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16% of social posts about Edinburgh Xmas Markets evoke feelings of anger, sadness and disgust

With just a week until Christmas Day, Christmas markets up and down the country are bustling with people, visiting their nearest towns and cities with the hopes of getting in the festive before the big day.

It’s an annual tradition which transforms towns and cities into festive wonderlands stuffed with mouth-watering food, drinks, and stalls laden with great gift ideas.

A new study by Envirofone, reveals the most and least popular Christmas markets in the UK this festive season, taking into account the general publics reaction to the markets since they opened a month ago.

SCOTLANDS TOP CHRISTMAS MARKET EVOKES FRUSTRATION AMONGST VISITORS

In total, 15 UK Christmas markets were ranked, scraping 63,160 social media posts that mentioned each Christmas market during last year’s opening period to analyse the emotional sentiment – identifying tones of anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, and surprise to reveal the percentage of positive and negative mentions. Additionally, we collected data from Instagram hashtags and TikTok views to see which are the most popular across those social media platforms.

Whilst overall Edinburgh Christmas markets take 2nd place when taking into account overall social listening, TikTok views and Instagram mentions, 16% of the social media posts mentioning the markets between October 2022 and the first week of December indicate feelings of anger, disgust and sadness towards the event.

Although many praised the markets for their variation of gift stalls and the range of food and drink on offer, the majority of the negative comments come from those commenting on the overcrowding and queues that have been in place to enter the markets.

People have taken to social media to comment on the unnessesary amount of food vendors at this years event, slamming the prices of the food and drink on offer at them.

However, we cannot forget the hidden wonders that Edinburgh Christmas markets offers, including a Christmas tree maze, theatre performances and concerts unsurprisingly has been viewed the most out of all the Christmas Markets on TikTok, with 12,516,000 views.

Mentioned a total of 6,700 times on social media during 2021’s festive season, 17% of these posts evoked feelings of joy, with the markets being noted for their festive feel, the number of activities that the event offers and the range of winter warming food available.

London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland ranks first as our festive front-runner, boasting 65,780 Instagram hashtags, over 10.5 million views on TikTok and 14,000 search mentions.

A favourite in the North of England, Manchester takes home third place with 16% of the social mentions evoking feelings of joy around the festive feel of the markets from those mentioning it.

NEWCASTLE IS RANKED THE LEAST ENJOYABLE

Newcastle sits at the bottom of the leader board, with 7% of mentions of the markets being of anger and fear. As “COVID” was a popular term used in conjunction with both Newcastle and Cardiff markets, this indicates that last year COVID was still affecting the running of the events.

Although 16% of Blenheim Palace mentions are joy, it’s high ticket prices pull down the ranking of the event, placing it in fourteenth place.

RANKED: CHRISTMAS MARKETS FROM MOST TO LEAST POPULAR

Rank	Christmas Market	Instagram (no of hashtags)	TikTok (no of views)	Total mentions	% Positivementions	% Negativementions	Average Index Score
1	Winter Wonderland	65,780	10,596,079	14,000	17%	9%	0.75
2	Edinburgh	47,214	12,516,400	6,700	17%	12%	0.78
3	Manchester	62,462	5,041,542	7,500	16%	13%	0. 83
4	York	9,315	445,842	9,400	12%	14%	1.27
5	Lincoln	12,275	494,313	2,900	14%	26%	1.28
6	Birmingham	17,789	525,978	4,800	16%	7%	1.34
7	Belfast	8,670	4,213,156	3,600	9%	23%	1.46
8	Bath	31,422	21,995	2,200	20%	6%	1.68
9	Nottingham	4,877	120,135	3,100	8%	31%	1.73
10	Winchester	7,908	34,779	1,400	23%	2%	1.84
11	Liverpool	3,600	602,204	3,100	10%	10%	1.84
12	Exeter	3,294	25,270	918	21%	4%	2.09
12	Cardiff	4,072	155,923	1,200	11%	8%	2.13
13	Blenheim Palace	6,937	96,308	442	16%	1%	2.24
15	Newcastle	2,248	3,780	1,900	11%	7%	2.40

Many other Christmas markets stand out when looking at individual metrics. York sits in second place for total social mentions, Belfast is ranked at number four on TikTok, gaining 4,213,156 views, whilst 23% of Winchester Christmas market social mentions were positive.

For the full study, please visit, here.

LadBaby single ‘Food Aid’ featuring Martin Lewis and the Band Aid All-Stars is out now

100% OF PROFITS FROM THE SONG WILL BE DONATED TOWARDS THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER AND POVERTY.

50% WILL GO TO THE TRUSSELL TRUST AND

50% WILL BE DONATED TO THE BAND AID TRUST

Chart topping social media stars and charity campaigners LadBaby aka Mark and Roxanne Hoyle are set to make history becoming the first ever act to be allowed to rework the iconic Band Aid song ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’. The track ‘Food Aid’ is available to download now.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without LadBaby. Mark & Roxanne Hoyle have conquered the charts for three years in a row, shooting straight to #1 with ‘We Built This City on Sausage Rolls’ (2018) , ‘I Love Sausage Rolls’ (2019) and Don’t Stop Me Eatin’ (2020) and ‘Sausage Rolls for Everyone’ ft Ed Sheerand And Elton John (2022)

Yesterday they released ‘Food Aid’, a rework of the iconic Band Aid song ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’ featuring money saving expert Martin Lewis.

100% of profits from the song will be donated towards the fight against hunger and poverty. 50% will go to the Trussell Trust and 50% will be donated to the Band Aid Trust.

The track was rewritten with kind permission from Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and the Band Aid Trust. To rework the track, Mark and Roxanne teamed up with Grammy winner Amy Wadge, one of the UK’s most prolific contemporary songwriters, known for her long established writing partnership with Ed Sheeran and this year’s UK Eurovision entry, to rewrite the festive song with a touch of the tongue-in- cheek humour that LadBaby are renowned for.

‘Food Aid’ is a slightly more tempo parody of the original which has a serious message but retains all the fun you would expect for a LadBaby track. The lyrics reflect the cost of living crisis that is affecting the UK.

Reflecting the mood of the nation, the track opens with “ It’s Christmas time , let’s come together for Food Aid, This Christmas Time, The nations skint and they’re under paid” continuing with “There won’t be food for everyone This Christmas time, For many there’ll be hungry Through the night , When there’s nowhere else to go, When the lecky’s running low Do they know it’s Christmas time at all ?”

The song is released alongside a hilarious, feel-good video which unveils the Band Aid all-stars. Mark is seen ushering Rox into a music studio for the big reveal. Instead of mega-A list musicians, Mark instead presents Rox with a group of look-alikes including Stormzy, Will.Am, Boy George, Adele, Kylie, Robbie Williams, The Gallagher Brothers, Paul McCartney and of course Ed and Elton.

‘Don’t worry’, Mark tells Rox, I’ve got Lewis… ‘Lewis Capaldi’, she asks? ‘No, Martin Lewis’, he responds. The video replicates the Band Aid video but with extra humour added in. Boy George can be seen helping Noel and Liam reconcile after a fight, Adele can be seen reaching for the wine, whilst Robbie pines over a Gary Barlow image.

Mark and Rox said: “In a year when people are struggling more than ever we felt it was time to keep both the lyrics and the guest-stars authentic and real.

“It just didn’t feel right roping in lots of megastars to sing about a cost of living crisis. It’s been loads of fun to get everyone guessing who we’ve had on the song. We hope the real stars now get involved and get behind the track.

But behind the hilarity, the reason for making the track is to raise as much money as we possibly can for the Trussell Trust and the Band Aid Trust. We HAVE to do whatever it takes to build a future where all of us can afford to go to sleep with a full stomach.”

Martin Lewis says: “When Mark and Roxanne contacted me out-of-the-blue to ask if I’d join them in Food Aid I thought they’d confused me with someone else. The nearest I’ve ever got to thinking about a Christmas number one is going to the loo on Boxing Day after too much orange juice the day before!

“Yet once I knew they were serious, and it was for the Trussell Trust, a hugely important charity I’ve a history with, I decided to give it a go, and do it with gusto.

“This has been a tough year for many, prices have rocketed. Advice charities and food banks are swamped. Deficit budgeting is becoming more common – meaning even after everything has been cut to the bone – people still have less income than expenditure.

“It’s going to be a tough winter, and things aren’t likely to ease much in 2023. So the need to help and support people struggling across the UK is profound. Hopefully this Ladbaby song and their lyrics will raise some cash and awareness.”

Emma Revie, CEO of the Trussell Trust said: “We are so grateful to LadBaby for their incredible support for a fifth year running.

“Between April and September this year, food banks in the Trussell Trust network provided 1.3 million emergency food parcels to people facing hardship. Soaring food and fuel costs are affecting us all, but for families on the very lowest incomes this crisis means so much more and more people are likely to need a food bank’s help.

“Food bank teams are working tirelessly to ensure help continues to be available. But ultimately, no one in the UK should need a food bank – all of us should have enough money for the essentials like food, clothing and heating.

“The support of LadBaby and the Band Aid trust will help food banks within our network continue to provide the lifeline of emergency support for local people in crisis, while we work in the long term to end the need for food banks, for good. Thank you so much”

The Hoyle’s are keen to use their social media platforms of over 13 million followers for good, especially when so many families across the nation are struggling.

Mark and Roxanne will support the Trussell Trust with both fundraising and awareness campaigns.

Through their Christmas chart topping endeavours where they’ve donated 100% of the songs profits and branded partnerships, the couple have already raised over £1.2 million for the Trussell Trust through their charity singles and brand partnerships, but as the cost of living crisis gets worse they are committed to do even more to help.

Now, more than ever, food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network need vital funds to support people struggling to afford the essentials. Figures released by the charity just a few weeks ago revealed that food banks in its network across the UK provided around five emergency food parcels a minute as families struggled to afford to feed themselves.

More emergency food parcels were given out during the April to September 2022 period than ever before for this time of year. Over the last six months, more than 320,000 people have been forced to turn to food banks in the Trussell Trust network for the first time.

For the first time, the need for emergency food is outstripping donations as the cost of living emergency is leading to a drastic increase in the number of people turning to food banks for support.

New figures from the Trussell Trust show more emergency food parcels were given out during the April to September period than ever before. Food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK-wide network distributed 1.3 million food parcels to people facing hardship – this is an increase of 52% compared to the same period in 2019.

Half a million of these parcels were distributed to children. One in five people referred to food banks in the Trussell Trust network are in working households.

LadBaby have surpassed the Beatles and the Spice Girls as the act with the most consecutive Christmas number ones in a row.

The duo first topped the chart in 2018 with We Built This City, a cover of Starship’s 1985 hit; followed by I Love Sausage Rolls, their take on The Arrows / Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll; Don’t Stop Me Eatin’, a cheeky version of Journey’s beloved power ballad and last year topped the chart with ‘Sausage Rolls For Everyone’, the duo’s collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John.

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Edinburgh’s Welcome Centre supports over 500 people facing homelessness this winter

The City of Edinburgh Council and national homelessness charity Bethany Christian Trust are operating a Welcome Centre this winter.

The Centre is providing accommodation of last resort, tailored support and positive move on options for people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets. Since opening in October, it has already supported and accommodated over 500 people and will continue to operate over Christmas until May 2023.

Founded by Bethany Christian Trust in partnership with the Council, and supported by the Scottish Government, the Welcome Centre was pioneered in 2020 in an emergency response to the outbreak of Covid-19, providing en-suite rooms as a deliberate move away from congregate shelter provision, and has since helped to establish a new model of tailored support for people rough sleeping.

The Welcome Centre takes an innovative and person-centred approach, providing 24 hour tailored support for individuals all in one place. Guests receive their own en-suite room and 3 meals a day, including a hot evening meal prepared by volunteers.

They are also able to work with dedicated staff and visiting professional services with support to access longer term accommodation as well as on site assistance with mental health, addiction, wellbeing, health needs and accessing benefits.

Councillor Jane Meagher, the Council’s Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, said: “When temperatures drop to this extent it’s more important than ever that we do all that we can to support anyone who may be at risk.

“With Bethany we’re operating a Welcome Centre this winter to provide an additional 65 beds for people with wrap around support, and demand for this service this winter has already been high.

“We’re also offering street-based outreach seven days a week through our partners to anyone we see rough sleeping and this involves checking in with people three times a night, specialist pharmacy and mental health services available on street and supporting people directly into Rapid Access Accommodation.

“The rise in homelessness we’re witnessing in Edinburgh is deeply concerning and the Council has a campaign to spread awareness of the support which exists for people who are struggling financially. We need to prevent more people from becoming homeless as far as we possibly can.”

Commenting on the increase in demand for the service, Alasdair Bennett, Chief Executive at Bethany Christian Trust said: “The Welcome Centre provides emergency en-suite accommodation of last resort for anyone who would otherwise be sleeping rough in Edinburgh.

“We have accomodated over 500 different people with the majority staying less than seven nights as they are assisted to rapidly move on to more appropriate accommodation. The centre is a place of warm welcome, hospitality and intensive support, tailored to the individual and involving multiple health, housing and charitable partners to respond to individual needs.

“We are seeing an increase in the number of people attending and being referred for this crisis intervention, even prior to the colder weather coming in, and we are working with all partners to find alternative options when there are no available bed spaces at the Centre. With a focus on rapidly re-accommodating people, new bedrooms become available at a rate of about 50 each week, or 7 a day, in order to support individuals in crisis that night.

“Even when we are full we are able to provide food, warm clothing and access to support here at the Welcome Centre, so we encourage anyone who is at risk of rough sleeping that night to come and we will do all that we can to support them, including linking them up with partner agencies and local authority housing options.”

Relying on the financial support of the general public, local churches, trusts, businesses, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government, the Welcome Centre shows what can be possible when the people of Edinburgh come together to create change.

With a large professional staff team, over 1,000 Bethany volunteers and more than 20 visiting partner services, the Welcome Centre saw remarkable success in 2021 – 2022 in helping people recover from the crisis of homelessness and move on to a more stable situation.

The service accommodated and supported over 860 individuals who had fallen into homelessness because of a wide range of circumstances as well as those rough sleeping, with 97% of known outcomes positive.

Bethany’s Buy a Bed campaign, which is vital in enabling the service, is also in place again this year and gift vouchers can be purchased in Bethany Shops and online:

https://www.bethanychristiantrust.com/support-work/buy-a-bed/.

Hearts players spread festive cheer at New Sick Kids hospital

Children, families and NHS staff at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) were treated to a special Christmas surprise when players from Heart of Midlothian FC came to visit.

Captain Craig Gordon and the first team squad spread lots of festive joy when they made their way around the hospital, meeting and speaking with some of their biggest fans on the wards and handing out Christmas goodies.

The annual visit is organised by NHS Lothian and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC). This is the first time the Hearts players have been able to visit the hospital in person since 2019 due to Covid, making the occasion even more memorable.

Craig said: “This is an important day in our calendar and we are delighted to be able to visit everyone in person once again.

“Christmas is a special time of year but, unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to spend it at home, happy and healthy with family and friends.

“That it why this visit is really meaningful, because it affords us the chance to give something back and to, hopefully, put some smiles on some faces and spread some Christmas cheer.”

ECHC runs a programme of daily fun activities throughout December to make sure no one spending the season in hospital misses out on the magic of Christmas. So far, children and their families have been entertained by Santa abseiling into the building, a silent disco around the wards and a live pipe band, with plenty more still to come.

Pippa Johnston, Director at ECHC, said: “The Hearts team’s visit to the hospital always provides a real boost to children, families and staff so it is marvellous to be able to welcome them back in person. Some of the children are avid Hearts supporters so really enjoy the opportunity to meet and take photos with their favourite players and get some Hearts goodies too.

“Every year, together with our friends at NHS Lothian, ECHC works hard to make time spent in hospital a little bit brighter. We rely solely on donations and kindness to be able to do this, so we are enormously grateful to Hearts for taking time out of their busy schedule to visit those facing a hospital stay this Christmas.”

To find out more about ECHC’s Redirected Letters to Santa Christmas appeal and to donate, visit www.echcharity.org/donate

Small changes mean energy advice campaign adds up to big savings

UK Government launches ‘It All Adds Up’ campaign with simple actions to cut bills by bringing down the amount of energy needed to keep homes warm and stay safe

‘It All Adds Up’ energy saving campaign launched today by government with advice that could help UK households cut hundreds of pounds off their bills this winter
Campaign features tips on simple, low or no-cost actions that households can take to immediately cut energy use and save money while ensuring people are able to stay safe and warm this winter
Advice also available on longer-term measures to improve the energy efficiency of homes that can bring down bills not just this winter but in years to come

Simple advice, with no or very low-cost actions that households can take to reduce their energy use and bills this winter, is now available to the public under a new government information campaign being launched today.

The £18 million ‘It All Adds Up’ energy saving campaign will raise public awareness of straightforward actions that people can take to cut their bills by bringing down the amount of energy needed to keep their homes warm and stay safe this winter.

The guidance focuses on simple measures which are not already adopted by the majority of households in the UK. How energy use can be reduced may be different for each individual household, but simple measures in the campaign can offer significant financial savings this winter without reducing comfort or putting people’s health at risk.

The ‘It All Adds Up’ campaign has been launched on a new website and promotes some of the government’s top recommended actions to help households save money on their energy bills at no or little cost, including:

reducing the temperature a boiler heats water to before it is sent to radiators (known as the boiler flow temperature) from 75⁰C to 60⁰C, which will not reduce the temperature of your home but could save around £100 annually
turning appliances off at the plug, which could save approximately £70 per year
reducing heating loss from the property such as putting draught excluders around doors or by adding clear film across windows, which could save around £60 a year

Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said: “No-one is immune to rising energy bills this winter, so it’s in everyone’s interest to use every trick in the book to use less energy while keeping homes warm and staying safe.

“For very little or no cost, you can save pounds. It all adds up, so I urge people to take note of the advice in this new campaign and follow the easy steps to cut your fuel bills.”

Information on the ‘It All Adds Up’ campaign can be found at a new GOV.UK website, which will run alongside the government’s wider ‘Help for Households’ campaign. The new energy saving campaign will feature adverts across TV, radio, digital platforms and on digital billboards, with a television advert rolled out in the coming weeks.

In addition to these simple tips, there is also advice on other actions that households can take to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, as well as further details of government funding schemes to improve the energy efficiency of households across the country.

The ‘It All Adds Up’ campaign highlights longer-term energy efficiency upgrades, including installing loft and wall insulation or fitting double glazing, that people can make to their homes to save their energy use and bring down bills.

Richard Neudegg, director of regulation and policy at Uswitch.com said: “We know many households are actively looking to find safe ways to reduce their energy use to save on bills, and there are straightforward steps to take by making small changes at home. So we welcome renewed efforts to highlight practical tips that can make a real difference.

“Keeping track of energy usage can help people understand what’s most driving their bills and help identify where to make changes. To support households, Uswitch has developed Utrack, a free app which can help people see exactly what they are using and highlight ways to save money.”

Juliette Sanders, Director of Strategic Communications at Energy UK, said: “Energy UK welcomes the Government’s efforts in helping people to improve their energy efficiency.

“Many people are struggling to pay their energy bills and whilst additional support is available from both Government and energy suppliers, taking steps to cut down wasted energy will enable people to lower their bills immediately. We’re also pleased that advice on long-term energy efficiency measures is part of the campaign.

“It’s essential that this goes hand in hand with policies that will enable delivery to as many homes as possible, and with the roll out of smart meters so people can manage their energy use, and use it at times it is cheapest.”

Jonathan Brearley, the CEO of Ofgem, said: “I very much welcome the launch of the ‘It All Adds Up’ campaign. We know from the analysis we’ve seen that even small things, such as turning off radiators in rooms that are not in use and adapting boiler flow, can have a big impact, not only on customer bills, but in boosting our wider security of supply.

“This will complement Ofgem’s Energy Aware campaign, which provides information on ways to reduce energy use, cut costs, and points consumers towards financial schemes and other avenues of support that can help them through this difficult winter.”

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: “This winter, many people will be worried about how much they might have to spend to heat their homes. These tips should help cut down the cost of staying warm.

“However, we know lots of people are living in cold, dark homes because they’re stretched to their limit and simply have nothing left to cut back on. If you’re in this situation, speak to your energy supplier or contact Citizens Advice for support. We’re here to help you find a way forward.”

Making homes and businesses more energy efficient and so bringing down fuel bills is part of the Government’s wider long-term commitment, announced as part of the Autumn Statement, to reduce the UK’s final energy consumption from buildings and industry by 15% by 2030 against 2021 levels.

Improving the energy efficiency of homes is the best long-term method of cutting household energy use and bringing down bills. That is why the government is accelerating the pace of upgrading the energy efficiency of housing with £6 billion of funding committed to 2028 in addition to £6.6 billion in this parliament.

A further £4 billion has been committed through ECO4 scheme, which is delivering home insulation measures to low income and more vulnerable households, and the £1 billion ECO+ scheme, which will install measures in households who have previously not been able to access support through the Energy Company Obligation scheme.

The ‘It All Adds Up’ campaign comes in addition to an unprecedented package of government support that is helping households meet their energy costs this winter, including the Energy Price Guarantee, saving a typical household over £900, the Energy Bills Support Scheme providing a £400 discount to millions and the most vulnerable receiving £1,200 each this year.

To publicise the launch of the new energy saving campaign website further, Business and Energy Minister Lord Callanan held a roundtable meeting on Friday 16 December with energy suppliers and consumer groups.

Mystery surrounds missing cat as sibling is found 400 miles from home

A Norfolk couple are hoping for a Christmas miracle as they appeal for the return of their beautiful grey cat who they believe could be lost 400 miles away in Scotland.

Toni Jarvis and Ben Smith’s four-year-old cats Duchess and Queenie went missing from their front garden in August and, after extensive local searches, they lost all hope of seeing them again. Then two months later, Duchess was found in Glasgow, 400 miles from their home in Great Yarmouth. She was returned home, thanks to her microchip. Sadly, Queenie is still missing.

Toni, a health support worker, of Gorleston, said: “I remember the day they went missing as if it were yesterday. We had to go out and both cats were playing in the front garden. We wouldn’t be out long, so my partner Ben said let’s leave them to play. I felt oddly nervous, but I left anyway. With hindsight, I should have trusted my instincts.

“When we got back the cats were nowhere to be seen. I knocked on my neighbour’s door and she said she seen two workmen in our street fussing both cats but since they had gone, she hadn’t seen the cats. I called their names repeatedly as normally they would come running home, but nothing.

“I waited until after the school run and asked everyone on my road if they had seen them and no one had so we went looking for them, walking and calling their names for over two hours but there was neither sight nor sound of them. It was very odd that they had both gone missing.”

The next day, Toni posted on local Facebook pages, appealing for any news about the family cats. She also made posters and put them up in streets around their neighbourhood and called local vets and cat rescues to see if the cats had perhaps been injured and taken into care. Sadly, nobody had seen Queenie or Duchess.

That was until October, when Christine Cutts, Cat Welfare Team Leader at Cats Protection’s Anglia Coastal Branch, received a call from a microchip database company to check on a chipped cat that had been found in Glasgow, some 400 miles away from its registered address in Norfolk.

Branch volunteer Lynne Pothecary said: “When the situation was explained Ben was very shocked and pleased to find out that Duchess had been found. He and his partner had thought that the cats were gone for good. They couldn’t believe she’d been found so far away in Scotland and couldn’t imagine how she got there.”

Toni added: “I was at work when Ben called to say Duchess had been found. I remember asking if it was real, I couldn’t believe him. I was crying down the phone, with my colleagues asking if I was ok and Ben telling me to calm down. I had to wait for another phone call an hour later when he had more details. It felt like a life time.”

That later call revealed that Duchess had been found roaming the Glasgow streets and was taken to a vet by a lady who assumed she was lost. Lucky for Duchess, her owners could be traced, thanks to her microchip. In the coming days, a neighbour who had been visiting Scotland brought Duchess home to the family.

Ben and Toni believe the inseparable pair might have followed each other into misadventure and maybe Queenie could be in Glasgow still. Toni said: “All we can assume is that they stowed away together aboard a van and the driver didn’t realise they were there. That’s why we hope Queenie might still be found.”

Lynne said: “Duchess’ return to her family is credit to the cat being microchipped. That is the hope for Queenie, that she might be traced by her microchip. Our Cats Protection team in Glasgow has appealed for any information but we didn’t hear anything positive so far. If anyone in Glasgow can help us locate Queenie, please get in touch.”

Toni and Ben are desperate to reunite their family in time for the new year. “Duchess is very playful but she does seem to be missing her sister. She’s not her usual self but our kids are trying to make her feel like everything is normal. But nothing beats playing with your sister. The only downside to our joy is that Queenie is still missing.

“We would love Queenie to come home to us,’ said Toni. “We appeal for anyone with any information to please get in touch. It would be a Christmas miracle.”

If you have information about Queenie, please contact Cats Protection’s Anglia Coastal Branch at publicity@angliacoastal.cats.org.uk.

Deck the halls without the folly!

ELECTRICAL BODY ISSUES ‘THE 12 SAFETY TIPS OF CHRISTMAS’

As we move through the festive period and the echoes of Christmas cheer begin to spread, it’s that time when homeowners dust off their Christmas decorations and set themselves to untangling dazzling arrays of fairy lights. Yet many householders fail to recognise the lurking dangers that can stem from seasonal décor.

Whilst the 2022 Yuletide may be less elaborate than recent years, there is sound advice at hand for those still decking out their homes to brighten the December nights.

NICEIC, the UK’s leading body for certified electrical businesses, provides here its 12 tips for keeping safe this Christmas.

After months of being stored away, Christmas lights can easily get damaged. Check your Christmas lights thoroughly to ensure they are not broken or damaged before use
Use only replacement bulbs (lamps) of the same type and rating as those originally supplied
Always switch lights off before you go to bed or go out
Do not be tempted to keep them on too long as they can overheat
Keep lights away from flammable decorations and materials that can burn easily
Avoid using extension leads or adapters wherever possible
Never attempt to repair lights by using tape
Avoid tampering with lights to string sets together
Check the wiring of the plug and make sure no bare wires are visible
Only use outdoor lights that have been specifically designed to be used outdoors. If you are unsure, check the manufacturers’ instructions
All outside sockets must be RCD protected for safety. An RCD (residual current device) works by switching off the flow of electricity when a cable or flex is damaged
We would advise that any fixed or permanent outside lighting should be installed by a certified electrical installer to ensure it complies with the appropriate safety standards

Paul Collins, Head of Technical Services for NICEIC, comments: “Faced with soaring energy prices, 54% of Brits unsurprisingly have admitted to playing down their illuminations this year and some local authorities have opted for dimming municipal lights, or culling them entirely.

“But as the countdown to Christmas begins, we will still no doubt enter that prime time for electrical catastrophes when wiring has degraded while in storage, socket outlets get overloaded, or homeowners riskily explore creative ways to illuminate their outdoor areas.

“Our message is simple: deck the halls without the folly. Carry out our basic safety checks and be sensible when using electricity around the home; but always call in the professionals if you need any new socket-outlets installed or rewiring carried out.”

To find your nearest NICEIC certified business, visit NICEIC.com. Or for more advice on keeping safe at home over the festive season, take a look at these Christmas Safety Tips from the UK’s electrical safety charity, Electrical Safety First.

“It’s time to End the Cage Age”

TV Dragon Deborah Meaden and vet Dr Marc Abraham OBE join almost 400,000 people calling on both the UK and Scottish Governments to End the Cage Age

Compassion in World Farming submitted a petition to the Scottish Government in Edinburgh and to Defra in London this week, calling for an end to the use of cages in UK farming.

Almost 400,000 people signed the petition urging all the governments across the UK to End the Cage Age and to usher in a new era in farming of which Britain can be truly proud.

Up to 16 million farm animals are trapped in cages every year in the UK. Sows are forced to nurse their piglets in crates, and egg laying hens endure their whole lives crammed in cages, with barely enough space to stretch their wings. These systems cause immense misery, are cruel and unnecessary.

Despite the Scottish and UK Governments promising consultations on the use of cages in farming, both have yet to take any meaningful action to free millions of animals from behind bars.

In their 2021-22 ‘Programme for Government’, the Scottish Government stated that they would “start consultation this year on proposals to… phase out cages for gamebirds and laying hens, and farrowing crates for pigs.”

This followed an SNP 2021 manifesto commitment to “adopt the highest possible animal welfare standards, including shifting to entirely free range, woodland or barn chicken and egg production.”

Despite these encouraging words, no further progress has been made.

In June, the UK Government announced they would bring forward consultations on the use of cages for laying hens and crates for farrowing sows but failed to set a timeline for this to happen.

As with the Scottish Government’s pledge, six-months later, these promised consultations have yet to happen.

Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden, who added her name to the petition, said: “Both the UK and Scottish Governments have failed to deliver their commitments to review caged farming. This simply isn’t good enough!

“Cages inflict immense misery on enormous numbers of UK farm animals. They are cruel and unnecessary, as higher-welfare cage-free systems are viable. It’s time for UK and Scottish Governments to free millions of animals from a life of suffering behind bars.”

The names of 392,063 people who signed the petition – including Deborah Meaden – filled a cage, which was wrapped and presented to the Scottish Government as a Christmas ‘gift’ alongside placards which will read ‘Dear Scottish Government, All we want for Christmas is action on cages’.

A cage was also delivered to Defra by TV vet and author Marc Abraham OBE.

Sarah Moyes, Compassion in World Farming’s Senior Campaigns Manger, said: “Right now, millions of animals are suffering, in cages across the UK.

That’s why we have presented the names of almost 400,000 people to the Scottish Government today, who finally want to see action on cages. The Scottish Government and Defra have made pledges, now it’s time to follow through and deliver.

“It’s time to End the Cage Age.”

Experiences, quality time and managing expectations: advice on navigating the holiday season

As the holiday season approaches, for many families their celebrations could be looking very different this year due to the cost of living crisis, increasing fuel bills and squeezes on household budgets.

Educational and Child Psychologists from the British Psychological Society (BPS) have offered their expert advice to manage children’s expectations this festive season, and how to focus on the smaller things that can mean a lot.

“Families might be having to cut back not just on presents and gifts this year, but visiting family and friends, and it may not feel the same as previous years.

“This can cause anxiety and stress for both parents/carers and children and young people when anxiety is already high about paying bills and everyday costs during the winter” says Dr Abigail Wright from the BPS’s Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP).

“The festive season can often bring a whole range of different emotions for people, including joy and happiness, but also sadness and worry. These are likely to be heightened given the incredibly difficult times we are living in, and also following the disrupted Christmases of the last two years due to Covid,” adds Dr Denise Miller from the DECP.

However despite these challenges, BPS experts say there are ways to make sure children and the whole family enjoy the festive season, and find the joy in the little things:

Preparation is key. If you are worried about your children being disappointed with gifts, or not seeing as many friends and relatives, gently explain this to them early on, but also explain that it will still be a very special time for everybody.

Explain to children that the most important part of the festive season is spending time with family and friends. When they look back, children’s memories of the happy experiences of the time spent with loved ones will be far more important to them than the number of presents they receive.

In this vein, there may be opportunities to spend time with family and friends which create happy memories and experiences, but cost very little, such as going for a walk, visiting lights, watching a movie on television or playing games, going to a carol service or free musical performance, or borrowing books from the library.

Both children and adults may also enjoy creative activities including making things, drawing, and writing stories and poems. Acts of kindness in the community can also provide a sense of purpose. Perhaps you could set up a Christmas treasure hunt activity for your children and your friends.

If children do become upset because things are not as they expect and show ‘big’ emotions, a good approach to use is ‘emotion coaching’. This is an approach which acknowledges how the child may be feeling while naming the emotion and showing empathy before looking to simply ‘fix’ the problem. This might be discussing an activity which may support them feeling calmer and less upset, or simply having a hug!

Finally, Alison Greenwood of the DECP emphasises the need for parents and carers to look out for themselves, as well as their children at this time of year.

“As parents and carers, do make sure you also take care of yourselves and practice some self-care,” she adds. “Take part in activities you also enjoy, and that promote your emotional wellbeing. Connect with yourself and what is around you – and if you can, use the support of friends and family.”

Conifox: Help children’s Christmas dreams come true

Lothian gift initiative inundated with demand

Edinburgh’s Conifox Adventure Park is appealing to families to spread the festive joy to those who need a helping hand making children’s Christmas dreams come true this year.

The family-focused business has once again partnered with Lothian-based charity Kids Love Clothes, which has seen soaring demand for its annual Christmas gift bags.

Conifox is donating 200 toys through its own Christmas Toy Appeal and is urging its generous visitors to share in the spirit of Christmas by boosting the effort further with the gift of a new toy for children aged between 0 and 12.

Deborah Gammell, of Conifox, says: “Kids Love Clothes always does an amazing job with their Christmas Gift Bags – last year they provided upwards of 400 bags to local children, and we’re delighted to support them again. This year is a challenge for everyone, and families are particularly affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

“We know Kids Love Clothes have been inundated with referrals and we want to help them deliver as many gifts as possible. We are confident our Conifox customers will play their part in helping to make this Christmas a special time for all local children.”

To get involved, visitors simply need to drop their new toys off to the Big Toy Box at Conifox’s Activity Centre. Donations made must be in their original packaging and no bigger than the average board game.

Kids Love Clothes will package the toys and each child will receive a gift bag containing age-appropriate toys to light up their faces this Christmas.

Working via referrals from health visitors, schools, nurseries and social workers, Kids Love Clothes provides a whole wardrobe of clothes for children throughout the year. At Christmas time, they utilise this network to understand what local families would benefit from gift bags of toys. The Christmas Toy initiative strives to ensure no child in need misses out during this festive season.

Fiona Shapcott, Kids Love Clothes founder says: “The reaction of supporters, such as Conifox, has been overwhelming, showing such generosity and kindness. We put a post-up saying we were struggling with a certain age group and within days received an incredible amount of donations ordered from our Amazon Wishlist.

“We have a short window to get the Christmas gift bags out to the organisations in time for them to be able to get them to their families, so it is full-on operation, and we cannot express enough thanks to everyone who donates. It truly does make Christmas morning for every family we can help.”

Please note Conifox are also a drop off point for good quality second-hand children’s clothes. The collection bin for clothes can be found in the forward car park, outside The Fetching Fox.

Conifox Adventure Park, at Kirkliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, is currently running its Christmas Experience with a host of festive attractions. It is open until December 24 and will be delighted to accept toy donations until then.

To find out more and to book tickets, visit the Conifox Adventure Park Facebook page @conifoxadventurepark or www.conifox.co.uk.

For more information on Kids Love Clothes visit:

https://www.kidsloveclothes.co.uk/about/