So much to look forward to

What better way to fight the seasonal slump than to meet others?

On this edition’s cover we celebrate the Kyle of Sutherland Gala Weekend volunteers, supporting groups and organisations, and everyone who attended the events and contributed to its success.

Luckily, there are still many events to look forward to in the autumn, check out, for example, our article in the upcoming Arts & Photography Fair. With longer nights, some local clubs resume the activities that had stopped during the summer, including dancing. Mary Goulder’s ultimate guide to dancing groups around the area will help you choose, if you’re willing to take the floor!

Our nights might be getting longer, but nowhere near as long as in the Arctic. Bryan Alexander’s text and stunning photos on his trips to Qaanaaq, in northwest Greenland, are not to be missed.

With the Scottish Goverment having closed the consultation on amending the Electricity Act (1989), Dr Kat Jones from APRS makes the case to increase the 50MW threshold for onshore electricity generation, so all decisions on planning applications are made locally.

We share the story of Alexander Campbell, also known as ‘Iverach’, a supercentenarian from Glencalvie who reached the ripe old age of 117 years in 1816.

We are now running as a volunteer-led fully independent newsroom, and we are very grateful to the local community councils who have subsidised our printing costs for 2026. But we’ll need your help to keep the project sustainable and free for everyone. Please consider purchasing a subscription clicking on the button below, it would make a tremendous difference.

Call for the creation of a Scottish Local News Fund - sign the petition

A campaign calling for greater support for local journalism in Scotland has gained cross-party backing at Holyrood, as an open letter supporting the proposals passes 100 signatures.

The Scottish Beacon’s campaign for a Scottish Local News Fund has gained support from MSPs across several political parties, with a motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament, a written parliamentary question and MSPs writing directly to ministers.

The campaign was launched after Scottish publishers were excluded from the first year of the UK Government’s new Local News Fund, worth up to £12 million in total. The open letter calls for a dedicated Scottish fund, greater investment of public advertising in independent local news and funded journalism placements accessible to independent publishers.
The open letter, bringing together independent publishers and journalists with academics, charities, community organisations, campaigners and people working across culture, human rights, climate action and rural Scotland, as well as members of the public, has now surpassed 100 signatures. It can be accessed here:

Scottish Labour MSP Katherine Sangster has lodged a motion formally recognising The Scottish Beacon’s campaign and calling on the Scottish Government to establish a Scottish Local News Fund. The motion has received cross-party support from Jackie Baillie, Miles Briggs, Ariane Burgess, David Green, Ross Greer, Pauline McNeill, Laura Moodie, Kate Nevens, and Paul Sweeney.

Far North MSP David Green and the Culture spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats has written to the Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth warning increasing misinformation means “trusted local journalism has never been more important.”

Mr Green said, “With misinformation increasing rapidly on social media, protecting independent local news that people know and trust is only going to become more important.

“I also urge Ministers to take seriously The Scottish Beacon’s campaign for a
Scottish Local News Fund. Local media outlets provide a public service, all too
often on tight budgets. If we don’t do more to support them now, we will feel
their loss dearly.”