The Edinburgh-based charity will open its doors to the public on Saturday, 7th March, to display its range of dementia care services and carer support programmes.
The Eric Liddell Community will open its doors to the public on Saturday, 7 March 2026, inviting local residents to discover the charity’s vital dementia care services and carer support programmes at a special Open Day in Morningside.
With around 90,000 people in Scotland currently living with dementia, and an estimated 1.7 million people providing unpaid care, the need for accessible, compassionate support has never been greater. For decades, The Eric Liddell Community has been a cornerstone of care in Edinburgh, offering specialist dementia day services, practical and emotional support for carers, and a welcoming space for connection and community.
Taking place at the charity’s home on Morningside Road, the Open Day will give visitors the opportunity to explore the vibrant community hub, learn more about its sector leading Dementia Day Care Service, and find out how carers can access dedicated support. Guests can also discover the charity’s open community activities, designed to reduce loneliness and foster meaningful connections.
The event will include guided tours of the building, interactive taster sessions that demonstrate how programmes are delivered, and opportunities to meet the experienced and compassionate team who continue Eric Liddell’s legacy of care.
Jo Wright, Building Operations Manager at The Eric Liddell Community, said: “If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind our stained glass windows, we are delighted to invite you in to see for yourself.
“Our Open Day is a celebration of the incredible work of our team and volunteers, and a chance to highlight the importance of the charity, not just as a care provider, but as a lively community hub helping to tackle loneliness and isolation.”
The Open Day will take place this Saturday, 7 March 2026, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at The Eric Liddell Community, 15 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4DP. The event is free to attend, and no registration is required.
To find out more about The Eric Liddell Community, please visit: ericliddell.org.
To find out more about the Open Day, please visit:
Spending cut of £1,700 per pupil from 2014/15 for those identified with additional support needs (ASN) – 30.1 per cent cut over a decade.
The number of pupils identified with ASN has more than doubled (102 per cent increase) over the same period.
A cut of 240 in the number of specialist ASN teachers.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, has warned of a potential lost generation of children and young people with ASN, and urged greater resourcing for this group.
ASN includes the likes of autism, dyslexia and mental health problems, and the coalition has urged provision of support for this to be a central issue in the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary election campaign.
The call comes as new figures contained in a parliamentary answer to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth MSP, reveal that average additional support for learning (ASL) spend per pupil has been slashed by nearly a third (30.1 per cent) over the last decade.[1]This comes against a perfect storm of escalating numbers of pupils with ASN and cuts in support.
The SCSC is urging the Scottish Government to work with local authorities to increase funding to support the needs of vulnerable children and young people, including greater provision of specialist ASN teachers, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, behaviour support staff and classroom assistants.
The figures highlight that average spending per pupil on ASL by local authorities in Scotland (primary, secondary and special education) has fallen from £5,504 in financial year 2014/15 to £3,804 in 2024/25 (based on 2024/5 prices). This amounts to an overall cut in spending of £1,700 per pupil, representing a 30.1 per cent drop.
This funding fall is against the backdrop of a 102 per cent increase over the same period in the number of pupils identified with ASN, from 140,501 to 284,448, amounting to 127,443 individuals. Those with ASNrepresent more than a third of all pupils (36.7 per cent).2
In parallel with this, there has been a cut of 240 in the number of specialists ASN teachers, from 3,077 in 2014 to 2,837 in 2024.3
A report from Audit Scotland has called on the Scottish Government and local authorities to fundamentally rethink how they plan, fund and staff additional support for learning as part of core school education in Scotland.4
In January 2026, the Scottish Government announced a national review into the provision of ASL, led by the former Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland, Janie McManus. This will look at how to strengthen delivery, including provision in schools, and how policy is translating into effective practice.5
A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “It is deeply concerning to see cuts to spending that support children and young people with ASN. While there is a record amount of spending in support of those with ASN, this is offset by a dramatic increase in the number of pupils affected, meaning that spending per pupil has been slashed.
“We urge all political parties to make provision for this group a central commitment in their election campaigns.
It is vital that the Scottish Government and local authorities increase resources to expand access to the likes of specialist ASN teachers, educational psychologists, and classroom assistants. Without this investment, we risk a lost generation of children with ASN missing out on the care and support they need, when they need.
“Additionally, proper resourcing is essential if we are to achieve genuine classroom inclusion and close the educational attainment gap. We therefore expect that the national review of ASL provision should address the critical issue of sufficient resourcing.
“The Scottish Government and local authorities must work together to ensure properly funded, consistent support across Scotland for children and young people with ASN — some of the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Vaccines continue to be the most effective way to protect people from serious, life-threatening diseases.
Thanks to vaccines, diseases like smallpox, polio, & tetanus, that were once responsible for millions of deaths and disabilities, have been eliminated or drastically reduced.
Terminally ill people and families of those who suffered as they died have come together to urge MSPs to vote for Liam McArthur MSP’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill in the Scottish Parliament.
The letter, signed by 54 people with lived experience across Scotland, tells of the fear of facing a painful and protracted death without the option of an assisted death, and the bleak options with which they are left, including ending their own lives behind closed doors.
Those who have witnessed a loved one suffer as they die highlight extreme suffering that is beyond the reach of any palliative care, leaving those behind with harrowing memories.
The lead signatory of the letter, Norma Rivers, 73, from Ayr, has terminal myeloma – a rare form of blood cancer. Having witnessed her father’s traumatic death from cancer, she knows she doesn’t want to suffer as she dies.
Norma said: “Having no choice can force people into things they don’t want to do. I want to live as long as possible, but I am running out of treatment options.
“If the Bill isn’t passed before I die, I will take matters into my own hands. I have just been living in fear, trying to work out which of my drugs I need and how much, and scared I’ll end up worse if it doesn’t work.
“All I ask if for a peaceful ending surrounded by my family.”
FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER
Dear MSPs,
We have come together as terminally ill people and families of those who suffered as they died, to ask you to vote for the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill at Stage 3.
We are the real people at the heart of this Bill. Some of us face a terminal diagnosis ourselves, while others have witnessed a loved one suffer unbearably at the end of life. When you voted for the Bill at Stage 1, we know that you did so with our stories in your minds, and we ask you to please do the same at Stage 3. The Stage 1 vote brought such relief and hope to us, that no one else might have to suffer as we have.
For those of us with a terminal diagnosis, denying us choice will not stop us seeking it out. Without assisted dying, we are coerced into suffering against our wishes. Many of us have already seen a loved one suffer and know what is coming. Like the vast majority of Scots, we are priced out of travelling to Switzerland.
We do not want to die alone in a foreign country, but could not risk our loved ones facing prosecution when they return without us. The only other option is to end our own lives behind closed doors. This means endless sleepless nights calculating the combination and amounts of drugs we need and the intense fear that none of it will work and we will end up in a worse position than before.
Watching a loved one suffer has put us in impossible situations too. The agony we have witnessed, even with the very best palliative and hospice staff doing everything they can, is unimaginable.
We have been left powerless, hands tied by the law, as our closest family begged us to help them; to take them to Switzerland when we know they are too far gone, or o scour the dark web for pills, not knowing what’s in them or where they come from.
The law abandoned us when we needed it most, leaving us to scramble around in the dark with no process, no safeguards, and no compassion. We are only left with harrowing memories, guilt that we were powerless to help, and our own health conditions caused by the stress.
Assisted dying would be a lifeline. It would let us live the rest of our lives in peace, making precious final memories with our loved ones, without the constant dread of how our lives will end. It’s too late for our loved ones who have died, but we have the opportunity to make things ight so no one has to suffer as they did.
This issue is not going away. Voting against this Bill will not stop us from dying, but will deny us a lifeline to a safe, peaceful death surrounded by our loved ones.
You have before you an opportunity to shape what an assisted dying law in Scotland looks like.
A law that is safe, compassionate, and provides choice to those who so desperately need it. Without it, our options are bleak. The most dangerous thing you can do for us is nothing.
Please give us hope by voting for the Assisted Dying Bill.
Funding to strengthen emergency response and tackle health inequalities
At least a thousand additional defibrillators and targeted support will be rolled out to improve cardiac arrest survival rates in communities with the poorest outcomes.
First Minister John Swinney announced a £2.5 million investment to improve community capacity to respond to cardiac arrests through the purchase of 1,000 – 1,250additional defibrillators over three years.
The funding will also support:
new Cardiac Arrest Rescue (CARe) Zones to strengthen the community response to cardiac arrests, such as increased CPR training in schools. Areas facing the greatest inequalities will be prioritised.
creation of first responder networks that can respond to emergencies quickly in remote areas
promotion and increased uptake of the GoodSAM app, supported by the Scottish Ambulance Service, which alerts registered users to nearby cardiac arrests so they can provide first response.
Around 3,700 people experience a cardiac arrest outside hospital every year and defibrillators can help restart the heart before emergency services arrive. The additional defibrillators will be placed in areas where data shows they are most needed.
The First Minister met Scottish Ambulance Service staff and cardiac arrest survivor John Sinclair, who received CPR from a responder using the GoodSAM app.
Mr Swinney said: “Surviving a cardiac arrest often depends on what happens in the minutes before an ambulance arrives.
“That is why we are investing £2.5 million to deliver more defibrillators into communities, strengthen local response networks and ensure more people have the skills and confidence to act.
“Survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have increased since 2015 thanks to the work of Save a Life partners in training more than one million people in CPR skills and improving defibrillation rates. We can and must, however, do more – and this investment will deliver targeted support in the areas that need it most.
“We will work towards ensuring there is a defibrillator within reach of every incident, using evidence to identify the best locations and modes of delivery. We are determined to build a Scotland where everyone, regardless of where they live, has the best possible chance of surviving a cardiac arrest and can live healthier, longer lives.”
Chair of Save a Life for Scotland Dr Gareth Clegg said: “This £2.5 million investment is a transformative step for communities across Scotland.
“By expanding access to defibrillators in the places they are most needed, we are giving many more people the chance to survive cardiac arrest and return home to their families.
“This funding will allow the University of Edinburgh to work in close partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service, councils, emergency services, schools and third-sector organisations to ensure defibrillators are not only more numerous, but more equitably and strategically deployed in communities that are ready to use them.”
We want to ensure that everyone has the best possible chance of surviving a cardiac arrest.
Our £2.5 million investment will:
• deliver more defibrillators into communities • strengthen local response networks and • ensure more people have the skills and confidence to act pic.twitter.com/oaje6gS4Sn
Arthritis UK Scotland is calling on each political party to have a credible plan to improve the lives of people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions like arthritis, as the countdown to the Holyrood elections starts.
The charity is calling for a better deal for the 1.7m people in Scotland living with arthritis and other MSK conditions, including 48,000 children and young people, in its manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Elections, published today Scottish Parliament Election 2026 | Arthritis UK
This is because there is currently no plan that considers the needs of this group, which totals one in three people in Scotland, living with the pain, fatigue, disability and the mental and financial strain these conditions cause.
In Scotland, one in three people with arthritis/MSK conditions say their condition severely or very severely impacts their life. And one in three people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis on the first day of the new Scottish parliament will have been forced out of work due to their condition, by the end of that same parliament, reports Arthritis UK Scotland’s manifesto.
The document sets out the steps the next Scottish government must take to tackle the impact of these conditions, currently causing unnecessary chronic pain and disability. It calls for:
· A relentless focus on tackling orthopaedic waiting times. Parts of Scotland continue to lose out and overall, demand continues to grow. A national plan that sets out how targets will be met must be created.
· Access to surgery to be based on need and adheres to guidance, not applying body mass index policies as eligibility criteria.
Bobby from Stranraer was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 2020, but it was more than two years before Bobby was even added to the waiting list for surgery. He said:‘I’d been suffering with a great deal of pain in both knees for some time. It was like someone was hitting my knees with a mash hammer.
“It played havoc with my thoughts, my mind, my life. The mental impact was phenomenal. You feel like you’re a burden when you can’t do things. You try to keep going through the pain.’
Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK, said:‘The next Scottish parliament must tackle orthopaedic waiting times, improve services and deliver a long-term plan for better musculoskeletal health.
‘These are urgent priorities. People with arthritis in Scotland are being let down. They can wait years for diagnosis, struggle to access treatment and face barriers to work and independence. They are twenty percent less likely to be in work than people without arthritis, and people in the poorest communities are hit hardest. It is a public health issue, an equality and workforce challenge.’
Alan McGinley, Policy and Engagement Manager for Scotland, Arthritis UK, said:‘None of the political parties in Scotland have a credible plan on how to tackle musculoskeletal conditions, yet one in three people in Scotland living with them.
“Of these people, sixty-two percent say they live in pain most or all the time due to their arthritis. This means the needs of this group are not being addressed and that just isn’t good enough.’
A recent survey commissioned by Arthritis UK and carried out by YouGov, surveyed nearly 8,000 people with arthritis in the UK. Of these, over 1,000 were from Scotland.
The results showed:
· Over sixty percent (62) are living in pain most of the time due to their arthritis
· Nearly forty percent (37) felt their condition was not well managed
· Forty five percent said their ability to exercise was affected severely or very severely by their symptoms
· Nearly seventy (69) percent said waiting for treatment had an impact on their mental health
· Nearly fifty percent (49) said their symptoms were not taken seriously by healthcare professionals
· Fifty-six percent said arthritis had impacted on their working lives.
In 2026, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival celebrates its 20th year!
In 2026, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival celebrates its 20th Year. Taking place from 19 October to 8 November, it’s an opportunity to recognise two decades of mental health and creativity while looking at where we are now and where we might go next.
Our theme for this milestone year, Reflections, invites artists, communities and audiences across Scotland to pause, take stock and explore how our experiences, stories and creativity shape our mental health, individually and collectively.
GET INVOLVED!
SMHAF takes place across Scotland and covers all artforms, reaching around 17,500 people each year. It spotlights art inspired by mental health, explores how the arts and creativity can help everyone to have better mental health, and provides a platform for everyone to be creative.
We’re inviting you – organisations, artists, communities and individuals – to help us bring our Reflections theme to life, and explore how looking back can help us imagine what comes next.
Whether you’re working on a creative project, have an idea for an event, would like to help develop your local programme, or want to talk about anything else, please get in touch at smhaf@mentalhealth.org.uk.
SMHAF is led by the Mental Health Foundation and is supported by Multi-Year Funding from @creativescots and national partners.
Ahead of May’s election, Scotland’s sexual and reproductive health leaders are calling on an incoming Scottish Government to put high‑quality, accessible care at the top of its agenda to reduce health inequalities, improve public health and strengthen the country’s economy.
For the first time, The College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH), the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), and the British HIV Association (BHIVA) – which collectively represent more than 3,000 sexual and reproductive healthcare professionals across Scotland – have come together to publish Improving Scotland’s Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare: A Joint Manifesto for the Next Scottish Parliament.
While the manifesto acknowledges Scotland’s progress through initiatives like the Women’s Health Plan and the Sexual and Blood‑Borne Virus Action Plan, it also makes clear that the system is under real strain.
Demand for services has risen sharply, including a 50% increase in abortions in less than 10 years, rising rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV testing numbers surpassing pre‑COVID levels. Yet this surge comes at a time when resources remain limited, and workforce pressures continue to grow. These pressures are creating longer waits, busier services and widening gaps in care.
Without decisive action, these pressures risk deepening existing disparities in health outcomes, particularly for women, young people, minority ethnic communities, and under served populations.
The manifesto urges immediate action from the next Scottish Government on five priority areas to improve SRH, HIV, maternity and abortion care across the country:
1. Integrated sexual & reproductive healthcare;
2. Investment to improve maternity services;
3. Deliver the HIV Transmission Elimination Plan and ensure equitable access to STI and BBV testing and treatment;
4. Reduce gynaecology waits and improve care pathways;
5. Implement the recommendations of the Review of Abortion Law in Scotland Expert Group and guarantee access to abortion care up to 24 weeks for all who need it.
Dr Sinead Cook, Chair of the CoSRH Scotland Committee, said: “Scotland has made real progress in women’s health and sexual health, but far too many people still face long waits, limited access and avoidable barriers to the care they need and deserve.
“Improving access to high‑quality sexual and reproductive healthcare not only benefits patients and service users, it also strengthens Scotland’s economy by reducing time lost to poor health.
“That’s why investment in abortion care, menopause care and sexual and reproductive healthcare more broadly must be a priority for the next Scottish Government.”
Dr Alison Wright, President of the RCOG said: “We very much hope that Scotland’s next political leader will seize the opportunity to build upon the strong foundations already laid through the Women’s Health Plan, the review of Scotland’s maternity services and the recommendations of the Review of Abortion Law in Scotland.
“Maternity staff are working under extreme pressure; caring for increasingly complex pregnancies, whilst facing ongoing workforce and resource shortages that affect the provision of safe, personalised care. At the same time, unacceptably long gynaecology waiting lists, rising demand for abortion care, and inequalities in access to sexual and reproductive health services, present significant challenges.
“Addressing the five priority areas set out in this manifesto will enable the next Government to deliver meaningful change where it is most urgently needed for women. We look forward to working with the next Scottish Government and our colleagues across Women’s Health and Maternity services in Scotland, to turn these ambitions into practical improvements in care.”
Dr Graham Leslie, Chair of the BASHH Scottish Branch, said: ““Sexual health and HIV services play a vital role in Scotland’s public health, yet they are operating in an increasingly challenging environment, exacerbated by workforce pressures and persistent inequities in access and outcomes.
“This manifesto sets out clear recommendations to strengthen prevention, expand access to testing and specialist genitourinary medicine, and deliver the HIV Transmission Elimination Plan. With sustained commitment and prioritisation, political leaders can deliver a legacy of world‑leading sexual health and HIV care for everyone who needs it across Scotland.”
Dr Tristan Barber, Chair of the British HIV Association (BHIVA), said: “BHIVA looks forward to ongoing commitment from the next Scottish Government in delivering success for the HIV Transmission Elimination Plan.
“This means funding and removing barriers to equitable access to prevention, testing, and treatment, making all readily available as a fundamental part of routine healthcare. We must also continue to challenge the persistent stigma that keeps key groups on the fringes of the health system, especially women and those from ethnic minorities.
“For those who acquire HIV, early testing and rapid engagement with treatment and care is crucial to both preventing onward transmission and enabling these individuals to live a long and healthy life.
“The next Scottish Government has an opportunity for Scotland to be the first UK nation to achieve the UNAIDS targets of zero HIV transmissions, zero HIV related stigma, and end late diagnosis and HIV related deaths. Scottish Government in achieving these goals.”
Professor Alexis Jay has agreed to chair a statutory Public Inquiry to examine Scotland’s response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE).
In a statement to Parliament, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth confirmed the Scottish Government’s intention to establish a targeted independent Inquiry and establish a Scottish Truth Project.
The Inquiry will focus on the prevalence of group-based CSAE now and in the recent past, whether brought forward by survivors or relating to findings from the independent National Review being led by four Inspectorates.
The new Inquiry will be distinct from the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), chaired by Lady Smith. The Scottish Government will ensure the new Inquiry does not duplicate the valuable work of the SCAI.
The scope of the Inquiry and its detailed terms of reference will be finalised and confirmed in due course, following input from Prof Jay.
The Education Secretary also announced that the Government intends to establish a Truth Project in Scotland, to enable victims and survivors of CSAE to share their experiences to help inform change and access support.
This afternoon, I made a statement to the Scottish Parliament outlining the @scotgov’s position on protecting children from harm.
I confirmed my intention to establish a statutory public inquiry to consider Scotland’s response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation. pic.twitter.com/JkvPcOY2hn
Ms Gilruth said: “Survivors of abuse want to see accountability and improvement delivered as quickly as possible, and that sense of urgency is shared by the Scottish Government.
“We are determined to act decisively to protect children from the horrendous harm of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
“I consider the establishment of a Public Inquiry to be essential, and from discussions I know Professor Jay wants to ensure that the Inquiry is carried out at pace. Announcing an Independent Public Inquiry today will not cure all which has come before, but it is a statement of intent from this Government that we will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice for survivors of child sexual abuse.
“The work of the National Review and Police Scotland’s ongoing review of cases of group-based abuse will ensure that any improvements that must be made to practice or action to bring perpetrators to justice is taken as quickly as possible.
“The Truth Project, to be led by John O’Brien, will ensure that the voice of survivors is central to our collective efforts so that every action is informed by their experience and brings about the changes they have told me must be made.”
Professor Alexis Jay said: “The sexual and criminal exploitation of children entails abuse of the most horrific kind, usually at the hands of many perpetrators.The Public Inquiry will get to the truth of exploitation in Scotland in the past and the present, in order to prevent it in the future.
“It will examine the extent to which public authorities and other organisations effectively identify the risk of child exploitation and take action to protect children. I will engage with victims and survivors early, as the terms of reference are formed.”
Commenting on the Scottish Government announcement today of a public inquiry into grooming gangs in Scotland, Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children First said: “Children First have long supported victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to fight for better systems of prevention, detection and protection. Scotland has a duty to confront the harm children have suffered and to put a stop to more children being abused.
“We now need to see full details of this inquiry so we can understand its scope and how it will ensure children’s voices and rights are placed at its centre.
“What cannot wait is urgent investment in specialist support like that provided by Bairns Hoose. This must be made available to every child who needs it so they can safely disclose harm and receive all the help they need to heal and reclaim their childhood.”
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