Mounting pressures from inflation, increasing costs and demand are exceeding the Scottish Government’s additional investment in Scotland’s councils.
In 2025/26 councils received over £15 billion in government funding, with more money set to be raised from council tax and charges for some services. With communities paying more for services, their expectations are increasing.
In its latest assessment of local government finances, the Accounts Commission reports that additional costs from wage increases, higher employer National Insurance contributions and intensifying service demands, including social care as Scotland’s population ages, mean councils must cover a budget shortfall of £647 million in 2025/26.
Whilst councils have partly met this shortfall through service savings and increased charges for services, continuing to use reserves and make one-off savings isn’t sustainable. It intensifies pressures on future budgets.
Longer-term change in the way services are delivered is happening but must accelerate. Action is also needed to better understand the impacts on the most vulnerable communities.
Capital funding is vital for councils to invest in public buildings such as schools and libraries, as well as roads. It also underpins the significant transformation needed in the ways services are delivered in the future.
Capital funding from the Scottish Government is increasing but has not returned to previous levels. Councils remain heavily reliant on borrowing to fund their planned £4.7 billion capital investment in 2025/26.
Mounting pressures mean Scotland’s councils must cover a budget shortfall of £647 million in 2025/26.
Difficult decisions lie ahead on what services can be delivered and how.
Derek Yule, Member of the Accounts Commission said: “There’s a growing expectation gap. Councils don’t have enough money to meet current demand, at a time when local communities are being asked to contribute more through increases in council tax and charges for some services.
“Councils need to provide clearer budget information and work with communities to determine how services will be delivered in the future. These conversations won’t be easy.
“With public finances tightening, however, not all cost increases faced by councils can be met by government funding. Local action is needed now to find solutions to immediate and future financial challenges.
“This means difficult decisions on what services can be delivered and making major changes in how they are delivered.”
New research shows that 82% of Scottish young people feel a personal responsibility to be positive role models – with many already making a real difference in their communities.
Ruby McDonald from Glenrothes, Fife, Hayley Melrose from Danderhall, Midlothian and Magnus Turpie from Edinburgh are already making a difference to their communities and are being celebrated by The National Lottery as part of a new campaign spotlighting the inspirational young people driving real change across the UK.
Ruby, who after being diagnosed with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome later in childhood causing learning disabilities, has continued to pursue her passion of sport as a disability swimming, athletics and cross-country archery champion, and as well coaching other children with disabilities with Glenrothes Strollers.
Ruby, a member of Disability Sport Scotland Young Persons Sports Panel – a voluntary position that ensures that those with disabilities are represented regionally – has won numerous prizes in recognition of her amazing work including BBC Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero award.
National Lottery funding from sport scotland is used for a Young Ambassador programme as part of the organisation’s contribution to developing young people as leaders in sport.
Each year, pupils fromsecondary schools across Scotland can become Young Ambassadors to promote sport and motivate and inspire other young people to get involved in sport in their schools, clubs and local communities.
Ruby has served with distinction as an additional ambassador at her school in Fife.
Ruby McDonald said: “Sport has given me confidence, purpose, and the chance to help others – especially young people with disabilities who might not think opportunities are out there for them. I want young people with disabilities to know they belong in sport – not just as participants, but as leaders too.”
Committed to preserving Scottish heritage Hayley Melrose, a fourth year History student at the University of Stirling, has been a volunteer for the eco-museum of Scottish Mining Landscapes, since the project launched in 2024, a virtual museum which explores the hidden local landscape legacies of coal mining across the Scottish midland coalfield through a series of cycling and walking routes.
The project has been supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Through her volunteering with the eco-museum, Hayley was invited to sit on the board of the Collection Trust for the National Mining Museum of Scotland.
With just 5 trustee members before Hayley joined, she is the youngest member to have ever been on the trust at just 21 years old, and the second woman to sit on the collection trust with her university tutor, Dr Catherine Mills.
Hayley Melrose said: “Inspired by my own family’s rich mining heritage, I’m passionate about preserving the legacy it leaves o and making sure these stories don’t get lost.
“Getting involved in volunteering and the Eco-Museum has opened up opportunities I never knew young people could get involved with.
“Looking ahead, I want to use my platform to advocate for other young people and change the face of heritage in the UK.”
Musician, Magnus Turpie has Down Syndrome and plays and composes for several instruments, particularly the accordion.
When Magnus was young, the expectations of what he could achieve were rock-bottom, according to mum Linda. Despite that, Magnus has gone on to achieve incredible things – he’s been a regular player at ceilidhs, pub sessions and festivals, and has performed with numerous groups including Lung Ha Theatre Company, Totally Sound, Paragon and Drake Music Scotland and at venues such as Edinburgh Castle.
He has received National Lottery funding from Creative Scotland.
Magnus Turpie said:“Music is a language and means of communication open to all. Through music, I’ve been able to show that Down’s Syndrome doesn’t define what I can achieve.
“The National Lottery Create:Inclusion funding has helped me to make inroads into the traditional music world here in Scotland and beyond.
“I’ve gone on to play in ceilidhs, festivals, and release my own album and work hard to push the boundaries of what people expect from people with learning disabilities.”
Ruby, Hayley and Magnus’ stories exemplify the findings of new research by The National Lottery, which reveals that young people across Scotland are stepping up to become role models for the next generation – and doing so in deeply personal, community-driven ways.
The study, conducted with Gen Z expert Chloe Combi, surveyed 5,000 young adults across the UK and found that 82% of Scottish young people say they feel a personal responsibility to set a positive example for the next generation.
A further 83% expressed concern about the impact of toxic role models, particularly those online, prompting many to take proactive steps in real life.
While high-profile figures like Barack Obama, Greta Thunberg, Sir Chris Hoy and Stormzy were identified as influential, most young adults said their greatest role models are real people – parents, grandparents, friends, teachers and colleagues – people they see making a difference every day.
This surge in real-world role modelling is fuelling a wider movement, dubbed ‘Generation GC’ (Game Changers) by The National Lottery – a generation using their skills, values and energy to build stronger, kinder, more connected communities.
Across Scotland, this is already happening:
77% of young adults surveyed said they’ve taken part in a community project in their past year.
77% want even more opportunities to get involved, from volunteering to leading local initiatives.
58% believe the best way to be a role model is by getting involved with community volunteering projects.
Chloe Combi, author and Gen Z researcher, said:“This incredible research from The National Lottery and myself both highlights and confirms what I’ve seen for over a decade – young people are deeply committed to community and change.
“They are nothing like the self-absorbed stereotype often portrayed in the media. Their admiration for role models who foster social good is refreshing and powerful.”
Thanks to the £30 million raised every week by National Lottery players, thousands of projects – including those that helped Hayley and Magnus on their journeys – are funded across the arts, sport, heritage, and community sectors.
Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery Promotions Unit, said: “This study shows how passionate young adults are about stepping up as positive role models and making a difference in their communities. They’re determined to shape a better society, and that commitment deserves real recognition.
“Every day, we see National Lottery-funded projects led by and involving young people transforming lives through sport, the arts, heritage and community. From grassroots initiatives in Scotland to large-scale programmes nationwide, these efforts are helping to build stronger, more connected communities.
“We encourage everyone to discover what’s happening locally in Scotland and get involved. Thanks to the £30 million raised each week by National Lottery players, these inspiring efforts are having a game-changing impact across the UK.”
The Edinburgh Partnership is conducting a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations in Edinburgh.
The review into the relationship between the public sector and third sector in Edinburgh seeks to improve funding certainty in future years. This includes how grant funding and commissioning is delivered, how third sector organisations monitor and report on their work, and what in-kind support is provided.
Third sector organisations of all types – voluntary, social enterprises and charities – are being asked to share their views through the City of Edinburgh Council’s Consultation Hub survey or by attending a workshop.
The results will be reported to the Policy and Sustainability Committee in August.
Council Leader and Chair of the Edinburgh Partnership, Jane Meagher, said: “The third sector provides vital support to local communities, with many giving direct support to the most vulnerable in our city.
“We know that they, like the Council, are under significant financial pressure and that there needs to be longer-term change in how they are supported by us and our partners.
“We want to hear about how we can make it simpler, provide more stability, and work better together to help vulnerable people. You can share your views through the council’s consultation hub webpage, or by attending one of the workshops.”
Workshops run from Monday 19 May until Thursday 5 June. Details are available on the Consultation Hub and booking is required.
As part of the city’s commitment to help the sector, the council has dedicated £3.5m this year to help organisations impacted by unexpected loss of grant funding or reduced commissioning.
BBC teams across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are calling on audiences to nominate their local heroes for the Make a Difference Awards, which will span the entire UK for the first time
BBC teams across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are calling on audiences to nominate their local heroes for the Make a Difference Awards.
For the first time, the awards will span the entire UK, with BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle and BBC Radio nan Gaidheal all joining the search for community heroes. All stations will be part of this annual celebration of kindness, alongside all 39 local BBC radio stations in England.
There are also two new categories introduced this year: The Young Hero Award, which will honour an individual under the age of 16 who has made a significant positive impact in their community, and The Active Award, which will recognise individuals or groups who have used physical activity or sport to improve the lives of those in their community.
Nominations are open now with Kevin Duala from BBC Radio Merseyside kicking the proceedings off live on The One Show yesterday. Morning Live will once again support the Community Group Award.
Listeners can nominate their local heroes in eight categories (see below). Since the awards began in 2022, thousands of listeners have nominated people from where they live who go that extra mile for their communities. The aim is to shine a light on these every day, unsung heroes. Nominations close at 5pm on Monday 31st March.
Winners will be announced at Make a Difference Awards events hosted by local and national BBC radio stations across the country in September.
Rhodri Talfan Davies, BBC Director of Nations, said: “For the first time, BBC Make a Difference will celebrate the achievements of community heroes right across the UK – inspirational individuals and teams who go the extra mile to strengthen our villages, towns and cities.
“It’s a wonderful celebration of the human spirit and I can’t wait to hear the remarkable stories of those nominated.”
For a full list of categories, see below – and details of how to nominate someone – go to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference, where you can also see full Terms and our Privacy Notice.
Nominations are open now and close at 5pm on Monday 31st March.
Make A Difference – Categories 2025
The Volunteer Award: awarded to an individual who makes a notable difference to their community by giving their time voluntarily to help others.
The Young Hero Award: awarded to someone under 16 who has made a positive impact in their community or achieved something exceptional.
The Great Neighbour Award: awarded to an individual who helps to make the neighbourhood a better place to live or work in, either on a regular basis or through a single act of kindness.
The Active Award: awarded to an individual or group of people who have used physical activity or sport as a way of improving the lives of those in their community.
The Animal Award: awarded to either a remarkable animal that improves people’s lives, or an individual or group of people who improve the welfare of animals.
The Green Award: awarded to an individual or group of people who improve or conserve their local environment.
The Fundraiser Award: awarded to an individual or group of people who have gone the extra mile to raise funds for a good cause.
The Community Group Award: awarded to a group of people who have helped to change the lives of others within their community. Supported by the BBC daytime show Morning Live.
New cast, musicians, and creatives announced for KELI, the debut play from Ivor Novello Award-winning composer Martin Green (Lau).
Based on personal stories from the critically acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series ‘Love, Spit and Valve Oil’
WORLD PREMIERE
National Theatre of Scotland and Lepus Productions present
KELI
A play by Martin Green
Written and music composed by Martin Green
Directed by BryonyShanahan
Cast: Liberty Black (Keli), Karen Fishwick (Jayne), Olivia Hemmati (Amy/Saskia), Billy Mack (Willie Knox)and Phil McKee (Brian).
Performing Musical Director – Louis Abbott and small brass ensemble –
Stacey Ghent, Flugelhorn; Hanna Mbuya, Tuba and Karen Fishwick, Euphonium
Set and Costume Designer – Alisa Kalyanova, Sound Designer – George Dennis, Lighting Designer – Robbie Butler, Casting Director –Anna Dawson
Touring Scotland from Saturday 10 May to Saturday 14 June 2025.
Previews at Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling before opening at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh and touring to Dundee Rep Theatre; Perth Theatre and Tramway, Glasgow from May to June 2025.
Opening performance at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh on Thursday 15 May 2025.
Best known as the virtuoso accordionist in the visionary folk trio Lau, Martin Green has spent the past two years on an odyssey deep into the world of brass bands, culminating in this staging of KELI, marking its world premiere as a stage play. Making his professional debut as a playwright, Green was inspired by conversations he had for the BBC Radio 4 series ‘Love, Spit and Valve Oil’.
KELI will feature brass band music from Green’s acclaimed album SPLIT THE AIR. Each performance will feature a live brass band performance from a leading Scottish brass band or ensemble of leading brass band players.
National Theatre of Scotland and Lepus Productions are delighted that Whitburn band and Kingdom Brass will be part of this Scottish tour, sustaining ongoing relationships with Scottish brass bands and the communities they represent.
Whitburn Band, one of Scotland’s leading brass bands, was formed in the heart of the coal mining area of West Lothian in 1870 originally serving as an outlet for members of the mining community to perform at local parades and gala days. The Band has been Scottish Champion 22 times, competes throughout the UK and Europe, and performs regularly at major Scottish events. Recent performances include Celtic Connections and the Edinburgh International Festival.
Kingdom Brass was formed in 1999, after the amalgamation of the Cowdenbeath and the Kelty & Blairadam Bands. In the same year, the band competed for the first time at the Fife Championships and swept the boards. Since then, the band has competed locally and nationally winning numerous trophies and is established as one of Scotland’s top bands. The band performs at concerts, bandstand events, and local Gala days.
Liberty Black will play the titular role of Keli in her professional theatre debut and Karen Fishwick plays her mother Jayne. They are joined by Phil McKee as band leader Brian, Billy Mack who plays 135-year-old ex-miner and town hero Willie Knox and Olivia Hemmati playing multiple roles.
LibertyBlack is in her final year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She performs and writes music and toured the UK with a band. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland credits include: The Cosmonauts Last Message…, Uncle Vanya and Romeo and Juliet.
Karen Fishwick previously appeared in Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, National Theatre of Scotland and Live Theatre’s smash hit musical production which toured internationally and had a run in London’s West End. Theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Royal Shakespeare Company) and 101 Dalmations (Regents Park Open Air Theatre). Karen’s screen appearances include Outlander (Sony/Starz) and Call the Midwife (BBC).
Billy Mack is an award-winning actor, previously appearing in The Cheviot, The Stag and The Black, Black Oil and The Enemy (National Theatre of Scotland). Recent theatre and TV/film credits include Men Don’t Talk (Genesis Theatre Company), Only Child (Happy Tramp/BBC) and On Falling (Sixteen Films).
Phil McKee has worked extensively across theatre, film and TV. Previous work with National Theatre on Scotland includes Mary Stuart and Dunsinane (National Theatre of Scotland/RSC/Royal Lyceum Theatre). Screen credits include Clash of the Titans (Gorgon Films), The Rig (Amazon) and Deadwater Fell (Channel 4).
Olivia Hemmati trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where she was a finalist for the Carleton and Hobbs Award 2024. Olivia is making her professional stage debut in KELI.
The production features a brass ensemble of musicians led by Stacey Ghent on flugelhorn with Hanna Mbuya on tuba alongside Karen Fishwick on the euphonium.
Stacey Ghent is a hard of hearing actress and musician raised in South Shields. Stacey’s TV/screen and theatre credits include a role as a teacher of the deaf in Coronation Street (ITV); A Thousand Blows (Disney+); Brassed Off and Blonde Bombshells of 1943 (Octagon Bolton/Theatre by the Lake, Keswick/Stephen Joseph, Scarborough).
Tuba player Hanna Mbuya is a member of Mercury-nominated 10-piece seed, Chineke! Orchestra and Nu Civilisation. Other collaborations have included those with artists
Anna Meredith, Jon Batiste and Soweto Kinch, in addition to appearances with horn sections alongside artists including Solange, Joy Anonymous and Arlo Parks. Recent work in theatre includes Richard III (2024) & Hansel and Gretel (2024) at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Performing Musical Director for KELI,Louis Abbott, is a multi-instrumentalist and singer and the songwriter for the chamber-pop band Admiral Fallow. Recent theatre work includes his role as co-musical director on the award-winning A Giant on the Bridge (Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024). As a musician, drummer, engineer and producer Louis has collaborated with some of Scotland’s finest musicians including King Creosote, Camera Obscura and Eddi Reader.
“The skill, the craft, is in controlling the pressure.”
KELItells the story of a fiery, sharp-witted teenager in a former mining town. Coal means little to Keli, but the mines left music in the blood of this place.
As the best player her brass band has ever had, music is easy. Everything else is a fight. Feeling trapped in small-town life, pressure mounts.
When the chance to change everything arises, can Keli keep a lid on it all?
Marking 40 years since the miners’ strikes and featuring a sharp, hilarious script and live brass score by Ivor Novello winner Martin Green, KELI is a gripping show about community, creativity, and the power of music.
Touring Scotland in 2025, the show will reach audiences across the country who belong to communities that were hugely affected by the miners’ strike of 1984-85.
Green’s journey began by chance near his home in Midlothian. Following a poster advertising ‘BRASS IN THE PARK’, he discovered a self-sustaining world of music-making that – like the folk tradition – had retained its social function and was part of the warp and weft of the communities that performed it.
The fictional play has evolved from the critically acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series Love, Spit and Valve Oil which explored the phenomenon of modern brass banding and featured interviews with members of brass bands. These interviews have inspired aspects of the characters in the play. In 2022 KELI was commissioned by The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh as a three-part audio drama.
“KELI is a hard story about the limitations placed on working-class lives, capturing teenage desperation, depression and fulfilment through music…forces of dialogue, music and folklore harmonise to a riveting final episode.” The Guardian (on the audio drama, KELI)
Martin Green is a multi-award-winning musician and Ivor Novello winning composer. As a member of Lau, he has won four BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Best Group an unprecedented four times. In 2014 he received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists in recognition of his talent as a composer. In 2019 he won the Ivor Novello award for his large-scale installation Aeons that was part of The Great Exhibition of the North.
Most recently Martin has gone on to create critically acclaimed work for BBC Radio 4 exploring different communities all over the UK and their relationship with music. These have reached millions of listeners and been highly commended by Association of International Broadcasters.
Martin shared the stage with Whitburn Band as part of Celtic Connections at Tramway in early 2024 – “a profoundly moving affair” ***** The Scotsman.
Martin is the Artistic Director of Lepus Productions, who are co-producing KELI with National Theatre of Scotland, marking the first time the companies have collaborated.
Bryony Shanahan directs, marking her NTS debut. Previously Bryony was Joint Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and most recently directed the acclaimed, Same Team – A Street Soccer Story for the Traverse Theatre. Other notable productions include Bloody Elle (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Soho Theatre and West End) and also for the Royal Exchange Theatre, No Pay? No Way! Beginning, Let The Right One In, Nora: A Doll’s House, Wuthering Heights, Queens of the Coal Age, Weald, and Nothing.
Martin Green, writer and composer, said: “To be making KELI with National Theatre of Scotland and Bryony Shanahan forty years on from the Miners’ Strike, feels absolutely right; an incredible team of visionary people. Perfect.”
Bryony Shanahan, director, said: “My introduction to this project was that it was about a 17-year-old called Keli – foul-mouthed, hilarious and a virtuoso flugelhorn player – who finds herself in a disused coal mine with a 150-year-old Marxist miner after the strangest night of her life.
“Oh, and that it features a live brass band. I was in! I am so thrilled to be working with National Theatre of Scotland, Lepus and Martin Green to bring KELI to life.
“It’s a story about community, legacy and above all, music and I can’t wait to invite audiences into Keli’s remarkable world and heart.”
KELI was developed with National Theatre of Scotland and The National Theatre, London’s Generate programme and was originally commissioned as an audio drama by The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. BothKELI andSPLIT THE AIRwere developed with the support of Creative Scotland and The Space.Development of KELI was also supported by Freedom Festival, Hull. The music forKELI, Split the Air, was originally commissioned by PRS Foundation for the New Music Biennial at The Southbank Centre, and UK City of Culture.
Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling (preview Sat 10 May); Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh (previews Tues 13 to Wed 14 May) Thurs 15 to Sat 17 May; Dundee Rep Thurs 22 to Sat 24 May; Perth Theatre Wed 4 to Sat 7 June; Tramway, Glasgow Wed 11 to Sat 14 June 2025.
On social: #KELI
Access info: There will be audio described, captioned performances and touch tours in Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth and Glasgow. There will also be integrated BSL interpreted and chilled performances on offer. All performances will be autism-friendly.
Theatre for a Fiver tickets are also available for 14-to-26 years and those on low-income benefits at the venues above.
An OPEN LETTER from ALISON NOLAN, chief executive officer of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)
Did you know that over the past decade, 53 public libraries across Scotland have closed their doors for good – without replacement ?
The same public libraries which provide essential access to trusted information and education for all, which ignite a lifelong love of reading from early years, and which serve as warm, welcoming spaces where everyone is welcome without any expectation to spend. The same public libraries which, time and again, deliver enormous value to communities across the country, only to find themselves at risk when budgets are debated.
I’ve written to councillors across Edinburgh, before crucial budget decisions are made for the next financial year, to remind them what investment in public libraries truly means.
At the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), the advocacy body for Scotland’s network of over 500 public and mobile libraries, we understand the delicate financial situation that councils must navigate but we would urge those considering cuts to their library services to think again.
It’s no secret that the cultural sector is under unprecedented pressure but the narrative that austerity measures justify these cuts is shortsighted. This isn’t just a story of diminishing buildings and bookshelves; it’s a story of lives disrupted.
These closures are deeply felt because libraries represent so much more than the sum of their parts. Public libraries remain the most popular service local government delivers. Closing these doors means cutting off opportunities — a cost far greater than any savings achieved.
Libraries are proven to deliver significant economic and social returns, with research from Suffolk Libraires revealing a £6.95 return of economic benefit for every £1 invested through improved literacy, better mental health and stronger communities. And of course, when this investment figure is flipped, we see that the closure of public libraries will result in the community losing out on £6.95 of economic and social benefit for every £1 that is invested elsewhere.
The troubling trend of closures and cuts to library services across the country all too often disproportionately affects rural communities, exacerbating existing inequalities by stripping away vital access to education, digital resources and safe spaces for social interaction.
For these communities, libraries are not a luxury but a necessity. They provide essential services to support job applications, digital literacy training and social connection. To lose them is to deepen the isolation already felt by many.
Ask yourself: where else can citizens turn for support with their health, finances and employment? Libraries do it all under a single roof. They make real change to people in communities right across Edinburgh and play a central part in how the council brings about change.
Libraries drive forward crucial national agendas including preventative health – with the Health on the Shelf research report showing they save NHS Scotland £3.2m every year, bridging the digital divide by offering free access to PCs, Wi-Fi and digital support for a range of essential services, and fostering social cohesion by hosting a diverse range of community events. And this is all in addition to their core function: to encourage reading and provide a range of trusted reference materials.
As cuts and closures loom across the country, we’re urging local decision-makers to prioritise sustainable investment in libraries. Cutting library budgets is a false economy. The cost of losing libraries extends far beyond financial savings, impacting education, mental health and community cohesion. But it’s not just closures that we’re concerned about.
The slow, salami-slicing effect that has been seen over recent years, with opening hours cut – decreasing by 13%, on average – budgets slashed and staffing numbers reduced is felt across communities, with 1 in 3 voicing fears that their whole service is at risk.
Where councils have embraced the importance of libraries, the benefits are clear. 22 out of the 32 local authorities have not made any cuts to their library services in the last decade; instead, they are choosing to invest in their future, from creating learning hubs which have seen unprecedented loan figures, to developing dedicated ‘Maker Spaces’, reinforcing the role that libraries play as the originators of the sharing economy by offering access to emerging technology, such as 3D printers and laser cutters, as well as sewing and embroidery equipment.
In a recent survey from the Association of Public Libraries in Scotland, over 93% agreed that using the public library improves their quality of life, reminding us of the immense value that a public library holds, evolving to meet the needs of modern Scotland with the emergence of whole-community assets that can be used by educators, small businesses, community groups, and individuals to help people right across Edinburgh achieve their potential, while retaining their fundamental purpose: to connect, inspire and empower.
These services are a source of inspiration, but they remain the exception rather than the rule. To fulfil this potential, they need more than goodwill — they need sustainable funding.
No other community asset can deliver the vast economic and social benefits that a thriving public library service can, and so we would urge decision-makers to prioritise investment in their communities.
Anything less would be a failure we cannot afford.
ALISON NOLAN
Chief executive officer of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)
Scotland’s councils continue to face severe financial pressures. The need to consult with communities, clearly communicate the impact on local services, whilst working together to shape and deliver urgently needed transformation, is more important than ever.
Councils closed a budget gap of £759 million during 2023/24, but this required them to make further and deeper savings.
Reflecting on the state of council finances in that financial year, the Accounts Commission reports many councils made savings or used reserves to deliver services within budget and offset a 3.3% real-terms reduction in revenue and income.
Using reserves to routinely balance budgets isn’t sustainable and risks financial sustainability.
Despite an overall increase in funding in 2024/25 and a further funding increase announced for the year ahead, intensifying demand for services, greater borrowing and depleting reserves pose ongoing challenges.
In 2023/24 councils borrowed more to invest in buildings and infrastructure, whilst Scottish Government money to support capital investment continued to decline. Council borrowing increased by over £400 million and almost all councils now face higher levels of debt and annual interest costs.
This investment is vital, however, in supporting spending on key areas including new schools and housing projects, whilst reducing the risk of buildings becoming unusable and impacting services still further.
Jo Armstrong, Chair of the Accounts Commission, said: “Scotland’s councils face a challenging future, with significant financial risks and uncertainties.
“This has been compounded by pressures out with their control, including ever-increasing demand on services and inflation. An expected increase in funding for the year ahead doesn’t cancel out the urgent need for transformation, at a pace and depth we’ve not yet seen.
“With services already being impacted, councils must be clear with communities the scale of financial challenge being faced. Working with communities to deliver differently is vital.”
BBC ALBA is kicking off its Hogmanay 2024 celebrations with a nostalgic feel, as footage from a bygone era is uncovered in a new hour-long documentary, Faodail : Found Film.
With content spanning over 50 years, the footage recovered by the Faodail | Found Outer Hebrides Film Archive project shows daily life in the Outer Hebrides, from the 1930s through to the 1980s, paying homage to the heritage of the local communities.
The lost films give viewers a glimpse of everyday experiences living on the islands, including crofting, education and domestic life.
In the 1970s, filmmaker Annie MacDonald even managed to capture footage of a flamingo that had landed on Loch Ordais in Bragar.
With films made by Annie, along with more than a dozen other filmmakers, the archive has now managed to preserve a bank of footage to showcase to contemporary audiences, bringing the content to Gàidhealtachd and global screens for years to come.
Andy Mackinnon from the Faodail Film Archive, part of Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, commented: “Through crowdfunding efforts, we have been fortunate enough to be able to digitise these collections of indigenous 8mm film footage that will now be showcased to BBC ALBA viewers this Hogmanay.
“While most of this footage has never been seen by contemporary audiences before, the film collection donated to the project will no doubt bring back fond memories of the Outer Hebrides for many viewers.
“With some footage now over 90 years old, it is remarkable that these indigenous filmmakers at the time had the foresight to capture day-to-day living in the Outer Hebrides. This vital footage is now helping us in our understanding of the social history of the Outer Hebrides and the preservation of Hebridean culture.”
Faodail : Found Film, produced by UistFilm,is currently available on BBC iPlayer in four 15-minute short episodes. The episodes will premiere as an hour-long documentary on BBC ALBA on Tuesday 31 December at 8.30pm (in Gaelic with English subtitles).
