The UK Budget
Today the UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will announce her budget.
There have now been so many leaks about what may be in the budget by now – including a trail from the Chancellor herself, it may be difficult to find anything to be surprised about.
It is to be hoped that the Chancellor will now believe it is time for the Government to scrap the two child limit, meaning that parents and carers can only claim benefits for the two eldest children in the family.
The Scottish Child Payment has averted a bit of the effect of this in Scotland, but not all. I newly published figures, The Scottish Government says that it supports 322,230 children with the payment.
Anything that can be done to improve the standard of living for children in the city can only be a good thing. Following the 2020 report by the Edinburgh Poverty Commission appointed by The City of Edinburgh Council the group End Poverty Edinburgh was established.
It is an independent group of people who want to raise awareness of poverty in Edinburgh – and hold the city to account. The group believes in “participatory democracy”
End Poverty Edinburgh, which meets once a month under the chairmanship of The Poverty Alliance, has three core aims:
- Engaging with the Council, the Edinburgh Partnership and others, from the outset to share their wealth of experience.
- Holding those who have the power to account by influencing decision-making and providing advice and guidance.
- Working with other groups and organisations working to tackle poverty in the city to lend support and share their experiences.
This group has put out a plea for help from anyone who wants to make Edinburgh a fairer, more inclusive city for everyone. They also need help from organisations and want to work with community groups and businesses to turn ideas into reality.
If you have any questions about End Poverty Edinburgh including how to get involved and ways to support the group, get in touch with Steven Drew and David Reilly at the Poverty Alliance.
If you would like to know what the council had done by 2021 to end poverty then the report is here.
The council recently ran a consultation which ended on 31 August 2025 asking for views on what the council is doing about ending poverty.
At the third End Poverty Edinburgh conference in October (held during Challenge Poverty Week) the Council Leader, Jane Meagher highlighted the End Poverty Edinburgh Action Plan which has a new preventative approach. She said to the conference: “In Edinburgh around 80,000 residents are struggling to make ends meet, with one in five children living in relative poverty. We must continue to do everything in our power to end poverty in Edinburgh.
“I’m proud of the positive work which is already being done to combat the causes of inequality in the city, and this annual conference highlights the incredible efforts of our third sector, council officers, and city partners to make life better for thousands of people across the city. Without this progress, these statistics would be even more stark.
“We can’t address poverty alone and this Challenge Poverty Week, we’re uniting for change, highlighting the injustice of poverty in our communities.”
There were three events in October – the End Poverty Edinburgh Conference, the Scotland Demands Better rally and a public event held by the Edinburgh Poverty Commission.
The newest report dated October 2025 from the Edinburgh Poverty Commission is here. It makes for grim reading.
Co-Chairs Jim McCormick and Linda Craik write: “Overall Edinburgh is not on track to solve poverty”.
Poverty rates in Edinburgh have remained largely unchanged in the past five years. like Scotland as a whole, the city remains some way off meeting its 2030 poverty reduction targets.
Edinburgh Poverty Commission
Meeting Edinburgh’s poverty targets means lifting 36,000 people, including 8,000 children, out of poverty in this city by 2030.
In the last five years despite many efforts little has changed. The report states that the poverty question is linked to housing and homelessness. There is no solution to that without additional investment from The Scottish Government.
The report ends with a long list of calls to action – which takes us back to the Chancellor as one of these is a call to end the two child cap. If you read nothing else today read Pages 44 to 47 at this link. This is what it would take to solve poverty in the capital. Hopefully the Chancellor is listening.
The Scottish Budget will be announced on 13 January in The Scottish Parliament.
The Edinburgh Reporter Newspaper
A new shiny edition of our monthly newspaper will be available shortly at all the usual stockists. If you would like to subscribe to have your own copy delivered by post then please sign up here. Meantime read this month’s paper here. Click on the front page below.
Winter Windows
Winter Windows are back at Edinburgh’s Christmas. They will be on display in West Princes Street Gardens along the top path from 27 November. This year we have 24 winning designs in the Edinburgh’s Christmas Winter Windows competition, in partnership with Arts & Creative Learning, Lifelong Learning, City of Edinburgh Council and all 24 will be turned into magical lightboxes!
Children of all ages took part and let their creativity shine. The brief was to design a window that captures their vision of winter or the festive season, using any medium and style they wish. The judging panel consisted of Unique Assembly directors and The City of Edinburgh Council representatives.
Each of the 24 winners will receive the same prize for a fun day out with their friends/family at Edinburgh’s Christmas, along with having their artwork on display throughout the festive season.
At Filmhouse this Saturday
Larry (They/Them)
At Filmhouse
29 November, 20:45
Book tickets: https://www.filmhouse.org.uk/movie/larry-theythem-fffuk
This documentary follows non-binary trans photographer Laurence as they document their own transition through a vivid self-portrait project. This is a portrait of trans and non-binary life, directed by Catherine Legault.
Screened with English descriptive subtitles (HOH), 15+.'
Causey Development Trust
Causey Development Trust are gathering on Saturday afternoon at West Crosscauseway. From 3pm they will offer free bike chain cleaning and safety checks by The Wee Spoke Hub. There are also learning opportunities for cyclists to learn how to care for their own bikes.
Members of CDT will be on hand throughout the afternoon to share the Trust’s ambitious plans to reconfigure The Causey—currently dominated by traffic—into a welcoming civic space prioritising walking, cycling, and community life. These plans include wider pavements, segregated cycle lanes, seating, greenery, and space for cultural and social events, all designed to foster neighbourliness and wellbeing. Situated at a strategic junction of existing cycle routes and close to The Meadows, Arthur’s Seat, and the historic Innocent Railway path, The Causey is perfectly placed to become a hub for active travel, as well as cultural events.
Read more about the 18 year long campaign here
