A 21-year-old man has been convicted following an attempted murder in Edinburgh.Joshua Stewart pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday (5 March, 2026.)
Officers were made aware of the attempted murder of a 54-year-old man on Pitcairn Grove in Edinburgh around 9.20pm on Thursday, 22 May, 2025.
Stewart was arrested and charged in connection with the incident on Monday, 16 June, 2025.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “This was a violent incident and the conviction is testament to the hard work and dedication by detectives, specialist officers and partners across the country.
“We will continue to bring those involved in serious criminality to justice.
“Police Scotland remains committed to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy.”
Operation Portaledge is the ongoing investigation into violent incidents in the East and West of the country.
Democratic Finance Scotland has launched its latest report demonstrating 10 years of direct support to 70 community share offers.
The programme, which is part of Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS), assists communities across Scotland in raising and managing their own finance through democratic models like community shares, bonds and one-off community lotteries. In addition to providing expert advice, it also offers microgrants to help groups amplify their share offer campaigns – £206,476 of grant funding has been distributed collectively so far.
Since its launch, the programme has helped community-led organisations raise a combined £21.8 million from 21,468 investors, including community members, local businesses and the wider public. The resulting enterprises have created long-term social and economic impact, including 208 new jobs.
The initiatives supported span a wide range of projects, from local shops and pubs to community-owned solar farms and hydro schemes – all of which exemplify the power of democratic finance to turn local commitment into real investment.
Of all the organisations supported by Democratic Finance Scotland, 95% are still operating – demonstrating the impact of community resilience during especially challenging economic circumstances.
Morven Lyon, Head of Democratic Finance at DTAS, said:“The initiatives supported by DTAS are a prime example of using community shares to enhance public funding and put ownership and decision-making directly into communities’ hands.
“In giving vital projects the best possible chance of success, they also enable people to invest in the ideas they believe in. It means that money, jobs and control are kept in local areas, turning talk about community wealth building into tangible outcomes in our communities.
“We’ve reached significant milestones in Scotland over the past decade, with the total value of community assets acquired using community share offers reaching nearly £40 million, resulting in the creation of more than 200 jobs.
“Our team has worked hard to contribute to this success, working closely with the committed volunteers and staff of 70 community organisations across the country.
“The fact that almost all of the organisations we’ve supported are still operating shows what’s possible when communities are trusted to lead – and this impact is only set to grow over the next 10 years.”
CASE STUDIES
Bellfield Big Build
Last year, Democratic Finance Scotland assisted community-led organisation Action Porty in exceeding its target to raise funds to redevelop Bellfield church.
The building had been purchased by the Portobello community in 2018 – marking the first successful urban ‘Community Right to Buy’ in the country – and used as a driving hub for regular activities and events.
Seeking to refurbish the building to expand on its services, the Bellfield Big Build community share offer was launched last year.
With Democratic Finance Scotland’s expertise and support, Action Porty exceeded its minimum target within the first month, unlocking £450,000 in match funding from the UK Community Ownership Fund and raising a total of £168,525 in addition to doubling its membership to over 1,100.
Glenuig Community Inn
The programme also supported the community of Glenuig’s 2025 community share offer which aimed to secure ownership of the Glenuig Inn – a business central to the local population, providing jobs, accommodation, food and drink services and a vibrant events space.
With the current owner intending to sell the Inn, and several community-led organisations already thriving in the village, there was a unanimous agreement that a community buy-out would be the favoured option.
Through Democratic Finance Scotland’s support, the community received applications for more than 300,000 shares, securing the Inn’s long-term future as a welcoming, year-round hub at the heart of the village.
Glenuig Community Inn committee member, Louise Johnson, said:“Our DTAS Advisor was able to talk us through the requirements and good practice of how we should run our share offer prior to launching it.
“None of the committee had been involved in a community share offer previously, so the handholding was much appreciated. Similarly, providing the external consultant to assess us for the Community Shares Standard Mark was very useful and much appreciated. We were also awarded a microgrant to help with early marketing and promotion of the share offer.”
Increase in funding support announced on International Women’s Day
Up to 2,400 women and their children could be supported to escape abusive relationships, following the announcement of increased funding for emergency financial support.
The Scottish Government is providing £2 million for the ‘Fund to Leave’ initiative over the next year (2026-27).
The fund provides immediate financial support for essentials when leaving an abusive partner, removing the financial barriers that can trap women in harmful relationships by giving them the means to act quickly and safely.
Financial uncertainty and economic coercive control are recognised factors behind women and children remaining in unsafe situations.
Domestic abuse is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women in Scotland. In 2024-25, nearly one in four women seeking homelessness assistance cited violent or abusive household disputes as the reason.
First Minister John Swinney said: “Domestic abuse is one of the most harmful and pervasive forms of violence against women and girls, and there is absolutely no place for it in modern Scotland.
“We are determined to break down the financial barriers that prevent women from leaving abusive partners so they can begin to safely rebuild their lives and protect their children from harm.
“Since launching earlier this year, the Fund to Leave has already supported more than 230 women and 300 children to safely leave abusive relationships.
This has included support to pay rent, afford transport and buy essentials including food and clothing.
“By increasing the amount of funding available for the year ahead, we will ensure more women and children are kept safe from abusive men –reducing homelessness and helping create a fairer society.”
Six years on, communities across the country will come together to reflect on sacrifice and loss during the pandemic
Events, activities, and services are being held across the UK to commemorate the COVID-19 Day of Reflection
Ceremonies, concerts and walks are amongst events organised by communities across the UK to mark the sixth annual COVID-19 Day of Reflection.
On Sunday 8 March, the nation will reflect and come together to remember those that lost their lives and to honour the tireless work and acts of kindness shown by many during the pandemic.
The COVID-19 Day of Reflection offers a chance to pay tribute to the work of health and social care staff, frontline workers, researchers and all those who volunteered a helping hand during the pandemic. The events also recognise that many are still feeling the impacts of the pandemic, for instance those with Long Covid or those who are immunocompromised.
Events, gatherings and commemorations are taking place across the country, including:
A day of quiet reflection at the National Covid Memorial Wall in London. The Friends of the Wall are hosting a short ceremony, which will include the placing of a wreath and the observation of minute’s silence at midday.
Royal Voluntary Service is arranging Time to Reflect tables within its services, where anyone is welcome to drop by for shared moments of reflection and to write personal messages or thanks to volunteers.
Caerphilly County Borough Council will host a COVID‑19 Day of Reflection event at the Ynys Hywel Covid Memorial Woodland, with an informal guided walk, a minute’s silence, and tea and coffee afterwards at Ynys Hywel Farm.
Memory Stones of Love are hosting a remembrance event at Belfast City Hall. The event will feature live music, poetry, as well as reflective speeches.
The Care Workers’ Charity has created and maintained an online Thank You Wall, giving people the opportunity to write a tribute or thank you to anyone working across social care including those in frontline care roles, managerial roles, administrative roles, maintenance roles, and more.
The Covid 19 Families Scotland gathered at the Sails Sculpture in Glasgow Green at 11.30 for a minute’s silence at midday yesterday (Saturday 7 March).
The Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN) is hosting a community-led event at the Manchester Monastery. It brings together Black community and faith leaders, healthcare professionals, Black-led organisations and local people through a memorial service, wellbeing and creative activities, storytelling, and reflection.
Culture Minister Baroness Twycross said: “Whenever I walk along the National Covid Memorial Wall, I’m struck by the 250,000 hand-painted hearts that stretch for half a kilometer. It is a powerful tribute to loved ones who will not be forgotten.
“The pandemic impacted everyone, up and down the country. It touched us all, and the impact of Covid remains.
“We now have the opportunity to come together as a nation to remember the quarter of a million lives lost. We also pay tribute to those on the front line during the pandemic, who made enormous sacrifices, day in, day out, to keep the British public safe – whether in health and social care, education, policing, transport or other front-line services.
“I encourage everyone to mark this day in a way that feels right for them, whether attending a community event or taking a quiet moment of reflection at home.”
Chair of the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, Baroness Morgan said: For so many across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic left a legacy of grief and loss that is still carried today. Everyone lost something.
“This year’s COVID-19 Day of Reflection is an opportunity for us all to pause and remember the lives lost because of the pandemic, recognising the efforts and sacrifices of frontline workers, as well as the volunteering and community spirit we saw and the contribution of the scientific community.”
This follows the Government affirming its commitment to the COVID-19 Day of Reflection as part of a broader commemorative programme that was announced last year.
The programme also included commitments to preserve the National Covid Memorial Wall, create new commemorative green spaces for reflection with NHS Charities Together and Forestry England, and launch a new fellowship programme focusing on natural hazards and resilience as part of the UK Research and Innovation Policy Fellowship programme.
As part of this programme, Covid Commemoration webpages have also been established, which include a series of oral histories, education materials and details on memorials across the UK.
Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory today marks its 100th anniversary, celebrating a century of life-changing support for Scotland’s veterans.
Founded in the aftermath of the First World War, when Scotland faced the return of more than 100,000 wounded military personnel, Lady Dorothy Haig established the factory to provide meaningful and dignified work for men disabled as a result of their service.
Many of these veterans had skills and experience, but their injuries meant they faced significant barriers to re-entering the workforce. The factory offered paid work in a structured, supportive environment, combining income with routine, purpose and community.
Comissioned Image take by Eamonn McGoldrick Tel: 07810 482491
Its opening on 8 March 1926 — International Women’s Day — which was not yet widely marked in Britain, has now become even more relevant given that the trailblazing Lady Haig was leading a national initiative at a time when few women held prominent public roles in civic life.
From its beginnings at Whitefoord House in Edinburgh with “three workers, a pair of scissors and a piece of paper”, the factory expanded quickly, producing the distinctive four-leafed Scottish poppy assembled by hand, as well as a range of toys and crafted household items. By the 1930s, the factory was a recognised part of Scotland’s civic landscape, becoming both a workplace and a symbol of national remembrance.
Today, a team of more than 30 veterans, all with supported needs, continue to manufacture thousands of handmade wreaths and other remembrance symbols from purpose-built premises on the capital’s Warriston Road. The factory also produces over 2.1 million poppies for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, organised annually by Poppyscotland in October and November.
Funds raised from the Scottish Poppy Appeal support Poppyscotland’s vital work, providing advice and assistance for veterans, those still serving, and their families.
Over the years, the factory has been visited by thousands, from school groups, individuals and organisations to learn about its history and heritage, the development of the Scottish poppy, and the continuing importance of remembrance. It has also welcomed royal patrons, including HRH The Princess Royal, who officially re-opened the factory following a refurbishment in January 2023.
Helen Owen, Chair of Poppyscotland, said: “Lady Haig was practical and compassionate and realised the difficulty many veterans faced in gaining employment because of disability after war.
“A dynamo of a woman, she recognised the need not only to create Scottish poppies for Armistice Day, but to provide meaningful work all year round. The factory turned out goods of exceptional quality, and she and her band of ‘lady collectors’ sold the poppies and goods across the length and breadth of Scotland.
“Today, the work of this remarkable woman lives on, and the Factory proudly continues to play its role in supporting the Armed Forces community in Scotland.”
To learn more about the factory’s history, or to book a tour of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, please visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk
Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory – NICOLA PETRIE case study
Having come from an Armed Forces family, it felt natural for Nicola Petrie to move into military life, joining the Royal Navy in 1986 at the age of 20.
Nicola, who suffers from MS and now works as a wreath maker at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, began her service as an onshore radio operator at Faslane, tasked with delivering the communication between ships and the naval base, as well as making sure the submariners received their weekly ‘family-grams’.
It was an important role and one Nicola enjoyed for seven years, feeling an overwhelming sense of pride whenever she pulled on her Navy uniform. However, she left her post in 1992 to start a family with her husband John, who she met while serving.
Nicola explained: “I loved my time in the Royal Navy and always looked forward to going to work. The other girls in the department were great and I loved hearing their stories – we had a real bond so I was sad when, after seven years, it was time for me to leave.
“But John and I had made the choice to start a family and that he would remain in the Navy. Back then, if a woman was pregnant she had to leave post. It was disappointing having to give up the job I loved as I really could have made a proper career of it, but it was exciting too knowing that we were going to have children.”
After Nicola left the Royal Navy, she and John went on to have three children – two boys and a girl – and with John away on an eight-month deployment, Nicola juggled home life, looking after their young children and working in a local home improvement firm, later setting up her own company.
Nicola said: “John was in the Navy for 24 years in total but when he left he became a stay-at-home dad and let me put my heart and soul into the business to build a career for myself.
“When I retired from that we both felt that strong pull back to some sort of military life and that’s where Poppyscotland came in. The factory only employs veterans with supported needs, meaning the role was ideally suited to me as a person living with MS. I joined in April of 2025, a year after John, and we absolutely love it.
“We work with like-minded people who have come from all sorts of Armed Forces backgrounds, and everyone has a story or two to tell. It really connects you back to military life, which is all we’ve ever really known.”
When she’s not helping to make the thousands of poppy wreaths produced at the factory every year, Nicola, who lives in Falkirk, enjoys spending time with her two young grandchildren and beloved dog Molly.
Nicola added: “Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory really means something to me. The memorabilia, the tales, the people and visitors who pass by during tours – it’s just a special place and I’m very grateful to be here and be a part of the 100-year anniversary.”
Join the Walking Group this Monday, 9th March at 10am for our next walk to Davidson’s Mains Park.
We’ll be setting off for a fun-filled morning of exploration, so don’t forget to bring your walking shoes, a waterproof jacket, and a bag for your essentials.
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and immerse yourself in the beauty of our local areas.
Date: Monday 9th March
Time: 10am -1.30pm (meet at the centre for 10am)
Lunch: Picnic lunch provided, but bring a bag, walking shoes and a waterproof jacket, please
Open Farm Sunday sticker competition offers youngsters the chance to get naturally creative
Budding young artists are invited to get creative and celebrate the 20th anniversary of Open Farm Sunday (OFS) by taking part in an exciting new sticker competition.
Launched by OFS organisers LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), the competition encourages children and young people under the age of 18 to design a sticker inspired by the theme of ‘farming with nature’.
The winning designs will be turned into official OFS stickers and showcased at hundreds of events across the country when farms open their gates to the public on 7 June.
For two decades, OFS has enabled people of all ages to discover more about how farmers work with nature to produce food sustainably – something LEAF wants to celebrate with this special competition.
Entrants can let their imagination run wild to show what farming with nature means to them. From wriggly earthworms who keep soils healthy; insect pollinators; cattle grazing and providing natural fertiliser; to carefully managed hedgerows, woodlands and wildflower meadows busting with biodiversity – farmer’s support the natural world while feeding us every day.
LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday manager, Annabel Shackleton, says: “Each year, Open Farm Sunday welcomes more than 200,000 visitors and gives families a unique opportunity to discover how their food is produced and learn more about sustainable farming.
“In this special anniversary year, young designers have the chance to see their artwork become part of this nationwide celebration.”
Children need to use the official downloadable template to create their sticker, whether that is with crayons, paints, pens or collage. Designs must be flat so they can be reproduced as printed stickers.
The competition is open to UK residents under the age of 18, with one entry permitted per person.
Entries must be submitted by 11:59pm on 6 April 2026 either by email to: openfarmsunday@leaf.eco or by post to: LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), Avenue J, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG.
A panel of judges appointed by LEAF will select the winners, who will be notified by 20 April 2026 and publicly announced on or before 26 April 2026.
Up to eight winners will be selected, with their designs printed as official stickers and displayed at OFS events across the country.
Winners will also receive a personalised notebook featuring their design, creating a lasting keepsake from the competition.
Lymphoma Action are delighted to announce the return of our National Conference, taking place on Friday 8 May in York. Anyone affected by lymphoma is welcome to attend, whether they have received a diagnosis themselves or are supporting a loved one.
Readers might be interested in this unique opportunity to hear from lymphoma experts, meet others affected by the condition, ask questions and share experiences.
We will be joined by medical professionals who will talk about why lymphoma causes symptoms and the side effects of treatment, and our dedicated wellbeing sessions will offer practical tips for day-to-day living. Attendees will also hear the personal story of someone with a lived experience of lymphoma.
There will be plenty of time to connect with others affected by lymphoma throughout the day, and to find out more about the services and support Lymphoma Action has available as the UK’s leading charity dedicated to this type of blood cancer.
Our National Conference will be held on Friday 8 May at The Milner York Hotel in York. Tickets cost £30 per person (including lunch and refreshments) and prior booking is essential.
For further information, or to book your place, please visit:
Details here: