Fred Whitehead, aged 76, resident at Cumbrae House
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Residents from across Oakminster Healthcare care homes enjoyed a nostalgic trip down memory lane during a special visit to the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust bus garage in Bridgeton.
Led by the wellbeing team at Chester Park Care Home in Kinning Park, the outing brought together residents and staff from Chester Park, Florence House in Govan, Oakbridge in Glasgow’s west end, Oakview Manor in the Pollokshields and Cumbrae House at St George’s Cross – all part of the Oakminster Healthcare group.
The group toured the historic Bridgeton garage, home to a collection of lovingly restored vintage Glasgow buses maintained by a dedicated team of Bridgeton Bus Garage volunteers.
Many residents shared memories sparked by the iconic vehicles, with conversations flowing about old routes, family outings and working lives connected to the city’s transport history.
One particularly moving moment came when Fred Whitehead 76, a resident from Cumbrae House’s and former member of Blue Watch at the North West Fire Station in Maryhill, discovered an engine identical to one he had worked on during his 16 years of service.
Fred Whitehead, aged 76, resident at Cumbrae House, said: “It brought back a lot of memories for me. Seeing the engine again was really special and I enjoyed sharing stories from my time in the fire service with everyone.”
The visit forms part of Oakminster’s wider commitment to delivering engaging, stimulating and varied experiences for residents through its dedicated teams of wellbeing enablers.
Alongside external visits, residents across the homes regularly enjoy activities including baking groups, yoga sessions, arts programmes and cultural events designed to support wellbeing, social connection and meaningful engagement.
Catherine Mackie, Wellbeing Enabler at Chester Park Care Home, said: “We wanted to organise something that would bring residents from across the care homes together while also creating opportunities for conversation, reminiscence and fun. The vintage buses sparked so many happy memories and stories from residents, and it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying the experience together.
“At Oakminster, we’re always looking for creative and meaningful ways to enrich daily life for residents, whether that’s through community visits, arts activities, gentle exercise or shared social experiences.”
Sunita Poddar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oakminster Healthcare, added: “Providing quality social care is about so much more than meeting physical needs – it is about supporting emotional wellbeing, maintaining connections to personal histories and creating moments of joy and purpose every day.
“Our wellbeing teams work incredibly hard to ensure residents continue to enjoy rich, fulfilling experiences and remain active members of their communities. Activities like this are invaluable in supporting memory, confidence, companionship and overall quality of life for our loved ones.”
The Bridgeton visit is one of a number of wellbeing-focused initiatives currently taking place across Oakminster Healthcare as the organisation continues to prioritise person-led care and meaningful resident experiences.
Glasgow College student Rachel Kerr
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
During a Higher Biology exam in Glasgow, 23-year-old Sports Therapy student Rachel Kerr found herself responding to a medical emergency, relying on the training she had built up over years of study.
Two students ran from a room asking for help, after a man had collapsed inside. While many people froze in shock, Rachel says her focus immediately turned to the CPR and emergency response training she had practised throughout her studies at City of Glasgow College.
“I just remember thinking: what do I need to do first?” she said.
Rachel began CPR while others gathered around and emergency services were contacted. A defibrillator was brought in, and the person became responsive again before paramedics arrived. Rachel was keen to stress that several other women in the room also stayed to help throughout the emergency, assisting where they could and helping ensure the defibrillator was brought quickly to the scene.
Now reflecting on the experience, Rachel doesn’t see herself as a hero. Instead, she believes the incident shows how important it is for ordinary people to learn basic first aid and trust themselves to step forward when somebody needs help.
“Most people were frozen, they didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I think seeing that made me realise I needed to do something.”
For Rachel, the experience reinforced something her lecturers had emphasised throughout her Sports Therapy course: confidence in an emergency comes from preparation and repetition, not from being fearless.
“It shows how important first aid training is,” she said. “Even basic knowledge can make a difference.”
Across the UK, more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year, yet fewer than one in 10 people survive. Although bystander CPR is attempted more often than in previous years, many people still lack the confidence to intervene in an emergency.
Rachel believes that confidence gap can be changed through education.
“If you’ve done your training, trust it,” she said. “And if you haven’t, learn it. It doesn’t take long, and one day it could help save somebody’s life.”
She credits the Sports Therapy department at City of Glasgow College for preparing students not just physically, but mentally, for high-pressure situations. CPR and first aid training are built throughout the course, with students repeatedly practising chest compressions, defibrillator use and realistic emergency scenarios.
“CPR is something the lecturers really care about because they know how important it is,” Rachel said.
She particularly praised lecturer Liam Smyth and the wider teaching team for the emphasis they place on staying calm and responding quickly.
“You might be the only person there who can help,” she explained. “You have to be ready for that.”
Rachel says the practical nature of the training helped her most. Students are taught how physically demanding CPR can be and practise repeatedly on mannequins designed to simulate real emergencies.
“It’s not just theory; it’s knowledge that allows you to act in an emergency.”
The incident also strengthened her belief in the importance of publicly accessible defibrillators, which are still used in only a small percentage of cardiac arrest cases in the UK despite their proven ability to improve survival chances.
“Defibrillators save lives,” Rachel said. “They’re absolutely worth having.”
Despite the emotional impact of the day, Rachel later returned to finish her exam. She now hopes to continue her studies and eventually progress into Physiotherapy at Glasgow Caledonian University.
More than anything, she hopes people take one lesson from her experience: helping in an emergency is not about being extraordinary, just about having the confidence to act.
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde volunteer who spends her time singing for older patients in hospital has performed for a national television audience.
Pat McCamley, 71, appeared on Channel 4’s Your Song, and performed Ae Fond Kiss, written by Robert Burns.
Pat took to the stage on The Mound in Edinburgh in an episode hosted by Alison Hammond, with mentorship from Paloma Faith and Sam Ryder.
And as she sang, members of the audience were visibly moved, with Sam Ryder describing her voice as “so pure”.
Pat’s performance was inspired by a moment from her volunteering at Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow, where she gives up one morning a week to sing for and with older patients on the ward.
The song holds special meaning for Pat, having sung it to a former patient, Jimmy, a D‑Day veteran who celebrated his 100th birthday in hospital.
Explaining her choice to the audience, Pat said the song had unlocked a powerful memory.
She said: “I sang it for Jimmy and he had a tear in his eye. When I asked him why he said it was because his mother used to sing it for him.
“If you all think about a song that brings a memory to you, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
“That’s what songs do. This song is Ae Fond Kiss and as far as I’m concerned, it’s Jimmy’s song.”
After the performance, Paloma Faith simply said: “That was beautiful,” while Sam Ryder added: “I found that really moving actually.”
Pat, who lives in the west end of Glasgow, was invited to audition for Your Song after being featured in an NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde series promoting Volunteers’ Week, which highlighted the vital contribution volunteers make across local hospitals and services.
For Pat, music has always been about connection, something she sees every week during her time on the ward.
She said: “Everybody has a song. It’s your life – it’s your soundtrack.”
Speaking about her experience on the programme, Pat said it had been both joyful and affirming, and a reminder of the power of volunteering.
Pat said: “It was an absolutely fantastic and very positive experience. I never imagined that volunteering would open doors like this for me.
“I truly believe music brings people together. A song can mean something completely different and deeply personal to each individual, and when you see that happen – whether it’s on a hospital ward or on a stage – it’s incredibly special.
“Volunteering has given me the chance to share that, and I’m so grateful for it.”
Pat continues to volunteer at Gartnavel General Hospital, where her singing remains a highlight for patients, staff and visitors alike.
Fiona Smith, NHSGGC Strategic Lead for Volunteering, said: “The contribution volunteers make is immeasurable, and we are so pleased that Pat’s dedication has been recognised and celebrated in this way.
“Gartnavel General Hospital has a number of elderly medicine wards where some patients can have multiple and lengthy stays and our volunteers make a real difference to their time in hospital by providing non-clinical support.
“Pat is the most incredible person. She has a unique way of putting music and conversations together that resonate and help to spark special memories.
“It’s heartwarming seeing patients’ faces light up when they hear Pat’s voice. She always puts the patient at the heart of everything she does.”
Motoring expert urges drivers not to overlook five visible defects that could cost an MOT pass
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
With an estimated 2.5 million MOTs set to take place across the UK in March[1] – typically one of the busiest months of the year for the legally-required annual check, drivers are being urged by a motoring expert to not overlook five defects that are often simple to spot, and quick and cost effective to fix before their vehicle goes on the ramp for the mandatory test.
The latest guidance comes as many of the nation’s repairers report that a growing number of motorists may struggle to afford routine maintenance this year against a backdrop of strained household budgets, resulting in easily preventable faults turning into more costly repairs and heavy fines if left to linger.
To help drivers prepare ahead of the MOT, which applies to cars once they reach three years of age, The Motor Ombudsman is highlighting five key areas that shouldn’t be ignored:
1. Tyres in poor condition
Tyres are often one of the biggest causes of MOT failures. Bulges, cuts, or tears, as well as sidewall damage and a tread depth below the legal limit of 1.6mm, are all frowned upon in the eyes of testers, meaning a fail is on the cards.
It’s not just the MOT that’s at risk, because driving on illegal tyres can also cost motorists up to £2,500 per wheel, and add three points to a licence if their vehicle is found to have defective rubber.
Typical time and cost to fix by a garage: From 30 minutes / Around £60 and upwards per new tyre.
2. A daytime running light not working
Daytime running lights (DRLs) found on the front of a car are another valuable safety feature, as they’re designed to make a vehicle stand out more during daylight hours. Cars fitted with DRLs from 1st March 2018 are the ones testers will look out for. If one of the two lamps isn’t working, and the light is not white in colour, this will be classed as a reason to fail the MOT. In fact, cars will also forfeit a pass for any other headlight or rear bulbs that have blown.
Typical time and cost to fix by a garage: Up to around 30 minutes / from about £60 for an investigation into a faulty daytime running light.
3. Damaged front wiper blades
Wiper blades performing at their very best are vital to keeping the windscreen clean and unobstructed. If testers see blades that are missing or not clearing the screen that a driver cannot see out of safely, this will be classed as a major defect.
Typical time and cost to replace by a garage: Around two minutes / From about £30 per pair of blades.
4. Cracks and chips in the front windscreen
Windscreens are divided into distinct ‘Zones’, and Zone ‘A’ is one of the most critical, as this is the area directly in the driver’s line of sight. If damage or a chip larger than just a centimetre is found in this section of the front screen, the chance of a pass quickly disappears, and a repair and retest will be needed to see the car be classed as roadworthy. A damaged windscreen can equally see owners incur a penalty of £2,500 and three points due to poor visibility.
Typical time and cost to fix by a garage: Around 45 minutes and about £60 for a chip repair, extending to in the region of 90 minutes / from about £250 for a full windscreen replacement.
5. A faulty windscreen washer system
A quick look under the bonnet before going for an MOT can quickly reveal whether the windscreen washer reservoir (often filled with a blue-coloured liquid) is topped up – essential for clearing away dirt and grime. Washer systems not working or providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, will result in an instant failure, and can also lead to a fine of £100 and three points if caught on the road.
Typical time and cost to top up windscreen washer fluid: Around five minutes and from £2.
Typical time and cost to fix by a garage: Around one hour, and from about £130 for a new windscreen washer pump.
“Spending just a few minutes walking around the car in advance of an MOT can help drivers quickly identify if something doesn’t look quite right”, says Rebecca Pullan, owner at The Motor Ombudsman-accredited Carmaster Garage and MOT station.
“Nipping any issues in the bud is vital to preventing simple problems from becoming more serious and costly later on, and it can be the difference between a straightforward pass and an unexpected MOT failure, meaning unforeseen time off the road for drivers.”
To view the businesses that are accredited to The Motor Ombudsman’s Service and Repair Code, visit www.TheMotorOmbudsman.org/Business-Finder.
Notre Dame High School, West End, pupil Matthew believes youth representation is “a really important cornerstone of Scottish democracy”.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
Education, climate change and the cost of living are among the issues on the minds of Glasgow pupils as a Scottish Parliament election looms.
Ahead of May’s poll, the Local Democracy Reporting Service visited Notre Dame High School in the city’s west end to hear from first-time voters.
The school’s ‘Spotlight’ group, which meets to talk about the week’s news stories, was holding a discussion about democracy as part of the Electoral Commission’s ‘Welcome to Your Vote Week’ — running from March 9 to 15.
Students from S1 to S5 shared their views on the commission’s theme for 2026, which is ‘why voting matters’, before we asked some of those who will be 16 or over on May 7 — and therefore able to cast a ballot — about what the key issues are for them.
Discussions on democracy were taking place in modern and social studies classes across the city during ‘Welcome to Your Vote Week’, a Glasgow City Council spokesperson said.
At Notre Dame, Luella, 16, said: “Me and my peers all collectively feel very passionate about what is going on in the world right now, what’s going on in our country.
“For me, voting is one of the essential ways to have a say in these things, especially as a young person.”
She understands why people “feel frustrated in the way politicians are behaving and the way the government is legislating”, but voting “gives you a direct stake in what happens in the country, and if you are unhappy with the way things are going, vote about it”.
Young people, through climate change campaigns and movements like Black Lives Matter, have shown they “care about the world”, she added. “They are not afraid to challenge authority in order to protect people.
“To think that we wouldn’t want to vote or that we are not intelligent or capable enough to vote is pretty laughable.”
Notre Dame High School pupils
Luella said climate change is “the issue of our time” and “any time that we are not talking about it is time that we are losing realistically”. She also wants to see increased funding in education and highlighted the cost of living as a key issue ahead of May’s vote.
Rachel, 17, added: “I really care about education, definitely the environment and, more generally, immigrant status, things like that.”
She wants schools to be adequately staffed as that “really impacts kids’ learning”. “I feel that’s something I would like to see a big change in, especially for when I’m older and I have my own kids because I want them to feel the benefit of that as well,” she explained.
Rachel added: “I’m voting because I think it’s really, really important for younger groups to vote because it’s our future. I feel like getting your priorities heard and reflected back onto your life is really important for all people.”
Matthew, 15, will miss out on being able to vote in May’s election by a matter of days. He is currently a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Glasgow Kelvin and believes youth representation is “a really important cornerstone of Scottish democracy”.
“Young Scots are Scots just as everyone is,” he said. “Our experiences, while we’ve maybe not had as many as older people, are still really valid.
“We have witnessed crippling austerity, we have witnessed education cuts and so many sectors falling away, like youth work and transport.
“We need the opportunity to fight for a fairer Scotland, just like everyone else does.”
The “main goals” of his youth parliament campaign were “around youth work and transportation so that everyone can get around and do the things that they want to do and need to do in Scotland,” Matthew said.
“It feels too often like young people get forced out onto the streets. Even when we are on the streets, we get shouted away from shops and things like that, but we have nowhere else to go, so there needs to be change in Scotland for young people.”
Jack Conlon, modern studies and English teacher at Notre Dame, set up the ‘Spotlight’ group, a “mixture of people who were always asking questions about current affairs”. It meets every Friday lunchtime to give students an extra curricular opportunity to discuss what’s going on in the world.
“If I think back to when I was in school, obviously me being a modern studies teacher, I felt like I was in a community of one with an interest in politics,” Mr Conlon said.
“So it’s really inspiring to see them super interested in it and they’ve got such amazing care and compassion for other people across the world.
“It really fills you with a lot of hope for the future.”
Helen Morrison and Provost Kenneth Duffy with the album
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A story of friendship between Scotland and Russia during the Second World War is being celebrated once again, now that an historic album of messages and signatures from Airdrie and Coatbridge women to the women of Leningrad has been donated to a North Lanarkshire library.
During the war, the city of Leningrad endured one of the longest and most devastating sieges in modern history. Lasting nearly 900 days from 1941 to 1944, the blockade brought extreme hunger, bitter winters and constant bombardment to more than two million people trapped in the city.
Despite these hardships, the people of Leningrad never surrendered.
People across the UK, including those in Airdrie and Coatbridge, were moved by their struggle. Local members of the Airdrie branch of the Russia Today Society decided to collect and send messages of support to the women in the besieged city.
In autumn 1941, volunteers approached women’s groups, factories, churches and co-operatives in Airdrie and Coatbridge.
In just two weeks they gathered thousands of signatures and messages of support from across the towns. And local art teacher Margaret Plant suggested turning the lists into a beautifully bound album, which would become known as the Scottish Album.
A copy of this album is now available for visitors and residents to view at Airdrie Library after it was donated by local Burns enthusiast Helen Morrison.
“The album is covered in Buchanan tartan silk, decorated with a thistle, and included illustrations alongside poetry by Robert Burns and Coatbridge poet Janet Hamilton,” explained Helen.
“It carried a simple but powerful message of friendship and admiration from the women of Airdrie and Coatbridge for the courage of Leningrad’s women.
“I thought it was important for people in Airdrie, as well as visitors to the library, to be able to see this album. It now sits proudly beside the facsimile of the Leningrad Album, which the women of Leningrad sent to Scotland in return.
“And I really hope that it will continue to inspire young people in here in North Lanarkshire and beyond, keeping alive a powerful example of friendship, culture and kindness across borders.”
In December 1941, Agnes Maxwell presented the album at the Soviet Embassy in London on behalf of thousands of Scottish women. Against all the odds, it was transported along limited wartime supply routes and eventually reached Leningrad.
Despite the terrible conditions in the city, the album was received with great enthusiasm. It was read aloud at meetings attended by workers, teachers, scientists and housewives, offering a powerful reminder that people far away were thinking of them.
The gesture inspired an extraordinary response. Women in Leningrad created their own album for Scotland, filled with letters, watercolours and prints. The work was overseen by renowned artist Anna Petrovna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, with poetry contributed by Vera Inber.
Even during the siege, culture remained a source of strength and community in the city, and the album reflected that spirit. Like the Scottish one before it, the Leningrad album was secretly transported out of the city, flown to Moscow and then sent on to Britain.
In 1943 it arrived in Glasgow and became the centrepiece of a “Russia Week” exhibition in Airdrie, celebrating the courage and resilience of the people of Leningrad.
Today the original Leningrad Album is cared for by The Mitchell Library in Glasgow, while the original Scottish album remains in St Petersburg.
Provost Kenneth Duffy said: “It’s such a powerful story of how small acts of kindness and creativity can build powerful connections across borders. I feel it provides such a strong message of hope, especially when you reflect on our own troubled times.”
In 2017 a facsimile copy of the Leningrad Album was acquired by North Lanarkshire Council and now copies of both the Scottish and Russian albums are available for the public to view by appointment at the first-floor Airdrie Local Studies room within Airdrie Library, open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10.30am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm. To make an appointment call 01236 758073 or email heritagecentre@northlan.gov.uk.
Photo by Justin Setterfield (Getty Images)
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
After weeks of Winter Olympics fever gripping the nation, either from the comfort of their sofa or on social media, half of sports fans (50%) are convinced that they’re now ready for the studio lights and could commentate on a major sporting event, according to new research.
At 150 days to go until Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, a survey of 2,000 sports fans has revealed the rise of the ‘armchair expert’, with nearly six in ten (57%) claiming they spot things that the professionals miss and more than a third regularly shouting instructions at elite athletes through the TV (34%).
The winter sports extravaganza has whetted the appetite of the nation ahead of Glasgow 2026, with one in ten (12%) confessing they are ‘obsessed’ with sports that they’ve watched for the first time, becoming glued to the screen (31%), discussing strategy and tactics while watching (30%) or looking up facts or sport-specific lingo (24%).
Despite over four in ten never participating in competitive sport themselves (43%), the data revealed that it doesn’t take long for confidence to soar as more than half (55%) of those polled claim they only need to watch up to six hours of a sport before becoming obsessed and forming an opinion on technique.
With the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games just 5 months away, delusions of grandeur continue, as over seven in ten (72%) said that if they started studying the sports now, they’re confident that they could cast their judgment alongside their favourite sports pundits later this summer.
57% of spectators claim they spot mistakes officials miss
Phil Batty OBE, Chief Executive at Glasgow 2026, said:
“Major sporting events can be a catalyst for national obsession and we’ve seen that come to life at the Winter Olympics – social media feeds are filled with the drama, offices debates on the best sports and people are learning the names of snowboarding stunts. “We expect to see that obsession rise again this summer during Glasgow 2026 and we can’t wait to welcome the overnight transition to a nation of superfans and sporting experts. If the Winter Olympics has captured your attention then we encourage you to have a look at our sport programme and get your hands on a ticket to discover your next obsession.”
When it comes to the winter sports that inspire the loudest living-room lectures, curling dominates with more than a third (35%) now aware of the ‘hammer’ and one in ten (12%) of self-appointed pundits claiming they could join the pros.
When polled on the upcoming Glasgow 2026 sports, the nation is already obsessed with Gymnastics (45%) as the most likely sport to watch, closely followed by Swimming and Para Swimming (42%) and Athletics and Para Athletics (40%).
Trivandi's Project Director for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Sam Spittle, Trivandi’s Project Director for Glasgow 2026, is calling on Glaswegians, and people from across Scotland, to seize career opportunities presented by the Commonwealth Games as recruitment ramps up ahead of summer.
Sharing advice with people looking to get involved with the Glasgow games, Sam is sharing his expertise on how to turn the Commonwealth experience into a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’, just like he did in 2014.
Originally from Auchtermuchty in Fife, Sam had just finished a degree in physiology and sport science at the University of Glasgow when he applied for a role with the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
What started out as a temporary job has since turned into an international career that has seen him play a part in delivering some of the world’s biggest and highest-profile events.
Sam explained that the 2014 games was his first introduction to a ‘mega event’, after being assigned to the sport department and helping organise the Rugby 7’s due to his strong passion for rugby.
He said: “It was a huge learning curve – there was a lot to do in a short period of time to convert the stadium so it was ready for rugby, and even the acronyms flying around were difficult to get your head around. But it was amazing how quickly you picked it all up.
“At that point I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do – I’d been looking at continuing on at university to study medicine among a few other options – but Glasgow 2014 gave me the bug for working on major events. I haven’t looked back since.”
After the 2014 Games, Sam used the experience and connections he had built to land a job in the events team at Scottish Rugby, working in sport presentation for the autumn internationals. That led to a role in venue management at the 2015 Men’s Rugby World Cup and a move to London.
Sam then switched to cricket, helping to deliver the Champions Trophy and Women’s World Cup during 2017 and the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. What he describes as ‘the defining moment of his career’ came next with a move to the Middle East. Sam worked on Expo 2020 in Dubai, before taking on positions at the COP28 climate conference in neighbouring Abu Dhabi.
Sam at the 2024 games
“The role I took on with Expo 2020 diversified my career from sport and entertainment into international summits and government. It meant I couldn’t be pigeonholed into one discipline and could move onto more senior roles.
“The event was pushed back because of the pandemic, which meant I got the opportunity to work in different operational areas, and it really showed how you can apply the skills you pick up to any kind of event. From there, I moved on to work on COP28 and help deliver the United Nations’ zone – it doesn’t get much higher profile than that.”
Now as director of operations and delivery for mega events at Trivandi – where he has worked on COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, as well as events in Saudi Arabia and Japan – Sam is playing a key role in helping the next generation of Glaswegians to take advantage of the opportunities the Commonwealth Games presents and leaving a lasting legacy in the city.
In the months leading up to the Games, roles will come up across a range of different areas that support the event’s delivery – from venue management and spectator services to transport and accreditation – at a variety of levels, whether candidates are graduates or seasoned professionals. The Organising Committee is also adding to its team at the same time.
“Glasgow has obviously hosted massive events since 2014, but the Commonwealth Games felt like a real turning point. The whole city got involved, the ‘People Make Glasgow’ slogan was launched in the build-up and became a central part of promoting the Games. The legacy has been hugely positive and I’ve seen the evidence of that since returning.
“Glasgow can now host almost any type of event. The people have the skills and the venues are fully capable of adapting to different needs – that’s one of the main reasons we’re able to organise these Games in a compressed timeframe. Coming back, I know a lot of my peers who got their break at the same time as me in 2014 and are now in senior positions within event delivery or directly in the 2026 team – it’s been amazing to see.
“We want the same thing to happen this time too. That’s why involving the local workforce is a big aim for us going into the Games. We want people from Glasgow to apply, jumpstart their careers, and use this as a springboard to open up new opportunities – whether that’s in Scotland, the wider UK, or in some of the global sporting events coming up in the next few years.
“There is not long to go until the Games. Whatever role you’re interested in, you won’t just be a small cog in a big wheel – you’ll be really involved and get to pick up lots of great hands-on experience that will set you up well for the next stage of your career. It’s the perfect opportunity for a new generation of Scots to take that first step towards opportunities in events across the world.”
To find out more about working at Glasgow 2026 through Trivandi, click here.
Scottish Parliament
This View has been written by Martin Brogaard and David Phillips of the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS)
The Scottish Government received 26% more per resident for devolved public services from the UK government than is spent on comparable services in England in 2024–25. This is the main factor allowing more generous public service provision, including smaller school classes, free university tuition and free personal care services.
But this funding advantage has fallen over the last few years and will continue to do so in future. The Scottish Government received 32% more per resident than was spent in England in 2019–20. By 2028–29, it is set to receive 23% more. In other words, Scotland will continue to benefit from higher funding per person than in England, but to a lesser degree than in the past. This is simply the result of the operation of the Barnett formula rather than any active decision to reduce Scotland’s relative levels of funding.
The squeeze seen so far since 2019–20 has taken place during a period when Scottish Government funding has actually been increasing by around 2% a year in real terms – a not inconsiderable amount, albeit slower than in England.
Looking ahead though, the continued squeeze relative to England will be accompanied by a sharp slowdown in funding growth – and indeed, on current plans, funding for Scottish public services may even be no higher in real terms in 2028–29 than now.
This challenging fiscal outlook means it will be hard for the next Scottish Government to continue to provide more generous services and benefits than in England. Funding more generous provision will increasingly need some combination of higher devolved tax revenues – whether through higher economic growth or higher tax rates – and more efficient public service delivery. Without these, cutbacks in service provision or devolved benefits will likely be necessary.
These are among the key findings of first Scottish election briefing from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, funded by the Nuffield Foundation and the Robertson Trust.
The briefing examines how and why funding for day-to-day (resource) and investment (capital) spending has changed over time, and the outlook for the coming Scottish parliamentary term. Recent trends have shaped – and been shaped by – the current Scottish Government’s tax and spending choices. The future outlook will shape the tax and spending options available to the next Scottish Government.
Scottish Government funding over time
– After falling during the 2010s, Scottish Government funding has increased since 2019–20 – both for resource and capital spending. On as close to a like-for-like basis as possible, resource funding in the current financial year, 2025–26, is set to by 14.3% higher in real terms than in 2019–20, or 10.9% higher per person, after accounting for population growth.
– Higher funding since 2019 largely reflects an increase in UK government funding via the Barnett formula (£5.0 billion of the £5.7 billion overall real-terms increase). A series of freezes means the contribution of business rates revenues has fallen in real terms (by £0.5 billion), but the net contribution of devolved funding sources has also increased (by £1.2 billion). Income tax rises for higher-income taxpayers are the biggest contributor to the growing contribution of devolved funding sources – although slower earnings growth since tax devolution and behavioural responses to the higher tax rates are together estimated to offset almost half of the mechanical revenue increase from tax policy changes.
– On as close to a like-for-like basis as possible, capital funding has increased by 17% in real terms since 2019–20, again reflecting increases in UK government funding.
– The coming parliament is set to see a slowdown in funding growth for both resource and capital spending purposes. Overall resource funding is currently forecast to grow by 1.0% a year in real terms over the three years to 2028–29. Stripping out funding for and spending on devolved benefits, funding for public services is currently forecast to grow in real terms by just 0.3% a year. Overall capital funding is set to remain broadly flat, after accounting for the completion of a large prison building programme.
– This funding slowdown will necessitate tough trade-offs between different spending areas. Restrictions on Scottish Government borrowing prevent it from borrowing more to offset this.
Funding relative to England
– After increasing during the 2010s, the funding advantage of Scotland relative to England is now falling, with UK government funding for devolved Scottish services falling from 32% above English levels in 2019–20, to 23% above English levels by 2028–29 under current spending plans and population projections. This trend reflects the ‘Barnett squeeze’: the population-based increments in funding provided each year by the Barnett formula are smaller in percentage terms for Scotland than for England given the higher funding level Scotland starts with.
– Increases in funding from devolved sources since 2019–20 are offsetting some of the effects of the ‘Barnett squeeze’ on the Scottish Government’s budget. These additional devolved revenues have in part paid for an increase in devolved benefit spending to reduce income poverty. Their effect in offsetting the squeeze on public service spending has therefore been more limited.
– Scotland’s relative spending needs were estimated to be 5% higher per person than England’s by the 2010 Holtham Commission – the most recent comprehensive assessment. While indicative rather than definitive and now nearly two decades old, these estimates suggest Scotland is still set to be relatively generously funded for the foreseeable future – just less so than historically.
David Phillips, Head of Devolved and Local Government Finance at IFS and co-author of the report, said:
“After falling during the 2010s, the last six years have seen real-terms increases in Scottish Government funding, mostly as a result of increases in UK government funding. Yet UK government decisions now mean that growth in funding is set to slow over the next few years. Indeed, without top-ups to UK government spending plans, the outlook for Scottish Government funding will likely be even more challenging than official forecasts suggest – given these forecasts implicitly assume earnings and hence income tax revenues in Scotland will outpace those in the rest of the UK. If wages and hence tax revenues in Scotland instead grow in line with the rest of the UK, funding for day-to-day spending on public services may even be no higher in real terms in three years’ time than now.”
Martin Brogaard, Research Economist at IFS and co-author of the report, said:
“Scotland currently enjoys more generous public services than England, in large part because the Scottish Government receives around 26% more funding per person than is spent on comparable services in England. But after growing during the 2010s, this funding advantage is now shrinking as the so-called ‘Barnett squeeze’ bites. Without substantial increases in devolved revenues, improvements in public sector efficiency or cuts to other spending, it will be increasingly difficult for future Scottish Governments to continue to provide a wider range of free services – such as university tuition and personal care – than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK.”
Helen Miller, IFS Director, said:
“The tricky funding outlook facing the next Scottish Government has important implications for assessing the proposals the different Scottish parties will make in the upcoming election campaign. Cuts to some taxes or increases in spending on priority items are feasible but will require tough choices elsewhere in a Scottish budget which will already be under some strain.”
Glasgow skyline
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A new research centre based at the University of Glasgow is setting out to develop the ‘cognitive’ cities of the future which will revolutionise urban life.
The Centre for Integrated Sensing and Communication Enabling Cognitive Cities, or ISAC³, aims to harness the vast amounts of data which will be gathered by 6G communications technologies to create cities which are healthier, safer and more sustainable for residents.
Unlike the current generation of smart cities, which provide real-time data on city systems, cognitive cities aims to harness the power of AI to analyse data collected by advanced sensors placed around cities, as well as through peoples’ mobile devices, to enable city systems to become predictive rather than reactive.
The data gathered and processed by cognitive city systems will give urban spaces a level of sensory ability like to a living organism, where sensing, communications and action can all act in parallel to respond to problems.
New digital technologies driven by complex algorithms will help city decisionmakers identify and prevent common urban problems like gridlock, poor air quality, or failing infrastructure before they happen.
Meanwhile, data gathered by next-generation mobile devices about their users’ wellbeing could help identify the early stages of serious health problems and direct them towards medical assistance to prevent worsening of their condition.
ISAC³ unites the University’s experts in engineering, computing science, cybersecurity, public health, innovation, business, social science and urban planning under a single banner.
They will work with industry and academic partners, local and national governments and civic partners to establish a roadmap for the development of cognitive cities and develop research projects which can be translated into real-world applications.
Professor Qammer H. Abbasi, Founding Director of ISAC³ and Professor at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, brings extensive experience in next-generation communications, integrated sensing and interdisciplinary research and policy leadership.
He said: “Cities around the world are facing a series of challenges, including population growth, the effects of climate change, cybersecurity threats, and the urgent need for decarbonisation.
“Next-generation technologies like real-time data collection, advanced communications, quantum-secured infrastructure, Cyber physical systems and artificial intelligence-driven analytics will provide the tools required to turn urban spaces into cognitive cities.
“The University of Glasgow has expertise in all of these areas, and bringing together those researchers under the banner of ISAC³ will help to encourage groundbreaking new interdisciplinary collaborations.
“The aims of ISAC³ align closely with UK and Scottish Government priorities in future communications, AI, semiconductor. quantum technologies, and net zero goals, and will help position Glasgow at the forefront of next-generation urban technology development.”
Professor Frances Mair, head of the University of Glasgow’s School of Health & Wellbeing, is one of ISAC³’s leading collaborators. She said: “Cities are becoming more digital, but health and wellbeing services are often among the last to take advantage of the benefits of technological advances. ISAC³ will help to put these services into the heart of city planning and bring technologists and health experts together in a way that finally moves us beyond simply reacting to illness.
“Instead, we can use real-time information to spot early signs of risk, support people before problems escalate, and make it easier to access services. In the future, we could see ISAC technology quietly working in the background to keep communities healthier, safer, and more supported.”
Nuran Acur, Professor of Innovation Management at the University of Glasgow’s Adam Smith Business School, is playing a key role in ISAC³. She said: “One of the Centre’s major strengths is that we bring together researchers, industry, public services, and society through a responsible innovation and quadruple helix approach, where ideas are driven by societal, policy, and organisational needs and co-created with those who will ultimately use and be affected by them.
“By collaborating so early in development, we co-create technologies that are practical, cost-efficient, socially responsible, and ready to be deployed at the scale cities, organisations, and communities actually need.”
Professor Muhammad Imran, Head of the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow, said: “We are delighted to host ISAC³ within the James Watt School of Engineering; the Centre reflects the strength of its leadership and interdisciplinary team, and exemplifies our commitment to world-leading research with real societal impact.”
In the Centre’s first year, researchers will host workshops and webinars bringing together international leaders in integrated sensing, communication and computing to develop a deployment roadmap for prototype technologies. A key focus for the roadmap will be balancing the development of innovative systems with robust protection for the data collected from city sensors and mobile devices.
The Centre’s researchers will use the University’s campus as a testbed to put those prototypes through their paces, in partnership with industry partner including BT, Virgin Media O2, Ericsson, Interdigital and Neutral Wireless Ltd.
Mallik Tatipamula, CTO of Ericsson Silicon Valley, said: “Cities worldwide are facing shared pressures, from climate volatility and sustainable mobility to public safety and seamless connectivity. The cities that succeed will be those that can sense, interpret, and respond to their environments in real time.
“The work being led by ISAC³ in Glasgow has the potential to shape how cities evolve globally. By advancing integrated sensing, computing and communication, the Centre is moving us beyond connected cities towards truly cognitive urban systems that can scale internationally and redefine how future societies function.”
The Centre will also collaborate with academic partners institutions globally and locally including the Universities of Manchester, Leicester and Strathclyde, Queen Mary University of London, Kings College London and Imperial College London.
