Day: October 25, 2026

HOUSEBREAKING PREVENTION ADVICE

With the clocks going back this Sunday now is the time to review your home security. Secure your doors:

• Keep keys out of sight
• Check door locks
• Secure windows and check locks are working

#HomeSecurity

#CrimePrevention

#DarkerNights

As the clocks go back, a timely reminder to think about vitamin D.

From October to March our bodies can’t make enough vitamin D from sunlight.

To keep bones and muscles healthy it’s best to take a daily 10 microgram supplement of vitamin D.

Info: https://nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

GLASGOW-based brain injury charity Headway Clyde has launched its ‘lifesaving’ ID cards nationally, thanks to a donation from Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP.

The serious injury specialist law firm donated a card printing machine to sponsor Headway Clyde’s production of uniquely personalised ABI (acquired brain injury) cards for individuals with brain injuries.

Headway Clyde is an independent Scottish charity and part of a UK-wide network of voluntary sector charities and groups supporting people with ABIs and their families.

This new national ABI ID card is a vital lifesaver for people with brain injuries, featuring the ways in which each person’s ABI affects them, personal details and the all-important emergency contact information.

This means that urgent help and assistance is more quickly and easily available. An Acquired Brain Injury can be caused by an event after birth such as stroke, brain haemorrhage, infection, or cancer, but the main causes in Scotland are due to falls, accidents and assault, accounting for 62% of the total number of ABIs. 

Often, others can assume that someone affected by an ABI is drunk, aggressive or deliberately confusing matters – this new ABI ID Card provides that person with a means to prove that they are none of these things. This can make all the difference when using things like public transport and taxis or doing tasks like shopping.

Headway Clyde’s range of services cover Glasgow, the West and Central Scotland, covering a population of over 1.5 million people across nine local authorities and three NHS regions.

Now this hugely important, personalised ABI ID Card is being offered across Scotland.

For Bob Bogle, Chief Executive at Headway Clyde, the personalised cards are a ‘gamechanger’ and says they have been created and offered due to a very real and vocal demand for them from ABI-affected individuals and families.

Bob said: “Within just a few weeks of rolling out the cards in March, there have been situations where these cards have already been used and helped individuals. They’re a real gamechanger.

“At times, they can quite literally be lifesaving, and we cannot thank our long-standing partners at Irwin Mitchell enough for their wonderful support over the years.  Thanks also to the family of life-long campaigner for ABI awareness, Irene Morrice, for her legacy which means we can continue to offer these cards completely free of charge.

“It takes just over £130,000 to run Headway Clyde per year and we really rely on donations and our corporate sponsors to continue this vital free service.  We no longer receive any funding from the NHS or government, but are expected to provide lifelong essential community support for thousands of individuals and families. In Glasgow City, 70% of those people we support live in the 10% poorest areas, so we have to continue to offer all our services free of charge.

“We are now rolling these uniquely personalised ABI cards out across Scotland to ensure equal access to this vital resource for all individuals with acquired brain injuries all around the country. These really make a difference on the front line.”

Kim Leslie, Personal Injury Partner at Irwin Mitchell Scotland, added: “What I really like about this initiative is its simplicity. It responds to an everyday challenge faced by people living with a brain injury and gives them something practical that can make life a little easier.

“Knowing the cards are already helping people is fantastic, and Headway Clyde deserve huge credit for making the idea happen.

“We see how important organisations like Headway Clyde are to people and families across Scotland, so supporting their work feels both important and very worthwhile.”

Amy Gannon, Serious Injury Partner at Irwin Mitchell Scotland, added: “As specialists supporting people affected by brain injury, we know how important it is that individuals have practical tools which help them feel safer and better understood in everyday situations.

“These cards are a simple but powerful way of reducing misunderstanding and ensuring the right support can be accessed quickly when it is needed most.”

The charity canvassed opinions from those who have been using the card, and feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Cardholders felt it helped to challenge misconceptions; explain issues like poor balance, forgetfulness, slower reaction times or problems with memory to those who may not understand their condition; and the presence of emergency contact details on the cards provided additional reassurance.

One current ABI ID Card user, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I’ve used the card a lot since I got it, and it has been so good. There have been occasions when I’ve fainted, and those who have come to my aid or helped me at the hospital have been able to phone my contact to alert them. 

“It also helps prevent misunderstandings. When my mobility and balance are affected, people can often assume I’ve been drinking, but the card gives me confidence to know they won’t now jump to the wrong conclusion.”

Another said: “It helps my family and people I meet understand if I’m confused, anxious and not communicating in a relatable way.”

Every year, 20,000 people in Scotland will acquire a brain injury with over 400,000 individuals now living with an ABI across Scotland – 6% of the population.

If you or someone you know has an Acquired Brain Injury and would like one of these personalised ID cards then contact Headway Clyde directly on 0141 332 8878 or click on https://idcard.headwayclyde.org/ to access the confidential online application process.

START NOW TO GET AHEAD

• The Self Assessment tax return deadline for 2025 to 2026 tax year is 31 January 2027.
• People can file their tax returns via GOV.UK and beat the January rush.
• Support and guidance are available on GOV.UK for those need it.

With 100 days to go until the deadline, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging millions of Self Assessment customers to get ahead of the January rush and not put off completing their tax return for the 2025 to 2026 tax year.

Around 12 million people are expected to submit a tax return by 31 January 2027 and submitting tax returns early means customers can:

• find out how much tax they owe before the deadline
• give themselves more time to budget 
• get a refund quicker if they have paid too much tax
• avoid penalties

Customers can complete and file their tax return for the 2025 to 2026 year on GOV.UK. If anyone is unsure about whether they need to complete Self Assessment, they can use the GOV.UK checker tool.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said on Friday: “The Self Assessment deadline is 100 days away so now is the ideal time to get ahead and file your tax return early.

“Guidance and support are available on GOV.UK to help you file your tax return. Just search ‘file my Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK to start yours today.”

People who are new to Self Assessment must first register to receive their Unique Taxpayer Reference, which they will need when they complete and file their return. And anyone who needs to tell HMRC that they no longer need to submit a tax return can do so on GOV.UK.

There is a range of support and guidance available on GOV.UK, including: 

• help filling in the sections of your tax return
• videos explaining how to complete your tax return 
• HMRC’s digital assistant which can answer common questions about Self Assessment

Self Assessment customers can also ask a tax agent, friend or family member, or a voluntary organisation to help them.

Those signed up to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax still need to submit their Self Assessment tax return in their usual way and pay any taxed owed by the 31 January 2027.

Self Assessment customers with a PAYE income can file online before 30 December and have any tax owed collected via their tax code. 

Criminals often impersonate HMRC to steal money or personal information in someone else’s name.

People should always take time to stop and think if the request is genuine before sharing personal information, never click on links in unexpected messages or share their HMRC sign-in details. Genuine HMRC contact details and advice on spotting scams can be found on GOV.UK by searching for ‘HMRC phishing and scams’.

More information about Self Assessment.

Housing Options Scotland will be in Norton Park on Wednesday 28th October.

If you have questions on your housing needs, sign up to meet with one of their experts on a range of housing-related topics.

For more info, visit: https://housingoptionsscotland.org.uk/ontour/

More than £1 million to restore damaged habitats

Nature recovery projects, including work to restore areas of the Cairngorms damaged by this summer’s wildfires, will receive more than £1 million in Scottish Government funding. 

The package will support habitat, species and river restoration, control of invasive non-native species and deer management across Scotland. 

This includes £150,100 for recovery and nature restoration work following the Abernethy wildfire in the Cairngorms, to restore damaged habitats, help wildlife recover and reduce the risk of future wildfires. 

Further funding will be provided to a range of other projects, including:

• river restoration,
• support for species restoration, including native oyster restoration at various sites and habitat restoration on Islay for chough – rare members of the crow family,
• habitat restoration in four National Nature Reserves,
• additional support for deer management

The funding announcement was made by Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin during her address at the 9th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities at COP17 in Armenia. 

Ms Martin said: “Nature underpins our health, wellbeing, economy and way of life, which is why restoring and protecting it is so important. This funding will support practical action, from improving habitats and rivers to tackling invasive species and supporting sustainable land management. 

“It will also help recovery efforts in the Cairngorms following one of the most significant wildfire events in recent years, strengthening the resilience of these landscapes for the future.

“Being here in Armenia alongside subnational governments and cities from around the world is a reminder that nature recovery is a shared global challenge. Scotland is committed to turning its ambitions for nature and climate into action, both at home and on the international stage, and this investment will help deliver real benefits for our environment, wildlife and communities.” 

Grant Moir, Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “The wildfire in Glenmore and Abernethy was devastating for nature and wildlife in the area, for neighbouring communities, and all of us who love this place.

“The funding announced today by Ms Martin is a very welcome boost that will help us to kickstart nature recovery in the area. This includes funding work to restore damaged habitats, help wildlife recover and reduce the risk of future wildfires by exploring nature-based solutions. 

“From replacing wildlife monitoring cameras that were damaged in the blaze to restoring a section of the Duack burn that was impacted by the emergency firebreaks, this funding will allow us to step up our work with our partners and enable swift action where it’s most needed.”  

Stuart MacQuarrie, NatureScot Director of Nature and Climate Change, said: “This vital funding supports more people across Scotland to take action for nature. From helping to manage land for chough on Islay to supporting the restoration of native oysters and creating meadows for wildlife in our towns and cities, these local efforts combine to create a national drive to save nature.  

“And by working to restore biodiverse habitats, manage deer sustainably and tackle the invasive species that threaten our native animal and plant life, we can look forward with hope, to a future where Scotland’s nature is healthy and thriving.”