Category: North Edinburgh News

Conifox Adventure Park launches eclectic summer events programme for all the family

A bumper summer of family fun awaits at Conifox Adventure Park where a host of eclectic events is scheduled to entertain everyone, from fans of fairies, Peter Pan and pirates to American car enthusiasts. 

The amusement starts on June 29 with a magical evening of open-air theatre and a performance of David Walliams’ Awful Auntie. Adapted for the outdoors by Heartbreak Productions, the thrilling tale includes owls, ghosts, chases, escapes and motorcycle rides as heiress and orphan Stella Saxby outwits her awful Aunt Alberta and her giant owl. 

Performed over two hours and suitable for age five years and upwards, it is an outdoor, all-weather event and attendees should bring picnic blankets or chairs. 

FoxFest, specially designed for children and families, follows on July 2 and 3. Festival-goers can soak up the atmosphere in the Event Field during a bumper weekend of entertainment featuring: Magic Gareth, a family magic show; Ray Bubbles, world record-holding soap bubble artist; Comedy 4 Kids Club, a hilarious show for a family audience; Fun Scientists with the UK’s Number 1 science presenter, crazy experiments and crowd interaction; Dupa Lipa, a dazzling Dua Lipa tribute act and Rogue Circus including amazing acts by mirror men, stilt walkers and fire performers. 

There are standard and VIP tickets available plus additional activities such as a funfair, climbing wall and face painting. 

The following weekend, July 10, sees the Adventure Park rev up for the return of its American Car Show, which celebrates some of the best vintage and supercars from the United States.  Don your cowboy boots and dance to the DJ’s sounds or grab a snack from the BBQs as you check out the motors.  The Adventure Park and Activity Centre are also open alongside this event. 

The car show is swiftly followed by a week of Dynamic Dinosaurs from July 11-17. Back bigger and better than ever, visitors can get up close and immerse themselves in a prehistoric world. Discover amazing fossils in the dig pit, meet friendly baby dinosaurs, see the Dinosaur Rangers introduce amazing “live” dinosaurs and listen to some fascinating facts and stories in a fun-packed 45-minute show. Pet the dinos and grab a photo or watch them as they roam around.

On July 23 the open-air theatre is back for llyria Theatre’s wonderful production of Peter Pan and takes place during the Conifox Cove Pirate Weekend of July 22-24.  Suitable for ages five and upwards, the play starts at 5.30pm with a running time of approx. 1hr 40 mins. Again, picnic blankets and chairs are recommended for the all-weather event. 

The performance is just one aspect of an unforgettable weekend when the infamous pirates of Conifox Cove take over the Adventure Park. Packed with pirate adventures, sea shanties and buried treasures, visitors can meet and interact with the spectacular inhabitants of Conifox and live out their own pirate story.

Head into the maze to the land of pirates, bumbling buccaneers and whole cast of colourful characters. Solve the interactive treasure trail for an exclusive prize – best of all, Conifox Cove is included with entry to the Adventure Park. 

The Magic Forest comes to Conifox on Aug 5-7 with a Fairy Weekend, where the Fairy Godmother and her friends will be joining the team from the magical land of Fairy. Head into the magical forest maze and follow the interactive trail, meet the fairies and follow the clues to discover the Garden of the Fairy Godmother.

Once you find it, stop to hear stories and experience the wonderful world of the Magic Forest. And there will be prize for all children who can follow the magical trail and find their way!  

James Gammell, Managing Director of Conifox Adventure Park, says: “We’ve had the most amazing fun dreaming up this fabulous programme of events and we can’t wait to see the reactions of all our visitors.

“There really is something for everyone this year. We’ve packed a lot in, but then we’ve had a lot of catching up to do over the last couple of years, and we’re making up for everything that we all missed out on – and more. It’s going to be just a fantastic summer of fun.” 

For more details about all the events mentioned and to find ticket prices and terms and conditions, visit https://www.conifox.co.uk/whats-on/ 

For more information on Conifox Adventure Park see https://www.conifox.co.uk/ 

Bangholm Sports and Outdoor Centre on track for August opening

Bangholm Sports and Outdoor Centre

A new sports and outdoor centre next to Trinity Academy in north Edinburgh will open its doors to pupils and the community in August.

Over £10m has been invested by the City of Edinburgh Council in the Bangholm Sports and Outdoor Centre which is part of a wider project which will see a new Trinity Academy school delivered by 2026.

The development is part of the Council’s ambitious Wave 4 new schools programme which will see a number of schools replaced or refurbished in the city over the next 10 years. The secondary schools are Liberton, Currie, Wester Hailes and Balerno.

As part of this programme the Council is progressing the project to replace and refurbish Trinity Academy in two phases. The first one will see the sports facility opening in August and then phase two will see the start of the design process for the replacement and refurbishment of the school on the main site.

The strategic plan is to keep and refurbish the original red sandstone Victorian building on Craighall Road, demolish all the other buildings and construct new facilities which will adjoin the original building ready for it opening in 2026.

There will be wide consultation with the school and wider community which included the Community Council meeting on Tuesday 13 June. Engagement work is ongoing with school staff and after the summer break there will be more detailed discussions with the school parents and cluster primary school communities.

In line with the Council’s commitment to creating 20-minute neighbourhoods the school will be designed to have wider community access. The next major milestone will be submission of the planning application at the end of the year with construction aiming to start in summer 2023.

Nick Burge, Head Teacher at Trinity Academy, said: “Having visited the site regularly over the last nine months, the new PE and Sport facilities at Bangholm look excellent. I have worked closely with the design team and feel very lucky to have seen the plans become a reality.

“We have a very healthy PE curriculum as well as our extensive after school competitive and recreational sports programme. The new facilities including the strength and condition suites, dance studio, gym and games hall, provide a wonderful environment for everyone in our school to access during and after the school day. 

“This is fantastic new horizon for our school and I am very grateful to everyone, particularly the current project team, the PE staff and our parent body who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point.  “

Of course this is only the first of a number of new and exciting horizons ahead of us as a school. The plans for developing the main school site are under way, with these being shared for feedback with the community early in the new academic session.

“I have and will continue to work closely with this new design team as we all work to deliver a school environment that ably delivers both excellence and equity for all of the young people and families we serve at Trinity Academy.”

Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener, for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It’s great to hear that the new sports and outdoor centre will be opening after the summer as it will provide excellent facilities for both the school and wider community.

“This project is part of our exciting Wave 4 replacement school building programme which has already seen a new Castlebrae High School open at Easter. Work has started on a new Currie Community High School and plans are in place for more improvements at Liberton, Wester Hailes and Balerno.

“Despite the effects of the pandemic on the construction industry a number of new schools have opened in the past year, including both primary and special schools.

“We will carry on with our plans that will see more than £500m planned investment over the next decade as we’re committed to creating a first-class learning estate and ensuring all our children have the best possible learning environment in which to flourish.”

The Bangholm Sports and Outdoor Centre will include a four-court sports hall, gym hall, dance studio and fitness suite, and will become the new home to the school’s PE department. 

The Council’s Sport and Outdoor Learning Unit will also have a base in the centre so they can support outdoor learning in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.

Thank Dog it’s Fostering Friday!

Dogs Trust is spending the summer honouring their fantastic foster carers by shouting Thank Dog it’s Fostering Friday!

The charity’s bases in West Calder and Dundee are collaborating throughout the summer to share all the fantastic benefits fostering can bring to both people and dogs. The online celebration is inspired by the incredible efforts of the charity’s foster carers to help dogs prepare for the next stages of their rehoming journey.

Thank Dog it’s Fostering Friday, shortened to TDIFF, is a play on the popular phrase ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ (TGIF), typically used to mark the end of the working week. But for Dogs Trust, the celebration of foster carers isn’t limited to the weekend.

Over the next six weeks, Dogs Trust West Calder and Dogs Trust Dundee will be highlighting success stories, real-life fostering experiences, and the joys of opening your heart and home to a dog in need across their social media pages. Followers will also get a peek at all the dogs in their area currently looking for foster homes.

“We couldn’t rehome as many dogs as we do without the help of our foster carers,” said Shona Crosbie, Home from Home Coordinator at Dogs Trust West Calder. “We’re thankful for everything our carers do to help get our dogs back on their paws. And we know our dogs are grateful for their love and support too!”

Foster carers play a major role in helping dogs prepare for a happy future in a new home. There are countless advantages of getting involved in the scheme. It is the perfect way for dog lovers to experience the joy of rehoming without the long-term commitment. Fosterers also receive the committed support of the Dogs Trust team, being provided with everything they need to support their foster dog, from food and bedding to covering veterinary costs.

The event will promote Dogs Trust’s continued fostering expansion throughout Scotland. Having successfully rehomed 140 dogs through their fostering scheme in 2021, Dogs Trust West Calder have recently extended their Home from Home reach across the whole of the Lothians and the Scottish Borders. Dogs Trust Dundee launched earlier this year, rehoming their first dog in the northeast of Scotland in May.

Susan Tonner, West Calder’s Centre Manager said: “We would love to invite more people to join our Home from Home scheme. By recruiting more foster carers, we can increase our support across Scotland and find even more perfect homes for dogs in need.”

The six-week-long celebration will conclude with in-person events on Friday 12 August between 2pm-3.30pm. These events will be an excellent chance for budding participants to meet current foster carers, hear about their experiences, and ask questions. Dogs Trust Home from Home Coordinators will be on hand to provide information and share more about the benefits of fostering.

People based in the Lothians and Scottish Borders can attend an event on 12 August between 2-3.30pm at the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre in West Calder. Those based in the northeast of Scotland can join Dogs Trust Dundee at The Glass Pavilion in Broughty Ferry on 12 August between 2-3.30pm.

Follow the Thank Dog it’s Fostering Friday celebration by keeping an eye on #TDIFF on Twitter and Instagram. See all the latest updates on Dogs Trust West Calder on twitter @DT_WestCalder and Insta @dogstrust_westcalder and Dogs Trust Dundee on twitter @DT_Dundee_ and Insta @dt_dundee

Anyone interested in fostering or finding out more about the #TDIFF event should contact HFHWestCalder@dogstrust.org.uk or HFH.Dundee@dogstrust.org.uk for more information.

Sustainable new look for Scottish textiles with launch of £2m fund

Zero Waste Scotland and the Scottish Government have today (Friday 24 June 2022) launched a new £2m fund to help reduce the environmental burden of textiles.

The Circular Textiles Fund will go directly to businesses across the textiles industry in Scotland, from fashion to upholstery.

Textiles have an extremely high environmental impact – with Zero Waste Scotland’s latest Carbon Metric report showing textiles, which make up just four per cent of waste by weight, account for nearly a third (32 per cent) of the carbon impact of Scotland’s household waste.

The Circular Textiles Fund will support innovative projects that have what it takes to be part of Scotland’s circular economy, in which resources are valued and made to last. Applications to the fund can be from individual businesses or represent a collaboration between businesses to achieve the objectives below.

Potential business models include those that:

  • reduce demand for new textiles, such as clothing and textile rental, reuse, and repair services;
  • employ sustainable manufacturing processes;
  • reduce in-life environmental impacts, such as mitigating the pollution from washing textiles and making them easier to reuse and repair; and
  • maximise the amount of textile waste that is captured and recycled.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “As a nation, we need to rethink the way we make, buy, and use products and take action to consume more responsibly. Businesses have a key role to play in facilitating that shift, helping customers make more sustainable purchasing decisions while also contributing to a greener economy.

“With textiles responsible for such a significant chunk of the carbon footprint of Scotland’s household waste it’s vital that we move away from a throwaway approach to products and materials and make things last instead. The Circular Textiles Fund is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to be part of the solution.”

This announcement comes shortly after the Scottish Government launched two public consultations on proposals for a Circular Economy Bill and Route Map to 2025. The consultations form part of strategic plans to deliver Scotland’s zero waste and circular economy ambitions.

Lorna Slater, Circular Economy Minister, said: “Every material that is wasted comes at a cost to our planet, but it’s clear that textiles are having a disproportionate environmental impact.

“From fashion to furniture, there are huge opportunities for businesses with creative ideas to help address that problem. That’s why we are creating the £2million Circular Textiles Fund, which will help businesses in Scotland turn their proposals into reality.

“Alongside our Circular Economy Bill, this will help grow the number of sustainable businesses in Scotland and help prevent textiles from ending up in landfill or incineration.”

Rebekah Chapman, Production Technician at Kalopsia Collective said: “The circular economy is a big deal for Kalopsia and we have worked hard to minimise every aspect of our environmental impact. For us it’s a passion, and it’s one we know is shared by many working in the Scottish textiles sector.

“We’re delighted to help launch the Circular Textiles Fund and look forward to seeing more businesses doing things differently for the future of people and planet.”

Businesses that are interested in applying for the fund must fill out an Expression of Interest form, which can be downloaded from the Zero Waste Scotland website and submitted it to textiles@zerowastescotland.org.uk by 29 July 2022.

Expressions of Interest will be assessed against the criteria and applicants will be notified if they have been invited to stage two by 28 August 2022.

For more information on the details of the fund and how to apply visit circulartextilesfund.scot

UK Government joins Royal Highland Show bicentenary celebrations

TORIES HAVE LITTLE TO CELEBRATE FOLLOWING BY-ELECTION HAMMERINGS

The UK Government will show its support for Scotland’s agriculture, food, drink and farming sectors when it takes part in the Royal Highland Show.

The four-day event, the first full show since 2019, gives the rural industries and members of the public the chance to speak to Ministers and staff from a range of government departments about what is important to them.

They will also be able to find out more about how the UK Government is delivering for people in Scotland.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord toured the Ingliston showground yesterday, and today will see UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart in attendance and Environment Secretary George Eustice is also due at the show.

Between them they’ll be meeting with a range of key stakeholders to discuss issues across agriculture, farming and Scotland’s world famous food and drink sectors, including gene editing technology, which farmers and bodies like the James Hutton Institute have been vocal in supporting.

Ministers will continue to urge the Scottish Government to join the UK Government in introducing legislation to cut red tape and support the development of innovative tech to grow more resistant, more nutritious and more productive crops – reducing the need for pesticides and lowering costs to farmers.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “It’s fantastic that the Royal Highland Show is back, bigger and better than ever. It’s Scotland’s biggest agriculture event and made even more special this year with it being the 200th anniversary.

“The UK Government will be making full use of this opportunity to meet with key players from the various sectors who make such a huge contribution to our everyday lives and Scotland’s economy.

“It’s vital that the UK and Scottish Governments work together – as well as with businesses – to ensure our rural economy can continue to grow. Gene editing is an area where we can collaborate – and where we can really make a difference as we seek to strengthen our food security, tackle climate change and bring down food prices.

“Gene editing is not genetic modification. It is using science to speed up what farmers have done for generations – breeding new strains of crops that are more disease and drought resistant. The industry in Scotland is clear – it does not want to be left behind.”

Attracting almost 190,000 visitors, Scotland’s biggest outdoor event provides an important platform for show-goers to find out how the UK Government is delivering for people in Scotland.

This year representatives in the UK Government marquee include the department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Border Force, Her Majesty’s Coastguard, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Department for Transport (DfT), the Department for International Trade (DIT), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The British Armed Forces will also be present.

The Scottish Secretary will also host a reception with the Scotch Whisky Association, showcasing the best of the UK’s biggest food and drink export.

It’s unlikely that the Scottish Secretary, a loyal supporter of PM Boris Johnson, will be particularly keen to discuss last night’s cataclysmic by-election defeats. Doubtless we can expect: ‘mid term election by elections are an opportunity to give the government a kicking … we will listen to the public … we will learn the lessons … get on with the job … etc. .. etc. … etc.

Keep your eyes peeled for Sunday’s Great Scottish Tattie Run!

Weekend visitors to Silverknowes Promenade in Edinburgh should keep their eyes peeled for a sack race with a difference.

The Great Scottish Tattie Run is back after a three year absence and more than 300 participants are expected to race with a 20kg sack of Branston Potatoes on their back.

The fun event on Sunday (26 June) is free and open to all ages – female runners can opt for a 10kg bag of tatties – while youngsters grouped according to age can enter the Spud & Spoon race.

And every runner can cash in their chips, taking home their free Branston bag of spuds, in addition to a bespoke medal marking their completion of the race.

The 6th Great Scottish Tattie Run gets underway at 2pm and entries can be taken on the day for people arriving by 1.30pm. The adult race for men and women is 1 mile long, followed by a relay race featuring teams of four who will run 400 metres each, and rounding off the fun with the children’s event.

Event organiser Terry Crossley, of Great Scottish Events, said: “There is nothing quite like The Great Scottish Tattie Run and we hope the people of Edinburgh will come along to take part or just to cheer on the runners.

“Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, Branston, race entry is free and participants can also take home their 10kg or 20kg bag of tatties, and for younger runners they will have great fun in the Spud & Spoon race.

“After an absence of three years due to Covid restrictions, we are delighted to be back at wonderful Silverknowes and hope we can establish The Great Scottish Tattie Run as a not-to-be-missed fun family annual event.”

Kevin Imrie, general manager of Branston’s potato-packing site in Abernethy near Perth, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring this fantastic event once again and helping to raise funds for some very worthy charities in the process.

“Twenty kilos is a hefty weight to carry, never mind running a mile with it, so it’s real test of strength and stamina as well as a great way to work up an appetite for all those tatties.”

For more information and to enter the race, visit The Great Scottish Tattie Run or turn up on Sunday at Silverknowes Promenade near to the Boardwalk Beach Club by 1.30pm.

Website: www.greatscottishevents.net

Large former Edinburgh nursery sold to Mini Rainbows Limited

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of the former Melville House Nursery in Edinburgh.

Melville House Nursery was previously registered for up to 105 children aged from baby to school age. The now-vacant nursery, which occupies the ground floor of the property, was recently refitted and refurbished to a high standard and is located in an affluent area of Edinburgh, which is within walking distance of Morningside, Merchiston, Polwarth and Bruntsfield.

Previously owned and operated by Ms Meg MacLeod of Childcare Scotland Properties, the site was extended and fully refurbished before being brought to market. The property generated a high level of interest and attracted a number of operators throughout the Edinburgh and surrounding region.

Following a confidential sales process, the former nursery has been sold to large growing operator, Mini Rainbows Limited.

Ms MacLeod comments: “We purchased Melville House in 2003 and opened it in 2004. After 33 years, it was time for me to semi-retire, relax a bit, and spend more time with family.

“Both myself and fellow Director, Yvonne McDowall, wish Mini Rainbows every success in their new venture!”

Speaking on behalf of Mini Rainbows Limited, Director of Nurseries, Andrew Clifford, said: “We are delighted to complete our purchase of such a wonderful period property at Melville House, and wish Meg and Yvonne all the very best for the future.

“We are looking forward to bringing our inspirational environments and unique ethos to Melville House, which is due to re-open in late 2022.”

Rosie Adlem, Director, and Martin Daw, Senior Director, at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, work with childcare operators across the Scottish region as part of the Childcare & Education team. 

Rosie comments: “We were delighted to act on behalf of Ms MacLeod in relation to the marketing and sale of this property.

“Being located in such a prime area of Edinburgh, we had no hesitation that the opportunity would be highly sought after and, despite running a confidential process, a number of parties expressed interest quickly and an agreed deal subsequently followed. 

“We now look forward to seeing the nursery re-open in the near future with Mini Rainbows at the helm and seeing new families welcomed into the setting.”

Melville House was sold for an undisclosed price.

The best of Edinburgh celebrated as the Forth Awards return

The Forth Awards, a night of celebrating the great and the good of Edinburgh and the East, came back with a bang, with the sold-out Usher Hall playing host to a night to remember.

Wet Wet Wet were on hand to surprise guests after the Forth Awards, alongside performances from award winners Tony Hadley and Heather Small.

The Forth Awards, which celebrate the best of Edinburgh and the East, returned on Thursday (23 June) after last year’s noticeable absence due to the lockdown measures.

In total, ten awards were handed out with local heroes and celebrities all part of the celebrations.

Local heroes, Keith Armour and Steven Carr were awarded Volunteer of the Year and Local Hero respectively, with both raising huge sums of money over the past two years for good causes.

Emma St. Clair won the coveted Teacher of the Year award, with Edinburgh Zoo picking up the Visitor Attraction of the Year award, following the first full year of allowing visitors into the park.

Elsewhere, Tony Hadley won the Forth Icon award after decades of working across the music industry, and Heather Small won The Forth Music Recognition award, with both performing to the crowd.

Joining the already star-studded line-up, The Eves and Vula took to the stage to perform their biggest hits.

The Forth Awards were, once again, a celebration of the best music and entertainment around, with the opportunity to hear inspiring stories from Forth’s local heroes. Whether simple acts of kindness by local teachers, or staggering amounts of money raised for life-altering charities, everyone had an afternoon to remember.

Richie Jeffrey, Head of Events said: “The Forth Awards are always a truly incredible and inspiring afternoon, with our return from a two-year hiatus made it extra special.

“From the unrivalled Usher Hall atmosphere, to our non-stop entertainment and moving stories from very worthy winners, it is with real pride that Radio Forth is able to support and reward people in our community in this way.”

Full list of winners on the night:

THE FORTH FRINGE AWARD WITH MULTREES WALK

Winner: DANIEL SLOSS

THE FORTH BEST ARTIST AWARD WITH VICTOR PARIS

Winner: CALLUM BEATTIE

THE FORTH ICON AWARD WITH THE EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

Winner: TONY HADLEY

THE FORTH MUSIC RECOGNITION AWARD WITH THE LIQUID ROOMS

Winner: HEATHER SMALL

THE FORTH BEST RESTAURANT AWARD WITH HERITAGE PORTFOLIO

Winner: PRANA INDIAN GRILL

THE FORTH CHARITY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR WITH NEWTOWN REFURBISHMENTS

Winner:  KEITH ARMOUR

THE FORTH CASH FOR KIDS AWARD WITH NEWTOWN DECOR

Winner:  PAUL HUNTER

THE FORTH VISTOR ATTRACTION AWARD WITH MEDIA WORKS

Winner: EDINBURGH ZOO

LOCAL HERO AWARD WITH EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

STEVEN CARR

As the founder and chairman of Dnipro Kids, Steven has put his business and family life on hold to help evacuate 50 orphans and their house parents from the war in Ukraine, and found them a safe haven in Scotland.

Steven has been chairperson and founder of Dnipro kids charity since 2005 when he and a group of Hibs supporters visited local orphanages in the city of Dnipropetrovesk at the time Hibs played a UEFA cup tie in the city. Steven built a strong relationship with the orphanages, and this was the founding of Dnipro kids.

Since then, he has visited 25-30 times once or twice a year to take donations over and to help out in any way he can. Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine Steven has taken it upon himself to travel to the country in order to help evacuate orphans from a number of Dnipro orphanages to the safety of Poland and in due course hopefully to settle in the UK.

THE FORTH BEST TEACHER AWARD WITH FUSE

EMMA ST CLAIR 

Emma is the teacher all the children at Colinton Primary School want . At 62 years of age, she has worked at the school since graduation. She encourages by example, has an incredible way of building confidence and always makes learning fun.

Throughout her career, Emma has been the ‘soil’ to the children she teaches where she has nourished, nurtured and protected them as well as feeding them with the knowledge and skills they need to survive in life. She is well-thought of by the whole-school community

One of the entries said ‘She is a phenomenal person who loves the job she does and the kids love her in return.’

Consultation launched to address concerns about repayment agents

New measures to stop rip-off agents taking advantage of people and pocketing their tax repayments have been proposed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

HMRC has launched a 12-week consultation “Raising standards in tax advice: Protecting customers claiming tax repayments” to consider ways to better protect taxpayers from Repayment Agents who make routine tax claims on people’s behalf but can take up to half, or even more, of the payment.

Taxpayers can use Repayment Agents to make claims for repayments of tax, and many are happy with the service they receive. On the other hand, many taxpayers have complained that the scale of the charges are unclear or even hidden, while questions have been raised about how some agents secure agreements from customers.

The consultation proposes various ways to better protect the public from unscrupulous practices and ensure they receive the money they are entitled to, while also asking various questions to better understand the problem.

This includes seeking views on:

  • restricting the use of assignments, where contracts legally transfer the right to a repayment from a taxpayer to an agent
  • introducing measures designed to ensure taxpayers see material information about a repayment agent’s service before entering into a contractual agreement
  • requiring repayment agents to register with HMRC

HMRC is aware of a number of specific concerns with the industry including excessive amounts of commission charged for routine tax repayments. However, taxpayers can make a claim directly through HMRC’s free online service on GOV.UK and keep 100% of the repayment themselves.

There is also strong evidence that many taxpayers do not understand the terms they are signing up to and feel misled, some even believing they are dealing with HMRC directly rather than a third party.

Other concerns include the submission of high volume or speculative claims where no repayment is due, resulting in delays to genuine claims, as well as the use of assignments which means the repayment goes to the Repayment Agent instead of the taxpayer.

Jonathan Athow, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Strategy and Tax Design, said: “We want to make sure taxpayers receive their full tax claims – putting 100% of the money they are due into their pockets – and not be taken in by the unscrupulous practices of some Repayment Agents.

“The ‘Raising standards in tax advice’ consultation aims to seek views so we can better understand and address the issues to help raise standards in the tax advice market. We’re urging anyone affected to respond to the consultation and share their experiences.”

HMRC is interested in hearing the views of all tax agents, particularly those who specialise in helping taxpayers claim repayments; taxpayers who have claimed or considered claiming tax refunds through repayment agents; those who have seen adverts from repayment agents; charitable organisations; consumer groups; and accountancy professional bodies.

The consultation is now open and will run until 14 September 2022. 

HMRC is also reminding taxpayers that they remain responsible for their own tax. If they do appoint an agent, they should take care to ensure they are aware of fees and the terms and conditions of service, and not to share their HMRC login details with them.

HMRC has published standards for agents and will take action against agents who breach them.