November 2021 – Page 25 – The NEN

Leith charity partners with The Filmhouse to eliminate electronic waste across Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Remakery is joining forces with Filmhouse in the fight to eliminate electronic waste across the city.

The two well-loved Edinburgh establishments are working together to provide a simple and convenient way for members of the public to pass on their old IT equipment using a uniquely designed Donation Box.

With COP26 being hosted in Glasgow and with Edinburgh’s ambitious net zero targets, all eyes are on Scotland to take the lead in implementing infrastructural changes to tackle the climate emergency.

More and more Edinburgh-based organisations are taking significant steps not only to reduce their own business carbon emissions, but to make it easier for their patrons and team members to make positive changes.

The Edinburgh Remakery, a social enterprise based in Leith which specialises in waste reduction through repair and reuse, has been taking in end-of-life IT equipment since its origins in 2016.

This partnership with Edinburgh Filmhouse, which is based on Lothian Road, will make it easier for members of the public outwith Leith to drop-off their old electronics for reuse. With Filmhouse being once again open to the public and showing regular film screenings, the cinema is perfectly placed to hold one of the Edinburgh Remakery’s Donation Boxes.

These Donation Boxes have been designed specifically for people to drop in old electronic devices – including laptops, smart phones, and tablets – whilst preventing them from being damaged in the process to ensure as many devices as possible can be repaired and reused. The Donation Box will be conveniently placed in Filmhouse foyer for members of the public to use.

Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery said: “Electronics have become somewhat of a disposable commodity in our society, to the point where many of us have old devices lying around that we just don’t know what to do with.

“Electronic waste is also incredibly damaging to the environment, and people can be concerned about the security of their personal data, therefore disposing of old devices safely becomes very problematic. Our donation boxes give people an easy and secure way to pass on their old devices for reuse.

“Not only is it a win for the environment, but it’s also a win for the community as a portion of the donated devices, once repaired, will be gifted to families and individuals across the city who are suffering from digital poverty, social isolation and financial hardship.

“A portion will also be used to train members of our community in valuable IT repair skills, targeting primarily those further from the job market to boost valuable employability skills as well as confidence. Tackling waste and social inequalities in one – a win for people and planet.”

Rehan Yousuf, Community Engagement Manager at Filmhouse said: “Edinburgh Filmhouse is delighted to be in partnership with the Edinburgh Remakery as their first partner in the repurposing project.

“The pandemic has heightened digital poverty, with many people from disadvantaged communities being left behind. We’re aiming to target the challenges of digital exclusion for older people and will be working in tandem with community groups dedicated to overcoming this.

“Whether it’s an old laptop, tablet or mobile lying in a drawer at home somewhere, people can hand it to Filmhouse via the donation box at our Box Office. The devices will then be repurposed by the Edinburgh Remakery, then distributed by the Edinburgh Filmhouse. Members of the public who donate their devices will receive a free cinema ticket.

“With many people receiving new devices for the Christmas season, there’s never been a better time to hand in those that are no longer needed. We’ll put them to very good use!”

Not only will this partnership have a significant positive impact on the environment by reducing electronic waste – the fastest growing waste stream in the UK, and one of the most polluting – but it also benefits the wider community in tackling digital inequalities.

The Edinburgh Remakery has committed to use 25% of the reusable devices that are donated to them in this way to benefit the community, gifting them to disadvantaged individuals are families across Edinburgh who are experiencing financial hardship and need assistance to get online and access essential support services.

To ensure security, The Edinburgh Remakery technicians use a US Government Department of Defence approved algorithm to securely wipe any data from donated equipment to ensure all data is destroyed and is non-retrievable, giving added peace of mind to donors.

The project will be launched in conjunction with the EIFF Youth Eco-Weekender event at Edinburgh Filmhouse. The EIFF Youth Eco Weekender takes place over Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th November and explores the climate crisis on film.

Featuring a selection of curated short films from the Film Access Scotland’s Climate Challenge: 1.5 Degrees Films project, there’s a captioned screening of the classic eco-film The Day After Tomorrow with a BSL-supported introduction from EIFF Young Critics on Saturday.

While on Sunday, a captioned screening of the Gerard Butler action thriller Geostorm will be introduced by EIFF Young Climate Activists and features a Q&A afterwards. Both of which will be BSL-supported. All screenings are priced at £2 to ensure ticket prices aren’t a barrier for attendance to make it as inclusive as possible.

Tickets are available from www.filmhousecinema.com, or can be picked up in person. Alternatives include calling Box Office on 0131 228 2688.

EIFF Youth is funded through the PLACE Programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals.

EIFF Young Activists is supported by the Hugh Fraser Foundation.

The EIFF Young Critics programme is supported by James and Morag Anderson.

Progress Review reports improvement to older people’s services in Edinburgh

Delivery of older people’s services in Edinburgh has shown good progress since 2017, according to a joint report published by the Care Inspectorate and Health Improvement Scotland.

Following an initial inspection in May 2017, the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership has received acknowledgement from the Joint Inspection team across the Care Inspectorate and Health Improvement Scotland, that the review has now closed.

The latest report cites the partnerships efforts in driving forward – with pace – a clear vision and structured approach, that is now seeing positive progress in a number of areas.

It follows a challenging progress review in 2018 and contains a number of recommendations but, based on progress, the Joint Inspection team has noted that no further review activity is now planned.

Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, Cllr Ricky Henderson, said: “We very much welcome this latest and final review, and the deserved recognition it gives all who work for, and with the partnership.

“The publication of the report in 2017, was a difficult read for all who were working in the Partnership at the time but the strategic vision, practices, and structures that have since been developed and implemented, are the backbone to the significant and good progress being made.

“Whilst there remain challenges – particularly with the current system pressures faced – the strengthened relationships built, strategic aims, and the cohesive approach to the work of the partnership, deserve this positive recognition.

“These are significant strengths for how the partnership will continue to push forward over the challenging winter period and beyond, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank every single person who directly or indirectly provides care in Edinburgh, for their incredible hard work and commitment to all in our care.”

Read the report:

Edinburgh-older-people-services-progress-review-Nov-Download

Scotland signs up to UNICEF declaration on children, youth and climate action

Scotland has committed to honour the rights of children in the fight against the climate crisis, by signing the UNICEF declaration on children, youth and climate action.

The declaration, which was drafted by children and young people, calls on signatories to uphold the priorities of children and youth throughout the world in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Signatories commit to advocating for children’s inalienable right to a healthy environment and to enhancing the meaningful participation of children and young people in climate change discussion and action.

Scotland recently hosted the UN Conference of Youth ahead of COP26 and has invested almost £1 million in a programme to engage young people in the climate conference and legacy activity.

The First Minister formally signed the declaration during COP26, and the launch event is being attended by the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Green Skills Lorna Slater. Scotland becomes the 28th country to have signed up so far.

The First Minister said: “Children and young people are driving climate action and it is vital that we listen to their views and harness their passion at COP26 and beyond.

“The global climate crisis is a children’s rights crisis. So we must make sure that the rights of children and young people are promoted and protected as we tackle it. To do this, we have to give young people a place at the table and a role in decision-making, so they have a real voice in how we respond to a threat that will shape their lives.

“I am proud that Scotland is joining nations across the world in signing this declaration, and committing to listening to and respecting the needs and wishes of young people as we work to deliver the goals of the Paris climate agreement.

“Signing the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action is an important step all governments can take to formally recognise a child’s right to a healthy environment.

“Here in Scotland we are determined to deliver the highest protection possible for children’s rights, which is why we remain committed to becoming the first devolved nation in the world to directly incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into domestic law, to the maximum extent possible.”

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie last night thanked the people of Glasgow for enabling Police Scotland to deliver a safe and secure COP26.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: “Today we continued to support the visit of puppet Little Amal to Glasgow, and facilitated a number of protests.

“I hope this spirit continues right through the conference closure as, over the past few weeks, we have sought to provide a proportionate policing response to any potential protests, balancing the needs and rights of those wishing to demonstrate or protest against the needs of the wider community.

“The wider community really means the people of Glasgow whose patience and understanding, while managing significant disruption to their daily routines, have been a key part of enabling us to deliver a safe and secure global event.

“So I would like to thank them for being so welcoming to our visitors and for being so accommodating of the large police presence and security measures – the people of the city have made this such a positive experience for those of us who have been working day and night, some of us away from home and families, on what is the largest policing operation seen in the UK for many years.

“Our stated commitment was always that the people and communities of Scotland would still receive the same high standard of service that they are accustomed to for the duration of the conference. With this in mind, we established dedicated local policing teams to ensure that local areas had the resources they require to address local community concerns throughout COP26.

“It is important to us that we understand what the experience of COP26 has been for people in Glasgow and Scotland. For this reason, we want to hear from those who have attended or experienced our policing of these events in Scotland recently.

“We value your views, so please take part in our short survey about how we are policing COP26. And lastly, thank you to all those who have taken part and left us with great memories of Glasgow and COP26.

“Eight people were arrested today with minimal disruption to the city centre and to the people who live and work there.”

Blooming Beautiful! Awards celebrate our climate and nature friendly neighbourhoods

18 Edinburgh community groups recognised for commitment to keeping Scotland beautiful

Today, 11 November, over 200 community groups from across Scotland have been recognised by environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, for their efforts to support and enhance their local communities, for the climate and for nature.

At a virtual 2021 Beautiful Scotland and It’s Your Neighbourhood Seminar and celebration event, 18 It’s Your Neighbourhood entrants from Edinburgh were congratulated for their efforts with a certificate of achievement (see table below), with four also receiving a Certificate of Distinction for continuous improvement.

In addition, Friends of Starbank Park also won second place in the NatureScot It’s Your Neighbourhood Pollinator Friendly Awards.

Catherine Gee, Deputy CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “With the world’s biggest and most important climate change conference to date taking place in Glasgow this week, it is brilliant to be celebrating the work of these communities in Edinburgh who are taking action now.

“We know that across Scotland people are committed to improving and enhancing the places that they care about. And, through the It’s Your Neighbourhood entrants we hear of people doing their bit to understand their own greenhouse emissions and to support nature in the places they care about. These people are making a real difference and I would like to thank them for inspiring us every day.”

This year, three NatureScot It’s Your Neighbourhood Pollinator Friends Awards were presented at the seminar and Friends of Starbank Park, scooped second place, winning £150.

Jim Jeffrey, Pollinator Strategy Manager with NatureScot, who announced the award said: “Once again the Keep Scotland Beautiful Pollinator Friendly Award has attracted a host of interesting entries. The standard just gets better each year.

“Making space for nature, as we face up to the twin threat of climate change and biodiversity loss, has never been more important, and each of the community groups in this category have impressed with the range of actions they are taking.

“The winning projects were among a of number of great examples showing how working together we can help pollinators, whilst making our communities and green spaces more appealing, and fantastic places to spend time in.”

The annual seminar celebrated everything that the entrants, from 30 local authority areas, have achieved in their communities to combat climate change and support biodiversity.

Entrants have also worked to enhance their neighbourhoods, involve the community, and improve areas through gardening and horticulture while tackling litter and other environmental quality challenges.

Speakers included representatives from various entrants from across Scotland, sharing their inspiring stories and delegates also heard about the exciting opportunity to get involved with Scotland’s Climate Festival.

It’s Your Neighbourhood entrants were visited by one of 23 trained volunteer assessors who provide their support, expertise and guidance through the It’s Your Neighbourhood framework which is a part of the UK-wide RHS Britain in Bloom campaign.

RHS Community Development Manager Kay Clark said: “Community gardening groups are showing that, through their work, they can bring communities together, transform outdoor spaces and work in support of wildlife and the local environment.

“They are showing that gardening has a role to play in addressing the challenges that we collectively face and that is every reason to celebrate.”

If you would like to join the #OurBloom family, gain access to support and advice, and help us to keep Scotland beautiful, online registration for 2022 will open in mid-January on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website.

The Edinburgh entrants and their results can be found in the table below:

Group Name	Local authority area	IYN Certificate 2021	Level 2021	Certificate of Distinction 2021
Balerno Village Gardeners	City of Edinburgh	Outstanding	5	Y
Craigentinny Community Gardening Project	City of Edinburgh	Improving	2
Ferry Road Allotments	City of Edinburgh	Outstanding	5
Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden	City of Edinburgh	Thriving	4	Y
Friends of Lauriston Castle Estate	City of Edinburgh	Advancing	3
Friends of Morningside Cemetery	City of Edinburgh	Thriving	4
Friends of Saughton Park	City of Edinburgh	Outstanding	5
Friends of Starbank Park (NatureScot IYN Pollinator Friendly Award – second place)	City of Edinburgh	Outstanding	5	Y
Heart of Newhaven	City of Edinburgh	Advancing	3
Inch View Care Home	City of Edinburgh	Thriving	4
Inspiring Hillside	City of Edinburgh	Advancing	3
Inverleith Allotments	City of Edinburgh	Outstanding	5
Kirkliston in Bloom	City of Edinburgh	Establishing	1
Lochend Community Growing Project	City of Edinburgh	Outstanding	5	Y
Northfield Community Growing Group	City of Edinburgh	Advancing	3
The Lions’ Gate	City of Edinburgh	Advancing	3
The Sorted Project	City of Edinburgh	Improving	2
Victoria After School Club	City of Edinburgh	Thriving	4

Give the gift of memories with Animal Experiences at Blair Drummond Safari Park

Ditch the latest trinkets, toys, and tech and give the most treasured gift of all this Christmas.

Blair Drummond Safari Park’s Animal Experiences provide an unforgettable opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the park’s rare and exotic animals, all whilst creating memories that are sure to last a lifetime!

This year Blair Drummond have launched their brand new Meerkat and Giraffe Family Experiences. For the first time ever, children aged 8 and over will gain access to our most exclusive behind-the-scenes areas and handfeed some of our most popular animals, alongside their family members. Family experiences will be exclusively hosted for your family, with tiered pricing reflective of your group size.

The Junior Keeper experience gives budding keepers the chance to spend time with the animals in Pets Farm, including llamas, penguins, meerkats, and ponies. They’ll also receive a fun goody bag afterwards!

For the grown-ups, individual Animal Experiences start at £60 for the Meerkat Experience which gives guests the chance to hang out with the park’s most inquisitive creatures.

Guests can get up close to the world’s most iconic mammals as part of Blair Drummond’s Large Mammal Experience. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to spend an hour with their elephant, rhinos and giraffes.

You’ll get to prepare their enrichment, handfeed them, and learn about the incredible work the team at Blair Drummond are doing to protect these fabulous animals from extinction.

For those who’d love nothing more than an exclusive behind the scenes look at what it is like to be a keeper at Blair Drummond, the Keeper for a Day experiences are where it’s at.

For £250, keepers for the day get the chance to handfeed the lemurs, take a VIP tour of Chimp Island and the reserves, give the lions their wake-up call, and spend the day meeting giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and birds of prey.

So, look out your wellies, and create wild memories this Christmas at Blair Drummond Safari Park!

Head of Marketing, Liz Gunn of Blair Drummond Safari Park said: “Our Animal Experiences offer a unique opportunity to get closer than ever to our incredible animals, and to meet the experts that provide outstanding specialist care here every day.

“Whether you’re treating yourself or a loved one to an extremely special gift, you can enjoy the experience even more in the knowledge that you’re supporting vital conservation work right here at Blair Drummond, all while creating memories you’ll never forget.”

Book online at www.blairdrummond.com/animal-experience-booking

Acas publishes advice to help employers avoid fire and rehire practices

Workplace expert, Acas, published evidence on the use of fire and rehire practices at work in June.

In response, the Government asked Acas to produce guidance to help employers explore all other options first before considering fire and rehire to change employee contracts.

This new advice has been published today and can help employers maintain good employment relations and reach agreement with staff if they are thinking about making changes to their contracts.

Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews, said: “Our new advice is clear that fire and rehire is an extreme step that can seriously damage working relations and has significant legal risks for organisations.

“Employers should thoroughly explore all other options first and make every effort to reach agreement with staff on any contract changes.

“Organisations that consult with their workforce in a genuine and meaningful way about proposed changes can help prevent conflict at work and stay within the law.”

Acas advice is that organisations that are considering contract changes should fully consult with all affected staff and their representatives in a genuine and meaningful way.

Effective consultation can help maintain good workplace relations as it allows staff to understand the reasons behind proposed changes and provides them with an opportunity to give their views. This can help to build trust and find a solution that works for everyone.

Tensions can arise if employees feel that they have not had the opportunity to inform decisions around proposals or do not support the changes. This can result in staff feeling less committed and can impact an organisation’s performance.

If both sides are finding it difficult to reach an agreement then Acas advice includes tips on how to:

keep discussions constructive;
explore alternative options to reach a compromise; and
stay focused on trying to reach consensus.

Acas advises that the practice of fire and rehire is an extreme step that can damage staff morale, productivity, working relations and can also lead to industrial action.

Other risks for employers in using fire and rehire practices can include:

making it harder for both sides to reach a negotiated solution if employees feel ‘threatened’ by an employer
expensive legal claims from staff who feel that they have been unfairly dismissed or discriminated against;
reputational damage, which can make it difficult for an organisation to attract new employees;
immediate and long-lasting damage to trust with staff; and
losing valued people because they do not accept the offer of a new contract, or staff leaving later due to unhappiness over the change or the way it was made.

Acas’s full advice is available at: http://www.acas.org.uk/changecontract

Robert Louis Stevenson family bible comes home to Edinburgh

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh (MGE) is delighted to reveal important new donations to the Writers’ Museum collections, relating to the family and life of author Robert Louis Stevenson.

Among the donations are the Stevenson family Bible, bible box and a family genealogical record written by Stevenson’s grandfather, Robert, the first of the famed lighthouse engineers.

The family record lists personal details of births, deaths and marriages in the family over many generations, while the bible has fascinating marks and notations from years of heavy use.

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener said: These are fantastic additions to our collections, offering our residents and visitors such lovely and important further insights into such an iconic family.

“I have no doubt this generous contribution will generate much interest and the city’s lasting gratitude.

Curator Anna MacQuarrie said: “Our Stevenson collections speak to the life and experiences of this great writer, both as a young boy and his later days spent in the South Seas.

“These new donations are a wonderful addition to the collection, allowing us to imagine what kind of influence these objects might have had on his young life and later inspirations.

“We are sincerely grateful to the donor for their generosity, enabling the wider public to better understand Stevenson and his family background.

The donor, who chose to remain anonymous, said: “I was touched by the gracious, enthusiastic attitude of the curators to whom I recently passed on family items, pertaining to Louis/RLS and the lighthouse engineer side of our family.

“Gifting was made easier by the knowledge and assurance that a wider public would benefit from being able to see other pieces in the familial, Stevenson jigsaw puzzle. It was a relief to realise that the items would be honoured and cared for – and subsequently appreciated by many other interested parties.

Jeremy Hodges, Robert Louis Stevenson biographer and co-ordinator of the annual RLS Day celebrations, said: “Despite the international fame of RLS as an author, he always felt slightly guilty about not following in his father’s footsteps as a builder of lighthouses – a proper job of more importance than making stories.

“He remedied this in part by writing Records of a Family of Engineers, drawing on the kind of genealogical material that forms part of this bequest.

“The family Bible would have been treasured by the devout Robert Stevenson and his descendants, including Robert Louis – despite his announcement in his early twenties that he no longer believed in the Christian religion, a confession that led to traumatic rows with his God-fearing parents.”

To further celebrate Robert Louis Stevenson day online MGE has an online talk on ‘Island Characters’ by Jeremy Hodges from the Robert Louis Stevenson Club, and a podcast (link to go live on 13 Nov) discussing the renowned Stevenson photo albums and new donations.

The George unlocks our capital’s hidden histories in partnership with the University of Edinburgh

InterContinental Edinburgh The George has commissioned historians from the University of Edinburgh to explore the hidden stories behind the iconic building and local area.

The tour is part of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts 75th anniversary celebrations, in which the world’s largest luxury hotel brand marks special moments that have taken place within the walls of its’ hotels across the world and looks forward to continuing its journey of innovation in the luxury travel space.

To share these stories, InterContinental Edinburgh The George has partnered with VoiceMap to develop an exclusive audio walking tour guide for guests and visitors to the city. Developed and narrated by Dr Esther Mijers and Professor Ewen Cameron, historians from the University of Edinburgh, the tour unlocks Edinburgh’s hidden history, showcasing the lesser-known stories of city.

Starting at InterContinental Edinburgh The George, the audio tour tells the lesser known stories behind the renowned hotel. During the 19^th Century the hotel was a collection of five prestigious townhouses and home to the well-known Ferrier family, who boast a historical connection to Scotland’s literature scene.

Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns were frequent guests, while their daughter and novelist, Susan Ferrier – commonly referred to as ‘Scotland’s Jane Austen’ – was somewhat of an unsung hero in Scottish literature.

Guests are then guided to seven other locations across the city including:

17 Heriot Row, the home of one of Scotland’s most famous writers, Robert Louis Stevenson – author of Treasure Island.
Edinburgh Academy Senior School, a school that exemplified the very best of a structured education for the youth of the ever-growing New Town of Edinburgh and has since produced notable alumni.
St Andrew Square, where James Craig’s plans to build a church, dedicated to patron Saint Andrew were foiled by Lawrence Dundas. The church was instead built on George Street itself, right next door to InterContinental Edinburgh The George.
St James Quarter, to uncover the origins of the original site – St James Square.
Old College, University of Edinburgh, the site where the mysterious murder of Lord Darnley, the unpopular second husband of Mary Queen of Scots, took place in February 1567.
The Old Medical School, to reveal the story of The Edinburgh Seven – pioneers of women’s education in the UK whose trailblazing campaign prompted a change in the law that allowed women to study medicine in the UK.
George Square, to tell the tale of its’ notable residents including Sir Walter Scott who, whilst living there, was working furiously to pay off the debts acquired from the collapse of his publisher, Ballantynes, of which he was a partner.

Kieran Quinn, Hotel General Manager InterContinental Edinburgh, The George said: “It is hugely exciting to be launching our own unique Hidden Histories walking tour in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh.

“Forming part of our celebration of 75 years of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, it is a brilliant way to indulge in the nostalgia of the city and the perfect activity for our guests and likeminded explorers while staying here in Edinburgh.

“This walking tour is a celebration of the rich heritage within the city of Edinburgh, our iconic hotel and the exclusive experiences we can offer to our guests both from the UK and across the globe.”

Professor Ewen Cameron, the University of Edinburgh said: “It has been brilliant to have been involved in developing this audio walking tour for the guests of InterContinental Edinburgh The George.

“It is important that we continue to highlight and tell the stories that lie hidden within the walls of the city of Edinburgh, and this walking tour does just that.”

Guests of InterContinental Edinburgh The George will be able to enjoy the walking tour, by booking the Hidden Histories package, inclusive of a luxurious picnic hamper, or by obtaining a voucher code from the hotel concierge team.

As part of the celebration of its’ history and heritage and the brand’s 75th Anniversary InterContinental Edinburgh The George will also be serving up the limited-edition InterContinental75 cocktail.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts have reimagined the well-loved classic, French 75 to celebrate this milestone year, with partners Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and the artisanal hand-crafted Botanist Islay Dry Gin, distilled on the Scottish Isle of Islay.

For more information about the InterContinental Edinburgh The George visit:

https://edinburgh.intercontinental.com/.

HMRC: Self-Assessment tax return

More than 10.7 million customers completed their 2019/20 tax return by 31 January 2021 and 795,300 were from Scotland, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.

The deadline to complete the 2020/21 Self Assessment tax return is 31 January 2022. Customers can complete it at any time up to the deadline but HMRC is encouraging them to complete it early to allow for more time to pay their tax bill or set up a payment plan.

Customers must complete a Self Assessment return if they:

earned more than £2,500 from renting out property
received, or their partner has received, Child Benefit and either of them had an annual income of more than £50,000
received more than £2,500 in other untaxed income, for example from tips or commission
are a self-employed sole trader whose annual turnover is more than £1,000
are an employee claiming expenses in excess of £2,500
have an annual income of more than £100,000
have earned income from abroad that they need to pay tax on

The 2020/21 tax return covers earnings and payments during the pandemic. Customers will need to declare if they received any grants or payments from the COVID-19 support schemes up to 5 April 2021 on their Self Assessment, as these are taxable, including:

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
other COVID-19 grants and support payments such as self-isolation payments, local authority grants and those for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme

The £500 one-off payment for working households receiving tax credits should not be reported in Self Assessment.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Customers can beat the rush and send us their tax returns now. They have until the 31 January deadline to pay, which means they have longer to set up a monthly payment plan if they need one.

“Visit GOV.UK and search ‘self assessment’ to find out more.”

Even if customers submit their completed tax return now, they do not have to pay any tax owed until 31 January 2022.

HMRC recognises that some customers may be worrying about paying their tax bill. Customers can access support to help pay any tax owed on GOV.UK.

Various payment options include:

paying through a customers’ tax code (PAYE customers only)
Payment on Account
setting up an online monthly payment plan (self-serve Time to Pay)
pay by debit or corporate credit card
pay at a bank or building society

Visit GOV.UK for a full list of payment options and the eligibility criteria. Customers should contact HMRC if they have concerns about paying their tax bill.

HMRC urges everyone to be alert if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information.

Customers should always type in the full online address www.gov.uk/hmrc to get the correct link for filing their Self Assessment return online securely and free of charge.

HMRC sees high numbers of fraudsters emailing, calling or texting people claiming to be from the department.

If in doubt, HMRC advises not to reply directly to anything suspicious, but to contact them straight away and to search GOV.UK for ‘HMRC scams’.

Below is a breakdown of the estimated number of Self Assessment returns received from customers for 2019/20 filers in Scotland’s local authority areas:

Aberdeen City	34,300
Aberdeenshire	54,800
Angus	18,000
Argyll and Bute	17,400
Scottish Borders	23,300
Clackmannanshire	5,800
West Dunbartonshire	7,600
Dumfries and Galloway	26,000
Dundee City	15,100
East Ayrshire	14,300
East Dunbartonshire	18,900
East Lothian	18,500
East Renfrewshire	17,500
City of Edinburgh	97,600
Falkirk	18,300
Fife	47,900
Glasgow City	68,000
Highland	45,900
Inverclyde	7,900
Midlothian	12,700
Moray	15,200
North Ayrshire	15,200
North Lanarkshire	34,300
Orkney Islands	5,600
Perth and Kinross	29,800
Renfrewshire	19,500
Shetland Islands	4,400
South Ayrshire	16,500
South Lanarkshire	42,000
Stirling	17,200
West Lothian	21,300
Na h-Eileanan Siar	4,500
TOTAL	795,300

‘Devastating’: Unite Scotland reveals Scottish Ambulance Service survey findings

Unite Scotland has today revealed the details of a ‘devastating’ survey conducted of nearly 300 Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) workers.

The survey conducted over the last month by the trade union among its SAS members reveals a ‘horrifying’ picture of the nation’s ambulance service due to years of ‘chronic underfunding’.

The survey reveals that by huge majorities SAS workers feel under-valued, fatigued; that staff morale has collapsed, with the vast majority of workers stating the nation’s ambulance service is under-resourced and under-staffed.

Substantial majorities of SAS workers also state that they have considered leaving the ambulance service and reported that they have been abused at work in the last year.

The headline survey findings reveal the following:

98.2% believe that Scottish Government’s extra investment of £20m into the SAS and support from the armed services will ‘not be enough’ during the winter months;
88.2% do not feel valued by the Scottish Government and 84.6% do not feel valued by the SAS;
86.7% of SAS workers felt that staff morale was either poor (30.8%) or very poor (55.9%);
86.4% feel fatigued at work while 78.9% believe the SAS is under-staffed;
81.5% have suffered verbal or physical abuse, or both, while working at the SAS within the last year;
73.6% of respondents said they have considered leaving the SAS;
70% do not get the necessary break times during shifts;
53.8% stated that there were not enough ambulances at ‘station level’; and
44.3% stated that the longest shift they have worked was between 12-15 hours, 30%between 15-20 hours; 17.5% between 10-12 hours while 5.7% stated it was under 10 hours and 2.5% over 20 hours.

In a previous Daily Record Exclusive on 9 September, Unite called for a ‘major incident’ status to be declared at all hospitals with Accident and Emergency Units, where turnaround times exceed 30 minutes.

The demand was made by Unite to protect the public who have made 999 calls in the community, amid patient safety concerns due to 6 hours service running times.

On average, an ambulance response to a 999 call can take between 55 minutes, and 1 hour and 10 minutes, from call to completion. However, ambulances are now missing three 999 calls while located at a hospital waiting for patient handovers.

The survey findings shed new light on this depressing situation with nearly 71% of respondents declaring that the longest 999 call they have been involved in from call to completion exceeded six hours: (16.3% – over 20 hours), (11.7% between 15-20 hours), (6.3% between 12-15 hours), (4.6% between 10-12 hours), (5.4% between 8-10 hours), and (26.4% between 6-8 hours), with the remainder being under 6 hours.

Worryingly, 94.5% of survey respondents involved in ambulance 999 call-outs believed the clinical coding to ascertain the severity of the situation was wrong. In addition, 54.7% answered ‘yes’ to the question ‘due to longer service running times has your ‘call’ been involved in an adverse clinical event due to delays and hospital pressures?’

Unite Scotland has repeatedly warned the Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, that the extra investment and resources for the SAS would ‘not be enough’ to deal with the crises affecting the nation’s health services, which the survey findings conclusively confirm.

Pat Rafferty, Unite Scottish Secretary, in response to the survey findings, said: “I don’t think I have ever seen such an utterly depressing and horrifying situation with massive implications for the nation.

“The workers at the Scottish Ambulance Service are sending out their own 999 call to the Scottish Government saying that they are undervalued, stressed, and exhausted. It is now beyond breaking point.

“The levels of abuse the workers are suffering is inexcusable. The vast majority of those responding to our survey are going as far as to say they are now considering leaving the ambulance service.

“Shockingly, the survey reveals a culture of extremely long hours, partially due to chronic underfunding over many years, and the overwhelming stresses being placed on the system. This situation is directly leading to paramedics and ambulance staff being increasingly involved in adverse clinical events, and dangerously long response times.

“It is a devasting indictment of the Scottish Government’s approach to the ambulance service. Urgent action is necessary because lives are at risk alongside the fundamental issue of how we value those trying to save those lives.”