Flawed contract design and incompetent delivery left the Home Office unable to cope with the surge in demand for asylum accommodation, a report by the Home Affairs Committee has found.
Hotels went from a temporary stop-gap to the go-to solution for asylum accommodation, leading to a failed system that is expensive, unpopular with local communities and unsuitable for asylum seekers.
As the cost of asylum accommodation contracts more than tripled, inadequate oversight meant failings went unnoticed and unaddressed. The Home Office failed to keep costs down and underutilised mechanisms to penalise providers for poor performance and reclaim excess profits.
No performance penalties are applied for poor performance at Napier, Wethersfield or asylum hotels, despite hotels accounting for over 75% of spending on asylum accommodation.
Break clauses in 2026 and the end of the contracts in 2029 offer the Home Office an opportunity to end the failed system. However, without a clear long-term plan and the institutional capability to deliver a model that is more effective and offers value for money, past failures risk being repeated, the Committee warns.
The Home Office’s approach has been a series of hasty, short-term responses. It must now learn from past failures and deliver a clear long-term strategy for asylum accommodation that provides value for money, adequate standards of accommodation and takes account of the impact on local communities.
Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, Dame Karen Bradley said: “The Home Office has presided over a failing asylum accommodation system that has cost taxpayers billions of pounds.
“Its response to increasing demand has been rushed and chaotic, and the department has neglected the day-to-day management of these contracts. The Government needs to get a grip on the asylum accommodation system in order to bring costs down and hold providers to account for poor performance.
“Urgent action is needed to lower the cost of asylum accommodation and address the concerns of local communities. While reducing hotel use is rightly a Government priority, there will always be a need for flexibility within the system, and the Home Office risks boxing itself in by making undeliverable promises to appeal to popular sentiment. It shouldn’t set itself up for more failure.
“The Home Office has not proved able to develop a long term strategy for the delivery of asylum accommodation. It has instead focused on short term, reactive responses.
“There is now an opportunity to draw a line under the current failed, chaotic and expensive system, but the Home Office must finally learn from its previous mistakes or it is doomed to repeat them.”
GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE ACTION OR MISS FUEL POVERTY TARGETS
Scotland is extremely unlikely to meet its fuel poverty targets for 2030 according to a new report from the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel.
The Panel says the Scottish Government’s first three-year update, Tackling Scottish Fuel Poverty 2021–24, shows that fuel poverty rates have risen sharply since targets were first set in 2019.
It says that greater emphasis must be placed on the monitoring and evaluation of progress towards fuel poverty targets.
The latest figures paint a stark picture: more than a third of households in Scotland (34%), approximately 861,000, are now classed as living in fuel poverty.
A household is in fuel poverty if, after housing costs have been paid for, it needs more than 10% of its remaining income to pay for its energy needs and if after paying for its energy the household is left in poverty.
It’s considered in extreme fuel poverty if they have to spend more than 20% of its remaining income. Almost one in five (19.4%) or 491,0001 households are in extreme fuel poverty, a long way from the Scottish Government’s goal of reducing the figures to 15% for fuel poverty and 5% for extreme fuel poverty by 2030.
Matthew Cole, Chair of Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel said: “We’re calling for the existing Fuel Poverty Strategy to be revised as a matter of urgency, or Scotland will not only miss its 2030 targets but is also unlikely to meet its 2035 targets.
“There is also need for a fuel poverty delivery plan that links boosting household income directly to meeting fuel poverty targets, and this delivery plan should be robustly monitored.
“While meeting the 2040 target of just 5% in fuel poverty and 1% in extreme fuel poverty is still possible, it will be a massive challenge requiring a whole new strategic approach. There are far too many people still having to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families.”
He said the Panel has heard some harrowing stories from energy advice agencies and other partners on the frontline across Scotland: “We have heard of people resorting to extremes so that they can access heat and power, with a resident in the Western Isles developing hypothermia after disconnecting the heating because they were unable to pay their bill.
“We have even heard reports of someone ripping up the floorboards in their home so that they could burn them as a heat source. These findings are shocking on their own, but are even more so when we consider the longer-term impacts living in fuel poverty can have, including on physical and mental health.”
The Panel’s new report acknowledges that the world is a very different place since the original targets were set in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis driven by the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
It also acknowledges that although household energy rates are not within the Scottish Government’s direct control, the escalation of fuel poverty levels in Scotland means that tackling fuel poverty should be a greater priority than ever.
The report recognises that some progress has been made by the Scottish Government over the last three years, particularly in efforts to improve the energy efficiency of housing. There has been a measurable improvement in recent years with 56% of homes rated EPC band C or better in 2023 – an increase of around 3% from 2022.
There has also been significant Scottish Government support to increase income for low-income households, with some interventions directly related to annual assistance with energy costs.
However, there is still a long way to go to achieve the targets. The Panel has made a series of recommendations to the Scottish Government urging it to:
Fulfil its commitment to revising its current Fuel Poverty Strategy by December 2026.
Accelerate the rate of improvements to make housing stock more energy efficient.
Increase awareness of how energy is used in homes to reduce waste and make costs clearer, as many households may be on unsuitable tariffs, paying more than necessary without realising it.
Set a clear vision for the GB energy market, push for reforms that take account of the needs of Scottish consumers, and protect those at risk of fuel poverty.
Target island and remote rural communities with tailored, co-ordinated action to cut fuel poverty where it hits hardest.
On behalf of the Panel, the Chair emphasised: “It is essential that the revised strategy includes a clear, credible plan to cut fuel poverty and meet statutory targets.
“That means closer monitoring, better evaluation, and flexible policies that respond quickly to stalled progress or heightened need. We look forward to seeing the Scottish Government’s response in the coming weeks.”
Gillian Campbell, Director of the Existing Homes Alliance (EHA), said: “The Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel highlights that the number of households in fuel poverty rose from 24.6% in 2019 to 34% in 2023. This rising level of fuel poverty in renewables rich Scotland is deeply concerning.
“Poor energy efficiency remains one of the main drivers of fuel poverty, yet we know Scotland already has excellent fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes that can make homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat. However, the scale of existing programmes doesn’t match current levels of need.
“The Scottish Government must commit to scaling up these effective schemes and providing long-term funding certainty so local authorities and partners can maximise their impact. Without that commitment, too many people will continue to face the impossible choice between heating and eating this winter.”
Clubs, schools, day centres and other community settings could help to make health and care more accessible, new research suggests.
Familiar places like these could remove barriers to care, like not being sure if there is a health or care issue, where to go, how to get there, who to see or what to tell the health or care practitioner.
This is one of more than 20 recommendations made by people across the UK who researchers say are rarely consulted about the design of health and social care services.
A new report coins the term ‘seldom-listened-to’ to describe these people and communities. The researchers also coin the term ‘health labour’ to describe the effort needed by seldom-listened-to people to access health and care.
Participants in the research included siblings of children with life-limiting conditions; women, trans men, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people with energy limiting chronic illness, such as Long Covid and autoimmune conditions; older autistic people with learning disabilities; people living with chronic inflammatory disease, endometriosis; rural communities in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; diverse communities in Greater Manchester; children living in areas of high deprivation in the South Tees region; African-Caribbean communities in London; mental health service users in Kent and both patients and staff who are staying or working in care units in hospitals.
“The people in our study are from communities which aren’t often listened to or included in discussions about the design of health and care services,” explained Professor Mary Stewart, academic lead for the project and Director of Social Interaction, Mental Health and Wellbeing at Heriot-Watt University.
“And yet these communities can experience profound health and care inequalities that can impact on their physical and mental health, quality of life, and the ability to live well – not only for the individual – but also their families and the wider community.
“Our research sets out the specific ways in which staff, organisations, stakeholders, and policymakers can place seldom-listened-to individuals and communities at the heart of the design of the future of health and care.
“We show not only that this is possible – but that it’s vital to co-design the future of health and care with these people and communities to improve health and care for everyone.”
The report is part of research funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) – which supports arts and humanities research and study in the UK – and uses creative methods to explore how seldom-listened-to people and groups would like the future of health and social care to look.
Instead of using traditional research methods like surveys and interviews – which aren’t always accessible to seldom-listened-to people – the researchers worked with artists and creative methods to capture the views and experiences of participants. These creative methods included film, music, poetry, podcasts, comics, creative writing and folk stories.
Through a series of activities and workshops, the seldom-listened-to participants ‘reimagined’ health and social care services which could give them more say in decision-making, help them to access and engage with care – and use safer spaces to build trust and rapport.
Research co-author Bryony Nisbet, a Psychology Research Assistant at Heriot-Watt University, explained: “By safer spaces, we mean community places that are already familiar to people, and where they may already have support from trusted others.
“For example, if you’re an autistic adult with learning disabilities, accessing health and care in a day centre you already attend potentially removes the huge physical and sensory overload of trying to get to and navigate around a new place you’ve never been to before.
“For the NHS and social care, the practical change we’re proposing is moving the point of care from GP surgeries into the community. This in turn can help to tackle the growing burden on primary care in the UK.”
Other recommendations in the report include providing multidisciplinary services that span sectors including housing, employment and education – alongside health and care.
Care should also anticipate future needs, for example by developing ‘future-ready homes’ that are already adapted to meet the needs of vulnerable groups as they get older.
The report also recommends that professionals are trained to work with people with varying communication, cognitive, sensory and cultural needs.
The research aligns with the UK government’s 10-year plan to bring the NHS closer to home, including neighbourhood health centres which will house services under one roof and will be open at evenings and weekends.
The researchers have written a policy brief detailing their recommendations for policymakers. This will be shared with politicians across the UK, including Members of the Scottish Parliament and Members of Parliament at Westminster.
The ten projects in the research were all partnerships between communities, community organisations and universities. The other university partners were University of Liverpool, University of Greenwich, University of Strathclyde, Edge Hill University in Lancashire, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Teeside University, University of Kent and University of the Highlands and Islands Inverness.
The organisations and charities involved in the research included disability group Chronic Illness Inclusion, Manchester public arts project We Live Here; charity Endometriosis UK; Scottish Autism; educational institution Tees Valley Education Trust and arts community outreach project, Inverness Openarts.
Participants in the research included Oliver Waite, who took part in University of Manchester’s research project, called NHS 75/150 Looking Back, Looking Forwards. This engaged diverse communities in Greater Manchester in discussions around the future of health and care. Oliver’s story is captured in a comic-book style artwork that highlights the importance of seeing people as individuals.
Oliver explained: “I have schizoaffective disorder, I’m autistic and I’ve transitioned from female to male. But I’m more than just a list of medical issues.
“I’m a part-time history student with the Open University, I build models, such as Lego, and I play wheelchair rugby league.”
She said: “African-Caribbean communities are 40% more likely than white British people to come into contact with mental health services and to be detained under the Mental Health Act. “
Our project looked at a different approach, one that builds on the cultural traditions and community support that have always helped people stay mentally well. Through storytelling and folk song workshops, we created a practical toolkit to help promote good mental health in local communities”
She said: “The children and young people in our project were able to explore and express their lived experiences and perspectives on social inequality and health and wellbeing through a series of interactive and inclusive workshops, including comic-making, creative writing, dance and performance.
“We hope the artworks, creative writing and films that captured their voices will help health professionals, policy makers, researchers and the wider public to learn from the experience and insights of children and young people.”
Early-bird tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party and Torchlight Procession on sale Friday, 30 May at 10am
Ahead of releasing early-bird tickets for this year’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party and the ever popular Torchlight Procession on Friday at 10am, event organisers Unique Assembly today publish the report on Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals 2024-25.
Encompassing both Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay New Year festival, the report highlights the substantial positive impact these events have on both the city of Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole.
Created and designed by Unique Assembly on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council, the seven weeks of winter events and attractions not only brought festive cheer to residents and visitors to the city who came together to enjoy the capitals world famous celebrations, but also provided significant economic and community benefits which continue to impact positively year-round.
Visitors to the city centre enjoyed a feast of festive fun in the heart of the capital – discovering the traditional Christmas Market including the iconic Christmas Wheel and Around the World Starflyer, visiting the outdoor Ice Skating and new Ice Bar experience, enjoying family funfair rides and illumination trails, watching live music concerts, festive shows and community events, and of course that all-important visit from Santa himself.
Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals continues to support local communities with over 160 local community groups and charities engaged with through the Edinburgh’s Christmas Schools & Communities Initiative, distributing more than 8,000 free community tickets and ride tokens to people across the city.
In addition, being a platform for local talent and community events is an important part of Edinburgh’s Christmas, including the Winter Windows Schools Competition, which showcased artwork by pupils from 24 schools, displayed beneath the Castle in the beautiful setting of Princes Street Gardens.
While many people want to join and enjoy the city centre festivities it is not that simple for some and therefore a new Silent Light Projection Show brought Christmas cheer and festive illumination to communities across the city.
In 2024, working with the Council’s Education Team, the Winter festivals were able to bring that cheer to Granton Primary School, Stockbridge Primary School, Gilmerton Community Centre and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
The report underscores the Winter Festivals’ commitment to the local community through its charity partnerships.
This year, Edinburgh’s Winter Festival directly raised funds for local charities One City Trust and Simon Community Scotland, supporting crucial work in fighting inequality and homelessness within Edinburgh.
Furthermore, the festivals continued their support, both financial and operational, for Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness and When You Wish Upon a Star through the annual Santa Fun Run, confirming the commitment of both organisers and festivalgoers to giving back.
The Concert in the Gardens also played a role in charitable giving, with donations from ticket buyers for supporting Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Overall more than £15,000 was donated by visitors through both Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay events.
While audience and sales data for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay was impacted by the cancellation of the major outdoor events, pre-cancellation data confirms that Edinburgh’s Hogmanay continues to attract local audiences (33%) as well as visitors to the city (31% international and 36% from the rest of the UK).
Edinburgh’s Christmas data shows that a similar mix of Edinburgh & Lothians residents (37%), visitors from Scotland (21%) and elsewhere in the UK (32%), while a good number of international visitors (10%) attended this winter.
Across a total attendance of over 2.8million to Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions, strong attendance from international visitors demonstrates the international appeal which not only boosts the local economy but also enhances Scotland’s global tourism profile.
In addition, 74% of market stall traders in the Christmas Markets were Scottish, supporting the local creative crafts, drinks, food and gifts industries both financially and through profile. While 76% of artists and creatives who took part in Edinburgh’s Winter festivals events were local.
In the annual audience survey over 70% of visitors from out with the city cited Edinburgh’s Christmas as the primary reason for travelling to Edinburgh, staying an average of 1.85 nights.
Over 90% of respondents were satisfied to extremely satisfied with their experience with over 95% agreeing that Edinburgh’s Christmas is a valuable and iconic part of Edinburgh’s winter identity, bringing a festive spirit to the city.
90% also said they are more likely to return to Edinburgh during the festival season because of their experience. The average spend was £537 across eating out, attractions, retail and in bars and pubs.
An increasing number of local residents are taking up their special ticket offer at Edinburgh’s Christmas with 101,500 discounted EH postcode tickets sold this year.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “The findings of this report demonstrate that Edinburgh’s world-famous winter festivals don’t only draw a huge international crowd, boosting the economy and adding to the city’s vibrant calendar of events, but, crucially, they deliver significant benefits to Edinburgh’s local communities, businesses and charities.
“This is despite the cancellation of last year’s outdoor events, showing just how far reaching the programme events is. I look forward to finding out more about this year’s plans, which look set to brighten the city in the winter months.”
Roddy Smith, CEO of Essential Edinburgh said: “Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals are a crucial period for our city centre and again it is very pleasing to see our residents and visitors coming in such large numbers.
“With such a varied and appealing Festival programme, combined with the high quality hospitality and retail offering in the city centre, Edinburgh continues to be an attractive destination to enjoy the festive season. We are already looking forward to what’s in store for this year.”
Louise MacLean, Business Development Director, Signature Group, said: “The Winter Festivals in Edinburgh provide a vital boost for hospitality in December. The surge in footfall, driven by visitors seeking festive entertainment, food, and drink, brings a much-needed increase in sales to all our venues across Edinburgh but particularly George Street and the New Town.
“Since the eastward shift in footfall with the appeal of St James, the Winter programme is not just welcomed by us, it’s crucial to our Christmas trade which often sustains us through the hard month of January.
“We can plan for this due to knowing that Unique Assembly’s festivals will bring revellers to the city. From there, we must ensure these visitors become our guests.”
Despite the cancellation of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay outdoor events due to weather conditions over the four days, the festival still welcomed significant numbers to its many sold out indoor events with over 25,000 attending over the four days including The Night Afore Concert with Idlewild and the Bairns Revels and New Year Revels in Assembly Rooms, the ever popular Hogmanay Candlelit Concert in St Giles’ Cathedral, as well as a late addition with Hot Dub Time Machine playing a quickly arranged intimate Hogmanay gig in Assembly Hall.
The new first of January club nights in Portobello Town Hall and Leith Arches closed this year’s festival on New Year’s night.
The popular free New Year’s Day First Footin’ Cultural Trail attracted an audience of over 15,000, including many family groups to 18 venues across the Old and New Towns, this year extending its footprint welcoming Portobello Town Hall and Leith Arches into the programme.
First Footin & Sprogmanay presented 44 acts with 298 performers for the event programme, and as part of its participatory music event, Come Away In, renowned folk artist Karine Polwart welcomed 150 participants to join a community choir for uplifting performances on New Year’s Day at St. Giles’ Cathedral.
Sprogmanay welcomed a family audience of 5,500 to take part in lots of New Year arts, crafts and activities, including magic, dancing unicorns and giant I-puppets through a collaboration with National Museum of Scotland. Free family ceilidhs took place in Assembly Roxy and Portobello Town Hall offering a truly Scottish experience for families on New Year’s Day both in the city and beyond.
Despite the cancellation of outdoor events, a survey of attendees at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay saw 71% say they were satisfied to extremely satisfied with their festival experience, 93% agreed it is a valuable part of Edinburgh’s winter identity, 89% said the event made them feel proud to be part of Scotland’s celebrations and 90% would recommend Edinburgh’s Hogmanay to friends or family.
Those who travelled to join the celebrations stayed an average of 2.25 nights spending £958 on their stay. 87.5% of visitors spent money on eating out, 79.5% in bars and pubs, 56% on attractions or tours, and 56% on retail.
The total economic impact of the Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals was calculated last year at £198M, combining the financial impact of both Edinburgh’s Christmas (£150M) and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (£48M).
This represents a return of £244 for every £1 invested by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC funding contribution of £812,456 towards Edinburgh’s Hogmanay), whilst making a significant contribution to the year-round health and prosperity of the city.
Alan Thomson from Unique Assembly said:“We take a lot of heart from this report that even having lost our outdoor events at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay to weather, the Winter Festivals have still delivered not just wonderful and joyful opportunities for people to come together, but also huge benefits for the people of Edinburgh and for Scotland across traders, local families, communities and charities and our tourism businesses.
“We are working on our plans for this coming winter’s celebrations and look forward to sharing those with you very soon.”
This report demonstrates that Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals ‘continue to be a vital asset to the city and Scotland, providing not only memorable experiences but also significant economic benefits and valuable support to local communities and charities’.
Hidden dangers at home: Over half (55 per cent) of all accidental deaths occur at home, with falls, poisonings, and burns being the most common.
Garden and DIY safety tips: Use a residual current device (RCD) with electrically powered tools, store chemicals securely, and ensure play equipment is safe and well-maintained.
Personal warning about serious consequences: Brian’s story underscores the importance of caution and proper safety measures when using garden equipment, as accidents can lead to severe injuries.
As the nation looks for inspiration at the Chelsea Flower Show, many will head into their own gardens to dig, plant, and improve their outdoor spaces. But while gardening and DIY can be rewarding, they also come with hidden risks that are often overlooked.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents recent Safer Lives, Stronger Nation report, over half (55%) of all accidental deaths occur at home, compared to just 0.6% at work. The most common causes include falls, poisonings, and burns, all of which are preventable with the right precautions.
Therefore, RoSPA is urging households to be aware of the dangers that lie within the home and garden—especially ahead of the May Bank Holiday, when many people take on home improvement projects.
The report also revealed that accidents cost the UK £12 billion annually, including £6 billion in NHS medical care.
The most common domestic accidents are:
Falls: 3,148 (40 per cent)
Accidental poisoning: 2,686 (34 per cent)
Other accidental threats to breathing (e.g., suffocation, strangulation, and choking): 259 (3 per cent)
Exposure to smoke, fire, and flames: 142 (1 per cent)
Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces (including being struck by an object, crushing, and cutting injuries): 46 (1 per cent)
Brian’s Story
Brian, 50, a sales manager, has shared his experience to highlight the importance of safety in the home setting.
On a warm Sunday, while using his Flymo lawnmower, Brian stepped backwards and tripped over his grandson’s trampoline stairs.
He slipped on water from a paddling pool, causing him to fall and accidentally bring the lawnmower towards himself. Brian suffered severe injuries, losing two toes and requiring multiple surgeries. His story underscores the need for caution and proper safety measures when using garden equipment.
Speaking of his accident, Brian said: “I’m so careful now doing anything remotely risky around the house.
“We tend to do things like mow the lawn or climb on chairs or ladders on autopilot, but every task is done now with a lot of thought and consideration. I was very lucky that I didn’t chop off my entire foot.”
Adrian Simpson, Head of Policy at RoSPA, said:“Brian’s story is just one example of the thousands of accidents that occur in homes across Britain every year.
“Whilst we rally the government to take on board the asks in our recent Safer Lives : Stronger Nation report , we advise anyone looking for tips on staying safe – be it in the home, at leisure or at work – to get to grips with our learning resources and advice that can be found online.”
RoSPA’s key tips for having a safe Bank Holiday
Falls
Use stable ladders and step stools: When working on DIY projects or gardening tasks that require reaching high places, ensure ladders and step stools are in good condition, and placed stable on level footing. Avoid overreaching and always maintain three points of contact whilst up ladders.
Clear pathways: Keep walkways and stairs free of clutter, tools, and garden equipment to avoid tripping. Regularly check for uneven surfaces and repair them promptly.
Install handrails: For outdoor steps and garden paths, install handrails to provide support and reduce the risk of falls.
Accidental poisoning
Store chemicals safely: Keep all gardening chemicals, pesticides, and cleaning products up high in a secure, locked cabinet, out of reach of children and pets. Clearly label all containers.
Enviro-friendly options: Consider replacing toxic/corrosive substances with products that can do the same job but are less harmful to humans and corrosive substances with products that can do the same job. But are less harmful to humans / animals and kinder to the environment.
Follow instructions: Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using chemicals and pesticides. Wear appropriate protective gear, such as gloves and masks, to avoid exposure.
Dispose of chemicals properly: Dispose of unused or expired chemicals according to local regulations to prevent accidental poisoning.
Poisonous plants: Check the garden area for any plants that may be poisonous to children
Using tools and electrical equipment
Use protective gear: When working with power tools or performing DIY tasks, wear protective gear such as safety goggles, gloves, and ear protection to prevent injuries from flying debris or loud noises.
Check equipment: Regularly inspect garden tools and DIY equipment for damage or wear. Replace or repair faulty items to ensure they are safe to use.
Use tools correctly: Always use tools as intended and follow safety guidelines. For example, use long-handled tools for barbecues and avoid risky manoeuvres on trampolines.
Be mindful of weather conditions: Avoid using electrical equipment in wet conditions to prevent electrocution. Store tools and equipment in a dry place.
Smoke and fire risks
Safe barbecue practices: Place barbecues on level ground, away from flammable materials. Never use accelerants like petrol or meths to light the barbecue. Ensure it is fully extinguished before disposal.
Fire safety equipment: Keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of sand nearby when using fire pits or barbecues. Ensure smoke detectors are installed and functioning in your home.
Other threats to breathing
Avoid dust and fumes: When sanding, painting, or using chemicals, ensure the area is well-ventilated. Use masks to protect against inhaling dust or fumes.
Keep small objects away from children: Store small DIY items like screws, nails, and other hardware out of reach of children to prevent choking hazards.
Play safety
Secure equipment: Ensure play equipment and garden structures are securely anchored and regularly inspected for wear and tear to prevent accidents.
Each piece of research is part of a jigsaw puzzle that makes up a picture of volunteering in Scotland.
We’ve written a report that draws together all this research and presents five headlines about the state of volunteering in Scotland today.
The headlines: a brief overview
Volunteering is in crisis
The Scottish Household Survey reveals that 335,000 people stopped volunteering between 2019 and 2023 which means that there are fewer volunteers for third sector organisations to draw upon to meet increased demand for core services.
The cost of living crisis is closing doors to volunteer participation
Evidence from multiple sources points to the cost of living crisis making it harder for people in Scotland to volunteer. The cost of living crisis s is chipping away at people’s mental wellbeing and resilience as well as making it harder for people to justify the time and expense of participating in leisure activities, which our evidence shows are a crucial pathway into volunteering.
People are missing out on the wellbeing benefits of volunteering, when they need it most
With the decline in volunteer participation, we know that more and more people are missing out on the wellbeing benefits they can experience through volunteering. And, it is often the people who benefit most from volunteering who are missing out, particularly people living with a disability and those with poor physical or mental health.
The deprivation gap is closing, but it isn’t all as it seems
The gap between volunteer participation in Scotland’s least and most deprived areas is getting smaller, but it is not clear whether this is driven by positive social changes. Our evidence shows us that the relationship between deprivation and volunteering is complex, and while the gap is closing there are more questions to consider for ensuring that volunteering is a positive experience for people across all of Scotland’s communities.
The demographic profile of Scotland’s volunteers is changing
There have been multiple shifts in the demographic profile of Scotland’s volunteers, including a decline in volunteering among males, ethnic minorities and working age adults. In our report, we explore = the potential impact of this on future volunteering among retired adults.
To find out about these headlines in more and what evidence supports these conclusions, please read our report.
What action should we take?
Based on the research, we think there are several questions and actionable insights to consider:
Leisure activities, including culture, sport and hobbies, are important pathways into volunteering. What can be done to protect these pathways in light of the impact of the cost of living crisis?
Volunteering can play a role in improving the health and wellbeing of Scottish adults, but it cannot only be for people who have good physical and mental health. What opportunities are there to broaden volunteer participation among those with poor physical and mental health so that they can access the wellbeing benefits of volunteering? How can the third sector encourage decision-makers to recognise the wellbeing benefits of volunteering when introducing or reviewing relevant policy or legislation, including around social prescribing, community health, and employability?
How can we better understand volunteering motivations, behaviours and patterns in Scotland’s most deprived communities so that volunteers are having a positive experience and are not being exploited to fill service gaps?
How can we tackle the barriers working age adults face in participating in volunteering and how can volunteering be promoted as part of people’s transition from work to retirement?
How can VIOs adapt their recruitment and retention strategies to ensure volunteering remains inclusive, especially in light of the uneven impacts of the cost of living crisis on different demographic groups?
We encourage colleagues in the Scottish voluntary sector to grapple with these findings. All our analysis is available for you to explore and use as evidence in your work. This matrix can be used to search for Volunteer Scotland research publications across a range of themes.
Do these headlines marry with your experience of Scottish volunteering? We’d love to hear your perspective and what you think should be done to address the crisis in volunteering. Please contact research@volunteerscotland.org.uk with any questions, comments or research opportunities.
Edinburgh remains one of the most prosperous and green places to live in the UK, according to findings collated by the City of Edinburgh Council.
The 18th annual Edinburgh by Numbers is based on data from a variety of sources including the ONS, National Records of Scotland and the Scottish Household Survey.
Looked at together, the figures reveal that residents in the Scottish capital are 1.5 times more likely to take up cycling and running – with most (74%) able to enjoy local green spaces within a five minute walk from home.
With 144 parks making up almost half of the city (49%), 92% of people surveyed are satisfied with local green spaces and Edinburgh has almost halved greenhouse gas emissions over the last decade (by 40.9% since 2012).
Highlighting the city’s economic resilience, Edinburgh has retained its position as the UK’s most economically productive city outside of London with some of the highest wages, skilled workers and employment.
Tourism continues to recover from the pandemic, with hotel occupancy rates at their highest in 6 years (81.4%) and 5 million visitors staying overnight in Edinburgh, and air and travel also rebounding.
The city is growing almost three times faster than the rest of Scotland and house prices are valued at the highest in the country. In 10 years, our population has grown by 8.4% to 523,250 people but for the first time, fewer babies are being born.
Further statistics reveal:
Edinburgh’s weather is changing, with April to June now the wettest months
Finance leads Edinburgh’s local economy, generating £7.2 billion – that’s as much as the next three largest sectors combined
Satisfaction with public transport is very high at 86% of those surveyed, well above Scotland’s 64% average
There are more university students in Edinburgh than school pupils (together, they make up 161,000 of the population)
75.8% of workers have a degree, which is far higher than other UK cities
Audiences are eager to return to top rated visitor attractions and events with visitors flocking to Edinburgh Castle (1.9m visitors) the National Museum of Scotland (2.19 million visitors) and the festivals (4.59 million in person and online attendees).
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “This edition of Edinburgh by Numbers reminds us of the strength and success of our capital city, which continues to punch far above its weight as a place to live, work, invest in and visit.
“Thanks to our fantastic parks and air quality, ‘Auld Reekie’ is no more. We’re leading the way in climate consciousness and outdoor living – with the data pointing to more of us cycling and running, high satisfaction rates with public transport and positive scores for wellbeing.
“We know that the results of Edinburgh by Numbers are hotly anticipated by professionals from across the tourism sector at home and abroad, and the outlook for hospitality is healthy – people are flocking back to the city’s main attractions and festivals and 5 million visitors are staying overnight. That’s 40% of Scotland’s total overnight tourism with hotel occupancy rates their highest in six years (81.4%).
“So, we’re getting outdoors and we’re enjoying our city and, in this report, there is much to celebrate. That said, these numbers also speak to the challenges Edinburgh faces. Drawn by good jobs and a good quality of life, migration means our population is growing three times faster than other Scottish cities. We’re living longer, but the birth rate has dropped. Many residents are struggling with the cost of living – meaning poverty and homelessness remain two of the biggest challenges of our time
“All of this leads to unprecedented demand for homes and public services. Initiatives such as our affordable housebuilding programme, Visitor Levy, climate adaptation and better connectivity around the city will give us more resources and solutions for sustainably managing Edinburgh’s continued economic success and growth.”
Denise Hamilton, Head of Communications at Cycling Scotland, commented: “It’s really encouraging to see 68% of short trips now being made on foot or by bike in Edinburgh. New dedicated cycle routes, like the City Centre West to East Link and Leith Walk, are showing big increases in the proportion of journeys being cycled, compared with other transport.
“As Edinburgh continues to build its planned citywide network of safe, on-street cycle lanes, it’s likely more and more people will choose to get around by bike and benefit from being active, saving money and getting to their destination quickly. And everyone living in or visiting Edinburgh can enjoy cleaner air and less congestion.”
THE Gandhian Peace Society (GPS) has shared ‘an urgent and transformative development’ – the recent publication of their new report,Hinduphobia in Scotland: Understanding, Addressing, and Overcoming Prejudice:
As a charity rooted in Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence, GPS is proud to announce that this pioneering study has been presented to the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Challenging Racial and Religious Prejudice of Hinduphobia in the UK (writes DHRUVA KUMAR, General Secretary of Gandhian Peace Society).
Our report, presented to the CPG on 23 January 2024 and discussed in a meeting chaired by Foysol Choudhury MSP and convened by Professor Peter Hopkins, blends rigorous statistical data with firsthand accounts from Scotland’s Hindu population—approximately 0.3% of the country’s 5.4 million residents.
The findings reveal a troubling rise in prejudice and systemic barriers:
56% Surge in Hate Crimes: Police Scotland data shows a 56% increase in charges linked to anti-Hindu prejudice between 2019 and 2021. Notable incidents include the 2021 vandalism of Dundee’s Shree Sanatan Mandir and the 2020 arson attack on Edinburgh’s Radha Krishna Temple.
Systemic Workplace Discrimination: Hindus face the lowest public-sector recruitment rates among religious groups—1.99% at NHS Greater Glasgow, 2.7% at Glasgow City Council, and 1.39% at Renfrewshire Council. A 2022 study found that 93% of Hindu employees avoid wearing religious attire at work, while 38% report denied requests for religious holidays.
Social Stigma: A survey revealed that 16% of Scots would feel uncomfortable with a relative marrying a Hindu, a higher rate than for Muslims (14%), Jews (11%), or Buddhists (9%).
These findings, compiled over eight months of collaboration with academics, interfaith leaders, and community members, underscore the urgent need for action. Professor Hopkins praised the report’s evidence-based approach, while Peter lauded GPS for bringing Hinduphobia into public discourse.
Beyond documenting these challenges, our report proposes an actionable four-pillar strategy to address Hinduphobia:
Legal Reforms: Strengthen Scotland’s Hate Crime Act to explicitly recognize Hinduphobia as a distinct form of prejudice.
Education: Revise school curricula to include accurate teachings about Hindu history and culture, countering ignorance and stereotypes.
Workplace Policies: Mandate anti-discrimination training and clear guidelines for religious accommodations in public and private sectors.
Community Support: Establish interfaith networks and victim support hubs to foster solidarity and resilience.
As Dhruva Kumar, Sukhi Bains and Neil Lal, authors of the report, aptly stated: “This isn’t a Hindu issue alone. It’s about building a Scotland where diversity is protected.”
The significance of this report extends far beyond Scotland. It has sparked widespread dialogue, with coverage in over 110 media outlets worldwide, including ANI, Press Trust of India, HinduPost The Week, The Tribune, Business Standard, The Print and WashingtonDCDespatch, as well as prominent Asian platforms like Awaz FM.
Dhruva Kumar said: “Scotland has a long tradition of welcoming diversity. We must uphold those values by ensuring that no religious community faces marginalisation or discrimination.”
‘Widespread’ and ‘culturally embedded’ ageism requires stronger legal protections against age discrimination and a new cross-Government strategy to address the challenges and opportunities posed by the UK’s ageing population, a new report by Westminster’s Women and Equalities Committee has warned.
It recommended the UK Government assess the experience in Wales, which has a well-established Commissioner for Older People and a comprehensive network of local authority Older People’s Champions helping to deliver a national strategy, with a view to replicating a similar framework in England.
Existing age discrimination law and the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) are ‘failing older people’ as their protections are inadequate and rarely enforced, WEC’s report on the rights of older people found, as it called on the Government to commission and fund a wholesale review by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
MPs found clear evidence that ageist stereotyping, including portrayals of older people as frail, helpless or incompetent, or conversely as wealth-hoarding “boomers”, is highly prevalent across the UK media and is a significant contributory factor to the normalisation of ageist attitudes.
Ageism, the report concluded, causes harm both to older individuals, including when self-limiting stereotypes are internalised, and at societal level, pitting generations against each other and breeding unnecessary and unhelpful division.
Despite the continuing rise in older age groups across the UK – with 11 million people in England and Wales aged 65 or older and over half a million people aged over 90 – the UK’s equalities framework omits a focus on demographic change and ageing, WEC found.
It called on the Cabinet Office to establish a unit of data and policy analysts within the Office of Equality and Opportunity (OEO) to build an evidence base on the key cross-departmental challenges, including intersectional issues, facing older people now and in the coming decades.
The report called on the Government to commission and fund the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to review the effectiveness of protections against age discrimination, including consideration of the impacts of allowing objective justification of direct age discrimination; the adequacy of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and the case for more specific positive duties in England; the case for a strengthened “reasonable steps” duty on employers to prevent age discrimination; and options to better reflect in the Equality Act the intersectional nature of age discrimination, including but not limited to commencement of section 14 on dual characteristics.
On digital exclusion from essential services, it warned some older people are at high risk, including in aspects of healthcare, local authority services, benefits and banking, adding it is a ‘considerable failure of government’ that the UK’s digital inclusion strategy has not been updated in over a decade.
WEC urged the Government to prioritise the development of a new digital inclusion strategy that includes a detailed focus on the needs of older people, including a plan for locally delivered digital skills provision and promotion of best practice in maintaining offline alternatives to digital for as long as needs remain.
It also called on the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the broadcast media regulator Ofcom and the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) to take steps to strengthen their respective regulatory codes to better protect individuals and society from the harms of pervasive ageism.
Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Labour MP Sarah Owen, said:“The Committee’s report shows clearly that age discrimination is widespread in the UK and often minimised compared to other forms of discrimination. A comprehensive review of age discrimination law is a necessary step in tackling the UK’s pervasively ageist culture.
“The UK’s growing and increasingly diverse ageing population presents significant cross-departmental challenges and opportunities, so the lack of a Government strategy on how to respond to these issues is concerning.
“The UK Government should look to the experience in Wales, which has a dedicated Commissioner for Older People and a national strategy, and consider how to give older people a much stronger voice in policy making in England.
“Technology has become the default for many public services, meaning a refreshed Digital Inclusion Strategy is more important than ever. It is a considerable failure of government that the Digital Inclusion Strategy has not been updated, nor progress tracked, for a decade.
“Ultimately much more must be done to tackle ageist attitudes and discrimination across society, including in access to healthcare, local services, banking and transport.”
Scottish Government calls for closer energy links with Europe
The Scottish Government is calling for closer co-operation with Europe to help lower energy bills and boost investment.
Ahead of upcoming UK Government talks with the EU the Scottish Government has published a report, identifying a number of opportunities to more closely align with the European Union on energy matters.
These include:
accelerating the adoption of more efficient UK-EU electricity trading arrangements to bring down energy costs for consumers
linking the UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) to help reduce costs and barriers to trade
Estimates from the UK energy industry predict that unless the UK moves toward closer cooperation with the EU on energy and climate, it may lead to additional costs of up to £10billion in 2024-25, through higher energy bills and lower Treasury revenues.
The Scottish Government’s wants Scotland to be an EU member state, however the report published today sets out immediate actions which would rebuild closer collaboration with the EU on energy and climate matters and offset some of the damage caused by Brexit.
Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin said: “As we approach the fifth anniversary of Brexit, the costs to the people of Scotland are becoming ever clearer.
“The best future for Scotland is to be a member state of the EU. But we will always be a voice for closer co-operation with our fellow Europeans – in particular around issues which impact us all such as lowering energy bills and driving up investment in renewables.
“This paper highlights the key areas where working together is vital for achieving our shared ambitions – driving economic growth, reducing costs, strengthening energy security and substantially contributing to our shared climate goals.
“We have a pivotal role to play and stand ready to work collaboratively with the UK Government and wider partners to re-build a closer relationship with Europe in this space.”
