Our next ‘Supporting your child in grief’ session takes place on Thursday 11th January at 11am.
The session offers an opportunity for you to join other parents and carers to talk, share feelings and connect with one another. You can simply say it how it is, seek advice and hopefully pick up some tips from each other.
Register for free today at http://bit.ly/3vtaTTC
Two people – a 32-year-old man and 25-year-old woman – have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a 38-year-old man in Granton. They are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday (8 January).
Emergency services were called around 11.50pm on Sunday, 31 December, 2023, after a firearm was discharged in West Granton Road, seriously injuring two men.
Both men, aged 38 and 39, were taken to hospital, where the 38-year-old man – named locally as Marc Webley – was pronounced dead a short time later. The other man remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Enquiries are ongoing and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Jet2holidays have reported record levels of demand for holidays, with more customers than ever looking to book their well-deserved holidays into the diary during the period known traditionally as ‘peaks’ or the peak holiday booking period.
In the period between Boxing Day and today, the UK’s largest tour operator has seen bookings increase by approximately 150% compared to pre-Christmas, with both Summer 24 and late bookings for this winter proving to be popular.
Ten destinations enjoying popularity include the Canaries, Balearics, Mainland Spain, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Italy, Malta and Bulgaria – as customers flock to book a much-needed holiday. On top of great value and customer service, a booking trend noted by Jet2holidays is of customers booking durations outside of the traditional 7-, 10- and 14-night stays.
There is strong demand from families with millions of Free Child Place Holidays still available during the school holidays, and All-Inclusive bookings have also been enjoying strong growth. These types of holidays have seen a surge since Jet2holidays was named a Which? Recommended Provider for both Family Holidays and All-Inclusive Holidays just before Christmas.
This demand follows Jet2holidays launchingan offer from Boxing Day giving customers £50 per person off all holidays. The UK’s largest tour operator also announced that customers with a MyJet2 account can access exclusive savings – with a whopping £60 off per person on all holidays. To book a place in the sunshine and enjoy an exclusive saving at the same time, customers can sign up for a MyJet2 account at https://www.jet2holidays.com/myjet2
The offer means that couples can save £100 if they book via the Jet2holidays website or contact centre (£120 off for MyJet2 members) and a family of four can enjoy £200 off a getaway (£240 off for MyJet2 members).
As well as reporting record levels of demand since Boxing Day, Jet2holidays is gearing up for a busy weekend, with ‘Sunshine Saturday’ expected to see a further surge in holiday bookings. The company has a bigger team than ever ready to assist customers from their dedicated UK call centre, as customers use the first weekend in the New Year to lock in their holidays.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “This time of year has traditionally been the peak period for holiday bookings, and this is most definitely the case so far this year.
“We are seeing record levels of demand as customers jump at the chance to lock in their holidays, and we are expecting this demand for be even stronger over the coming weekend, both through our website and contact centre, as well as via independent travel agents.
“There is no doubt that our track record of providing industry-leading customer experience is fuelling this demand, with new and existing customers responding to our award-winning proposition.
“With the best rooms, best hotels and best destinations booking so fast, our message to customers is to book before they are gone.”
Visit www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com
If you are an independent travel agent and are interested in learning more about how you could benefit from working in partnership with Jet2holidays, please visit the company’s dedicated trade site: trade.jet2holidays.com
Full recognition of multi-platform news publishing has been put at the heart of the highly coveted Scottish Press Awards as it returns for its 45th year with entry open now.
Replacing the newspaper and weekly newspaper of the year awards are the new Newsbrand of the year and Weekly Newsbrand of the year categories which will recognize excellence in news publishing across all formats under a title’s brand.
Overseen by Newsbrands Scotland (formerly the Scottish Newspaper Society), entry opened today (4 January 2024), with the awards ceremony taking place on Wednesday, May 29.
John McLellan, director at Newsbrands Scotland, said: “Great stories and big scoops will still very much be top of the judges’ agendas, but the modern news publishing is a sophisticated, multi-media operation which reaches huge audiences on mobile devices and the awards need to reflect the change in the way news is consumed.”
Celebrating excellence in journalism from across the country, this year’s scheme includes 27 categories, and features several long-standing award titles complemented by a range of new-look categories.
Among them is the Campaign of the Year category that welcomes the national, regional, and local campaigns that have made an impact within communities.
The Weekly Journalist of the Year will celebrate the best of news and feature writers from weekly titles, whilst the Regional Journalist of the Year invites entries from inspiring local and regional reporters.
This full list of categories for 2024 are:
This year’s judging panel will be led by Richard Neville, former Head of News Brands at DC Thomson and current Director of Neville Robertson Communications.
John McLellan added: “2023 was a momentous year in so many ways, not least in Scottish politics, and I’m sure our finalists and winners will reflect the very best of the many brilliant stories which have kept the public informed throughout.”
The 45th Scottish Press Awards are sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, Diageo, VisitScotland, Edrington, Openreach, Glenmorangie, The Law Society of Scotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, Registers of Scotland, Muckle Media, Women in Journalism Scotland, BIG Partnership, Weber Shandwick, Event Consultants Scotland and Newsbrands Scotland
Last year’s event saw Press Association photographer, Jane Barlow,become the first ever photographer to win the coveted Journalist of the Year category as well as the Photographer of the Year category for her moving final public picture of the Queen days before her death.
Other big winners at the 44th annual awards included the Scottish Daily Mail, which won the Newspaper of the Year and Journalism Team of the Year categories for its coverage of the Queen’s death and overall consistency as a product.
The awards ceremony and dinner will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central on 29 May 2024. For more information please visit:
First Minister Humza Yousaf has urged the UK Government to use its position as a trusted ally of the Government of Israel to demand an end to “indiscriminate attacks” that have seen thousands of children in Gaza killed. He has made it clear that those responsible for killing civilians must be held accountable.
Ten weeks since Israel’s invasion of Gaza the First Minister said the UK Government’s refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire is “shameful”.
The First Minister’s latest call comes as the United Nations has expressed concern up to 1.9 million internally displaced people are moving into smaller and smaller pockets in the Gaza Strip.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) for Palestinian Refugees has warned that 40% of the population of Gaza is now at risk of famine due to “catastrophic hunger”, and the latest Integrated food security Phase Classification (IPC) brief shows Gaza is experiencing a food security emergency driven by ongoing hostilities.
Responding to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the region, the First Minister said diplomatic approaches have so far failed to bring about any change and an immediate ceasefire was needed.
The First Minister said: “The time has come for the UK Government to speak out forcefully and make it clear that Israeli action has gone way beyond a legitimate response to the appalling Hamas attack of 7 October.
“Hearing comments from an Israeli Government Minister urging displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is deeply disturbing and should be universally condemned. Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will be part of a future Palestinian state – Gazans should not be subject to forcible displacement or relocation from Gaza.
“The UK Government must make clear that Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli Ministers and military commanders will be held accountable for the killing of thousands of innocent civilians and the deaths of tens of thousands more from starvation and disease if Israel does not immediately cease indiscriminate attacks and allow aid to enter Gaza on the scale needed to avert a humanitarian disaster.
“Hamas leaders must also be held accountable for the appalling attacks against Israeli civilians on 7 October.
“Talk of a sustainable ceasefire from the UK Government has made no difference on the ground, as the situation has worsened for the people of Gaza.
“The UK Government must use its voice and influence to stop the killing – directly with the Israeli government, and indirectly with the US.”
The main rate of National Insurance has been cut by 2p from 12% to 10% today (Saturday 6 January 2024). This reduces National Insurance by more than 15%, saving £450 this year for the average salaried worker on £35,400.
Millions of people working different jobs across hundreds of industries will now be better off. An average full-time nurse will save £520, a typical junior doctor £750 and an average teacher £630.
In the past year, inflation has halved; the economy has recovered more quickly from the pandemic than first thought; and debt is on track to fall. With a renewed focus on the long-term decisions to strengthen the economy, the government is changing gear and cutting taxes for hard working people, giving them the opportunity to build a wealthier, more secure life for themselves and their families.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: ““We have made tough decisions on the economy, supporting people through global shocks such as the pandemic and Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. It is because of the tough decisions this government has taken that today we are able to cut taxes for 27 million people across the UK.
“Today’s tax cuts will directly reward hard working people, putting £450 back in the pocket of the average worker and helping them make ends meet.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: ““With inflation halved, we’ve turned a corner and are cutting taxes – starting with today’s record cut to National Insurance worth nearly £1,000 for a household.
“From nurses and brickies, to cleaners and butchers, 27 million hard-working Brits will have a little more cash in their pockets.”
The cut means that for those on average salaries, personal taxes would be lower in the UK than every other G7 country, based on the most recent OECD data. The UK also has the most generous starting allowances for income tax and social security contributions in the G7.
To mark the tax cut, HMRC have launched an online tool to help people understand how much they could save in National Insurance this year.
The tool will use salary information to give employees personalised estimates of how much they could save because of the government’s changes, and will be hosted on the government’s cost of living support website on GOV.UK.
The last major cut to the current personal tax system of today’s magnitude was when the National Insurance personal allowance increased from £9,880 to £12,570 in July 2022. This was the largest ever cut to a personal tax starting threshold, allowing working people to hold on to an extra £2,690 free from tax whilst taking 2.2 million people out of paying tax altogether.
Today’s tax cut combined with above-inflation increases to tax thresholds since 2010 means that the average earner will pay over £1,000 less in personal taxes than they otherwise would have done.
At the Autumn Statement the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the biggest package of tax cuts to be implemented since the 1980s. In addition to today’s action, the Chancellor also announced a National Insurance cut for 2 million self-employed people, which will take effect on 6 April 2024 and is worth £350 for the average self-employed person on £28,200.
He also announced the biggest ever increase to the National Living Wage, effectively cut corporation tax by more than £55 billion as he made full expensing permanent to help businesses invest for less, froze alcohol duty for six months and extended cuts to business rates relief for the high street.
Today’s ‘historic’ National Insurance cut takes effect following the government stepping in to support households during the Covid-19 pandemic and throughout Putin’s barbaric war in Ukraine.
The government ‘took the decision to manage the public finances responsibly by not saddling future generations to help pay down debt’.
Environmental consciousness has firmly taken its place in students’ minds when making decisions about the university they wish to attend, according to latest research from corporate finance advisor, Centrus.
With 89% of 17–18-year-olds in Scotland actively planning to pursue higher education, universities are increasingly under pressure to align with their expectations, that are placing a growing emphasis on sustainability and climate responsibility.
47% of prospective university students in Scotland regard a university’s impact on the climate as an important factor in their selection decision making, with one-in-five (19%) categorising it as ‘very important’.
52% of survey respondents said a university’s energy efficiency and its use of renewable energy sources was important to them when choosing, whilst 52% said how involved the institution is in the local community weighed in on their decision-making.
Educational factors of a university remain steady in prospective students’ selection process, with the appeal of the course having the highest impact on choosing which one to attend (88%). This is closely followed by the teaching style (84%), and where the university is located (84%).
What is noteworthy however, is that a university’s environmental footprint is now considered almost as important as traditional metrics like the diversity of societies (52%), the university’s size (44%), or how old it is (33%).
Beyond the initial selection phase, students’ expectations extend to the ‘green’ credentials of their chosen university. A resounding 75% expect their university to actively engage in protecting the local environment and eco-system.
In addition, 70% expect university accommodation to use green energy, and 70% also expect all university buildings to be energy efficient. Half of respondents also confirmed that they do not want their university to invest in fossil fuels.
George Roffey, Chief Sustainability Officer of corporate finance advisor Centrus said: “There is a clear mindset among prospective university students about the importance of environmental issues and how green a university’s credentials are.
“These institutions are facing mounting pressure to meet the expectations of students, alongside other tangible social and environmental impacts. It is abundantly clear that sustainability and climate responsibility are becoming pivotal factors in the university selection process.
“For universities, this calls for a shift in some fundamental aspects of their identity. Climate change is not going away, and it must remain a core mission for higher education institutions to integrate renewable energy sources and environmental activism into their operations.
“In doing so, they will not only instil a competitive edge in attracting prospective students, but will also play a pivotal role in fostering a sustainable and responsible future, that aligns with the evolving curriculum content and the values of our new generation of students.”
Bridgestone has come up with a timely New Year Resolution suggestion for Scottish motorists, after more than half failed to recognise an ‘extremely serious’ risk associated with illegal tyre usage.
The tyre manufacturer is urging drivers across the country to check their tyres regularly throughout 2024, after 58% of Scottish motorists didn’t regard driving on illegal tyres as being potentially life threatening, with only 12% describing them as the most important safety feature on their cars, according to latest research1.
A survey amongst 1,000 drivers across Scotland revealed that despite tyres being the only contact points between a vehicle and the road – and responsible for 159 deaths or serious injuries from defective tyres related accidents2 – 81% admitted to never checking their tyresfor signs of wear or damage.
The Bridgestone results tie in with a recording of 4,596 total casualties from tyre-related incidents on roads in the past years2 and there being in the region of 10 million illegal tyres on Britan’s roads each year2 With all this in mind, Bridgestone’s North Region Vice President Andrea Manenti has come up with a New Year Resolution suggestion.
He said: “Regular tyre checks, preferably once a fortnight, is a great resolution, as it can be the difference between life and death.
“Periodically check traction, or available grip, when driving in challenging conditions. Apply the brakes with moderate pressure to determine the available grip and modify your driving, if needed, to respond to ever-changing road conditions.
“The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. Insert a 20p coin in the tread; if you can see the border, it’s time to change the tyres. Thereafter, maximise available grip by separating driving manoeuvres when negotiating a curve.
“Brake to an appropriate speed while travelling in a straight line prior to a curve. This allows you to use all the available grip for negotiating the curve. Accelerate gradually when you are able to straighten the steering wheel at the exit of the turn.
Bridgestone’s New Year’s Resolution suggestion represents part of its mission to continue to provide social and customer value as a sustainable solutions company.
It also embodies Bridgestone’s E8 Commitment – a set of eight commitments (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, Empowerment) which provide a compass to guide their strategic priorities, decision making and actions throughout every area of the business and operations.
Bridgestone’s road safety tips provides Ease, by bringing comfort and peace of mind to mobility life and Extension, by committing to nonstop mobility and innovation that keeps people and the world moving ahead.
For more information and advice about tyre safety from Bridgestone, visit:
https://promotion.bridgestone.co.uk/bridgestone-tyre-care-guide/.
| As winter poses increasing demand on our healthcare system, NHSGGC is encouraging family members to help get their loved ones ‘Home for Lunch’. Almost all patients that are ready to go home are discharged on the same day, but a number remain in hospital causing flow issues throughout the health care system. Doctors are reminding families of patients who are ready to be discharged to help make the required arrangements to get them back to their own home or care setting, at the earliest opportunity. |
 |
| NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde ward staff and discharge teams work in parallel to create pathways for families to ensure that, when their loved ones are healthy enough to return home, they are supported in doing so. As part of NHSGGC’s ABC winter campaign, the health board are attempting to ease pressure on our services and staff from the emergency department, through to patients being discharged. Dr Scott Davidson, Deputy Medical Director for Acute Services, said: “Winter places increasing demands on our health care services and families play an important role in helping to ease those pressures. “Our staff are working extremely hard to ensure we provide the best possible care for our patients and we are looking for your help to get loved ones home at the earliest opportunity. “We do not want patients spending any longer than they need to within our hospitals and want people to be in the comfort of their own home, without the risks associated with lengthy hospital stays. “I would like to thank families and members of the public who are doing their best to support our patients and staff as we continue to tackle winter pressures.” |
AGE Scotland has produced a new guide to support older people through the #costofliving crisis.
It’s packed with advice on energy bills, tips on how to shop smart and eat well when food prices bite, cost-effective recipes, and a directory on where to go for help:
The cost of living crisis is forcing many older people to make incredibly difficult financial choices between powering and heating their homes and the food they can afford to buy.
Age Scotland’s helpline is hearing from an increasing number of older people who are finding it near impossible to pay their energy bills, having cut down on all but the essentials, and are now at risk of falling into unmanageable debt as a result.
Their Big Survey 2023 really highlights the stark reality and toll the cost of living crisis has taken on older people’s financial and physical wellbeing.
Age Scotland has pulled together this guide to support older people as we believe nobody should face the ongoing cost of living crisis alone.
It’s packed with advice on energy bills, tips on how to shop smart and eat well when food prices bite, recipes from top Scottish chefs, including Tom Kitchin and Tony Singh, and a directory on where to go for help.
We hope you find it useful. For further help and advice or to get a benefits check please call our free Helpline on 0800 12 44 222.
