This National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (23 February to 2 March), I’d like to remind children and young people who are struggling with disordered eating that you’re not alone.
I was a confident and happy child, but from a young age I was surrounded by diet culture that made me believe my body should be smaller. What began as insecurity when I was five, slowly developed into years of disordered eating and anorexia. At times, I felt consumed by food, calories, and the pressure to shrink myself. Even when I seemed ‘fine’, I was struggling more than anyone realised.
If you’re reading this and recognise yourself, please know support is available. An eating disorder is not your fault, and you deserve help and compassion. Reaching out for help can feel frightening – I remember that feeling well – but it’s also the first step towards getting better.
Talk to someone you trust, whether that’s a friend, teacher, parent or GP. And if speaking to someone you know feels too difficult, you can contact the NSPCC’s Childline service anonymously by calling 0800 1111 or visit: www.childline.org.uk.
You don’t need to have the right words or even know exactly what’s wrong – they will listen, without judgement, and help you find a way forward.
No one should face an eating disorder alone. Reaching out for support is an act of real courage, and the first step towards recovery.
With all my best wishes, Lauren* (age 24) from Scotland
NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate
*Lauren is not her real name – she requested that we protect her identity
Rural communities continue to face barriers that limit access to essential services, including healthcare, childcare, specialist support, legal advice and public transport, according to a new report from Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.
A shortage of affordable housing and adequate infrastructure, combined with a higher than average cost of living, were also found to pose significant challenges to the sustainability of rural communities.
The Committee’s report calls for targeted action to be taken to ensure that these communities are able to fully access their rights. The Committee want to see the Scottish Government recognise the distinct needs of different rural areas, consider rural populations throughout all stages of policymaking, and factor the findings of the report into a future Scottish Human Rights Bill.
While the Scottish Government acknowledged the issues raised during the Committee’s inquiry and highlighted the work it is doing, the Committee’s report says that this has yet to translate into sufficient improvements in the lives of people living in rural areas.
The report backs calls for the Government to carry out multi-year engagement with, and investment in, community-led organisations. The potential of these organisations, who are often best placed to understand local need and design effective solutions, appears to the Committee not to be currently being used to its full potential.
The report also highlights concerns over rural housing shortages. The shortage undermines workforce recruitment, drives depopulation and restricts the ability of young people to remain in their communities. It calls on the Government to provide an update on what it is doing to improve the situation.
The Committee also heard about barriers to health that were created by distance and travel costs. In its report it calls for urgent action to be taken to address the centralisation of essential health services, such as those relating to maternity in regions such as the Highlands.
Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said:“Rural communities deserve equitable access to services, opportunities and rights and often face greater financial challenges than urban areas of Scotland.
“During this inquiry rural people clearly told us that they cannot access essential services, including healthcare, childcare, specialist support, legal advice and public transport.
“We want to see the Scottish Government build on its work to date by undertaking targeted action to deliver better access to services and combat the rural premium.”
An Audience with Hamza Yassin: Talk, Q & A and book signing event
7.30pm on Saturday 11 April 2026, Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, Fife
The SOC has long provided what our founders – back in 1936 – described as ‘a common meeting ground for all those interested in ornithology in Scotland’.
This year we celebrate 90 years of the Club fulfilling that original mission, and we’re delighted to commemorate this milestone by presenting a talk, Q & A and book signing from Scotland-based wildlife cameraman, author and TV presenter, Hamza Yassin.
Few naturalists have captured the hearts of the nation like Hamza. His infectious sense of wonder combined with his breathtaking filmmaking has engaged millions of viewers in the UK, including those who tuned in to watch his most recent series, Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles on BBC.
We’re delighted to be welcoming him on the night to share his incredible experiences filming wildlife across the globe, and particularly in his beloved homeland of Scotland. Packed with stunning footage, charming personal stories and reflections, the evening will offer a glimpse into the life and work of one of the country’s most-loved natural history storytellers.
As the Club enters its 90th year, Hamza’s message feels more important than ever. Hamza truly believes that by engaging people in the joy of nature and what it has to offer, we can all gain a fresh perspective on the world around us and work together to protect it.
Don’t miss this inspiring celebration—a night of stories, stunning visuals, and a shared passion for nature that birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and fans of Hamza’s programmes will never forget!
Book your place now at https://tinyurl.com/38abp3c5 and be part of this milestone event in the Club’s history – 60% of tickets have already sold!
This event is suitable for attendees ages 12 and above. Young people under 18 years are welcome to attend, but must be accompanied by a parent/carer.
Everyone attending requires a ticket. All tickets are General Admission. Places range for £10 – £20.
SOC reserves the right to cancel or postpone this event due to unforeseen circumstances. Where participants are unable to join a re-scheduled event, a full refund will be given. With regret, ticket sales are non-refundable.
DREW Johnson spent three decades in the security industry, keeping a watchful eye on offices and factories across Scotland.
But later in life, the Paisley-born grandad realised his own senses were fading, leaving him ‘switched off’ from the people who mattered most – his family.
Thanks to the work of Specsavers Musselburgh, the 79-year-old is celebrating a ‘remarkable’ two-month transformation after receiving life-changing hearing devices that has brought the sound back to his home and hobbies.
Before seeking help, Drew struggled with great difficulty in busy environments. Recently, he moved from Dundee to live with his daughter Lynn in Musselburgh, which made the issue impossible to ignore, as the bustling household became a challenge to navigate.
‘I was missing the high notes and the low notes’ says Drew.‘I found myself looking at people’s lips just to understand what they were saying.
“I was worried, and I was annoyed at myself. I just couldn’t believe how small the hearing devices were when I saw them – the stigma of them being off-putting is totally gone.’
Drew visited audiologist Jonathan Bell at the Specsavers Musselburgh store on the High Street. Jonathan diagnosed significant hearing loss in both ears and fitted Drew with discreet, modern hearing devices.
The result was an immediate return to independence and even allowed him to answer his phone with a simple tap of his ear.
As a thank you for Drew’s commitment to his clinical journey and to showcase the brand’s dedication to long-term customer aftercare, drew was gifted a TV Connector worth £229.
The device allows Drew to watch his favourite team, Dundee United, and stream crime dramas, such as Blue Bloods and Chicago Fire, with total clarity directly into his hearing devices without adjusting the volume for the rest of the room.
Jonathan Bell, director of Edinburgh Specsavers Hearcare and the audiologist who led Drew’s care, says: ‘What makes Drew’s story so special is the family aspect.
‘Seeing Drew joined by both his daughters, Lynn and Laura, shows how hearing loss doesn’t just affect the individual; it affects the whole support network.
‘Drew’s journey from being ‘annoyed’ by his hearing loss to being ‘delighted’ and independent is why we are so passionate about looking after our community’s hearing.’
For Drew’s daughter, Lynn, the change has been emotional. She says: ‘He’s so much more involved now. At the dinner table, he’s back in the heart of the conversation instead of being switched off.
“Seeing him have that confidence back at his Friday morning club is amazing.’
Drew is now using his experience to help others, frequently assisting fellow members at a club with their own tablets and phones – all while enjoying the ‘perfect’ sound he thought he had lost for good.
Specsavers offers services across optometry and audiology. With ongoing training and development opportunities, the stores are committed to investing in their teams and helping customers.
Please note: The centralised diary management system means that by calling the Cameron Toll team on 0131 672 9218, patients can conveniently book appointments at any of our Specsavers locations across the greater Edinburgh area.
Scotland spent almost a sixth – £1 billion – more on welfare than the funding provided by the UK government in 2024/25
Scotland has the highest proportion of children in long-term workless households in Great Britain with child poverty targets missed
Jobless couple with three children can receive combined benefits worth £45,500 a year in Glasgow, equivalent to a salary of £69,000
New plan ahead of Holyrood elections sets out reforms to save almost £1 billion a year and refocus support on work and mental health treatment
The case for reforming Scottish welfare
The Scottish Government has poured billions of pounds of taxpayer cash into the country’s welfare state “with abandon”, according to a new report.
The research, entitled Benefitting Scotland?, finds that nearly a decade after major welfare powers were devolved, Scotland is spending significantly more than the rest of the UK on a “smorgasbord” of conflicting benefits and entitlements.
There is “minimal” evidence that the system is succeeding even on its own terms, warns the Centre for Social Justice. Persistent child poverty is running at 23 per cent, more than double the Scottish government’s eight per cent target.
At the same time, Scotland has the highest proportion of children living in long-term workless households in Great Britain at 11.3 per cent, and its rate of economic inactivity has gone from below England’s before 2016 to persistently above it.
The £28 billion annual welfare budget – almost a quarter of which is administered by the Scottish government – has ballooned out of control.
Last year Scottish ministers spent above and beyond the “block grant adjustment” – a grant allocated by the UK government to match non-devolved benefit spending – by almost £1 billion.
The cross-party think tank argues that Scotland could save hundreds of millions of pounds while achieving better outcomes.
Restricting eligibility to disability benefits for those with less severe mental health conditions and frontloading the Scottish Child Payment would save at least £800 million for the Scottish government to re-invest in treating the root causes of mental illness and supporting families directly through Whole Family Wellbeing Funding.
The report also highlights the scale of work disincentives in the system.
A couple with three children living in Glasgow can receive almost £45,500 per year by combining benefits. To match that income from work alone would require a salary of roughly £69,000 before tax from a single earner.
Even when parents move into employment, they can lose up to 79p of every additional pound earned once benefit tapers, income tax, national insurance and pension contributions are combined.
They also risk losing access to the myriad supplements layered on by the Scottish government, including the Scottish Child Payment, several Best Start Grants, a Carer’s Allowance Supplement, new Winter Heating Payments, and a plethora of one-off grants.
Ben Gregg, Head of Welfare at the Centre for Social Justice, said: The Scottish government has missed its own child poverty targets, while pushing economic inactivity in Scotland from below to above England.
“The welfare system is over budget, overly complex, and failing on its own terms. With Holyrood elections this year, there is a real opportunity to create a much leaner, far more effective system, focused on changing lives and tackling the root causes of poverty.”
Scottish curlers Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan and Kyle Waddell (alternate) have won silver at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The curlers lost last night’s final with Canada 9-6.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “Congratulations to Team Mouat on winning a silver medal at the Winter Olympic Games.
“The team’s back‑to‑back Olympic medals and two World Championship titles underlines their remarkable consistency on the world stage and they had the whole nation enthralled throughout this competition.
“Scottish athletes continue to deliver consistently on the world stage across a range of sports, demonstrating that Scotland’s approach to developing a pathway to performance sport is paying off.”
Meryl Williams, star of The Traitors, joined an influential Summit aimed at championing the rights of disabled people and shaping a future where the next Parliament drives meaningful progress towards equality and opportunity.
Scotland’s Disability Summit took place yesterday – Saturday 21 February 2026 and was held in partnership with the Cross-Party Group on Disability.
Following on from Meryl’s appearance on The Traitors, she has used her significant social media platform to raise awareness about her condition, Achondroplasia. Meryl is passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices and challenging outdated perceptions around disability in society.
Meryl addressed hundreds of disabled people across Scotland in the Debating Chamber of the Parliament, as well as those joining online. The Summit also considered what progress can be made around transport, social care, education, social security and voting.
Speaking before the Summit, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament said:“This Summit brings together people from across the country to look at how we can create a more inclusive society, which is so important as we look towards what the next Parliament will achieve for people in Scotland.
“We’ll be meeting in the Chamber and online to share ideas and I’m delighted that this important event is returning to Holyrood.”
Meryl Williams said:“I wanted to take part in this Summit because disabled people are still too often spoken about, rather than listened to.
“Living with Dwarfism has shown me how systems around transport, healthcare, education and social security can unintentionally exclude people when accessibility isn’t built in from the start.
“I hope this Summit helps shift the conversation from awareness to action, and that the next Parliament listens directly to disabled people and uses those lived experiences to drive meaningful, lasting change”.
Jeremy Balfour MSP, Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Disability said:“This is a unique opportunity for disabled people of all ages from across Scotland to share their policy priorities with the Scottish Parliament as we approach the May elections, a crucial moment in Scottish politics.”
“I am really looking forward to hearing from disabled people across Scotland at what I know will be an excellent, informative and important opportunity to help shape the debate on the issues that matter most to disabled people.”
Following a sold-out run in Brisbane, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo leaves Australia’s east coast on a high note, with audiences delivering rave reviews and standing ovations at every performance.
Over the past week, more than 1,000 performers from 15 nations came together for The Heroes Who Made Us, a breathtaking production honouring the remarkable individuals who have shaped the Tattoo’s iconic performances over its 75-year history.
From the tarmac welcome at Brisbane Airport to the final curtain call, audiences were treated to the world-famous pageantry that has made the Tattoo a spectacle not to be missed. The Show’s success here marks another unforgettable chapter in its international journey.
Now, the cast and crew have pack their kilts and instruments, crossing the Tasman for Auckland, where the New Zealand leg of the tour will begin and a new audience will share in the magic.
SCOTLAND’S CULTURE HUSTINGS 2026will be the only chance to hear all the main political parties set out their values and vision for Scotland’s cultural future at this critical moment.
The event is chaired by Halla Mohieddeen and features:
Angus Robertson, Scottish National Party
Euan Davidson, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Malcolm Offord, Reform UK Scotland
Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
A pedestrian who died in a crash in the Corstorphine area has been named as Bill Hepburn, aged 66, from Edinburgh.
His family has asked for privacy and released the following statement:
“Our family are heartbroken at the loss of Bill who was a loving husband and father.”
The incident happened around 9am on Wednesday, 18 February, in a supermarket car park off Meadow Road Place and involved a blue Volkswagen Polo.
Sergeant Paul Ewing said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Bill and enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances.
“Anyone who has not spoken to us and has any information that could help is asked to get in touch with road policing officers via 101, quoting incident number 0688 of Wednesday, 18 February, 2026.”
