Month: March 2021

Green budget deal sealed

More than 200,000 additional children to receive free school meals

More than 200,000 additional primary school children will receive free school meals, including over 17,300 in City of Edinburgh, over 4,900 in East Lothian, over 4,400 in Midlothian and over 8,800 in West Lothian thanks to a budget deal struck between the SNP and the Scottish Greens.

The deal will see free school meals provision expanded to all primary children by next summer, phased in on a timetable agreed with local councils, and ensure that those currently eligible get free meals throughout the school holidays.

The agreement will ensure passage of the Scottish Government’s budget through parliament.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has struck a deal which guarantees the Budget Bill can clear its final stages.

It will see the phased introduction of free school meals for all primary pupils, an enhanced public sector pay deal, new Pandemic Support Payments and additional funding to support environmental, active travel and energy efficiency initiatives.

Talks are continuing ahead of tomorrow’s Stage 3 debate with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who voted for the budget at Stage 1 in exchange for increased spending on mental health, business support and education recovery.

The new commitments build on the budget’s existing measures to address the challenges of the ongoing pandemic and lay the foundations for recovery. These include meeting the main ask of business by extending 100% rates relief for the retail, hospitality, leisure, aviation and newspaper sectors for a further 12 months – considerably exceeding the relief offered in England – supporting families by allocating money for a council tax freeze and providing record £16 billion to the NHS.

The new initiatives will be funded mainly from the unallocated balance of funding from last week’s UK budget.

They include:

  • Pandemic Support Payments of £130 to households receiving Council Tax Reduction and two payments of £100 to families of children qualifying for free school meals
  • the phased introduction of free school meals to all primary school children by August 2022
  • an £800 pay rise for public sector workers earning up to £25,000, and a 2% increase for those earning over £25,000 up to £40,000.
  • extending free bus travel to under 22s
  • £40 million to support the green recovery, including a further £15 million for active travel, £10 million for energy efficiency, £10 million for biodiversity and £5 million for agri-environmental measures

Ms Forbes said: “We continue to face unprecedented challenges and I have sought to engage constructively to deliver a budget that meets the needs of the nation.

“I would like to thank all parties for the positive way they have participated in this process. The budget addresses key issues raised by every party and I hope all MSPs feel able to support it. We have reached an agreement with the Scottish Greens and I am hopeful about the outcome of my continuing talks with the Liberal Democrats.

“Today I can announce that we are able to go further in offering a fair and affordable pay settlement to the public sector workers to whom we owe so much through the pandemic, particularly the lowest paid.

“The budget already contains measures to help struggling families, but in this deal we are also announcing details of a £100 million programme of one-off Pandemic Support Payments. And we commit to providing free school meals to every primary school pupil by August 2022, with expansion for P4s starting after this year’s summer holidays.

“A green recovery lies at the heart of the Scottish Government’s policies and today we are delivering significant new investments in energy efficiency and active travel, while providing additional funding to support biodiversity and make our agriculture more environmentally-friendly.

“And, as we rebuild from Covid, we will support our young people by extending our original commitment to concessionary travel for all under 19s to include everyone up to age 22, giving all 18-21 year olds free bus travel.

“Every penny made available to us to tackle the pandemic has been allocated. These remain difficult times, but this budget puts us on the path to a fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland.”

Scottish Greens Lothian MSP Alison Johnstone said: “I am absolutely delighted that our budget deal ensures that all primary school children will receive free school meals from the summer of 2022, with p4 pupils getting them from this summer and p5 from January.”

“I know this news will be welcomed by the families who will benefit from this forward-thinking policy. Knowing that every primary school child will benefit from a healthy meal every day will make a huge difference to families’ finances and wellbeing.”

All P1-P3 pupils currently get free school meals. The Green deal will expand this to P4 in August 2021, P5 in January 2022, and P6 and P7 children in August 2022.

£49.5m has been allocated to fund this this year, and £112m next year.

Scottish Government ‘no longer clapping for carers’

Responding to the Finance Secretary’s comments to the Finance and Constitution Committee meeting this morning on social care pay, Rhea Wolfson of the GMB Scotland Women’s Campaign Unit said: “On International Women’s Day Kate Forbes has cut a budget deal with the Greens that sells short tens of thousands of women across the social care sector – and what’s worse is the Finance Secretary used our NHS nurses as a reason for not delivering a £15 an hour minimum.

“The fight for a £15 social care minimum hasn’t been “plucked out of a hat”. What our members are asking politicians to do is support the objective of bringing social care pay into line with the average hourly rate of pay, to help tackle the recruitment crisis in care and to ensure a chronically exploited workforce are properly valued for the work they do. 

“The Scottish Government claimed it wanted to put social care on an equal footing with the NHS and the Feeley Review has shown that a significant investment in social care and its workers could have a transformative effect on our economy and society.

“After the tragic events of the last year, a golden opportunity was there to do the right thing by our care workers but instead the Finance Secretary has chosen to pit key worker against key worker to keep one group mired in low-pay.

“It’s clear the Scottish Government is no longer clapping for our carers.”

Responding to the amended Scottish Budget with improvements in public sector pay policy, expanded access to free school meals and additional payments to less well-off households, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: “We have strongly pressed the Scottish Government to reject the real terms pay cuts approach of the Tories at Westminster and we recognise the different course that the Finance Secretary has taken on Public Sector Pay Policy in Scotland.

“We welcome the Scottish Greens’ intervention to press for a better deal for public sector workers, the expansion of free school meal to all primary children and additional payments to poorer households.

“But revising public sector pay policy is less than half of the story. We remain deeply concerned that pay commitments must be funded across the public sector. Local councils continue to be starved of funding despite delivering so many of our essential public services and with so many workers who deliver those services being underpaid and undervalued.

“Nowhere is this more the case than for our social care workers in the public, third and private sectors. The Cabinet Secretary indicated that this will not be the final budget revision of the year and that she will respect the outcome of a collectively bargained pay deal for the care sector.

“To make this commitment meaningful and to address the scandal of low pay, the Government must commit to fund that deal and we intend to campaign hard to hold them to this.”

“The proposed extension of free schools meals to all primary aged children is an important step towards our campaign goal of achieving universal provision for all secondary school, primary school and nursery children. We intend to continue that campaign.”

Police appeal following Newbridge crash

Police are appealing for witnesses following a one-vehicle crash which took place in the Newbridge area on Saturday (6 March).

The incident involved a white Suzuki car and happened on Cliftonhall Road around 8.10pm. The 40-year-old driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Sergeant Jill Kirkpatrick, from Police Scotland’s Road Policing Unit, said: “We’re appealing for anyone who may have been in the area and saw the crash, or who came upon the scene afterwards, to come forward.

“If you have any information, please contact police on 101, quoting incident 3608 of 6 March.”

Heart of Scotland appeal teams up with Scottish Women in Sport to get the nation moving

The Heart of Scotland appeal, launched by national charity Heart Research UK, has partnered with Scottish Women in Sport (SWIS) in a bid to increase the activity levels of women across Scotland.

Every year, coronary heart disease, including heart attacks, kills around 2,600 women in Scotland – seven women every day.

The Heart of Scotland appeal was launched in 2019 to raise awareness of the problem of heart health in Scotland, as well as generating vital funds for pioneering research at Universities’ and hospitals across the country.

Coronary heart disease is Scotland’s single biggest killer, with lifestyle factors such as obesity and lack of exercise directly impacting upon a person’s risk.

In an effort to combat the statistic that more than a third of adults in Scotland do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity, the Heart of Scotland appeal has teamed up with SWIS to inspire women across Scotland to get more active.

Today, the Heart of Scotland Appeal and SWIS will be celebrating International Women’s Day by featuring inspirational video interviews with some of Scotland’s leading female athletes, including Hannah Rankin, Katie Archibald MBE, Jasmin Paris, Rebecca Sellar, Samantha Kinghorn and Rachel Corsie.

They will share their experiences of reaching the pinnacle of their respective sports and their advice for any young person wishing to follow in their footsteps.


Heart Research UK have collaborated on this latest campaign, which has been backed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, to highlight the relationship between an active lifestyle and a healthy heart whilst encouraging more women in Scotland to get active.

This is the second collaboration between Heart Research UK and Scottish Women in Sport who together produced a series of video interviews with four of the leading Scottish female researchers, academics and practitioners who have devoted their time and expertise to taking on heart disease for International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Maureen McGonigle, Founder of Scottish Women in Sport, said: “It is a privilege to work with Heart Research UK, as they are such an established and passionate organisation.

“Together along with some of Scotland’s top sportswomen, we hope to raise awareness of the impact of heart disease on women, and hopefully encourage more women to get active and take on heart disease.”

Dr Helen Flaherty, head of Health Promotion and Education at Heart Research UK, said: “We all know how important it is to be active – it’s one of the best things we can do to improve our heart health.

“However, many people find it difficult to get motivated, or struggle to fit the recommended 150 minutes of exercise into a week.

“Women often find it difficult to engage with physical activity due to a lack of confidence and time. Through this partnership with SWIS, we hope to be able to encourage women all across Scotland to increase their activity levels, and also to encourage the next generation of Scottish sportswomen, as well as helping to reduce the gender gap in physical activity and sport.”

The Melting Pot to unveil new bigger location

Scotland’s first co-working space, The Melting Pot has found a new much-bigger home where charities, social businesses and freelancers will lead the recovery from the COVID crisis.

At a unique live event tonight The Melting Pot will announce the location of their new city centre coworking hub in Edinburgh. Organisers are encouraging people to register for the event on their facebook page so that they can be amongst the first to see their exciting new space.   

The charity has already set up a waiting list on their website to manage the growing demand from people keen to break free from the same four walls of home once restrictions lift.   

The Melting Pot’s Founder and CEO Claire Carpenter said: “Working from home has had a detrimental impact on many people’s health and well-being, as well as their work. 

“After months of hard work, we are both proud and excited to be unveiling our new location tonight.  We believe it will be the perfect place for those who are wanting to reap the many health and wellbeing benefits that come from getting out of the house and working safely amongst others.  

“Not only that, but we know that working together in the same space can help increase productivity, improve motivation levels and help to generate new creative ideas.  

“We are planning on opening the new space in May with all comprehensive measures in place to keep us safe as we connect in our community’s new home. 

“I’d encourage anyone who is keen to learn more about coworking spaces to join us at our online event tonight.  You’ll get to virtually look around and get a feel for the many benefits that our affordable space could offer you and your colleagues.” 

The Melting Pot will be ‘beaming live’ from their new location tonight, Monday 8th March, at 17:00 hours through their facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/TheMeltingPotEdinburgh/  

Visit their website https://www.themeltingpotedinburgh.org.uk/ to join the waiting list for a spot in the office once it opens in May. 

Manifesto for Women’s Rights in Scotland to be launched today

Women Speak Scotland is publishing a ‘Manifesto for Women’s Rights in Scotland’ on International Women’s Day (8 March) ahead of the Holyrood election on 6 May. The Manifesto demands the protection and implementation of women’s human and legal rights. WSS will invite all parliamentary candidates to support it.

The Manifesto affirms women’s sex-based human rights, which are enshrined in international treaties and national legislation. It includes rights related to:
 

  • Safety and Privacy
  • Health and Bodily Autonomy
  • Freedom of Speech and Association
  • Fairness in Sport
  • Accurate Data
  • Freedom from Male Violence and Exploitation
  • Young Women and Girls

WSS says the Scottish Government must make a commitment to uphold women’s rights, regardless of which party/parties form the next administration. WSS believes the Manifesto is necessary because recent years have seen the gradual erosion of women’s rights.

A spokeswoman for the group said “Women have been fighting for our rights for over 100 years but now we are facing a serious backlash. We are seeing the advances we’ve made being watered down or removed one by one.

“Public bodies and organisations too often dismiss women’s concerns. Many organisations now routinely confuse ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ which has the effect of reducing or removing women’s rights.

“The Scottish Government appears to be mounting an attack on women’s rights. For example, it has recently redefined the term ‘women’ to include men in relation to the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act. The Act was intended to address the historical under-representation of women on these boards, but is seriously undermined by allowing males to take places designated for women.

“The Hate Crime Bill proposed by the Scottish Government is in its final stage and will be debated at Holyrood on Wednesday. WSS is very concerned that the Government is refusing to offer protection to female victims who are attacked because of their sex despite widespread support for this measure.

“As it stands, the Bill will criminalise women advocating for our sex-based rights, including the maintenance of existing legal rights. So the WSS Manifesto demand for the protection of the right to freedom of speech is essential.

“We seem to be on a slippery slope which risks making women invisible both to the law and in national statistics. For example, there is a suggestion that the next Census in Scotland will not record the population according to our sex, even though this is crucial for planning many services, or identifying inequalities such as the sex pay gap. WSS is determined to reverse this trend and make sure the voices of the majority of women in Scotland are heard.

“Scottish Parliamentary candidates should be aware that women’s votes count – we are nearly 52% of the electorate – and we intend to make sure that women’s rights and concerns are not ignored during this election, nor by the incoming government.

“We also hope the Manifesto will empower those women who aren’t yet confident being involved in politics or activism, to feel able to engage in conversation with candidates in their constituencies, by providing information about some of the most important issues facing us at present.”

Copies of the Manifesto can be downloaded from the WSS website from 8 March onwards at www.womenspeakscotland.com

Rangers fans ignore restrictions to celebrate title win

Glasgow faces COVID spike as fans take to the streets

Rangers fans flouted COVID guidelines and partied into the night as they celebrated their first Premiership title win in ten years yesterday.

Their actions have been roundly condemned, however, and it remains to be seen whether action will be taken against the Ibrox club or even the SFA.

Glasgow police were criticised for their lack of action as hundreds of fans congregated at Ibrox stadium and in George Square minutes after Celtic failed to beat Dundee United and conceded the league title to their rivals.

A ‘small number’ of supporters were arrested, but Police Scotland’s performance will be the subject of much discussion today.

Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, Divisional Commander for Greater Glasgow Division, made his final statement of the evening at 8:56pm as celebrations continued. He said: “We are continuing to police the ongoing gathering of football supporters in George Square today.

“Officers have continued to move to enforcement where appropriate with a number of further arrests and additional fixed penalty notices for breaches of the coronavirus restrictions, minor incidents of disorder and the use of pyrotechnic devices.

“We are now asking people to disperse and make their way home.  For those not in attendance, please do not make your way to Glasgow City Centre.

“People should consider the public health impact of this gathering. For more information on the latest coronavirus guidelines please visit the Scottish Government website.”

Police appeals went unheeded, as did First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s.

Ms Sturgeon said on Twitter: “I congratulate @RangersFC on the title win & recognise what a moment this is for fans.

“But gathering in crowds just now risks lives, and could delay exit from lockdown for everyone else. If those gathering care at all about the safety of others & the country, they will go home.” They didn’t.

Police Scotland issued an update at 9:30am this morning:

Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, Divisional Commander for Greater Glasgow Division, said: “On Sunday, 7 March, 2021, a pre-planned policing operation was instigated after Rangers FC were confirmed as league champions.

“Despite the coronavirus regulations and the prohibition of gatherings, our officers were faced with a very difficult set of circumstances as many thousands of supporters gathered to celebrate across a number of different venues.

“Our priority was public safety and this included reducing the risk of disorder, road safety and effective crowd management among the complexities of a vociferous crowd. This included established crowd control measures to prevent serious disorder in multiple areas and protect the public.

“An appropriate policing response was in place throughout the day and officers continually engaged and encouraged compliance with coronavirus regulations.

“Over the course of the day a number of minor injuries were sustained by members of the public, some of which were as a result of intoxication.

“Where it was appropriate to do so officers moved to enforcement for a variety of offences including breaches of coronavirus regulations, acts of disorder, pyrotechnic use and a number of arrests for assaulting police officers and sectarian related breach of the peace.

“In total, 28 people were arrested and seven people were issued with fixed penalty notices or will be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.

“I am grateful to our officers who showed great commitment and professionalism throughout the course of the day, many of whom put their own health at risk during a challenging set of circumstances.”

Only 35 fans to face punishment? Given the pictures we’ve all seen Police Scotland’s attitude appears incredibly tolerant and will infuriate many people who have stuck to the rules throughout.

The First Minister has already expressed her frustration with football following previous misdemeanors, and has said that the sport is on a yellow card. With growing public anger over fans’ reckless behaviour will she now consider taking action?

There will be many ‘sair heids’ in Govan this morning, but yesterday’s scenes have also presented Govan’s MSP with her own headache. The First Minister was expected to announce a loosening of restrictions tomorrow, but following Sunday’s scenes this could now be under reconsideration.

While the Scottish government has praised ‘everyone’ for obeying guidelines since they were introduced at start of the pandemic, it’s very clear that a sizeable minority have continued to ignore guidelines and even break the law throughout – be that ignoring soocial distancing by gathering at school gates, families flouting travel restriction rules or simply a refusal to wear face masks.

Few will forget the picures of a packed Portobello promenade, The Meadows teeming with people or crowds in Princes Street Gardens. And now this.

There have been more than 7400 COVID deaths in Scotland but it seems that some people will never learn.

While Rangers have made no official comment on the scenes in Glasgow, manager Steven Gerrard told rangers.co.uk: “It is very difficult to put into words right now. I’m on a real, emotional high and it has been a journey that is not finished.

“There is more to come and the next thing for me, when you win, it is always about what is next, and I am so proud of the players first and foremost – they are the most important people inside the club.

“But they are not as important as the supporters – they are what makes this club and it is for them and we have been down at times, really low at times, but this is an incredible high.

“It has been an incredible journey we have been on and we deserve it. I would just like to thank the board for the support they have given me – each and every one of them – and everyone who has given me the backing to go and do the job I needed to do and everyone connected to the club who is here now deserve to enjoy this.”

When Hibernian won The Scottish Cup in 2016 Rangers were quick to condemn Hibs fans for running on to the pitch to celebrate their first victory in the tournament for 114 years.

‘Rangers Football Club is shocked at the disgraceful behaviour of Hibs fans at full time’, the Ibrox club said in a statement rushed out after the game.

No such rush to condemn this time round, however. Silence in Govan.

It really is a ‘funny old game’ …

How to stop pets destroying your home and costing you a fortune

Pet owners tired of their pups and kittens tearing up soft furnishings and making messes are being offered tips to prevent damage to their home.

The money saving team at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk are sharing advice on how to protect household items from ruin on a budget.

Parents of naughty pets can prevent costly damage from cat scratches with spray deterrents and encourage outdoor doggy toilet trips with a loud clap.

Because pets are known for being the best company, the number of new owners has increased over lockdown, but they can make more chaos than bargained for. A few home insurance policies cover pet damage and liability, so it is worth checking details of protection with the provider.

A spokesperson for NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “They are cute, funny, and you love them to bits. But, sometimes the furry members of the household can cause the most expensive messes.

“Regardless of if you are a new pet owner or if you have just started noticing new destructive behaviours, these tricks will help save money and protect your household items from chewing, scratching and biting.

“Animals tend to have very short memories, so they won’t connect their past naughtiness with your current yelling or other punishment, so it is best to take more of a tactical approach to prevent damage from happening ahead, saving cash in the long run.”

Tips to prevent animal damage in the home:

1. Chewing

Canines love sinking their teeth into stuff. It is a natural, but annoying habit for dog lovers. To discourage destructive chewing of remote controls, shoes and furniture, owners can make a natural deterrent spray. Dogs will not like the bitter taste of vinegar or citrus oil, but it is harmless to them and will keep them from putting things coated in it in their mouths.

Seeing as chewing is natural, pet parents should make every effort to make DIY chewable toys from old household items. Using materials like old denim, ropes and old t-shirts is a great way to make money go further and give a new lease of life to old items ready for the bin.

2. Inside toilet trips

Puddles of pee and piles of poop are never fun for pet owners. They require lots of time to deep clean and can put costly stains on carpets.

A dirty litter box is one of the first things that sends a cat elsewhere to do their business, so make sure your kitty’s is kept clean and empty.

If it is the dog who always gets caught in the act of doing their business inside the house, try and startle them slightly every time they get caught. A loud clap should stop the pup’s pee mid-stream, allowing owners to lead them outside gently and in an encouraging way.

To prevent repeat offenders, clean accidents with an enzymatic cleanser. It will destroy the odours that are likely to attract your pet back to the same spots.

3. Scratching

Couches and chairs are key targets when kitties want a scratch, but they are often the costliest items in the living area.

To prevent damage from scratching cats, special herbal sprays can be bought at a pet store. They replace the scent of a cat’s territorial “markers” with a smell that is unpleasant to them but is barely noticeable to the human nose.

If the spray doesn’t work, it might be an idea to use a double-side sticky tape strip on particularly problematic areas, as paws are extremely sensitive to touch, making sticky surfaces exceptionally annoying.

If your problematic area for scratches is around doorframes and the wooden legs, consider putting a post made of cedar in their space.

4. Tearing up

Dogs are known for suffering from separation anxiety and vets advise they shouldn’t be left for more than four hours on their own.

Sometimes it is unavoidable, but when dogs are anxious, they are notorious for tearing up anything they can get their paws on or teeth around.

The best way to prevent it is by making sure the pup is too tired to cause a mess when no one is in the house. Tire them out by walking and running before they are alone and leave engaging and interactive puzzles, to mentally stimulate and exhaust them.

5. Rule out medical problems

Sometimes, problematic behaviour from a pet can be a cry for help. It is important to rule out any potential medial issues. Dogs are known for soiling indoors as a result of incontinence problems, but also because of a change in diet, new medications, gastrointestinal upset or anxiety issues.

Cats often produce more urine and have more accidents when they are suffering from urinary tract infections or even kidney failure.

Buck & Birch teams up with East Lothian Flower Farm to offer pretty as a petal Mother’s Day picks

Mother’s Day 2021 will be like our new bottled cocktails … limited edition: I.E. – hopefully the last one where we can’t give our mum a big hug, a kiss on the cheek and then take her out for a fancy afternoon tea that sees too much champagne and never enough sandwiches!

But just because we are unable do that this year, doesn’t mean we can’t find other ways to shower her with the love she has always shown us. 

Capturing the quintessential powder posy smell that reminds us of the warmth of home, Buck & Birch has teamed up with local floral front-runners East Lothian Flower Farm, to create the must-have Mother’s Day bundle for those in Edinburgh*. 

The Say it With Flowers kit (£20, plus £4.95 local delivery) will include a choice of one of mum’s favourite Buck & Birch wildflower inspired cocktails, including Aelder Sour, Dandy Lion, Amarosa Old Fashioned, Thornstar Martini, Espresso Martana or the Atkinson, alongside a mixed pot of flowers bursting with Ranunculus (Amandine) and Anemone.

Each gift set will have pre-sprouted flowers growing in a pot and a leaflet with details on how to care for them. 

Debbie Scott from East Lothian Flower Farm explains why this is the perfect natural choice to spoil mum with: “Ranunculus and Anemone are spring flowering and both absolutely gorgeous!

“They are corm grown and if looked after, will flower again the following year; they may look really delicate but are one of the best cut flowers. We will ensure that each pot has 3 or 4 plants, allowing mum to have a beautiful mix of colours for spring and summer garden blooms.”

For those a little further out, or unable to collect, Buck & Birch is also offering a collaborative trio of Limited-Edition Floral Cocktails (£29, plus £4.95 nationwide delivery) that will be the perfect accompaniment to any home-made afternoon tea.

Created in conjunction with @foragedbyfern, the set consists of The Flowering Currant Cosmo, The Blossom Sour and a Burdock Coffee Martini – all light and refreshing with a lingering floral flavour. 

So, however you say, ‘I love you, Mum’, make sure you say it with Buck & Birch! 

To view the full selection of drinks available for purchase, visit:

www.aelderelixir.com

University catering retains award for 8th year running

A catering team from the University of Edinburgh has been awarded its 8th sustainable food recognition award.

The Accommodation, Catering and Events team from the university has picked up another bronze ‘Food For Life Served Here’ award, branding its consistent effort from 2013 towards providing healthy and sustainable menus.

Catering to 2,000 students in catered halls daily and producing over 100,000 meals a year, the award is a testament to the continuous efforts made towards serving ethically sourced ingredients and produce.

Soil Association, the charity behind the Food For Life Served Here programme, recognise a bronze award when catering teams guarantee three key quality standards; the environment, the local economy, and the health benefits for pupils and students.

This includes a pledge that a minimum of 75% of dishes are prepared from unprocessed ingredients and that cultural and dietary needs are catered for. While also making the most of seasonal produce, as well as ingredients being sustainably sourced and free from trans fats and additives.

Sue Howlett, Inspector – Food for Life Scotland, said: “We’re thrilled to certify the University of Edinburgh to the Bronze Food for Life Served Here award.

“During my inspection, I was impressed to find that the catering team source local produce via reputable, direct Scottish suppliers, with high standards – providing a positive boost to the local economy.

“They also serve a wide range of sustainable fish on the menu, and an excellent range of seasonal veg – again, sourced locally where possible. Sustainable choices are a key part of the Food for Life Served Here certification – and the University of Edinburgh has strongly demonstrated this ethos in practice.

“Congratulations to the University of Edinburgh – we’re pleased to be working with you!”

Ian Macaulay, Director of Catering at the University of Edinburgh said: “The team is absolutely delighted to have met the standard again in our annual renewal of the Food For Life Served Here award for all meals served to students in catered halls”

“It’s been a really difficult year and this achievement shows that we are still fully committed to keeping our accreditations and awards as part of the Good Food Policy and providing students with healthy, sustainable, and quality food.

“University managed accommodation creates a sense of reassurance for new students, and we are taking that extra step in being transparent about where our ingredients come from and what produce we use, thus helping our students trust our team, and feel at ease.”

The catering team assure that no endangered fish are served, and genetically modified ingredients are not used, ensuring that all the meals served meet UK welfare standards and Scottish Government Nutritional Requirements.

The University of Edinburgh Accommodation, Catering and Events team support the residential welfare of 10,000 students.

One University managed accommodation, Pollock Halls, provides students the option of picking catered accommodation, making a stressful transition that bit easier. 

With round-the-clock student support, through its Residence Life welfare initiative and flexible leases, the university is working towards helping students amidst these uncertain times.

For more information on The University of Edinburgh Accommodation, Catering and Events, please visit the website https://www.accom.ed.ac.uk/ or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The coast is dear

Some UK seaside accommodation prices up by a third

Holidaymakers face paying more for a UK seaside break this summer as a snapshot investigation suggests some accommodation prices have risen by an average of 35 per cent compared with last summer, according to new research from Which?.

With demand for UK holidays expected to soar this summer, Which? tracked the prices of 15 holiday lets in the top 10 most visited UK seaside destinations, and found that in every case, prices have increased from last summer.

The consumer champion’s snapshot investigation looked at prices for 15 properties listed between Airbnb and Vrbo in the past year, in destinations such as St Ives, Whitby, Llandudno and Brighton.

Which? first looked at the prices of these listings in May and June 2020, for various dates in July and August 2020. The research then looked at the prices of the same properties in February 2021 for similar dates in July and August 2021, and found all had increased in price, with an average increase of 35 per cent.

The largest markup of the properties Which? looked at was for a one-bedroom maisonette in Brighton on Airbnb. When the consumer champion checked the price of the listing in May 2020 for the first week of August 2020, the cost was £53 per night. But when it checked again in February 2021 for the same period the property was £127 per night – an increase of 140 per cent.

It also found a 70 per cent increase in price for a one-bedroom property in the centre of Eastbourne on Airbnb. Last year, for a one-week holiday in the first week of August, it would have cost £409. This year, the same week costs £696.

On Vrbo, a one-bedroom property in Bournemouth rose from £722 for the first week of August last year to £958 this year – an increase of 33 per cent.

Vrbo told Which?: “We are operating as a two-sided marketplace, connecting holidaymakers and holiday-home hosts, without being part of any contractual agreements between those parties at any time. That means that all rental contracts are closed between the holidaymaker and the holiday-home host, or the property manager directly.

“The hosts are also in control and individually set the rental price for their properties, the payment terms and all cancellation policies. Those policies are stated on the booking page for each property and must be acknowledged, and agreed to, by all holidaymakers before a booking on Vrbo is possible.

“Vrbo’s service fee is a percentage of the total amount of the reservation, excluding taxes and refundable fees paid by the guest. The service fee amount varies. Generally, the higher the reservation amount, the lower the percentage of the service fee. A value-added tax is charged on the service fee where required by local regulations.

“Vrbo does not set, change or influence the property prices a host chooses. However, Vrbo provides useful tips and information for hosts on how to be successful with their listing on Vrbo. For instance, Vrbo’s MarketMaker™ gives hosts access to real-time data about competitors, holidaymakers, local events and holidays. This allows them to adjust their prices, if needed, to remain competitive and attractive for holidaymakers.”

Other price rises were more modest. A one-bedroom cottage on Airbnb in Scarborough increased by seven per cent for similar August dates this year, while a one-bedroom property on Vrbo in Swanage with views over the Purbeck Hills had gone up by just two per cent.

Hosts on Airbnb set the prices and cleaning fees for properties listed on the platform. Airbnb said the price increases highlighted by Which? were “isolated examples”, while Vrbo also said hosts are in control and individually set the rental price for their properties.

According to the government’s current plans for releasing England from lockdown, self-contained holiday accommodation breaks are set to return from 12 April.

Demand for UK holidays is likely to be even higher this summer than last year, as there is currently less risk involved in taking a UK holiday than a holiday abroad while coronavirus restrictions, such as testing and hotel quarantine for UK arrivals, remain in place.

There is still some risk involved in booking holidays in the UK for this summer, such as being told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or local restrictions preventing you from travelling. However most of these risks can be overcome by booking with a reputable company that has a generous flexible booking policy.

Which? is encouraging anyone booking a UK holiday to ensure they choose a flexible accommodation provider that has committed to offering full cash refunds or fee-free rebooking if your holiday is unable to go ahead as planned due to coronavirus.

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “Many holidaymakers are looking forward to finally going to the seaside this summer, so it’s perhaps not a surprise that high demand has seen prices for some destinations shoot up too.

“If people are prepared to pay more for their summer holidays this year, it’s essential that they know their money will be protected or returned to them without hassle in the event they cannot travel as planned. Make sure you choose a provider that offers fair and flexible booking terms, so you won’t be left chasing a refund if something goes wrong.”

Full table of price increases:

Airbnb told Which?: “This misleading research features isolated examples that are not representative of prices on Airbnb. A survey shows that more than half of UK guests choose Airbnb because it is more affordable than a hotel or other options.

“With the Great British staycation back on the horizon, hosts are ready to provide clean and private accommodation to help families and loved ones safely reconnect, and around half say they rely on the additional income from hosting.”