Road Safety Trust Small Grants Programme
Applications for The Road Safety Trust’s Autumn 2025 Small Grants programme open today with funding being provided for what could be life-saving initiatives on our city’s streets.
Grants of between £10k-£50k are available to help fund practical research projects and interventions that will make a positive impact on the safety of our roads.
For the first time, the Trust is implementing a new two-stage application process, which will offer early feedback to applicants and guidance for those invited to submit full bids.
The programme opens on 23 September for initial ‘Expressions of Interest’ – with applicants able to submit details of their proposed projects or interventions before the closing date of Wednesday 29 October.
Applicants will be informed by mid-November whether they have been invited to the full application stage and will have until 12 December to submit their applications. We aim to confirm decisions by early February.
The Autumn 2025 Small Grant Programme is an ‘open round’ – meaning that bids can address a broad range of road safety issues.
Louise Palomino, Grants and Impact Director at The Road Safety Trust said: “We are pleased to be relaunching our Small Grants Programme with a new two-stage process aimed at making applying for our funding more accessible.
“We look forward to receiving high quality applications with the aim of reducing harm on UK streets and roads.”
Applications are welcome from UK-based organisations only, with public sector bodies, professional associations, registered charities and university departments among those encouraged to apply.
Guidance and application materials to assist applicants with their prospective bids are now available on the website, as well as a link to ‘apply’.
LEZ fines – increase in number of first offenders during August
The number of fines issued in August to drivers of vehicles which do not comply with the emission requirements for the city centre low emission zone (LEZ) has been published by the council.
In August 2025 there were 4,194 total LEZ contraventions, of which:
- 3,643 were for first offences
- 271 were for second offences
- 88 were for third offences
- 36 were for fourth contraventions
- 155 were for fifth or subsequent offences
This is an increase of around 1,000 first time offenders on the numbers recorded in June 2025. And the cost of incurring five or more penalty notices is almost £1,000.
The scale of charges is as follows:
Light passenger vehicles (cars) M1, Light goods vehicle N1, Special purpose vehicle
- Initial penalty £60
- Second penalty £120
- Third penalty £240
- Fourth and subsequent penalties £480
Minibus M2, bus and coach M3, Heavy goods vehicles N2 N3
- Initial penalty £60
- Second penalty £120
- Third penalty £240
- Fourth penalty £480
- Fifth and subsequent penalties £960
- In June 2025 there were a total of 3,157 LEZ contraventions, of which:
- 2,627 were for first offences
- 252 were for second offences
- 86 were for third offences
- 58 were for fourth contraventions
- 134 were for fifth or subsequent offences
In July 2025 there were a total of 3,293 LEZ contraventions, of which:
- 2,752 were for first offences
- 250 were for second offences
- 88 were for third offences
- 51 were for fourth contraventions
- 152 were for fifth or subsequent offences
Andy Arthur talking about the Jawbone Arch
Andy Arthur is Edinburgh’s resident friendly historian. On Friday he will deliver A Brief History of Two Meadows Landmarks: The Jawbone Arch and Middle Meadow Walk at the AGM held by Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links.
https://www.fombl.org.uk/
The talk is free for members, and non-members will be welcome in return for a small donation
Refreshments will be served.
At Assai Records
GOOD NEIGHBOURS
Monday 29 September – Caves with Assai Records
To celebrate the release of their new album Blue Sky Mentality, out 3rd October, Good Neighbours will be visiting record stores across the UK for intimate sets including Edinburgh’s Assai Records at 1 Grindlay Street. On 29 September the band will be playing at the Caves – ticket details here.
“Written across a whirlwind year of long-haul flights, tour buses, hotel rooms and emotional highs and lows, the album captures the tension between distance and belonging – the pull of community, the need for connection, and the journey back to yourself. It’s a record that wears its heart loudly and proudly: a 14-track burst of euphoric indie-pop that smuggles big feelings – grief, love, hope, resilience – into massive choruses and sun-streaked synths.”
Fundraising cycle
An Edinburgh travel agent has raised more than £3,600 for Macmillan Cancer Support after cycling the Land’s End to John o’Groats route last week.
Branch manager of Hays Travel at Edinburgh’s Cameron Toll shopping centre, Paul Morgan, set off on the 900-mile journey from Land’s End on Sunday 7 September.
Paul and three friends cycled for around 15 hours a day over five days until they reached John o-Groats last Thursday.
Paul said: “Every day had its challenges, its highs and its lows. The weather was very, very wet for two of the days with strong winds but we battled on and eventually got some sunshine.
“The most important thing to me was raising as much awareness and money as possible and having raised over £3,500 I think we have succeeded in that!”
The journey was a ‘self-supported ride’, which meant that the team carried everything they needed with them – no support vehicle or back up. Nights were spent in a mix of caravans, Airbnbs and pubs.
Paul’s cycle challenge has so far raised £3,624 for Macmillan Cancer Support. He said: “Cancer in its many forms is brutal and life changing. In the past few years, I have known family, friends and loved ones fighting this disease. Some are no longer with us, and some continue to fight each day. This incredible organisation is dedicated to ensuring that no one faces cancer alone.”
Romina Moro of Macmillan Cancer Support said: “A massive well done to Paul from Hays Travel Cameron Toll on completing your epic challenge, we think you’re amazing! Raising so much could pay for a Macmillan Support Worker for nearly an entire month, helping people living with cancer receive the support they need. We hope you’re all having a well-deserved rest this week.”
Macmillan has spent more than 100 years helping people living with cancer; fundraising, researching, providing services, and supporting those living with cancer as well as their families and the cancer workforce.
Hays Travel’s Local Community Partnership initiative provides each branch with a £500 budget to use for fundraising and charity work in their local area and in the last year its retail network has donated over £177,000 to local charities.
To donate to Paul’s fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/paul-morgan-lejog
–
