Day: October 19, 2020

STV Children’s Appeal 2020 raises over £3.5 million

A grand total of £3,530,025 has been raised by the STV Children’s Appeal throughout 2020, bringing the total amount raised by the Appeal since its formation in 2011 to over £24 million.

A busy year of fundraising culminated in a successful telefundraiser broadcast on STV on Friday. The programme, hosted by Lorraine Kelly, saw stars including Andy Murray and KT Tunstall encouraging Scots to support the Appeal, which raises funds for vulnerable children and young people across Scotland.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also made a memorable appearance in this year’s show, starring in a specially-recorded sketch alongside comedian Janey Godley (download here), in which she delivered Godley’s iconic catchphrase “Frank, get the door!” for the first time.

The Scottish Government has again pledged to match fund £1 million towards the final total raised.

The STV Children’s Appeal has seen a wide range of “community heroes” from across Scotland helping to raise money this year, including:

·       91-year-old Jan Collins from Troon (picture attached), who raised £8,621 by completing 1,000 holes of golf in his garden

·       Inverness schoolboy Shaun Maclean (picture attached), 8, who ran 200 laps of his garden and raised £966

·       Gerry Long, a postman from Ardrossan, who cheered up local residents during the national lockdown in April by dressing up as a different fictional character each day to deliver mail – raising £450 in the process

Corporate supporters of the Appeal have included supermarket chain Lidl. Its customers and staff helped to raise £73,000 this year – bringing the total amount Lidl has raised for the Appeal to over £500,000.

Baroness Margaret Ford, Chair of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “Once again, we are absolutely blown away by the incredible generosity of STV viewers – particularly at a time when donating may be harder to do than normal.

“Their support, along with that of our community heroes and corporate fundraisers, will make a real difference to the one in four children living in poverty throughout the country.

“These young people, who have felt the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic more than most, urgently need our help – and we’re committed to distributing the funds as quickly and efficiently as possible. On behalf of everyone at the STV Children’s Appeal, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every person who has supported us throughout this year.”  

Boost your motivation this Autumn

Early nights, getting in touch with nature and building exercise into the day could help boost motivation as the chilly days set in.

The health and wellbeing experts at Testogen have put together their eight top tips for those wanting a natural boost as the days get shorter and colder.

Getting to bed early, eating well and exercising during daylight hours are among the advice suggested by the experts.

Other suggestions include looking at exercise routines, changing workout times and training with a friend.

A spokesperson for Testogen said: “A dip in motivation at this time of year is only natural. The days are shorter, the mornings darker and the temperatures are dipping. The good news is there are lots you can do to give motivation a boost.

“Heading to bed a little earlier, getting out and enjoying nature and setting time aside to do the things you enjoy are all easy changes to make.

“It’s also important to think about your exercise regime too. If you train outdoors, think about when you train – daylight hours are best where possible – and consider partnering with a friend to make training in the cold a little more bearable.”

Here are Testogen’s tips for boosting motivation this Autumn:

1. Go to bed early

Autumn and winter are great seasons to catch up on sleep and recuperate. Make a conscious effort to go to bed earlier – not only will a decent night’s sleep increase your motivation, it will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. Remember to avoid looking at any tech for around an hour before going to bed and leave them out of the bedroom.

2. Enjoy nature

Take a walk and enjoy everything around you. The changing colours of leaves, the misty, magical mornings and bright chilly days. The fresh air and time to think and clear your head will do wonders for your motivation.

3. Training changes

Your training schedule will need to change to take into account the shorter days. If you train outdoors, try to stick to daylight hours and where you can, train with a friend. Having a training buddy is great for motivation.

4. Build activity into your day

Try building activity into your day rather than trying to cram it in before or after work. Use the hour’s lunch break to go for a run, take a brisk walk or hop onto your bike. A short workout will leave you feeling refreshed for the afternoon.

5. Eat well

Think about what you eat, make sure your diet is balanced and enjoy plenty of fruit and vegetables. The odd over-indulgence is fine but remember everything in moderation.

6. Accessorise your home

Now’s the time to declutter, pack away all the summer clothes and furnishings and bring out the winter ones instead. Cosy blankets, rugs and autumnal candles will create a welcoming space.

7. Layer up

Whether exercising or relaxing at home, pile on the layers to stay warm. If you’re training, light layers which you can peel off as you warm up are the way to go. If you’re at home, cosy jumpers are a must.

8. Make time for you

Always set time aside for yourself, especially if you’re constantly juggling work, family and activities. Use the time to do something you enjoy – a walk with friends, watching your favourite series or having your own mini pamper session.

BrewDog’s tongue-in-cheek ALD IPA hits Aldi shelves

  • Supermarket Aldi launched BrewDog’s ‘ALD IPA’ in stores on 15th October
  • The brand was created during a Twitter exchange between the two companies after shoppers drew similarities between Aldi’s Anti-Establishment Beer and BrewDog’s Punk IPA
  • For every case bought, both BrewDog and Aldi will donate a tree to BrewDog’s Forest, supporting the brewer’s commitment to reducing carbon and fighting climate change

Craft beer fans will be heading to Aldi after the supermarket revealed it will be stocking ALD IPA, a beer born out of Twitter banter between best-selling independent brewer, BrewDog and the leading supermarket. No, you’re not reading that with your beer goggles on!

The eponymous beer was first created as a joke tweet after shoppers commented on the resemblance between Aldi’s Anti-Establishment beer and BrewDog’s popular Punk IPA. BrewDog initially suggested it would create ‘Yaldi IPA’ in a mocking social media post.

However, the supermarket, which is known for its ‘Like brands’ approach, responded with: ‘We would have gone with ALD IPA, send us a crate and we’ll talk…’[1] The crate must have done the trick, because now just two months on, what started as a spoof brand is being sold exclusively at Aldi stores!

The brew-tiful ALD IPA will be available as a Specialbuy from Thursday 15th October and is BrewDog’s first ever exclusive creation for a supermarket. A 4.7% session IPA, it is based on BrewDog’s beloved Hop Fiction recipe and will cost just £1.39 per can.

The humorous Twitter exchange that sparked the creation of this beer was followed with anticipation by tens of thousands of people[2]. As the conversation unraveled, it was decided that for every case sold, Aldi and BrewDog will each donate a tree to be planted in the BrewDog Forest located in the Scottish highlands. BrewDog announced earlier this year that it is now a ‘carbon negative’ business as it takes twice as much carbon out of the air as it emits.

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director Aldi Scotland, says: “We couldn’t resist stocking ALD IPA, which supports our mission to work with the UK’s best independent suppliers.

“Plus, with customer enquiries through the roof after the conversation broke on Twitter – it really was a no brainer to give our shoppers what they want.”

James Watt, co-Founder of BrewDog comments: “Ald IPA has been one of our favourite collaborations to date, it’s definitely one no one saw coming! From a mockup on Twitter, to being stocked at Aldi stores across the UK, the response has been incredible. 

“Most importantly, both BrewDog and Aldi have agreed that for every case sold an extra tree will be planted in the BrewDog Forest. A win-win for our customers, and the planet!”

For those that fancy themselves a bit of a hop-head and want to get their hands on ALD IPA, head to Aldi stores now to pick up a can. Shoppers will need to get in there quick though – as with all Specialbuys, once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Nine flowers to plant for winter blooms

British gardeners have been offered advice on the best flowers to plant for winter colour.

Plant pros at GardeningExpress.co.uk have revealed nine hardy climbers, shrubs and bedding plants which brave the cold to brighten up dreary gardens in the coldest, darkest months.

Blooming gardens are usually associated with the bright, warm days of spring and summer, but there are a variety of hardy plants that survive and even thrive in the colder months.

From pansies and daphne to snowdrops and clematis, these plants will help gardens look spectacular all year round.

A spokesperson for GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “Gardens needn’t look dull, dreary and dormant through winter, as there are a number of fantastic plants which are perfect for adding a splash of colour in the coldest, darkest months.

“From climbers and shrubs to bedding plants and evergreens, there’s something suitable for every spot in every garden. Pots and flowers borders will be brightened up in no time.”

1. Christmas Rose

These flowers bloom usually in January but sometimes as early as Christmas. They feature large, round, white flowers above low-growing mounds of leathery, deep green foliage, and are perfect for growing at the front of a partially shaded border.

2. Pansies

These low-growing, bushy perennials have large, striking flowers and heart-shaped leaves, and are a gardener’s staple. The bicoloured flowers have darker, face-like markings in the centre. Most varieties flower in spring and summer but some have been bred to bloom November to March, so make sure you buy the right type.

3. Mahonia

Mahonias feature slender spikes of bright yellow flowers that are popular with winter-active bumblebees, as well as evergreen rosettes of glossy dark green leaves. They flower between November and March and should be grown in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade.

4. Daphne

These colourful shrubs bloom in late winter and early spring. They’re great for small gardens, with some varieties suiting window boxes and containers too. Most varieties bear clusters of small flowers in various shades of red or pink, and sometimes white or green too.

5. Snowdrops

Snowdrops are some of the first bulbs of the year to flower, heralding the end of winter. With so many different species and varieties to choose from, the snowdrop has fast become a winter favourite amongst UK gardeners. For natural looking drifts, gently cast the bulbs across the planting area and plant them exactly where they land.  

6. Winter clematis

Winter clematis is a perennial climber with glossy, evergreen foliage, and it flowers December to January. As a group one clematis, they don’t need pruning, though this can be done lightly, straight after flowering, to restrict their size.

7. Heather

Winter-flowering heathers are inexpensive, and a brilliant plant for low-growing texture. Evergreen, easy to grow, small, manageable, and long-flowering, it looks great in pots and comes with pink, white and purple flowers.

8. Cyclamen

Braving the cold, Cyclamen are winter heroes that can be brought to flower from autumn to spring. The flowers come in a variety of red, pink and white shades, which look fantastic in pots or planted under trees.

9. Winter Aconite

Cheery winter aconite bulbs produce golden, cup-shaped flowers surrounded by a green collar of leaves. In fact, they look just like buttercups, except they flower in the depths of winter. They love a moist soil and a shady position, so they’re perfect for planting among trees.

Majority of Edinburgh residents concerned over single-use items and packaging

More than four fifths of people in the Edinburgh area are concerned about the volume of single-use items and packaging used across the country and would support regulations that limit their use, according to a survey commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland.

With an estimated 300 million plastic straws, 276 million pieces of plastic cutlery, 50 million plastic plates and 66 million polystyrene food containers used annually in Scotland¹, the poll carried out by YouGov found that 83% of respondents in the Lothians described themselves as being very or fairly concerned about the amount of items designed to be used only once.

It also revealed that 84% support the introduction of regulations in Scotland to reduce the use of single-use items and packaging.

The survey coincides with a public consultation over plans to restrict some of the most environmentally damaging single-use plastic items in Scotland, including plastic cutlery and plastic straws.

The Scottish Government is seeking views on the introduction of new legislation to restrict the supply of single-use plastic plates, plastic straws, plastic cutlery, polystyrene food and drink containers, beverage stirrers, plastic balloon sticks and products made from oxo-degradable plastics. Reusable alternatives would continue to be widely available.

These are the most common items found on European beaches and were identified in the EU Single Plastics Directive as contributing the majority share of litter found in the marine environment. The Marine Conservation Society’s 2019 Beach Clean reported an average 492 items of litter per 100 metres of beach in Scotland, with the majority being single-use plastic or polystyrene.

According to Scottish Government figures around four fifths (80%) of Scotland’s carbon footprint comes from all the goods, materials and services which we produce, use and often throw out after minimal use².

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Whilst plastic can be incredibly useful and beneficial in a number of areas, it also can cause significant damage to our environment if it isn’t disposed of properly.

“Scots are increasingly concerned about the impacts of disposable single-use items and can see how it is impacting on the country’s natural environment. 

“Most of us don’t ‘need’ many of these single-use items being consulted on. By choosing reusables over disposables we can still have the benefit without the needless waste and carbon emissions associated with throwaway items.”

Part of the consultation process is to understand how access can be maintained for people who require items that perform a vital function that cannot be easily replaced. For example, straws may be required for medical use or to support independent living.

For Scotland as a whole, breaking down the responses by age showed those aged 18-24 were most concerned (86%) about the volume of single-use items, followed by 55+ (78%), 45-54 (76%), 25-34 (74%) and 35-44 (73%).

Support for regulations was highest amongst the 55+ age group (80%), followed by 45-54 (79%), 18-24 and 35-44 (78%), with 25-34 lowest (77%).

It is expected that any legislation would be introduced by 2021.

For further details or to provide your views, please visit https://zws.scot/singleuseconsultation

Shared Lives Plus wins £50,000 Movement for Good award

Shared Lives Plus, which is launching its Homeshare scheme in Scotland, is one of ten charities to receive £50,000 as part of Ecclesiastical Insurance’s Movement for Good awards.

The awards, set up by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, have seen a total of £1million given to charities across the UK this summer. 500 charities have already been awarded donations of £1,000 and now 10 charitable organisations will benefit from £50,000 grants.

Shared Lives Plus, which aims to build communities where everyone lives a full life by sharing lives and homes, was one of 10 charities1 selected from over 1,000 entries.

The fund will allow the charity to develop its Homeshare scheme in Scotland, a project that carefully matches someone in need of support to live independently with someone who has a housing need and can provide care. The project fosters mutually beneficial and enriching relationships across communities.

Each of the £50,000 awards are designed to support the advancement of education, skills, arts, culture and heritage, as well as citizenship or community development. Applications were assessed against four key areas; impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.

Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “Our Movement for Good awards have been met with an overwhelming response. A huge number of charities have submitted projects for the £50,000 grant and it’s clear that charitable organisations are in need of support now more than ever.

“We believe this financial boost will create long-lasting improvements for communities and support charity workers during what is an incredibly testing time for many.

“Ecclesiastical is a unique financial services group. Owned by a charity, our core purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society. Charitable giving is at the heart of our business and we are proud to be able to give all available profits to the good causes which are important to our customers.

“We know that £50,000 can make a huge difference to the life-changing work that charities do and we are looking forward to seeing how these awards will help make people’s lives better.”

Ben Hall, Development Manager at Shared Lives Plus, added: “I didn’t expect to win at all and when we were told, I was delighted! For us, this project would not be taking place in the coming year without the award from Ecclesiastical’s Movement for Good. It really is as simple as that.

“Homeshare will be a new idea in Scotland and it is vital that we raise its profile. Our goal is that we want to bring shared living to more people and create a kinder and stronger society. This grant allows us to create those plans.”

An amazing 253,879 people around the UK supported the Movement for Good awards during its first phase earlier this year, with over 13,695 charitable causes up and down the country receiving votes. The 500 winning charities were picked at random from those nominated.

Phase two saw 1,059 project submissions for the £50,000 awards. Following a review of all the applications, a panel of judges made their final selection of the winning projects2.

For further information on the Movement for Good Awards and for a full list of the winning charities phase visit: www.ecclesiastical.com/movement-for-good

1.     Full list of 10 winning charities:

Breast Cancer UK Limited – Digital Learning to Prevent Breast Cancer

Shared Lives Plus Limited – Developing Homeshare in Scotland

Tastelife UK – Youth Track Development

Power2 – Teens and Toddlers

The Challenger Trust – My Journey: Challenger Trust in Birmingham Schools

The Lily Mae Foundation – Baby Loss Support Service Enhancement

The Linskill and North Tyneside Community Development Trust – Project Langley

Thomas’s Fund – Kettering General Hospital, Pen Green Children’s Centre and Community & Family Connections scheme

Parents Plus Company Limited by Guarantee – Transforming Intellectual Disability Services across the U.K. and Ireland with The Parents Plus Special Needs programme

Tackling Awareness of Mental Health Issues – Resilient Active Youth

Winning charity videos:

Breast Cancer UK Limited

Shared Lives Plus Limited

Tastelife UK

Power2

The Challenger Trust

The Lily Mae Foundation

The Linskill and North Tyneside Community Development Trust

Thomas’s Fund

Parents Plus Company Limited by Guarantee

Tackling Awareness of Mental Health Issues

Hero pub boss hits back at Old Firm outrage

A PUB boss who went out of her way to help vulnerable people at the start of the coronavirus pandemic is fuming at being wrongly brought into an Old Firm football fans row.

Dianne Irving, who runs the award-winning The Crown, the historic Howard Arms and newly-refurbished Milbourne Arms – all in Carlisle – received national acclaim when she delivered meals to the vulnerable across the city at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak.

But this weekend Dianne found herself wrongly dragged into a Covid controversy about football fans heading to Carlisle from Scotland to watch the Celtic versus Rangers clash on TV.

One fan posted on social media that he’d organised a 49-seater coach from Dalkeith near Edinburgh so that Celtic and Rangers fans – unable to watch the game in a pub in Scotland due to lockdown – could travel south of the border to watch Saturday’s game on TV at the Howard Arms in Carlisle.

But Dianne, who runs the Howard Arms in Carlisle, knew nothing about the football fans’ trip.

She says they must have meant a different pub because the Howard Arms in Carlisle  doesn’t even show live football on TV.

And the historic city centre pub wouldn’t even have room to accommodate 49 people given it is restricted to table service due to coronavirus rules.

Dianne said: “We know absolutely nothing about this. We never heard from this person. We didn’t have any group bookings. We don’t even show live sport at The Howard!

“We haven’t had any Rangers or Celtic fans in the pub this weekend. This whole story has absolutely nothing to do with us.”

Dianne has been at the forefront of technology, and adhered to all the Covid-19 rules to ensure all her regulars at all her pubs are able to enjoy a safe environment.

She only operates table service at all the venues she runs, takes advance bookings, and enforces social distancing throughout.

She and her staff have been widely praised by customers throughout the pandemic for the lengths they have gone to in order to make everyone feel secure.

Dianne said: “We have put the health and well-being of our customers and staff as the number one priority throughout the pandemic. We would never compromise that.”

Yet because of the football fan’s post, spreading false information, she has found herself, totally innocently, at the centre of a social media storm over the weekend.

She has even been contacted by environmental health on the back of complaints based on the completely incorrect information.

Dianne said: “It’s hard to take to be honest. It’s difficult enough, as anyone in the hospitality industry knows right now, to run a business in this climate.

“But when you work night and day to make sure you are complying with every regulation, only for someone to put a post on social media, wrongly naming our pub, it’s infuriating and so damaging to everything we are doing. It’s soul destroying.

“Our regulars know the type of pub The Howard Arms is. They know this has absolutely nothing to do with us. But anyone else, reading about these football fans on social media, or in the wider media, doesn’t necessarily know the truth. That’s why we need to put the record straight so people know that we have absolutely nothing to do with this.” 

Dianne, managing director of Drouth Ltd, is well-known for the responsible way she runs her business.

The Crown was this year shortlisted in two of Greene King brewery’s national awards as Community Pub of the Year and also Entertainment Pub of The Year. 

Dianne also won Best Turnaround Pub of The Year for The Crown in the Great British Pub Awards in 2018.

The Howard Arms in Lowther Street in Carlisle city centre, known for its striking Royal Doulton tiled exterior, has been registered in local directories since 1855. 

The historic interior is a fine example of old State Management pubs, which Carlisle is famous for, with small snug-like rooms and a central bar. 

MPs call for starter payments to provide financial support during wait for first Universal Credit payment

A starter payment should be made to people claiming Universal Credit (UC) for the first time to ensure that everyone has enough money for basics such as food and heating during the wait for their initial monthly payment, the Work and Pensions Committee says.

The Committee’s report on Universal Credit: the wait for a first payment finds that the current wait of at least five weeks causes difficulties for some households. While the existing system of Advance pay-ments for those in need can provide a valuable financial lifeline, the Committee is concerned that some people are unable to afford the required repayments.

The Committee warns that this leaves people with a difficult choice: five weeks with no income, or the risk of debt and hardship later.

The report concludes that the introduction of a new payment – equivalent to three weeks of the standard allowance – would be a simple way of ensuring that new claimants had the money they needed for basic living essentials. For people moving from existing benefits, DWP should make the move seamless wherever possible—and pay a starter payment in other cases.

Advances should still be available for people who need further support to get by, but they should be renamed ‘new claim loans’ to make clear that they will need to be repaid. The DWP should also recognise that a request for a loan is a clear indication that someone is struggling and offer support as early as possible.

Reflecting evidence from Sir Iain Duncan Smith, among others, the Committee has also called for changes to the way that historic tax credit is clawed back from people when they move to Universal Credit—and for DWP’s debt collection to follow best practice in the private sector.

In addition, the Committee calls on the Government to make permanent the £20 per week increase in the standard UC allowance announced in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rt Hon Stephen Timms, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “There is a growing body of evidence that moving to Universal Credit leaves many reliant on food banks, falling seriously behind with their rent, and even experiencing increased levels of psychological distress.

“The Government’s response is that there is no proof that Universal Credit—and in particular the wait for a first payment—is the direct cause of those difficulties. So DWP needs to commission research, and quickly, to find out what lies behind these deeply worrying findings.

“Our social security system should not be leaving people without the money they need for food and heating.

“In the meantime, the Government must face up to the fact that its current system of Advance loans simply isn’t working. They leave people facing the toughest of choices: go without income for at least five weeks, or have repayments subtracted from their future UC payments—which are already barely enough to get by on.

“We cannot understand why people who are already claiming benefits need to wait for at least five weeks when they move to Universal Credit—especially when nothing in their lives has changed. Their move should be seamless.

“For people claiming benefits for the first time, or people who’ve faced a significant change in their circumstances, the Government should provide starter payments. Doing so would both cut down on the need for Advance loans and ensure that nobody is forced into debt just to be able to afford to eat and keep a roof over their heads.

“UC is a highly automated system. That has been a real strength over the last few months, with the huge influx of new claims caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But it can also be a major weakness, leaving people without the tailored support they need, and Ministers unable to make the changes they want to see.

“There is much the Government can do without completely dismantling the UC system: we hope that our proposals, taken together, offer practical solutions for making Universal Credit work for everyone who needs it.”

Key report findings and recommendations

Starter payments

  • All first-time claimants of UC should receive a starter payment equivalent to three weeks of the Standard Allowance.
  • The payment should be made two weeks after the initial claim and only once the claimant’s identity has been verified, to guard against fraud.
  • People claiming legacy benefits should be moved seamlessly to UC, but where they cannot be they should receive a starter payment instead.

The impact of the wait

  • The Committee received evidence from both organisations and individuals which suggested that a significant proportion of people face financial difficulties during the wait for a first UC payment.
  • Citizens Advice said that half the people it helps during the wait period are ‘unable to keep up with bills, rent or are forced to go without the essentials such as food and heating’.
  • The National Audit Office said that the wait for a first payment can exacerbate claimants’ debt and financial difficulties.
  • DWP must carry out research to develop its understanding of the possible impact of UC, particularly the wait for the first payment, on the use of food banks; on claimants’ levels of rent arrears; and on levels of psychological distress.

Advance payments

  • Even with starter payments, the Committee anticipates some people claiming will still need to ask for an Advance (a loan to tide them over during the wait).
  • The DWP risks misleading claimants, and damaging its own credibility, if it insists on denying the obvious fact that these Advances are interest free loans.
  • Advances should be renamed ‘new claim loans’ so it is clear that they need to be repaid.
  • The Department should offer support to anyone requesting a substantial Advance, as it would be a clear indication that someone is struggling with the transition to UC.

Tax credit debt

  • Repayments of tax credit overpayments can compound hardship for people who may already be struggling.
  • The Committee recommends that recovery of tax credit debt from people claiming UC should begin only when the claimant has repaid their Advance (if they have taken one out).
  • Repayments of remaining debts should be capped at 10% of UC standard allowance and written off entirely if they have not been pursued for more than six years.

Universal Support and Help to Claim

  • The DWP must invest in expanding and developing its Help to Claim service so it is closer to its original plans for Universal Support.
  • The service must go beyond assisting with an initial claim and should include debt advice, support for people struggling with repaying Advances and support for people with complex needs.

The Work Capability Assessment and support for disabled people

  • The Committee finds it troubling that, because of the time taken to complete a Work Capability Assessment, some disabled people and people with health conditions must wait much longer than five weeks to receive their full UC entitlement.
  • Four months, on average, is too long to wait and the DWP must work to speed up the process.

Coronavirus measures

  • In its report DWP’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, the Committee welcomed the decision to increase the standard allowance in UC and the basic element in Working Tax Credit by £20 per week.
  • The Government should now extend the increase past April 2021 and make the rise permanent.

Appeal for witnesses to cycle path jewellery robbery

Police are appealing for information after a woman was robbed of jewellery on the cycle path in Boswall on Saturday evening.

At around 6.30pm on Saturday (17 October), a 39-year-old woman was walking along the cycle path between Wardie Road and Granton Road, when she was approached by a man on a bike who, after a short conversation, demanded her watch and diamond rings before riding off towards Drylaw.

The woman was not injured but has been left shaken by the incident.

The suspect is described as white, of medium build, with short dark hair and had a local accent. He was wearing a blue surgical face mask, dark coloured cotton tracksuit top and bottoms. He was on a dark coloured bike with no lights.

Detective Constable Peter Lyons, Costorphine CID, Edinburgh, said: “Whilst the watch and jewellery have a combined value of approximately a four-figure sum of money, it’s more their sentimental value – especially the lady’s engagement and eternity rings – that is upsetting for her.

“She was on the walkway which goes between Wardie Road and Granton Road and was just approaching the Wardie Road exit when she was approached by the man.

“This can be a busy thoroughfare and I am sure there would have been people about who either saw the robbery or who may have seen the man on the bike hanging about the area.

“Officers are checking CCTV at the moment to try an identify the thief, however, would appeal to anyone who may have information that will assist their investigation to come forward.

“If you think you can help, please call Costorphine Police Station via 101 quoting reference number 3256 of Saturday, 17 October, 2020. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.”