Self-care note: This wrap-up includes discussion of anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and behaviours, suicide, gender based violence, and more. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
1. Scottish Government invests £10m in college courses to help parents out of poverty 🎓
Up to 2,400 parents across Scotland will be able to access college training courses designed to help them find employment or progress in their careers, as part of a new £10 million Scottish Government initiative to tackle child poverty.
The Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE) programme will focus on families at greatest risk of poverty, providing training alongside practical support with childcare and transport costs to help parents overcome barriers to education and employment.
The initiative forms part of a wider £22 million investment in skills and training for parents. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the programme could help families increase their incomes and find a more sustainable route out of poverty.
Source: STV News
2. Forty-five Police Scotland officers suspended over allegations of violence against women 🚨
Police Scotland has confirmed that 45 serving officers are currently suspended over allegations of violence against women and girls. Chief Constable Jo Farrell described the scale of violence against women and girls across Scotland as an “epidemic” and acknowledged that police forces are not immune to the problem. Not all suspended officers are currently subject to criminal investigations.
The announcement follows several cases involving former officers convicted of rape and other sexual offences. An independent review is also examining whether opportunities were missed to identify the offending of former officer Alan Greer, who passed police vetting checks despite having two reports of criminal behaviour against women on his record.
Police Scotland is introducing stricter vetting procedures, with around 6,000 officers and 2,000 civilian staff still awaiting reassessment. The new rules will make it easier to remove officers who fail vetting. Farrell said further cases could emerge as investigations and reviews continue.
Source: BBC News
3. Prostate and uterine cancer on the rise among young people in England 🩺
According to a new international study, cases of prostate and uterine cancer have increased among younger people in England over the past 25 years.
Since 2001, the number of people under 50 diagnosed with prostate cancer has quadrupled, while those who received a diagnosis of uterine cancer has more than doubled. Breast cancer diagnosis have also increased, but less sharply than those of the other types.
Cancer among the under 50s is still uncommon. However, the researchers said that lifestyle factors, including a poor diet, may have contributed to the rise, alongside greater awareness of cancer and earlier diagnosis.
Source: The Guardian
4. More than 20 trans people died by suicide while under gender clinic care 🏳️⚧️
A new investigation has revealed that more than 600 people have died while under the care of NHS gender clinics, including at least 21 trans individuals who died by suicide or suspected suicide.
The investigation, conducted by QueerAF, analysed data from gender clinics across the UK. However, these figures are likely to be an underestimate, as only three of the 13 gender clinics approached by the publication provided the data.
The data goes back as far as 2009, but most of the deaths occurred in more recent years.
Source: QueerAF
If you’ve been affected by this story, support is available. Samaritans offers free, confidential support on 116 123, 24 hours a day. LGBTQIA+ people can also contact LGBT Health and Wellbeing at 0800 464 7000.
5. Organisations urge government to act on sexual violence in schools 🏫
More than 80 organisations working on gender-based violence and in the education sector have written to the Prime Minister, urging the government to take action to prevent and tackle sexual violence in schools.
A recent investigation published in The Guardian revealed that, between 2021 and 2025, more than 8,000 reports of sexual offences involving victims under the age of 13 were recorded in England and Wales, while 2,300 reports involved children aged 13 to 16. Almost 1,900 reports related to rape offences, including attempted rape.
“Children and young people deserve to grow up and access education free from violence and abuse. The government must act now to make this a reality,” the organisations wrote in a joint statement.
Source: EVAW
6. Women experience more pain than men, new study finds 🩺
Women experience more pain across the body than men, a new study has found.
According to the research, women report more pain than men in 11 body areas, with headache and facial and abdominal pain showing the greatest differences.
The increase in pain begins before the age of 55, meaning that “a substantial share of lifetime pain burden develops during working-age adulthood”, the authors wrote.
Published in Nature Medicine, the study is the largest of its kind, with data gathered from 1990 to 2025 and from more than 6 million people from 118 countries, and included individuals from the age of 5 to more than 100.
Source: The Guardian
7. Abortion pill access increases in Australia, but barriers remain 💊
Access to medication abortion has expanded in Australia following changes to prescribing and dispensing rules in August 2023.
New data shows a 49% increase in the number of pharmacies ordering MS-2 Step, a medication used for early abortion, in the three years since restrictions were eased. Almost half of Australia’s postcodes now have access to the medicine.
However, barriers remain, highlighting that relaxing regulations doesn’t automatically guarantee equitable access to abortion care, particularly for people living in areas with fewer healthcare services.
Source: ABC
8. Extreme heat linked to birth complications, UN expert says 🌡️
According to UN climate chief Simon Stiell, extreme heat can increase the risk of pregnancy and birth complications, including stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight and complications affecting the pregnant person.
In a meeting in the city of Nadi, Fiji, he cited a survey showing that more than two-thirds of healthcare professionals across five continents had witnessed health problems and complications caused by extreme heat over the past five years.
Source: CBS News
