Edinburgh lecturers walk out for five weeks, until 30 October
This is the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Around 3,000 University and College Union members have begun five weeks of strike action, running until 30 October, over £140 million of savings, the closure of 90 programmes in arts, humanities and social sciences, and management’s refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies, which the union says could account for up to 1,800 jobs. If your teaching stops, note each class cancelled and ask your school in writing what will be rescheduled, then read up on academic support.
Guaranteed jobs open to young disabled people from April 2027
The Department for Work and Pensions is extending its Jobs Guarantee to young people on health benefits from April 2027. Those eligible will be offered a job on a voluntary basis from week 13 after their Work Capability Assessment, with the government covering all wage costs for up to 25 hours a week for six months, plus mentoring and support with mental health, finances and housing. The scheme currently runs for 18 to 24-year-olds who have claimed Universal Credit for 18 months, and eligibility is decided through the benefits system rather than by your university.