WEDNESDAY 24th JANUARY at TYNCASTLE STADIUM
We are holding recruitment event on the 24 January 2024 in the Gorgie Suite, Tynecastle Stadium, McLeod St, Edinburgh EH11 2NL.
Come along and find out about roles in the Health & Care Sector with the City of Edinburgh Council and the NHS.
Tickets are available via Eventbrite and can be found here:
The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland have launched a new campaign encouraging older drivers to consider their driving habits and have a free regular NHS eye examination so they can continue driving safely.
With recent stats showing 29 per cent of car driver casualties killed or seriously injured in road collisions were over 601, the Fitness to Drive campaign highlights that eyesight can affect the way we drive as we get older and calls for anyone over 60 to have their eyes examined regularly, or as soon as they notice a change.
It’s common for drivers to adapt their driving behaviour as they get older, for example, by not driving at night or on busier roads to avoid the glare from oncoming traffic, or by driving shorter distances. These adaptations often happen gradually and can be a sign of deteriorating vision.
Janet Pooley, Chief Optometric Adviser, said: “As we get older, we can experience changes to our eyesight, including blurred vision, a reduced visual field and less accuracy when it comes to judging distances, which impact our ability to drive safely.
“The best way to make sure your eyes are healthy is to have them examined regularly and to visit your local optometrist if you notice any problems with your eyesight.
“As well as detecting changes in your eyesight, an NHS eye examination can pick up age-related eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma, and it can identify and help prevent other health conditions like blood issues and diabetes, which can also affect driving.”
The campaign reminds drivers that changes in your eyesight don’t have to mean giving up driving and that your local optometrist can often correct your vision with new glasses.
Janet Pooley, Chief Optometric Adviser, continued: “In some cases your optometrist might advise that you require surgery to improve your vision if you have a condition like cataracts. Outstanding surgical results often enable people to continue to drive safely for many years.”
In addition to eyesight, other age-related factors can also affect our fitness to drive, such as high blood pressure, medication, and slower reaction times.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead for when they do choose to give up driving and consider alternatives for getting around without a car, including public transport and getting help from family members and friends.
Minister for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “Changes in our eyesight is something we’re all affected by as we get older, and with Scotland’s population continuing to age, it’s particularly important to ensure we all stay safe on the road.
“We’re encouraging everyone in this age group to get their eyes checked regularly to make sure they are fit to drive.”
Age Scotland’s Big Survey 20232 shows driving is the most common way to get around among over 60s, with 72% of respondents saying this is the mode of transportation they use most.
Katherine Crawford, CEO of Age Scotland, said: “We know driving is hugely important to older people and plays a big part in their ability to stay active, mobile and independent.
“This campaign is a good reminder for older drivers to get their eyes examined regularly or, if they notice a change in their eyesight, to make sure they have the best vision for driving safely.”
Betty Gilchrist said: “I’m not as confident at driving as I once was, particularly at junctions where I take a bit more time now.
“Driving in the dark has also become more challenging. The glare from headlights can be dazzling, so I’m reluctant to drive in the evenings and I stick to short journeys on local roads.
“It’s important to have regular eye exams as we get older and our vision changes. Many of us also develop conditions like cataracts which can be picked up at an eye exam and treated to keep us driving for longer.”
Derek MacPherson said: “As I’ve aged, I’ve become more aware of my eyesight changing and how that affects my driving. I’m now less likely to drive long journeys or drive at night, when the glare from other cars and streetlights can make it harder to see.
“Getting my eyes checked by the optometrist is quick and easy, and knowing my eyesight is up to scratch helps me stay confident on the road so I can keep enjoying the freedom of driving.”
The campaign will also address family and friends who may be initiating discussions about driving with their loved ones, which can be a sensitive subject.
For more information about the campaign or how to book a free NHS eye examination, go to roadsafety.scot.
Follow Road Safety Scotland Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) (@roadsafetyscot) pages for more details.
A third person has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a 38-year-old local man in Granton on Hogmanay.
The 33-year-old woman was arrested yesterday (Monday, 8 January) and has now been charged. She is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 January).
Emergency services were called around 11.50pm on Sunday, 31 December, 2023, after a firearm was discharged outside the Anchor Inn in West Granton Road.
Two men, aged 38 and 39, were taken to hospital . The 38-year-old man, Marc Webley, was pronounced dead a short time later. The other man remains in hospital.
A 32-year-old man and 25-year-old woman have already been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
Both appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (Monday, 8 January). Grant Hunter and Emma McVie made no plea and have been remanded in custody.
Employees from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline honed their DIY skills when they spent the day volunteering at a local high school.
The Amazon team volunteered at Lochgelly High School, a proud and ambitious learning community where everyone strives to achieve their best.
A group of six colleagues from the Amazon team spent over 40 hours at the school painting and building furniture to assist the school with turning a staff resource room into a new classroom.
Thanks to the efforts of the team from Amazon in Dunfermline, the school has saved around £3,000 in refurbishing. The Amazon team also donated school essentials including clothing, school bags and school meals worth over £8,000.
Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “Our team really enjoyed helping transform the staff resource room at Lochgelly High School into a new classroom.
“I hope the students and teachers are pleased with the results and that they enjoy their new learning environment.”
Kim Skelton, who led the volunteering from Amazon in Dunfermline, added: “I love helping people, especially when it’s for our local community.
“As a team at Amazon in Dunfermline, we feel very rewarded that we can help the staff and pupils by donating essential goods. The donations have already brought tears to families who have been able to utilise the products.
“The school has acted as a hub for local families in need and it’s been a lifeline to most this time of year.”
Melissa Mann, a teacher from Lochgelly High School, said: ““Everyone at Lochgelly High School would like to thank Jamie, Kim and the team at Amazon in Dunfermline for their amazing work converting the staff resource room into a classroom.
“We are so appreciative of their help – it would have taken us much longer to make the transformation happen without them.”
The volunteering and donation to the school is the latest in a number of support programmes between Amazon and Lochgelly High School in 2023.
Earlier last year, drama and media studies students from the school visited FirstStage Studios, in Leith, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour aimed at inspiring and nurturing young creative talent in Scotland.
At the studio, the students saw how The Rig, which first premiered on Prime Video in January 2023, was filmed and had careers talks with the crew and cast, including Scottish actor Martin Compston.
Lochgelly High School has also taken part in Amazon Future Engineer Class Chats, part of Amazon’s computer science education programme that provides free access to STEM learning resources, including virtual school trips, coding courses, and career talks. As part of Lochgelly’s participation in the programme, Amazon UK Country Manager John Boumphrey spoke to students from Lochgelly High School about his career experience and unique insights.
The Amazon Future Engineer Class Chats programme brings both live and on-demand virtual career talks directly into UK classrooms. Amazon employees working in a wide variety of roles share their insights and experiences with school students, engaging young people about their future opportunities.
Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities in and around its operating locations across the UK.
Since the start of 2022, 1.5 million essential products have been donated to more than 150,000 families in need across Scotland and Greater Manchester by a charity initiative called The Multibank.
Founded by Amazon, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Cottage Family Centre in Kirkcaldy, The Multibank in Lochgelly, known locally as ‘The Big Hoose,’ offers an emergency service for families fighting poverty, providing surplus essentials like nappies, toilet rolls, toothpaste and school uniforms, donated by businesses like Amazon and others, directly to those in need and so helping to reduce waste.
A change to the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act 2018 will be scrutinised by Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.
The Gender Representation on Public Boards Amendment (Scotland) (Bill) was introduced by the Scottish Government to amend the 2018 Act. The new Bill will remove the definition of “woman” in section 2 the 2018 Act, following a decision of the Court of Session made on 18 February 2023.
The specific definition that this short Bill will remove is: ““woman” includes a person who has the protected characteristic of gender reassignment (within the meaning of section 7 of the Equality Act 2010) if, and only if, the person is living as a woman and is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of becoming female”.
The change will be scrutinised by the Committee, before it reports its findings to the Parliament as a whole.
The Committee has today opened a call for views to ensure people can share their views on the proposed change.
Kaukab Stewart MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said: “This Bill aims to make change the Gender Representation on Public Boards act, ensuring that the Parliament’s statute book is in compliance with recent rulings of the Court of Session.
“We want to ensure that the Government’s approach in this Bill does what it intends to do.
“If you have views on the proposal in the Bill, please share them with us in our call for views.”
The call for views is open today, Monday 8 January 2024, and will close on Monday 29 January 2024:
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/ehrcj/gender-representation-public-boards-bill
Recent reports state that UK households are to face a forecasted 11% increase in credit card and loan debt in 2024, as well as warnings of a £17,600 debt surge by 2026.
In a recent study by CityIndex, UK households are saving just 3.25% of their disposable income amid the soaring cost of living crisis – a figure that is expected to change if debt levels reach their predicted peak.
The study analysed global data on household savings, including mean disposable income, mean household savings and long-term interest rates, to ultimately discover the countries with the highest household savings in the world.
Key findings:
The countries with the highest household savings:
| County | Mean household disposable income in USD* | Mean household savings in USD from disposable income* | % of disposable income put toward savings | Mean long-term interest rates | Total savings score | |
| 1. | Switzerland | $35,311 | $5908 | 17% | 1.44 | 9.83 |
| 2. | Luxembourg | $40,395 | $3028 | 8% | 2.35 | 9.69 |
| 3. | United States of America | $42,592 | $2961 | 7% | 3.21 | 9.67 |
| 4. | Chile | $14,004 | $1532 | 11% | 5.19 | 9.63 |
| 5. | Germany | $32,997 | $3568 | 11% | 2.28 | 9.62 |
| 6. | Austria | $31,792 | $3058 | 10% | 2.61 | 9.55 |
| 7. | Netherlands | $31,304 | $2475 | 8% | 2.47 | 9.51 |
| 8. | France | $29,663 | $2876 | 10% | 2.62 | 9.49 |
| 9. | Belgium | $29,837 | $2778 | 9% | 2.75 | 9.48 |
| 10. | Sweden | $28,611 | $2814 | 10% | 2.55 | 9.47 |
| 17. | United Kingdom | $28,222 | $918 | 3.25% | 3 | 9.26 |
Data is calculated between 2000-2022. *Mean household disposable income & savings are calculated per annum. Exchange rates may have an impact on the final rankings; for clarification, see the methodology.
The United Kingdom ranked 17th out of the 35 countries analyzed. While UK households have a mean household disposable income of $28,222 (£22,956), which is not far from Sweden, which made it into the top 10, only a mere 3.25% is put towards their savings.
Amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, essential expenses like housing, utilities, and groceries are dwindling the funds available for savings.
With food prices experiencing their most rapid increase in the last 45 years and utility bills soaring, households find themselves with limited support, unsurprisingly resulting in scarily low savings rates. Furthermore, the substantial debt obligations, encompassing loans and mortgages, absorb a significant portion of the income of UK residents, especially now when mortgage rates have peaked.
Top 3 Countries With The Highest Savings Per Household
Switzerland residents have the highest household savings with a total savings score of 9.83 out of 10. Households in Switzerland save 17% of their gross income, with $5,908 per year saved on average between 2000-2022. This is 48% higher than the neighbouring country of Austria ($3,058) in the same time period, despite having a similar population size. Switzerland also has the lowest long-term interest rates at 1.44 since 2000 — 63% lower than the long-term interest rates in Luxembourg (2.345).
Luxembourg ranks second with a total savings score of 9.69/10. The country has the second-highest household disposable income between 2000-2022 ($40,398), 35% higher than in the neighbouring country of Belgium ($29,837). Luxembourg residents have mean household savings of $3,028, with 8% of their disposable income put toward savings. Not only this, Luxembourg’s long-term interest rates stand at 2.35, which are the third lowest interest rates globally behind Switzerland (1.44) and Germany (2.28).
The US ranks 3rd, with a total savings score of 9.67 out of 10. With the dollar exchange rate taken into account, the USA has the highest mean household disposable income in the ranking ($42,592), 45% higher than Canada ($29,442) and 3 times higher than Mexico ($14,102). CityIndex found that American residents have a mean average household savings of $2,961, with 7% of their disposable income going into their savings.
Other countries with notable savings findings
Chile ranks fourth with a total savings score of 9.63 out of 10. Chile has one of the highest long-term interest rates (5.19) and the lowest mean disposable income at $14,004. Despite this, Chile residents manage to put 11% of their disposable income towards their savings — 3% more than Luxembourg in second place — equating to $1,532 in mean household savings.
Germany, which ranks 5th, was found to have the second highest mean household savings ($3,568), 21% higher than in the neighbouring country of France ($2,876). Not only this, but the country has the fourth lowest long-term interest rates on the list (2.28), 19% lower than in Belgium (2.75).
Sweden stands out for lower than average long-term interest rates. The country ranks 10th, with a total savings score of 9.47 out of 10. Swedish households have a mean household disposable income of $28,611, over double that of Poland ($16,736), putting 10% of this toward their savings on average.
Sweden has a lower-than-average long-term interest rate compared to other countries in the ranking (2.55) along with impressive mean household savings ($2,814), 12 times more than Finland ($242).
After HMRC revealed 5.7million people still need to submit their tax return before the January 31 deadline, NFU Mutual Chartered Financial Planner Sean McCann shares five top tips:
1. Don’t forget to claim higher rate tax relief on pension contributions
Sean said: “Millions more people are paying a higher rate of income tax thanks to the long-term freeze on the £50,270 threshold, and the Office for Budget Responsibility estimate six million paid higher or additional rate income tax in 2022/23.
“When you pay into your pension, for every £80 you pay in, your pension provider will get another £20 direct from HMRC. If you pay 40% or 45% income tax you’ll need to claim the extra 20% or 25% tax relief via your tax return.
“Many higher and additional rate taxpayers do not do this, potentially missing out on thousands of pounds in unclaimed tax relief. Those who crossed the 40% threshold for the first time in the last tax year may be unaware that they are entitled to a rebate.
“Additionally, if you haven’t claimed on previous year’s tax returns, you can go back up to four years and claim any higher rate relief due by contacting HMRC direct.”
You can claim it here
2. Get help with the cost of professional subscriptions
Sean said: “If you need to be a member of a professional organisation to do your job, and your employer hasn’t paid the subscription for you, you may be able to claim tax relief on the cost. There is a long list of approved professional organisations on HMRC’s website.”
3. Watch out for the Child benefit tax trap
Sean said: “If you’re the highest earner in your household with an income of more than £50,000, and you or your partner claim child benefit, you’ll need to pay the child benefit tax charge. For every £100 of income you have over £50,000 you pay back one per cent of the child benefit. Once your income reaches £60,000 you repay the full amount.
“You can become subject to the charge if you moved in with someone who is claiming child benefit, even if they’re not your children. The good news is anything you’ve paid into your pension is knocked off your income before the charge is assessed. If it reduces your income below £50,000 you won’t need to pay the charge.
“HMRC sent out more than 127,850 reminders in 2022/23 to people who needed to pay the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge. Ignoring these letters could land you with interest payments and a fine. HMRC has collected nearly £20m in fines from people who failed to pay this tax since its introduction in 2013.”
4. Charitable donations
Sean said: “If you’ve given to charity via gift aid and you pay higher rate tax, you can claim back additional tax relief through your tax return.
“For example, if you donate £100 via gift aid, the charity will claim an additional £25, to make the total gift £125. If you pay 40% tax, you can reclaim up to an extra £25 for yourself (£125 x 20%).
“Previous research has indicated that only 22% of higher and additional rate taxpayers who donate to charity claim this relief because the perceived effort involved puts many people off.
“However, it is relatively simple to do via a self-assessment tax return and could be worth a lot of money for those who donate significant sums.
“Because more people are being dragged into paying higher rate of income tax, the amount of charity tax relief claimed by higher rate taxpayers has rocketed 34.5% in the past two years from £550m in 2020/21 to £740m in 2022/23.”
5. Don’t forget any capital gains
Sean said: “If you sold or gave away shares in the 2022/23 tax year, you need to declare and pay any tax due on gains made.
“Many people don’t realise that they can face a Capital Gains Tax bill when they gift shares or property – other than their main home – to anyone other than their spouse or civil partner.
“It’s worthwhile checking if you have any losses available to offset any potential bill. Any shares or investment held within an ISA or Pension are normally exempt from Capital gains tax.”
KEEP Scotland Beautiful’s #UpstreamBattle week of action is taking place from 20- 28 January, and we’ll be hosting events across the week focused on stopping litter’s journey from #Source2Sea.
Find out more about how you can get involved and what is happening near you here:
https://keepscotlandbeautiful.org/upstream-battle/raising-awareness/upstream-battle-week-of-action/
CONFIDENCE is growing across the property market, a leading expert has said. Jonathan Rolande said new data released by RightMove, which showed soaring interest on Boxing Day, was matched by green-shoots of recovery in other areas of the sector.
The portal announced this week how, on Boxing Day, there were a record number of homes listed for sale. Rightmove says more than 10,000 new properties came to market, which is the biggest number of new sellers in one day since 2011.
In fact, visits to Rightmove nearly doubled between Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The level of demand from potential home-buyers, measured by the number of enquiries sent to estate agents about homes for sale, jumped too, and more than tripled (+273%) from Christmas Day to Boxing Day.
Mr Rolande, spokesman for the National Association of Property Buyers, said: “There will be many of us working in the property sector who will have raised a glass and toasted seeing the back of 2023.
“The hangover from Liz Truss’ botched mini-budget created huge problems across the market, and it was only through Autumn and Winter that we started to see the first signs of recovery. But, as we kick off the New Year, there are already some green-shoots on the horizon.
“I do sense a shift in the market and there are early signs, albeit fragile, of positivity. Banks have started fighting for mortgage business and are cutting rates to levels we’ve not seen in around seven months. Long may this continue. And, crucially, confidence is rising too among buy-to-let landlords.
“But confidence can only take you so far. There is still a chronic shortage of family homes across far too many parts of the UK. The crazy prices and mass viewings may have gone. But demand still outstrips the supply of decent homes, and remedying this will help to steady prices.
“Rental is still a disaster for too many would-be tenants. Stock is low. Rents are high. And this makes buying a home much more appealing. People I speak to, who know I’m in the industry, are no longer asking if it is the right time to buy. Instead they are asking for tips on finding somewhere to buy.”
Mr Rolande added: “It’s a small but subtle change but it underlines a shift from hesitation to growing confidence.
“As we enter a General Election year I’m increasingly of the view that the Party who best provide the answers are likely to be the ones who secure the most votes at the next General Election. A recovering housing market in 2024 is surely a vote-winner for all.”
EDINBURGH’s smokers are being urged to set the goal of leaving tobacco behind in 2024.
Charity ASH Scotland is campaigning to improve the physical and mental health of people who smoke by encouraging them to use free expert stop smoking support provided by the NHS.
Quitting is one of the biggest proactive steps people in Edinburgh who smoke can take to quickly improve health and mental wellbeing, reduce the risk of longer term illness and also save money.
If a person who smokes decides to make a New Year’s resolution and starts to quit, not only will they find their health will improve by the end of January, in one month an average smoker could also save in the region of £250.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Tobacco is highly addictive and, although it can take a number of attempts to quit, some people find giving up cigarettes or tobacco easier than they had thought.
“Don’t be discouraged if you’ve tried before, you’ll have learned something valuable about what did and didn’t work for you it is the best thing you can do for your health, finances and for those around you.
“You don’t have to quit on your own in the New Year. We’re encouraging people in Edinburgh to seek person-centred support from local stop smoking services or the national stop-smoking service Quit Your Way Scotland.
“Getting support will give you the confidence to move forward with your quit journey and the tools you need to make the best possible start to 2024.”
Contact Quit Your Way Scotland by visiting www.QuitYourWay.Scot or by calling the free helpline on 0800 848484.
ASH Scotland is tackling tobacco head-on by campaigning to reduce the harms caused by smoking. For more information, follow the health charity’s social media channels on Instagram and Facebook.
