.
The House of Hope Scotland celebrated a remarkable fundraising achievement at its inaugural Gala Ball, raising £70,000 through silent auction, live auction and donations on the night at the prestigious Prestonfield House in Edinburgh.
The sell-out event, held on 5 September, brought together supporters and the Scottish business community for an incredible evening of education and celebration. The event was hosted by popular broadcaster Grant Stott and STV News Entertainment Reporter Laura Boyd, with Grant’s rendition of “That’s Fife!” proving a particular highlight of the evening.
“I’m honestly blown away by what happened on Friday night,” said Lisa Fleming, founder of The House of Hope. “To raise £70,000 is just incredible, especially in today’s economic climate. It shows how much people believe in what we’re doing and want to help others going through this journey.”
The funds raised will directly support The House of Hope’s comprehensive range of services, including wellbeing therapies, tailored workshops, classes and emotional support services, all of which are provided free of charge to people affected by breast cancer and their families.
The House of Hope is Scotland’s first dedicated wellbeing and support centre for people affected by breast cancer and their families. Founded by Lisa Fleming, who was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017, alongside husband Euan, the charity provides a welcoming, non-clinical sanctuary offering vital holistic support services.
The success of the Gala Ball was made possible through the generous support of sponsors including headline sponsor BTO Solicitors LLP, Hunters Gardens, and CF Services, alongside the continued partnership of partners Scotto and Estee Lauder Companies.
“The whole evening was just magical,” Lisa added. “From our amazing sponsors to Grant and Laura keeping everyone entertained, to every single person who bid in the auctions or made a donation, everyone played a part in making this happen.
A huge thank you as well to Prestonfield House and Signature Pub Group for donating the VIP and drinks receptions on the evening. This money will help us reach so many more people affected by breast cancer who need our support.”
I, Dhruva Kumar, Former MP Candidate for Glasgow South, write with great concern about the publication of the latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report.
At present, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture, with a fiscal deficit of £26 billion in 2024-25, equivalent to nearly 12% of Scotland’s GDP. The UK figure is larger in cash terms, unsurprisingly, but significantly smaller in relative terms at around 5% of GDP.
Once again, we are treated to the annual ritual of the GERS figures, paraded as though they were a true reflection of Scotland’s finances. The reality is very different.
Every year, the GERS report is wheeled out to suggest Scotland is running a deficit too large for independence. But GERS doesn’t measure the finances of an independent Scotland—it measures Scotland under Westminster rule.
GERS is not an account of what an independent Scotland would look like. It is a snapshot of Scotland under Westminster control. The figures are compiled largely by the UK Treasury, riddled with estimates and assumptions, and loaded with spending on projects that bring no benefit to Scots – from HS2 in England to Trident nuclear weapons on the Clyde.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s vast revenues from oil, gas, whisky, renewables, and exports are understated, or simply swallowed up into UK-wide accounts. The result is a manufactured “deficit” that is then used to tell us we are “too poor” to be independent.
If Ireland had listened to London’s version of its accounts in 1922, it would never have left the Union. Today, Ireland is more prosperous than the UK. The lesson is clear: the only deficit Scotland truly suffers is the deficit of self-government.
We will not accept Westminster’s rigged figures as gospel. Scotland is one of the most resource-rich nations in Europe. With independence, we can build an economy designed for our people, instead of living with a balance sheet designed to keep us in our place.
Big shout out and thanks to The Edinburgh Tool Library for bringing staff and volunteers here on Saturday to build stuff for the Neighbourhood Centre.
Also thanks to Andy and Matthew who are DNC volunteers for giving up their Saturday to help.
As you can see from the photos we built a massive planter 4.8m x 1.6m and put up some funky shutters on our summerhouse.
Last year the summerhouse came under regular attack by apples being thrown at it. Hopefully our new shutters mean little damage can be done should apples again find themselves on a flight path towards the summerhouse!
Self-Harm Network Scotland’s (SHNS) latest Impact Report has been published, which contains key information about how the self-harm support service has helped people during April 2024 – March 2025.
Anyone in need of self-harm support in Scotland (aged 12 and over) can refer themselves to the service’s one-to-one support sessions via the Contact Us page on their website. Support is provided remotely by Peer Practitioners, who all have their own lived experience of self-harm.
212 people received one-to-one support during April 24 – March 25, with a total of 1,805 one-to-one support sessions taking place, averaging seven to eight sessions per supported person. Almost two thirds (62%) of referrals that were received were for people aged 30 or under. Feedback from those who exited one-to-one support shows that all respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the service was trustworthy and reliable.
Dee, from Helensburgh, is one of the people who has benefited from Self-Harm Network Scotland’s one-to-one support. She said: “I have been battling with poor mental health and self-harm for over 30 years, but I know that I am not alone.
“I was offered one-to-one support within five days. Me and my Peer Practitioner Isabella had an instant connection, and I immediately felt at ease.”
“I wasn’t talking to someone who had read textbooks. I was talking to someone with personal, lived experience, and a deeper understanding. It was very different to the type of support that I had experienced in the past. I was encouraged every step of the way and was able to turn ideas into my own thing.”
SHNS also helps people in need of more immediate support for their self-harm and distress via an out-of-hours live webchat service, which is available on Self-Harm Network Scotland’s website every evening (6pm – 10pm), seven days a week.
599 support conversations took place on the Live Chat between April 2024 – March 2025.
The most discussed topics on the Live Chat were: Self-Harm (83% of chats), Mental Health (52% of chats), Emotional distress (38% of chats), Suicidal thoughts (26% of chats).
An end of chat survey asks supported people to rate the helpfulness of the chat, with 86% of 198 respondents to the survey rating it as ‘Very helpful’ or ‘Somewhat Helpful.’ Additionally, 55% of respondents reported that they had used the Live Chat before, which suggests that they trust the service and find value in the support they have received.
Self-Harm Strategy
SHNS is part of Penumbra Mental Health, a pioneering charity providing dedicated services for people with mild to serious and enduring mental ill health. SHNS works together with the Scottish Government and COSLA in delivering their Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. The action plan prioritises addressing discrimination, reducing stigma around self-harm, and improving support.
Self-Harm Awareness Training
SHNS develop and deliver informative and accessible Self-Harm Awareness training and resources to help improve understanding of self-harm, raise awareness, and reduce stigma.
During 2024/2025, 180 Self-Harm Awareness training sessions were delivered to 2,137 people. This included specific sessions for 67 organisations ranging from local authorities, health boards, education establishments, and a range of third sector organisations.
Self-Harm Awareness training continues to see strong and increasing demand from organisations, delivering to almost 500 more professionals than in the previous year. Participants’ experience of the training remains overwhelmingly positive, with evidence suggesting that the training is helping to increase knowledge and understanding of self-harm.
Our Impact Report shows that ninety-eight percent of people who gave feedback after taking part in Self-Harm Awareness training agreed or strongly agreed that they had a better understanding of where help and support exists for people who self-harm.
Darren Boyd, SHNS Programme Manager,said: “Self-Harm Network Scotland’s latest Impact Report reflects a year of significant change, development, and learning across the service, as we’ve continued to centre lived experience in all that we do.
“The past year has been about creating safer spaces, holding complexity without judgment, and responding to people’s pain with care and consistency.”
“We know that compassionate, person-centred support doesn’t just make a difference — it saves lives. At the core of everything we do is the belief that recovery is possible — and that it should be defined by the individual. It is voices like Dee’s that remind us why we do what we do – and who we do it for.”
POLICE are appealing for information after an electric off-road bike was stolen in Edinburgh.
The incident occurred around 1.30pm on Saturday, 6 September, 2025, on the roadway to the Harlaw Reservoir, near the walled garden at the Visitor Centre.
Two males pushed a 13-year-old boy off the e-bike and stole it.
The boy was badly shaken but not injured in the incident and police were contacted.
The first male is described as white, around 5ft 6 inches in height with an average build. He is around 20 years old, with short brown hair and wearing an orange t-shirt and black jogging trousers, black and grey On Cloud trainers and a black Montirex baseball cap with white writing.
The second suspect is black, around 6ft tall with an average build. He has dark hair and was wearing a black, shiny jacket with black trousers and black trainers.
The bike is black with royal blue detailing on the frame and the forks. It also has the word STING written in white on the frame.
Detective Constable Beverley Burnside said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time to think back and consider if they saw these two males. Did you see them on a bike, did you see them walking in the area?
“Any small piece of information could prove vital for us, so please do pass it on.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting 1685 of 6 September, 2025. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
