14/03/2021 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

What are the best Cashback Apps?

HOW TO SAVE HUNDREDS ON YOUR ONLINE SHOPPING

Cashback apps and coupon sites can provide a quick boost when times are tough, but how do you sort the savers from the scammers?

Due to the disruption of Covid-19, purse strings are a little tighter right now for many, meaning people are using cashback apps to claw back some much-needed cash.

However, not every app is worth investing your time in, with some not being exactly what they appear.

Watch out for sites that charge a hefty sign-up fee, or that ask for more personal information than you should need to provide. If a site doesn’t have clear, easy to read FAQs that spell out how to get your money and what their privacy policy is, don’t trust them.

To help consumers get the from their apps, the personal finance experts at money.co.uk have provided expert tips on some of the best cashback apps to download now. The definitive guidance will help save money on your online shopping, sorting the must have apps from the technical time wasters.

The cashback apps to download now

Shoppix

One of the most popular new reward apps, Shoppix works by building up tokens that can be exchanged for gift vouchers or cash prizes. To earn tokens, users have to take pictures of their receipts on their phone and upload them. Additionally, you can complete surveys each day to collect tokens. Tokens can be exchanged for £5, £10, or £20 prizes on the app, which are paid into your account via PayPal or in gift card format.

Top Tip: Bonus tokens are awarded for scanning receipts on the same day you make your purchase, so snap them quickly to save more!

2. TopCashBack

Unlike other apps which require you to snap receipts, TopCashBack is remarkably low effort. To earn cashback, you simply have to make purchases from select retailers (brands include everything from Carphone Warehouse, to Plusnet, Sky, PrettyLittleThing, RAC and more), and you’ll receive your reward via gift cards or PayPal. The percentage of cashback you receive varies depending on the brand you’re shopping with and can also be affected by seasonal offers – so make sure to check the site regularly for the latest deals.

Top Tip: Cash isn’t always better – the amount you earn using vouchers can be 20% more than the cash equivalent, so check both options before you pick your reward.

3. Quidco

Quidco is TopCashBack’s main rival and works in much the same way – giving you cashback on purchases through major retailers. The only real difference between the two apps is the brands that are available: Quidco has a number of household names as partners including Amazon, Argos, Boots, Just Eat and more. If you can, it’s more than worth downloading both Quidco and TopCashBack, to ensure you don’t miss out on any savings.

Top Tip: Check the estimated times on your cashback – some brands take longer than others when going through Quidco to process rewards, so make sure to factor this in when budgeting to avoid being caught short.

4. SwagBucks

SwagBucks is another app that gives you rewards (or ‘SB points’) through online purchases that can then be redeemed for cash or vouchers. The big difference with SwagBucks is that as well as cashback through purchases, SB points can be awarded from completing a huge variety of surveys, games and reviews.

Top Tip: Many of the surveys and video reviews are incredibly short, so you don’t have to dedicate hours in order to save, just check in a few times a day and spend a few minutes on the app each time.

5. Honey

Honey is completely different to other cashback apps, in fact it’s not even an app at all – it’s a free Chrome extension – that automatically searches for discount codes and coupons when you checkout at major retailers. In essence, you don’t have to do any work at all, just download and start saving.

Top Tip: Aside from the discount code function, Honey also sends you rewards such as gift cards based on your purchases – make sure to check your inbox (and your junk) to avoid missing out.

Ask the Expert

On cashback apps, Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at Money.co.uk says: “Cashback apps make their own money in a variety of ways; some get a commission on transactions made via major retailers, and some sell shopping trends data to third parties to make profit.

“Whichever app you use, make sure you check out their website first to identify how they use your data to check you’re happy with the terms.

“While it is possible to earn hundreds, or even thousands in some cases via cashback apps, the total saving usually boils down to how much time you’re willing to commit to using them.

“If you are time poor, try one of the apps that gives rewards on direct purchases such as TopCashBack or Quidco. However, if you do have the time to organise and scan your receipts, Shoppix or a similar receipt scanning brand will be the most profitable for you in the long run.

“Finally, if you take your rewards in gift card form, always make a note of the expiry dates, as the date might not be the same as a physical card bought in store. If you take your rewards in cash via PayPal, make sure to transfer it into another account immediately, to avoid being caught out by a refund or cancelled transaction.”

For more information on how you can use mobile apps to keep track of your cash, make money or even boost your credit rating, visit this handy guide put together by the personal finance experts at money.co.uk:

https://www.money.co.uk/guides/best-apps-for-managing-money

Zoning your garden on a budget

As Brits start getting their outdoor spaces ready for summer, garden lovers have been offered five creative ways to zone their space on a budget.

The experts at GardeningExpress.co.uk have collated some top tips on making the garden work for every member of the household.

Zoning your garden will make the space feel bigger and gives everyone their own space in nature. Relax and unwind in a chill zone, whilst the kids play in theirs.

Dividing the garden up into different areas, with different purposes can make the space feel more organized and is a simple way to make the most of every inch of green space.

Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “There are loads of creative ways to break up your plot with recycled materials, screens and new plants.

“Seeing your garden as another room of your home is helpful when zoning. Think about what you would like closest to the house. Maybe the kid’s area to keep an eye on them, or the dining area so you can get food straight out of the kitchen.

“Whether you need a relaxing spot to read the newspaper, or a play area for burning off steam, these tips will help you achieve it on a budget.”

Zoning ideas

1. Dining

Carving some space in the garden for an area to eat alfresco will be appreciated in the summer months. Place the area where you have existing hedgerows as they are great at absorbing noise, so you can enjoy dinner without interruption from the outside world. Patio sets are costly but can be found cheap on local community online selling sites, especially during the spring and autumn.

2. Privacy

Creating a privacy screen is the ultimate easy garden DIY project to gain a concealed area. Apart from nails and a hammer, the quirky yet functional partition can be made solely out of out of old doors or wooden pallets. Another alternative is wire fencing, as it is a quick to install and unbelievably cheap. Growing climbing plants like a colourful clematis or ivy up the wire will create a private space and a great place to nature spot.

3. Game zone

Creating an area where kids can let off steam is ideal for those will little ones. Move old outdoor toys into this space to declutter the rest of the garden. Those tight on space could repurpose a pop-up tent as a magical play area or transform an old work surface into a pool table or table tennis.

4. A pause

When zoning your garden, think about where an extra space could be added to relax in. There are nooks of space in most gardens to create a small relaxation area. Hang a hammock in between a pair of trees to unwind in privacy or place an arbour over an existing seating area to create more shelter. Solid wood arbours are quite expensive, so for a cheaper aesthetically pleasing arbour, cover a plastic arch in jasmine, or evergreen honeysuckle climbers.

5. Tidy space

Toys, tools and bikes all make a garden look messy when strewn around. Dedicate a zone to clutter, so it doesn’t interrupt the other areas. Make some extra shelves out of old wood and put them up to keep the shed organised. If the lawn is still covered in items, consider purchasing an external storage box to keep your belongings safe and tucked out of the way.

Calor offers £85,000 in grants for vital causes and kickstarts search for Rural Hero of the Year

Leading off-grid energy supplier, Calor, has launched a nationwide search for the very best rural community projects, with £85,000 in grants up for grabs.

On top of this, the Warwickshire-based firm is also launching an exciting new award, the Rural Hero of The Year, which will celebrate those who have gone the extra mile for others during the pandemic.

Designed to provide a helping hand and much-needed funding across the UK to rural community groups who aren’t connected to the mains gas grid, the 2021 Calor Rural Community Fund launched on Wednesday 10th March and entries are open until Wednesday 21st April.

This past year, communities have had to support each other from a distance like never before and in recognition of this, Calor has also launched its Rural Hero of the Year Award so that special individuals could be recognised for the great community work they’ve done.

The award is a separate category within the Rural Community Fund, where people can nominate themselves or someone in their local community who went above and beyond to help others during 2020.

That could be a neighbour who provided Zoom story-telling classes for children in the local village, someone who did the food shopping for the elderly neighbours in their area, or any other deserving initiatives throughout the pandemic that shows how an individual helped their local community out in some way. Entries are open from Wednesday 10th March until Wednesday 23rd June.

The winner of the Rural Hero of the Year award will be presented with a commemorative trophy and special prize from Calor recognising their outstanding contribution to community spirit in 2020.

Andy Parker, Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at Calor, said: “We’re passionate about engaging with and helping rural communities across the UK. Through the Rural Community Fund we are incredibly proud to have been able to support 214 projects with over £460,000 generated through donations and Calor contributions over the last four years.

“This funding is absolutely vital to these projects and it’s been incredible to see these grants bring to life everything from local football teams’ new facilities to outdoor learning centres for primary schools.

“We understand that this past year has been particularly hard which is why we wanted to recognise those individuals who have put their heart and soul into helping others.

“It’s one of the many reasons we launched our Rural Hero of the Year category which will celebrate those who have gone above and beyond to help their community throughout the pandemic. We’re incredibly excited to see all of the entries for this and the Rural Community Fund, over the coming months.”

The Calor Rural Community Fund gives applicants the chance to win funding of £1,000, £2,500 or £5,000 for anything from vital renovations and upgrades to public facilities, through to new equipment for children’s groups in often remote areas of the country.

Applicants for the fund will be listed on the Calor Rural Community Fund website and then encouraged to share their project through social media to gain points. Those projects with the highest number of points in each funding category will become shortlisted finalists, and will be reviewed by a Calor Committee before being announced as Finalists.

To find out more about the Calor Rural Community Fund and the Rural Hero of The Year award, as well as more detail on how to enter and get involved, head to communityfund.calor.co.uk.

Homeowners in Edinburgh over-spend by £13,000 on renovations

Confused.com reveal it will cost you an average of £35,364 to renovate your home

But 2 in 5 (39%) Brits overspent by nearly £8,000 when renovating their homes, on average

The kitchen takes the top spot as the most expensive room of the house to renovate, with people spending £5,219 doing up the heart of the home.
New research by Confused.com found people in York have spent the most money renovating their homes, forking out more than £49,000, on average – nearly double the amount spent in Manchester (£27,217).
Two in five (41%) Brits found that the hardest part of their home renovation was finding the right tradesman, while more than half (51%) found living in the home during the renovation to be the most challenging part.
Confused.com outlines which DIY projects should be declared, as further research(2) shows one in four (25%) UK homeowners don’t know which changes to their property they should let their insurer know about.

British homeowners have spent £34,000 renovating their homes on average, new research reveals. And for two in five (39%) people, this was an eye-watering £8,000 (30%) over budget.

That’s according to new research by Confused.com, which also reveals the areas of the home that are most commonly renovated, and the challenges people face when doing up their homes. You can view the research campaign here.

Nearly half of Brits (47%) have renovated their homes at some point. And nearly one in five (18%) UK adults have renovated their homes during lockdown. But when it comes to renovations, which areas of the home are being invested in and what are the obstacles homeowners face?

What are the most expensive rooms to renovate and how much value do they add?

The kitchen is the most popular room to renovate, according to the research by Confused.com. In fact, most (96%) Brits have renovated their kitchen at some point, spending £5,219 on average.

Not only is it the most renovated room, but it is also the area of the house people have spent the most money doing up, followed by the conservatory and the bathroom. People who have renovated their conservatory (73%) spent £3,550, on average, while the 94% of Brits who have upgraded their bathroom spent £3,340, on average.

Looking more specifically at the different renovation projects people have carried out, nearly three in five (60%) have upgraded their flooring, while more than half (53%) have installed new kitchen work tops or new windows.

As the kitchen is the heart of every home, it’s no wonder it’s also the room most homeowners want to renovate, with more than one in four (27%) UK adults claiming it to be the room they’d most like to do up. This is followed by the bathroom (14%) and living room (11%).

Meanwhile, adding or extending a room tops the list as the most desired renovations, with nearly one in seven (13%) people claiming these as top of their wish list. One in eight (12%) would like to change things in the kitchen by installing new worktops, while for one in 10 (10%) Brits, converting a room, applying new flooring, or changing the windows is the most desired change they’d like to make to their house.

While the kitchen is top of the DIY wish list for some people, it seems it may not be the best room to renovate if you’re on a strict time frame, as the research suggests it’s one of the projects that takes the longest amount of time, along with the back garden and conservatory.

People who have renovated these areas of the home spent more than four months to complete the project. Meanwhile, the living room, master bedroom and bathroom offer the quickest transformations, all taking just over three months to complete, on average.

When it comes to the room that adds the most value, Residential Partner at Bramleys, Paul Keighley, comments on some renovations that have the greatest impact on the price of your home: “The number of bedrooms in a property has a big impact on its value so adding bedrooms will usually add to the sale price.

“Especially if it’s a loft or cellar conversion with an en-suite bathroom. For example, a three-storey detached house with three bedrooms could be worth around 20% less than one with four bedrooms.

“Many people think that merging two smaller bedrooms will increase the value of your property but generally, reducing the number of bedrooms in a property will have a detrimental effect on value and saleability.”

Adding value to their property was a key reason for one in five (20%) people who’ve taken on a renovation project. But changing the value of a home can have an impact on insurance. Any renovators who believe they’ve added value to their home through a DIY upgrade should let their insurer know about the changes.

What UK cities are spending the most renovating their home?

Across the UK, at least three quarters (75%) of people have renovated 11 key rooms in the home – from the kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom, to the study and playroom. But are we spending more or less than others when it comes to transforming our homes?

The top 10 cities spending the most on renovating their home on average include:

Rank	City	Average people spend renovating their home
1	York	£49,056
2	Southampton	£47,512
3	Cardiff	£46,012
4	Birmingham	£45,125
5	Liverpool	£44,928
6	Newcastle	£42,702
7	Leicester	£38,857
8	London	£33,298
9	Leeds	£33,002
10	Manchester	£27,217

York tops the leaderboard as the city spending the most on home renovations, with people in the area forking out £49,056 to do up their home, on average.

In particular, people in York have spent the most on renovating their kitchen, spending £6,167, on average. This is more than double the amount spent by people in Edinburgh (£2,450), and over £1,500 more than people spend renovating their kitchen in Portsmouth (£3,500).

Meanwhile, people in Norwich, Sheffield and Plymouth typically spend the least on home renovations at £17,547, £18,827 and £19,149 respectively, on average.

Despite the capital being the UK’s most expensive city to live in the UK, London home renovators rank 8th in their total average spent at £33,298, which is more than £15,000 less than York.

However, nearly half (46%) of respondents in London admitted to going over budget, with DIY projects costing a whopping £12,533 more than the original budget, on average. This is more than double the amount overspent by people in York (£5,601), where 45% also admitted to going over budget.

What are the biggest challenges we face when renovating our homes?

It’s not always plain sailing when renovating a home, and there are factors that can occur that people may not have considered. These include everything from the weather to cancellations from traders, as well as not quite having enough money!

According to Confused.com’s research, the biggest challenge people faced was living at home while the property was being renovated (51%). Two in five (41%) also said the hardest part was trying to find the right tradesmen.

But for nearly a third (30%), extra cost was one of the biggest challenges they faced when renovating their home. We know people typically go over budget when renovating their home, forking out an additional £7,765 on top of their initial budget, so it is crucial for homeowners to factor in any additional costs that may arise. And one important thing people may not consider is the insurance cover should anything go wrong.

According to expert advice from Confused.com, insurance companies will typically pay out for DIY mishaps, providing it’s a job a person is qualified to do. Attempting to tackle the electrics or plumbing may result in a claim being declined.

There are also certain jobs you should make your insurer aware of, especially if it impacts the value of your home. Although, further research by Confused.com found one in four (25%) UK homeowners are confused about what they should be declaring to their insurer.

According to the guide, DIY in the home, basic DIY jobs including replacing carpets or putting up shelves don’t need to be declared. But anything structural, such as conversions, replacing windows or knocking down walls should all be made known to the insurer.

Jessica Willock, home insurance expert at Confused.com comments: “Renovating your home is an exciting project. It allows us to really make a home our own. And for many, it will increase the value of a property, which is great news in the long run. However, this is something you must tell your insurer about to make sure you have the right level of cover if you need to make a claim.

“Many people are confused about what they should or shouldn’t tell their insurer about, but our guide gives some explanation on what needs to be declared.

“Always check with your insurer before starting any major renovation work to see if you are covered and to what extent. This could avoid any unexpected costs that could arise and as a result will make the process less stressful.”

Consultation on miners’ strike pardon

The Scottish Government is consulting on the detail of plans to pardon miners convicted of certain offences during the 1984-85 strike.

An independent review into the impact of policing on communities during the strike, led by John Scott QC, recommended that the Scottish Government should introduce legislation to pardon miners convicted for certain matters related to the strike, subject to establishing suitable criteria.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has now launched a consultation seeking views on the qualifying criteria for a pardon.

Mr Yousaf said: “I am determined to make swift progress on this matter, given the passage of time since 1984-85. That is why we have acted quickly to publish this consultation now.

“The consultation paper sets out potential criteria – based on the criteria suggested in the independent report – and asks for views. It is important that we have a rationale for the qualifying criteria which is well-thought through and informed by a range of views. That is why I encourage anyone with an interest in these important events to take this opportunity to have a say. The responses to the consultation will help shape the legislation that will implement the pardon.

“The miners’ strike was one of the most bitter and divisive industrial disputes in living memory and I hope that the independent review, this consultation and the legislation for a pardon will go some way to aid reconciliation – and to help heal wounds within Scotland’s mining communities.

“I have again written to the Home Secretary Priti Patel renewing the call for her to instruct a full UK public inquiry into the policing of the strike.”

In 2018, the Scottish Government commissioned an independent review into the impact of policing on affected communities during the miners’ strike 1984-85.

The Justice Secretary announced in October last year that the Government would accept the review’s single recommendation.

People can read and respond to the consultation – which runs until 4 June, on the Citizen Space website.

UK Government must act now as report shows infection control guidelines ‘fundamentally flawed’

A report commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing shows that the government’s COVID-19 infection control guidelines, which are used across the UK, are “flawed and need replacing”.

The report, written by independent experts, analysed a literature review which underpins the current guidance and found that the review met just four of the 18 criteria the experts deemed essential. Crucially, the report found that the review failed to consider a key way in which COVID-19 is transmitted – airborne infection – about which growing evidence has emerged during the pandemic.

For these reasons, the experts concluded the review provided only a “superficial account” of the available COVID-19 evidence and that the current guidelines based on the review need replacing.

In the report, the authors Professor Dinah Gould, an Honorary Professor of Nursing at London’s City University, and Dr Edward Purssell, also from City University, said: “UK infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in health care settings, and the rapid reviews of the literature on which it was based, still identify droplet spread and hands as the major route, based on early advice from the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Updated evidence indicates that aerosol spread is much more significant and the original advice from the WHO has been superseded. The UK guidelines are still based on this outdated evidence, however. They urgently need thorough revision and replacing.”

The report highlights that the guidelines omit detail on the importance of ventilation and advise that higher level personal protective equipment (PPE) must only be provided in certain high-risk settings like intensive care, but that it’s up to individual health trusts to decide whether or not to provide them more widely to other staff.

This has caused huge concern for members, especially with the emergence of highly infectious new COVID-19 variants. Members have also expressed concern about the lack of action on ventilation in UK hospitals as research suggests airborne transmission is a particular problem in poorly ventilated rooms.

The RCN has repeatedly tried to engage the government on these issues and is calling for all NHS staff to be given a higher level of PPE as a precautionary measure pending the outcome of a review.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dame Donna Kinnair said: “We have been battling this pandemic for more than a year now. ‘Following the science’ is a hollow boast when we have evidence showing the flaws.

“The report and its findings must launch an official review and not be swept under the carpet as an inconvenience.

“Health care workers need to know everything possible is being done to keep them protected. It is inadequate to say they have masks if they aren’t fit for purpose. Staff are scared for themselves and their families and left any longer it’ll turn to anger.”

Scotland’s invisible heroes to be celebrated during Kinship Care Week

Scotland’s kinship carers are often overlooked and undervalued by society despite making huge sacrifices to provide stable homes for vulnerable young people, according to the Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland (KCASS).

Kinship Care Week (15-21 March) aims to provide these unsung, and sometimes invisible, heroes with the recognition they deserve and to encourage support agencies to work together to provide families with timely and appropriate support.

Research* suggests the vast majority of kinship carers experience some form of hardship after taking over the care of a child of a family member or close friend. Many have to reduce their working hours, or give up work altogether, and they often find themselves in need of emergency financial and emotional support.

Recent Scottish Government statistics revealed there were 4,175 children living in kinship care in Scotland in 2019. However, it is estimated the true number could be as high as 11,000 when taking into account informal and private arrangements. Many of these families are not known to their local authority, meaning thousands of kinship carers could be missing out on vital support.

KCASS helps families in a range of ways, offering practical support and advice to families about finances, housing, education, dealing with trauma, mental health, legal matters, and more. Between September 2020 and February 2021, KCASS responded to 693 calls to its free helpline – more than 100 every month.

Susan Hunter, KCASS Project Coordinator, said: “It is our service’s role, in addition to providing kinship carers with financial, practical and emotional advice, to ensure their voices are heard when decisions are made which affect their lives, when legislation is introduced which impacts on their children’s futures, and when consultations are undertaken which explore the difficulties and struggles experienced by kinship families.”

Kinship Care Week features a range of webinars, training sessions and activities for carers, children and professionals. This year is the first time that KCASS has hosted the week since the service was taken over by Adoption UK in Scotland and the Adoption and Fostering Alliance (AFA) Scotland in September 2020, after previously being provided by Citizens Advice Scotland.

Fiona Aitken, Adoption UK’s Director in Scotland, said: “Kinship Care Week is an opportunity to highlight the amazing job that kinship carers do, along with the challenges that they face.

“We’re proud to work together with our partners to support kinship carers and their families. We hope this week puts kinship care families in the spotlight that they deserve.”

KCASS is funded by the Scottish Government and is committed to keeping The Promise, which pledges that children living in kinship care must receive the support they need to thrive.

Children’s Minister Maree Todd, who is taking part in an online Q&A session as part of the week, said: “Kinship Care Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the vital role kinship carers play in providing secure, stable and nurturing homes for children and young people who can no longer live with their parents.

“I’d like to thank all the carers, professionals and partner charities who have supported children and young people in kinship care during this difficult year.

“We are determined to improve the life chances of young people in kinship care through implementing the commitments made in The Promise, so they enjoy safe, fulfilling and loving childhoods. As part of that, the Scottish Government will work with partners, including KCASS, through the Kinship Care Collaborative to better support carers, children and professionals working with kinship families.”

Kinship carers experiencing difficulties or in need of advice are urged to call the free KCASS helpline on 0808 800 0006 from 10am – 2.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Calls for police chief to go following Clapham Common scenes

There are calls for Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick’s resignation this morning following criticism of her force’s handling of a vigil organised to mourn the death of Sarah Everard last night.

Despite appeals to stay away by organisers, hundreds gathered at Clapham Common to protest, sparking what some see as a heavy-handed police response.

Vigil organisers Reclaim These Streets issued the following statement:

In the early hours of this morning the Metropolitian Police issued a Statement from Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball following events in Clapham Common:

“May I start by extending my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sarah Everard. Across the Met we are still extremely saddened and shocked by the tragic circumstance of her disappearance and death.

“Earlier tonight, I joined the Commissioner in a candlelit vigil outside New Scotland Yard. I know many thousands of people up and down the nation also held similar vigils in Sarah’s name.

“I recognise that the decision by the organisers to cancel the Reclaim These Streets vigil in Clapham Common was deeply unwelcome news. Even so, given the ever present threat of Coronavirus, this was the right decision to make.

“Today, for over six hours hundreds of people came to lay flowers and pay their respects to Sarah in Clapham Common in a safe and lawful way.

“Around 6pm, more people began to gather close to the bandstand within the Common. Some started to make speeches from the bandstand. These speeches then attracted more people to gather closer together.

“At this point, officers on the ground were faced with a very difficult decision. Hundreds of people were packed tightly together, posing a very real risk of easily transmitting Covid-19.

“Police must act for people’s safety, this is the only responsible thing to do. The pandemic is not over and gatherings of people from right across London and beyond, are still not safe.

“Those who gathered were spoken to by officers on a number of occasions and over an extended period of time. We repeatedly encouraged those who were there to comply with the law and leave. Regrettably, a small minority of people began chanting at officers, pushing and throwing items.

“After speaking with officers, the vast majority of people quickly left. Four arrests have been made for public order offences and for breaches of the Health Protection Regulations.

“Part of the reason I am speaking to you tonight is because we accept that the actions of our officers have been questioned.

“We absolutely did not want to be in a position where enforcement action was necessary. But we were placed in this position because of the overriding need to protect people’s safety.

“Let me end by saying that across the Met, we review every single event that we police to see if there are lessons that can be learnt. This one will be no different.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel has requested a full report from the Metropolitan Police.

Beat Hunger campaign launched

Police Scotland, in partnership with Edinburgh North East Foodbank and Edinburgh Community Foods have launched the ‘Beat Hunger’ Campaign.

The North East of Edinburgh contains some of the highest levels of poverty in Scotland and this campaign is aimed at tackling food inequality and poverty funded by Police Scotland’s Local Partnership and Initiative Fund.

Local Community Sergeant Elaine McArthur-Kerr of Leith Police Station said: “As an organisation and as employees, we have a responsibility to improve the lives and futures of our community, particularly our children.

“This campaign will initially be open to identified groups within the foodbank community and thereafter extended to the wider community through referrals nominated by our partners.

“Recipients will be supplied with free additional support in the appropriately titled ‘Beat Box’, which will include a community cook book with recipes by Michelin Star Chef Martin Wishart.

“This book contains simple nutritious meals, which can be cooked using the most basic cooking facilities and includes step by step instructions and tips on food management. The recipes cater for those with no cookery skills and will provide an at home activity for families.

“Each week there will be fresh ingredients, supplied by Capital Wholesalers and the utensils required to cook a meal from the book. For example, this week launches with a butternut squash soup and following weeks will include main meals and a pudding.

“Information on family, financial and mental health support literature will also be included.

“Promoting wellbeing is key to ensuring the health and safety of our community and this is a fantastic opportunity to support some of the most vulnerable during unprecedented times and encourage positive lifestyle choices.

“Working together with partners, we can improve the quality of life for the people we serve.”

Scottish Government pledges more say for communities in health and social care services

The public will have a greater say in how major decisions around health and social care services are delivered in Scotland.

New guidance will ensure NHS Boards, Integration Joint Boards and local authorities uphold their legal duty to consult and engage with local communities about major planning decisions.

This will guarantee people with real experience of using local services will be able to shape decision making at a local and national level, from building or rebuilding hospitals, to transferring health and social care services into the community.

This ‘forward thinking’ approach will ensure lessons are learned from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by giving people with lived experience a say in the future of NHS Scotland and the reshaping of Adult Social Care. It will also help ensure services are effective, safe, value-for-money and meet individuals’ needs.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Community engagement and participation is vital as we look to reform health and social care services, ensuring they are fit to meet the needs of the public as we deal with the long term impact of the pandemic.

“This guidance will help ensure people have a greater say in decisions which affect the care they receive.

“Our collective response to the pandemic has shown the strength of our public services and how we can come together to address challenges. Since the start of the pandemic we have been delivering services differently and have engaged with communities to ensure they are involved in decisions that affect them. This guidance captures that learning and seeks to ensure we all benefit from it.

“The Scottish Government will continue to listen to the views of people who use health and social care services and actively involve them in re-shaping how we deliver care as we re-mobilise beyond the pandemic.”

COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson Cllr Stuart Currie said: “Planning with people promotes real collaboration between NHS Boards, Integration Joint Boards and Local Authorities.

“It sets out the responsibilities each organisation has to community engagement when services are being planned, or changes to services are being planned, and it supports them to involve people meaningfully.

“Fundamentally, good engagement means that services are developed which are effective, safe and value-for-money. And there is no doubt that greater participation brings better outcomes for communities all round.

“So, we encourage people in communities across Scotland to read this guidance and find out what they should expect when it comes to engagement about care planning. Ultimately, it is their experience that will be the real measure of what impact it is making.”

Care services – planning with people: guidance – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)