@YouthLinkSco It’s Welcome to Your Vote Week! Use the @ElectoralCommUK‘s impartial resources to explore why voting is important to your young people and to discuss the impact their vote can have on their everyday life.
This year’s theme is ‘why voting matters’ – supporting young people to discover the difference voting makes and how they can have their voices heard.
Use the Electoral Commission’s impartial resources to explore why voting is important to your young people and to discuss the impact their vote can have on their everyday life.
Every year The Electoral Commission invite schools, youth groups, and local elections teams to join them in celebrating democracy by running activities that help young people understand how it works and how to get involved.
The Electoral Commission aim to support young people to develop the knowledge and confidence they need to cast their vote and discover other ways to get involved in democracy.
With thanks to the brilliant ideas of their youth voice network, the theme for Welcome to Your Vote Week 2026 will be ‘Why Voting Matters’.
Discover the difference voting makes and how young people can have their voices heard. With your young people, use the impartial resources to explore why voting is important to them and discuss the impact their vote can have on their everyday life.
Welcome to Your Vote Week is an opportunity to discuss the importance of voting and democracy in your area. Explore questions like ‘What issues are important to you?’, ‘What are different levels of government responsible for?’ and ‘How could your vote make a change?’.
How to get involved
More than half a million young people took part in Welcome to Your Vote Week 2025. We want even more young people to learn about democracy and voting this Welcome to Your Vote Week.
Everyone is welcome to get involved. Feel free to be creative, ask your students and young people for their ideas, and deliver activities which best suit you and your group.
You could:
Hold a vote in your school or youth group on an issue young people can have a say in.
Young people aged 13-19 from around Scotland are set to take to Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s stage as part of this year’s National Theatre Connections programme, the National Theatre’s landmark annual nationwide youth theatre festival.
From 10-11 April, Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Studio will host Lyceum Youth Theatre from Edinburgh, Aberdeen based Shazam Theatre Company, East Lothian based The Mill Youth Theatre and Pitlochry Festival Theatre Young Company as they perform the Scottish premières of the plays, Alexandra Wood’s Britney’s Lock by Alexander Wood; Cloud Busting by Helen Blakeman (based on the novel by Malorie Blackman); Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth by Kirsty Housley and Wildfire Road by Eve Leigh.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is one of 33 theatres across the UK championing the voices and talent of local young people with over 5,000 participants from 270 companies and schools having the chance to perform on professional stages.
Regional festivals will take place at partner theatres nationwide from 4 March to 4 May, with the groups performing at a local venue first.
To celebrate the vast range of talent on display nationwide this spring, eight youth theatre groups will be invited to perform their version of one of this year’s plays at the Connections Festival held at the Lowry, Salford from 25-28 June.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Associate Director Sam Hardie said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming four youth theatre companies to perform at the NT Connections Festival in April this year.
“At Pitlochry Festival Theatre we are delighted to be hosting this amazing nationwide festival, and we look forward to a weekend of performances, workshops and importantly connecting young people with like-minded peers from across the country.
“Our festival champions young people and celebrates their brilliant work which will be showcased in our Studio theatre across two nights of double-bill performances.”
Kirsten Adam, Head of Participation at the National Theatre, said, “We are so excited to have Pitlochry Festival Theatre taking part in this year’s National Theatre Connections, providing the opportunity for hundreds of young people from across the area to showcase their talents on their stage.
“Youth theatre is a foundation stone in young people’s development, allowing them to build their understanding of the world and develop key skills such as confidence and self-expression. We cannot wait to see this year’s participants’ imagination and creativity flourish during this year’s Connections festivals.”
Pitlochry Festival Theatre Young Company is supported by The Basil Death Trust.
TheNational Theatre Connections programme takes place at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 10-11 April. Tickets are available from the Pitlochry Festival Theatre box office on 01796 484626 or online at pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
This year’s competition asks, “How can physics make your home ready for the future?”
The Institute of Physics (IOP) has today opened entries for The Eurekas 2026, its national physics competition for young people aged 11–16 across the UK and Ireland.
Now in its fifth year, the competition challenges students to explore this year’s theme: “How can physics make your home ready for the future?”
From cleaner energy and smarter technology to sustainable materials and healthier living spaces, The Eurekas invites 11–16-year-olds to apply physics to the place they know best — home — and imagine how science can shape tomorrow.
Open to individuals and small groups, the competition encourages creativity and scientific thinking. So, entries can be of any kind of format, including: short videos (up to 90 seconds), written pieces (up to 600 words), artwork, models or design concepts.
All entries must clearly connect to physics and be submitted online by a parent, carer or teacher via the competition website.
Prizes include a top award of £1,000/€1,200, two runners-up prizes of £500/€600, and additional awards across age categories. Every participant will receive a digital certificate celebrating their achievement.
Previous years have seen imaginative and inspiring entries exploring physics, including how physics shapes the way different animals perceive the world, how aerodynamics helps bowlers control the movement of a cricket ball, and how physics, music, and ballet show how science and art can work together.
Sarah Bakewell, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Institute of Physics, said:“Today, young people are already thinking about the future — from how climate change matters to them, to how technology plays a role in their lives.
“The Institute of Physics’ Eureka competition gives young people the chance to turn those ideas into actual solutions; creative, physics-powered and usually quite brilliant!
“Physics is for everyone – and young people from every background can use science to shape their future. Whether it’s designing smarter homes, improving energy efficiency or reimagining everyday objects that make a difference to how we live, we cannot wait to see how young people can use physics to have their very own Eureka moment!”
The competition is free to enter.
Full details, inspiration from previous submissions and entry guidance can be found at theeurekas.co.uk, with entries submitted via theeurekas.co.uk/submit.
Entries are now open and the closing date for submissions is Monday, 8 June 2026.
Disabled people and carers in the asylum system are being denied safety, dignity and compassion because they can’t get the health care they need.
The Poverty Alliance have published new #RightsInAction research, uncovering examples of people being placed in unsafe housing, facing delays and confusion in getting health and social care, and getting little or no formal support – despite many having serious health and care needs.
One woman was sent to Scotland after being forced to leave her family and seek protection alone in the UK. In her home country she had been treated for ovarian cancer, but when she arrived in Scotland, she faced real difficulties getting in touch with her GP.
After being recognised as a refugee by the Home Office many years later, she had to move to different accommodation and to a different GP. It was only then that she was referred to hospital for investigation of pain she was feeling. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour and Multiple Sclerosis.
Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “Everyone in Scotland deserves dignity, safety and compassion. People on low incomes often feel cut off from the health and social care support they need – and this research shows the problem can be even greater for people in the asylum system.
“It is wrong that disabled people and carers can be left without the most basic support they need to live their lives.”
ANOTHER DODGY ‘HONOURABLE MEMBER’ SHAMES WESTMINSTER
The House of Lords Conduct Committee has published a report on the conduct of Lord Chadlington (John Selwyn Gummer), recommending he be suspended from the House for 12 months.
The recommendation is the result of an investigation by the independent House of Lords Commissioner for Standards, which followed a complaint made on behalf of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice.
The Commissioner, Martin Jelley QPM DL, investigated Lord Chadlington’s role in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 pandemic and, specifically, his role in assisting a subsidiary of a company he chaired to secure PPE contracts.
The Commissioner found that Lord Chadlington, a former Chairman of the Conservative Party during the Thatcher era, breached the House’s prohibition on members providing “parliamentary services” in return for payment or reward.
He also found that Lord Chadlington had failed to cooperate with two previous investigations into his conduct and had failed to act on his personal honour.
Chadlington appealed against the Commissioner for Standards’ findings and his recommended sanction that he be suspended from the House for 12 months. The Conduct Committee rejected that appeal and upheld the Commissioner’s findings and recommended sanction.
The Conduct Committee’s report will now need to be agreed by the House before the sanction takes effect. The House is expected to consider the report in the week of 16th March.
Chadlington, who is 84, has said he will ‘retire’ from the House of Lords and quit the Tory Party. That’s likely to be of little consolation to Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice:
Grief: A Poem
by Susie Crozier-Flintham
Grief fills the room Which room or space Is not a matter Of speculation Or some theory Now debunked By its own author, I might add, But one of Who We Are As People My grief fills my life Not room or space But every quarter Of my being, not Some speculation Or some theory, Conspiracy theory That serves to Diminish Deceive or Decry My Dad died. A declarative Not speculation He was among over 252, 032 others To pretend
Those things Untrue Is to pretend Some lives Are worth Losing Moreover, Do we dismiss Collective grief As something Uncomfortable Because, we don’t decide We can’t pick and choose Those dead Are commemorated These dead are not Weren’t they all human? People with lives? Weren’t they all children Once? Grief fills this room Because it’s not just About remembrance It’s about Potential lost Opportunities missed Connections denied Grief fills this room Because it has to Without it We are nothing Mere chattels
On this Earth Which birthed us Which birthed us But masters, And indeed mistresses Of our own destiny Are we So hear me You are my family I lost mine Not through carelessness But through design And in my Dad’s name You are Therefore Mine.
Following the Scottish Cup quarter final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium yesterday (Sunday, 8 March 2026), Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen said: “The behaviour of a number of supporters at the Scottish Cup quarter final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox today was shameful. It must be condemned by everyone involved in football and wider society.
“A number of arrests have already been made, and Police Scotland will now work with both clubs and the Scottish Football Association to carry out a robust investigation following the scenes on the pitch at the conclusion of the match.
“Officers and stewards were faced with extreme hostility and violence over a sustained period, with many individuals having armed themselves with items clearly intended to cause harm. Officers and members of the public have been injured in this despicable display and I want to express my thanks to all officers and staff deployed.
“The investigation will also include the actions of some supporters who entered the Broomloan Road stand without tickets before the match started, forcing delays in the security operation and the turnstiles to be closed for a period of time.
“I would also urge anyone with information about who was involved in disorder before, during or after the match to get in touch with Police Scotland on 101.”
The Scottish FA added:
“The Scottish FA condemns the behaviour from supporters entering the field of play following the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final at Ibrox Stadium.
“An investigation will be carried out immediately in line with the Judicial Panel Protocol.”
One of Scotland’s most treasured cultural icons, Eddi Reader, is taking her unmatched musical magic to stages across the country for a ‘perfect’ spring tour this April.
Eddi will be hitting the road once again to play venues across her much-loved home nation, visiting Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh on Sunday 19 April 2026.
For well over four decades, Eddi Reader has had the ability to silence a room with a single note, harnessing insightful storytelling and raw emotion.
Edinburgh audiences can expect to hear show-stopping material from her vast back catalogue, from soul-stirring pop to traditional Scottish ballads, and experience Eddi’s unique charm and on-stage chatter.
Glasgow-born Eddi first captivated the world as the frontwoman of Fairground Attraction in the late 80s, storming the charts with the debut album First of a Million Kisses, and the iconic single Perfect, which topped charts in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The track, which earned Eddi a Brit Award, remains a timeless pop anthem.
The years that followed brought 10 critically acclaimed solo albums, including a stunning interpretation of the songs of Robert Burns. Her four-decade long career has seen her hone an effortless musicianship that moves effortlessly between pop, folk, jazz and traditional works and influences.
Her contribution to Scottish culture has been recognised through the award of an MBE and five honorary degrees. In 2022 Eddi celebrated 40 years in music and this latest run of Scottish appearances will follow on from a huge Irish tour.
Eddi Reader said:“Each time I return to perform on stages at home, it feels like an important moment of connection – that sparkle from being in front of Scottish audiences never dulls!
“Queen’s Hall has a little piece of my heart and I can’t wait to be back in Edinburgh sharing songs and stories with you all this April.”
Eddi will be joined on the road by Hawick-based artist and folk musician Miwa Nagato-Apthorp.
Eddi Reader plays Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh on Sunday 19 April 2026 as part of her spring Scottish tour. For tickets visit https://eddireader.co.uk/gigs.
Centenary tours to go on sale at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
The private apartments used by Queen Elizabeth II when in residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the monarch in Scotland, will open to visitors for the first time in 2026 to mark the centenary of her birth.
Available only this year, the tours will run for 100 days and will see small groups taken behind the scenes by expert guides to discover the history of the rooms and learn how they were used by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during her 70-year reign.
Royal Collection Trust email subscribers will be given priority access to book tickets at an exclusive offer price from Monday, 9 March, with remaining tickets going on general sale on Thursday, 12 March.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse was the setting for many significant occasions during the late Queen’s reign. While visiting Edinburgh to meet and celebrate Scots from all walks of life, she and Prince Philip would occupy a suite of private rooms on the Palace’s east side, with stunning views of the gardens and Holyrood Park.
These modestly decorated rooms offer a rare glimpse into the personal, ‘lived-in’ spaces used during private moments between official duties.
The rooms date from the 17th century and have been used by successive monarchs and members of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria’s reign. They are furnished with historic objects from the Royal Collection, as well as pieces from Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s personal collections, many of which reflect their longstanding affection for Scotland.
Tours will take visitors through rooms and spaces including the Royal Breakfast Room, where the Queen and Prince Philip would dine privately while in residence. The room is hung with magnificent Flemish tapestries, woven around 1650, featuring a beautiful design of a pergola framing an ornate vase filled with flowers. The tapestries were hung in the room in the 1920s at the request of Queen Elizabeth’s grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary.
In the Dressing Room, giving a sense of how the Queen would prepare for official engagements, visitors will see three ensembles from her wardrobe, each worn during a significant occasion in Edinburgh.
For the official opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July 1999, the Queen wore a purple coat made of a silk-wool blend with a green silk-crepe and lace dress, and a shawl of purple and green Isle of Skye tartan, woven on the Island of Lewis.
The ensemble was inspired by the Scottish landscape and reflects the designer Sandra Murray’s interest in her Scottish heritage.
The matching hat, by the milliner Philip Somerville, is trimmed with a bow of the silk-wool fabric of the coat and curled dark-green feathers.
For the Commonwealth Heads of Government reception held at the Palace in 1997, Queen Elizabeth wore a silk evening dress designed by John Anderson.
The entire gown is covered with white, pink, gold and cream beads and sequins, embroidered on to the surface of the garment with gold thread.
In late June or early July each year, the Queen would stay at the Palace of Holyroodhouse during what was known as ‘Holyrood Week’, undertaking a series of engagements celebrating Scottish culture, history and achievement.
These included an annual Garden Party at the Palace for around 8,000 guests. For the Garden Party in 2017, Queen Elizabeth II wore a coat of white tweed fabric, highlighted with accents of pink, yellow and green within the weave, with a pink wool crepe day dress, both by designer Karl Ludwig van Rehse.
The ensemble is completed by a hat by Angela Kelly, which includes the tweed fabric accentuated by an upturned straw brim and is highlighted with floral embellishments.
The tours will conclude in the Sitting Room where the late Queen would work, reviewing the papers and documents presented in the Government red dispatch boxes, as well as using the room for private audiences or resting between engagements, often while watching horseracing on television.
Prince Philip was an enthusiastic collector of contemporary Scottish art and served as Patron of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art. Throughout the rooms, visitors will see highlights from his private collection, including works by 20th‑century Scottish artists, acquired over four decades at the RSA’s annual exhibitions and reflecting his deep appreciation of Scotland’s landscapes and wildlife.
The rooms are also furnished with a remarkable collection of furniture from the Royal Collection, made by the Edinburgh firm of Young, Trotter and Hamilton. The pieces were supplied to the Palace in 1796 in preparation for the arrival of Charles-Philippe, Comte d’Artois – Marie Antoinette’s brother-in-law and the future Charles X of France – who took refuge at the Palace during the French Revolution.
Emma Stead, Curator, Palace of Holyroodhouse said: ‘Queen Elizabeth II’s well-known love for Scotland will be given fresh context through this unique and special access to the private apartments, where visitors will enjoy a new perspective into both the formal and more informal use of Edinburgh’s royal palace.’
After their tour of Queen Elizabeth II’s private apartments, visitors can explore the rich history of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, including the magnificent State Apartments and the historic apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, all included in the ticket price.
As Poppyscotland marks the 100th anniversary of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory on International Women’s Day, the Armed Forces charity is championing its female staff, volunteers and ambassadors.
Lanarkshire teen Chloe McIntosh is among those being publicly thanked by the charity for helping to raise awareness of the vital work they do in supporting current and former members of the Armed Forces and their families.
Chloe, from Strathaven, became involved with Poppyscotland when her dad Andy was supported after suffering catastrophic and life-changing injuries in the Omagh bombing tragedy. Soldier Andy was one of hundreds who were injured when a car bomb exploded in August 1998, killing 29 people.
The events of that day led to years of serious physical and mental health challenges for Andy but, thanks to unwavering support from Poppyscotland, he was able to turn his life around and credits the charity for helping him to do so.
This help made a huge impact on Chloe and ever since, the 17-year-old has used her voice to spread the word about the charity and its vital work, funded by the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal. She also highlights the work done at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory at Poppyscotland, who only employ veterans with supported needs.
In her role as charity ambassador, the inspiring teen has addressed audiences of politicians, dignitaries and members of the public at various charity events, including at the Scottish Parliament.
Chloe, who is currently a pupil at Calderside Academy in Blantyre, and hopes to study veterinary nursing, said: “Poppyscotland means the world to me. I think it’s important to educate as many people as possible about how the charity provides life-changing support to the Armed Forces community by providing tailored funding and advice in services such as employment, housing, mental health, mobility and respite.
“It is a privilege to work with the charity, and I urge anyone who may be struggling to reach out and get the help they require.”
Major Charles Pelling (Retd), Manager at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, said: “We are delighted to celebrate 100 years of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, which was opened on International Women’s Day in 1926, and also to take this opportunity to celebrate our female staff, volunteers and ambassadors like Chloe.
“She has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the important work of Poppyscotland and Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, and give back to those who helped her father Andy. It is only right that she is celebrated today and indeed all year, as we look to commemorate 100 years of the factory and the people who have helped to shape it along the way.”
To find out more about the work of Poppyscotland, please visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk.
Dementia affects each person differently, and even day-to-day experiences can change. The Scottish Government has launched the Rethink Dementia campaign to encourage Scots to support people living with the condition to stay socially active, to help them stay well for longer.
Capital Theatres (the charity who runs Festival Theatre, King’s Theatre and Studio Theatre in Edinburgh) is one of the many organisations across the country showing what’s possible when it comes to supporting people living with dementia. The theatre group have redesigned their buildings and continue to train their staff to ensure that people living with dementia feel welcome and supported.
Capital Theatres’ dementia-friendly approach encourages people living with dementia to stay socially connected and continue doing things that matter to them.
Head of Creative Engagement at Capital Theatres, Claire Swanson explains: “When someone receives a diagnosis of dementia, it means they have a diagnosis of dementia.
“It doesn’t change who they are, what they’ve achieved, or the things that matter in their life. They’re still the person that they have always been.”
Helping someone living with dementia stay connected can help them stay well for longer and at Capital Theatres, this idea is as at the core of the organisation’s mission:
“It’s very important to us that the people in the community of Edinburgh and beyond feel that every one of our venues is a welcoming place for them,” says Chief Executive Fiona Gibson.
That welcome starts with the physical space. Following a dementia-friendly audit in 2015, the team at Capital Theatres made small but impactful changes to their buildings, such as putting nosing on the edge of the stairs, so that there’s a very visual barrier, and changing the toilet seats to be a solid, contrasting colour.
These details reduce cognitive load and anxiety, making navigation easier.
However, a building is only as welcoming as its people. To counter the anxiety people may feel when arriving, every single staff member, from the people working in the café to the box office staff, is dementia trained.
Claire Swanson adds, “We also encourage all our new staff to come along to our dementia-friendly events and spend time speaking with someone living with dementia. Just sitting together and having a chat can relieve a lot of anxiety for those who may not know how to interact with someone living with dementia.”
The more comfortable individuals become around those living with dementia, the more confident they will become in supporting people with dementia to live well.
On the foundation of a welcoming space and a confident workforce, Capital Theatres runs a dedicated dementia-friendly programme, consisting of a range of vibrant, in-person community events, led by a passionate creative engagement team, including Alex Howard, Gus Harrower, and Lucie Jeffrey.
The programme’s ethos is one of total accessibility.
Alex Howard, Creative Engagement Coordinator and DementiArts magazine editor, explains: “Here at Capital Theatres, everything in our dementia-friendly programme is completely free, so there are no barriers to entry.
“We have five regularly running events: Tea & Jam, Brew & Blether, Comfy Ceilidh, Relaxing Rhymes and Together in Song. We invite people to come down, tea and coffee is on us, and you can get talking to people and join in. It’s important to us that cost isn’t a barrier.”
Each session is designed to create joy and connection. For Lucie Jeffrey, Creative Engagement Coordinator and Dance Lead, the work is a privilege “It’s an honour to be able to support these individuals,” she says.
Her advice is simple: “My top tips for working with those living with dementia is to treat them as individuals, give them their time and their space and just be kind.”
It’s important to give people living with dementia extra time, avoid interrupting them, and respond with understanding if confusion arises. Small acts of patience make a big difference.
Creative Engagement Coordinator and Music Lead, Gus Harrowerconnects this daily practice back to the national campaign. He says, “It’s important to treat people with dementia the same as anyone would want to be treated.
“Treat them with kindness, treat them with respect, get on their level and give them the time that they need to respond – patience is key. Events like ours and campaigns like Rethink Dementia are really battling that stigma, which is amazing to see.”
Capital Theatres also produces DementiArts magazine, which features articles and personal stories contributed by members of the dementia community, alongside a comprehensive listing of dementia-friendly events taking place across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
For Claire Swanson, it all comes back to the campaign’s central challenge to every Scot. “We need to change the way we think about people living with dementia and put the person, not the diagnosis, back at the front of the conversation.We’re proud to be championing that approach here at Capital Theatres.”
It’s time to rethink dementia. For more information and practical tips, visit nhsinform.scot/rethinkdementia.
