Fancy a BBQ? If you’re a man living in the local area (Muirhouse, Drylaw, Pilton, Granton, Royston and Wardieburn) why not join Jules next Tuesday (25th July) at Wardie Bay Beach. We’ll be meeting on the beach at 1pm.
This will be an informal event where you can meet new people, connect with nature and enjoy some food.
All local men welcome – Please let me know if you’re coming so we can confirm numbers.
Tata Group announces new multibillion-pound electric car battery factory to be built in the UK – one of the largest ever investments in the UK automotive sector.
Investment will create up to 4,000 new direct jobs, and thousands more in the wider supply chain – driving forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy.
New gigafactory set to provide almost half of the battery production needed by 2030 – turbocharging UK’s switch to zero emissions vehicles.
The UK has been chosen as the home of Tata Group’s first ‘gigafactory’ outside India, in a move set to create thousands of jobs and bring a huge boost to the UK’s automotive sector.
Tata Group confirmed the UK had secured one of the largest ever investments in the UK auto industry today (19 July). The gigafactory will secure UK-produced batteries for another Tata Sons investment, Jaguar Land Rover, as well as other manufacturers in the UK and Europe.
The new gigafactory, at 40GWh, will be one of the largest in Europe. It will create up to 4,000 highly skilled jobs, as well as thousands of further jobs in the wider supply chain for battery materials and critical raw minerals, helping grow the economy and take forward the UK’s commitment to net zero.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:“Tata Group’s multi-billion-pound investment in a new battery factory in the UK is testament to the strength of our car manufacturing industry and its skilled workers.
“With the global transition to zero emission vehicles well underway, this will help grow our economy by driving forward our lead in battery technology whilst creating as many as 4,000 jobs, and thousands more in the supply chain.
“We can be incredibly proud that Britain has been chosen as home to Tata Group’s first gigafactory outside India, securing our place as one of the most attractive places to build electric vehicles.”
Mr N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said: “The Tata Group is deeply committed to a sustainable future across our business.
“Today, I am delighted to announce the Tata Group will be setting up one of Europe’s largest battery cell manufacturing facilities in the UK. Our multi-billion-pound investment will bring state-of-the-art technology to the country, helping to power the automotive sector’s transition to electric mobility, anchored by our own business, JLR (Jaguar LandRover).
“With this strategic investment, the Tata Group further strengthens its commitment to the UK, alongside our many companies operating here across technology, consumer, hospitality, steel, chemicals, and automotive.
“I also want to thank His Majesty’s Government, which has worked so closely with us to enable this investment.”
The investment of over £4 billion represents a historic moment for the UK’s growing electric vehicles industry.
The new gigafactory will supply JLR’s future battery electric models including the Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brands, with the potential to also supply other car manufacturers. Production at the new gigafactory is due to start in 2026.
This investment will be crucial to boosting the UK’s battery manufacturing capacity needed to support the electric vehicle industry in the long term. With an initial output of 40GWh it will also provide almost half of the battery production that the Faraday Institution estimates the UK will need by 2030.
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: “Today’s multibillion-pound investment demonstrates that this Government has got the right plan when it comes to the automotive sector.
“We are backing the UK car industry to help grow our economy as we transition to electric vehicles, and this latest investment will secure thousands of highly-skilled jobs across the country.
“Tata’s decision is a major vote of confidence in UK automotive. The Government is committed to making the UK one of the best places in the world for automotive investment, as evidenced by the Automotive Transformation Fund, the British Industry Supercharger, and the strong programme of support for research and development.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:“This is a huge vote of confidence in the UK and one that will drive growth in our economy, creating thousands of jobs and powering our transition to electric cars.
“Tata Group’s gigafactory builds on the strength of our manufacturing industry and shows we’re on the right track, backing the sectors that will underpin our future prosperity for decades to come.”
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Today’s announcement from Tata is excellent news. We have been working tirelessly with the company, and across government, to make the case for why the UK is the best place for them to invest.
“This new gigafactory puts us firmly in the fast lane to becoming the capital of Europe’s electric car market, and makes crystal clear how they see the UK as the place to be for their future growth.
“With thousands of jobs on site and in the supply chain, this new factory will be the cornerstone of our automotive industry, backing manufacturers to develop and expand, and customers to make the switch from petrol and diesel.”
35 of these are maintained by the Council and the remaining three by the Friends of Corstorphine Hill (Corstorphine Hill LNR Community Walled Garden), NHS Lothian (Royal Edinburgh Hospital), and Heriot Watt University (The Lawn & Central Woodlands).
Edinburgh’s award recipients represent over one third of the 87 total Green Flag Awards across Scotland.
The Capital placed third overall in the UK in total Green Flag Awards.
The full list of awarded parks and greenspaces in Scotland is available here.
The International Green Flag Award is bestowed upon parks and greenspaces that demonstrate excellent management and adherence to environmental standards. To make sure Edinburgh’s parks are kept to a high standard, each year the Council checks all its parks and gardens using Green Flag Award criteria.
Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker, said: “I am delighted that 38 parks around Edinburgh have been recognised by Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Green Flag Awards scheme.
“The scheme recognises the quality of parks and greenspaces, their benefits to communities and the hard work of managers, staff and volunteers who keep them ticking over.
“Here in the Capital, we are truly spoiled for choice across the city when it comes to fantastic parks and green spaces. Each different space has a unique character and significance for the residents and visitors that it welcomes.
“As part of our Edinburgh’s Thriving Greenspaces 2050 strategy, we are committed to doing everything we can to safeguard, preserve and improve these spaces so that people can continue to enjoy them, and communities feel involved in how they are looked after.”
Pic Greg Macvean 13/07/2023
Keep Scotland Beautiful – Green Flag Award 2023/24
Jamie Ormiston, Senior Awards Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Congratulations to our 38 award winners in Edinburgh. Every park has a wide range of people visiting them and their requirements can vary. What is essential is that they are well maintained and provide a safe place for people to relax and have fun.
“Our award-winning parks have demonstrated they are worthy winners, meeting the criteria of the coveted international award. Receiving this prestigious benchmark recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.
“It is imperative that Scotland reconnects with the natural world if we are to fix the biodiversity crisis and these green spaces will provide a space for people of all ages to do that.
“Green spaces are so important for our physical and mental wellbeing and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of parks and green spaces across the entire length of the country. I encourage everyone to make the most of them this summer.”
School’s out – but fun learning continues through coding summer camps
Virtual workshops for STEM stars of the future
A series of virtual summer camps to help children learn computer coding, game developmentand programming skills has been launched by Glasgow-based British Youth InternationalCollege (BYITC).
Children aged 8 to 14 can sign up to the camps, which are hosted online, so are accessible to young people in any location.
The 2023 BYITC Summer Coding Camps last three days, with the first camp focusing on games and running on the 24th, 25th and 26th July.
The second Coding Camp takes place on 31st July, 1st and 2nd of August and will focus on Python – a popular programming language that can be used for a wide variety of applications, including building websites and creating software.
BYITC founder Dr Rashmi Mantri said: “The school holidays are the perfect time to combinefun with fascination – and our Summer Coding Camps will have plenty of both!
“The idea is to introduce young people to the world of coding and games development, while also powering their imaginations with a combination of hands-on activities, interactive workshops and project-based learning.”
Young people taking part in the BYITC Summer Coding Camps will use apps that introduce kids to coding, such as Scratch and Thunkable,9 and game creation platforms such as Roblox. Python programming topics will also be incorporated.
“We’ve carefully crafted the camp curriculum to provide a holistic learning experience thatencompasses coding concepts, game design principles and the practical application ofprogramming skills,” Dr Mantri said.
Each day of the Summer Coding Camps will run from 11am to 1pm and then 2pm to 4pm.
Dr Mantri, who has a PhD in Computer Science, founded BYITC in 2015 to teach maths using a counting tool that has been used for millennia – the abacus. BYITC has since expanded into online courses in English, programming and cyber security and runs 10 franchises globally – including Dubai and Sri Lanka.
Supermaths is BYITC’s most popular teaching programme and offers a mix of weeklyteacher-led abacus maths classes and online tutorials.Thought to have been first used by the Babylonians, an ancient Middle Eastern civilization, as early as 2,400 BC, the abacus is known to be highly effective at training the brain to make mathematical calculations involving huge numbers.
For more information on the 2023 BYITC Summer Coding Camps visit:
NHSGGC has emphasised the importance of being vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella following an increase in cases across the UK and Europe.
Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases and can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications if it is not treated. Symptoms of measles include a high fever, rash, cough, runny nose and watery eyes. In the most severe of cases, measles can develop into more threatening conditions such as pneumonia, especially in those with a weakened immune system.
To combat this, NHSGGC strongly recommends members of the public are up to date with their vaccines to ensure protection against the disease. The normal course is two doses of MMR vaccine in childhood. It can also be given to adults, and if you have missed a dose, for whatever reason, you remain eligible and your GP can refer you in to one of the health board’s vaccine clinics.
The immunisation is provided from the health board free of charge and can be administered at a range of healthcare facilities across the city and at other locations in the NHSGGC area.
Iain Kennedy, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said: “Getting vaccinated against measles helps prevent the spread of the disease and by increasing vaccination coverage, we can create a shield of immunity that safeguards individuals and the wider community.
“As we have noticed an increase in cases across the UK, it is important to ensure the safety of each other and in particular, young children.
“Measles can spread easily and quickly though droplets from the nose and mouth when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
“We would encourage all parents to ensure their child has had two doses of the MMR vaccine before they start school to help reduce the spread of infection.
“The best way to stay safe and healthy is to get vaccinated against the disease and collectively reduce the risks of outbreaks.”
For more information on measles and how you can stay protected, please visit NHS Inform.
LOCAL CARE HOME RESIDENTS CELEBRATE WATCHING THEIR FAVOURITE SPORTING FIXTURE
Residents and staff at Queens Manor care home in Blackhall were at the ready for the start of Wimbledon finals on Saturday and Sunday, with delicious strawberries and cream, all washed down with a glass of Pimms or fizz!
Tennis fans at Queens Manor were delighted to be able to watch this year’s 136th Championships. Residents and staff got together to watch the matches and celebrated by having a themed day of events, with the Lifestyle Team whipping up traditional Wimbledon-inspired strawberry and cream treats.
Donna Wood, General Manager at the home, said: “We’ve had a fantastic time celebrating the return of Wimbledon this weekend, it is always a firm favourite with our residents.
“Every game was on show throughout the home and we enjoyed every minute!”
Resident Audrey Rankin, commented: “I absolutely love watching Wimbledon, it is definitely my favourite sporting fixture.
“It was lovely to celebrate its return with all my friends here and to enjoy all the delicious party drinks during the finals!”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Queens Manor is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Queens Manor provides residential care, respite care & dementia care.
New plans to improve the lives of disabled people have been set out by the Government today (Tuesday 18 July).
Government launches consultation on Disability Action Plan, which brings together ideas and action across Government to make disabled people’s lives easier
Plans include raising awareness of life-changing tech for disabled people, mandatory disability awareness training for taxi drivers, autism-friendly programmes for cultural and heritage sites
Plans designed by Ministers to make the UK a more inclusive society in the long term
Immediate and practical measures proposed in the fully accessible consultation include ensuring businesses are aware of disabled people’s needs – including Guide Dog access needs – to allow all disabled people to live, work and shop freely and support for local authorities to ensure the playgrounds they build or refurbish are accessible for disabled children.
The proposals will inform the Government’s Disability Action Plan later this year, laying the foundations for longer term change.
Other measures in the proposed Plan include:
– Raising the profile of assistive technology to ensure more disabled people have access to life-changing tech
– Legislating for mandatory disability awareness training for taxi and private hire drivers to unlock greater travel freedom for disabled people
– Encouraging more autism-friendly programmes in the cultural and heritage sectors to drive greater inclusivity
– Improving reasonable adjustments in the courts system so more disabled people can be on juries improving diversity and breadth of experience
– Implementing the British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE, over a year after the BSL Act was introduced, giving thousands of pupils communication and visual memory skills that will be an advantage to them for the rest of their lives
– Exploring the feasibility of Great Britain hosting the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2031.
The Disability Action Plan sits alongside the Government’s National Disability Strategy which sets out our longer-term vision to improve disabled people’s lives for the better.
6.6927 Disability Unit branding
Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said: “Our Disability Action Plan will lay out practical measures we can implement here and now to improve the lives of disabled people.
“From leading the way globally with assistive technology to improving inclusivity and accessibility across sport, travel and culture, the Plan will also be important in setting the stage for longer term change.
“We want disabled people to be at the heart of decision making and I would encourage anyone interested to respond to this consultation so the views of disabled people across the country are front and centre of our final Disability Action Plan.”
The Plan builds on the Government’s achievements over the last year on education, work, leisure, and rights for disabled people. This includes supporting the passage of landmark legislation: the Down Syndrome Act and British Sign Language (BSL) Act – and a consultation to support the introduction of a new BSL GCSE.
The overarching focus on disability has also ensured over 2,000 miles of King Charles III England Coast Path is accessible, while the government has delivered an additional £1 billion for the education of children and young people with more complex needs.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks and be open for anyone to comment. This will ensure the Plan is informed by the experience and views of disabled people, disability organisations and charities as well as other interested parties.
Chair of the Disability Unit West Midlands Regional Stakeholder Network, Louise Mckiernan said: “I welcome the Government’s commitment to their new Disability Action Plan and their intention to take immediate and practical actions to improve the lives of disabled people across the UK.
The launch of this consultation is an important opportunity for disabled people in particular to have their say and to help shape the Government’s short-term plans.
“I would encourage as many disabled people, disability organisations and other interested parties as possible to take part in this consultation exercise to ensure their voices are heard.”
Wherever you’re at on the map or in life, the city’s biggest sports and leisure provider has lots of activities to keep the kids active and entertained this summer.
Edinburgh Leisure is offering a range of sports camps and fun activities for children and families to enjoy at different venues across the city. Whether your child is crazy about climbing, silly about soft play or they simply love to swim, Edinburgh Leisure has it covered.
Their summer activities programme covers swimming, diving, tennis, soft play, climbing, gymnastics and more geared towards ages 3 to 18 years. From week-long sports camps to just a fun way to spend an hour, there’s something for everyone.
Looking for a fun-packed week of sport, arts, games, and activities from a trusted provider? Each of their clubs has a sporting speciality, including multi-activity, multi-sports, aquatics, gymnastics, and racquets. Bookable by the day or the week, Edinburgh Leisure offers an early drop off and late pick up available at no extra cost.
Don’t need full day camps? Don’t worry! Edinburgh Leisure has week-long half-day holiday clubs running from 9am – 1pm.
Edinburgh Leisure’s Multisport Camps, at Gracemount Leisure Centre, is aimed at 8 years+, and puts the emphasis on the ‘multi’. Children can look forward to trying a range of sports, as well as trying out different arts, challenges, games, and educational activities.
Edinburgh Leisure’s Gymnastics Camp – Stage 2, is available at Tumbles at Portobello. This half-day gymnastics camp is for the more experienced little gymnast and will allow your budding ‘Beth Tweddle’ or ‘Max Whitlock’ to develop their skills on vault, beam, bars, and floor, as well as having fun on trampolines, a fast track, a tumble run and in foam pits.
If you’re looking for your child to perfect or learn a new skill, then their summer coaching offering is for them. There’s everything including climbing, gymnastics, Gym Nippers (perfect for pre-schoolers), swimming, diving, tennis and match play.
And it isn’t just the kids who get to have all the fun. This summer, Edinburgh Leisure is offering Adult Beginner and Improver swim lessons at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre and Leith Victoria Swim Centre.
And for adults who want to dive into something more challenging, they’re offering hour-long bookable adult-dive sessions, suitable for divers currently attending the Edinburgh Leisure Adult Divers and Masters sessions. Divers will work with a qualified level 2 coach on a variety of skills and techniques on the poolside at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, and on the 1m, 3m and platforms.
Wherever you’re at on the map, Edinburgh Leisure has something fun and active for all the family to enjoy together including Aquadash, Badminton, Clip ‘n’ Climb, Soft Play, Family Swim Sessions, Taster Climbing sessions, Table Tennis and Tennis, across lots of our venues in Edinburgh.
You can even try your hand at Pickleball, the world’s fastest growing sport. New to Edinburgh Leisure, it’s a hybrid of ping pong, tennis, and badminton. Book on the Edinburgh Leisure app under social sports or online. Pickleball can be played at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre, the new Meadowbank Sports Centre, and Craiglockhart Tennis Centre.
As the biggest club in town, with50+ venues across the city, which includes 1 world-class climbing centre; 12 superb swimming pools, 32 tennis courts; and 141 sports pitches, Edinburgh Leisure has built a reputation as a trusted sports and leisure provider who will guarantee your kids an adventure of fun this summer.
Charity vets urge owners to trade tennis balls for safer toys following Wimbledon final
A tennis ball-obsessed dog from Wolverhampton got himself into a spot of bother after taking his hobby too far and swallowing two balls whole; leaving him needing life-saving surgery from vet charity PDSA.
Loki, a five-year-old crossbreed, landed himself in trouble after a game of fetch with his loving owner Amy, ended in disaster and an emergency trip to Wolverhampton PDSA Pet Hospital.
Amy explained: “Loki is a high-energy dog and he loves nothing more than a game of fetch. Most of his toys are the ‘super strong’ ones – he’s a gentle giant, but his toys don’t last long if they aren’t tough ones. But his favourites are tennis balls, he’s obsessed.
“It was only when Loki refused to eat, and started being sick, we realised something was wrong. He was still active and playful, but it’s not like Loki to pass up some food! When the sickness didn’t stop we called PDSA, and they told us to bring him straight in for an appointment.”
Luckily for Loki, the charity’s Wolverhampton team acted fast and an x-ray revealed the problem: two whole balls inside his stomach.
PDSA Vet Catherine Burke said: “Our vet teams treat ball related injuries every year, which can quickly turn into a life threatening situation. Loki’s situation was a case of life-or-death – without surgery, he would likely have died. One of the balls was lodged in his stomach, preventing him from keeping food down.
Loki was taken into theatre and his emergency operation was a success; PDSA’s vets managed to remove both balls intact.
But the charity is using Loki’s story to warn other owners that a bit of innocent fun with a tennis ball can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation. It’s best all round to trade out the tennis balls for safer toys.
Catherine added: “If your dog loves to chew, there is also the risk they could swallow chewed up parts of the tennis ball; which can still cause the same issues with gut blockage like in Loki’s case.”
Following the surgery, Loki is recovering well and, according to Amy, he is back to his fun, playful self.
It’s not unusual to see dogs running after and catching tennis balls. In particular at this time of year, with Wimbledon in full swing, tennis lovers may wish to play a game of fetch with their four-legged friends.
Catherine shares some of the dangers associated with tennis balls: “If your dog is a tennis ball enthusiast, they may not wish to part with their beloved toy, however there are a few important reasons they are not the best option for dogs, quite apart from the fact that they won’t last long under most dog’s jaws.
“The size of tennis balls, and the way they bounce, means that there is a risk the ball can get stuck at the back of your dog’s throat, causing them to choke. It can become wedged in position too far in for you to remove it, blocking your dog’s airway, which sadly can be fatal if the ball can’t be removed quickly.
“If this does happen, try to keep calm and if safe to do so, you can attempt to remove it from the back of the mouth. However it can be very slippery and difficult to remove. If you can’t remove it, contact your vet immediately for an emergency appointment.
“Tennis balls are covered in a felt layer; which has the appearance of yellow-green fuzz and is abrasive which means it has a sandpaper-like effect. Over time it can wear down your dog’s teeth and cause pain and difficulty chewing.”
Instead of tennis balls, PDSA recommends toys and balls specifically designed for dogs, as these are less likely to fall apart when chewed.
Make sure any ball you choose is the right size for your dog, to avoid potentially fatal choking incidents or intestinal blockage – they should be big enough to be grabbed with the teeth and carried, but not fit perfectly in the mouth.
Depending on the kind of activity your dog enjoys doing, here’s a guide to the best toy to match:
Tugging: rope toys and rubber rings are great for tugging games.
Retrieving: Balls of a safe size that they can’t choke on.
Searching: hide their kibble or treats in snuffle mats.
PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, through its 48 Pet Hospitals across the UK, the charity saves the lives of poorly pets whose owners would otherwise struggle to afford treatment.
In times of hardship pets like Loki will still fall ill or become injured and need emergency care. PDSA is appealing for donations so that the charity can continue to support owners who have nowhere else to turn by providing life-saving care to vulnerable pets.
Almost half of people (46%) over the age of 55 who are paying off mortgages are worried about rising rates, continuing to meet repayments and how to pay their loans off in full, research from PensionBee, the leading online pension provider, suggests.
The research carried out in June indicates that three quarters of respondents over age 55 who have mortgages are worried about rising interest rates (76%, Table 1) and concerned about how they will manage their payments to the end of term (62%, Table 2).
Respondents aged over 55 with a household income of less than £30,000 were more worried about rate rises than average (83%) and also about managing repayments to the end of the term (72%).
One in five over 55s on interest-only mortgage deals
Worryingly, less than half of over 55 respondents said they are on capital repayment mortgages (42%, Table 4), while 40% said they are on ‘part capital repayment, part interest only’ and almost one in five (18%) of over 55 respondents with mortgages are on interest-only deals, meaning that when they get to the end of their mortgage term, they will have to have enough cash available to pay off the remaining capital balance.
Uncertain repayment plans
Almost half (46%) of mortgage holder respondents aged 55 or over admitted they are unsure how they will pay off their mortgage in full. The most common remaining mortgage balance was less than £50,000 (Table 10), however, a small proportion (6%) of respondents reported their balance exceeding £250,000.
Using a capital lump sum (22%, Table 9) was noted as the most common way respondents over age 55 were planning to pay off their mortgage in full, while using a pension (16%), selling the house (11%) or using equity release (5%) were other options being considered.
Becky O’Connor, Director (VP) Public Affairs at PensionBee, commented: “The current mortgage rate rise shock may be contributing to an abrupt rethink of retirement plans and causing worry and uncertainty among the population of older homeowners still repaying loans.
“Anyone hoping to wind down from work as they approach their pensionable years and who still has a mortgage to pay could face a significant reality check in the coming months. Their mortgage could suck away even more of their disposable income, potentially forcing them to work for longer.
“Those on interest-only deals will not only face potential rate rises, but the additional headache of a looming deadline for repayment of their capital balances. Money they might have earmarked for repaying the capital at the end of the term might now need to go towards monthly repayments.
“It’s worrying that almost half of respondents in this older age group are not sure how they will repay their mortgage in full. One in five are pinning their hopes on a capital lump sum, while one in six think they will use their pension.
“People can access their pension from age 55 and can take 25% as a tax-free lump sum. With mortgage rates rising so rapidly, it may be tempting to tap the pension to pay off a home loan.
“Having a mortgage that runs into retirement can be a problem, because repayments can mean people have to take more out of their pensions in the early years.
“Anyone who is considering this must bear in mind the potential impact of using up tax-free cash early on in retirement and then running the risk of not having enough money later on to maintain enough income for a decent living standard.
“Pensions are designed to provide this income. While it can make sense to use some of the pot to pay off mortgages, it’s good to be aware of what this can do to living standards in retirement.”
Working longer to pay the mortgage
Almost one-in-five (19%, Table 3) mortgage holder respondents over the age of 55 are not working, with 22% saying they work part-time and 59% working full-time. Looking just at respondents aged over 65 who have a mortgage, the majority of whom will also be in receipt of the State Pension, 65% said they are still working full-time or part-time, suggesting that the need to continue to repay a home loan keeps people in work for longer.
There was a correlation between employment status and repayment type, with full-time workers over age 55 more likely to be making capital mortgage repayments and unemployed people more likely to be making interest-only payments, which tend to be lower.
Later life rate rise expectations
Almost half (47%, Table 5) of homeowner respondents aged over 55 identified their current mortgage interest rate as between 2 and 4%, with 12% on a lower rate of 1 to 2% and 25% on a rate of 4 to 5%. Just over one in 10 said they are paying between 5 and 6%, and 5% said their mortgage rate was over 6% (Table 4 below).
Just over a quarter (28%, Table 6) of those surveyed noted that their current mortgage deal is coming to an end either this year or in 2024. The vast majority (76%) of over 55s expect their repayments to increase in the next few years – at a time in life when people ideally look forward to lower housing costs.
