Day: July 15, 2023

Don’t Be Fooled This Summer, warns Metro Bank

A Money Mule Conviction Could Lead to 14 Years in Prison

Metro Bank’s July Scam of the Month is Money Mules. The Bank is highlighting the heavy penalties that consumers will face if they are tempted by the idea of easy money.

“A recent Cifas report[1] highlighted that young people living in London and West Midlands are most at risk of being tempted by this type of crime,” warns Metro Bank’s Head of Fraud & Investigations, Baz Thompson.

“A money mule is someone who transfers money through their bank account on behalf of somebody else and is paid for doing so. “Compound this with the current cost of living crisis and we are anticipating a money mule explosion this summer – largely across social media where money mules are recruited.”

The biggest proponents of money mules are those aged under 25 – possibly because they are recruited via social media – one of the key platforms for this type of crime. It is also concerning that there has been an increase in young people aged 14-18 being approached to use their bank accounts for money muling.

They are offered money in exchange for sharing their legitimate bank account details so scammers can use their account to move money earned from illegal activity. Alternatively, money launderers use their account to begin the process of “cleaning money” to hide that it has come from illegal activity.

The Cifas report also revealed that four out of five people do not realise that, by being rewarded for sharing their personal financial information, they are committing a crime.

At worst, money muling carries fines and up to a 14-year prison sentence; but, even at its best, people who get involved can seriously damage their credit scores. This means they could struggle to get a phone contract, loan, mortgage and even negatively impact any future employment. 

They will also be added to the National Fraud Database, which means they can be denied access to a bank account in the future.

Some people are duped into this illegal activity, so knowing the warning signs can help you identify mule herders and avoid falling for their tricks. 

Look out for 

  • Contact from someone you do not know trying to befriend you – especially online or in a messaging app.
  • Someone you have met online offering deals that sound too good to be true. 
  • Job offers for quick and easy money with no experience necessary. 
  • Anyone who asks to transfer money to your bank account for you to pass on to someone else.
  • Someone who wants to buy a valuable item from you and insists on paying by bank transfer. 

How to help protect yourself

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Here are some tips to protect yourself:

  • Never accept money into your account if you do not know where it is from.
  • Never share your bank details, contact details, or personal details with someone you do not know.
  • If you are job hunting research all job offers and investigate the company behind the offer and stick to well-known sites for job searches – do not apply for jobs that are only advertised on social media.
  • Take a look at the Take Five campaign which focuses on Stop, Challenge and Protect `
  • If you are a parent or guardian, then please raise awareness about money muling with your children to help protect them.

If you have been contacted:

  • If you think you have been contacted by a mule herder, ensure that you stop transferring money. Contact your bank who can help you. You can also contact the police or the charity Crimestoppers online or by calling them on 0800 555 111 anonymously.
  • There is a wealth of information which UK Finance and Cifas have collated and is available at www.moneymules.co.uk

Baz Thompson concludes: “Don’t be fooled this summer and risk your financial future by making some easy money that in the long run could cost you dearly, negatively impact your future, lead to problems applying for any credit and may even curtail your freedom.”

[1] Cifas Money Mule Landscape

July Gardening Advice: Everything You Need to Do This Month

July is a beautiful month for enjoying the garden. Traditionally the hottest month of the year in the UK, July is all about spending time in the garden and enjoying your outdoor space.

When it comes to maintaining the garden, this month is all about keeping on top of your blooms, nurturing your plants, and providing your garden with that extra bit of TLC that it needs to prevent damage or dryness.

Expert gardener Fiona Jenkins at MyJobQuote.co.uk has a list of top tips on what you need to do in your garden during the month of July. Take a look at the list below:

Get The Watering Just Right

With July being typically the hottest month, watering is key. Your plants will be very thirsty at this time and may be prone to drying out. With this in mind, you want to make sure you maintain your beautiful blooms by regularly watering your container plants. Add a balanced liquid fertiliser every couple of weeks, as this will help to encourage continual flowering and strong, healthy growth. Remove all dead flowers as soon as you notice them to encourage new growth.

You also need to remember to water your shrubs, trees, and perennials. Water the base of the plant and avoid watering the leaves, as the leaves won’t absorb water. Wet leaves can encourage fungal diseases, which is why you must always aim to water the base of the plants.

Aim to water your plants first thing in the morning, as this is when the sun rises, and the plants will begin using the water.

Thin Out Your Fruit Trees

In the month of July, you may find that your fruit trees can abundantly over-produce due to the optimal conditions. Large levels of heavy fruits on branches can result in a final crop of much smaller fruits due to the high demand for the tree’s resources and the limited sunlight that is blocked by the large fruit.

This month, you want to focus on thinning out your crops by removing all of the damaged or excess fruits. This will enable the tree to develop a much more even and more appealing crop of fruits.

Show Your Lawn Some Love

During the summer months, everything in the garden grows very quickly. This means you’ll need to make some extra effort to mow the lawn. Aim to mow your lawn once a week to keep it in good shape. It’s also important to keep on top of watering your lawn regularly to prevent it from drying out and turning brown. If the ground becomes dry, gently spike it before watering to allow the moisture to penetrate easily.

Reduce the cutting height of your lawn during hot weather, as this can also help to prevent the lawn from drying out. Keeping your grass blades slightly higher can help the grass thrive and can prevent it from becoming damaged by the additional summer wear.

Take Cuttings From Perennials

When it comes to perennials, it’s important to take cuttings to encourage new growth. Place supports around your tall perennials to prevent any damage from wind, rain, or other typical British weather phenomena.

If you have any tender perennials in your garden, such as Fuchsias, you can use the cuttings for propagating. These perennials are best propagated from cuttings. Cuttings should be taken from the new growth for the season. You can either pot the plants now or keep hold of your cuttings until next spring. If you pot the plants now, they will have enough time to develop a sufficient root system so that they can survive through the winter months.

Get a Head Start on Sowing

If you want to be one step ahead with your gardening routine, consider beginning some of your sowing now. Biennials such as wallflowers, forget-me-nots, and foxgloves can be sown now and ready for planting in autumn. This will provide you with a stunning display next spring.

Sow your plants into large seed trays or, alternatively, a dedicated seed bed. After that, when the seedlings are large enough to handle, you can separate them.

You can also sow late summer and winter crops now, such as carrots, cabbages, and leeks. In addition, you can continue to sow radishes, lettuce, and beetroot at this time.

Check Plant Supports

During this month, you should spend some time inspecting your climbing plants to ensure they are able to handle strong winds and torrential rain. If you think your plants need new or additional support, now is the time to take care of that.

The typical British weather can put a considerable amount of pressure on your garden. It’s much easier to deal with this now than to wait until late summer.

Now is also a time for checking for weeds in flowerbeds, as weeds can affect your plants. It’s much easier to deal with weeds now while the weather is good.

NFU Mutual: A third of people worried that poor road conditions are a barrier to rural living

New research by leading rural insurer NFU Mutual shows that almost one quarter of people – and just under one third of those living in the countryside – are worried that the quality of rural roads presents a barrier to country living.

The research comes during the most dangerous time of year on the UK’s rural roads, as uncertainty over increased harvest traffic leads to a significant increase in collisions.

The United Kingdom is in the middle of harvest season, with high volumes of agricultural traffic on the road throughout summer – including many tractors pulling heavy silage and grain trailers or wide agricultural machinery.

Unfortunately, the latest claims data from NFU Mutual shows that collisions between agricultural vehicles and third parties were 52% more likely between the start of May and the end of September 2022 than in any other months. On average, there were 423 of these accidents per month during the silage cutting, hay making, and harvesting season, compared to 249 per month between October and April.    

As well as an increase in agricultural traffic, the summer months also coincide with the school holidays and a greater amount of leisure traffic, with road users not necessarily used to rural roads, which can further increase the risk of accidents.

Andrew Chalk, rural road safety specialist at NFU Mutual, calls for greater awareness and respect from all rural road users: “Rural roads come with unique hazards, including narrow lanes, fewer road markings and often less well-maintained surfaces.

“NFU Mutual’s new research shows that a significant number of people are uncomfortable on rural roads, and sadly this is only more acute as agricultural machinery traffic increases in summer.

“Our claims data shows that accidents involving these agricultural vehicles and third parties are over 50% more likely in the harvesting season, so it’s more important than ever that road users are patient and considerate for their fellow road users.

“Agricultural vehicles are generally large, wide and slow, which can tempt road users to overtake, but it’s vital that you remain patient and only overtake when it’s safe to do so – when you can see a clear road ahead, there a no field openings, and you have space to pass. With narrow rural roads, you may need to wait for a suitable opportunity.

“Farmers and contractors cannot drive too quickly, but they will generally either be going a short distance to an adjacent field or will – and should – pull over to allow built-up traffic to pass. Motorists and cyclists should be patient, give agricultural vehicles room to turn and not drive too closely to them, which can be dangerous and can obstruct your view before overtaking.

“It’s important to remember that rural roads are vital arteries for our agricultural industry, allowing farmers to bring in the harvest which helps feed the population, as well as valued spaces which allow us to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

“Mutual respect from those who use rural roads for work and for pleasure will ultimately help keep our motorists, cyclists, horse riders and walkers safe this harvest season.”

NFU Mutual’s guide to respecting rural roads during this year’s harvest season 

All road users 

  • Give plenty of space when overtaking. Vulnerable road users, such as walkers, runners, horse riders and cyclists, should be given as much room as motorists where possible.
  • Always check for other road users, particularly at the entrance of fields and junctions.
  • Be patient with fellow road users and only overtake when it is safe for all road users. 
  • Consider where you park to avoid blocking field entrances or obstructing the road for wide agricultural machinery, such as combine harvesters, as they will often need to drive across two lanes. 
  • Be aware of mud on the road. Rural roads are essential to our farming industry and therefore some mud will be dragged from fields to the road. 
  • Familiarise yourself with the Highway Code.
  • Avoid unnecessary distractions like looking at your phone or listening to music through headphones, allowing you to be aware of your surroundings.  

Farmers

  • Ensure all equipment is road worthy and pay particular care to things like trailers which may not have been used for months. Check brakes and indicators and make sure you have reflectors and a beacon for your vehicle. Use the Tilly Checklist to inspect your trailer. 
  • Be aware of vulnerable road users or hidden junctions, making contractors aware of these junctions and commonly-used walking, cycling and riding routes.
  • Familiarise yourself and your contractors with the speed limits for your vehicles.
  • If your agricultural vehicles leave mud in the road, remember to clean it up.
  • When turning, indicate in plenty of time and check more than once for road users on your inside.
  • Be respectful to fellow road users, but only allow them to pass when it is safe to pull over.  

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists

  • Speed limits are not targets. Always drive appropriately and remember rural roads are likely to have hazards such as tighter carriageways, blind corners, and animals in the road.
  • Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders should consider wearing appropriate clothing which enables them to be seen. 
  • Respect that rural roads are vital to our farming industry and expect to encounter tractors, farm machinery or animals in the road.
  • Signal correctly and in plenty of time, whether you are a motorist, cyclist or horse rider. 

NOT sure road conditions are an awful lot better in cities, mind! – Ed.

Police Scotland launch Bike Theft Campaign

Police Scotland has teamed up with a professional mountain biker to offer prevention advice as part of a campaign to reduce the number of bike thefts occurring in Scotland.

Scotty Laughland, who has competed across the world and creates mountain bike content on his social media channels, filmed a series of videos to discuss the impact bike theft had on him personally and professionally.

He was joined by PC Graeme Scott to discuss the security measures the public can take to deter such crimes happening to them.

The 2020 Cycle Scotland Cycle Monitoring report showed that 45% of Scotland have access to a bike. Between April 2022 and March 2023, almost 4,000 bikes a year are reported stolen to Police Scotland.

In May 2022, Scotty himself became a victim of bike theft when his workshop in Stirlingshire was broken into and £50,000 worth of bikes, cycling equipment and tools were stolen from within.

Ahead of the UCI World Championship cycling events that will see thousands of professional cyclists and cycling enthusiasts visit Scotland, from Thursday, 3 August, three videos will be published on Police Scotland’s social media channels over the course of the next three weeks to highlight to the public how they can safeguard their bikes and equipment.

The first video will focus on the break-in that happened to Scotty’s workshop and the consequences this incident had on his ability to work and how he viewed his own security.

The next two videos will feature crime prevention and security advice to help stop members of the public falling victim to bike thefts.

Superintendent Claire Dobson from Police Scotland’s Partnerships, Preventions and Community Wellbeing Division, said: “We know that cycling is a popular form of exercise and transport in Scotland, bikes are also an attractive option for opportunistic criminals looking for an easy target to steal and subsequently profit from.

“We now also see high-value bikes being stolen to order by organised crime groups and it is absolutely essential that we equip the public with all the necessary advice and guidance they need to safeguard their bikes and cycling equipment.

“I am grateful to Scotty Laughland for working alongside us to create these videos and would urge not only Scotland’s communities, but all of those visiting the country for the UCI World Championship cycling events, to view this content and our crime prevention advice to ensure they know how they can best secure their bikes and wherever they are stored.”

Scotty Laughland added: “The impact of bike theft for myself and my family has been far reaching. I would advise anyone to take the advice offered by Police Scotland and ensure your bikes and equipment are secured at home, whilst travelling and during use.”

Police Scotland’s bike theft advice can be viewed by visiting:

https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/events/cycling-world-championships-2023/bike-safety-advice/

Bearded dragon binned by owner

Scottish SPCA officers recently rescued a bearded dragon after the lizard was dumped in a bin by their owner.

They were called to student accommodation on Hillside Crescent, where a shocked member of staff had found the reptile in a communal bin on 6 July.

Senior animal rescue officer, Sarah Auldsmith, said, “The poor bearded dragon had been left in a large communal rubbish bin but luckily it was found by a member of staff.

“Some international students had recently moved out and it’s suspected one of them left the lizard behind. Unfortunately, as they have now returned overseas we have no way to trace them.

“We appreciate people’s circumstances can change but this is not the right way to deal with an animal you can no longer care for,” she said.

“Thankfully, the reptile was unharmed and they have now been taken to one of our animal rescue and rehoming centres to receive the care they need.”

Bearded dragons are native to Australia but are one of the most popular lizards in captivity in the UK and usually live for 10 or 15 years.

Ms Auldsmith said that due to the condition it was in when it was found last week at the accommodation on Hillside Crescent, it had clearly been cared for before being discarded.

If anyone is concerned about an animal, they can contact the Scottish SPCA on their confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.

Council Tax ‘bombshell’ would hit 92,000 Edinburgh households – Boyack

Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has branded the SNP government’s consultation on Council Tax a “scandal”, revealing that the changes would hit 92,971 households in Edinburgh.

The SNP government is currently consulting on plans to hike Council Tax for properties in bands E to H – which would hit 39% per cent of households in Scotland’s capital.

People in the area could face increases of up to around £800.

This consultation follows years of ‘brutal’ budget cuts to Council budgets by the SNP government.

Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “Years of brutal cuts by the SNP has local services in [AREA] at breaking point, and now the government wants to plug the gaps with eye-watering Council Tax hikes of up to around £800.

“It is a scandal that ordinary Scots are once again being asked to pay more while getting less in return.

“This damaging Council Tax bombshell will hit more than 92,000 households in Edinburgh during the worst cost of living crisis in decades, piling pressure on people already facing impossible financial decisions.  

“Scots struggling with rising housing costs should be getting support from their government – but instead they are being asked to foot the bill for the SNP’s failure.

“Labour will stand up for people struggling with soaring living costs and fight for a fair deal for Edinburgh.”

BUT WHAT WOULD LABOUR ACTUALLY DO? REPLACE THE COUNCIL TAX? – Ed.

Local AuthorityHomes in bandsE to H % of homes affected  Potential increase  
Scotland715,31228% 
Aberdeen City32,65329%£821.11
Aberdeenshire50,87343%£768.12
Angus13,15923%£725.82
Argyll & Bute14,96332%£815.41
City of Edinburgh92,97139%£798.04
Clackmannanshire6,41326%£777.79
Dumfries & Galloway18,87026%£735.84
Dundee City10,43815%£819.39
East Ayrshire11,44720%£819.95
East Dunbartonshire25,47054%£780.38
East Lothian18,19336%£791.39
East Renfrewshire22,62357%£780.14
Falkirk18,08024%£751.81
Fife45,05626%£763.58
Glasgow City49,50117%£826.32
Highland34,14329%£786.73
Inverclyde7,14819%£788.16
Midlothian12,37429%£834.99
Moray9,55522%£788.67
Na h-Eileanan Siar1,55911%£711.53
North Ayrshire14,38721%£800.48
North Lanarkshire30,48220%£728.08
Orkney Islands1,91817%£754.78
Perth & Kinross26,90637%£773.78
Renfrewshire22,49226%£791.69
Scottish Borders16,51329%£747.56
Shetland Islands1,87117%£694.91
South Ayrshire18,49734%£801.05
South Lanarkshire41,06527%£717.07
Stirling17,65544%£816.68
West Dunbartonshire7,40317%£771.19
West Lothian20,63425%£766.77

Source: Chargeable Dwellings: Sep 2022 data: 

https://www.gov.scot/publications/council-tax-datasets/

Scottish Government Council Tax Consultation:

https://www.gov.scot/news/council-tax-consultation/

Disadvantaged students to benefit from ‘flagship’ Turing Scheme

Disadvantaged students are set to take up the two-thirds of the international study and work opportunities available from September, as part of to the UK government’s flagship Turing Scheme.

Over 40,000 people across the UK will get the transformational opportunity to study or work abroad in the next academic year.

Building on the success of the previous two years, nearly two-thirds of these placements are for people from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds, up from 51% last year, helping to drive social mobility in parts of the UK where historically there have been fewer opportunities to work and study abroad.

In Further Education the allocation for disadvantaged students is even higher this year, making up 71% of placements in the sector.

The Turing Scheme widens access to international opportunities in education and training, with more than 22,800 Higher Education placements, over 6,700 school placements, and more than 10,500 Further Education and Vocational Education and Training placements.

Universities, colleges and schools across the country will be awarded a share of almost £105 million to offer placements to their students, with more applications having been successful this year than ever before and a significantly higher interest in the scheme from colleges and schools, including a nearly 50% increase in the number of successful applications in the FE sector.

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said: “Once again, this transformational scheme is extending the ladder of opportunity for more young people to experience other cultures and learn vital skills for life and work, regardless of their background.

“With nearly a 50% increase in the number of successful applications and around 1,800 additional learners from disadvantaged backgrounds in the FE sector compared to last year, I am delighted that this scheme is driving social mobility.

“Young people taking part will benefit from inspirational placements around the world that will build the confidence they need for their future, whilst bolstering the government’s ambition for a Global Britain.”

The scheme is open to education providers and other eligible organisations across the UK to provide international opportunities for their students.

It forms part of the government’s ambition to create a truly Global Britain. Canada, Japan and the United States are among over 160 international destinations where UK students will be funded to take up work and study placements – alongside popular European destinations like Spain and France.

A group of year 10 pupils from a school in Blackburn were offered the valuable opportunity to spend two weeks in Eswatini or Morocco in May 2022. Pupils from the Hyndburn Academy spent time in lessons with their counterparts as well as undertaking work in the local community, working with the charity All Out Africa to install drainage pipework at a care centre for local pre-school children.

Teacher Rebecca Barker-Rourke said of the experience: “The experience has developed confidence in many of the students and will give them loads of rich examples to discuss in future applications for college, university, apprenticeships and employment.

“We are in an area that is economically deprived, and the Turing Scheme funding means we can offer this opportunity to students that would otherwise never get the chance for a trip like this.”

Leeds Beckett University is one of the successful providers this year and expects students to travel to destinations such as Canada, Australia and Uganda.

Global Engagement and Relationship Manager Tom Kyle said: “We have seen growing demand for students wanting to gain some form of Global Experience during their studies, and it makes a big difference to be able to offer funding for this, particularly to those students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“There is good evidence that students who spend some time abroad during their studies benefit in terms of graduate outcomes and employability, as well as having a fantastic time overseas.

“We look forward to building on our student mobility activity and seeing more students benefit from the opportunities this brings.”

The full list of successful organisations including higher education providers, schools, and further education, vocational education and training providers awarded funding will be available on the Turing Scheme website.

David shares tragic family stories of pancreatic cancer

David Fitzpatrick is working with Pancreatic Cancer Action, a UK-based charity dedicated to improving survival rates through early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, to raise awareness of the disease’s devastating nature.

Recently, David raised an incredible £8,285 at his golf fundraiser on 23rd June from the grounds of the beautiful Cowglen Golf Club, with nearly 80 people participating in the annual event that included a raffle and auction.

The Fitzpatrick family have been supporting the charity since 2014 after David’s brother, Paul, sadly passed from pancreatic cancer. Paul was diagnosed just 15 months after David’s mum, Patricia, sadly died from the disease.

To date, they have raised over £40,000 in their memory.

David had this to say about their efforts and why they have worked tirelessly to raise funds and awareness: “Our family have lost two special people to this illness, both our beloved mum and brother who was a loving father and husband.

“Pancreatic cancer is the 5th biggest cancer killer. Pancreatic Cancer Action has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the cancer across the UK, including making GPs and consultants more aware of the symptoms, which, if caught early enough, can increase the survival rate of people diagnosed with it.

“I only wish our family GP and doctors at The Southern General Hospital had more knowledge of it whilst treating my mum and brother, who was diagnosed 15 months after mum, who died within a month of being diagnosed.

“Our family, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, Paul’s daughters, our friends, Nitshill Bowling Club, and former players and coaches of Bellarmine Amateurs are truly inspiring in their assistance and encouragement to raise funds in memory of both mum and Paul.

“They have all helped raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and hopefully save the lives of others as well as help educate the people who regularly misdiagnose this disease.”

Pancreatic cancer is the 5th most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with over 10,000 people diagnosed each year. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving survival rates, yet under 8% of those diagnosed will survive for five years or more.

David lost his mum and brother far too early, and we strongly believe that they both could have been saved if their pancreatic cancer had been detected sooner.

Pancreatic Cancer Action is dedicated to raising awareness of the disease and funding research into early detection and treatment.

About pancreatic cancer 

  • Twenty-nine people are newly diagnosed with the disease each day. 
  • For those diagnosed in time for surgery, their chances of surviving beyond five years increases by up to 30%. Knowing the signs and symptoms means you can act on any concerns you might have, sooner. 
  • Over 50% of all patients are diagnosed as an emergency in A&E when it is more likely that the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body. 
  • Pancreatic cancer can affect any adult. It occurs equally in men and women. 
  • The disease receives only 3.1% of cancer research funding. 
  • Pancreatic cancer is the UK’s 5th biggest cancer killer and the 10th most common cancer. 
  • In most cases, it can develop unexpectedly with no family connections to the disease. 
  • The five-year survival rate is less than 8%. 
  • Twenty-six people die from pancreatic cancer each day. 
  • Only 10% of patients are diagnosed in time for life-saving surgery. 
  • Incidence rates are projected to rise by 6% in the UK by 2035 to 21 cases per 100,000 people.

To find out more about our work, visit our website at www.panact.org

Assembly Festival: Over 5000 £5 tickets for local residents at this year’s Festival Fringe

Having the world’s biggest performing arts festival right on their doorstep is about to get even better for Edinburgh residents, with locals now eligible for £5 tickets to shows at Assembly Festival this August.

Residents across Edinburgh and Lothians, Falkirk and Fife with an EH, KY or FK postcode will have access to 5000 discounted tickets for their pick of almost 200 shows in Assembly’s programme for performances in the first week of the festival – Wednesday 2nd to Sunday 6 August.  

Assembly, the longest running multi-venue curator at the Festival Fringe, has a jam-packed program for 2023 – full of outrageous comedy, dazzling circus feats, compelling theatre, playful children’s shows and more.  

Edinburgh’s own illusionist Kevin Quantum: Momentum will wow with epic stunts and mind-blowing magic, and the incredible talent of Scottish hip-hop dancers will be showcased in Beyond Boundaries – a triple-bill performance presented as part of Assembly’s inaugural collaboration with Dance Base at the Grassmarket. 

Highlights of the comedy programme include the razor-sharp punchlines of Glasgow’s Susie McCabe: Femme Fatality and Australian sketch comedy duo The Umbilical Brothers: The Distraction who are marking their 30th anniversary of the Fringe.  

Thrill-seekers who want to be wowed by gravity-defying acrobatics should catch the all-female Aussie circus troupe YUCK Circus and critically acclaimed Afrique en Cirque from West African/Canadian circus troupe Kalabanté. 

Assembly’s theatre programme is full of heart, including Lena about 1970s child star Lena Zavaroni starring Jon Culshaw (Dead Ringers) and Erin Armstrong (Shetland) and JM Coetzee’s Life & Times of Michael K from two-time Fringe First winners Baxter Theatre, featuring intricate puppetry from the same company that brought you War Horse. 

For the kids, there’s a musical adaptation of Roger McGough’s Money-Go-Round, Fringe-favourite The Bubble Show and a charming homage to circus horses in Chevalier – Hobbyhorse Circus. 

The tickets will be available to purchase from assemblyfestival.com between 15-31 July on a first come, first served basis. Residents can claim the offer by using discount code ‘AF23’ at the checkout and paying with a card that is registered to an address in one of the eligible postcodes.  

For further information, tickets and T&Cs, visit assemblyfestival.com.  

Wellbeing Economy ‘makes sound business sense’

Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray has visited a company whose commitment to fair work and sustainability helped it survive the pandemic.

While at ACS Clothing near Glasgow, Mr Gray heard how a major creditor was so impressed with the business’s approach to fair work and environmental practices it agreed to convert a debt to equity – investing enough to ensure the firm could continue through the pandemic.

Then in the later stages of COVID 19, an ethical investor became aware of ACS’s reputation and also took a stake.

Now the sustainable fashion company is expanding to take on 20 new apprentices – four graduates and 16 modern apprentices across textile care and its warehouse operations.

Mr Gray said: “ACS Clothing is proof that fair work and sustainability make sound business sense.

“This imaginative and successful company captures what a wellbeing economy is all about – supporting a transition to net zero while practicing fair work principles such as paying the real Living Wage, listening to its workforce and offering apprenticeships and internships.

“In return its staff are incentivised, employee turnover is reduced and investors are increasingly attracted by its ethics and ethos.”

ACS Clothing’s Chief Operating Officer Anthony Burns said: “At the start of the pandemic, we faced significant financial strain, as suppliers demanded payment and customers halted orders, leading to a bleak outlook.

“However, our investment in circular business models, and our positive environmental and social impacts, were rewarded when Circularity Capital, a well-known Scottish ethical investment firm, invested significantly in our business.

“At ACS our commitment to fair work is not just a choice, but a responsibility we owe to our communities.

“It is the unwavering dedication to create environments where dignity, equality, and justice thrive, ensuring that every individual’s efforts are valued and rewarded without bias or exploitation.”