British Red Cross volunteers and staff are ready to support communities as Storms Dudley and Eunice approach Scotland.
Met Office weather warnings have been issued for Wednesday and Thursday with 90mph winds possible in parts.
Red Cross teams are based across Scotland and support communities as part of coordinated responses with local authorities, the emergency services, and the voluntary sector during emergencies.
Just recently, volunteers and staff helped people affected by power outages following Storm Arwen, providing information, food and other essentials to vulnerable people who were in need.
Anyone affected by the storms can contact the British Red Cross Support Line on 0808 196 3651 for emotional support.
British Red Cross tips for preparing for floods
Before floods
Check for local flood warnings online or during weather forecasts and stay up to date with local radio and TV news. You can also download the British Red Cross emergency app here.
In a Covid-secure way, check in with vulnerable people to see what help they need and, if you are vulnerable yourself, let others know you may need a little help yourself.
Buy or prepare sandbags, move vehicles to higher ground and prepare an emergency kit of items you might need in the event of crisis – a first aid kit, drinking water, a snack, a torch and some waterproof clothes might be some choices.
Get hold of a battery or wind-up operated radio to stay in touch with the latest developments.
Make sure you have all the medicines you need, especially if you have conditions such as diabetes or angina.
During floods
Don’t walk, swim or drive through floodwater and don’t walk on sea defences or riverbanks.
Avoid contact with flood water as it can be contaminated with sewage and don’t allow children to play in or near it.
Contact your local council. They will be helping your community respond to this crisis and may have arranged emergency shelter.
After floods
Throw away any food that has been in floodwater.
Boil tap water or use bottled water until you’re told your water supply is safe.
If you’re struggling and need a little help call the British Red Cross support line on 0808 196 3651.
The Scottish Government has made a remarkable “commitment” to reducing car-kilometres by 20% over the 2019 pre-covid figures, by year 2030 – primarily as a response to the climate crisis, although with many additional side-benefits for public health and community.
Edinburgh City Council has followed this up with a 30% ambition – albeit a “target” rather than a commitment.
Our online public meeting on Monday 21 February brings together Scottish Government Minister Patrick Harvie MSP, responsible for active travel policies and Cllr Lesley Macinnes, the City’s Transport Convener, to explain, debate and be challenged on the route to achieving these very tough ambitions.
Dr Caroline Brown, member of Spokes and of the Transform Scotland policy forum, will critique the government and council approaches; and this will be followed by an hour of debate between the panel members, prompted by your questions.
Almost 100,000 Self Assessment customers across the UK have used online payment plans to spread the cost of their tax bill into manageable monthly instalments since April 2021, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.
Once a customer has filed their 2020/21 Self Assessment tax return, they can set up a Time to Pay arrangement for up to 12 months on debts up to £30,000, that they’re unable to pay in full. This can be done online at GOV.UK without speaking to HMRC.
Since April 2021, Self Assessment customers have used the online Time to Pay service to pay more than £310 million worth of tax in instalments. If a customer owes more than £30,000, or needs longer to pay, they should contact HMRC to discuss payment options.
The deadline for filing tax returns, paying any tax owed or setting up a payment plan was 31 January but, this year, HMRC has given customers extra time to meet their obligations without facing penalties.
This means:
· anyone who did not file their return by the 31 January deadline will not receive a late filing penalty if they file by 28 February
· anyone who did not pay their tax liabilities by the 31 January deadline will not receive a late payment penalty if they pay their tax in full, or set up a time to pay arrangement, by 1 April
From 1 February, all outstanding amounts were subject to interest.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “We understand some customers might be worrying about paying their Self Assessment bill this year, and we want to support them.
“To see if you’re eligible to set up a payment plan, go to GOV.UK and search ‘pay my Self Assessment’.”
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.
It is important that customers check and make any changes to their tax return to make sure any SEISS or other COVID-19 support payments have been reported correctly in their Self Assessment.
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 you’re in doubt, do not to reply directly to anything suspicious, but contact HMRC straight away and search GOV.UK for ‘HMRC scams’.
Why a rampaging bin might not be covered by home or business insurance
Winter storms inevitably bring storm damage, and one of the major culprits these days are wheelie bins being blown into cars and property. Recent storms have caused many £1000s of pounds worth of damage to cars, garden fences and untold hours will be wasted collecting litter from streets and car parks.
And according to one waste and recycling company, if you’ve not made a reasonable effort to prevent your bins from getting loose, you might not be covered by insurance.
Waste collection company Divert.co.uk says rampaging wheelie bins can cause thousands of pounds of damage for which the householder or business owner from where it came could be held responsible.
We’ve all seen videos of bins being blown down the street during storms, says Divert.co.uk spokesman Mark Hall, “but what many people forget is that they’re heavy and can pack a real punch if they hit anything.
What’s the damage, then?
The average domestic wheelie bin, when empty, weighs around 10kg (22lbs in the old money). A wheeled commercial bin weighs between 15-50kg (33-110 pounds).
Allowed to run free in gale-force winds gusting up to 50mph, the potential for damage is enormous.
Blown out into the street, even a domestic bin can cause thousands of pounds of damage to a car. Even a small dent could cost you between £50-£150, and that might not be covered by your insurance excess, so it’ll come straight out of your pocket.
And that’s if your insurance is valid because here’s the small print: Insurance companies – always looking to protect their bottom line – might not payout if you have not made a reasonable attempt to secure your bins.
We repeat, in bold type: Your insurance may not be valid.
“The nightmare scenario is your bin pummelling your neighbour’s brand new Tesla,” says Divert.co.uk’s Mark Hall. “You might need to be as rich as Elon Musk to get out of that if your insurance turns you down.”
So, should I tie down my bins?
Securing your wheelie bins on your domestic or commercial property protects you from any liability should they cause damage to other people’s property.
In most cases, you don’t need to do anything elaborate. For a domestic bin, a bungee cord securing the bin to a fence, downpipe or other fixture would be sufficient.
You can also buy a bracket handle that fixes your bin to the wall if you want a more elegant and secure solution.
For multiple or heavier bins, it’s worth investing in a corral or enclosure for your wheeled containers. They also look tidier than having a row of bins outside your property.
All of these solutions also secures them against bin theft, which is a bizarre, yet growing phenomenon.
Not only do thieves love wheelie bins as a means to carry swag away from a break-in, but they’re also stolen and burned by feckless youths who live under the belief that inhaling the fumes gets you high.
Public service announcement: Huffing bin fumes does not get you high.
And securing your bins makes sense even before you consider the insurance aspect.
That’s because there’s nothing worse than stepping out in a cold, wet, and blustery morning to find your bin blown over and having to chase rubbish down the street.
Nobody wants to do that, says Divert.co.uk’s Mark Hall. “Save yourself a morning of misery – secure your wheelie bin.”
Over 658,000 Carer’s Allowance Supplement payments have been made to 126,055 carers since this additional payment, unique in the UK, was introduced in September 2018.
In total, £188 million has been paid to carers since launch and just under 82,000 eligible carers received a payment in December 2021.
Recognising the impacts of the pandemic on unpaid carers, these payments included an additional Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement payment, making the total December payment value £462.80.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an extra payment for people in Scotland who get Carer’s Allowance on a particular date.
There are two Carer’s Allowance Supplement eligibility dates each year – one in April and one in October. The eligibility dates for 2022 will be Monday 11 April 2022 and Monday 10 October 2022.
The Minister for Social Security, Ben Macpherson said: “In recognising the vital contribution of unpaid carers in our society, Carer’s Allowance Supplement was the first payment we introduced when we established our new social security system in 2018.
“Providing this supplementary payment rights the wrong that Carer’s Allowance on its own is the lowest of all working age benefits in the UK.
“The impacts of the pandemic put additional pressure on tens of thousands of carers across the country. That is why we also paid an additional Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement Payment in 2020 and 2021.
“The Scottish Government’s additional payments meant that eligible carers in Scotland received up to £694.20 more in support last year than carers in the rest of the UK.”
Carer’s Allowance Supplement is paid automatically twice a year to carers who are living in Scotland and receive Carer’s Allowance, paid by the Department for Work and Pensions, on specified qualifying dates. The qualifying date for the December 2021 double payment was 11 October 2021
There are two Carer’s Allowance Supplement eligibility dates each year – one in April and one in October. The eligibility dates for 2022 are Monday 11 April 2022 and Monday 10 October 2022. Payment months will be June and December 2022 which follows previous payment cycles, with exact date to be confirmed closer to the time
Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be uprated from April 2022. The new Carer’s Allowance Supplement rate for 2022 will be £237.90
Deputy First Minister John Swinney chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) last night in preparation for severe weather expected this week.
The Met Office has issued an amber wind warning for today -Wednesday 16 February – ahead of Storm Dudley. This will be followed by a second named storm, Storm Eunice, which is expected to bring strong winds and snow on Friday.
The Deputy First Minister has advised the public to plan their journeys in advance and check the latest advice before travelling.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “We expect another period of disruption this week, with Storms Dudley and Eunice set to bring strong winds to Scotland.
“High winds may cause issues on roads and bridges, disruption to power supplies and danger from falling trees. We would urge everyone to plan their journeys in advance, exercise caution on the roads, and follow the latest travel advice.
“Other transport services are likely to be affected, so if you are planning to travel by train, ferry or air, please check with your operator to make sure your service is still running.
“The Scottish Government’s resilience committee has met this evening and will continue to monitor the situation for the duration of the storms.
“The Scottish Government is in close contact with local authorities and emergency and essential services to ensure people in the affected areas receive the latest information, advice and support where needed.”
Storm Dudley will impact on the northern half of the UK from Wednesday afternoon through to early Thursday, while Storm Eunice will bring strong winds and potentially some snow for parts of the country on Friday.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “An active jet stream is driving low-pressure systems across the country, both of which are likely to cause some disruption and National Severe Weather Warnings have been issued.”
A leading insurance firm is warning motorists to check their policies before venturing out this week after the latest weather forecasts say two storms will hit Scotland from Wednesday night.
Storm Dudley is expected to bring coastal flooding as it coincides with high tides as well as gusts of up to 90mph and rain. Storm Eunice will follow on Friday with snow and more heavy rain.
Quotezone.co.uk, a leading car insurance comparison website, says any damage to cars caused by driving through flooded roads might not be covered by insurance policies. It warns motorists to carefully check their policies exclusions, and even if routes are partially blocked, drivers should think twice before using waterlogged roads.
Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “Motorists who have taken out third party only or third-party, fire and theft insurance won’t be covered for any storm damage to their vehicles, such as flying debris – only fully-comprehensive policyholders are likely to be protected in those cases.
“With Scotland expected to bear the brunt of the conditions, getting where you need to go without encountering a flooded road could be easier said than done.
“Unfortunately, though, if motorists do decide to drive through these roads, there’s a very real risk that they won’t be covered for any resulting water damage to the car – even fully-comprehensive drivers.”
Greg Wilson advises motorists that have to go out to make sure their cars are roadworthy before setting off. Some insurance providers offer winter emergency survival kits as standard but if they don’t, it is wise to put one in the boot with thermal blankets, torches, phone chargers, emergency food and water rations and a first aid kit just in case.
Quotezone.co.uk compares prices across all types of car insurance, including breakdown cover, helping around 3 million users every year find better deals on their insurance, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products. Recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk.
East Cairngorms steadily climbing as the destination for walkers and hikers of all levels
The East Cairngorms has much to offer in the way of outdoor adventures – be it skiing, mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, or hiking. Often not included as a tourist hot spot for those ‘bagging Munros’; the East Cairngorms offers a real escape with its numerous and often quieter routes than some of the better-known hiking destinations. The locals say it is one of Scotland’s best kept secrets.
The ease of access to walks of all levels – including numerous Munros – makes it an attractive option for families, retirees, and weekend amblers; as well as experienced hikers looking for new challenges and less explored routes.
Ballater, Braemar and the surrounding villages have witnessed a surge of UK based visitors coming in search of more wild outdoor time – whether it be for a short low incline walk from the villages, or whole weekends hiking in the hills.
Allan Murdoch, Braemar local and long-standing member of the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team says, “The feel of East Cairngorms is quite a bit wilder than the west, which has been very geared towards tourism for a long time.
“I think it appeals that you can get away from it all here; often walking for hours without meeting anyone. We also tend to get a lot drier weather this side!”
With half-term around the corner, the East Cairngorms is the perfect place to get children outdoors and into nature.
Allan says: “It is a great place to spend quality family time, outdoors, exploring together and spotting wildlife. In the winter it is brilliant with kids because you can be safely hiking one day, then the next, drive 10 to 40 minutes (depending where you start) up the road to Glenshee – Scotland’s biggest ski resort and the kids can learn to ski. The snow machine means there is always enough to learn on.”
There’s also plenty of options for food and refreshments in the villages – one of which is The Bothy in Braemar that sits alongside Braemar Mountain Sports shop. (There is a sister business The Bothy in Ballater).
Karen Bruce who runs The Bothy says, “We’ve noticed way more people out and about all year round – more than there used to be.
“We’re busier than we’ve ever been this January. We get a whole mixture of folk in for food – lots of people come here for family walks and stop off with us for lunch. We also get the more serious mountain hikers coming in for breakfast after they’ve been camping in the hills.”
“I think what makes hiking and walking unique in this area is the ease of access – the roads are good; parking is easy, and you can walk directly from Braemar or Ballater and access hundreds of trails of all levels of difficulty.”
“It makes it easy to find adventure, as well as quality accommodation and delicious food! And with our outdoor shop next door – you can pick up any last-minute clothes or kit you might need.”
Many locals have settled in the area because of their own love for the hills, and through their businesses seek to share their knowledge and passion with visitors.
Sarah Hubbard is one such local who runs Cranford Guest House with her husband who is also on the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team.
Sarah says, “We’re so lucky in our positioning – being right in the heart of the national park you have beauty in every direction.
“We’ve noticed a big shift through the pandemic in how people visit – whereas before lots of people used to try to cover the whole of Scotland in a week so would only pass through for a night, most people stay for a few days now and want to really get to know the area and get out for longer full day walks”
“We’re passionate about the outdoors and are very familiar with the local routes so we love helping our guests tailor their routes over breakfast and send them off ordinate survey maps and guidebooks”
Mountain hiking has become an increasingly valuable part of tourism for Scotland. In 2020, according to Visit Scotland, 290,000 British residents took overnight visits to Scotland where adventure sports were part of the trip, contributing £112 million in spend.
To capitalise on this adventure destination, a new campaign, Imagine More, to promote tourism in the East Cairngorms was launched recently by Ballater Business Association (BBA) and Braemar Tourism Group (BTG).
The campaign, which includes a website, promotional video, and trip planner is the first in a series of five which aim to inspire visitors to explore the East Cairngorms as a year-round destination for outdoor activity.
For more information on hiking and walking in the East Cairngorms, head to:
Edinburgh residents struggling with rising energy costs are being offered advice and support with their bills as part of a city-wide campaign aimed at helping those most in need.
Run by the City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Changeworks and Home Energy Scotland, the campaign seeks to support people experiencing, or most at risk from, fuel poverty with energy savings advice so they can save money on their bills.
As well as helping residents find out if they’re eligible for grants or funding for energy efficiency home improvements, help is also being offered to people dealing with fuel debt and high energy
prices.https://www.youtube.com/embed/fLEMCaTKgdM
In key areas of the city, home owners and private tenants are being urged to call Home Energy Scotland for support, free on 0808 808 2282 and Council tenants are being urged to call the Energy Advice Service for free on 0800 870 8800.
Council Leader Adam McVey said: “This valuable campaign comes at a time when many households across the city will be faced with a choice of heating their homes or eating – due to rising food and energy bills as well as a £1,000 cut in universal credit payments for those who need support most- all contributing to this cost of living crisis.
“We want to do all we can to help make sure people most at need are able to access the advice and support available to them so that they can live in warmer, more comfortable homes.
“I urge anyone in the city struggling with their bills to call Home Energy Scotland or the Energy Advice Service so they can get the support they need today.”
Depute Leader Cammy Day added: “Rising home energy costs are leaving many people across Edinburgh worried about how they will pay their gas and electricity bills.
“We want to make sure that people know there is help and support there for them. If you’re a Council tenant, this is through our Energy Advice Service, run in partnership with Changeworks, and for people who own their own home, support is there from Home Energy Scotland.
“Their advisors have lots of excellent advice and tips to help people save money on bills so get in touch as they will be happy to share them. Making a few small changes can add up to a big difference.”
Laura Webb, Fuel Poverty and Low Carbon Operations Director at Changeworks said: “Through our work delivering the Home Energy Scotland service in the South East of Scotland and providing the Energy Advice Service for City of Edinburgh Council tenants we have seen increasing demand for support as people find themselves struggling with high bills and fuel debt.
“Our expert advisors are here to help and are already working hard to help Edinburgh residents save money and lessen the impacts of rising fuel costs.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council on this campaign and encourage the people of Edinburgh to get in touch for further support.”
Last year, 790 Council tenants were supported through the Energy Advice Service with gas and electricity billing issues and with support around supplier debt. The service also gained around £170,000 of savings for the tenants.
Home Energy Scotland has also helped 24,000 homeowners and private tenants across Scotland to benefit from the Scottish Government funded Warmer Homes Scotland programme since it launched in 2015. Eight out of ten have received completely free energy efficiency improvements, with each of them also saving on average around £300 on their energy bills per year.
Home Energy Scotland is a free advice service funded by the Scottish Government. They work hand in hand with the Council’s Energy Advice Service to make sure people in Edinburgh get all the support they need from their friendly advisors.
Leading Scottish care home group, Renaissance Care, has set out plans to increase inclusivity and security among its workforce.
The Group, which operates 16 care homes throughout Scotland with over 1,200 staff, launched the initiative in January with a commitment to supplying sanitary items for female staff in all its facilities with the provision of sanitary towels and tampons in all staff bathrooms.
The move is part of the group’s efforts to create a safe and happy working environment and comes following calls from The British Medical Association for these essentials to be accessible to all healthcare staff throughout Scotland.
Corinne Morrison-Gillies, Interim People Services, said: “Sanitary items are not a luxury; they are a necessity and should be treated as such by employers. The nature of our job in the care sector means our staff do not have regular working patterns therefore can easily be caught off guard by their menstrual cycle, adding undue pressure to what can be a challenging job.
“Our staff work incredibly hard, and the last thing they should have to worry about is having access to, what we consider, bare essentials. By having free period products available in all our care homes we hope to remove barriers and create an open and safe working environment for our employees.”
Renaissance Care Group has a strong people service strategy which focuses on learning and development for individual staff members, as well as onus on creating a person-centered culture of inclusivity and care.
