L-R: Tommy McCormick (Age Scotland), Judith King (When You Wish Upon a Star), Alan Thomson (Unique Assembly), Paul Wilson (OneCity Trust) and Fiona Williamson (Simon Community). Photo credit: Ian Georgeson
Encompassing Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay New Year festival, Edinburgh’s Winter Festival events are created and designed by Unique Assembly on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council.
Over the seven weeks of world-class events and attractions, the Festivals bring festive cheer to residents and visitors alike, putting Edinburgh on the world map as the key winter destination. They are the perfect combination of a global spectacle with community spirit at heart.
Both events have substantial and proven positive impact on both the city of Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole, and just one of the examples of the benefits they bring is their work with local charities, fundraising and promoting the incredible work of organisations who are helping those who need it most:
OneCity Trust which fights against inequality and exclusion in Edinburgh Age Scotland which provides connection, friendship and advice to older people. Simon Community Scotland which provides safe places and support for people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness in Scotland.
When You Wish Upon A Star which grants wishes for children living with life-threatening illnesses.
Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals 2025 raised a total of £46,243.09 in donations, which means that the four official charity partners each receive a £11,560 donation from Unique Assembly.
Alan Thomson, Co-Director, Unique Assembly said: “We are immensely proud to present our local charity partners with cheques of £11,560 each, and would like to thank those who made donations through purchasing tickets and at our fundraising events.
“It is a testament to the remarkable generosity of everyone who visited Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals. As an Edinburgh-based company, we’re continually inspired by the warmth, kindness, and festive spirit shown by people across this city.
“We are honoured to play a part in celebrating and strengthening the community we call home.”
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “I am delighted that these events not only bring economic benefits to the city, but also create opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors to come together and make a real difference for charities across Edinburgh.
“These diverse charities do valuable work every day to help individuals and families across the city, and these fundraising efforts help ensure they can continue providing that vital support.”
Seized criminal assets support 1.4 million young people to date
Thousands more young people who may be at risk of becoming involved in antisocial behaviour and crime will be supported by an additional £26 million of CashBack for Communities funding.
CashBack uses money recovered from seized criminal assets and reinvests it into communities. The funding supports young people by providing safe spaces, training and free activities that build confidence and skills, while also addressing issues that could lead to harm before they develop.
In this latest round of funding a record 51 projects will share up to £26 million – bringing the total amount paid out to CashBack to £156 million since it began in 2008, with more than 1.4 million young people supported so far.
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New projects include North Edinburgh’s Scran Academy, an acclaimed catering social enterprise that works with local schools, youth workers, social workers and the police. SCRAN will soon be opening a new cafe in West Pilton Park, and the project has been awarded funding to help young people aged 11–25 learn catering and customer service skills and gain work experience in a busy community space.
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “CashBack for Communities turns the proceeds of crime into life-changing opportunities for the thousands of young people who take part in projects across Scotland every year.
“Seeing the fantastic work of Scran Academy first hand and meeting the young people benefitting from projects like this, is exactly why investment in the CashBack programme matters.
“Since 2008, CashBack has had a transformational impact on young people’s lives. This unique initiative underlines our commitment to support Scotland’s young people to live full, healthy lives and to help address some of the underlying causes of crime and antisocial behaviour in our communities.”
Will Bain, CEO of Scran, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of the CashBack for Communities fund. Too often we talk about young people as a problem, but at Scran Academy what we see every day is pure potential, just waiting for the right chance.
“This fund will help unlock that potential, creating the relationships, experiences and opportunities that allow young people to shape their own futures.
“Every young person, no matter their background or barrier, deserves that chance, and we need a Scotland that offers it. Because the truth is, young people are never the problem; they are the solution.”
Phase 7 of the CashBack for Communities programme will run from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029 with an increased overall programme budget of up to £26 million.
More MSPs than ever before vote to give terminally ill people choice – but falling short of majority
57 MSPs voted in support of Liam McArthur MSP’s landmark assisted dying Bill last night, Tuesday 17th March, but unfortunately this was not enough for the Bill to proceed to an Act despite overwhelming public support for reform.
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill proposed to make the choice of assisted dying legal for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, alongside excellent end-of-life care.
57 MSPs voted for the Bill to pass with 69 voting against and one abstaining.
This means that the significant harms caused by the current law remain unresolved. Currently, even with the best palliative care, 11 Scots a week suffer as they die. Every year across the UK, 650 terminally ill people take their own lives, while others make long and arduous journeys to Switzerland, all without any protections in place.
Ally Thomson, Director of Dignity in Dying Scotland, said: “I am so deeply sad that the dying people who want this choice have been dealt this blow. But for as long as dying Scots continue to suffer, this debate is not going away.
“There is now near universal recognition that the current law is harmful to dying people. Those who voted against the Bill have done nothing to stop people with terminal illness from choosing to end their lives.
“They have instead blocked the safeguards and protections this Bill would have established for those who are already making this choice. Theirs was a vote against safety and compassion, not for it.
“I know that so many people will join me in finding this outcome deeply disappointing, but it’s important to recognise that more MSPs than ever before voted to give dying people choice at the end of life. I want to thank each of them for their efforts to end the harmful status quo.
“I also wish to thank Liam McArthur MSP who has been an incredible advocate for dignity and choice at the end of life. He has led this debate with respect, compassion and integrity.
“At the last vote, in 2015, MSPs voted by a margin on greater than three to one against changing the law. Today saw a major shift in Parliamentary opinion that gives us real hope for the future. All the signs are there that, slowly but surely, the Scottish Parliament is catching up to public opinion on assisted dying.
“Thousands of people all over the country have been campaigning for this change, and that work will not stop. Today’s result only stiffens our resolve to keep fighting for a safer and more compassionate law.”
Norma Rivers, from Ayr, who is living with terminal blood cancer, said: “For people like me living with terminal illness, today’s result is incredibly difficult to hear. But knowing that Parliament came so close to changing the law gives me hope.
“I want to live for as long as possible, but I also want the reassurance that I will have dignity and choice at the end of my life. I hope and trust that MSPs will come back to this issue very soon.”
Emma Cooper, Convener of Friends at the End (FATE), said: “We are extremely disappointed to see that MSPs did not reflect the views of the people they represent in the Assisted Dying Bill (Scotland) today. The overwhelming majority of people in every single constituency across Scotland clearly communicated they wanted assisted dying.
“It is hard to understand given the testimony we heard today from terminally ill adults and their loved ones who have too often witnessed frankly horrible deaths.
“The debate has sadly been plagued by misinformation and fears overriding facts. This was not a choice between living or dying, it was simply a question of how. This is not an issue that is going to go away and the fact remains that the status quo lacks compassion.
“End-of-life decisions that hasten death already happen in the NHS every single day, and they do not take place within a transparent framework or with consistent safeguards. Scottish people are going to continue to suffer unnecessarily at the end of life
“Thank you to our partners and Liam McArthur.”
Right to Life: Major victory for the most vulnerable in our society
Liam McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill has been defeated in a major victory for opponents of the Bill by 69 votes to 57, settling the issue in Scotland for a generation after a two-year national debate, and likely striking a mortal blow to the assisted suicide Bill in Westminster.
After two years of debate, and the most intense scrutiny that the question of assisted suicide has ever received in Scotland, Holyrood, widely regarded as one of the world’s most socially and politically progressive legislatures, has come to the conclusion that introducing assisted suicide is unsafe and dangerous.
Ahead of the vote, the Deputy Political Editor of The Scotsman, David Bol, described the final vote on the Bill at Stage 3 tonight as “potentially the biggest decision in the history of the Scottish Parliament”, and this was echoed by other prominent political commentators.
The Bill was defeated at its decisive stage, with the leader of the SNP, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Russell Findlay, all uniting in their opposition to the proposals. They were joined by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and former First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.
Polling shows public supportive of rejection of assisted suicide Bill
The defeat of Scotland’s assisted suicide Bill is consistent with polling published this week that showed the Scottish public had major concerns with legalising assisted suicide and the negative impact that it would have on the most vulnerable in Scotland.
Polling commissioned by women’s policy think tank, The Other Half, found that seven in 10 Scots were concerned that victims of domestic abuse could feel pressured into ending their lives if assisted dying is legalised.
After eating disorder campaigners warned that people with eating disorders would be eligible for assisted suicide under the Bill, the think tank published polling that found that only one in five Scots would support legislation that allowed patients with anorexia to end their lives by assisted suicide.
Polling commissioned by disability advocacy group Not Dead Yet UK revealed that 69% of Scottish adults agreed that the Scottish Parliament should prioritise improving access to care for people with disabilities before an assisted suicide Bill would be introduced. Only 18% of Scots disagreed.
For respondents who had a disability, the percentage who agreed that access to care should be improved before an assisted suicide Bill is made law rose to 72%.
Dozens of major medical bodies and organisations came out against the Bill
Dozens of major medical bodies and organisations representing the most vulnerable in Scottish society have come out in opposition to the Bill.
They have been joined by groups representing tens of thousands of people in Scotland including, a coalition of major disability groups, such as Inclusion Scotland, Disability Equality Scotland, Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living, Glasgow Disability Alliance, Our Duty of Care, People First, Self Directed Support Scotland, Disabled People Against Cuts, Group for Autism, Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity, LegaCare, We Thrive and Down’s Syndrome Research Foundation, who have all come out in opposition to the Bill.
Renewed focus on palliative care
Having settled this debate, MSPs must now unite to focus on renewed efforts to promote and improve palliative care.
A large number of MSPs from across the political spectrum came together to give powerful speeches against the Bill during today’s debate. They made it clear that this dangerous and extreme change to our laws would have put the vulnerable at risk and seen the ending of many vulnerable lives through assisted suicide.
Tonight’s result represents a major headache for Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill in Westminster.
Moreover, to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales when it has been rejected in Scotland, where the issue is devolved, would create constitutional and practical challenges.
Among the potential consequences are the uncertainty faced by Scottish students who spend half the year studying at universities in England, and the complications for residents who divide their time between a primary home in Scotland and a second property south of the border.
Alisdair Hungerford-Morgan, Chief Executive of Right To Life UK, a charity that opposes the introduction of assisted suicide and euthanasia, and campaigns instead for greater investment in palliative care, said: “This is a great victory for the most vulnerable in our society.
“They deserve protection and care, not a pathway to suicide. If this legislation had passed, countless vulnerable people would have been pressured or coerced into ending their lives.
“A large number of MSPs from across the political spectrum came together today to recognise the dangers this Bill posed and have rightly rejected it.
“The question of assisted suicide has dominated the five-year term of the current Scottish Parliament. The issue is now settled for a generation.
“But as this debate ends, today marks the beginning of a new conversation. It is vital that after the Holyrood elections in May, MSPs come together to redouble their efforts to invest in universal access to high-quality palliative care.
“Holyrood has today sent a decisive message to Westminster by rejecting assisted suicide. The Westminster Bill is already on life support as Peers continue to address its multiple flaws and unanswered questions.
“Rather than ploughing on with their dangerous Bill, the Bill sponsors in Westminster must now follow Scotland’s example and accept that assisted suicide is not the answer. It cannot be introduced safely”.
The result of the Stage 3 vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is:
Yes – 57
No – 69
Abstain – 1
The Bill therefore falls.
Campaign group Dignity in Dying said late last night: “Moments ago, the Scottish Parliament voted against Liam McArthur MSP’s assisted dying Bill, by 69 to 57 with one abstention.
“This means that the Bill will fall and we will have to keep fighting for law change in Scotland.
“We pay tribute to Liam McArthur MSP for acting with integrity and determination, and to the thousands of supporters who have been fighting hard for choice, especially the many terminally ill people and their loved ones who have spoken courageously about their experiences.
“The fight is not over. Thousands of people all over the country have been campaigning for this change, and that work will not stop. Today’s result only hardens our resolve to keep fighting for a safer and more compassionate law.”
Ash Regan MSP said: “The Assisted Dying Bill has fallen – but this debate must leave a legacy from session 6. We urgently need fully funded, high-quality palliative care for everyone, when they need it.
“We must ensure that those with disabilities are supported with necessary accommodations to fully access public life and be secure at home. Invest in research. Listen to experts.
“Free votes strengthen Parliament. And once again, the limits of devolution for legislation that straddles devolved and reserved matters are laid bare. We must learn and do better for the people of Scotland.”
Foysol Choudhury said: “Yesterday in Parliament, I voted against the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
“The issue of assisted dying raises a lot of emotions and as you can imagine, this was a very difficult decision to make.
“I would like to express my sympathy to Liam McArthur MSP who I know worked tirelessly and with great determination on this proposed Bill.
“Thank you to the many hundreds of constituents who have written to me over the years regarding this Bill, and who have shared their thoughts, concerns and personal experiences.
“Since my election in 2021, I have engaged extensively with many of you, as well as with organisations, doctors, nurses, lawyers, pharmacists, academics, on this important issue.
“While I have carefully listened to all sides of the debate, I ultimately voted against the Bill due to my serious concerns about safeguards and undue pressure on terminally ill people to end their lives as to not burden their families.
“The risk of coercion – particularly for vulnerable groups, including disabled people – is extremely difficult to detect. Many constituents and disability organisations have highlighted fears that the Bill could unintentionally devalue their lives.
“At Stage 3, I remained unconvinced that the Bill could fully guarantee protection against these risks. In my view, it still contains significant flaws and weaknesses.
“I strongly believe we must prioritise a robust healthcare system that delivers world-class, compassionate, and accessible palliative care for all.
“I do not believe that the answer to suffering lies in prematurely ending life. Every life has inherent value, and we must show our future generations that life is precious, must be protected and cared for in the best way possible.”
Now in its third year, the landmark match funding campaign aims to raise thousands for 280 UK arts and culture charities.
Running from 17th March to 24th March, public donations made via Big Give will be doubled by a range of generous match funding partners.
Big Give, the UK’s leading match-funding platform, today launches the 2026 edition of its annual Arts for Impact campaign, in partnership with Figurative Philanthropy for Arts and Culture (FPAC).
Now in its third year, the week-long campaign has become a vital fixture in the arts calendar and will support 280 grassroots arts and culture charities across the UK, helping them raise essential funds at a time of mounting financial pressure.
Arts organisations continue to face rising operational costs, increasing demand for services and sustained pressure on income from donations and grants. For many grassroots charities, campaigns like Arts for Impact are not simply fundraising opportunities; they are critical moments to galvanise public support and secure their future.
From midday 17 March to midday 24 March, every public donation made via Big Give’s platform will be doubled pound-for-pound by a group of major philanthropic ‘Champions’, unlocking vital funding for charities working across music, theatre, dance, museums, galleries and literature.
This year’s match funding has been provided by an exceptional coalition of philanthropists, companies and foundations, including The Reed Foundation, AKO Foundation, and with public funding support from Arts Council England, among others.
This year, the initiative will help 280 participating charities that use creativity to address societal challenges, from supporting mental health and tackling isolation, to providing free creative education for disadvantaged young people.
Regional Impact: A Nationwide Movement
The 2026 campaign involves charities from across the country, ensuring the benefits of the arts are felt in communities nationwide. According to recent data, the campaign supports a diverse range of organisations across the UK:
Region
Participating Charities
East of England
17
East Midlands
5
Greater London
64
North East
4
North West
17
Northern Ireland
3
Scotland
5
South East
45
South West
27
Wales
7
West Midlands
13
Yorkshire & The Humber
13
Nationwide
66
Note: Data represents a snapshot of the 2026 campaign’s regional engagement.
James Reed CBE, Chair of Trustees for Big Give, said:
“Arts charities across the UK deliver real social impact, building connection and purpose through creativity. For many of these grassroots organisations, the funds raised during this campaign make the difference between continuing their vital work or facing difficult reductions in service. Every pound donated can be doubled, making it the perfect way for the public to multiply their generosity.”
Tonya Nelson, Executive Director, Enterprise and Innovation, Arts Council England, said:
“We are pleased to match fund these inspiring Arts for Impact campaigns. Philanthropy plays a vital role in funding culture in the UK, helping creative and cultural organisations reach more people in more places. We hope the additional funds raised will support organisations’ social impact work and help them develop new skills for the future.”
Sir Vernon Ellis, FPAC Founder and Trustee of Figurative, added:
“The arts are fundamental to the wellbeing of individuals and communities. At a time when financial pressures are significant, initiatives like Arts for Impact provide a vital lifeline, ensuring these organisations can continue their invaluable work for years to come.”
Voices from the Frontline
The campaign’s impact is best reflected in the charities it supports. Following the 2025 campaign, participating organisations reported not only increased income, but also strengthened fundraising capability and public visibility.
Refreshing Minds
“The main impact…will be the ability to provide over 300 disadvantaged girls with the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills, and express their creativity in a safe and supportive environment.
Funds raised will support skill development through workshops in acting, dance, and technical production, offering participants a chance to enhance their future opportunities.
Additionally, funds will aid in supporting the development of 32 active volunteers by providing them with training and resources to strengthen their leadership.”
POLICE are investigating an attempted murder in Edinburgh are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.
Around 1.50am yesterday (Monday, 16 March 2026), police received a report a man had been stabbed in the Sighthill area.
Emergency services attended and the 20-year-old victim was taken to hospital.
Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the area and are checking for any relevant CCTV images.
Detective Sergeant Keith Morrison said: “I am appealing for anyone who was in and around the Sighthill View, Sighthill Crescent areas between the hours of 1am and 2am on Monday morning.
“If you saw or heard anything, please get in touch. A young man has been stabbed and seriously injured and it’s imperative we trace whoever is responsible.
“I would also ask anyone with dash cam or doorbell recording equipment to check if they have any footage which could assist our inquiry.
“We are still establishing the full circumstances of this crime so please do not think we have all the information we need, any small detail could prove significant. Please pass it on.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 0198 of Monday, 16 March, 2026. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where you can give the information anonymously.
Voters are looking to the next Scottish Government to go further and faster to guarantee the future of NHS dentistry
New polling from YouGov shows:
Taking into account all the different priorities facing the country, 65% of Scots say the Scottish Government should be doing more on dentistry. Only 20% believe they are doing all they reasonably can.
Dentistry is now a major doorstep issue in Scotland, with 15% ranking it as the most important issue in their local area, on a par with crime (16%)
Estimated unmet need for NHS dentistry stands at nearly 1/5 of Scotland’s adult population, with 12% saying they were unable to secure an appointment in the last 2 years, and a further 7% having effectively given up trying, assuming they would be unable to get one.
The BDA has published its own manifesto stressing a new administration must act to ‘future proof’ the service. While the current Scottish Government took forward payment reform of NHS dentistry in 2023, the professional body say this cannot be viewed as ‘mission accomplished’.
It stresses that concerted action is required to improve access and reduce inequalities that are already widening [2] and create the dental workforce Scotland needs via a fully funded workforce plan.
The BDA is encouraging parties to double down on prevention, expand the pioneering Childsmile programme, and adopt policies to encourage families to make healthier choices. It says practices need to be protected from surging costs, including rises in National Insurance from the UK Government which have already been mitigated in Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland.
Albert Yeung, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Council, said:“If we want NHS dentistry in Scotland to remain a going concern in the 21st century, it will require a sustained plan of action.
“It means closing an oral health gap between rich and poor that’s already widening. To call time on postcode lotteries of care that remain the norm.
“It requires the next government to ensure we have the dental team members we need on the frontline.
“And it means doubling down on prevention. This country can’t rest on its laurels when decay remains the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children.
“The public are clear the next Scottish Government needs to go further, and faster. We must future-proof dentistry in Scotland, because failure to do so will come at a steep financial, human and ultimately a political cost.
“This is already an issue on the doorstep. It will remain one until voters see real change.”
We are very excited about our next Litter Picking event this Saturday (21/03). This time we will be focusing on Granton Crescent Park, across the road from the Salvation Army.
Huge THANK YOU to R2 for their support with the litter picking equipment.
Tea/coffee and snacks provided.
It is a family friendly event so we would welcome young litter pickers as well as well behaved dogs
Did you ever attend the Old RWCC, whether in a youth group, an event, social night out or play a sport with the centre. Can you help us identify the individuals in the photographs.
Do you recognise yourself? Who are they/you? Where are they you? What are your memories of old RWCC?
If you attended the centre at any time in your life, then please come along on Saturday, 28th March, 10am – 2pm grab a cuppa, browse the many photos & share your stories with us
