Thousands more young people to benefit from August
More than 6,000 high school pupils will be eligible for free school meals from the beginning of the next school year, further supporting the Scottish Government’s national mission to eradicate child poverty.
This trial phase of the free school meals programme will see S1 to S3 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment, who attend selected schools in eight local authority areas, receive a nutritious and healthy meal. This takes the number of pupils being offered free school meals in Scotland to over 360,000.
An investment of £3 million will support almost 60 schools across eight proposed areas of Aberdeen, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Fife, Glasgow, Moray, North Ayrshire, Shetland and South Lanarkshire from August 2025.
First Minister John Swinney made the announcement during a visit to Springburn Academy in Glasgow, where 140 more pupils could benefit.
The First Minister said: “The free school meals programme is key in our national mission to eradicate child poverty, which saves families who take up the offer around £450 per eligible child per year. This next phase of the rollout will ensure that this offer is available to more families across the country.
“We know the positive impact that access to a healthy and nutritious meal can have on a pupil’s learning and achievement in school.
“This demonstrates how important the programme is in our efforts to close the poverty-related attainment gap in Scotland, ensuring that every child is given an opportunity to succeed in education regardless of their background.
“The Scottish Government will also continue its broader support to tackle the cost of the school day, including our £14.2 million School Uniform Clothing Grant and our investment in the £1 billion Scottish Attainment Challenge.”
Serving personnel, veterans and their supporters will parade through St Andrew Square in Edinburgh this weekend at a special event being held to celebrate Armed Forces Day.
The celebrations will start from 10am on Saturday, June 28, as the annual procession of around 400 members of the Armed Forces community will assemble in Charlotte Square, led by 10 vintage vehicles from the Scottish Military Vehicle Group.
From there they will follow the route along George Street, reassembling in St Andrew Square where they will be welcomed by Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge, followed a day of fun and entertainment until 3pm.
Highlights will include The Highland and Lowland Bands of the Royal Regiment of Scotland; The Royal British Legion Scotland and Association’s Standards and Veterans; live performances from Stuart McLean, Richard Kerr, Niamh Corkey, Fraser Mclean and Maria Townsley. The event will be hosted by BFBS broadcaster Mark McKenzie.
There will also be static displays of vintage military vehicles throughout the day and members of the public will be able to see some of the kit and equipment used by our Armed Forces over the years.
Dr Claire Armstrong, OBE, Chief Executive of Legion Scotland, said: “Armed Forces Day on Saturday follows on from Monday’s event (June 23) when the Armed Forces Day flag was presented to the Depute Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron, and raised above Edinburgh’s City Chambers with pride to honour military personnel past, present and future.
“We hope you can come along and help us celebrate the Armed Forces community in our capital city in style, whilst also learning about the valuable work of charities Legion Scotland, Poppyscotland and many more.”
Meanwhile, Poppyscotland, in partnership with Legion Scotland, are calling for volunteers to help man collection stations over the course of the weekend.
Volunteers are required to help at both Waverley and Haymarket train stations during timed slots on either June 28 or June 29.
If you would be interested in volunteering on either Saturday, June 28 or Sunday, June 29, please sign up today:
Join us in celebrating a year of creativity, community, and artistic growth at Granton:hub Art classes Summer Exhibition!
Opening Night – All Welcome!
Friday 27th June | 18:30 – 20:30
Enjoy an evening of art, conversation, and inspiration. There’ll be drinks, nibbles, and plenty of time to chat and catch up with fellow artists in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Exhibition Open to the Public:Saturday 28th June | 12:00 – 16:00Sunday 29th June | 12:00 – 16:00
Featuring life drawings, paintings, portraits, landscapes, and city sketches created by our students over the past year.
HOLYROOD’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is launching an inquiry into treatment pathways and support for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The inquiry aims to:
Understand why waiting times for diagnosis and management of ADHD and ASD are reportedly long, including the drivers of increasing demand;
Understand how these conditions are diagnosed and managed;
Examine the impact of high demand and delays on individuals and healthcare staff;
Explore solutions to improve capacity of services, referral pathways and support.
Both ADHD and ASD are neurodevelopmental conditions. ADHD is characterised by a group of symptoms that includes difficulty in concentrating, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour, while Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental condition that affects the way a person communicates, interacts and processes information.
As of March 2025, there were 42,530 children waiting for neurodevelopmental assessments in Scotland (across all health boards except NHS Grampian, who could not provide data).
The Committee is asking individuals and their families to share their experiences of accessing pathways to treatment and support for ADHD and ASD. They also want to hear from individuals who work supporting those with ADHD or ASD.
As part of the inquiry, the Committee will also be writing to relevant organisations directly to seek their views.
Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “Our Committee is launching this inquiry because we are concerned by reports of long waits for neurodevelopmental assessments in Scotland.
“Data from Scotland’s health boards shows that eight NHS boards currently report waiting times exceeding three years for these conditions.We want to learn what is causing these delays, explore potential solutions and find out ways to improve treatment and support for individuals with ADHD or ASD.
“We’re keen to hear personal experience of any issues faced in terms of diagnosis, waiting times and access to care and support. We also welcome any positive experiences and examples of good practice which could potentially be rolled out across all of Scotland’s NHS health boards.
”The insights we gather will be a vital element of our scrutiny and will help to inform the questions we pose to support organisations, healthcare providers and the Scottish Government in future evidence sessions.”
Last week in Mullingar FRC,Ireland, 96 rugby players set a world record the longest games of rugby. The marathon event ( which is currently being verified by Guinness World Records) raised funds for Wooden Spoon , LooseHeadz and The Lions Trust charities.
Scottish players included Ali Mackenzie-Cooper, Colin Stuart. Emma Riach, Hazel Malakoty, Lee Murru, Mark Kane, Murray Stewart, Paige Anastacia, Paul Sullivan, Simon Turner, Yvonne Tunnicliff.
Two teams have officially made rugby history at Mullingar RFC, Ireland where they completed the Longest Games of Rugby ever played, with the women’s team clocking an astonishing 26 hours and 33 minutes, and the men’s team pushing through to an incredible 34 hours and 48 minutes of continuous play. (The footage from the matches is currently being verified by Guinness World Records.)
What began as an ambitious challenge turned into an unforgettable display of resilience, teamwork, and sheer determination as players faced extreme conditions over the two-day event.
With relentless heat beating down on Wednesday, several participants battled heatstroke, pushing their bodies to the limit. The local fire brigade came to the rescue, filling water baths on site to help players cool down and stay safe in the searing temperatures.
As night fell, a new challenge emerged: cold mist and damp air that settled in overnight. But the teams dug deep, supporting each other every step of the way.
As the sun rose on Thursday morning, exhaustion gave way to adrenaline, and with the finish line in sight, both teams summoned their final reserves of strength to break not one, but two world records.
Their historic achievement was celebrated in front of a roaring crowd at the Aviva Stadium last Friday evening as the British & Irish Lions took on Argentina. The players were honoured at halftime with a pitch walk and greeted with thunderous applause as official world record holders.
So far, the event has raised an incredible £115,000 in support of three amazing charities: Wooden Spoon, LooseHeadz, and The Lions Trust, which will help save lives and support children through the power of rugby.
“This was about more than breaking records,” said Matt Bishop, Wooden Spoon player. “It was about community, perseverance, and doing something extraordinary to support causes we care deeply about.
“Every blister, bruise, and sleepless hour was worth it!”
Scotland was proudly representedon the field by Ali Mackenzie-Cooper, one of the most respected figures in Scottish women’s rugby history.
A key member of the original national side and number 12 on the roll of honour, Ali Mackenzie-Cooper earned 39 caps for Scotland, three as captain, and played in three World Cups. She was a standout in the famous 27-7 victory over France at the 1998 World Cup, where she was awarded Player of the Match, and also featured in Scotland’s Grand Slam win against England – a defining moment for Scottish rugby.
Beyond her illustrious playing career, Ali Mackenzie-Cooper has continued to shape the sport in Scotland as a specialist front-row coach, manager of the Scotland Women’s team, and as Treasurer of the Scottish Women’s Rugby Union (2005–2006). She was also instrumental in organising the 1994 Women’s Rugby World Cup – an event she and her team pulled together in just 90 days.
Sarah Webb, CEO , Wooden Spoon said: “We are incredibly grateful to every single player who took part in this extraordinary effort. Not only did they break world records – they’ve helped change lives.
“The funds raised will make a huge difference to the children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage that we support at Wooden Spoon. This was a phenomenal act of grit, determination and community.”
A Big thank you to our sponsors who helped make The Longest Game happen : LMAX Exchange, ICS Mortgages, Canterbury, OPRO , NOCCO, d3 tape.
Scottish players involved in the The Longest Game : Ali Mackenzie-Cooper, Colin Stuart. Emma Riach, Hazel Malakoty, Lee Murru, Mark Kane, Murray Stewart, Paige Anastacia, Paul Sullivan, Simon Turner, Yvonne Tunnicliff.
Cyber project LastingAsset has become the latest firm to spin out from Edinburgh Napier University
A team of Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) cybersecurity experts have taken their fight against impersonation scams to the next level – after setting up their own company.
LastingAsset started out as a cybersecurity project to protect digital assets, before the founding team adapted the technology to tackle imposter calls.
Their service uses cryptographic encryption and artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent fraud perpetuated by rogue actors who impersonate an organisation or individual.
Almost half of all fraud has an impersonation aspect and criminals are increasingly duping victims by using AI to socially engineer, voice clone and deep fake individuals. These crimes cost organisations across the UK billions of pounds every year.
The cryptography-based verification process developed by LastingAsset can assure client firms and their customers that they are speaking to a legitimate caller.
Having spent recent months developing their product, LastingAsset will now become the latest ENU spin-out company – the term used for new businesses which began life as an academic project.
The project was initially developed by ENU academics Dr Zakwan Jaroucheh and Professor Bill Buchanan. Their team includes co-founder and CEO Nanik Ramchandani, newly appointed Chief Operating Officer Ciara Mitchell and Senior Software Engineer Dmitri Timoshenko.
Since establishing the project more than two years ago, they have been backed by significant funding from Scottish Enterprise’s High Growth Spinout Programme, Innovate UK, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Data Lab. Their work has also drawn award recognition from the likes of Converge – claiming its Cisco Future Tech Award in 2023.
Having developed the technology, the LastingAsset team have begun exploring pilots with early adopter customers – and recently participated in a Scottish Enterprise programme to test the American market.
Dr Zakwan Jaroucheh, LastingAsset Co-founder & Chief Technical Officer, said: “Impersonation scams cause untold misery for people all around the world, and this is a big moment in our effort to fight against them.
“Edinburgh Napier University has a strong track record of supporting projects like ours to become major international companies, and we would like to thank colleagues for their help to get us to this point.”
Prof Bill Buchanan, LastingAsset Co-founder & Chief Innovator, said: “In an era of AI, there are so many opportunities to integrate privacy and digital trust into our online world.
“Our vision is to create systems which respect the rights of privacy of citizens, but where we can still address challenges around financial fraud and identity theft.
“We are aiming to build automated systems which can be trusted from a human and a technical level.”
Nanik Ramchandani, LastingAsset Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, said: “With the rapid development of AI and deepfake technology, it is more important than ever to stay one step ahead of fraudsters.
“We are determined to provide individuals with the peace of mind to confidently continue to communicate with each other knowing that they are secure and not being scammed.”
Fiona Mason, Head of Business Engagement and IP Commercialisation at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “We are delighted with the launch of LastingAsset, the fifth spin-out from the Cybersecurity group within the School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.
“Lasting Asset’s fraud detection is set to deliver significant benefits to people’s lives, by making everyday phone communications more trustworthy for everyone.
“We can’t do this alone – we are incredibly grateful for the support of our vibrant ecosystem which has been instrumental in supporting this project. I’d also like to offer thanks and congratulations to the founding team whose dedication and commitment have brought this vision to life.
“We are so proud of LastingAsset, which exemplifies our ambition to foster innovation, translate our research into real-world impact, and drive economic growth through groundbreaking technology.”
By spinning out, LastingAsset joins an impressive list of companies that began life as projects at the University, including the likes of Cyacomb, MemCrypt, Symphonic Software, ZoneFox, Mercel and Celtic Renewables.
Changes to the law which would give children a greater say in decisions around being withdrawn from religious instruction or observance in schools will be considered by a Scottish Parliament Committee, which has today launched a call for views on the proposals.
The Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill would require schools to inform pupils if their parent has requested that they be withdrawn from religious education or observance.
It would also give pupils the opportunity to express their views and object to the withdrawal. Under the proposals, where a pupil objects, and is considered capable of forming a view, the school would be required to follow the pupil’s wishes.
In addition, the Bill, which was brought forward by the Scottish Government, seeks to clarify how public authorities should act when duties under the UNCRC conflict with other legal obligations.
The Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee wants to hear the views of children and young people, parents and carers, teachers, local authorities, human rights organisations and any stakeholders with an interest in the proposals.
Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said: “This proposed change to the law would give children and young people more say in whether they want to take part in religious education or observance at school.
“It also aims to update how public bodies, like councils and schools, make sure they are respecting children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“We want to hear what people across Scotland think about these changes. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, pupil, or just interested in children’s rights, we want to understand how these proposals might work in practice and what impact they could have.”
Inspiring climate action through this year’s Edinburgh Climate Festival
As we take in the fearful effects of the worsening climate crisis and the uncertainty that takes hold of the many challenges we are facing around our planet today, looking ahead to a hopeful future can be a very daunting task.
For this, we find great importance & delight in announcing the return of this year’s Edinburgh Climate Festival, a free festival that aims to celebrate & inspirate climate action in our local communities. A day that brings together numerous climate related organisations, projects and individuals, all looking to help positively raise awareness & work towards creating a brighter future!
The festival will be taking place at the Edinburgh Meadows, Melville Dr EH9 1ND, on Saturday 28th June 2025, from 12 to 7pm.
During the day, attendees can find a variety of free lively performances, workshops, art installations & themed talks, as well as a bouncy castle and activities that welcome everyone of all ages.
The festival will also be welcoming stallholders that cover topics related to circular economy, mitigation, adaptation, climate education, transport, activism, conservation and more.
As a special feature to the ninth edition of the festival, this year the team have introduced an additional theme: Root & Rise.
The theme represents a call to root in ourselves by grounding in who we are, reconnecting with nature, and prioritising our well-being. The festival defends that just as strong roots support a thriving tree, a deep connection to ourselves and the earth can allow us to rise with strength and purpose.
By truly rooting in nature, we find the power to rise – to embrace new sustainable habits, take meaningful action, and stand together in the fight for climate justice and systemic change. This message is present throughout the event, through visuals and tailored activities encompassing this ethos.
As an additional attempt to become more sustainable as an event itself, this year the festival is also trialling a few new schemes in hopes to achieve better waste reduction & improve its practices overall.
A few to highlight, is their additional single use packaging fee that will be implemented by all food vendors as well as a free raffle that aims to encourage attendees to bring their own containers, rewarding their commitment by offering a chance to win one of three prizes (which are valued at £60, £50 and £40).
Franciele Sobierai, the ECF Event Coordinator said: “The climate crisis can be daunting, leaving us feeling powerless.However, when we unite, work together, and support one another, we can accomplish far more.
“This is the message the Edinburgh Climate Festival aims to spread — encouraging community-driven climate action and solidarity to tackle the climate emergency.”
The attractions and activities will include various artwork, free yoga, somatic movement, paper-making, dancing, climate stories, musical performances from Airdan Band, Fossilheads, Samba Sene, an energetic Ceilidh & much more!
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and celebrate our collective efforts towards a sustainable future! You can find the full programme here
Confirm your presence on the event here, with the option to give a donation here.
Volunteering: If you like to get involved in the delivery of the event, the ECF team is looking for individuals passionate about climate and community action to help on the day.
The Edinburgh Climate Festival is brought to you by Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) & Networking Key Services (NKS), through the Communities’ Reduce Reuse & Recycle (C3R) Project.
The festival is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund and is supported by The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University.
The Royal Highland Show 2025 was a spectacular celebration of Scotland’s agricultural heritage, innovation, food, drink and rural life.
With a sold-out Show on Saturday, this year’s event welcomed over 212,000 visitors from across the UK and beyond for four packed days of livestock competitions, cutting-edge farming innovation, family entertainment and traditional skills.
The Royal Highland Show which takes place at Ingliston, Edinburgh, is the biggest fundraising event for organisers, RHASS, (the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland) with the week of the Show seeing the event site become the sixth-largest population centre in Scotland, bigger than Paisley and Dunfermline.
With 197 hectares of entertainment (the equivalent of 180 football pitches!) there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Children 15 and under were able to attend the Show for free and over 22,000 children attended over the four days.
The energy didn’t stop there, over 7,400 people partied into the night on Friday and Saturday evening at the Royal Highland Hoolie, where an electric line-up of country and folk stars including Elephant Sessions, Cammy Barnes, NATI and Nathan Carter had the crowd singing, dancing and celebrating in true Royal Highland Show style.
HRH Princess Anne visited the Show on Friday. Escorted by RHASS Chairman, James Logan, and Chief Executive, Alex Paterson.
HRH enjoyed a tour of the Show and stopped at the RHET Discovery Centre, where she met local primary school children taking part in activities such as pizza making and sushi rolling.
HRH also took in the excitement of the showjumping competition and toured the Cattle Hall, meeting the Short Horn Beef Cattle and Highland Cattle as well as visiting some exhibitors in the Dairy section.
Royal Highland Show Sunday
David Tennant, Head of Show for RHASS said: “It has been wonderful to see generations from across the agricultural community come together to celebrate their great achievements, learnings, stories and make new memories, just as it has been to see visitors and families enjoy all that the Show has to offer.
“We were very honoured to have welcomed HRH Princess Anne to Friday’s Show when we shared with her all of the great achievements from the Scottish agricultural industry.
“While the Show is renowned for its historic and traditional aspects, namely the livestock competitions and parades, over the years we have developed it so far beyond that, and every year we build and grow on the last..
“I’d like to thank everyone for playing their part, from our members, exhibitors and competitors to our staff and members of the public, for helping to make the 2025 Royal Highland Show a truly unforgettable event!”
Judith Cruickshank, chair, Scotland Board, Royal Bank of Scotland, said:“This year’s Royal Highland Show has showcased the value and the success of Scottish agriculture to the economy and the importance of the event to the industry.
“The volume of visitors over the last four days shows the affection the public has for the event, and Royal Bank of Scotland is delighted to have been partner for 2025.
“We will continue to remain partner for the next three years, making it part of our 300th anniversary celebrations and the longest successive partnership in our history.”
Royal Highland Show, Friday
Matt Evans, Chief Commercial Officer (UK) at See Tickets, said:“The Royal Highland Show is an incredible event, at the forefront of the agricultural industry. The largest in Scotland, bringing the farming community and family audiences together.
“This year’s show further built on the success of previous years, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for the RHASS.
“I am immensely proud that the Royal Highland Show team put their trust in See Tickets to deliver our services to their audience, and we look forward to partnering with them going forward.”
The 2025 Royal Highland Show – facts and numbers:
327 prestigious trophies and a prize fund of £195,000 were competed for and awarded at this year’s Show.
The Queen’s Cup, which was presented by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1960 to commemorate her presidency of the Royal Highland Show was, this year, awarded to champion goat, Messrs Webster and Smith with Guilden Elm. This is the 15th time in 45 years the pair have won the Queen’s Cup. The cup rotates annually among different livestock categories.
The Sanderson Trophy was won by Harry and Susan Sleigh, for the third time, which is a major mark of excellence in Scotland’s equine community.
Over 6,000 livestock were welcomed, including 700 cattle, 2,000 sheep, 400 heavy horses, 1,700 light horse entries, from 2,500 competitors.
Over 750 exhibitors, stretching across food, drink, clothing, artisanal crafts and agri-trade were in attendance.
The Sir William Young Award, which recognises exceptional contributions to the world of livestock breeding and celebrates the enduring legacy of the late Sir William Young, was presented to Jimmy Taylor Wilson.
Over 200 volunteer stewards were involved in the RHS, as well as 145 judges.
Some 6,600 school pupils from 250 school groups came along for free through RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust), trying their hand at milking Mabel the (fiberglass) cow, a wildlife gardening trail and pizza making in the RHET Discovery Centre.
Over 56,000 pints were poured over the four days, with 24,496 of those pints served up by the Show’s beer partner, Innis & Gunn.
The Show featured the “Guiness Ripple Machine” which helped to served-up thousands of pints topped with Royal Highland Show logo by using 3D printing technology to create what’s known as a ‘Stoutie’.
The classic burger was the most popular dish served up across the four-day event with 5,459 sold and visitors kept cool with ice cream with 8,634 sold.
7,462 revellers enjoyed the toe-tapping Royal Highland Hoolie after the Show on Friday and Saturday. Presented by legendary country music promoters, Farmers Bash, the event brought together 12 live folk and country music acts, including Mànran, Trail West, The Whistlin’ Donkeys, Nathan Carter, Cammy Barnes, The Tumbling Paddies, Nati, and the Elephant Sessions.
Lothian Buses operated over 1,300 departures to and from the Royal Highland Show on service 97, 98 and N98. This year’s Show’s new elements:
Royal Highland Show, Grand Parade
This year’s Show’s new elements:
On Sunday the Members Village transformed into an entertainment zone with performers from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Magic from Edinburgh Magician Eliot Bobby, and live music.
Sheepdog trials took place in the main ring.
Well-known children’s show, Tractor Ted appeared at the Show for the first time,
Children jumped behind the wheel of a mini (Land) rover as part of the Show’s Land Rover Experience which has been a staple at the event for many years. The mini cars took drivers on their very own off-road adventure course, just like the grown-up version.
A World Record was set by Dan Wheelan from Shropshire who climbed the 80ft pole in 9 seconds, beating the previous record of 9.61.
Royal Highland Show Sunday
The Royal Bank of Scotland has been a supporter of the Show since 1981 and has reaffirmed its commitment to its longest-standing corporate partnership, and to the Show by extending its agreement for a further three years.
The Early Bird Trade Stand Offer has launched at the Show, with more than 50 already signing up.
The offer gives those who exhibited at this year’s Royal Highland Show a discount for 2026. Interested exhibitors should contact tradestands@rhass.org.uk to find out more.
