KEEP Scotland Beautiful’s #UpstreamBattle week of action is taking place from 20- 28 January, and we’ll be hosting events across the week focused on stopping litter’s journey from #Source2Sea.
Find out more about how you can get involved and what is happening near you here:
https://keepscotlandbeautiful.org/upstream-battle/raising-awareness/upstream-battle-week-of-action/
CONFIDENCE is growing across the property market, a leading expert has said. Jonathan Rolande said new data released by RightMove, which showed soaring interest on Boxing Day, was matched by green-shoots of recovery in other areas of the sector.
The portal announced this week how, on Boxing Day, there were a record number of homes listed for sale. Rightmove says more than 10,000 new properties came to market, which is the biggest number of new sellers in one day since 2011.
In fact, visits to Rightmove nearly doubled between Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The level of demand from potential home-buyers, measured by the number of enquiries sent to estate agents about homes for sale, jumped too, and more than tripled (+273%) from Christmas Day to Boxing Day.
Mr Rolande, spokesman for the National Association of Property Buyers, said: “There will be many of us working in the property sector who will have raised a glass and toasted seeing the back of 2023.
“The hangover from Liz Truss’ botched mini-budget created huge problems across the market, and it was only through Autumn and Winter that we started to see the first signs of recovery. But, as we kick off the New Year, there are already some green-shoots on the horizon.
“I do sense a shift in the market and there are early signs, albeit fragile, of positivity. Banks have started fighting for mortgage business and are cutting rates to levels we’ve not seen in around seven months. Long may this continue. And, crucially, confidence is rising too among buy-to-let landlords.
“But confidence can only take you so far. There is still a chronic shortage of family homes across far too many parts of the UK. The crazy prices and mass viewings may have gone. But demand still outstrips the supply of decent homes, and remedying this will help to steady prices.
“Rental is still a disaster for too many would-be tenants. Stock is low. Rents are high. And this makes buying a home much more appealing. People I speak to, who know I’m in the industry, are no longer asking if it is the right time to buy. Instead they are asking for tips on finding somewhere to buy.”
Mr Rolande added: “It’s a small but subtle change but it underlines a shift from hesitation to growing confidence.
“As we enter a General Election year I’m increasingly of the view that the Party who best provide the answers are likely to be the ones who secure the most votes at the next General Election. A recovering housing market in 2024 is surely a vote-winner for all.”
EDINBURGH’s smokers are being urged to set the goal of leaving tobacco behind in 2024.
Charity ASH Scotland is campaigning to improve the physical and mental health of people who smoke by encouraging them to use free expert stop smoking support provided by the NHS.
Quitting is one of the biggest proactive steps people in Edinburgh who smoke can take to quickly improve health and mental wellbeing, reduce the risk of longer term illness and also save money.
If a person who smokes decides to make a New Year’s resolution and starts to quit, not only will they find their health will improve by the end of January, in one month an average smoker could also save in the region of £250.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Tobacco is highly addictive and, although it can take a number of attempts to quit, some people find giving up cigarettes or tobacco easier than they had thought.
“Don’t be discouraged if you’ve tried before, you’ll have learned something valuable about what did and didn’t work for you it is the best thing you can do for your health, finances and for those around you.
“You don’t have to quit on your own in the New Year. We’re encouraging people in Edinburgh to seek person-centred support from local stop smoking services or the national stop-smoking service Quit Your Way Scotland.
“Getting support will give you the confidence to move forward with your quit journey and the tools you need to make the best possible start to 2024.”
Contact Quit Your Way Scotland by visiting www.QuitYourWay.Scot or by calling the free helpline on 0800 848484.
ASH Scotland is tackling tobacco head-on by campaigning to reduce the harms caused by smoking. For more information, follow the health charity’s social media channels on Instagram and Facebook.
We can prevent drug deaths, we just need to know how.
Find out more by heading to http://stopthedeaths.com#stopthedeaths
Driving up attendance and tackling persistent absence is at the centre of new stronger measures launched today as pupils return to school in England.
More than one million children and young people will be supported into regular education as part of a major expansion of the attendance hubs, which provide a range of tailored support to families and pupils to boost time in school.
There will be 18 new attendance hubs across six regions, bringing the total to 32 and will see nearly 2,000 schools helped to tackle persistent absence.
Hubs are run by schools with excellent attendance that share practical ideas with other primary, secondary, alternative provision and special schools in England who need help to boost their attendance.
From direct pupil engagement initiatives like breakfast clubs and extracurricular activities, to improving their processes and analysis of attendance data, lead hub schools provide a range of support to schools that they can tailor to their pupils and families.
The Westminster government is also increasing the direct support offered to children and their families with the expansion of the attendance mentor pilot programme.
With an investment of up to £15million, over three years, this programme will provide direct intensive support to more than 10,000 persistent and severely absent pupils and their families.
The programme will see trained attendance mentors working in 10 further areas from September 2024. These areas are in addition to the existing pilot programme with Barnardo’s which is already operating in Middlesbrough, Doncaster, Knowsley, Salford, and Stoke on Trent.
The programme provides intensive one-to-one support to pupils who are persistently absent working with them and their families to find out why the child is skipping school. This can lead to extra support, more intensive work with teachers or in some cases bridge-building between school and family.
Being in school has never been more valuable with standards continuing to rise. 89% of schools are now rated good or outstanding, up from 68% in 2010. We are constantly seeing the success of our reforms rising up the rankings in maths, reading and science.
Just this month, England was ranked 11th in the world for maths, up from 27th in 2009, and in May, England was named ‘best in the west’ for primary reading.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “The benefits of our success in raising education standards can only be when all children are in school.
“Tackling attendance is my number one priority. We want all our children to have the best start in life because we know that attending school is vital to a child’s wellbeing, development, and attainment as well as impact future career success.
“I am hugely grateful to all our brilliant teachers, heads, and everyone whose worked with us to make the progress we’ve already made with 380,000 fewer children persistently absent.”
Children’s Commissioner Rachel De Souza said: “As Children’s Commissioner, I have made school attendance one of my top priorities because children tell me how much they value their education and want to be in school.
“Every day counts: when children miss school, it’s not just about missing lessons, it’s also about losing valuable moments spent with their friends and teachers.
“I very much welcome the government’s announcements today which include the recommendations made last year in my report on school attendance.
“I am hopeful that these measures will arm local authorities and schools with real-time information about school absence rates and provide vital support for children who face barriers to attending school.”
Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, Lynn Perry MBE, said: “Our Attendance Mentoring pilot scheme shows that one of the best ways to improve attendance is working individually with children, building trust and listening to their concerns.
“Our mentors encourage children to talk openly about issues such as family finances, bullying, or mental health worries – anything they feel may be preventing them from going to school.
“In Middlesbrough, 82% of the children we have worked with improved their attendance through one-on-one support from an attendance mentor, with almost two-thirds of the children saying their mental health also improved.”
Rob Tarn CBE, Chief Executive of Northern Education Trust said: “We are delighted that the hard work around attendance at North Shore Academy has led to significant impact for our students and their outcomes.
“The fact that this work was recognised as a best practice model meant we felt compelled to share what we are doing with other schools and academies in similar contexts and help where we could.
“This was, in essence, the beginning of the attendance hub programme. Seeing this work extended, with more hubs supporting more schools, is a source of great pride for the trust.”
A national communications campaign on the importance of attendance is also launching today targeting parents and carers.
Under the strapline ‘Moments Matter, Attendance Counts’ it outlines the importance of attendance for attainment, wellbeing, and development as well as signposting to advice for further support.
Key advice includes a recent letter from the Chief Medical Officer that outlines best practice when it comes to attendance and illness.
The intention is to ensure that parents have the guidance they need when it comes to making decisions when deciding to send their child to school or when to keep them home.
The UK government has also committed to further legislation in the coming months that will mean all schools will be required to share their daily school registers.
This, together with reforming pupil registration practice, will modernise how schools record and share data on attendance and support them to understand what is driving absence in their school and provide early support and intervention where pupils are displaying worrying trends of absence.
As many people return to their jobs following the festive break, those in part-time and full-time work have been reminded that they can qualify for Scottish Government benefits.
People in work can receive many of the payments administered by Social Security Scotland, including those designed to help low-income families.
The Scottish Government also delivers Job Start Payment – a one-off payment to help young people who haven’t been working meet the costs of starting a new job.
In Scotland, around one in three people getting Universal Credit are in work, and Universal Credit is a qualifying benefit for several other payments.
Thousands of working people get Scottish Child Payment and the other benefits which make up Social Security Scotland’s five family payments.
These consist of three Best Start Grants – Pregnancy & Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment – and Best Start Foods.
People with jobs can also qualify for Adult Disability Payment, with qualification not based on employment or income, and one-off payments including Winter Heating Payment and Funeral Support Payment.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley Anne Somerville said: ““In January there are lots of people starting new jobs or returning to work for the first time in a while and I’d urge them to check what benefits they may be eligible for.
“I’d particularly highlight the support available to young people starting in work via Job Start Payment.
“This one-off payment can make a difference with the costs of getting up and running in a new job and again we want to make sure it reaches as many eligible people as possible.
“We are helping people across Scotland through the cost-of-living crisis by committing £6.1 billion in social security benefits and payments. That’s £1.1 billion more than the Block Grant Adjustment received due to spend on comparable benefits by the UK Government.”
Job Start payment helps with the costs of starting a new job such as paying for travel, work clothes or childcare. Eligible people receive a one-off payment of £294.70 or £471.50 if they are a main carer of any children.
It is available to those between the age of 16 to 24 who are already getting qualifying benefits and have been out of paid work for six months prior to finding a job. Care leavers can apply for a further year (up to the day before their 26th birthday) and only need to be out of work and receiving a qualifying benefit on the day of the job offer, not for the previous 6 months.
Social Security Scotland administers 14 benefits on behalf of the Scottish Government: Social Security Scotland – Benefits
Are you missing out on benefit entitlements? Call Granton Information Centre on 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458 to arrange an appointment for a benefits check – email appointments@gic.org.uk
Embrace a kaleidoscope of cultures with eight new tours of Europe from small group tour specialist, Rabbie’s. The three- and four-day tours offer round-trip adventures from continental hotspots Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Milan and Rome. The new Rabbie’s Europe tours begin in September 2024 and are available to book now.
Rabbie’s specialises in small group tours guided by storytellers to ensure the journeys and experiences live longer in travellers’ minds. In Europe, guests can look forward to making memories as they sample Mediterranean cuisines, take in Alpine vistas, follow the footsteps of Renaissance masters, practice flamenco and much more.
An ideal addition to any Europe holiday or a rich city break alternative, the new 2024 Europe tours include:
Rabbie’s three-day Masterpieces and Vistas: A Journey Through Tuscany tour
Guests can marvel at the finest collection of Italian Renaissance art and architecture in Florence, sip a glass of vino or two in Tuscany, or sit and watch as the world goes by at one of Italy’s loveliest squares, Piazza del Campo in Siena. Enjoy Orvieto, aquintessential Italian town perched on a volcanic plug, and wander around Pienza, the home of Pecorino Cheese, stunning Renaissance architecture and incredible Tuscan views.
This tour departs from Rome, and costs from €1,109 per adult.
Rabbie’s three-day Flavours of Catalonia tour
On this tour, travellers can explore Girona, a medieval walled city filled with incredible cuisine and stunning architecture, as well as feel the serenity of the old Benedictine priory perched on the slope of a magnificent mountain with a visit to Montserrat Monastery. Enjoy the lively atmosphere of Sitges with its great fresh seafood and impeccable views, then wind down with a visit to the charming coastal town of Cadaqués.
This tour departs from Barcelona, and costs from €919 per adult.
Rabbie’s three-day Summits and Shores: Vesuvius, Pompeii and Amalfi tour
Holidaymakers can stroll through Pompeii, the city that froze in time, and hike to the crater of the infamous Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that reshaped the ancient world. Wonder at the pastel-coloured houses, steep cliffs, azure seas and lemon groves of the glamorous Amalfi Coast before admiring Montecassino Abbey, dramatically perched atop a mountain, the working monastery and pilgrimage site is a centre of art, culture and learning.
This tour departs from Rome, and costs from €889 per adult.
Rabbie’s Europe tours avoid the crowds and let guests enjoy the true soul of the continent. Travelling on mini-coaches with an expert driver and guide, holidaymakers stay in hand-picked travel accommodation, choose the attractions they pay for, support local communities, and go beyond the guidebooks.
Prices are for the tour only and, to offer complete flexibility, do not include flights, accommodation, attractions or dining.
For more information about Rabbie’s small-group tours in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland and to book, visit www.rabbies.com.
• Lloyds Bank data unearths how different generations and regions spend on making memories
• Non-essential spending on holidays, restaurants and recreation rising
• Non-essential spending increase is slowest in London
• Gen Z holiday spending growing quicker than Millennials and Generation X
Non-essential spending in the UK is on the rise despite the cost-of-living crisis, according to data from Lloyds Bank.
Every region in the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is spending more on non-essentials like holidays, restaurants and recreational activities but London is the slowest-growing region for this type of spending.
Lloyds Bank has revealed the data following the launch of its new credit card, the World Elite Mastercard®, which enables customers to earn cashback on every card purchase made, alongside enjoying a range of travel benefits.
With millions of customers across the UK, Lloyds Bank touches nearly every community and household in the country. The analysis, based on card spending of the bank’s customers, provides live insight into the state of the nation.
Non-essential purchases – like holidays and restaurant spending – have been in positive growth, year-on-year, since May 2021. In 2023 alone, year-on-year non-essential spending has grown more than 3% every single month, peaking at a 10% increase in January.
The data indicates the trend is largely being driven by wanderlust – particularly amongst the over 65s, who have increased spending in this category by 21% in October. Millennials (people aged 25 to 34) meanwhile, are displaying the slowest growth among generational holiday spenders year-on-year, up 11.8%, while Gen Z consumers (aged 18 to 24) have seen holiday spend grow 16.9% over the last year.
Taking a regional view, consumers in Wales are leading the charge in holiday spending – up by more than a fifth compared to last year (21.6%), while Scottish holidaymakers and those in the South West have increased travel card spending by 19.5% and 19.1% respectively.
Spending from people living in London shows the slowest growth at 12.5%, with those in the North West spending 16.5% more year-on-year.
Overall, year-on-year holiday spending is up 17.1%, restaurant spending is up 6.2% and recreational spending is up 3.3%.
Looking at regional growth around non-essential spending more broadly, you see London showing the slowest growth – up just 1.8% compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, consumers in Yorkshire and the Humber, which is the fastest-growing region, spent more than 6% on non-essentials when compared with the previous year and Scottish consumers also spent over 5% more.
The data also shows that spending on restaurants and going out to socialise account for the biggest non essential spending growth across all generations and all regions across the UK in October.
Marc Lien, Credit Cards Managing Director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Despite understandable concerns around the cost-of-living crisis, people still want to socialise and have a holiday to look forward to.
“We’ve come through a challenging few years, and it’s positive to see that consumer spending is on the rise.
“After listening to our customers it’s clear that spenders up and down the country want more from their credit and debit card providers, and this is more important than ever at times like these – that’s exactly why we launched the Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard®, to provide better, more easily accessible rewards.
“The new Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard® offers cashback on every card purchase – no matter how big or small – and great benefits for travellers, including the luxury of skipping airport security queues and access to over one thousand airport lounges worldwide.”
Customers using the World Elite Mastercard® will earn 0.5% cashback on each card purchase up to and including £15,000. When total card spending reaches over £15,000, each card purchase will earn 1% cashback, paid into the account each month.
World Elite Mastercard® customers will also receive benefits which add a touch of luxury when travelling:
o Access to over 1,300 airport lounges, including lounges at London Heathrow, Edinburgh International, Orlando International, Dubai International and many more, through Priority Pass. (Owned and operated by Collinson.)
o Cardholders will be able to skip airport security queues and upgrade their airport security experience at participating airports, powered by DragonPass.
o Direct access to Mastercard’s priceless.com experiences and content in the UK and around the world.
World Elite Mastercard® also provides one additional cardholder with all the card benefits at no extra cost to the initial £15 per month.
Cashback earned by the additional cardholder will be added to the main cardholder’s running total, and will be included in the monthly cashback payment made to the account.
The main cardholder will be able to view or manage their World Elite Mastercard® and travel benefits through online banking and the mobile app.
SmarterNaturally – New Super Soup uses super strength broccoli in a bid to lower blood sugar and the risk of type 2 diabetes
Video available: https://smarternaturally.com/recipes/sunblushed-tomato-walnut-pesto-rigatoni/
TV Chef Theo Michaels has launched a delicious Veganuary recipe for people who are looking to lower their blood sugar – a key risk factor for type-2 diabetes.
The TV star has teamed up with SmarterNaturally, an exciting UK company that has created a unique super-strain of broccoli with patented health-boosting properties.
Earlier this year Theo and SmarterNaturally launched a very popular series of cooking videos creating delicious food for people tackling type 2 diabetes.
Theo, who is an award-winning author and former MasterChef contestant, created the free online videos which show how to prepare a range of delicious, easy-to-make and diabetic friendly meals using the super soup.
And to celebrate Veganuary Theo has created a vegan pasta dish which is healthy and has a SmaterNaturally twist!
The new dish is called Sun Blushed Tomato and Walnut Pesto Rigatoni incorporating health boosting SmarterNaturally soup mixed with a dose of very smart science.
Packed with flavour and goodness, this is a great vegan recipe to have in your repertoire, using vegan parmesan alternative which doesn’t compromise on flavour while also being packed with goodness. Theo’s recipe makes enough for two servings and it keeps in the fridge for a week or the freezer for a month.
The dish uses courgettes, sunblushed tomatoes, walnuts, garlic, fresh coriander, vegan Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and the SmarterNaturally broccoli soup.
Theo Michaels said: “After being introduced to Smarter Naturally soup and reading the research behind the health benefits, I was sold on how beneficial their soup is for maintaining a healthy metabolism and supporting your body.
“I set about creating recipes that are full of flavour that complement the broccoli soup as well as being type 2 diabetes friendly. I’m now excited to launch a special Veganuary dish which is delicious and healthy and I’m pleased to be working with such a talented team at SmarterNaturally who are dedicated to increasing the quality of life of so many people!”
SmarterNaturally’s super-strength broccoli (called ‘GRextra’) has created a ‘SuperSoup’ designed to support people suffering from diabetes (as well as high cholesterol and other health conditions).
The collaboration with Theo was designed to use both science and nutrition to help people with diabetes eat better and gain control of their blood sugar levels.
The recipes are free to watch on SmarterNaturally’s website (www.SmarterNaturally.com/recipes) and show how the special broccoli soup can be used to create different flavoursome dishes – all of which contain a week’s worth of glucoraphanin (the health-boosting molecule which makes SmarterNaturally Soup so special).
Most people eat SmarterNaturally’s SuperSoup once a week by simply adding boiling water. But for those who prefer the culinary over convenience, Theo Michaels has given the soup a makeover to show just how easy it is to use as an ingredient in more exciting dishes instead.
Recipes in the series include Smoked Haddock with Cheddar Broccoli Sauce, Thai Green Curry and an Indonesian Laksa – all of which have been certified by nutritionists as diabetic friendly and can be made either vegetarian or vegan with just a few tweaks. In the coming weeks and months, Theo is planning to add more delicious meals to the list – all inspired by and incorporating the SuperSoup.
SmarterNaturally brand is owned by The Smarter Food Company, a spin-out from one of the UK’s leading food and health research organisations, the Quadram Institute.
Laura Knight, CEO, SmarterNaturally said “Our SuperSoup is a science-backed functional food designed to support people with high blood sugar, and it’s really convenient.
“Our long-term customers started to use the soup as an ingredient in all kinds of ways to keep things interesting. That’s way we’re excited about our partnership with Theo; he’s using his creativity and skills in the kitchen to turn our SuperSoup into culinary delights that people can easily make and enjoy at home, safe in the knowledge that the recipe protects the bioactivity of the soup and analysed by a dietician as being suitable diabetics.
“It’s an important step forward for us in our goal of supporting prediabetics and diabetics on their journey towards a healthier future.”
For more information www.smarternaturally.com
THE VEGANUARY RECIPE:
Sun Blushed Tomato and Walnut Pesto Rigatoni
Serves 1
(with pesto for 2 dinners)
Delicious and easy diabetic friendly recipe with homemade sunblushed tomato and walnut pesto woven through a Smarter Naturally soup for a hearty and healthy vegan meal.
Ingredients
1 x40g sachet Smarter Naturally Soup
35g wholemeal rigatoni pasta
100g courgette, halved lengthways and sliced
Pesto:
90g sunblushed tomatoes in olive oil
30g walnuts
2 cloves garlic, medium size
Few sprigs fresh coriander + extra for garnish
20g vegan parmesan cheese + extra for garnish
Drizzle olive oil for garnish (optional)
½ tsp sea salt
Method:
Place pasta in boiling water and cook to packet instructions; about 8 minutes for al dente. Two minutes before the pasta finishes cooking; drop in the courgette to blanche.
While the pasta is cooking, add the sun blushed tomatoes (including any oil), walnuts, coriander (including the stalks), garlic, vegan parmesan to a food processor and pulse, adding a little water if it’s too thick, until you have a smooth thick paste. Decant into a sterialised jar and keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Add one sachet of SmarterNaturally soup to a bowl and pour in about 250ml of the pasta cooking water and mix together. Then add two heaped tablespoons (about 40ml) of the homemade pesto to the soup.
Once the pasta is cooked, drain, return the pasta and courgette back to the saucepan and pour in the prepared soup mixture and fold together, do not reheat. Serve in a bowl, garnishing with a pinch of additional vegan parmesan, drizzle of olive oil and some chopped coriander.
Theo’s top tips:
A pinch of chilli flakes go well as garnish just before serving.
Go gluten free by changing the pasta to GF.
Traditional parmesan is not vegetarian so be warned!
An MOT test doesn’t just assess the roadworthiness of your vehicle; it can also be an unexpected source of expenses if you’re not prepared.
With guidance from seasoned mechanic Dom Shaw from First Vehicle Leasing, we’ve put together 5 crucial checks you can perform before your MOT test. These tips are designed not only to increase the likelihood of passing but also to save you money by avoiding common and often costly pitfalls.
1. DIY Light and Indicator Checks
Start with a simple but effective check of all your vehicle’s lights and indicators. This is one of the easiest DIY fixes that can prevent an MOT failure. Replacing a bulb is significantly cheaper than failing and retaking the MOT, or worse, being charged an inflated price for a bulb replacement at the garage.
2. Tyre Condition and Tread Depth
Tyres are a major focus in an MOT. Check the tread depth to ensure it meets the 1.6mm legal minimum. Additionally, look for any damage or wear. Knowing the condition of your tires can prevent a garage from convincing you to buy new ones prematurely, saving you a significant amount of money.
3. Brake Performance Self-Check
Listen to your brakes; any unusual noise can indicate wear. Replacing brake pads or discs before your MOT can be more cost-effective than dealing with it as part of a failure. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to shop around for the best deal on parts and service, rather than being at the mercy of the MOT testing garage’s pricing.
4. Windscreen and Wiper Inspection
Ensure your windscreen is free of significant damage, and that your wipers are functioning well. Replacing wiper blades yourself is generally cheaper than having them replaced during an MOT test. Also, a windscreen clean and clear of damage will not only help pass the MOT but also prevent costly windscreen replacements.
5. Emissions and Exhaust System Check
A pre-MOT emissions check, particularly for older cars, can save you from failing due to high emissions. Addressing issues with your exhaust system beforehand can be more economical than having the work done during or after an MOT, where urgent repair costs can escalate.
Dom Shaw from First Vehicle Leasing says: An MOT test can be an opportunity to ensure your vehicle is in top condition, but it shouldn’t become a source of unexpected expenses.
“By performing these pre-MOT checks, you can identify and address issues more economically, and enter your MOT test with confidence.”
