First Minister John Swinney receives cake from Islamic Relief UK to support Syria campaign

First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney received a chocolate cake from Islamic Relief UK yesterday as part of the charity’s Cake Campaign, which raises funds for Syria during Ramadan. 

Islamic Relief’s UK Programme Manager, Nadeem Baqir, presented the cake to the First Minister at Bute House in Edinburgh and personally thanked him for the Scottish Government’s generous support for Islamic Relief’s work.

The Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) has worked closely with Islamic Relief UK to help deliver lifesaving relief to families across the world.

Last year in Sudan, with support from HEF, Islamic Relief reached more than 7,000 people with cash assistance, food and dignity kits. Thousands more have been supported to rebuild their lives with the support of the Scottish Government in places such as Somalia, Afghanistan, Kenya and Libya.

The Cake Campaign is celebrating 13 years of selling cakes and saving lives. Since 2013, more than £3m has been raised, helping to save and transform the lives of thousands of Syrian people.

Syrian families continue to struggle to rebuild their lives amid widespread destruction and food shortages. The situation remains dire, with millions of people still displaced and enduring extreme hardships. 

The award-winning Cake Campaign sees volunteers across the UK raising funds for people affected by the Syria crisis by delivering cakes during the sacred month of Ramadan.

First Minister John Swinney said: “I am delighted to support Islamic Relief’s Cake Campaign – an inspiring initiative to raise funds to help people in Syria who are still suffering from the impacts of conflict and displacement.  

“Scotland has a long history of supporting responses to global humanitarian crises, and we will continue to do so. Through our Humanitarian Emergency Fund, the Scottish Government supports humanitarian organisations including Islamic Relief to carry out vital work to provide support including food, medical care and shelter to people affected by conflict, climate change and natural disasters.” 

Nadeem Baqir, UK programme manager for Islamic Relief UK said: “We are delighted to have delivered a cake to the First Minister as part of the Cake Campaign. This initiative is crucial in providing vital aid, offering hope, and standing in solidarity with the Syrian people during their time of need. 
 
“The Scottish government has always been supportive of international development. We are extremely grateful to the First Minister, John Swinney, and the Scottish Government for their generous funding for Islamic Relief’s work in places such as Sudan, where more than 7,000 people received cash assistance, food and dignity kits last year.”


“This generosity also helped more than 7,000 people in Kenya who were affected by devastating floods in 2024, as well as transforming many other lives in humanitarian emergencies in Libya and Somalia.


“We hope the First Minister enjoys his cake!”

Edinburgh’s Budget: Councillors agree record spend to tackle housing emergency and reduce poverty

Thousands of new homes are set to be delivered in Edinburgh over the next five years thanks to an additional £1.6 billion agreed by councillors yesterday.

The Council’s Budget, passed on 26 February, includes a record spend on providing affordable housing alongside significant investment in frontline services, children and education.

Ending poverty and protecting vulnerable residents is at the heart of the spending plans, which prioritise homelessness prevention, sustaining Edinburgh’s third sector partnerships and investing significant sums in education and health and social care services.

Thanks to a change in loan financing arrangements, officers have been able to address budgetary challenges and preserve frontline services while enabling members to limit Edinburgh’s Council Tax rise to 4% – set to be the lowest increase across Scottish councils this year.

Councillors also agreed a freeze on most fees and charges for the next 12 months, including parking permit and pay and display charges.

Alongside today’s decision, the Edinburgh Visitor Levy scheme, the first set of spend programmes of which were agreed earlier this month, is set to generate an additional up to £29 million this financial year to help sustain and promote Edinburgh’s status as one of the world’s favourite visitor destinations.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “I’m proud that we’ve once again delivered a balanced budget that focuses on meeting the needs of Edinburgh’s residents. It is a budget that reinforces our commitment to tackling poverty, prioritising prevention and protecting frontline services for those most in need of our support – all while keeping the increase in Council Tax to one of the lowest, if not the lowest, in the country.

“We were the first city in Scotland to declare a housing emergency and are now putting our money where our mouths are with an additional investment over the next five years – one of the largest housing interventions by a local authority in modern times. This will provide thousands of much-needed affordable new homes for families, while reducing the use of costly and unsuitable temporary accommodation and helping us to reduce the scourge of poverty on this city.

“Alongside the additional £6 million we’ve pledged towards social care, we’re prioritising support for some of our most vulnerable children and young people across the city. We’re investing in early family support, keeping children with their families wherever we can.

“We’re expanding support for pupils with additional support needs, with extra staff in both our special schools and mainstream schools. And we’re committing £86 million towards progressing major extensions at both Craigroyston and Queensferry High Schools.

“It’s important to remember that we’re not working in isolation and, having listened to our third sector partners, we’re today committing an additional £4 million to help them continue playing an essential role in supporting our residents – and, crucially, to plan with more certainty and security. This ambitious budget clearly demonstrates the strength of listening to our communities and working across party lines to do what’s best for the residents of Edinburgh.”

Finance and Resources Convener Mandy Watt added: “We remain the lowest funded council in Scotland, which poses a real challenge when setting our budget each year. Despite this, officers have produced an innovative budget that prioritises the services that most matter to the people of Edinburgh – from investing in our roads, pavements and parks to caring for our youngest, oldest and most vulnerable residents.

“This is a budget that protects, and in many cases enhances, these frontline services. But it also allows us to protect our residents and businesses from bearing too much of the financial burden that goes with it. I’m proud, then, that we’ve been able to limit our Council Tax rise to only 4% and to freeze most fees and charges for the next 12 months.”

SNP Group leader Simita Kumar tweeted: “A Tory–Lib Dem budget passed today with Labour’s backing—despite warnings from officers and the Accounts Commission.

“£700k in cuts agreed, with Labour using homelessness funds as leverage for Tory votes. Edinburgh deserves better than grubby deals made in the back room!”

EDINBURGH’s BUDGET – KEY FACTS

Tackling the housing emergency

  • Tackling the housing emergency with an additional £1.6bn investment for affordable homes and temporary accommodation – 2,500 homes for temporary accommodation, funding to unlock around 1,100 settled homes at affordable rents and investment capacity for up to around 2,300 additional settled homes.
  • Further key investments totalling £3m directed towards homelessness prevention, including additional staffing to work directly with those at risk of homelessness and creation of a grants budget to bring empty homes back into use as part of the Private Sector Leasing scheme.

Maintaining and improving the city’s roads, schools and public buildings

  • Continue ongoing investment in roads and pavements programme with a further £25m for two years, following the initial investment of £37.5m over three years, which brought a significant improvement in the state of city’s roads. An additional £480k was agreed today towards pothole repairs and white line painting.
  • Craigroyston and Queensferry High Schools will benefit from investment totalling £85.8m to progress major extensions as part of the City Plan 2030. This is in addition to the investment of £296m in five new schools and five extensions, together with the replacement of Fox Covert Campus, which was approved last year.
  • £13.2m for the development of a new permanent Blackhall Library, £7.5m for Portobello Swim Centre and an additional £18.3m over ten years to enhance a co-ordinated Council-wide Buildings Improvement Programme.

Getting it right for every child

  • Budgeted spend on Children, Education and Communities in 2026-27 of £587m, an increase of £14m compared to last year’s budget.
  • Continued investment in education and children’s services, including expanded ASN staffing and facilities, ensuring inclusive education and better life chances for every child in Edinburgh and support targeted investment to improve safety and address violence and aggression at work, recognising the duty of care owed to Council employees and the importance of safe service delivery.
  • Prioritising early family support and keeping children with their families where safe, rather than costly and disruptive external care placements.

Preventing poverty

  • Rolling out Neighbourhood Prevention Partnerships across five local areas to join up services and make help more accessible.
  • Funding for advice and benefits services (building on a £1m allocation in 2025/26).
  • Improving affordable childcare access, expanding affordable housing, and creating a citywide community wealth-building plan.
  • Prioritising the acceleration and improvement of the city-wide early intervention actions needed to prevent poverty in Edinburgh.

Supporting the third sector

  • A sustainable and strengthened package of support for the third sector, including a £1.4m income maximisation fund, providing support for third sector providers of money, welfare, and debt advice in Edinburgh and a £2.0m Local Community Organisations fund – with a further £500k agreed today to support small third sector organisations.

Extra support for health and social care

  • The budget includes an additional £6 million uplift to support the Integration Joint Board budget pressures. This approach provides short-term financial stability for the IJB, allowing focus to remain on service sustainability, transformation and delivery of strategic priorities.
  • Invest £50k towards installing Bleed Kits in Council buildings across the city

New Council Tax bands

A            1,084.03

B            1,264.71

C            1,445.38

D           1,626.05

E            2,136.45

F            2,642.33

G           3,184.35

H           3,983.82

Greens storm to victory in by-election

STARMER’S LABOUR FINISH A DISTANT THIRD – BEHIND REFORM

The Green Party has won a historic victory in the Gorton & Denton by-election

THE RESULT:

Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

In 2026, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival celebrates its 20th year!

In 2026, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival celebrates its 20th Year. Taking place from 19 October to 8 November, it’s an opportunity to recognise two decades of mental health and creativity while looking at where we are now and where we might go next.

Our theme for this milestone year, Reflections, invites artists, communities and audiences across Scotland to pause, take stock and explore how our experiences, stories and creativity shape our mental health, individually and collectively.

GET INVOLVED!

SMHAF takes place across Scotland and covers all artforms, reaching around 17,500 people each year. It spotlights art inspired by mental health, explores how the arts and creativity can help everyone to have better mental health, and provides a platform for everyone to be creative.

We’re inviting you – organisations, artists, communities and individuals – to help us bring our Reflections theme to life, and explore how looking back can help us imagine what comes next.

Whether you’re working on a creative project, have an idea for an event, would like to help develop your local programme, or want to talk about anything else, please get in touch at smhaf@mentalhealth.org.uk.

SMHAF is led by the Mental Health Foundation and is supported by Multi-Year Funding from @creativescots and national partners.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/4rz63we

#mentalhealtharts

#smhaf

#smhaf26

Scotland’s Food Debate: Feed into the Conversation

WEDNESDAY 8th APRIL from 6.30 – 8.30pm

AUGUSTINE UNITED CHURCH and ONLINE

Too many families in Scotland face hunger due to a lack of income.

Join us & the Scottish Food Coalition on 8 April for Scotland’s National Food Debate. Hear how political parties will act to ensure everyone has dignified access to food.

#SP26

We invite you to take part in Scotland’s flagship ‘National Food Debate’ ahead of the 2026 Scottish Elections.

With the publication of Scotland’s first National Good Food Nation Plan, continued pressure on household budgets, significant public health challenges and a farming sector under severe strain, food policy has become a defining issue for this election.

This pre-election hustings will see party representatives answer questions from a live audience from Augustine United Church in central Edinburgh and will be broadcast online to members of the public across Scotland. The session will be a mixture of pre-selected questions and questions from the audience on the night.

The debate, chaired by Vicky Allan, Environment Correspondent for The Herald,  will reach a highly engaged audience of voters, civil society leaders and food-system stakeholders in Scotland, with significant online reach beyond the room.

Who we are:

The Scottish Food Coalition is a diverse alliance of 70+ organisations working for a just transition to a fair, healthy, sustainable food system.

Our members come from across the food system including those concerned with poverty, health, biodiversity, climate change and animal welfare, as well as trade unions, food producers and retailers, international development organisations and faith groups.

Established in 2015, we were instrumental in securing Scotland’s Good Food Nation Act and offer support and expertise to Scottish Government, local authorities and health boards during the journey to achieve our Good Food Nation ambitions.

http://bit.ly/49E4CWI

Free, universal learn-to-swim offer

Primary School children to learn vital water safety skills

Primary children will have the chance to learn to swim as the Scottish Government capitalises on the forthcoming ‘spectacular summer of sport’.

The rollout of the National Primary School Swimming Framework, a universal offer to primary aged children, is part of a package of measures to get people more active, inspired by the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Scotland men’s team playing in the FIFA World Cup finals.

An additional £40 million for sport has been allocated in the 2026-27 Budget, with £2 million for the swimming initiative in its first year, with plans to expand the offer in future years.

Watching pupils from Pirniehill Primary School learning the basics at a pool in Edinburgh, Sport Minister Maree Todd said: “We believe that every child, regardless of their background, should be given the opportunity to learn to swim – a core skill that can save lives.

“There is no better time to offer them that chance than now. We are preparing for a spectacular summer of sport which will see Scotland welcome some of the world’s best swimmers to Glasgow and having elite sportsmen and women competing live on our doorstep is an experience which can only serve to inspire. 

“This investment is part of an additional £40 million of funding for sport – enabling more people to get active and enjoy the wide-ranging physical and mental health benefits that will last long after this year’s World Cup and Commonwealth Games have come to a close.”

Swimmer Duncan Scott, who has won eight Olympic medals and 13 Commonwealth medals across three Games, said: “I am delighted to see this Scottish Government commitment and investment in school swimming to keep children safer and more confident in, on and around water.  

“As an island nation with so much access to water it’s critical that primary school children have access to basic swimming and water-safety skills.”

Scottish Swimming Chief Executive John Lunn said: “It’s fantastic to see this commitment to school swimming after a long-fought campaign to ensure children have access to basic swimming and water safety skills.

“This is an investment in the future – a future where children are equipped with critical life skills to keep them safer in, on and around water.”

The Scottish Government has allocated an additional £40 million in the 2026-27 Budget for sport.

Sector leaders call for urgent action to improve Scotland’s sexual and  reproductive health 

Ahead of May’s election, Scotland’s sexual and reproductive health leaders are calling on an  incoming Scottish Government to put high‑quality, accessible care at the top of its agenda to reduce health inequalities, improve public health and strengthen the country’s economy. 

For the first time, The College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH), the Royal  College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the British Association for Sexual Health  and HIV (BASHH), and the British HIV Association (BHIVA) – which collectively represent more  than 3,000 sexual and reproductive healthcare professionals across Scotland – have come  together to publish Improving Scotland’s Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare: A Joint  Manifesto for the Next Scottish Parliament. 

While the manifesto acknowledges Scotland’s progress through initiatives like the Women’s  Health Plan and the Sexual and Blood‑Borne Virus Action Plan, it also makes clear that the  system is under real strain.

Demand for services has risen sharply, including a 50% increase in  abortions in less than 10 years, rising rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV testing  numbers surpassing pre‑COVID levels. Yet this surge comes at a time when resources remain  limited, and workforce pressures continue to grow. These pressures are creating longer waits,  busier services and widening gaps in care. 

Without decisive action, these pressures risk deepening existing disparities in health  outcomes, particularly for women, young people, minority ethnic communities, and under served populations.

The manifesto urges immediate action from the next Scottish Government  on five priority areas to improve SRH, HIV, maternity and abortion care across the country: 

1. Integrated sexual & reproductive healthcare; 

2. Investment to improve maternity services; 

3. Deliver the HIV Transmission Elimination Plan and ensure equitable access to  STI and BBV testing and treatment; 

4. Reduce gynaecology waits and improve care pathways;

5. Implement the recommendations of the Review of Abortion Law in Scotland  Expert Group and guarantee access to abortion care up to 24 weeks for all who  need it. 

Dr Sinead Cook, Chair of the CoSRH Scotland Committee, said: “Scotland has made real progress in women’s health and sexual health, but far too many  people still face long waits, limited access and avoidable barriers to the care they need and  deserve.

“Improving access to high‑quality sexual and reproductive healthcare not only benefits  patients and service users, it also strengthens Scotland’s economy by reducing time lost to  poor health.

“That’s why investment in abortion care, menopause care and sexual and  reproductive healthcare more broadly must be a priority for the next Scottish Government.” 

Dr Alison Wright, President of the RCOG said: “We very much hope that Scotland’s next political leader will seize the opportunity to build  upon the strong foundations already laid through the Women’s Health Plan, the review of  Scotland’s maternity services and the recommendations of the Review of Abortion Law in  Scotland.  

“Maternity staff are working under extreme pressure; caring for increasingly complex  pregnancies, whilst facing ongoing workforce and resource shortages that affect the provision  of safe, personalised care. At the same time, unacceptably long gynaecology waiting lists, rising  demand for abortion care, and inequalities in access to sexual and reproductive health  services, present significant challenges.  

“Addressing the five priority areas set out in this manifesto will enable the next Government to  deliver meaningful change where it is most urgently needed for women. We look forward to  working with the next Scottish Government and our colleagues across Women’s Health and  Maternity services in Scotland, to turn these ambitions into practical improvements in care.” 

Dr Graham Leslie, Chair of the BASHH Scottish Branch, said: ““Sexual health and HIV services play a vital role in Scotland’s public health, yet they are  operating in an increasingly challenging environment, exacerbated by workforce pressures and  persistent inequities in access and outcomes.

“This manifesto sets out clear recommendations  to strengthen prevention, expand access to testing and specialist genitourinary medicine, and  deliver the HIV Transmission Elimination Plan. With sustained commitment and prioritisation,  political leaders can deliver a legacy of world‑leading sexual health and HIV care for everyone  who needs it across Scotland.”

Dr Tristan Barber, Chair of the British HIV Association (BHIVA), said: “BHIVA looks forward to ongoing commitment from the next Scottish Government in delivering  success for the HIV Transmission Elimination Plan.

“This means funding and removing barriers to  equitable access to prevention, testing, and treatment, making all readily available as a  fundamental part of routine healthcare. We must also continue to challenge the persistent  stigma that keeps key groups on the fringes of the health system, especially women and those  from ethnic minorities.

“For those who acquire HIV, early testing and rapid engagement with  treatment and care is crucial to both preventing onward transmission and enabling these  individuals to live a long and healthy life.

“The next Scottish Government has an opportunity for  Scotland to be the first UK nation to achieve the UNAIDS targets of zero HIV transmissions, zero  HIV related stigma, and end late diagnosis and HIV related deaths. Scottish Government in  achieving these goals.”

Acas survey on the Employment Rights Act reveals that sick pay changes will have biggest impact at work

Workplace expert, Acas, commissioned YouGov to ask which changes in the Employment Rights Act 2025 will have the biggest impact on bosses and workers.

New rights on sick pay topped the polls for both, followed by new protections on unfair dismissals. Employers ranked new paternity leave rights as their third biggest while workers opted for the new changes on flexible working.

The valuable insights gained from the results will help Acas target its support for workers and bosses where they need it the most.

Niall Mackenzie, Acas Chief Executive, said: “It is clear from our polls that new worker rights on sick pay and protections from being unfairly dismissed from work are at the forefront in the minds of employers and workers.

“Acas will play a crucial role working with employers, workers and their representatives on the implementation of the Employment Rights Act and updating its advice and training.

“These reforms represent the biggest shake-up to employment law in a generation. Acas remain best placed as independent experts helping everyone at work throughout this period of change.”

The survey results revealed that:

  • 43% of employers said that workers getting sick pay for the first day of illness rather than the fourth day would have the biggest impact on them and 36% of workers also listed it as their biggest impact too.
  • Workers being protected from unfair dismissal after six months in a job instead of two years was the second most-commonly chosen reform with 31% of employers and 30% of employees selecting this.
  • For employers, rights for paternity leave from the first day of employment was their third-most important reform (28%), while workers said making it easier to get flexible working arrangements at work (28%) was theirs.

New rules, brought in by the Employment Rights Act, regarding paternity leave and sick pay will come into force on 6th April 2026.

From 6 April, employees will be eligible for paternity leave from the first day of employment. Currently employees must have worked for their employer for 26 weeks before they are eligible.

From 1 January 2027, employees will be protected from unfair dismissal if they have worked for their employer for at least six months. Currently an employee must have two years continuous service to be able to claim unfair dismissal.

A dismissal may be considered unfair by law if there was no fair reason for the dismissal; the reason was not enough to justify dismissing them; or the employer did not follow a fair procedure.

In 2027 new measures will come into force intended to improve access to flexible working.

Flexible working can involve a change to when, where or how someone works. Employers and employees should follow the Acas Code of Practice on flexible working when handling a request.

Acas has an online roadmap of when all the new expected law changes in the Employment Rights Act are likely to come into effect, which includes webinars and training: Employment Rights Act 2025 – Acas

King’s Trust ‘Enterprise for All’ event at Fruitmarket

TUESDAY 3rd MARCH from 12 – 3.30pm

@KingsTrust are hosting an event for 18-30 year olds that are interested in starting their own business speakers, discussions on the issues/obstacles, networking and refreshments

The Fruitmarket

3rd March 12pm – 3.30pm

RSVP : enterprisescotland@kingstrust.org.uk

Mounting financial pressures will force tough decisions on health and social care services, says Scotland’s spending watchdog

CONCERNS OVER IJB FUNDING GAP

Integration Joint Boards (IJBs), together with their NHS and council partners, must urgently take decisions on where to redesign, reduce or discontinue services.

Funding to Scotland’s 30 IJBs increased by over two per cent in 2024/25 to more than £12 billion. But this was insufficient to meet rising costs and demands, with many IJBs using dwindling reserves to help meet the almost £450 million gap between demand and available funding. This is not sustainable.

Increasing demand, rising costs and a growing number of people with long-term complex needs are placing mounting financial pressures on IJBs. The boards have reached a critical point, with a significant risk they will become financially unsustainable within the next 12 to 24 months.

Alongside savings and using reserves, IJBs have been relying on substantial additional funding from their partners in the NHS and councils. IJBs need to plan their finances more realistically to reduce this reliance, as health boards and councils face their own significant financial pressures.

Malcolm Bell, member of the Accounts Commission said: “The cost of delivering services is rising faster than available funding.

“Tackling this could include difficult decisions about redesigning or reducing services, and whether new or additional charges need to be made. Whatever decisions are made, service users, their families and wider communities must be consulted.

“But without radical change the services delivered by IJBs can’t be sustained. The gap between funding available and the cost of meeting demand is widening, and the gap of nearly £450 million cannot be bridged with savings alone.”

COSLA Health and Social Care spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly, commented: “The Accounts Commission report on Integration Joint Board finances for 2024-25 confirms the stark reality our Health and Social Care Partnerships face: that severe financial challenges continue to pose a risk to the sustainability of social care, which threatens the every day lives of our most vulnerable citizens and communities.

“The challenges also threaten the sustainability of our councils, who have continued to prioritise social care, with an additional £163m invested over and above Scottish Government funding in 2024-25. This level of additional funding is unsustainable for partners, but in many cases the only option given the diminishment of reserves held by Partnerships.

“The report makes clear the validity and need for our budget lobbying ask of an immediate investment of £750m in social care. We will continue to press the Scottish Government for this investment to avoid further cuts, reductions and increased charges in future.”

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