Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Can chocolate be healthy?
The 7th of July marks World Chocolate Day and we are taking the opportunity to talk about one of the nation’s favourite snacks!
Many of us are fond of this creamy confectionary and there has been various health claims made over the years. In this #HealthyTip we look at chocolate and discuss how it can form part of a balanced and heart-healthy diet.
What is chocolate?
Chocolate is made with the cocoa bean which contains substances called polyphenols. These contain antioxidants that help protect against heart disease and lower cholesterol.
Cocoa beans are processed to make cocoa solids that are used in chocolate. Cocoa solids on their own contain no added sugar and contain some fibre making them heart healthy. However, most chocolate consumed contains lots of added sugar and fat which makes it not so heart healthy.
What chocolate is healthiest?
Dark chocolate is the best option as it contains more cocoa solids (which contain the heart-healthy stuff).
The higher the percentage of cocoa solids the better, so try choosing ones with 70% cocoa solids or more. Avoid milk and white chocolate as these are low in cocoa solids and high in fat and sugar.
Enjoy as part of a balanced diet
Chocolate can be enjoyed as part of a healthy, balanced diet and there is no need to feel guilty for eating it.
The key is to swap it for a healthier version (dark chocolate) and consume it in moderation as it is still high in saturated fat and calories which consumed in excess can lead to weight gain and contribute to high cholesterol and heart diseases.
For the opening weekend of the Festival, Princes St Gardens will host a range of free open-air concerts including performances from over 300 young Scottish musicians, GRIT Orchestra and three national youth companies
Charlotte Square Gardens open to the public for the final weekend of the Festival, in a free-access outdoor musical soundscape of recorded performances from the 2023 programme
In-conversation, low-cost, events take over the Scottish Parliament in a first-time partnership with the Festival of Politics
The Festival’s HQ on the Royal Mile, The Hub, is open to the public in the daytime, for a programme of free afternoon sessions to deepen engagement with artists and creatives
A range of 39 free events have today been added to Edinburgh International Festival’s 2023 programme, the first from incoming Festival Director Nicola Benedetti.
The free events, and two low-cost in-conversation events, capture the spirit of community and the joy of music making, and join over 300 performances from the world’s leading performers of music, theatre and dance, that take over Edinburgh’s venues and concert halls from 4-27 August 2023.
An Opening Fanfare Weekend taking place from 5-6 August, features brass bands and pipers, rappers and choirs, as over 300 young musicians from Scotland’s vibrant homegrown music scene assemble for an energetic weekend of music-making in Princes St Gardens.
On Saturday 5 August, between 12pm – 5pm Scottish youth and amateur ensembles take over three pop-up stages in the gardens, culminating in a final moment of joint music making at the end of the day. Ensembles featured include Intercultural Youth Scotland, Drake Music Scotland, Tinderbox Collective, Musicians in Exile and the Edinburgh Ukrainian Choir ‘Oberih’. All performances onSaturday are free and entry is non-ticketed.
Sunday 6 August sees an epic set from the thrilling GRIT Orchestra as well as performances from three National Youth Companies, TheNational Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and National Youth Brass Bands of Scotland.
GRIT Orchestra willshowcase their unique blend of Celtic and world music traditions and perform tracks from their seminal albums GRIT and Bothy Culture by the late Martyn Bennett and arranged by Greg Lawson.
In a truly memorable manifestation of the first week’s theme:community over chaos, the group will also perform a world premiere work composed for the 2023 Festival, accompanied by over 100 young people. Performances on Sunday take place between 2pm and 4:30pm are free, with limited tickets available for the seated arena in front of the Ross Bandstand. Full schedule below.
Over at The Hub, the International Festival’s home on the Royal Mile, an inaugural programme of afternoon sessions includes free artist conversations, performances and listening experiences.
Designed to deepen the level of experience for audiences and give an insight into aspects of performers’ artistic practice, the programme features artists from across the 2023 Festival. The Hub programme is supported by long-standing Festival Partner, The University of Edinburgh. BSL interpretation and live captions will be available across the whole programme of The Hub afternoon talks.
From the 2023 theatre programme, writer Nat McCleary and director Johnny McKnight of National Theatre of Scotland take us behind the scenes of new Scottish play Thrown; Life is a Dream creatives Nick Omerod and Declan Donnellan of Cheek by Jowl discuss international collaboration in theatre, with Spanish interpreter Juan Ollero, an in-conversation with As Far As Impossible’s director, and director of Festival d’Avignon, Tiago Rodrigues, and an afternoon with Geoff Sobelle, award-winning theatre artist, clown and creator of immersive workFOOD.
From the 2023 music programme, a deep dive into the music and story of Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhaüser, a performance and demonstration of Rachmaninoff’s stylings by British-Ukrainian pianist Alexei Grynyuk; and a discussion on musical innovation from experimental composer, DJ and producer Matthew Herbert around his world premiere album The Horse and its fascinating journey uncovering the musical potential within a horse skeleton.
The International Festival also hosts two special events in another new location, the Scottish Parliament, in a first-time partnership with the Festival of Politics.
The Debating Chamber will see two In Conversation events featuring two major creatives from the International Festival programme: Gustavo Dudamel, one of the world’s foremost music conductors, will be joined by Clare Adamson MSP, Convener, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, on Friday 25 August, and the world’s premier solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie OBE will be in conversation with the Deputy Presiding Officer Liam McArthur MSP on Wednesday 9 August.
Both artists will discuss their storied careers as well as the key question posed by the International Festival this year: where do we go from here? A panel session exploring the future of the arts and culture will also be part of this series, on Thursday 10 August.
Other talks presented in partnership with the Festival of Politics will take place in The Hub and explore principles behind the International Festival’s 2023 programme:
Community over chaosis discussed by Nigel Osbourne OBE, composer, teacher and aid-worker pioneering music therapy techniques with war traumatised children, in conversation with Travis Alabanza, award-winning writer and performer known for their work surrounding gender, trans identity and race. The talk will be chaired by TV and radio presenter Gemma Cairney;
Hope in the face of adversity and the power of creativity in adverse circumstances isexplored by former Makar, or National Poet of Scotland, Jackie Kay and British-Iranian artist Fari Bradley, chaired by Jenny Niven.
A perspective that’s not one’s own is unpacked by author Dina Nayeri and cultural development specialist Fairouz Nishanova, chaired by author and journalist Chitra Ramaswamy. Nayeri’s latest book, ‘Who Gets Believed?’ is a reckoning with believability in Western culture, beginning with the question ‘why are honest asylum seekers dismissed as liars?’. Nishanova is the director of the Aga Khan Music Programme, aimed at revitalising musical heritage around the world in societies where Muslims have a significant presence.
On the final weekend of the Festival, the gardens at Charlotte Square will be opened to the public as a musical oasis, where a soundscape of recorded music from the 2023 International Festival classical music concerts will play throughout the garden. The soundscape will also feature Beethoven’s 9th alongside archival recordings.
From our stages to your home, audiences can also enjoy recorded music from across the 2023 programme on BBC Radio 3. A full schedule of media broadcasts can be found at eif.co.uk.
A new series of audio introductions hosted by Nicola Benedetti and BBC Radio’s Tom Service will share further insight into music and theatre from the 2023 programme through conversations with creatives involved.
For full information on Edinburgh International Festival’s 2023 programme of free and ticketed events, visit www.eif.co.uk.
Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director,Edinburgh International Festival said: “Our free programming sees iconic spaces around Edinburgh come alive with some incredible artists.
“I’m particularly proud that there are opportunities like this for our audiences and community members to get closer to the artists across our 2023 Festival programme. It’s our audiences who play a key part in creating the magic of what takes place on our stages and upholding the wonderful standards of this world-class event.
“A festival is a place of joy and discovery, and I hope everyone will get involved and come together to experience some of this magic this August.”
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting Edinburgh International Festival’s free-to-attend Opening Fanfare Weekend. The family-friendly event promises audiences an up-close and personal connection to Scotland’s vibrant music scene, all against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle in Princes St Gardens.
“Having events that appeal to both residents and visitors alike enables us to connect and share memorable experiences while showcasing Scotland as the perfect stage for events.
“We wish Nicola Benedetti, in her first year as Festival Director, and all of the extended team, performers and audiences a very special Festival filled with discovery and delight.”
Detectives in Edinburgh are appealing for information after a man was seriously assaulted in the city.
The 30-year-old man was assaulted around 3.30 am on Saturday, 1 July, 2023, on Victoria Street near the Grassmarket area.
He suffered a facial injury and was taken to The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.
Detective Constable Christopher Stewart of CID said: “We are looking to trace a man aged between 18 and 24 years old.
“We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time. We would also be eager to hear from motorists travelling in the area who have dash-cam. Please check the footage, as it may have captured something which could prove vital to our ongoing enquiries.
“Any small piece of information could assist our enquiries, so please pass it on. Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting 0752 of 1 July, 2023.”
At the end of September last year, the Scottish Government and COSLA launched a new long-term strategy for suicide prevention, Creating Hope Together.On Thursday (28th June) the next, important step in that journey took place with an event at Borders College in Galashiels …
Suicide prevention will be ramped up as the Government and COSLA publish a 10-year strategy to tackle the factors and inequalities that can lead to suicide.
The strategy will draw on levers across national and local government to address the underlying social issues that can cause people to feel suicidal, while making sure the right support is there for people and their families.
This fresh approach will help people at the earliest possible opportunity and aim to reduce the number of suicides – ensuring efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, debt, and addiction include measures to address suicide.
The Scottish Government will fund the Scottish Recovery Network as part of the initial three-year action plan. This will boost community peer-support groups to allow people to discuss their feelings and drive down suicide.
The strategy is supported by record funding through the Programme for Government commitment to double the annual budget to £2.8 million by 2025-2026. It will build on the work of the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group and continue delivering the existing ‘Every Life Matters’ action plan.
Launching the ‘Creating Hope Together: Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2022-2032’, Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Every death by suicide is a tragedy and, while the number of deaths have fallen in recent years, I want to use every lever at our disposal to drive that down further.
“That’s why we are taking a new approach to suicide prevention – considering all the social issues that can lead people to feel suicidal, while supporting those contemplating suicide and their loved ones.
“Peer support is an effective way to support people in their communities, helping them to feel heard and understood. I’m pleased this strategy will provide funding for the Scottish Recovery Network to continue its vital work for people experiencing – and recovering from – mental health issues.”
Councillor Kelly, the COSLA Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This approach to suicide prevention will build on the work taking place across local areas in Scotland.
“It will see the partnerships across communities strengthened and build on the collaboration between local and national work to ensure we share the knowledge and insights to help drive suicide prevention forward.
“This strategy will see work which reaches into new areas beyond the traditional settings of health and social care such as education, justice and physical activity, so we can truly see suicide prevention as Everyone’s Business.”
An important part of the new strategy and action plan is the launch of a new delivery model which we’re calling Suicide Prevention Scotland to drive the action plan.
The model is actually really simple.
We’re a community of people working together across different parts of Scotland to prevent suicide across our country. We will be developing strong partnerships, and using these to learn from best practice
Whether at local or national level, or within a key sector, we’re working as one group, to deliver a range of meaningful programmes of work as set out in the action plan.
Everything we do will be informed by the critical insight of lived, academic, professional and practice experience.
APPOINTMENT OF NATIONAL DELIVERY LEAD FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
Haylis Smith has been appointed to lead delivery of the action plan on behalf of the Scottish Government and COSLA, as the Suicide Prevention Scotland National Delivery Lead.
This is a new role, and Haylis brings more than two decades of experience leading work to prevent suicide.
STRATEGIC OUTCOME LEADS ANNOUNCED
The Creating Hope Together strategy has four key outcomes.
These are the areas the strategy sets out where real change is needed to prevent suicide.
To develop a partnership approach to the work, a strategic partner(s) has been appointed to drive delivery. They are:
Creating a safer environment that protects against suicide – Samaritans
Improving understanding of suicide and tackling stigma – SAMH
Working in a connected way, that always draws on evidence and lived experience – Public Health Scotland
As we move forward, we expect even more new partnerships and alliances to be created to deliver the action plan.
This is an important part of the culture we’re creating in our Suicide Prevention Scotland.
OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK
The Scottish Government and COSLA today also published an outcomes framework.
This sets out how our actions will build over the next ten years to achieve our vision of reducing suicide, whilst tackling the inequalities which contribute to suicide. It will support how we plan, measure and report the difference we are making on the ground.
With a new innovative delivery partnership in place, the Scottish Government and COSLA have identified priorities for the first year of the strategy, with a real focus on reaching people with a higher risk of suicide.
These have been informed by people with professional, academic, lived and practice experience.
They are:
We will activate the whole of Government and society policy package — so that a wide range of Government policies and their delivery on the ground — are working to prevent suicide. We will make the strongest connections possible with policies which address the social determinants of suicide, such as poverty and homelessness. We will also make sure we use all the touch points that people have with services to proactively be alert to suicide risk and offer compassionate support.
We will focus on improving safety at key locations of concern for suicide.
We will build on the Time Space Compassion approach, to keep improving the way people are supported and cared for when they are suicidal. We will focus our work in primary care, unscheduled care, and community settings.
We will support new peer support groups right across Scotland.
We will build more understanding of suicide risk and behaviour amongst children and young people and use that to improve responses.
We will keep raising awareness and improving learning about suicide. We will target our work, so we build this understanding in sectors that support groups with a higher risk of suicide. Our current work in West Highlands and Skye will help us build greater understanding of what encourages particular groups to seek help.
We will develop an online portal which hosts information and advice on suicide, to help people who may be suicidal and anyone worried for someone, as well as professionals.
We will roll-out suicide reviews and improve data to help redesign the way support is given to people who are suicidal — ensuring that support is both timely and effective.
We will work with partners in high-risk settings for suicide, to build effective and compassionate suicide prevention action plans.
And last but not least, we will step up our United to Prevent Suicide social movement with a new focus on boosting employer engagement and reaching groups most likely to be affected by suicide. We will continue to be creative, using different mediums, such as sport and social media, to tackle stigma and create ways for people to talk safely about suicide.
A NEW ADVISORY GROUP
The new National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group will play a vital role.
They will provide independent assurance and advice to the Scottish Government and COSLA on progress, informed by the new outcomes framework.
Rose Fitzpatrick CBE QPM will chair this new group.
Its members represent many of the sectors leading work on the social determinants of suicide, including poverty, as well as partners who are working in key sectors affected by suicide — such as the criminal justice sector.
Members have all been selected to help us understand suicide better.
They will help us sharpen focus on the complexity, intersectionality and inequality of suicide.
Doing so will help us deliver impactful actions. We are sure their collective professional insights and passion for the mission, will also make a great difference to our work.
The new group’s membership is:
Rose Fitzpatrick CBE QPM — Chair
Cath Denholm — Executive Director, Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland
Dr Linda Findlay — Chair, Royal College of Psychiatrists Scotland
Louise Hunter— Chief Executive, Who Cares? Scotland
Dr Douglas Hutchison — President of the Association of Directors of Education Scotland
Peter Kelly — Director, Poverty Alliance
Sheriff David Mackie — Board Member, Scottish Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders
Catherine McWilliam — Director of Nations, Institute of Directors
Brendan Rooney — Executive Director, Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust
Dr Andrea Williamson — Professor of General Practice and Inclusion Health, University of Glasgow
CREATING HOPE IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS
As part of today’s Go Live event in Galashiels, we’ve published a new film that explores suicide prevention work in the Scottish Borders. It tells the story of how the local approach has been refreshed in light of the new national strategy’s approach.
Highlighting the range and depth of partnerships across the area, we hear powerful stories of how a community is coming together to prevent suicide.
You are welcome to use this video, crediting Suicide Prevention Scotland. Please do note edit the video. Closed caption files are available, here.
REFLECTING ON TODAY’S UPDATES
Suicide Prevention Scotland’s new National Delivery Lead Haylis Smith has welcomed today’s announcements: “There has been a huge amount of detailed work over the last eight months to operationalise the Creating Hope Together strategy and action plan.
“Our delivery collective, Suicide Prevention Scotland, is an innovative approach to working together as a suicide prevention community.
“It includes people working across the public, private, and third sectors as well as community groups. Importantly, it also includes many people with lived experience of suicide. This approach builds on the work of the last five years.
“The shared goal is — of course — to prevent suicide, but we’re also focused on how we’ll do this. We will create safer environments, understand better the factors which contribute to suicide, and provide support to those affected. And we will work collaboratively, using evidence and the insight of those with lived experience.
“It’s also important to stress that our work will also focus on addressing inequalities and the needs of those at higher risk of suicide. This will include work to address the needs of children and young people. Our Youth Advisory Group will play a key role in supporting this.”
Minister for Mental Health Maree Todd MSP said: “Together with COSLA we are fully committed to reducing suicide deaths in Scotland.
“This announcement of our year one priorities is a real milestone in delivering our new ambitious strategy Creating Hope Together, and we are focusing on reaching people who may be at risk of suicide and working to tackle the inequalities which can lead to suicide.
“Our new innovative partnership model is now in place to deliver this ambition programme of work, and our new Advisory Group brings great expertise and impartiality to oversee and champion the work, making sure our work leads to real change on the ground right across Scotland.
“I am pleased to say that the Scottish Government is well on track to doubling the suicide prevention budget by 2026, with funding last year well over £2 million.
“I would like to pay real thanks to the Suicide Prevention Lived Experience Panel and Youth Advisory Group, and all partners. I look forward to undertaking this incredibly important work together.”
COSLA’s Health & Social Care spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly said: “I am delighted that COSLA is part of the newly announced suicide prevention delivery collective, ‘Suicide Prevention Scotland’.
“We were proud to launch Creating Hope Together — an ambitious Suicide Prevention Strategy — with the Scottish Government last year.
“The announcements today represent a key milestone for the strategy, and one which recognises that we can ultimately support more people who are affected by suicide when we work in partnership.
“The National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group’s membership brings a broad range of expertise and experience which will also help us understand how we can better address the inequalities people experience.
“The strategy outcomes are ambitious and rightly so — together we can and will reduce the number of suicide deaths in Scotland.
“We thank those working in suicide prevention in Scotland for their ongoing commitment and are looking forward to continuing this vital work.”
We also encourage calling out for people who may be at risk and recommend the following:
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116123 or BreathingSpace on 0800835887.
TEmpty Kitchens Full Hearts to receive a share of £30k fund to help people facing food inequality
Barratt Developments Scotland, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has donated £30,000 to help provide support for children and adults impacted by food inequality.
Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts, based in West Granton has provided more than 1.6 million free meals since its launch in 2020. The charity turns surplus food into nourishing meals for people that need them, reaching the most marginalised people across the city.
Emily Gifford, Fundraising Manager at Empty Kitchens Full hearts said:“This generous support from Barratt Developments Scotland will go directly towards cooking, packing, and delivering meals to people in need across Edinburgh, as well as signposting towards other relevant support services.
“At the moment, we’re working with around 700 people each week who are facing diverse challenges including poverty, short and long-term physical and mental health conditions, social isolation, unemployment, and debt. We are looking forward to working with the Foundation over the coming year to provide support to people throughout the city.”
“Charities like Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts, Launch Foods and Dundee Bairns are providing vital support to families and individuals facing food poverty during a period where food prices among costs of other everyday items are increasingly rising.
“From tackling food poverty and supporting those with cancer, we’re pleased to be able to provide some support to help these charities continue their life-changing work.”
For more information on Barratt Developments Scotland, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, visit https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/
BOYACK: ‘Delayed discharge is piling pressure on our hospitals’
Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has warned that delayed discharge in Lothian is “piling pressure on hospitals” as a new report reveals the issue cost NHS Lothian more that £28million in 2022/23.
Delayed discharge figures monitor the number of days patients spend in hospital despite being fit to leave, typically because of a lack of social care services in their area.
Over the course of the year, a total of 97,118 bed days in NHS Lothian were lost to delayed discharge, as rates across Scotland hit a record high.
This includes 70,208 bed days in the City of Edinburgh.
Analysis by Scottish Labour has revealed that the approximate cost of delayed discharge to NHS Lothian in 2022/23 was an eye-watering £28,368,168.
Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “Delayed discharge in Edinburgh is piling pressure on our hospitals and threatening patients’ recovery.
“Our NHS is at breaking point and every penny matters, and it is a scandal that NHS Lothian has been forced to foot a £28million bill for SNP incompetence.
“Social care in Edinburgh and the Lothian is crying out for help, but the SNP’s botched National Care Service plans will do nothing but centralise local services.
“It is high time for the Scottish Government to step up and provide unwavering support for our social care services and increase pay for the sector’s dedicated workers, so no-one is left languishing in hospital waiting for a care package.”
Temporary road closures will be in place this week across Edinburgh’s city centre as the city prepares to host a major ceremonial event to mark the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
On Wednesday (5 July) the King will be presented with the Honours of Scotland (Scottish Crown Jewels) at a national service of thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral following processions on the Royal Mile.
The Council is working with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to safely accommodate the large crowds of people expected to line the city’s streets in celebration of this historic occasion.
Residents and visitors are being urged to plan ahead and avoid any non-essential travel in and around the Old Town on Wednesday afternoon. People should check the Council website, which is being updated with details of road closures and other public transport information.
Lord Lieutenant Robert Aldridge said: “The eyes of the world will be upon us once again as we mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla. I’m quite sure it will be another proud day for the Capital.
“Given the scale and significance of these ceremonial events, we have to be prepared for disruption across the city, but particularly in the Old Town. We’re working with our partners to manage this as best we can and to keep residents, businesses and visitors updated on the events.
“For those who wish to enjoy the Royal and People’s Processions, I urge you to please plan ahead and keep an eye on our website and social media channels for the latest advice and guidance.”
POLICE have announced that temporary airspace restrictions will be in place from 7am Monday 3 July until 4pm Friday 7 July in Edinburgh city centre ‘for security and your safety’.
Restrictions include drones.
You must check if it is legal to fly in your area.
The @edintravel traffic information team will be carefully monitoring the city’s roads, sharing the latest information on disruption and diversions on Twitter.
Tax credits customers have a month to renew their claim or risk having their payments stopped, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned.
The annual deadline is 31 July and more than 300,000 customers who received a renewal pack with a red line across the first page and the words ‘reply now’ still need to confirm their circumstances for the current tax year to continue receiving payments.
Circumstances that could affect tax credits payments include changes to living arrangements, childcare, working hours or a change in income.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director-General for Customer Services, said: “Please act now to meet the 31 July deadline for renewing your tax credits or your payments could stop.
“There is no need to call us, it is quick and easy to renew via GOV.UK or the HMRC app. For details on how to renew, search ‘manage my tax credits’ on GOV.UK.”
HMRC sent out two types of renewal packs to 1.5 million customers between 2 May and 15 June 2023. These were:
· ‘reply now’ packs had a red line across the first page and the words ‘reply now’. Customers must confirm their circumstances to renew their tax credits
· ‘check now’ packs had a black line across the first page and the words ‘check now.’ Customers whose details are correct do not need to do anything and their tax credits will be automatically renewed
Criminals do use tax credits renewals and other deadlines in scams to attempt to trick people into sharing their banking or other personal details. Typical scam examples include emails or texts claiming an individual’s details aren’t up to date and that they risk losing out on payments that are due to them.
If a phone call, text or email is unexpected, do not give out private information or reply, and do not download attachments or click on links.
By the end of 2024, tax credits will be replaced by Universal Credit. Customers who receive tax credits will receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) telling them when to claim Universal Credit. It is important that customers claim by the deadline in the letter to continue receiving financial support as their tax credits will end even if they decide not to claim Universal Credit.
The government is offering Help for Households. Check GOV.UK to find out what cost of living support individuals could be eligible for.
A European mission to explore how gravity, dark energy and dark matter has shaped the Universe has launched following £37 million UK Space Agency funding.
The Euclid space telescope will map the “dark Universe” by observing billions of galaxies out to 10 billion lightyears, across more than a third of the sky, to gather data on how its structure has formed over its cosmic history.
Led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and a consortium of 2,000 scientists across 16 countries, Euclid will spend six years venturing through space with two scientific instruments: a UK-built visible imager (VIS) that will become one of the largest cameras ever sent into space, and a near infrared spectrometer and photometer, developed in France.
Secretary of State for Science and Technology Chloe Smith said: “The launch of the Euclid mission is a truly significant moment. Backed by £37 million in UK funding and supported by our remarkable scientific talent and expertise, the mission will launch one of the largest cameras ever into space to look out across our universe.
“The mission will gain unparalleled insight into the mysteries of how the Universe was formed, delivering ground-breaking discoveries that will redefine what we know about space.”
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “Watching the launch of Euclid, I feel inspired by the years of hard work from thousands of people that go into space science missions, and the fundamental importance of discovery – how we set out to understand and explore the Universe.
“The UK Space Agency’s £37 million investment in Euclid has supported world-class science on this journey, from the development of the ground segment to the build of the crucial visible imager instrument, which will help humanity begin to uncover the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.”
The Euclid spacecraft being loaded into the SpaceX Falcon 9 fairing ahead of launch, on 27 June 2023. Credit: SpaceX.
Euclid took off on board a SpaceX spacecraft from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 4.12pm (BST) on 1 July.
The UK Space Agency’s funding goes back to 2010, up to 2024, and is divided between teams at University College London, The Open University, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Oxford, University of Portsmouth and Durham University.
All these institutions have contributed to the development and implementation of the Euclid UK Science Ground Segment (UKSGS), which runs the Euclid data analysis. Led by the University of Edinburgh, which hosts Euclid’s UK Science Data Centre (SDC-UK), the UKSGS will process hundreds of petabytes of data over the next six years to produce maps of the galaxies and dark matter of the Universe.
The wider Euclid Consortium includes experts from 300 organisations across 13 European countries, the US, Canada and Japan.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) also contributed to design and development work on Euclid instrumentation and provided funding to UK astronomy teams who will analyse the data returned from the mission, including studies on the physics responsible for the observed accelerated expansion of the Universe.
Executive Chair at STFC Professor Mark Thomson said: “Euclid will answer some of the biggest and most profound questions we have about the Universe and dark energy. Congratulations to everyone involved in the design, construction and launch of Euclid – we are opening a new window on the cosmos.
“This is a fantastic example of close collaboration between scientists, engineers, technicians, and astronomers across Europe working together to tackle some of the biggest questions in science.”
Research funded by the UK Space Agency
University College London (MSSL and P&A) – Design, build and testing of Euclid’s VIS optical camera (£20.5 million)
UCL researchers have led on designing, building and testing the VIS optical camera, one of Euclid’s two instruments, working with teams at Open University as well as in France, Italy and Switzerland.
The core electronics for the instrument, including its complex array of 36 CCDs (that convert photons into electrons), were built at UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory.
The camera, one of the largest ever sent into space, will take high resolution, panoramic images of a large swathe of the Universe, going back 10 billion years and covering a third of the night sky.
Professor Benjamin Joachimi (UCL Physics & Astronomy) is also playing a key role in the ground-based part of the mission (the ground segment), converting Euclid’s raw data into statistical summaries that can be compared to our current theoretical models of the universe.
Professor Mark Cropper, leader of the VIS camera team at UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory, said: “The VIS instrument will image a large swathe of the distant Universe with almost the fine resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope, observing more of the Universe in one day than Hubble did in 25 years.
“The data will allow us to infer the distribution of dark matter across the Universe more precisely than ever before. The galaxies being imaged are up to 10 billion years old so we will also see how dark matter has evolved over most of the Universe’s history. The Universe on this scale has not yet been seen in this level of detail.”
Professor Tom Kitching, one of four science co-ordinators for Euclid, said: “The puzzles we hope to address are fundamental. Are our models of the Universe correct?
“What is dark energy? Is it vacuum energy – the energy of virtual particles popping in and out of existence in empty space? Is it a new particle field that we didn’t expect? Or it may be Einstein’s theory of gravity that is wrong.
“Whatever the answer, a revolution in physics is almost guaranteed.”
University of Edinburgh (£8.9 million)
Edinburgh has been involved in the design and build of Euclid from its earliest days – leading the Euclid gravitational lensing data analysis, the UK Data Science Analysis and host to the UK’s Euclid Science Data Centre which will process hundreds of petabytes of data throughout the mission.
Professor Andy Taylor, leader of the gravitational lensing analysis for Euclid, the UK’s Euclid Science Data Analysis and SDC-UK, said: “This is a very exciting time for astronomy, and cosmology in particular.
“Euclid is designed to answer some of the biggest questions we have about the Universe. It has been a lot of hard work by many scientists to get here, but the results could change how we understand nature.
Professor Alkistis Pourtsidou, leader of Euclid’s nonlinear modelling team said: “Euclid is going to provide a very large and very detailed 3D map of the Universe, across the sky and along time.
“This map is a remarkable achievement combining state-of-the-art science and engineering. We want to extract the maximum amount of information from it and use it to figure out how nature works at the most fundamental level.
Dr Alex Hall, deputy leader of the gravitational lensing science working group, said: With the launch of Euclid begins an astronomical observing campaign that is amongst the most ambitious ever attempted.
“By imaging over a billion galaxies, Euclid will allow us to make a map of dark matter with unprecedented precision that will answer fundamental questions about our Universe. The next few years are going to be very exciting, and it is a privilege to be part of this incredible project.”
University of Oxford – Developing lensing signal measurement and correction for the effects of telescope and detectors on the data (£2.1 million)
Oxford’s Department of Physics has played a significant role in the lensing data analysis. As well as contributing to the development of the method used to measure the lensing signal, the team have specialised in correcting for the effects that the telescope and imaging detectors have on the data.
No telescope system is perfect – there is always some blurring and distortion of the images – and Oxford’s role has been not only to build the software models but also to devise ways of calibrating those models using dedicated in-orbit data from Euclid. These are crucial steps that allow the lensing measurements to be used to explore the dark side of our Universe.
Professor Lance Miller, leader of the work at the University of Oxford, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time.
“This space mission is the result of years of work and for us here in Oxford, that work continues as we put the finishing touches to the software that will be analysing some of the first Euclid data sent back to Earth, from August onwards.
“I have been working on Euclid since its inception, so to have reached this major milestone today is extraordinary. It is fantastic to be part of a mission that could play a fundamental role in our understanding of the Universe.
University of Portsmouth – Writing code for data analysis (£1.8 million)
The University of Portsmouth’s team, led by Ernest Rutherford Fellow, Dr Seshadri Nadathur, has been working with the wider European team, writing code that will help analyse data from the spacecraft.
Dr Seshadri Nadathur, from Portsmouth’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, said: “Galaxies are not randomly scattered around the sky – instead there are patterns in their positions that are relics of correlations created at the time of the Big Bang, shaped over billions of years by the interplay of gravity pulling galaxies together and the expansion of the Universe driving them apart.
“By measuring and understanding these patterns in the maps Euclid will provide, we will learn about the mysterious force of dark energy that seems to be driving the Universe to expand ever faster.
“The team at Portsmouth has been busy developing and testing software that builds the maps and allows them to correct for any spurious patterns in the galaxy positions that arise purely due to variations in the performance of the telescope and instruments, so that we can isolate the true cosmological patterns we are interested in.”
Durham University – Building Euclid tolerance to radiation and supercomputer mock data (£1.3 million)
Professor Richard Massey, of Durham University’s Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy/Institute for Computational Cosmology, is a founder of the Euclid mission and has been developing its design and science goals for 20 years.
Work from a team of international researchers has included making Euclid’s camera more tolerant to the high radiation environment in which it will need to survive above the Earth’s atmosphere, learning from our experience with the Hubble Space Telescope.
As well as leading on Euclid’s radiation monitoring and mitigation strategy, Durham has used supercomputer simulation capabilities to create mock data to train Euclid’s analysis software, which will be compared against the spacecraft’s real observations.
Professor Richard Massey said: “When exploring any wild new frontier, the first step is to map the land. Euclid will make the largest ever map (with a tiny ‘you are here’ at the centre) and will show the invisible Universe.
“By revealing where dark matter and dark energy hide, we hope to take the second step – to discover what they are and trigger a gold rush of new science about how they behave.
“Euclid is like the Hubble Space Telescope, but with a wide-angle view. It will let astronomers stand back and see the sweeping vista of the Universe – but with the same high-resolution detail.
“Exploring and mapping new frontiers is the most human thing possible. Helping shape our next look into the dark has been a privilege.
“It has taken 20 years to make Euclid’s technology possible, engineer its details, and navigate the politics of competing against other proposed missions that would all discover amazing things. That rocket carries the sense of exploration and lifetimes’ work of thousands of scientists and engineers.”
The Open University – Developing and testing VIS detectors (£1.2 million)
The Open University’s Centre for Electronic Imaging (CEI) has been involved in developing the detectors for the VIS instrument and testing how they will perform in the harsh radiation environment in space.
The team will continue to monitor the detectors during the mission, to help mitigate the effects of the damage caused by high energy particles outside the Earth’s protective atmosphere, allowing Euclid to return the best possible science for the mission lifetime.
Dr Jesper Skottfelt, CEI Fellow at The Open University, said: “After 15 years of CEI involvement in the Euclid mission, it is exciting to see the spacecraft being launched.
“Our study of the VIS detectors has led to the development of new techniques to correct the effects of radiation damage which will enhance science return for this and future space missions.
“We look forward to seeing the progress Euclid will deliver towards answering some of the most fundamental questions we have about our Universe.
University of Cambridge – Developing astrometric calibration pipeline for Euclid image data (£870,000)
The University of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy (IoA) team has been involved in Euclid since 2010, supporting development of the astrometric calibration pipeline for the optical image data from Euclid, ensuring that the positions of the billions of sources to be imaged by Euclid can be determined to exquisite accuracy.
Nicholas Walton, leader of the IoA Euclid team and a Director of Research at the University of Cambridge, said: Dark energy and dark matter fundamentally govern the formation and evolution of our Universe.
“The Euclid mission will finally uncover the mysteries of how these ‘dark’ forces have shaped the cosmos that we see today, from life here on Earth, to our Sun, our Milky Way, our nearby galaxy neighbours, and the wider Universe beyond.”
Known for throwing back pints of beer while fearlessly throwing themselves around on stage, all-female Australian troupe YUCK Circus have now partnered with local Edinburgh brewery Pilot Beer to help raise money for charity SHE Scotland during this year’s Festival Fringe.
YUCK Circus and Pilot Beer first collaborated back in 2019 when the Leith-based brewers provided the troupe with beer to drink during their Fringe performances. This year, Pilot are brewing a special edition beer just for YUCK called Upside Down Lager – light, bright and fruity, it’s a juicy pineapple and cherry lager, loosely based on the flavours of a pineapple upside down cake.
A portion of the proceeds from every sale of the beer will go to local charity SHE Scotland through Pilot’s Drinklusion fundraising initiative.
YUCK Circus director Georgia Deguara said the Pilot Beer partnership provided an “incredible opportunity to not only decrease the stigma around ‘unladylike’ drinking habits, but to also encourage more female representation in the brewing industry”.
“We try to give back to the community wherever we tour, and by collaborating with a local company like Pilot Beer we are able to not only promote the fabulous beers they brew, but also raise money for SHE Scotland, an organisation that is empowering women, inspiring youth and talking periods – doing incredible work in Scotland.”
Since winning the 2019 Fringe World top-tier Martin Sims award and Adelaide Fringe Best Emerging Artist with their self-titled debut, YUCK Circus has been touring internationally, picking up dozens of awards and 5-star reviews, and thrilling thousands from the public along the way.
The troupe uses impressive acrobatics and aerial performance to explore the grotesque nature of beauty standards, bougie art and to challenge gender misconceptions. Presenting their real experiences in full comedy, YUCK makes ‘gross’ topics as inclusive as they are entertaining.
Matt Johnson, Co-Founder Pilot Beer, said: “We’re delighted to be once again teaming up with the incredible YUCK Circus team, this time by making a bespoke beer that both celebrates the high-energy acrobatics and highlights the fruity tastes of summer.
“The fact that we’re also able to distribute a portion of the proceeds to a charity like SHE Scotland through our Drinklusion program makes the collaboration even more worthwhile.”
Karen Anderson, founder of SHE Scotland, said: “The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has always been about bringing community together, and we are so grateful that YUCK Circus and Pilot Beer have decided to support our charity in their partnership this year.
“The funds raised will go towards our many programs and workshops, which are designed to increase self-esteem, build relationships and improve the life chances of women and girls across Scotland.”
The YUCK Circus Upside Down Lager will be available to purchase in cans from Pilot Beer and behind selected bars in Edinburgh from late July. A portion of sales will be donated to SHE Scotland under Pilot Beer’s Drinklusion scheme.
YUCK Circus is performing at the Palais du Variété in Assembly George Square Gardens from 02 – 28 August this Edinburgh Fringe. Tickets are available now from the Assembly Festival box office, www.assemblyfestival.com.
POLICE have announced that temporary airspace restrictions will be in place from 7am Monday 3 July until 4pm Friday 7 July in Edinburgh city centre ‘for security and your safety’. 
