Children First urges families living in poverty in Edinburgh to contact them for help

This winter, Children First is urging families in Edinburgh struggling to make ends meet to call its national support line. 

The charity’s experienced team can give confidential assistance with money worries, and thanks to extra funding from the Scottish Government, can provide emergency support to families living in poverty.   

As well as immediate help, every family that contacts the charity’s support line will be offered expert debt management advice, support to access benefits, and guidance to help families build a more secure financial future. 

Thanks to partners British Gas Energy Trust, the charity is also able to offer eligible families new white goods ranging from fridges to washing machines – but only until the end of February. 

In 2025, the charity’s support line helped nearly 1,500 families with money worries. The team put £1.8 million back into household budgets and supported families to manage over £1 million pounds in debts.  

Simon McGowan, Assistant Director at Children First, said: “We know it can feel hard to talk about money worries, but getting help early can make an enormous difference. Our friendly team listens without judgement and helps parents and carers get the support they need to make life better for their children. 

“As well as immediate financial help to alleviate a crisis, we can offer practical, down-to-earth help with budgeting, benefits, debt and energy bills. And thanks to British Gas Energy Trust, until the end of February we can provide white goods like washing machines and fridges to families living without these essentials. 

“We want parents and carers to know they don’t need to face their money worries alone. If you’re struggling, please get in touch. We can help you straight away. 

“Call the support line team free on 08000 28 22 33 from 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday or 9am – 12 noon Saturday and Sunday or start a webchat with the team on our website at www.childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline.” 

When Amy* first called Children First’s support line, she was at breaking point. Trapped in a damp flat with two young children, suffering from postnatal depression and £190 short every month, she felt invisible and hopeless. 

Children First’s support line arranged immediate food and heating support so Amy’s children could stay warm and fed. They secured £1,500 from the Home Heating Fund and negotiated lower bills, cutting Amy’s broadband by £38 per month. The team also secured £180 per month in child maintenance and connected Amy to housing, mental health and local family support services. 

Amy’s financial situation improved by more than £4,500, lifting a weight off her shoulders and helping give her and her children a brighter, more secure future. 

Amy said: “I felt invisible before I called. Now I feel like someone is on my side. My kids are happy, and I can breathe again.” 

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the family. 

In January 2026, Children First was awarded £1.5m in funding from the Scottish Government to provide extra emergency support to families in crisis as part of the national mission to eradicate child poverty.

Find out more here: £10m emergency support for families – gov.scot 

Operation Kenova: MPs call on Government to formally name agent Stakeknife

A cross-party committee of MPs is calling on the Government to formally name Stakeknife – a British Army agent who worked within the IRA in the 1980s and was suspected of direct involvement in numerous murders.

Read the report [PDF]

In a report published today, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee concludes that revealing the identity of Stakeknife would be strongly in the public interest and help build trust and confidence in the agencies of the state among all communities.

The recommendation follows last month’s evidence session on Operation Kenova where the Committee heard from the current and former lead officers of the investigation, which was set up to examine Stakeknife’s activities during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Operation Kenova was unable to confirm Stakeknife’s identity in last year’s final report after the Government refused its authorisation to do so, while successive governments have cited the long standing policy of ‘Neither Confirm Nor Deny’ (NCND). 

In December, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said that the Government was considering its position on naming Stakeknife following a Supreme Court judgment related to the disclosure of intelligence information in the case of the murder of Paul Thompson.

Today’s report from MPs says that the Committee has been reassured that formal identification would not put any active agents at risk, discourage existing agents from continuing their work, or deter the recruitment of new agents. 

Naming Stakeknife would also indicate to agents guilty of conduct beyond acceptable limits that they will not be protected or shielded from the consequences of their actions, the Committee concludes.

Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, said: “As Operation Kenova’s final report makes clear, the ongoing refusal to confirm or deny Stakeknife’s identity is having a profound and lasting effect on victims and their families who have already been through so much. 

“Given the reassurances we’ve heard that active agents won’t be put in harm’s way and future recruitment won’t be compromised, formal identification in this specific instance is appropriate, proportionate and in the public interest. 

“By naming Stakeknife, the Government can send a strong signal that agents who cross a line will not receive the protection of anonymity and help to build trust and confidence across all communities in Northern Ireland.”

The Committee recommends that the Government should review, in consultation with MI5 and PSNI, the application of NCND in all legacy related cases, considering specifically the principles outlined in this Report.

The Committee also plans to monitor Government progress on the implementation of Operation Kenova’s other conclusions and recommendations.

Stakeknife has been widely identified as Freddie Scappaticci, who died in 2023.

Charity calls on policy makers to address the financial cost of having a child in inpatient or outpatient care

Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity says the Young Patients Family Fund is failing the families who need it most

Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) has launched its manifesto – Families on the brink – ahead of the Scottish Parliament Elections calling for an overhaul of the Young Patients Family Fund. 

Roslyn Neely, CEO of ECHC said: “The current system, while well intentioned, is failing the families who need it most. Parents already stretched to the limit are being pushed into a deeper financial crisis by reimbursement policies that ignore the realities of everyday life.”

The charity has outlined measures in its manifesto to change the system to a cash-first approach over reimbursement as well as expanding the criteria to cover families attending regular outpatient appointments, rather than just inpatient care. 

ECHC provides seriously ill children and their families with the extra support they need when facing a potentially life-changing hospital visit. It sees first hand the number of families who  simply can’t afford to pay upfront for travel, food, or accommodation – let alone wait weeks to be reimbursed. 

For some families, even when they have been reimbursed the money doesn’t reach them as it can be swallowed by overdrafts or used to repay public debts the moment it hits their account. The fund also doesn’t support families who don’t have a bank account or are unable to navigate the complex claims process. 

ECHC believes the eligibility criteria should be expanded beyond inpatient appointments as outpatient appointments can be just as costly for families. Children who need frequent outpatient care – like chemotherapy or treatments for chronic conditions such as Crohn’s – often attend more than five appointments a year.  That results in five days of missed work. Five days of travel costs. And, five days of disruption to school, siblings, and family life.

Roslyn Neely added: “Ahead of the Scottish Parliament Elections we want policymakers to show families who have a young person regularly visiting or staying in hospital that they understand their reality. They understand that families who are already exhausted and stretched to their limits, feeling unsupported by the system, don’t have to be financially drained as well. 

“Simple changes to the Young Patients Family Fund would ease the pressure on families who are struggling, and make what could be a potentially life changing or life threatening experience, just a little bit more manageable.” 

The Scottish Government budget for 2026/27 has allocated £3.2 million to the fund, a reduction from £5 million from when it was introduced in 2021. 

Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity – Scottish Election 2026 – ManifestoDownload

Corn Exchange assault: Do you know these men?

Police Scotland has released CCTV images of two people they believe may be able to assist in an ongoing investigation into an assault that occurred within the Corn Exchange, New Market Road, Edinburgh on Saturday, 21 June, 2025, at around 11pm.

The first person is described as being a white male, aged between 20 and 25 years old, of medium build and with blond hair. They were wearing a white ‘Loewe’ t-shirt, blue jeans, and has tattoos on both arms.

The second person is described as being a white male, aged between 20 and 25 years old, with short black hair. They were wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans and trainers.

Detective Constable Beverley Burnside said: “We would ask the people in the images, or anyone who recognises them, to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone who has information that may assist with this investigation is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0848 of Sunday, 23 June 2025.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

£1 billion rise in Scottish school spending

19.7% increase over the decade

Spending on schools across Scotland has increased by more than £1 billion in real terms over the past decade, official statistics show.

Data published this week shows that local authority funding across Primary, Secondary and Special schools rose to £7 billion in 2024-25, up 19.7% from £5.8 billion in 2014-15.

Average spending per pupil across Primary and Secondary schools also rose by more than £1,000 in real terms over the same period, reaching £8,683.

Local government education expenditure in Scotland in 2024-25 was £8.3 billion, which is 27% higher than in 2014-15 in real terms – a cash terms increase of 71%.

Pre-primary education expenditure has more than doubled in real terms over the past decade to £1.1 billion in 2024-25, up from £516 million in 2015-16, with 95% of this going on the delivery of the 1140 hours early learning and childcare offer.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “This investment underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to education, working in partnership with councils, and means Scotland has the best paid teachers in the UK, the lowest pupil-teacher ratio and the highest education spending per head in the UK.

“Schools are delivering literacy and numeracy attainment at the highest levels on record, with a record low attainment gap for literacy and numeracy in primary and secondary schools. Attendance has improved, class sizes are smaller, and there are more teachers in Scotland’s classrooms.

“Last year’s exam results also showed there were more passes at every level compared to 2024, while the total number of Higher entries passed the landmark 200,000 level for the first time since Curriculum for Excellence was introduced in 2010.  We have also made strong progress on widening access to higher education regardless of background or circumstance, with record numbers of young Scots in 2025 securing university places in Scotland who will benefit from free tuition.

“As we reflect on progress over the past ten years we are also looking to the future with local authorities and headteachers, to agree how best we might collectively go further and faster.”

Social housing conditions barely improved since pandemic, says Westminster Committee

SCATHING REPORT ON THE STATE OF ENGLAND’s SOCIAL HOUSING

Raising the standard of social homes in England is essential given the progress at bringing homes up to a minimum standard has almost ground to a halt, says the cross-party Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee in a report published today (Monday).

While most social homes provide tenants with warm, safe and decent places to live, the report finds that too many people living in social housing suffer from appalling housing conditions and do not have their complaints treated seriously. 

The report notes that the minimum standard of what is considered a decent home has not changed in twenty years and says, “it is not acceptable that just under 430,000 social homes still fail to meet even this basic standard”.

The Committee’s Housing conditions in the social rented sector report calls for the Government to use the delayed Long-term Housing Strategy to deliver an approach which addresses the twin objectives of building more social homes while ensuring conditions in existing housing stock are improved.

The report recommends the Government establish a new, modern Decent Homes Programme that supports social landlords to raise the standard of social homes, which includes a pooled fund for improvements to social homes and a single housing quality framework to consolidate the regulatory requirements on social landlords.

Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee said: “Whether it is residents living in poorly insulated homes, experiencing overcrowding, or enduring housing with damp or mould, it’s vital that Government measures, including Awaab’s Law and the New Decent Homes Standard, bring a meaningful improvement to social housing conditions.

“The Government deserves credit for the steps taken to rebuild the sector’s financial capacity after years of underinvestment. However, we do have concerns about the resources available to social housing providers to meet the Government’s new social homes target while also raising standards over the decade.

“The Government’s Long-term Housing Strategy needs to set out a credible plan to tackle the need to improve existing housing stock while encouraging social landlords to build the new social homes the country needs.”

The report agrees with the Government’s decision to rollout Awaab’s Law in phases, focusing on tackling the most dangerous hazards first, but warns that social landlords and tenants need a much clearer roadmap for when the remaining phases of Awaab’s Law will be introduced.

The report calls on the Government to urgently set and publish the timeline for extending Awaab’s Law to all remaining hazards, so that tenants and social landlords have clarity about when they can expect these new regulations to apply.

High energy prices, the report warns, mean households living in homes that comply with the Government’s new minimum energy efficiency standard may still be in fuel poverty, if they struggle to afford to heat their home sufficiently.

The Committee therefore recommends the Government revise the official definition of fuel poverty to reflect this in the forthcoming Fuel Poverty Strategy.

The Government’s proposed changes to the Decent Homes Standard are welcomed, with the report noting that the “current standard has been out-of-date for some time and is in urgent need of reform, given that it was last updated in 2006”.

To demonstrate to tenants and the public that progress is being made, the report recommends the Government put in place interim targets in homes upgrading to the revised Decent Homes Standard.

The report also calls on the Government to introduce a review to update the Decent Homes Standard at least every 10 years to ensure it “reflects the changing needs of the population, environmental pressures, scientific evidence of the hazards to health from poor housing and societal expectations of what a decent home consists of”.

Childline delivers over 700 counselling sessions to children in Scotland

This Children’s Mental Health Week (9 -15 February), Childline is reminding all young people that the service is here to support them with any concerns. 

Childline delivered 763 counselling sessions last year to children in Scotland struggling with suicidal thoughts and feelings.

As the charity releases this data, it is reminding all young people that the service is there for them for any issues they might be having. Their trained counsellors can support children who are feeling suicidal and need someone to talk to. 

childline-secondary-poster-2-englishDownload

Young people reach out to Childline about suicidal thoughts and feelings for a range of reasons, including: 

  • Feeling lost and desperate about their current situation 
  • The result of a mental health condition 
  • Past experiences 

One boy, aged 15 from Scotland, told Childline: “For ages now I have been having thoughts about hurting or killing myself.

“I’m absolutely terrified of death and scared my body will make me do it. I’m trying my best to keep myself together but it’s hard.

“I just needed to tell someone who’ll listen and believe me.”  

In one in five of the Childline counselling sessions delivered to children in Scotland about this issue, the child was deemed to be actively suicidal, which can include vocalising their clear plan for taking their life or engaging in suicidal actions. The other 80% involved children who were seeking support outside of an immediate crisis. 

Some children tell Childline that suicidal thoughts can be a normal part of their life and are a regular – sometimes daily – occurrence.  

childline-primary-poster-2-englishDownload

One child said: “Unless I distract myself, I’m having suicidal thoughts. Even when I think I’m happy or trying to sleep, it’ll pop into my head, ‘why am I here?’. My doctor and mum are trying lots of things to help.

“Telling my friends about it helps; we talk, we resolve it, the thought goes away. I feel quite calm when it happens, not sad like you’d expect, but I am aware that it’s a suicidal thought and I would like it if they stopped.” 

The NSPCC is releasing this data as part of Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week, which aims to support the groups and systems surrounding children.

The children’s mental health charity will be encouraging peers, families, schools and communities to create inclusive and nurturing environments, where children and young people feel they belong and can say “This is My Place”. 

Shaun Friel, Childline Director, said: “These figures reveal the devastating reality about children struggling with thoughts of suicide. Behind each statistic is a young person in pain, often feeling alone.  

“But these numbers also represent hope. For every one of these 763 sessions for children in Scotland there was a moment when a child chose to reach out rather than suffer in silence. Our counsellors are there 24/7 because we know that having someone to talk to can be the difference between despair and hope, between isolation and connection. 

“Our message to every young person is simple: you are not alone. Whatever you’re going through, however dark things feel, Childline is here. We’re here to listen, to believe you, and to help you find a way through.” 

To support adults and children, the charity has released advice on helping young people through these difficult emotions.  

childline-secondary-poster-1-englishDownload

Tips for adults, parents and carers: 

  • If the young person is in immediate danger or wants to act on their thoughts, don’t hesitate and contact emergency services (999) or take them to A&E.  
  • Listen without judgment and let the young person talk openly about how they are feeling. Avoid jumping to conclusions, interrupting or offering immediate solutions. Being there and listening can make a huge difference.  
  • For some people, talking to a young person on this topic can be quite daunting, if you are worried about speaking to a young person about suicidal thoughts and feelings, then suggest they reach out to Childline. 
  • Remind the young person that they are not alone and that there are other people who go through similar thoughts and feelings. Let them know that support is available and that things can get better.  
  • Supporting a young person with suicidal thoughts and feelings is not a one-time conversation. Checking in regularly can remind them that they matter and that they are not alone. They may not always want to talk and that’s ok, you can let them know that you are there whenever they are ready.   
childline-primary-poster-1-englishDownload

Advice for children and young people: 

  • Having suicidal thoughts and feelings can be really scary. You might feel alone and like you don’t know how to keep going. But even small change is positive, there are plenty of ways to help you to start to feel better and cope with your feelings. The Childline website has a range of support and information.  
  • It’s really important to speak to someone if you feel suicidal or you’re worried you’ll harm yourself, whether that’s a safe adult in your life or a service, such as Childline. 
  • Work with an adult to create a safety plan. This will help you to know what to do in future when you feel you can’t cope again. Sometimes this is called a mental health first aid kit. This could include people to contact (such a Childline), safe places to go, ways to stay safe and ideas for healthy coping mechanisms.   
  • The Childline website has advice and practical methods on how to cope with suicidal thoughts and feelings. For instance, repeating a positive phrase which reminds you that you can cope with things can often help when everything feels too much.  
  • Adults in your life and services, such as Childline, are here to support you through these difficult emotions, remember that you are not expected to cope with these feelings on your own.  

Childline is here for every young person who is experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings, trained counsellors can be reached via the phone on 0800 1111 and online through the 121 chat on the Childline website. 

The NSPCC recently published a report on Young people’s experiences of suicidal thoughts and feelings on the NSPCC Learning website:

helplines-insight-briefing-young-peoples-experiences-suicidal-thoughts-feelingsDownload

People of Drylaw and Telford: We Need You!

DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE PLANS COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP

Our community has an incredible opportunity right now: the chance to own the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre and the land around it, and shape it into something truly special for everyone who lives here.

But to make it happen, we need as many local people as possible to fill in the community survey. Your ideas, your hopes, and your experiences matter.

The more responses we get, the stronger our case becomes – and the more likely it is that we, as a community, take ownership of the space and its future.

Imagine what this could mean …

A place where families can spend time together

Safe, welcoming spaces for children and young people

New activities, events, and facilities shaped by you and your neighbours.

A centre and grounds designed around the real needs of local people.

This is about more than a building. It’s about building a better future for Drylaw; a future shaped by the people who live here, who care about the place, and who want to see it thrive.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey:

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre – bit.ly/Drylaw

Paper copies are also available at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre if that’s easier.

Let’s show what Drylaw can do when we come together.

Let’s build something amazing – for our families, our neighbours, and the generations still to come!

Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland mark New Homes Week with enhanced Part Exchange incentive

Research reveals new build homeowners save as much as £420 per year, while household carbon emissions are cut by up to 74%.

To mark New Homes Week 2026, Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, part of the UK’s leading housebuilder Barratt Redrow, have increased their Part Exchange incentive from £500 to £1,000 for people who are still living in their existing property when it is sold*.

With Part Exchange, when prospective homeowners purchase a new home with Barratt Homes or David Wilson Homes, the housebuilder becomes the guaranteed buyer for their existing property, taking the stress out of selling and helping them to move quicker and more easily.

Now in its 21st year, the annual New Homes Week campaign launched by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) aims to highlight the benefits of new build homes and provide a platform for the home building industry, homeowners and potential buyers to recognise the value of modern developments.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland’s enhanced Part Exchange incentive comes as new research from the Home Builders Federation demonstrates new build homes are far more cost and energy efficient than second hand homes, with homeowners typically saving over £420 a year**.

Based on data from Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest energy supplier, the Watt a Save report shows that energy bills for new build homes are 21% less than typical older properties.

Thanks to increasingly sustainable building practices and technology, the majority of new homes achieve an A or B Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). As a result, new build homeowners spend around £1,574 a year on energy, compared with £1,995 on older homes that typically have a D rating. Meanwhile people living in F and G rated homes – such as some Victorian properties – typically spent 39% more on their overall energy bills last year, compared to the average new build homeowner.

The Watt a Save report has been released today (Friday 6 February) to support national New Homes Week’s ‘Power to Save’ day, providing key evidence for people looking at the long-term running costs of their next home, before they buy.

In addition to cutting running costs, the findings show new build homes are helping to cut household carbon emissions by up to 74% every year, compared to older properties, meaning today’s new build buyers can significantly lower their carbon footprint without changing their habits.

Andrew Morrison, Managing Director at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, said: “At Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, we’re committed to helping people move up or onto the property ladder.

“This New Homes Week, we’re highlighting our enhanced Part Exchange scheme, which removes the need for an onward chain and guarantees the sale of an existing home, taking the stress out of moving and helping buyers secure their ideal home.

“Our new homes across East Scotland are designed with energy efficiency and long-term performance at the forefront. Features such as solar panels, air source heat pumps, and modern insulation reduce running costs and environmental impact. Independent data shows how new-build homes outperform older properties, underlining the clear benefits of choosing a modern, future-proof home.”

Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive at the Home Builders Federation, said: “Buying a home marks a major milestone in our lives, yet for many, achieving that dream has become increasingly challenging.

“This New Homes Week we’re spotlighting the much-needed support home builders provide to make buying a new home more accessible – removing barriers and reducing uncertainty to make the goal of homeownership more achievable.

“By ensuring people understand their options and the benefits of buying a new build, we hope to empower more would-be buyers to take those steps to moving and beginning the next chapter of their lives.”

Barratt and David Wilson Homes are creating a range of new communities across East Scotland, including David Wilson Homes @ St Andrews in Fife, just a stone’s throw from world-renowned golf courses and beaches.

For more information about Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, visit:

www.barratthomes.co.uk/ and https://www.dwh.co.uk/

*Terms and Conditions apply

**Watt a Save, 2026, Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Octopus Energy.