13 ways to instantly improve your credit score at the start of the New Year

A community will gather to pay an emotional tribute to a “loved” scots dad who tragically died after falling off a bridge in New Zealand on Christmas Day. Duncan Gordon, 39, from Dunkeld, fell backwards from the bridge in Dunedin at around 8pm following a social gathering with friends.

Scots rocker Sir Rod Stewart has led tributes to Jeff Beck following the rock veteran's death at the age of 78.

Belle & Sebastian have announced that they will release new album ‘Late Developers’ this Friday – a swift follow-up to their last LP, ‘A Bit Of Previous’, which came out in May.Arriving ahead of the album release is new single ‘I Don’t Know What You See In Me’, co-written with producer Wuh Oh, of which frontman Stuart Murdoch says: “I was bicycling across Scotland last summer, listening to a mix of this song. It was written and produced for us by our friend Pete ‘Wuh Oh’ Ferguson.

A machete attack on a convicted drug dealer near his home has sparked fears of a renewed gang war in Edinburgh.

The start of a new year is a good chance to review your finances and make some quick changes which could help improve your credit worthiness within just a few weeks. Having a strong credit rating can help bring you one step closer to securing finance, as it is a way for lenders to check if you are financially reliable, whether you're trying to get a loan, credit card, mortgage or car finance.

A new sighting has been confirmed of a man who disappeared from Fife on New Year's Day. Scott McLaren left his home in the Dollar Crescent area of Kirkcaldy around midday on Sunday, January 1.

An Ayrshire rock band has won The Weekender Awards 2022 'Music Video of the Year'.

Thousands of revellers returned from all over the world to welcome in New Year at Scotland’s biggest street party. Over 40,000 people flooded into Edinburgh for the world-famous Hogmanay for the first time in three years.

With Hogmanay approaching, we're likely to hear some fireworks through the evening. While most New Year's Eve fireworks are carried out by professionals, some like to set off their own displays.

Still Game icon Greg Hemphill and Burnistoun's Robert Florence are returning to BBC One Scotland this weekend with their comedy sketch 'Queen of the New Year'. The programme made its festive debut last year and is making a comeback on Hogmanay to bring more mirth and merriment to the evening.

With the arrival of 2023 looming, many of us will be planning to make some changes with some New Year's Resolutions. Most Scots will be tucking into some good food and drink to celebrate the festive period, but come January 1, many of us will be whipping ourselves into shape.

Can you give a loving new home to a friendly pooch?

The Scottish Government is working towards delivering a new benefit that will start to replace Carer’s Allowance by the end of next year, with a full national rollout planned for Spring 2024, according to a new progress report on the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.

There is no doubt that nowhere celebrates New Year's Eve quite like Scotland, with a number of unique and historic traditions that are still followed to this day across the country.

With Christmas over and done, it is time to start thinking about Hogmanay — arguably an even bigger holiday in Scotland.

Scots are set to be lashed with rain as the Met Office has issued a fresh yellow rain warning for later this week.

The countdown to Hogmanay is on and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have already confirmed changes to benefit payment dates over New Year as a result of the subsequent bank holidays. Social Security Scotland has also announced similar changes for those on devolved benefits.

Social Security Scotland is encouraging young people who are starting a new job to claim a unique cash boost which could help with additional costs. Eligible 16-24 year olds who are already receiving certain other benefits or Tax Credits can apply for Job Start Payment - a one-off payment worth £267.65, or £428.25 if the applicant is the main carer of children.

We will bring in 2023 later this week, and while it is a period full of hope and excitement for many, it is also a period of disrupted bin pick-ups.

This festive period will be a different type of holiday for many households due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Soaring energy bills and record-breaking inflation means that money matters are at the forefront of spending, prioritising practical needs and staying in the black rather than stretching household budgets to breaking point.