Lifeguard/Leisure Attendant Recruitment Open Day
On 16th January, we’re hosting a recruitment open day at the Royal Commonwealth Pool and we’re inviting you to apply! No experience required, we’ll support you through your qualifications.
Find out more https://tinyurl.com/37j4wtdp
Millions of pounds recovered from firms by Ofgem have been used to help communities across the country in 2023.
Ofgem steps in when energy companies breach their licence conditions or are found to be failing customers.
In 2023, the regulator recovered a total of £77.2 million in fines, customer refunds, compensation and alternative action payments – up by £50.5 million compared to 2022’s total of £27.3 million. This includes £5 million worth of fines.
Examples of breaches include three electricity generators that unfairly raised consumer bills, poor customer service including unacceptable call waiting times and failure to automatically provide compensation for delays in final billing when switching.
As well as fines and alternative action payments, Ofgem also made energy firms pay £13 million to customers in 2023 – over a million pounds a month – for poor service.
The vast majority of money recovered from energy companies this year – set to reach over £57 million – was paid into Ofgem’s Energy Redress Fund, which benefits charities and community projects that help vulnerable customers with energy-related support.
Cathryn Scott, Director for Enforcement and Emerging Issues at Ofgem, said: “Protecting customers and ensuring that they are treated fairly is at the heart of Ofgem’s mission.
“That’s why we make suppliers pay when they break the rules or fall short of the high standards we set – and when they do, it’s only right that customers should be the ones who benefit.
“Every year, the Energy Redress Fund makes a positive difference to the lives of customers across Great Britain, particularly people who are struggling and vulnerable, so to see the fund pass the £100 million mark is a significant milestone.
“This could not have happened without the thorough investigative work of our compliance and enforcement teams to identify licence breaches or poor behaviour by energy companies, or the Energy Saving Trust who ensure the money is targeted to reach those in need.”
Since it was set up in 2018, the fund, managed by the Energy Saving Trust, has received more than £137 million and handed out £102 million in grants to 538 projects across England, Wales and Scotland. A further £35 million in funding will be available to be distributed to new and existing projects, and a new round of grant applications is due to open in the new year.
The nature of support provided varies widely but includes:
This is in keeping with Ofgem’s mission to protect consumers from unfair costs and to drive up standards throughout the energy industry. The significant rise in fines reflects Ofgem’s proactive work to identify issues via a range of methods.
Among the 538 projects supported by the energy redress fund is the Warm Hubs centre in the coastal village of Seahouses, Northumberland.
Redress funding has helped to drive the development of this vital community resource, established by the Community Action Northumberland charity, and a lifeline service last winter at the height of the energy crisis.
Created as a response to tackling fuel poverty, Warm Hubs offer a safe, warm and friendly environment where people can get information, advice, access to services as well as refreshments and the company of other people.
Energy saving advice and guidance on home insulation is also provided by onsite Community Energy Agents to help people take positive action in their own homes to cut bills.
These Warm Hubs became an integral part of communities across Northumberland during Storm Arwen in November 2021, when widespread damage to the network left 4,000 homes without power for more than a week.
With emergency generators set up at the Warm Hubs, people had a place where they could come for a hot meal and a warm shower.
Christine Nicholls of Community Action Northumberland (CAN) said: “Without the support of Redress and Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) funding we would not have been able to support the huge number of rural households through the recent energy crisis.
“We are very proud of our Warm Hub scheme.”
Laura McGadie, Head of Energy at Energy Saving Trust, said: “We are pleased to have managed the distribution of more than £100 million in much-needed funds from the Redress scheme to frontline charities and social enterprises since 2018.
“The projects funded by the scheme are helping customers in the most vulnerable situations through the cost of living crisis, but they also look to the future.
“Charities and social enterprises have a crucial role to play in ensuring no one is left behind as we transition to net zero and that we all have a voice and a role in the changes that are coming to our energy system.”
One in five (19%) adults in the UK say they’ll be saving less money in 2024, new independent research* carried out on behalf of Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management shows.
For those planning to save less next year, almost two thirds (64%) said this was down to increased energy prices while the same proportion (63%) blamed the increased costs of consumer staples, such as food and other household goods. Over half (57%) agreed that high inflation was a factor too, according to the study.
This is further supported by recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)**, which found that around 4 in 10 (41%) of energy bill payers are struggling to afford payments, and revealed that just under half (48%) of adults in Great Britain are using less fuel, such as gas or electricity, in their homes because of the rising cost of living.
While 30% of British adults say their intentions are to save more next year, many are doing so to prepare for tough times in the future. More than a quarter (28%) believe they’ll need a savings ‘safety net’ due to the rising cost of living, for instance – with more women planning for this than men (32% vs. 24%). This is unsurprising, with ONS data revealing that around three in 10 (30%) were already having to dip into existing savings to meet rising costs.
The Handelsbanken data shows it is younger people who are most likely to be saving next year, with those aged 18-34 four times more likely (57%) to in 2024, compared with those over 55, at just 14%. Of those that are planning to save more, around one in five said this is because they’ll be starting a job which pays more.
PK Patel, Head of Wealth Management at Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management said: “With many feeling the strain after months of increased prices and increased outgoings, it’s no surprise that people are less than optimistic when it comes to augmenting their savings or maintaining their existing pots.
“But while dipping into your nest egg or saving less than usual is sometimes unavoidable, it can have lasting consequences on your long-term financial planning goals.
“It is therefore more important than ever to seek financial advice to ensure you’re putting the best plan for yourself in place, and keeping an eye on key upcoming personal finance dates, such as the ISA deadline on the 5th April.
“This is the final date you must pay into your ISA to take advantage of that financial year’s tax benefits, for instance, and a significant event in the savings calendar.”
Commenting on Monday’s energy price cap announcement, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “No one should struggle to get by in one of the richest countries in the world.
“But 13 years of wage stagnation and cuts to social security have left millions badly exposed to sky-high bills this winter.
“Energy bills are already 50% higher than two years ago, so today’s rise will just hammer households even harder in the coming year. “
“It doesn’t have to be this way.
“Other governments are investing in publicly owned clean power and insulating homes.”
“The UK is feeding foreign firms’ profits and subsidising cheaper bills abroad, while British households struggle to heat their homes and pay their bills.”
Dear Editor,
The festive season brings excitement for many, but it can also be a time of indulgence, and perhaps drinking more alcohol than we would like. As we head into a new year, many people will be wanting to feel a little fitter and healthier.
In fact, our research shows that one in four of us would like to drink less alcohol in 2024, and one in six UK adults (16%) plan to take a break from alcohol this January.
Dry January® is the perfect place to start! It shows us that we don’t need alcohol to have fun, relax, celebrate, unwind or anything else.
What’s more, so many people tell us they have an even better time when not drinking alcohol, as they feel more present, can remember the evening more, and enjoy waking up hangover-free, feeling fresh and energetic.
We know that taking that first step to change habits can be hard, but research shows that those who take part in Dry January® from Alcohol Change UK double their chances of success, through access to our free Try Dry app, daily emails and a supportive online community.
A month off alcohol won’t just mean short-term boosts to your wellbeing, but has been proven to lead to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes risk, as well as lower cancer-related proteins in the blood.
So if you’re looking to make long-term changes for the better, take a look at dryjanuary.org.uk for more.
As the dust settles on what has been another exciting year, I have been looking ahead to what the next year holds for our city.
In 2024, we mark Edinburgh 900 which represents almost a millennium of shared history centred on our fantastic and fascinating city. I’m delighted that work is now underway to prepare for next year’s anniversary as the working group continue to meet over the coming months. I look forward to a great programme of events which will examine how Edinburgh came to be over the centuries, celebrate where it is now, and reflect its future ambitions and aspirations.
St Giles, one of our most famous landmarks, will also celebrate its 900th year as a working church in 2024. The Cathedral plays a central role in the city’s history and is a huge asset to both the Old Town and the nation. As a quiet space, it provides an important place to find peace and solace but also as a centre for civic services for which I am very grateful.
At the end of June, I’ll welcome His Majesty the King to the city for Royal Week where we’ll undertake the historic Ceremony of the Keys.
With Armed Forces Day also in June and Remembrance Sunday in November, these are two key annual events in 2024 when I will reconfirm my commitment to our veterans and the significant service community here in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Fire Brigade will celebrate another important anniversary in 2024, marking 200 years since the first municipal fire service in the world was created. It was a pleasure to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to the McDonald Road Community Fire and Ambulance Station earlier this year, to mark the opening of the Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage. I would like to express my gratitude to all the emergency services in Edinburgh who do such a fantastic job keeping us all safe.
Edinburgh truly is an innovative global city, and we are privileged to enjoy such close relationships with cities across the world. In 2024, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of our very first twinning with Munich. We have since gone on to twin with thirteen other cities around the globe, including Dunedin who we will celebrate fifty years with, and Florence who we will mark sixty years with. I look forward to marking these milestones in 2024 and fostering these valuable relationships in the years to come.
Like Edinburgh, the Polish city of Krakow is a UNESCO City of Literature and one of our partner cities. We have enjoyed a strong partnership with the city since 1995 and I look forward to renewing our friendship in 2024. I am similarly thrilled that the UNESCO Cities of Literature Conference will be held in Edinburgh next year, reaffirming our place as a world leading literary city.
Marking twenty years since the creation of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network when Edinburgh received its designation as the very first UNESCO City of Literature, we will welcome representatives from over forty other Literary Cities to celebrate the achievements of the past twenty years and plan for the future.
Finally, I’d like to draw attention to the fantastic volunteers and voluntary sector in the city. Alongside my Deputy Lieutenants, Volunteer Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC), I have made several nominations from the community for a King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024. I look forward to seeing the results when they’re announced next year.
These are just a few of the exciting things that are in the pipeline for the year ahead.
As Lord Provost, it was my privilege to represent our wonderful city in 2023. I look forward to continuing to deliver on this work in 2024.
Ambulance staff had an extremely busy night across Scotland on Hogmanay as they dealt with 2,006 calls to Ambulance Control Centres between 7pm on New Year’s Eve and 7am on January 1st.
Hogmanay is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year for the Service and during this year’s New Year’s Eve, there was an increase of 2.2 percent compared the same period in 2022.
The most intense period was between 1:30am – 2:45am where staff handled 328 calls – around a call every 15 seconds.
Julie Carter, On-call Executive Director with the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “The overall level of demand for our service over the festive period has exceeded previous years and Hogmanay was one of our busiest nights of the year.
“Yet again, our staff in our Control Centres, on the frontline and support staff showed what an incredible group of dedicated professionals they are. They are a true credit to the SAS.
“This winter we continue to face significant challenges as a result of the time of year and continuing long hospital turnaround times at some hospitals which are stopping our staff from getting back out on the road to help other patients in need.
“To help our staff, we’d like to remind people to please only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
“If you need urgent care, but it’s not life-threatening, you can call NHS 24 on 111, day or night, or your GP during opening hours.”
Detectives are treating the death of a man as murder following a firearms incident which occurred in the Granton area last night (Sunday, 31 December).
Around 11.50pm police were called to reports of two men being seriously injured after a firearm was discharged in Granton Crescent.
Emergency services attended and the two men were taken to hospital.
A 38-year-old man was pronounced dead a short time later and a 39-year-old man remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Road closures remain in place on Granton Road and Granton Crescent while police enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances.
Detective Superintendent Graham Grant said: “This is believed to have been a targeted incident and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of both men involved.
“Enquiries are at a very early stage to establish the full circumstances surrounding what happened, and while officers have already gathered CCTV and spoken to various people who were in the area at the time, I’d urge anyone with information who hasn’t yet spoken to us to come forward.
“In particular if anyone has private CCTV, doorbell footage or dashcam of the Granton Crescent/Road area around the time of the incident, please bring it to our attention.
“This incident will undoubtedly have caused concern in the local community and officers will be carrying out extra patrols of the area and I’d like to reassure the public that everything possible is being done to trace whoever is responsible.”
The murdered man has been named locally as Marc Webley.
Anyone with information is urged to call 101 quoting reference 3819 of 31 December. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
BRITAIN is in the grip of a new mould crisis, a leading property association has warned. The National Association of Property Buyers says they are seeing more and more cases of mould infestations inside properties.
And they’ve warned the problem is going to get worse and wll become a bigger issue for many homeowners and renters in the New Year.
Spokesman Jonathan Rolande has now called for a national awareness campaign to drive up knowledge and information about the problem.
He said: “Damp and mouldy homes don’t just make life a misery – they put lives at risk. I fear the cost of living crisis is only making this issue more acute.
“I am seeing more and more cases of this at the moment in properties I am viewing and in pictures shared with me by colleagues in the industry.”
Explaining the main reasons properties suffer with dampness, Mr Rolande said: “Rain is a massive contributory factor. This can enter the home through a porous external wall or because of defective guttering or roofing. Once it has penetrated it soaks into insulation and plasterwork. This is a perfect environment for mould to grow. The UK is experiencing increasing amounts of torrential rainfall.
“Rising damp is a problem too. A more unusual cause as most properties built after 1930 have an adequate damp proof course (DPC) to stop moisture from the ground from entering the home. However, the DPC can be breached if soil or paving is built up around the outside walls.
“Condensation often creates damp as well. We all experience condensation in our homes when cooking or after a shower. Good ventilation is key, moisture has to be allowed to escape. Many people don’t ventilate adequately in an effort to preserve warmth in the home.”
TIPS ON HOW TO BEST DEAL WITH MOULD
*Switching on the heating for at least twenty minutes in the morning will even out the temperature and stop the cold spots where condensation settles. Warmer air increases airflow too which allows moisture to escape more easily.
*Ventilate. If safe to do so, leave a window slightly open whenever you can and always when cooking or bathing.
*Dry clothes outside when possible or in a ventilated room. Tumble driers cause less condensation.
*Use moisture traps or a dehumidifier to catch excess water.
*Remember that our homes are now more airtight – double glazing and insulation keeps the bills down but stops normal airflow.
*Some plants – ferns and orchids – reduce humidity and they look nice too
*Check the structure, damp can be a pipe leak or rain getting in through the brickwork. Check tiles and gutters are sound too.
*Use lids on cooking pans – it saves money too.
*Keep furniture away from walls to increase air movement
*Remove any mould quickly using mild bleach.
As the weather gets chillier and evenings darker, many of us are making ourselves cosy and cooking up our favourite comfort foods. It’s no surprise then, that the demand for comfort food rises each winter, with a 19% increase in Google searches last month in Ireland and a 8% increase in TikTok searches.
But which comforting recipes are people turning to?
New data from HelloFresh Ireland has uncovered the world’s top 10 favourite comfort foods. Using a comprehensive analysis of Reddit and Google data, the foods that have been found to bring the most solace are:
World’s Favourite Comfort Foods
Head of Culinary at HelloFresh Ireland, Hannah Duxbury, who specialises in designing recipes with mass appeal, discusses why she believes these foods are favoured: “Comfort foods often have a nostalgic or emotional connection to our past. They provide a sense of familiarity and security, triggering positive feelings.
“The top 10 foods identified in this study are rich in flavours, textures, and often associated with happy memories, making them irresistible choices for people seeking comfort in a plate. At HelloFresh Ireland, we find that many hearty Irish recipes are among our most popular for similar reasons.”
Carbohydrates stimulate the production of serotonin, which is associated with mood regulation and a sense of well-being. The consumption of hearty carbs can lead to a temporary increase in serotonin levels, contributing to feelings of comfort and happiness. What’s more, the satisfying and filling nature of carb dishes also provides a physical feeling of fullness and contentment, further enhancing their appeal as comfort foods.
Hannah has also provided recipes that she recommends turning to for comfort:
“The warm broth of this soup is hydrating, while the chicken and vegetables provide a blend of flavours that can be both familiar and nourishing.”
Sausages with Spinach Colcannon
“Mashed potatoes are the world’s fourth favourite comfort food and rightly so. They’re a good source of carbohydrates, which we know can boost serotonin levels. Add spinach for extra nutrients and turn into colcannon for the ultimate Irish nostalgia meal.”
Mexican Style Cheesy Beef Hash with Freshly Made Guacamole
“Guacamole is another great comfort food because not only is it rich and creamy, but avocado’s superfood properties mean it’s packed with mood-boosting nutrients. Serve with cheesy crispy potatoes in a Mexican hash for even more comfort.”
More comfort food recipes can be found at HelloFresh Ireland’s recipe hub.
