Nobody, whether a business or individual, wants to be a victim of a scam and suffer the financial loss, frustration and worry that it causes.
The information contained in this booklet can provide you with enough knowledge to have confidence in going about your daily business without the fear of falling foul of a scam.
You can view the booklet here 
More than 250 school children from three schools in Edinburgh have taken part in storytelling sessions organised by Fort Kinnaird, aimed at helping them fall in love with reading.
The events involved children hearing stories from professional storyteller, Amanda Edmiston, and were part of the Young Readers Programme, an award-winning initiative sponsored by Fort Kinnaird’s co-owner British Land and run-in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, designed to encourage children to read outside of the classroom.
During the literary-focussed events, pupils from Castleview Primary School, Niddrie Mill Primary School and Brunstane Primary School also learnt how to choose books they will enjoy and were able to take home a book of their choice.
British Land and the National Literacy Trust are celebrating 11 years in partnership this year and, since the programme launched at Fort Kinnaird, it has supported almost 2,300 school children and seen more than 6,800 books donated across the Edinburgh.
Research by the National Literacy Trust has shown that owning a book means children are more likely to say they enjoy reading and are more inclined to read in their free time. However, almost 6% of children in the UK do not own a book, which equates to almost 415,000 children across the country*.
With reading for enjoyment proven to have a positive effect on children’s reading skill* as well as their wellbeing and mental health, the Young Readers Programme initiative aims to give support and help with the development of children in under privileged areas by giving them access to books.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “Supporting local children and their families is so important to us and the Young Readers Programme is an integral part of this.
“We look forward to this brilliant initiative every year and have loved seeing children from across our community enjoy their storytelling sessions.”
Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “Reading for enjoyment is proven to support mental wellbeing, literacy skills, and future success. Encouraging children to enjoy reading from a young age can have a measurable impact on the rest of their lives.
“But the sad reality is that 6% of children across the country don’t have their own book to read at home, and many don’t find reading enjoyable.
“Through the Young Readers Programme and the support of British Land, we are able to help so many more children have fun whilst reading outside the classroom, give them access to inspiring books and access to many benefits that they may otherwise be missing out on.”
With the summer holidays now fully underway across Scotland, NHS 24 is sharing summer health advice to keep people happy and healthy throughout the season.
The campaign ‘Hello Summer’ signposts people to the correct health advice and services if they need help during the holidays. Topics such as hay fever, sun safety, kids’ injuries, BBQ food safety and hydration will all be covered.
Dr Paul Perry, a GP and Associate Medical Director at NHS 24, says: ‘The summer holidays are a great chance for family, friends and communities to spend time together and relax in hopefully nicer weather or travel further afield to enjoy a break away from home.
“It’s worth remembering a few small steps that can keep you and your family safe from common summer health issues such as hay fever, sunburn and insect bites. Most summer health complaints can be safely treated at home, so our ‘Hello Summer’ campaign will help people to avoid illness and when and where to seek medical advice if needed.”
General advice and information on how to stay healthy can be found at www.nhsinform.scot.
DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE SUMMER HOLIDAY CLUBS
Free P1 – P7 Summer Programme at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.
Call Lynda on 315 4989 to book spaces.
Visitors to a west Edinburgh park can soon enjoy a safe and well-lit access route thanks to an innovative community partnership brought together by local residents.
The Friends of The Gyle Park have linked with local homebuilder Artisan Real Estate and building contractor Cruden Building East, as well as other partners, to raise the necessary funds to install twelve streetlamps along a busy walkway in and out of the park. Other contributors to the project include The Careys Foundation and Scottish Water, with support from the City of Edinburgh Council.
The newly illuminated pedestrian route links the Gyle Park Sports Pavilion, to the north of the park, to Gylemuir Road which is home to Artisan’s 93-apartment Rowanbank Gardens development, due for completion in spring 2023.
Welcoming the installation of the new street lighting, Tommy McLean, Chair of the Friends of The Gyle Park, said: “This is a well-used walkway which provides an essential pedestrian link between the residential developments and shops either side of the park.
“It is also a convenient cut-through to the train station at South Gyle and is used by children going to and from the two primary schools in the area, avoiding the busy A8.
“The new street lighting means that we can now have safe and well-lit access to the park throughout the year, which will be a huge benefit to local residents and everyone who uses the park on a regular basis.”
Artisan moved on site at the adjacent Rowanbank Gardens in 2021, and the company was keen to get involved in a project which added to the development’s already superb connectivity with the local area.
Artisan’s Development Director for Scotland David Westwater explained: “Rowanbank Gardens is already making headlines for its low-carbon and sustainability credentials, and an important part of that is how easily it connects to its wider neighbourhood and public transport network, reducing the need for car travel.
“As such, we were delighted to work in partnership with the local community to improve access into the park and beyond, bringing significant value both to existing residents and to potential home purchasers at Rowanbank Gardens.”
Cruden Building East is the on-site contractor for Artisan at Rowanbank Gardens and Senior Project Manager Mike Howlett was also keen for the company to become involved. He said: “Our work at Rowanbank Gardens is much more than building homes. It’s also about being part of the community, so we are very pleased to support this important local initiative.”
Prices for a two-bedroom apartment at Rowanbank Gardens start at just £245,000 making it a perfect destination for first-time buyers and downsizers wanting to live in well-connected, bustling community just minutes from the city centre.
To register interest and book an appointment at the new on-site sales and marketing suite, visit the development website at www.rowanbankgardens.com or call 0131 516 3302.
PARK LIFE
West Pilton Park
Free activities and food for young people aged P7 – S3
Sports/ parkour/ circus skills/ bike obstacle course/ drumming/ graffiti art & more
Tuesdays 12th, 19th & 26th July, 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Email for more information: booking.youth.talk@gmail.com
Figures obtained by the NSPCC reveal online grooming crimes recorded by Police Scotland reach almost 3,000 in five years, with offences against under 13s rising by more than 60%.
Analysis of Freedom of Information data from Police Scotland shows that in 2021/22 there were 636 offences of Communicating Indecently with a Child, compared with 429 in 2017/18 – a 48% rise. For victims under the age of 13, there was a steeper rise with 369 in 2021/22 and 226 in 2017/18.
Data* from 41 UK police forces across the UK show an 84% rise in these crimes since 2017/18, with a total of more than 27,000 offences in the past five years.
The NSPCC says the sheer scale of offending shows the vital importance of ensuring that the Online Safety Bill effectively tackles child sexual abuse and has practical suggestions for how this is best done.
This should include giving the regulator, Ofcom, the powers to proactively tackle abuse in private messaging, making platforms work together to stop grooming pathways and stopping offenders from using social networks to organise abuse.
One 15-year-old girl who was groomed on multiple sites told Childline: “I’ve been chatting with this guy online who’s like twice my age. This all started on Instagram but lately all our chats have been on WhatsApp.
“He seemed really nice to begin with, but then he started making me do these things to ‘prove my trust’ to him, like doing video chats with my chest exposed. Every time I did these things for him, he would ask for more and I felt like it was too late to back out.
“This whole thing has been slowly destroying me and I’ve been having thoughts of hurting myself.”
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “Online grooming is taking place at unprecedented levels and only concerted action will turn the tide on this tsunami of preventable abuse.
“The crucial Online Safety Bill is the opportunity to deliver the legislative change we urgently need to address head on these preventable crimes against children.
“We strongly welcome the Government’s ambition to deliver world-leading legislation. But as it seems increasingly clear that the pandemic has resulted in a long-term increase in the abuse threat, the current proposals must go further now to tackle online sexual violence and prevent avoidable abuse.”
The charity is asking the public to email their MP to support amendments to the legislation that aim to improve its response to child sexual abuse.
The NSPCC has set out a five-point action plan for the Online Safety Bill to systemically prevent avoidable child sexual abuse.
Polling shows widespread public support for the measures to be adopted so the legislation achieves its ambition of giving children receive a higher standard of protection online.
Two thirds of child abuse is currently found in private messaging so the NSPCC welcomes that it will be in scope of the Bill.
But the charity wants Ofcom to be given power to proactively require firms to use technology to detect and disrupt grooming and the sharing of child abuse images.
The NSPCC knows grooming doesn’t just happen on one site and offenders use well known grooming pathways to target children.
Companies should have a clear legal duty to address cross platform harm and legally co-operate with each other to disrupt grooming.
Offenders perfectly legally use social media to form networks, then advertise a sexual interest in children and signpost to illegal child abuse content hosted on third party sites.
The NSPCC wants the Bill amended to combat the waysoffenders facilitate abuse on social media, which it says could prevent millions of interactions with accounts that contribute to grooming.
The Government should commit to a statutory code of practice on violence against women and girls to ensure the Online Safety Bill has a systemic and enforceable focus on online sexual violence.
Children make up one in five UK internet users but are inherently vulnerable, according to the NSPCC. The charity said the Online Safety Bill can achieve its ambition to give children a higher standard of protection by creating a statutory watchdog to promote children’s interests, funded by a levy on the tech industry.
This user advocacy body would ensure child protection is front and centre of regulation, prevent harm by acting as an early warning system to flag emerging risks and call for swift action. This would be similar to the role played by Citizens Advice in the energy and postal sectors.
The £6 billion tax cut will see the level at which people start paying National Insurance rise to £12,570 – lifting 2.2 million people out of paying any personal tax and ensuring people get to keep more of the money they earn.
The threshold change means that 70% of UK workers will pay less National Insurance, even after accounting for the Health and Social Care Levy that is funding the biggest catch up programme in NHS history and putting an end to spiralling social care costs.
Speaking before his resignation last night, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: “I know rising prices are putting pressure on hard-working families across the UK – which is why we’ve stepped in to help to ease the burden with a £37 billion package of support this year, including at least £1,200 going directly to the 8 million most vulnerable families.
“Today marks the next stage in that package, with the biggest personal tax cut in over a decade coming in to help millions of workers across the UK keep up to £330 more each year.”
The Prime Minister (at time of writing, anyway – Ed.) said: “We know it’s tough for many families across the UK, but we want you to know that this government is on your side.
“Today’s tax cut means around 70 per cent of British workers will pay less National Insurance – even after accounting for the Health and Social Care Levy that is funding the biggest catch up programme in NHS history and putting an end spiralling social care costs.
“So whether you are a receptionist, work in hospitality or are a delivery driver, this tax cut is likely to make you and your family better off.”
From today the level at which people start paying National Insurance has risen from £9,880 to £12,570.
This change means that millions of people working across hundreds of different industries across the UK will now be better off.
This includes bricklayers who’ll save £218, care workers who’ll save £324, hairdressers who will get a £118 benefit and nursery assistants who’ll get a £343 yearly boost.
Workers can check their salary in the government’s online tool to estimate the amount they could save between July 2022 to July 2023.
The last major personal tax cut of today’s magnitude was nearly ten years ago, when the income tax personal allowance increased by £1,100 in 2013. Today’s threshold change is more than double that, as working people are now able to hold on to an extra £2,690 free from tax.
Today’s change to National Insurance thresholds comes as part of the Chancellor’s wider vision for a lower tax economy. At the Spring Statement Mr Sunak announced a 1p income tax cut in 2024 – which will be the first cut to the basic rate in 16 years and will save the average taxpayer a further £175 a year.
The Chancellor also committed to cutting and reforming business taxes later this year in the autumn, to help spur business growth and productivity. The government is currently working with industry on how best to do that.
The increase to the National Insurance thresholds will leave around 76% of National Insurance payers in the North East better, 75% in the North West and Merseyside, and 62% in London.
Today’s landmark personal tax cut also comes as the government launched new Help for Households campaign designed to raise awareness and signpost people to the £37 billion in support on offer and targeted at those most in need.
The support provides millions of the most vulnerable households at least £1,200 of support in total this year to help with the cost of living, with all domestic electricity customers receiving at least £400 to help with their bills.
It also includes a 5p fuel duty cut – the biggest cut ever to fuel duty rates, a rise in the national living wage to give full time workers an extra £1,000 and a cut to the Universal Credit taper rate to provide over 1 million families an extra £1,000.
The NICs threshold change takes effect following the government making tough but responsible decisions to manage the public finances responsibly and choosing not to saddle future generations with almost £400 billion of debt used to protect jobs and the economy during the pandemic – worth around £5,500 for every person in the UK.
The government had planned for this good news story to be the big news event of today, but those plans were scuppered by the resignation of two senior cabinet ministers last night. As former Prime Minister Harold MacMillan once ruefully observed: “Events, dear boy. Events” …
BELEAGUERED BORIS JOHNSON INSISTS HE’LL ‘GET ON WITH THE JOB’
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid resigned from Boris Johnson’s Tory government last night.
The mishandling of the former deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher affair seems to have been the final straw for the two senior cabinet ministers, who submitted letters of resignation within minutes of each other last night.
Four junior ministers and Solicitor General Alex Chalk also resigned, piling pressure on the Prime Minister to step down.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to carry on, however, and promoted three loyalists in an attempt to shore up his teetering government. The following ministerial appointments have been made:
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “It is an honour to take up the position of Health and Social Care Secretary. Our NHS and social care staff have showed us time and again – throughout the pandemic and beyond – what it means to work with compassion and dedication to transform lives.
“This government is investing more than ever before in our NHS and care services to beat the Covid backlogs, recruit 50,000 more nurses, reform social care and ensure patients across the country can access the care they need.”
THE Government is collapsing and it has been “corrupted” by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said last night.
Speaking to GB News after the resignation of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid, he also called for a General Election.
He told Darren McCaffrey: “It’s clear that this Tory government is now collapsing.
“Tory cabinet ministers have been cheerleaders for Johnson throughout this sorry saga. They backed him when he broke the law.
“They backed him when he lied. They backed him when he mocked the sacrifices of the British people, so they have been complicit as he has disgraced his office and let down his country.
“And frankly, if they had a shred of integrity, they would have gone months ago. The Tory Party is corrupted and tragic.
“One man at the top won’t fix it. We need a real change of government and a fresh start for Britain.”
Sir Keir added: “There’s anything but political stability, this government is collapsing. Cabinet members have been backing Boris Johnson through this.
“The Tory party is corrupted and we need not just a change at the top of the Tory party, we need a change of government and a fresh start for our country so we can actually address those big issues that are undoubtedly out there.”
He continued: “He isn’t fit to be Prime Minister. He’s not fit to govern the country.
“That is appalling for many people across the Conservative Party but they have to reflect on the fact that they have backed him for months and months and months and resigning today, it means nothing against their complicity for all those months when they should have seen him for what he was they knew who he was.”
Starmer called for a General Election: “We need a fresh start for Britain. We need a change of government and this government is collapsing. The Tory party is corrupted and changing one man at the top of the Tory party won’t make any difference. It won’t fix the problems.
“Let’s have a fresh start for Britain, let’s have a real change of government.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Feels like end might be nigh for Johnson – not a moment too soon. Notable tho that the resigning ministers were only prepared to go when they were lied to – they defended him lying to public. The whole rotten lot need to go.
“And Scotland needs the permanent alternative of independence.”
Prime Minister’s Questions will be interesting today!
The growth in average wealth from assets including property and investments has been three times higher than the growth in average earnings over the past decade, new analysis* from Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management shows.
Figures show people are being out-earned by their homes and other investments, with average wealth rising 59% over the past decade compared with 19% growth in salaries over the same period, according to Handelsbanken Wealth Management & Asset Management’s analysis of the latest Government data on Britons’ wealth and assets and earnings.
Average wealth for Britons is estimated at £575,948 after a decade of growth from £361,831, with house price rises as well as increases in pensions, investments and physical wealth including possessions all appreciating in value since 2010. By contrast, average earnings have only increased to £31,840.
For the wealthiest 25% of the population, the growth in assets has been even more impressive – they now own wealth estimated at £733,800 compared with £447,900 a decade ago. They have seen their wealth increase 34% faster than the British average, while their salaries have increased 22% faster.
Of course, the growth in wealth has not been shared equally throughout the country – the wealthiest people in London have seen their wealth grow by 77% over the period to an average £902,400, compared with £495,200 in 2010.
The top 25% wealthiest in the North East have only seen growth of 30% during the same period, taking them to an average £459,500, which equates to an increase of £105,300. Growth among the top quartile of wealthiest people in the South East was 77% during the same period, compared with 69% in the East of England and 66% in the South and Wales. The North West saw growth of 45%.
PK Patel, Head of Wealth Management at Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management, said: “Earnings growth has on average been constrained over the past 10 years, with most people relying on their houses, investments, and possessions to boost their wealth.
“It is fascinating to see the gulf between the increase in asset values and the increase in average earnings over the past decade, and is instructive for advisers and their clients on how to plan their finances and assess their wealth.
“No matter how your total wealth is made up, it’s important to have a clear plan on how you want to use it for your own future and for the benefit of other family members.”
Table one: wealth and salary growth for the richest quartile by UK region, 2008-10 vs 2018-20
| Region | Top quartile average wealth | Top quartile average salary | ||||
| 2008-10 | 2018-20 | Growth | 2010 | 2020 | Growth | |
| North East | £354,200 | £459,500 | 30% | 27736.5 | £33,108 | 19% |
| North West | £387,400 | £561,400 | 45% | 29272 | £35,256 | 20% |
| Yorkshire & the Humber | £376,300 | £556,300 | 48% | 28591.5 | £33,890 | 19% |
| East Midlands | £415,500 | £617,900 | 49% | 29442 | £35,204 | 20% |
| West Midlands | £399,200 | £621,500 | 56% | 28654.5 | £35,003 | 22% |
| East of England | £511,500 | £864,700 | 69% | 33006.5 | £38,938 | 18% |
| London | £495,200 | £902,400 | 82% | 39157.5 | £47,423 | 21% |
| South East | £597,100 | £1,058,000 | 77% | 34775.5 | £40,834 | 17% |
| South West | £485,300 | £805,500 | 66% | 28887 | £34,434 | 19% |
| Wales | £383,900 | £635,700 | 66% | 27845.5 | £33,453 | 20% |
| Scotland | £364,000 | £584,800 | 61% | 30072.5 | £36,889 | 23% |
| Great Britain | £447,900 | £733,800 | 64% | 31401 | £37,625 | 20% |
Table two: average wealth and salary growth by UK region, 2008-10 vs 2018-20
| Region | Average wealth | Average salary | ||||
| 2008-10 | 2018-20 | Growth | 2010 | 2020 | Growth | |
| North East | £271,385 | £382,379 | 41% | £22,566 | £27,343 | 21% |
| North West | £303,074 | £452,151 | 49% | £24,074 | £28,782 | 20% |
| Yorkshire & the Humber | £310,994 | £444,366 | 43% | £23,433 | £28,072 | 20% |
| East Midlands | £337,125 | £473,284 | 40% | £24,294 | £28,997 | 19% |
| West Midlands | £322,423 | £471,564 | 46% | £23,733 | £29,399 | 24% |
| East of England | £411,000 | £680,549 | 66% | £28,095 | £33,065 | 18% |
| London | £395,352 | £678,545 | 72% | £37,746 | £42,565 | 13% |
| South East | £491,410 | £827,565 | 68% | £29,940 | £35,040 | 17% |
| South West | £382,253 | £630,258 | 65% | £23,980 | £28,258 | 18% |
| Wales | £326,424 | £515,767 | 58% | £22,381 | £26,995 | 21% |
| Scotland | £301,504 | £464,685 | 54% | £24,527 | £30,097 | 23% |
| Great Britain | £361,831 | £575,948 | 59% | £26,751 | £31,840 | 19% |
