Day: October 16, 2014

Hat’s the way to support older people!

The Big Knit 2014: It’s the final countdown!

Big KnitThere are just three weeks remaining to help Age Scotland create as many little woolly hats as possible for Age UK and innocent’s Big Knit 2014 and to help older people stay warm and well in the winter.

For over a decade, budding milliners across the UK have been supporting Age Scotland and innocent’s Big Knit by knitting funky little hats as part of Age Scotland’s Spread the Warmth campaign. With over a decade of support from knitters up and down the country, The Big Knit has raised vital funds to support local and national winter projects to help older people keep warm in winter.

Knitters in Scotland are being called upon to create little hats to adorn innocent smoothie bottles, which will be sold in stores nationwide from February 2015. For each be-hatted smoothie sold, innocent will donate 25p to help Age Scotland fund national and local winter projects. Age Scotland is calling on local knitters to get as many hats as possible to them by 6th November 2014

Last year alone, more than a million hats were lovingly created by knitters up and down the UK, with designs including a giant squid, fruit, soldiers, peas in a pod, cupcakes and an ice cream cone topped with a classic flake.

Alisdair Caulfield, Fundraising Manager at Age Scotland said: “There’s just four weeks left to send us your hats for Age UK and innocent’s The Big Knit and we’re calling on all local knitters to get crafting! We’re extremely grateful for all the hats we’ve received already, which will raise money to help older people in local communities across Scotland.”

Jamie Sterry, innocent drinks, said: “Thanks to everyone who has got involved in The Big Knit so far but with just one month to go, we’re calling on all knitters and those wanting to give it a try to join in too! Each little hat that adorns an innocent smoothie bottle will raise money for Age UK to help older people stay warm in winter, so your support will make a difference.”

Knitters can contact Age Scotland to get a free hat pattern. For those who don’t fancy making a hat themselves, a £3 donation can be made to Age Scotland by texting ’KNIT14’ £3 to 70070.

For more information on The Big Knit contact Age Scotland on 0845 833 0200 or log onto www.agescotland.org.uk. Please send completed hats to Age Scotland at The Big Knit, Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR

AgeScotland

Drop In: new fun activities start this weekend

DROP IN to Royston Wardieburn for fun on Saturday morning!

RWCC (2)The Drop In is a new citywide fun-packed activity for families with a child or young person (0 – 18 y o) with a disability and their siblings. It’s taking place in four community centres across the city every Saturday for two hours – and the local venue is Royston Wardieburn on Pilton Drive North.

Parents and carers will have the opportunity to meet other parents/carers and sit and chat over a cup of coffee while their children take part in activities run by experienced youth workers from FABB Scotland and the city council.

Activities will include sports, art, computer games, soft play, bouncy castles and much more.

Royston Wardieburn’s Drop In starts this Saturday from 10am – midday. There’s no need to book, just come along with the family and DROP IN!

Call the Centre on 552 5700 for more information.

 

Government lowers Help to Buy ceiling

Funding will target lower income families and first time buyers

sold (3)Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has announced changes to Help to Buy (Scotland) which will support more people to get onto or move up the property ladder. As of Wednesday (October 22 2014), the shared equity scheme will apply to homes worth up to £250,000, rather than the current maximum of £400,000.

This change will ensure that more people can benefit from available funding and help to target funding at lower income families and first time buyers.

With 85% of all Help to Buy (Scotland) sales to date already at or below this new threshold – and an estimated 94% of sales having been to first time buyers – most new build houses will not be affected by the changes.

Since Help to Buy (Scotland) was launched in September 2013, more than 3,000 homes have been purchased with an additional 1,500 expected to be completed by the end of this financial year.

Mrs Burgess said: “The Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme has opened up the housing market to thousands of house buyers. By targeting the scheme at properties at or below a value of £250,000, the scheme will support first time buyers and people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to buy a new build home.

“The changes will also see the benefits of Help to Buy extended for as long as possible and build on the widely welcomed arrangements for the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax announced by the Finance Secretary last week.

“We will continue to monitor this successful scheme and will look at ways of making sure everyone in Scotland has access to good quality, affordable homes.”

Demand for the scheme has been high with Ministers allocating £275 million to the scheme to date, which is £55 million more than the industry’s original £220 million request. £100 million of that funding has been allocated to the 2015-16 budget.

Mrs Burgess added: “Housing continues to be a priority for this Government and we are investing over £390 million next year to deliver 6,000 affordable homes, of which 4,000 will be for social rent. Our 2015-16 budget makes clear that by investing in housing we are boosting the economy, improving the energy efficiency of housing stock and reducing fuel poverty.

“By replacing the stamp duty with the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, the tax paid will be more proportionate to the house price, which means that the tax is fairer and will be based more closely on the buyer’s ability to pay.

“This new approach will benefit the majority of Scots, with nobody paying tax on the first £135,000 of a house purchase and 90 per cent of homebuyers either paying less or the same amount as they would under current arrangements. It will be a major boost to first time buyers and improve the affordability of starter homes.”