Tag: Scottish Government

Swinney: Action against misogyny

First Minister announces series of interventions to tackle violence against women and girls

A new Respect Fund for Scotland will see school pupils supported to reject misogyny and promote respect as part of a package of Scottish Government action to tackle violence against women and girls.

Up to an additional £1 million will be invested from 2027/28 to ensure high school pupils can access third sector programmes teaching young people how to reject misogyny, whilst primary school pupils will receive age-appropriate learning on respect.

The funding will be bolstered by the rollout of a Scottish Government backed campaign with leading sporting organisations and prominent sportsmen for a new phase of the Don’t Be That Guy campaign.

Initially run by Police Scotland in 2021, the advertising campaign rose to international prominence for encouraging men to challenge attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence against women and girls.

Scottish Rugby, the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Tennis are amongst the leading national organisations backing the refreshed campaign, along with leading sports personalities including Scotland rugby players Jamie Dobie and Grant Gilchrist, and tennis player Connor Thomson.

The move forms part of a package of action led by the First Minister to tackle misogyny in Scotland, including a commitment to introduce a Misogyny Bill before the 2027 summer recess.

First Minister John Swinney said: “Violence against women and girls is completely deplorable and has no place in the Scotland we are building. I am determined we do all we can to tackle it and ensure men change their behaviours.

“People of all ages need to feel able to talk openly to their male friends and colleagues about behaviour that is misogynistic and damaging to women, and contributes to a culture that targets, minimises and harms women and girls.

“This funding will help empower pupils to challenge the attitudes that help perpetuate harmful behaviour, backed by the refreshed Don’t Be That Guy campaign – which will use the reach and influence of some of Scotland’s most well-known sporting personalities, to give prominence to this important national conversation.

“I want Scotland to be a place where women and girls live free from violence, coercive control, abuse and exploitation, which is why over the coming year this government will also bring forward a Misogyny Bill to give women and girls specific legal protection from harassment.”

Sporting organisations working with the Scottish Government to support positive action to promote positive masculinity and respect:

  • Scottish Football Association
  • SPFL / SPFL Trust
  • Scottish Rugby
  • Scottish Cycling
  • Scottish Swimming
  • Scottish Athletics
  • Scottish Golf
  • Tennis Scotland
  • Team Scotland

AITEAL: Breaking down digital barriers to Gaelic

£600,000 awarded to spoken language project

A new digital platform for recording, transcribing and translating spoken Gaelic has been awarded £600,000 through the CivTech innovation programme.

AITEAL – which means “ray of light” – will help in developing advanced technologies, including AI, for Gaelic speakers.

The project will initially create four jobs including three fieldworker posts in rural and island communities and a dedicated Project Manager. Over 18 months, the team will record up to 500 hours of high-quality spoken Gaelic in the Western Isles and Skye.

This data can then be used to improve existing technologies like speech-to-text software or develop new ones such as Gaelic AI chatbots. It could also be used to make educational resources or automated transcription and subtitling services.

AITEAL has been created by the Gaelic arts organisation Fèisean nan Gàidheal alongside the charity Community Enterprise and digital technology partner Northcode Digital.

It is one of the successful projects to benefits from Round 11 of the Scottish Government’s CivTech programme, which provides critical support to some of Scotland’s most promising and growing tech start-ups, harnessing their creative talent and innovation to improve public services.

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan said: “The lack of data on Scottish Gaelic presents a significant barrier in developing technologies for Gaelic speakers. AITEAL aims to overcome this, ensuring Gaelic language and culture thrive.

“This exciting project will enrich communities, safeguard cultural heritage and unlock economic opportunities, providing lasting benefits for Gaelic speakers.

“AITEAL has the potential to be of international significance as it can provide a model which other languages can follow to overcome digital inequality.”

CEO of Fèisean nan Gàidheal and Director of AITEAL Limited Calum Alex Macmillan said: “We look forward to working directly with Gaelic speakers in their communities, recording the language as it is naturally spoken and capturing the richness of its dialects and idioms in everyday use.

“AITEAL presents exciting opportunities to make Gaelic more accessible and usable across all aspects of community life, from education and healthcare to public services, workplaces and everyday interactions in our communities.

“The company’s ambition extends beyond the initial 18-month development and data collection phase. Established to provide long-term stewardship of both the project’s linguistic resources and supporting technology, AITEAL will oversee the management, governance and future development of the data. It also creates potential opportunities for future specialist roles as the initiative grows and evolves.”

COSLA: Putting communities at the heart of public service reform

COSLA: The European Charter of Local Self-Government can shape the future of Scotland’s public services:

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£10 million investment to grow skills in defence sector

Two new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges

Innovation Minister Alyn Smith has confirmed £10 million investment to develop two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) for Scotland.

Plans are underway to allocate sites in the east and west of the country to support the development of skills for well-paid careers in areas such as defence engineering, advanced manufacturing and maritime technology.

Along with Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn, Mr Smith has today written to Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard and Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander, to confirm the Scottish Government will match UK Government funding needed to underpin future industrial growth and competitiveness.

Mr Smith said: “Scotland is well placed to seize the opportunities arising out of the defence industry – with a highly skilled workforce, world-class colleges and universities and internationally recognised manufacturing.

“DTECs will allow workers to upskill and connect the next generation to opportunities in sectors where demand for a highly-skilled workforce is rising rapidly.

“I am pleased to confirm we will partner with the UK Government to develop plans for DTECs in Scotland and build on the £3.7 billion to Scotland’s economy provided by the defence sector.

“Our Programme for Government committed to establishing a responsible defence industrial growth programme to maximise the economic opportunities arising from increased defence spending. We will work with partners to ensure our workers are equipped with the right skills for emerging jobs in this vital sector.”

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “In March we announced a £10 million commitment to develop two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in Scotland.

“I’m pleased that the Scottish Government has now agreed to match fund these colleges to give our young people the skills they need to secure high-skilled, well-paid careers in Scotland’s defence sector in the years to come.

“Scotland is a defence industrial powerhouse and is already benefiting from increased UK Government investment as we deliver a defence dividend for Scotland, creating new skilled jobs, new training places and new opportunities for communities while keeping us and our allies secure.

“It is crucial that we continue to develop the skilled workforce needed to support this growing sector.”

Fund to Leave scheme investment doubled to £4 million

Support for women experiencing domestic abuse

An initiative supporting women and children to escape abusive relationships will see its funding doubled from £2 million to £4 million for the current year.

The Fund to Leave scheme has supported 1,519 women and 2,094 children to leave unsafe situations since its launch in February 2026 –  an additional £2 million will be made available in 2026-27, taking total investment up to £4 million, to ensure that there is no cap on support and to help more women and children leave abusive relationships safely and rebuild their lives.

The initiative provides immediate financial support for essentials for women leaving an abusive partner – removing the financial barriers that can trap women in harmful relationships by giving them the means to act quickly and safely.

The Scottish Government has also pledged further support for survivors of domestic abuse to ensure they are not unfairly burdened by Council Tax debt resulting from an abusive relationship. The Scottish Government will consult on creating a statutory exception to joint and several liability rules to protect victims of domestic abuse. Further details will be announced in Parliament next month with a public consultation expected in 2027.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “There is absolutely no place for domestic abuse in modern Scotland – it is one of the most harmful and pervasive forms of violence against women and girls.

“We are determined to break down financial barriers that will often stand in the way of leaving an abusive partner. Our Fund to Leave scheme provides immediate financial help for women so they can begin to safely rebuild their lives and protect their children from harm.

“Since its formation last year, the initiative has already helped more than 1,500 women rebuild their lives – I am pleased to provide further support for this initiative to remove the cap and help more women benefit from its significant impact.

“Nobody should have to face additional harm as a result of domestic abuse. We recognise that joint and several liability for council tax can create very difficult circumstances for those experiencing or who have experienced abuse.

“We will take forward work with local councils to ensure solutions are in place to protect victims of abuse from unfair council tax debt – I will provide further detail to Parliament on these measures next month.”

Burnham offer to Swinney: Let’s work together to empower Scotland

BUT IS MORE ‘REGIONAL EMPOWERMENT’ ENOUGH FOR SCOTS?

In a speech today, the Prime Minister will invite Scotland’s First Minister to work with him on the common good of pushing more power out of both Westminster and Holyrood, unlocking jobs and opportunity in every region.

Delivering his remarks after speaking with young people today in Lanarkshire, Andy Burnham will emphasise the Scottish Government is one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe, with Holyrood not giving people who know their areas best enough of a say, despite significant devolution from Westminster over the last 27 years.

Because power was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament, the Prime Minister will argue the next stage of devolution should place more decision-making in the hands of Scotland’s regions and cities to drive reindustrialisation.

As part of that offer, he will call on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government through No10 North and the Scotland Office to develop a new model of regional empowerment for Scotland, ensuring communities with their own strengths, identity and ambitions can seize new economic opportunities and unlock their potential.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “During my first week in office, I told the First Minister that I wanted to work with him to spread opportunities to communities across Scotland’s regions and cities.

“Through No10 North, we are rewiring the state and I want to make sure regions in Scotland are fully part of this.

“This is me making an offer to the Scottish Government. With us working together, there is no limit to what we can achieve for the Scottish people.”

The Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander said: “Devolution has done a great deal, but power was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament. People in North Lanarkshire, in Fife or in the Highlands know what their communities need better than any minister, whether they sit in London or Edinburgh.

“The Prime Minister’s offer to the Scottish Government is a genuine one, and the Scotland Office is ready to roll up its sleeves alongside them to make it happen. Two governments, one goal – good jobs and real opportunity in every corner of Scotland”.

Latest poll suggest more Scots would vote for independence if another referendum was called today.

Iconic Scottish landmarks light up blue for World Arthritis Day

Some of Scotland’s most recognisable landmarks, including the Kelpies and Glasgow Science Centre, will light up blue on Monday 12 October for World Arthritis Day as Arthritis UK calls for a dedicated Scottish action plan for arthritis and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

The illuminations will highlight the impact of MSK conditions on the 1.7 million people in Scotland who live with them — around one in three — many experiencing daily pain, fatigue and reduced mobility.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of World Arthritis Day and Arthritis UK’s 90th anniversary. It offers an opportunity to celebrate progress in research and support while highlighting how much work remains.

More than 4,500 people have signed the charity’s ‘Don’t Turn Your Back on Arthritis’ open letter to First Minister John Swinney, calling for a dedicated MSK Action Plan.

The proposed plan would help people get a diagnosis and support sooner, improve access to rehabilitation and supported self-management, and help them stay active and independent.

It would also provide stronger national leadership and investment in MSK health.

Edinburgh nurse Rebecca Murray was 12 when she woke with a hot, swollen elbow. Initially dismissed as a swimming injury, her symptoms led to a year of appointments and unsuccessful treatments before she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Pain and fatigue forced her to give up competitive swimming, while at school she often had to fight for support.

“At such a young age, it felt like I’d lost a big part of who I was after my diagnosis,” she said. “It’s an invisible illness that many people wrongly associate with older age.”

Originally from Aberdeenshire, Rebecca found support through Arthritis UK’s Young People and Families Service, which connected her with others facing similar challenges.

“At times, I have felt pretty hopeless with my condition, but the friends and connections I made through Arthritis UK really helped change not only my outlook on my condition, but the outlook on my life.”

Michaela Brown, 34, from Campbeltown, manages three forms of arthritis while raising her daughter as a single mum. She said: “On World Arthritis Day, I want people to understand that arthritis affects younger people too. I’m 34, and it affects my work, my family life, and what I can do with friends.

“We need a dedicated MSK Action Plan for Scotland, covering earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, physiotherapy and support to stay active and in work.

For those of us living in rural communities, it must also address the long journeys and practical difficulties of getting specialist care.

We need support that reflects the everyday reality of living with arthritis.”

Lauren Bennie, Head of Arthritis UK Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating our 90th anniversary and the progress we have made in research support and awareness over the last nine decades.

“However, for the 1.7 million people in Scotland living with a musculoskeletal condition, there is still plenty of work to be done. Arthritis remains one of Scotland’s few major health conditions without a dedicated strategy.   

“Unfortunately, it is all too common to wait too long for a diagnosis, treatment, or the support people need to live independently. Lighting up these landmarks is a small way of saying to those experiencing this, you are not alone, and your voices are heard.  

“We are calling on the First Minister to face the facts about arthritis and commit to Scotland’s first-ever MSK Action Plan.”  

The campaign will continue throughout the autumn, with Arthritis UK also working to secure the first dedicated debate on arthritis in the Scottish Parliament.

The landmarks taking part are:

  • University of Glasgow Tower
  • Glasgow Science Centre
  • Ness Bridge
  • The Falkirk Wheel
  • The Kelpies

People can add their names to the open letter and call on the First Minister to face arthritis head-on at:

https://www.arthritis-uk.org/news/first-minister-don-t-turn-your-back-on-arthritis

Leadership training to empower headteachers

Further funding for academies that have benefitted more than 2,000 so far

Training opportunities for school leaders will continue to be supported by the Scottish Government helping develop leadership skills, improve job satisfaction and benefit pupils and staff.

The Scottish Government is providing £395,000 to the Head Teachers’ Leadership Academies (HTLA), run by Columba 1400, which will be matched by the Hunter Foundation.

This brings total Scottish Government support for Columba 1400’s HTLAs to £790,000 since 2025-26, with this year’s funding expected to help up to 280 school leaders to develop their leadership skills.

Recent evaluation of the Leadership Academies revealed 2,000 headteachers and school leaders have already benefitted from the training, with participants reporting increased confidence and resilience, and improvements in their leadership abilities.

Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Our support for Columba 1400’s leadership academies will ensure even more school leaders feel empowered to deliver excellence and equity in education, providing the opportunity to develop knowledge, confidence and skills.

“Education leaders are looking out for and caring for our children and young people everyday, and I recently met with graduates of the Head Teachers’ Leadership Academy who gave glowing feedback on the transformative experience of participating in the leadership academy and how it helped to reaffirm their leadership abilities.

“It is fantastic that 2,000 school leaders have already benefitted from the programme, returning to schools to deliver the progress we have seen, reflected in the rising attainment and narrowing of the poverty-related attainment gap in this year’s Qualification Scotland results. Hundreds more opportunities for development will be available through our continued support for the programme.”

Sir Tom Hunter said: “The Hunter Foundation has backed the Head Teachers’ Leadership Academy from day one because we know that leadership matters.

“We’re delighted that the Scottish Government has renewed its commitment to this partnership. If we want the best outcomes for Scotland’s young people, we need to invest in the people who lead our schools.

“Strong leadership creates opportunities, raises aspirations and makes a lasting difference in communities across the country.”

Marie Clare Tully, Chief Executive of Columba 1400, said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government and The Hunter Foundation have reaffirmed their commitment to the Columba 1400 Head Teachers’ Leadership Academy.

“This continued investment reflects a shared belief in the importance of values-based leadership and will enable a further 280 school leaders to take part in our academies in 2027. The greatest outcome of these experiences is seeing school leaders reconnect with their values, rediscover their sense of purpose and remember why they went into teaching in the first place.

“Time and again, we see the impact of that ripple out into schools and communities across Scotland, creating the conditions for children and young people to thrive.”

Alison Rooney, headteacher at Langloan Primary School and Nursery Class in Coatbridge, who recently took part in a HTLA, said: “The Head Teachers’ Leadership Academy gave me the space to reconnect with what matters most as a leader.

“The impact has stayed with me long after the Academy ended, influencing how I lead, how we work together as a staff team and how we create opportunities for children and young people to thrive. I’m delighted that future school leaders will continue to have access to this incredible experience.”

New winter health plan ‘to ease hospital pressures’

Health Secretary outlines ‘Home First’ approach

Expanded Hospital at Home services, a public awareness campaign and targeted investment to reduce waiting lists are all part of a newly-unveiled health preparedness plan for winter.

A collective effort is critical in the months ahead to ease pressures on the NHS, Health Secretary Angela Constance said as she launched the new national winter health plan.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, the Health Secretary set out several actions to provide guidance to health and social care systems ahead of winter, including:

  • an increased focus on community care, with over 10,000 patients benefiting from an expansion of Hospital at Home service
  • a Home First approach to healthcare
  • a new public awareness campaign to help people access the right care, in the right place, at the right time which will launch at the end of October
  • renewed calls for eligible patients to get vaccinated against seasonal viruses – including flu – which hospitalised almost 6,700 people last winter
  • winter-specific planned care funding from the £90 million announced earlier this year to reduce waiting lists for operations and procedures
  • further implementation of a new national plan to improve the flow of patients through hospital and free up bed capacity.

Ms Constance said: “A collective effort will be critical in the months ahead as we look to support our NHS through the winter. There is a role for everyone in Scotland to play.

“Seasonal illnesses, including flu, are already beginning to circulate, and I encourage everyone who is eligible to come forward for vaccination when invited. Last winter, almost 5,000 adults and 1,700 children in Scotland were hospitalised as a result of flu. Getting vaccinated protects you and those around you.

“It’s also important people know how and where to access care. Attendances at A&E remain extremely high, and many people could be treated more appropriately in services closer to home.

“A&E should be used for emergencies. Choosing the right service can help people receive advice and treatment more quickly while ensuring emergency care remains available for those who need it most.”

READ ALL ABOUT IT! Wee Read smashes 50,000 pledge target

Scotland comes together to celebrate the joy of reading

More than 90,000 people took part in Wee Read as Scotland came together yesterday to celebrate the joy of reading – smashing the campaign’s original target of 50,000 pledges.

Wee Read, led by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and funded by the Scottish Government as part of the National Year of Reading 2026, invited people across Scotland to make a simple pledge to read on 7 October. The campaign reached its 50,000 pledge target more than a week before the official reading moment, with a total of 90,717 people pledging to get involved.

Across the country, people of all ages and interests joined the national reading moment, making time to enjoy whatever they like from novels and poetry to comics, magazines, newspapers, recipes and more.

Libraries, schools, workplaces, families and communities marked the day in their own ways, creating a shared celebration of reading and demonstrating that there is no single way to take part.

Activity ranged from East Renfrewshire’s dedicated Harry Potter readings and South Lanarkshire’s Gruffalo scavenger hunt, to a BSL Bookbug session in Paisley, school visits in Edinburgh and Midlothian, family activities in South Lanarkshire and community reading sessions in Inverclyde.

In Motherwell, a readathon in the library’s immersive room surrounded readers with calming imagery of their choice, before the Wee Read mantra video and a message from Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan were showcased.

Across the length and breadth of the country, libraries and communities also hosted reading hours, storytelling, book swaps, quizzes and crafts, reflecting the many different ways people came together to make time for reading.

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan said: “I’m delighted to support Wee Read. Stories, songs and words form the bedrock of our lives, our culture, our history and our future. Scotland’s plays, books and comics are internationally renowned, as are our playwrights, authors and illustrators.

“Reading and writing play a lifelong role in learning and wellbeing, and in tackling poverty, which remains a key priority for this Government. That’s why we’re taking action to improve access to books and encourage reading for pleasure, through programmes including Bookbug, Read Write Count with the First Minister, Reading Schools, and the School Library and Public Library Improvement Funds.

“Just a few minutes of reading for enjoyment reduces stress and improves wellbeing, and for children it has a positive impact on learning and attainment at school. By taking part in Wee Read, you’re joining thousands across Scotland helping us build a country where reading is valued, shared and enjoyed by all.”

The campaign also highlighted the important role Scotland’s libraries play in helping people find something they enjoy and make reading part of their everyday life – beyond the national reading moment.

With free access to a wide range of reading materials, alongside digital resources, reading groups, events and activities, libraries offer something for people at every stage of life.

Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “Reaching over 90,000 pledges for Wee Read is a fantastic achievement and a wonderful reflection of the enthusiasm for reading across Scotland.

“We set out with a simple ambition – to give people a reason to make time for reading and to celebrate the many different ways that reading can be part of our lives. Seeing so many people, communities and organisations take part has really brought that notion to life.

“Whether someone read for five minutes or fifty, picked up an old favourite or discovered something completely new, we hope Wee Read reminded them of the joy that reading can bring and, importantly, encouraged people to keep that habit going beyond 7 October.”

Wee Read forms part of the UK’s National Year of Reading 2026, a year-long celebration of the pleasure, inspiration, connection and opportunities that reading brings.

Alison added: “Wee Read may have taken place on one day but the campaign’s message is intended to last much longer: there is no right way to read, every read counts and there is always time to read something you enjoy.

“Our libraries are here all year round to help people find their next read, discover something new and connect with their community. And if you didn’t manage to join in with Wee Read, that’s no reason to miss out – you can pick up something new at any time.

“We’d encourage everyone to keep that spirit going, make space for reading and turn to their local library for inspiration, new ideas and everything else it has to offer.”

Find out more and discover ways to keep reading at www.WeeRead.scot.

Share your Wee Read memories and recommendations using #WeeRead26.