August 2022 – Page 35 – The NEN

Summer Day Trips to every corner of the UK with Rabbie’s

There has never been a better time to book an unforgettable day out with small-group tour provider Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com).

Rabbie’s has a wide range of day trips full of exploration and adventure. Whether you fancy roaming the Scottish Highlands, exploring ancient castles and lakes in England, or taking in the mountains of Snowdonia in Wales, Rabbie’s tours are an excellent way to explore Britain in just one day:

Mythical, Magical Scotland

Scotland is a land defined by myths of monsters, legendary lochs, and majestic mountain ranges. Stories and landscapes that characterize the great nation are spread far and wide, up and down, and one would be forgiven for thinking that it would take weeks to see the true face of Scotland, let alone one day.

But on Rabbie’s Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands tour you really can explore the heart of Scotland in just one day. Learn the tragic history of beautiful Glencoe before visiting the monumental fault line Great Glen. Choose between a boat tour or leisurely stroll at world-famous Loch Ness and try to spot the legendary monster said to lurk beneath its surface.

Witness the wonderous Grampian Mountains and spot crumbling castles in Highland Perthshire. Rabbie’s one-day Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands tour departs from Glasgow seven days a week and costs from £57 per person.

Discover Hidden England

West England is a location of historical fascination. Built on the ruins of the past and defined by stones laid by people hundreds of years ago, join Rabbie’s to experience the rich history of this corner of England.

Rabbie’s Bath, Avebury & Lacock Village tour guides you through thousands of years of history in one day. Witness the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world in Avebury and ponder why the Neolithic inhabitants erected these mighty rocks. Stop off at Lacock Abbey, historically serving as a nunnery, bakery, brewery, and more recently Hogwarts on the silver screen!

Journey onwards to the beautiful ancient city of Bath and soak up the history as you walk the 2,000 year-old streets and visit the world-famous Roman baths. Rabbie’s one-day Bath, Avebury & Lacock Village tour departs from London, with prices starting at £62 per person.

Castles, Peaks and National Parks

Northwest England and Wales are renowned for their natural beauty and hidden treasures, but myths and legends of ancient Kings and frightening monsters too mark the land. In an area of the world where every turn offers a new fable or presents a stunning view, Northwest England and Wales is the land where imagination comes to life.

Rabbie’s one day Snowdonia, North Wales & Chester tour takes you to Conwy Castle, a stunningly preserved 13^th century fortress guarding a harborside town. Find the jagged peaks of Snowdonia National Park and learn the tale of how King Arthur slayed a giant on the mountainside.

Step into Chester, a medieval city that has been built using the stones of Roman, Medieval and Tudor towns, with an incredible cathedral. Rabbie’s one day Snowdonia, North Wales & Chester tour departs from Manchester throughout the summer from £45 per person.

For more information about Rabbie’s and its tour offerings, visit www.rabbies.com.

Mobile air pollution exhibit goes on display at Leith Library

A mobile exhibit, highlighting the science and issues around air pollution and air quality, is on display in Edinburgh this summer.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Glasgow Science Centre launched the touring exhibition in 2020, aiming to highlight the importance of air quality. It will be on display until the end of August at Leith Library.

The interactive exhibit encourages visitors of all ages to think about their local environment and the quality of the air, how poor air quality can affect them and their family and how we can all help to improve air quality through our daily choices. The interactive exhibit also uses a bespoke tool which allows visitors to share their thoughts on the environments they live and work in, and what can be done to improve air quality.

The exhibit uses a simulation model to control traffic and allow users to experience how different types of transport contribute to air pollution. At the same time, the interactive display provides information on the various sources of air pollution and how it can affect our health and wellbeing.

Dr Colin Gillespie, SEPA’s Air Modelling Unit Manager, said: “Reducing air pollution and its associated health impacts is a challenge we should all be mindful of. We all contribute to sources of air pollution through our day-to-day activities and all breathe the same air, so we all have a part to play in improving air quality, no matter how small our actions may seem.

“This mobile exhibition highlights how individuals can take steps to help improve the quality of life both for ourselves and our wider communities and the simulation demonstrates the different ways the quality of the air we breathe can be impacted.”

Transport and Environment Convener at The City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Scott Arthur, said: “This fascinating and engaging exhibition will really get people thinking about the impacts of poor air quality on our lives, and the choices we can make to limit this.

“Earlier this year I was proud to launch the Low Emission Zone in Edinburgh as this will reduce air pollution across the city. This is just one of a number of tools the Council is using to tackle poor air quality, from improvements to its vehicles to better infrastructure supporting cleaner modes of transport like walking and cycling, and for Leithers the Tram to Newhaven. What’s more, people using Lothian Buses can be reassured it has one of the cleanest fleets in the UK.

“Visiting this interactive exhibition at Leith Library will provide an insight into the need to make these kinds of changes for the good of all in our city.”

Dr Gillian Lang, Director of Experience Development at Glasgow Science Centre, said: “We are delighted to have been able to partner with SEPA on developing this touring exhibition to raise awareness of the science and issues around air quality.

“The exhibition was at Glasgow Science Centre during COP26 and has toured to Aberdeen Science Centre where it has been seen by over 16,000 people.”

The mobile exhibition is part of a larger educational package which SEPA has developed with Glasgow Science Centre, aiming to highlight the importance of air pollution and the impacts it can have on our health and the environment.

In 2017, SEPA and the Glasgow Science Centre developed a larger, permanent installation which was originally commissioned by the Scottish Government as part of the Cleaner Air for Scotland (CAFS) strategy, encouraging an interactive way to explore the science behind air pollution.

The mobile exhibit is a development of this work and is now available to tour individual local authority areas.

Anyone interested in finding out more information on how to bring the exhibit to their area can contact SEPA via AirQuality@sepa.org.uk.

HMRC: Couples urged to “say yes” to Marriage Allowance proposal

At the height of the wedding season, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding married couples and people in civil partnerships to put extra cash at the top of their gift list and sign up for Marriage Allowance.

Marriage Allowance allows married couples or people in civil partnerships, including those who have been together for many years, to share their personal tax allowances if one partner earns below the Personal Allowance threshold of £12,570, and the other is a basic rate taxpayer.

Eligible couples can transfer 10% of their tax-free allowance to their partner, which is £1,260 in 2022/23. It means couples can reduce the tax they pay by up to £252 a year. They can apply any time and, if eligible, could backdate their claims for up to four previous tax years to receive a payment of up to £1,242.

Marriage Allowance is free to apply for, and customers are reminded to claim directly via HMRC’s online portal to ensure they receive 100% of the tax relief they are eligible for. Visit GOV.UK to find out how to apply for Marriage Allowance.

Marriage Allowance is one of a number of benefits and reliefs available to boost family finances at a time when many are concerned with the rising cost of living.

Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, said: “We want to ensure people are receiving vital financial support at a time when they need it most.

“Married couples or those in a civil partnership could potentially receive tax relief worth up to £1,242, meaning extra cash in their pockets.

“To find out if you are eligible and how to apply search ‘Marriage Allowance’ on GOV.UK.”

More than 2 million couples currently benefit from Marriage Allowance, but there could be thousands more who are eligible to claim.

Even if couples don’t qualify for Marriage Allowance when they first get married, a change in circumstances years later could mean they become newly eligible. These include:

one partner retiring and the other remaining in work
a change in employment
a reduction in working hours which means their earnings fall below their Personal Allowance
maternity, paternity, or shared parental leave
unpaid leave or a career break
one partner studying or in education and not earning above their Personal Allowance

If a spouse or civil partner has died since 5 April 2018, the surviving person can still claim by contacting the Income Tax helpline.

Marriage Allowance claims are automatically renewed every year. However, couples should notify HMRC if their circumstances change.

Scottish Government Environmental Justice Plan ‘woefully inadequate’

Environmental NGOs have branded a UK and Scottish Government Action Plan to deliver on environmental rights ‘woefully inadequate’.

The groups have written to a key UN body to express their concern about a lack of concrete commitments to reform the legal system to help people defend the environment.

The Action Plan was requested by the United Nations Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee which has repeatedly found the UK to be in breach of the Convention’s access to justice requirements.

In October 2021 the Meeting of Parties to the Convention made a set of recommendations and requested an Action Plan from the UK Government detailing how it will, ‘as a matter of urgency …ensure that the allocation of costs in all court procedures subject to Article 9 [which deals with access to justice] be made fair, equitable and not prohibitively expensive’.

The Scottish Government is obliged to ensure that Scotland’s legal system is compliant with the Convention and contributed to this Plan.

The Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland and RSPB Scotland analysis of the submitted action plan, reveals that the measures outlined by the Scottish Government will fail to ensure access to justice by the deadline of October 2024.

Environmental campaigners are calling for the Scottish Government to make a clear commitment to fully implement the UN’s recommendations by the deadline.

Shivali Fifield, Chief Officer at ERCS, said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s acknowledgement that access to justice on environmental matters is prohibitively expensive.

“Yet this is not matched with concrete legal and policy reforms. We believe that fundamental changes to the legislative framework are required and the government must now stop dragging its feet and fully implement the Committee’s recommendations.”

Mary Church, Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “This is a woefully inadequate response to a decade of rulings that the Scottish Government is in breach of international law for its failure to ensure access to justice for the environment.

“With no concrete commitments to actually reform the system and make legal action more affordable this is an action plan in name only.

“As we face the unprecedented challenges of the climate and nature emergency, it’s more important than ever that people act to protect the environment including going to court where necessary, and they should not have to face impossible costs in doing so.

“The Government’s pledge to enshrine the right to a healthy and safe environment in Scots law will be meaningless if it is not possible for individuals, communities and NGOs to enforce these rights in court. An overhaul of the courts to remove barriers to public interest litigation, and ensure Aarhus Convention-compliant standards of access to justice for the environment, is long overdue.”

Aedán Smith, Head of Policy & Advocacy at RSPB Scotland, said: “We continue to lose nature in Scotland and around the world and Scotland is already one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries.

“The Scottish Government has taken some welcome steps to improve matters and have committed to reverse biodiversity loss and create a ‘nature-positive’ world by 2030. However, to ensure this commitment becomes more than just warm words it is essential that concerned citizens are not prevented from challenging potential illegality in the courts.

“The Scottish Government must take urgent action to address this failing.”

Children’s Book Tour brings stories to life at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital

The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour brought a carnival-themed festival to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital on Sunday 31 July.

Bestselling author Lari Don told stories of Neringa and the Sea Dragon and Nana Miriam and the Hippo from her magical collection Fierce, Fearless and Free: Girls in Myths and Legends from Around the World, illustrated by Eilidh Muldoon.

There were also opportunities for the children to get involved with story-making exercises.

The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour is supported by Scottish Friendly and organised by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing.

During the pandemic, the tour has been delivered virtually throughout classrooms in Scotland, with educational watch on demand video content viewed over 100,000 times.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust said: “Bringing stories to young people in hospital is so important: it can inspire imaginations and improve wellbeing.

“Scottish Book Trust is delighted that the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour returned to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital for a fun-packed festival. Lari Don is a wonderful storyteller and we know the young people and their families will have enjoyed her fantastic tales.”

Fiona O’Sullivan, Director of Children’s Wellbeing at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Storytelling is so powerful; being transported to another time, place or galaxy can be so brilliantly beneficial for children when they are unwell.

“It was wonderful to welcome Scottish Book Trust back to the hospital in person. Their stories brought fun and distraction to children and young people and filled the wards and waiting areas with lots of smiles and laughter!”

Lari Don is a children’s writer, brought up in the North East of Scotland, now living in Edinburgh.

She has written adventure novels, picture books and collections of myths and legends; most of her books are inspired by her love of traditional tales and Scotland’s landscape.

Lari is currently having to learn how to create and share stories around the limitations of long covid.

New Chill social club at Fet Lor

Starts this THURSDAY 4th AUGUST

New club!

We have a new club starting up this week with Edinburgh Chill Youth Club.

If you are aged between 16-25 and have difficulty with speech, language and communication then this club is for you!

If you would like to sign up or find out more info contact Judith on 07507 535587.

Scottish Young Carers Festival

“Delighted I am getting a holiday coz we don’t get holidays ever.”

The 15^th Scottish Young Carers Festival 2022 will be held on 2– 4 August in Fife

The Scottish Young Carers Festival gives approximately 500 young carers a much-needed break from their caring responsibilities. Young carers (12-17) provide unpaid care for a family member or a friend, who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.

Young carers quotes about their experiences of the Festival:

“Gives me a break and meeting folk that go through the same thing as me.”

“The festival is overall amazing as it gave me the chance to branch out and meet new people”

“Takes my mind off things and makes me feel like a normal teen.”

The Festival, a national celebration of young carers hosted by Carers Trust Scotland, gives this special group the chance to share dozens of new activities, from a wide range of music, to magic and mindfulness, with other young people in similar situations.

Following two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish Young Carers Festival 2022 is returning to its usual format, being hosted in-person in Fife. This year will also include online activities to welcome those unable to attend in person.

The Festival also gives young carers the opportunity to share their experiences, to discuss how caring impacts them, and to have their voices heard about the changes that would make their lives better. Carers Trust Scotland will be hosting a ‘Young Carer Consultation Zone’ providing young carers the opportunity to discuss important issues and speak directly to key decision makers.

Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care Kevin Stewart MSP said: “Young carers make a vitally important contribution to our society. However, I know that, because of their responsibilities, they haven’t got the same amount of free time and opportunities as their peers. That’s why it is great to see the Festival taking place in person again this year.

“I and the Cabinet Secretary for Education are looking forward to meeting young carers at the Festival. I hope they enjoy the break and spending time with young carers from other areas. For those that won’t be able to attend in person I know that there will also be online activities.

“This year we have seen increased investment in short breaks for carers of all ages, put forward legislation to give carers a right to breaks and expanded the Young Scot package of discounts and benefits for young carers.

“I hope that all this and our continued commitment to support and fund the Festival as well as the development of a National Carers Strategy during 2022 is clear sign of our continued support to young carers going forward.”

Earlier this year, Carers Trust conducted a Young Carer Survey which highlighted the need for respite amongst young carers and young adult carers. 31% of young carers and young adult carers who responded in Scotland, feel they ‘never’ or ‘not often’ get enough rest or get enough time to themselves.

Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half (54%) of the young carers and young adult carers who responded to our survey said that the amount of time they spend caring had increased in the last year.

52% of young carers and young adult carers who responded in Scotland feel less connected to others, and more than a fifth (22%) feel they are unable to take a break from caring.

These statistics demonstrate the need for an event such as the Scottish Young Carers Festival which is an experience that young carers look forward to each year and offers an opportunity for respite, to connect with others and to have fun.

Louise Morgan, Director for Scotland & Northern Ireland at Carers Trust Scotland, said: “We are delighted to host the fifteenth Scottish Young Carers Festival, which is particularly important in 2022 as it offers young carers support and respite from their caring role after what has been a stressful past few years for many young carers.

“The Festival crucially provides a national platform to promote understanding of what young carers do; it raises awareness of young carers’ rights, and is an excellent opportunity for young carers to have fun, feel recognised, valued and heard.”

Controlling the Capital’s short-term lets

Planning permission required for Edinburgh’s short-term let conversions

A measure to help maintain the availability of long-term residential housing in Edinburgh has been approved.

Edinburgh will become Scotland’s first designated Short-Term Let Control Area after the Scottish Government approved the City of Edinburgh Council’s proposed change to planning requirements.

The control area is intended to preserve the character of neighbourhoods, prevent short-term lets in inappropriate places or types of building, and help ensure homes are used to their best effect. With a few exceptions, changing the use of an entire residential home in the city to short-term letting will automatically require planning permission.

Housing Secretary Shona Robison said: “Edinburgh was the first local authority in Scotland to propose a Short-Term Let Control Area and Scottish Government approval represents a major step forward.

“We have committed to give local authorities the powers to address concerns about the impact of commercial short-term letting in their communities, should they want to do that. This is an example of that local choice in action – supported by the majority of respondents to the council’s consultation on the proposed designation.

“I recognise the important role which short-term lets play as a source of flexible and responsive accommodation for tourists and workers, which brings many benefits to hosts, visitors and our economy. However, we know that in certain areas, particularly tourist hot spots, high numbers of lets can cause problems for neighbours and make it harder for people to find homes to live in.

“The Scottish Government considers that the council has adequately considered and responded to concerns raised before seeking approval of the control area designation. We have concluded that the proposed designation would be reasonable.”

Leith MSP Ben McPherson said: “As a constituency MSP, after being part of an Edinburgh SNP team who have pushed for action on this for some time, I’m pleased that today it has been confirmed by The Scottish Government that Edinburgh will become Scotland’s first designated Short-Term Let Control Area.

“Planning permission will be required for Edinburgh’s short-term let conversions. This measure will help maintain the availability of long-term residential housing in Edinburgh.”

City Council Leader Cammy Day said: “This is the news we have been waiting for after leading the way in campaigning for change. I am delighted that Ministers have answered our calls and we look forward to reviewing the full details included in the decision released today.

“It paves the way for Edinburgh becoming the first short-term let control area in Scotland. For far too long, too many homes have been lost in our city to the holiday market. In fact, around a third of all short term lets in Scotland are here in the Capital, so their associated issues of safety, anti-social behaviour and noise have a detrimental effect on many of our residents. We will now progress implementing the changes and the next step should be looking at whether we can apply a cap on numbers, too.”

The control area covers the entire City of Edinburgh Council area. Where a dwellinghouse is in a control area, a change of use to secondary letting will always require planning permission unless the exceptions set out in legislation apply.

Where the change of a dwellinghouse to a short-term let took place before the designation of the control area the existing planning rules will apply. These require planning permission for a change of use of property where that change is a material change in the use of the property.

Keep kids safe online this summer

During the summer holidays children will inevitably have more access to screen time, especially in the form of the internet.

Internet safety has become an increasingly worrying problem amongst parents, however internet expert Allison Troutner from VPNOverview.com has listed the best ways to keep your child safe online:

1. Consider a family ‘tech agreement’

One way to set ground rules with your child is to create a Family Tech Agreement. A family tech agreement answers as many questions as possible about internet and device use so boundaries are clear to all family members. It’s a good way for the whole family to talk about safe and responsible online behaviours.

To create a family agreement, discuss topics like:

What apps, games, or sites does the family use most?
What rules do we want to include in our agreement?
How long should we spend on our devices?
What information is safe to share (or not)?
What do we do if we see something inappropriate?
What email address do we use to sign up for accounts?
Do we know how to use in-app safety features like blocking and reporting?
Who can we talk to if we feel uncomfortable with something online?
Who is safe to talk to?
What happens when someone breaks the agreement?
When might parents be forced to break the agreement for safety?

This is a starting point: your family may discuss more topics on internet safety for kids depending on the ages of your child or teens and what devices you use.

2. Report any harmful content that you see

Flag or report all harmful content or contact you or your child experiences using social media apps using in-app reporting features. For cybercrimes, cyberbullying, or harmful content, use in-app features like Twitter’s safe mode to report it. Most social media companies have their own safety and privacy policies and will investigate and block content or users. Apps geared towards kids, like Facebook Messenger Kids, have clear guidelines and safety features so that users can block content or contacts and have a safer experience in the app.

3. Balance safety with independence

Technical controls can be a useful way to protect your children online but they can’t solve all your problems. Children need a certain amount of freedom and privacy to develop healthily. They need their own free space to learn by trial and error what works and what doesn’t. So keep balancing, it’s part of it. Having open and honest conversations with your children can be the best way to balance this safety.

4. Keep the computer in a common space

If possible, keep computers and devices in a common space so you can keep an eye on activity. It prevents children from doing things that might be risky. Also, if harmful or inappropriate content appears through messages, you can address it with your child straight away.

5. Password-protect all accounts and devices

From phones to computers to apps, put a password on it. That way, no one without the password can access you or your child’s device. Keep track of passwords by using a password manager.

6. Update your operating systems regularly

All of your devices from mobile phones or tablets to computers and smartwatches receive important updates in response to security issues on a regular basis. Be sure to install them regularly so you have the most up-to-date security fixes and remain safe online. Our recommendation is to set updates to install automatically so your device is less vulnerable to known attacks. Usually, you can find this feature in Settings, then select Automatic Updates, but it varies between devices.

7. Install security or antivirus software programs and a VPN on your computer

Additionally, cybersecurity or antivirus software programs prevent spyware or viruses that may harm your computer if your child visits a malicious site. Using these programs, parents can also set up regular virus checks and deep system scans to make sure there is no harmful activity happening under your nose.

A VPN hides users’ internet activity from snoops and spoofs your location. This protects your kids by making sure hackers or predators can’t detect their actual location. You can install a VPN on your router so that the location is spoofed on all connected devices.

8. Set parental controls

It may seem obvious, but parental controls are crucial to your child’s safety online. Parent controls are built-in features included on devices and apps. With these features, parents customise their child’s online experience. What parental controls are available on each device or app varies, but in general, they limit screen time, restrict content, and enhance user privacy.

Features of parental controls:

Limit screen time.
Turn off in-app purchasing.
Prevent inappropriate or mature content.
Limit website access.
Play, message, or send/receive content with approved contacts only.
Monitor device location through GPS.

Take time to look at what parental controls are available on your child’s commonly used apps. Then, set them to reflect the type of experience you think is best for your child or teen’s online safety.

Police recruitment

Recently graduated and not sure what you want do next? Have you thought about joining the police?

You don’t need qualifications to join. You just need to pass the Standard Entrance Test.

You’ll go through 12 weeks of full training at the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan. After that, all new police officers spend the first two years as a probationer, continuing to learn on the job.

After the two years, you can then specialise. That could include CID, child protection, cybercrime or road policing to name a few.

The opportunities to progress your career and development are endless. Do you want to make a difference? Visit our website for full details of how to apply

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#BeTheDifference