Day: December 20, 2023

Aldi donates £50,000 to amateur Scottish sports clubs in 2023

Retailer’s Scottish Sports Fund initiative has supported more than 60 clubs this year

Aldi Scotland has revealed that it has donated £50,000 to amateur sports clubs this year, supporting more than 60 local clubs across six Scottish regions.  

The retailer’s ‘Scottish Sports Fund’ encourages people of all ages and abilities to participate in physical activity within their local communities. It also provides a funding pot for sports clubs to apply for financial support ranging from £500 to £2,500 to help with purchasing new equipment or team kits.  

Since launching in 2016, almost 600 clubs in Scotland have benefitted from a funding worth more than £390,000, as part of Aldi Scotland’s goal to improve community access to sports across the country.  

This year, funds have been donated to sports teams across the country, including Edinburgh, Dundee, Tayside, Perth, Kinross, Fife, Glasgow, the North East, the Highlands and Islands, and Central Scotland.  

One benefactor was the 2011 Girls Team at Musselburgh Windsor Girls Football Club, who received the top award of £2,500. One of the oldest and largest youth football clubs in Scotland, the community club helps girls looking to develop their skills in football.   

Buchan Park Bowling Club also received £1,000 through Aldi’s Scottish Sports Fund. Based in West Lothian, the club promotes and trains members of the public in bowling.  

Laura Bosworth, Musselburgh Windsor Girls Football Club, said: “We are so pleased to have been awarded the highest funding of £2,500 from Aldi’s Scottish Sports Fund.

“This funding has made a real difference to the work we do in our local community to continue helping girls develop their skills in football.” 

Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Since 2016, Aldi’s Scottish Sports Fund has given a wide range of sports clubs the chance to benefit from essential funding to help them invest in much-needed equipment and resources.  

“We remain committed to supporting sports clubs across Scotland to help continue the fantastic work they do in their local communities. Every year, we are blown away by the volume of applications we receive, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming even more in 2024.” 

Applications for next year’s Scottish Sports Fund are expected to open in Spring next year.  

The Aldi Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria. All applications will be considered by the Aldi judging panel and entrants will be notified of the outcome of their funding application within four to six weeks from the region’s deadline. 

See the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund FAQs and Terms & Conditions  for more info.

Charity expands partnership with GoodSAM to save more lives

Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has worked with GoodSAM since 2018, helping to connect responders to patients in those critical moments when they are experiencing a medical emergency. 

The partnership has now taken another step to help save even more lives within local communities by launching a new part of the GoodSAM app – to help support rescue efforts in water emergencies. 

RLSS UK has worked with GoodSAM to further develop the app to not only include locations of those registered as responders on the app, but also lifesaving equipment in and around towns and cities, which can prove vital in rescuing someone who is in difficulty in the water. 

An average of 308 UK and Irish citizens lose their lives to accidental drowning each year, with more people drowning inland than at the coast, so responders knowing exactly where water rescue equipment is vital.

Vicki Jones, the mother of student Tom Jones who sadly drowned in the River Severn in Worcester in 2018, has spoken of her support for the initiative: “This is a subject so close to my heart after losing Tom and we have been working with the Royal Life Saving Society UK. This is such a positive step to further raise awareness of the importance of water safety. 

“Water rescue equipment can and does save lives. Every second is critical during a rescue; this map will help make communities safe and ensure the equipment is rescue-ready when needed. The app will enable everyone to get on board and play a part to ensure all water safety equipment is logged and to report it if missing or damaged.  

“I will get involved and register water safety equipment when and where possible and I hope you will too.”

Various water rescue equipment is located along and near waterways, including lifebuoys and throw ropes, to help members of the public who find themselves in difficulty in the water get help as soon as possible.

However, RLSS UK and GoodSAM identified that not all first responders will be aware of where these vital pieces of equipment are located, especially when they are needed in an emergency. 

The app will now allow members of the public to plot where pieces of equipment can be found to allow quick and easy access by first responders when they are needed. 

As well as this, the app critically allows people to report if a piece of equipment is missing or damaged. This report on the GoodSAM app will then be sent to RLSS UK who will liaise with landowners and local authorities to rectify the issue and ensure the equipment can save lives if and when it is needed. 

Professor Mark Wilson from GoodSAM said, “We are delighted for RLSS UK to be collaborating with us on the water rescue equipment map; they have been at the forefront of lifeguard training, lifesaving and water safety education for a very long time and by working together, we can build on the excellent work that they already do and make rivers, lakes and bodies of open water even safer for all.”

RLSS UK is encouraging its members, volunteers and lifesavers, as well as members of the public who have appropriate qualifications and knowledge, to register on the GoodSAM app to become a first responder.

As well as this, the charity and GoodSAM are asking members of the public to submit any water rescue equipment within their local community to ensure that it is logged on the app to help people when in need. 

Nick Grazier, Senior Head of Commercial Projects & Partnerships at RLSS UK, said: “This map is a game-changer for open water rescue; not only does it support the emergency services and GoodSAM responders to assist in the case of an emergency, but with the opportunity for app users to report damaged or broken water rescue equipment, we can work with landowners and local authorities to ensure that the equipment is fit for purpose and rescue-ready.”

Jo Talbot, Commercial Director at RLSS UK, added, “We are incredibly proud to partner with GoodSAM and add to the vital work already achieved by the army of volunteers contributing worldwide.

“This type of project has been a desire for the charity for a long time, and it is so rewarding that it is coming to fruition.”

To find out more about how to register on the app and how to register water rescue equipment, visit www.rlss.org.uk/goodSAM. 

If you would like to become a first responder, RLSS UK offers first aid qualifications and further details can be found on the RLSS UK website.

Santa Paws! Christmas Day at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

Christmas is a wonderful time for so many; filled with love and connection, and at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home it’s no different. For many staff, Christmas day is spent at the Home, looking after the animals and sharing Christmas cheer.

A typical Christmas day at the Home consists of even more love, treats and playtime for its residents. In the lead up to the big day, members of the team have wrapped up presents for every animal to open and enjoy. The dogs are taken for a big run around outside, followed by Christmas snacks, presents and lots of cuddles.

The team give each cat a gift to suit their personal tastes such as a soft toy or a ball, but inevitably, they’re more interested in the wrapping paper! They are then treated with Tuna, Sardines and gourmet cat food for their delicious Christmas dinner.

The Home works endlessly all year round to help keep pets in their loving homes, but sadly receive a heart-breaking number of surrender requests when owners are no longer able to care for their pet.

Earlier this year Simon came to the Home as a young puppy after being found tied to a park bench alone in the early hours of a cold Spring morning, beside a plastic bag with his belongings. Simon was left frightened, malnourished and anxious.

When he arrived at the Home he quickly captured the whole team’s hearts. Thanks to the  care, love and hard work he received, Simon gained enough confidence, and condition, to be ready to go to his forever home.

Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home said: ‘Our team creates something truly special here at Christmas.  Everyone is so dedicated to the animals and mission that we are more than happy to spend the day here at the Home. It’s always such high spirits, with everyone chipping in to make the day all the more fun for each other and for the dogs and cats.

“Until the animals are rescued and re-homed, we are their family, and Christmas is the time for family.”

The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home finds winter an especially difficult season as higher costs drain funds while demand for their vital services increases.

To help get through the winter months, the Home recently launched a Winter Appeal, seeking donations to enable the Home to cope with the increased demand, continue providing vital support to animals in need and help people to keep their beloved pets at home.

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To make a donation and to read more of their life-altering stories please visit www.edch.org.uk/winterappeal OR text SURRENDER to 70560 to donate £5.

Donations of £20 can provide a cat with the vaccinations they require to be rehomed or £100 could keep a dog warm in the Home for three months.

Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more, text SURRENDERNOINFO instead.

Scotland loves a bargain!

Scottish shoppers love hunting for second-hand deals – but when it comes to repairs, only one in five would mend a broken appliance

  • Half (49%) of consumers in Scotland say they enjoy looking for deals on second-hand and refurbished goods
  • More than one in three (39%) Scots would give a quality used or refurbished item to a loved one this Christmas as Amazon reveals the most popular ‘Second Chance’ shopping bargains

According to new research released today by Amazon, Scotland is a region of second-hand bargain hunters. Half (49%) say they enjoy hunting for deals on second-hand items, with almost a third (30%) saying they always seek second-hand or refurbished offers first.

The study also found 91% of people surveyed in Scotland check ‘used’ prices against new when shopping online, with 36% refusing to pay full price for anything, be it clothing, tech or homeware.

This openness to embracing quality used and refurbished products is likely to be reflected in Scotland’s Christmas stockings this festive season, with more than one in three people (39%) saying they would gift a quality second-hand item to a loved one.

Despite enthusiasm for buying second-hand and refurbished items, only one in four (23%) surveyed in Scotland would mend an appliance if it breaks. Instead of fixing it, 23% of adults surveyed in Scotland say they throw away items such as toasters and kettles when they break, while 36% say they recycle them.

The most common reasons for giving up on a repair were not knowing where to start and worrying that attempts to repair something would in fact make it worse. Amazon sold 4 million returned and refurbished products in the UK last year online through Amazon Second Chance (amazon.co.uk/amazonsecondchance), saving British customers more than £100 million.

In the first nine months of 2023, Amazon’s sales of second-hand goods in the UK increased by more than 15% compared to the same period last year.

Shoppers can bag bargains with up to 50% savings compared to recommended retail prices online and, for a limited time only, in person too at the new Second Chance Store in Central London.

The store also offers customers the chance to bring in broken home tech and laptops to its Repairs Zone for free advice and workshops on fixing them. In its opening week, home and kitchen items including upright hoovers and food blenders, game consoles and controllers, laptops, smartphones and toys were the most popular categories bought in the Second Chance Store.

“Some of the most popular products that people search for on Amazon are also available as quality second-hand items. When you buy second hand, you’re not just saving money, you are also giving a product a second chance. The beauty of second-hand shopping is that it’s like a treasure hunt. You never know what unique and valuable items you’ll discover while giving a second chance to pre-loved goods.” said Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline.

Generational attitudes to pre-loved shopping

Nationally, Gen Z – those born after 1996 – are the ones most likely to buy pre-loved items, with 31% of the clothes they wear and 33% of the tech they own being second hand, on average, according to the survey. More than four in 10 (44%) surveyed typically shop pre-loved first, but fewer than one in three (30%) would repair a broken appliance. 

Millennial shoppers – age 27 to 42 – are the most open to learning how to repair a broken tech item, with almost half (45%) surveyed saying they have visited a “repairs café” in the past 12 months. Nearly three quarters (72%) say they have successfully followed a DIY repairs video on YouTube.

The research also reveals that three in 10 Generation X shoppers – aged between 41 and 56 – look for second-hand deals first, but 27% admitted they wouldn’t trust themselves to do a ‘DIY repair’ at home, according to the research.

Baby Boomers surveyed are among the least likely to try to repair and prolong the life of their belongings, with just 28% looking for pre-loved items before new. Cutting costs is the biggest reason all age groups ‘bargain hunt’, with 87% believing it’s good to save money when shopping, even if they can afford to pay full price. 59% also feel it’s important to buy pre-loved, or to extend a product’s life, for the planet.

Customers can visit the Second Chance Store, stocked with quality returns from Amazon up until 12 December, with all sales proceeds going to Barnardo’s. Amazon also offers quality returned products year-round online at Amazon Second Chance (amazon.co.uk/amazonsecondchance), which also provides customers with information about product repair, recycling and trade-in for electronics. Purchases are backed by Amazon’s 30-day return policy and award-winning customer service.

Edinburgh Food Project: Holiday opening hours

Our foodbanks will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 January.

Otherwise, the foodbanks will be open as usual, except for Craigmillar, which closes on Thursday 21 December, and reopens on Thursday 4 January.

Find out more: https://edinburghfoodproject.org/locations

Vue Edinburgh Omni unveils luxury recliners following recent refurb

Film lovers in Edinburgh are now able to experience the latest upgrades in big screen entertainment as Vue Edinburgh Omni completes its major refurbishment project, installing luxury recliner seating in all 12 screens onsite.

Set within the Edinburgh Omni Shopping Centre in the heart of the Scottish capital, the eagerly awaited transformation includes 976 luxury leather recliner seats – all of which come complete with a fold away table and cup holder.

Customers can escape to luxury while enjoying the latest blockbuster releases this December, including Wonka and Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom in 4k quality and Digital Dolby surround site.

To mark the launch of Wonka, the cinema chain has also launched a limited-edition Bubblegum Tango Ice Blast flavour, as well as installing an exclusive Wonka themed backdrop – perfect for capturing a sweet selfie with family and friends during a visit to Vue Edinburgh Omni.

The recent completion of Edinburgh Omni means both Vue sites, including Vue Edinburgh Ocean, are now fully installed with luxury recliner seatings – providing premium comfort for film fans to get lost in the big screen entertainment.

Robert Smith, General Manager of Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: “We are thrilled to unveil our brand new luxury recliner seating across all 12 screens on site – the transformation will allow film fans to enjoy a fantastic trip to the big screen in the best seats possible.

“Our customers can expect to enjoy the very best in big screen entertainment including the latest blockbusters, classic titles and the best in live music, sport and theatre, all from the comfort of our signature recliner seating.”

Tickets are available now, with every film, every day available from £7.99 when booked online. More information and tickets are available at: 

https://www.myvue.com

Winter Heating Payments begin

Social security support to help eligible people with heating costs

Money to help with heating costs is on its way to around 400,000 people on low incomes through the Scottish Government benefit Winter Heating Payment.

Winter Heating Payment is paid in batches to eligible clients, with the first payments paid this week. The majority of people will receive their payment by the end of January 2024.

This annual payment of £55.05 targets low-income households that have additional need for heat, including households with young children, disabled people and older people, providing stable, reliable support every winter.

Winter Heating Payment was first paid in winter 2022-2023 and replaces the DWP Cold Weather Payment. Unlike the DWP benefit that was reliant on the weather being sufficiently cold for a sustained period of time, Winter Heating Payment guarantees that everyone who is eligible will receive a payment every year, no matter the weather.

The majority of people eligible for Winter Heating Payment who were already getting qualifying benefits during the week of 6- 12 November will get it automatically, with no need to apply. It is paid through Social Security Scotland and people will get a letter to let them know they are eligible.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We are investing around £22 million this winter through Winter Heating Payments to support 400,000 people on low incomes across the country at a time when they are struggling with the cost of living crisis and higher energy bills.

“Winter Heating Payment guarantees that everyone eligible will get  a payment every year, rather than the UK Government approach of requiring the weather being sufficiently cold for a sustained period of time.

“Our annual, reliable payment will support people on low incomes with the costs of heating their homes throughout the winter, we know it is harder for these households to spend more money to heat their homes.

“The vast majority of people will receive the payment automatically either this month or next.”

The UK Government’s Cold Weather Payments triggers a £25 payment only when the average of the mean daily temperature recorded for 7 consecutive days was equal to or below zero degrees. In contrast, the Scottish Government’s Winter Heating Payment provides reliable financial support through an automatic £55.05 payment, no matter the weather.

An individual may be eligible to receive Winter Heating Payment if they are in receipt of any of the following benefits: Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit and Support for Mortgage Interest.

As with the  UK Government’s Cold Weather Payments, additional qualifying criteria for some of these benefits may also need to be satisfied, for example in relation to disability premiums paid to the client or if a disabled or young child is in their household.

Interactive tool to tackle domestic economic abuse launched

  • UK government launches interactive tool to help businesses and charities spot and tackle domestic economic abuse
  • Victims of domestic abuse are at an increased risk around Christmas with reports to police forces in England and Wales rising by 25%
  • Launch delivers on government pledge in summer to transform HMRC internal guide into a public facing resource, and coincides with £12 million of support at Autumn Statement for tackling domestic abuse

The UK government has today [Wednesday 20 December 2023] launched a free interactive guide to help businesses spot and tackle domestic economic abuse.

Survivors of domestic abuse are at an increased risk around Christmas and, on average, it is reported that police forces in England and Wales receive over 100 calls relating to domestic abuse every hour, and around 95% of domestic abuse victims experience economic abuse. During the Christmas period, the number of calls can rise by 25%.

The new tool, available on GOV.UK, aims to help call handlers at businesses and charities recognise abuse when speaking to customers and clients.

Specialist charities such as Surviving Economic Abuse will be on standby to offer training to interested organisations.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Huddleston, said: “We’ve made economic abuse punishable by law, but it’s just as important that we provide the support needed to help victims escape dangerous situations.

“That’s what today’s toolkit is about – the more organisations that use it, the faster we can help bring an end to abuse at home.”

In summer this year, the government announced there would be a new interactive tool to help trained advisers in businesses and charities spot and tackle economic abuse. Since then, HMRC has worked closely with Surviving Economic Abuse holding workshops with charities and financial services firms to develop the tool and help get this right.

Based on a caller’s response, a trained call handler will navigate through the interactive tool to help identify potential victims. This will support the handler to decide what help the organisation might be able to offer the customer as well as provide details of relevant charities and support networks.

The launch coincides with £12 million of support for charities working with victims of domestic abuse, announced last month by the Chancellor at the Autumn Statement, helping to tackle abuse at home and help survivors rebuild their lives.

Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs OBE, CEO and founder of Surviving Economic Abuse, said: “Economic abuse, where an abuser controls money and the things money can buy, is a devastating form of domestic abuse.

“It makes it harder for victim-survivors and their children to leave and rebuild their lives safely. Reporting abuse can be intimidating, so it’s important that whoever a victim-survivor reaches out to for help – the police, a bank manager, supermarket cashier or call handler – they can give a supportive response.

“We’re pleased the Treasury has launched this toolkit to support businesses to play their role in bringing economic abuse out from behind closed doors and supporting survivors to take safe steps to freedom.

“It’s vital that employers are properly trained in spotting the signs of economic abuse and confidently signposting to specialist support. The right response will be life changing.”

Economic abuse, which Surviving Economic Abuse estimates one in five women in the UK have experienced in the last 12 months, is when an individual’s ability to acquire, use and maintain economic resources are taken away by someone else in a coercive or controlling way.

Surviving Economic Abuse research found seven in ten front-line professionals reported the number of survivors of economic abuse coming to their organisation for help had increased since the start of the pandemic. By the end of the first Covid-19 lockdown, the charity found one in five women were planning to seek help around welfare benefits.

Tackling domestic abuse is a UK Government priority and improving the response to economic abuse is integral to this. For the first time in history, economic abuse is now recognised in law as part of the statutory definition of domestic abuse included in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

This is in recognition of the devastating impact it can have on victims’ lives.