Could someone you know be eligible for Pension Credit?
They could be missing out on an average of £3,500 per year.
Talk to them about checking their eligibility online today at http://ow.ly/xLWZ50NjOK9 or call 0800 99 1234.
Do you want to contribute to the largest study of reading and the effect it has on how we think?
Join us in August for The Edinburgh Readerbank: an ambitious research project with @durhamImh investigating reading, imagination, & mental health.
This is an opportunity to participate in a major new study of reading and the imagination – and their relationship to mental health.
Over the coming years, the Book Festival will become a research hub in partnership with a team from Durham University, gathering data from readers to create the world’s biggest open-source databank – the ReaderBank.
Drop in at any time to meet the research team, find out more about the project and sign up to add your own reading data to the ReaderBank.
Daily from 19-26th August.
This week the Scottish Government published monthly GDP statistics for the month of May. These showed that the economy contracted in May by 0.2% (writes Fraser of Allander Institute’s MAIRI SPOWAGE).
This follows (larger than thought before) contractions in March and April, which means that in total the economy has contracted by 0.4% in the 3 months to May.
Now, these monthly figures can of course be volatile, and we shouldn’t read too much into the individual movements every month. The first estimates that are produced for each month and quarter are also more subject to revision than older estimates.
This has been underlined by the media line “Scotland is growing at 4 times of the UK” (which we discussed the issues with as part of a previous update) now no longer being true for the first quarter of the year. For the first quarter, the new estimate is that Scotland grew by 0.2% compared to 0.1% for the UK as a whole.
The recent monthly contractions have also meant that the size of the Scottish economy has dipped slightly below that all-important level of February 2020, the so-called “pre-pandemic levels of output”.
Bearing in mind the caveats above, we can see in the latest figures significant contractions in the wholesale and retail and accommodation and food services sectors, perhaps signalling the contraction in consumer-facing services we have been expecting given the pressure on household budgets.
In production, there was a very large contraction in the electricity and gas supply sector, which, given the dominance of wind generation in Scotland, is likely to reflect the weather in May (i.e. it wasn’t very windy). The construction sector has also shown contractions in each of the last 3 months, although in general, this sector’s output is well above pre-pandemic levels.
Towards the end of August, we’ll get the figures for June which will give us the first estimate of the figure for the full quarter. There will have to be a significant recovery in June for that not to be a contraction overall. Of course, there would also have to be a contraction in Q3 for us to be technically in recession.
We’ll also be looking with interest at the new forecasts produced by the Bank of England next week. The decision on rates will of course take the headlines. The Bank’s view may soften slightly, with market expectations coalescing around a 0.25 rise in the base rate. However, we’ll also be digging through their new forecasts to see what the Bank is expecting to happen for the rest of 2023 and beyond.
We’ll discuss all this in next week’s update! Enjoy the weekend, whether you’re seeing Barbie, Oppenheimer, or simply dodging the rain at a BBQ!
More than £1m is being invested by the City of Edinburgh Council to provide new accessible permanent toilets in Edinburgh as well as temporary facilities for residents and visitors.
New permanent toilets are planned for three of the city’s premier parks – Inverleith, Leith Links and additional loos in the Meadows.
More than 50 temporary facilities have also been installed at these locations which are open now until the end of October. In the coming weeks, a number of these temporary toilets will also open at Straiton Place Park next to Portobello Promenade.
Part of the investment (£450,000) is from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund for new accessible toilets at Hawes Pier, South Queensferry.
Environment Convener Scott Arthur said: “We’re hoping that this investment in our beautiful premier parks will encourage as many local people as possible to spend longer in them as well as at our stunning coastal areas.
“As an internationally renowned city, we also want to welcome visitors to the Capital with modern accessible facilities in popular areas so they can spend time enjoying the great outdoor space that Edinburgh is so famous for.
“The funding from the UK Government for new facilities at our busy coastal location in South Queensferry is to be welcomed, and I look forward to seeing these all of these new facilities being installed.
“The wellbeing of our residents and visitors is really important and with all of this investment, we are making it even easier for people to enjoy our wonderful open spaces and the wider city. Edinburgh will boast more free to use public toilets than many other cities.”
Thousands of international elite cyclists, including para-athletes, will gather in Glasgow and across Scotland this week for the start of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
From Thursday 3 August, Scotland will proudly host the world’s biggest ever staged cycling event, which is expected to attract around a million spectators. The majority of the action will take place in Glasgow – building on the legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games – alongside locations including Fort William, the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Perthshire and Dundee and Angus.
The 11 days of sporting action will see cyclists compete for the following 13 world championships:
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “I want to extend a warm welcome to every cyclist taking part in the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – the world’s biggest ever cycling event. I wish everyone good luck.
“Hosting the UCI World Championships is further vote of confidence in Scotland as a destination of choice for staging major global events.
“The Scottish Government is proud to fund this innovative and inclusive event. Our funding will help promote the health and wellbeing benefits of cycling and help drive wider economic and social benefits across the country.
“Whether it’s indoor competitions at the velodrome or Mountain Biking and road events set in some of the most scenic parts of Scotland, there is something for everyone. Many of these events are free and I would encourage as many people across the country to try and catch a piece of the action.”
As Glasgow prepares for the UCI Cycling World Championships, road closures and changes to public transport timetables will have an impact on how people travel to NHSGGC hospitals.
The event – which runs from Thursday, 3rd August to Sunday 13th August – will mean the closure of some roads in Glasgow during some races.
As a result, public transport providers are amending timetables and services on certain days during the event.
All NHSGGC services are planning to run as normal while the event is taking place but we realise that the road closures and changes to public transport may impact on people attending our sites.
So it’s best to plan ahead and all the latest information is being made information available on the Get Ready Glasgow website.
Most local First Glasgow routes will use the M8 as a diversion while some Stagecoach services in the City Centre will be curtailed at Bridge Street subway station or the Broomielaw.
Edinburgh hosts the elite men’s road race next Sunday.
More information on bus route diversions is available from Traveline Scotland.
The Government will this week set out how it’s delivering on its energy security strategy plans to grow the economy and create jobs across the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will set out how the UK’s world-leading energy industry expertise will create jobs and grow the economy and ensure tyrants like Putin can never again use energy as a weapon to blackmail the UK.
As part of the Government’s efforts to strengthen the UK’s energy independence, he will announce investment plans to put powering up Britain from Britain first – making the most of our country’s resources and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, by backing our oil and gas industry, investing in the latest clean technologies and isolating Putin’s regime from global energy markets.
The Prime Minister and Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps will meet energy industry leaders throughout the week – including oil and gas, renewables and nuclear businesses – to ensure the UK is capitalising on opportunities to bolster our energy infrastructure now, and boosting our long-term energy independence, security and prosperity in the years to come.
The week will also include support for British innovation in new industries such as carbon capture and storage, and for cutting edge renewables across the country.
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Energy security is national security. Since Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine the Government has driven Russia from our energy market, paid around half of a typical family’s energy bill and grown our economy by driving forward major energy projects.
“This week we will go even further. Forging ahead with critical measures to power up Britain from Britain – including supporting our invaluable oil and gas industry, making the most of our home-grown energy sources and backing British innovation in renewables.
“And across Government we will champion Britain’s businesses to deliver on the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the economy – helping them to create new jobs and even whole new industries across the UK.”
This week’s announcements will build on the country’s ‘world-leading’ track record which includes:
Brits are being warned failure to properly protect their caravans against theft or damage this summer could have huge financial consequences.
Motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk warn thousands of holidaymakers could be seriously out of pocket if an uninsured caravan is stolen or damaged while parked.
With many motorists set to take to the roads with touring caravans in tow this summer, experts are warning of the consequences for having incorrect caravan insurance.
Many car insurance policies will provide holidaymakers with basic third-party liability cover for towing a touring caravan.
However, with 4,000 caravans stolen each year, specific insurance to cover the costs of theft is the best way to ensure Britons aren’t left out of pocket.*
Car insurance will not cover a caravan while it is parked or if it sustains damage. This is why experts encourage Britons to take out dedicated caravan insurance.
Caravan insurance protects those who are victim to theft of personal belongings or fire damage to their caravan.
Leaving a caravan vulnerable to tampering, accidental damage or theft could also leave holidaymakers paying hefty sums to fix or repurchase their caravan.
Brits are encouraged to make sure they are keeping their caravan as secure as possible, with over 17% of those surveyed choosing to park their caravan in a communal caravan park.
Before setting off with a caravan in tow this summer, holidaymakers must alert their insurer to let them know of plans and make sure the vehicle is fully covered.
Insurance providers may wish to adjust premiums of those towing caravans. Failure to update providers may lead to refusal to pay out on any claims made.
It is also important for motorists to review their breakdown cover, as some policies will only cover car breakdowns. This could leave motorists having to leave their caravan behind in the case of a car emergency.
Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “With caravan thefts on the rise and so many due to travel this summer, it has never been a more important time to make sure you are fully insured against any accidents or emergencies.
“Although sorting insurance isn’t the most exciting summer prep. It could help you from forking out on repairs or covering recovery for your touring caravan in the case of a breakdown on the way to your holiday destination.
“Many car insurance policies will provide holidaymakers with basic third-party liability cover for towing a touring caravan, but this doesn’t cover everything.
“We encourage anyone towing a caravan to take out specific insurance for their home away from home. This way, you can get off on your holiday with no worries over cover for your vehicle or caravan.
“But, we also wanted to provide some safety tips to ensure your caravan is as protected as possible this summer.
Here are Quotezone’s top tips to keep caravans safe from theft or damage:
Many Brits are able to park their caravans at their private residence on a driveway with a barrier, but those without this option must choose carefully before securing their touring caravan for extended periods of time. If parking at a communal caravan park, make sure to remove all valuables or keep them out of sight for anyone who may be able to peer in through the windows. Make sure to also choose a reputable park with good access control.
There are wheel locks designed for caravans to make it impossible for anyone to remove without your say-so. Make sure to buy one for caravans specifically in order to get the most effective outcome.
There are lots of caravan alarms on the market for those looking to take extra measures to keep their holiday home secure. A great deterrent for thieves is to make it clear you have an alarm installed by putting stickers in your windows. If parked in a caravan park, the loud noise caused by the alarm will not only deter thieves from your caravan but will also let other owners know there are potential thieves in the park grounds.
If storing your caravan at home, try to make sure you can park it to the side or back of your house if possible. Those who aren’t able to do this should park their car behind their caravan on a driveway or use a cover to disguise the van’s worth and attractiveness for potential thefts.
A brand new menu item is due to land in the nation’s favourite noodle bar, Chopstix, on August 1st.
The Smoky Seoul Chicken takes its inspiration from the flavourful delights of South Korean cuisine and is packed to the brim with smoky Korean-inspired flavours, along with mouth-watering peppers and tantalising fried onions.
It will launch as a limited edition dish, across the UK.
Bursting with flavour, the Smoky Seoul Chicken joins the renowned Chopstix menu which also includes Caramel Drizzle Chicken, Teriyaki Beef, and Salt ‘n’ Pepper Chicken and a range of sides and desserts.
Plus, the noodle chain has a number of deals and bundles designed to pack a punch, with guests able to choose numerous toppings for a true taste of Pan-Asian cuisine.
Rob Burns, Marketing Director for Chopstix, said: “We’re delighted to introduce this new Korean-inspired dish to the Chopstix menu.
“We invest heavily in recipe research and development and this dish is something we’ve had in the pipeline for a while, listening to customer research and demand from some of our most loyal supporters.
“A perfect summer addition to the menu, with a variety of distinctive smoky flavours, we truly believe the Smoky Seoul Chicken is going to be a sure-fire winner, and a mouth-watering inclusion to our already delicious menu.”
The Pan-Asian noodle chain also recently celebrated its 100th store opening, making it one of the most popular high street noodle brands in the country.
Along with being available in stores across the UK, the noodle bar’s popular dishes are also available to order from Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat.
Chopstix is focused on delivering a faster, fresher, tastier alternative to the high street. Wok Master chefs deliver nourishing noodles, wholesome chicken, beautiful beef and perfect prawns with fresh vegetables and superb sauces to make Chopstix the ‘go to guys’ for boxed fresh flavour.
For more information please visit: www.chopstixnoodles.co.uk
A project to restore habitats for the rare Small Blue butterfly at Barry Buddon Training Area has seen success this summer, with the elusive species spotted flying on site.
The butterfly is a priority species on the Scottish Biodiversity List, and the sighting of the butterfly at Barry Buddon follows years of conservation efforts by Defence Infrastructure Organisation ecologists and industry partner, Landmarc, to restore habitats for the species in the area.
A pair of the Small Blue butterflies were identified on the military training area during a visit hosted by DIO’s ecology team and a representative from Species on the Edge – a conservation programme focused on reversing the decline of vulnerable coastal species in Scotland – to survey the project’s progress.
Through planting the butterfly’s sole food source, the plant Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), the habitat restoration efforts have created a feeding corridor for the Small Blue across the training area. With support from DIO ecologists, Landmarc teams have established Kidney Vetch along road and track verges to restore connectivity between breeding colonies of the Small Blue and boost the butterfly’s populations within Barry Buddon training area and the surrounding local region.
The sighting of the Small Blue butterfly at Barry Buddon Training Area this summer comes just in time for The Big Butterfly Count, a UK-wide initiative led by the Butterfly Conservation charity and aimed at helping to assess the health of our environment by counting the amount and type of butterflies that can be seen across the country.
Minister of State for Defence, Baroness Goldie, said: “The presence of the Small Blue butterfly at Barry Buddon Training Area is wonderful news and demonstrates our commitment to maintaining and improving biodiversity on our estates.
“The work of DIO and Landmarc, supported by the Butterfly Conservation charity, shows how we can effectively conduct training for our Armed Forces whilst taking care of our environment and delivering on the Government’s biodiversity commitments.
“I strongly support work being done to minimise our impact on the environment and optimise environmental potential whilst keeping our nation safe.”
The work has been funded by the DIO Conservation Stewardship Fund and contributes to a wider biodiversity initiative in the Angus region to restore populations of the Small Blue, which have been in decline in the UK since the 1950s.
The project team at Barry Buddon has received support from the Butterfly Conservation charity, which has helped monitor the Small Blue population on the training area, along with sharing advice and information on the conservation of the butterfly and its habitats.
Lt Col Alan Grant, DIO Commander of the UK Defence Training Estate Scotland and Northern Ireland said: “MOD land is home to some of the most unique and naturally diverse landscapes in the UK, and our Scottish estate is no exception.
“The primary use of the land is to enable our military to train safely, but we are equally committed to supporting nature recovery and balancing the conservation of vital species and habitats with military training requirements.
“It is extremely encouraging to witness first-hand the impact that the habitat restoration work for the Small Blue butterfly is having at Barry Buddon.
“The project is playing a key role in helping to enhance biodiversity, not just on our training estate, but across the wider Angus region, and I look forward to seeing its continued success.”
Comprising 930 hectares of coastal plain on the Tay Estuary between Carnoustie and Monifieth, Barry Buddon is an active military training area, and the work has been carried out in balance with military training requirements.
Because of its scenery and wildlife value, Barry Buddon is an ideal location for enjoying coastal walks and wildlife watching. However, members of the public are asked to access the land only when and where it is safe to do so due to the dangers of live military training.
The MoD supports the delivery of the government’s sustainability objectives through the Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach.
The work being done across the MoD estate ensures that it is resilient and adaptable for responding to future risks and addresses the implications for defence capabilities, whilst respecting and minimising the impacts on the environment, availability of resources and changes in the climatic and geographical arena.
Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast have designed a new 3D printed bandage, known as a scaffold, which presents an innovative method of treatment to heal diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).
The research is the first of its kind and is a breakthrough for diabetes management. The findings have been published in the journal Biomaterials Advances.
The new discovery combines lipid nanoparticles and hydrogels, which are used to create personalised skin-like 3D printed scaffolds. These scaffolds have the ability to release both a bulk and sustained release of antibiotic loaded molecules to treat diabetic ulcers.
This combination has been shown to greatly improve patient outcomes and has the added benefit of being a more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective method of treatment as these scaffolds in the future can be “easily” produced within the hospital setting.
This approach will also cut time for medical professionals and improve patient care, as the wound dressing can be monitored and provide the treatment needed without the need to be taken on and off repeatedly in order for the medical professionals to check the healing process.
The research team was led by Professor Dimitrios Lamprou from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast, in collaboration with Ms Costanza Fratini (Erasmus Visitor), Mr Edward Weaver (PhD Student from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s), Dr Sofia Moroni (PhD Student between Queen’s University and the University of Urbino Carlo Bo), Ms Robyn Irwin (PhD Student from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s), Dr Yahya Dallal Bashi (Postdoctoral Researcher from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s), Dr Shahid Uddin (Industrial Collaborator), Professor Luca Casettari (University of Urbino Carlo Bo), and Dr Matthew Wylie from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s.
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. It is among the top ten causes of deaths worldwide. DFUs are a serious complication of diabetes, affecting approximately 25% of diabetic patients. When identified, over 50% are already infected and over 70% of cases result in lower limb amputation.
As a strategy to manage DFUs, skin alternatives and wound dressings are successful treatments as they keep the wound environment “under control”, whilst providing bioactive compounds that help to manage infection and inflammation and promote tissue repair.
This is a complex process that requires several combined therapeutic approaches. As a result, there is a significant clinical and economic burden associated in treating DFU. Furthermore, these treatments are often unsuccessful, commonly resulting in lower-limb amputation.
The use of drug-loaded scaffolds to treat DFUs has previously been shown to be successful by the same team. To create this new scaffold, the research team used a 3D bioprinting technique that combines, in one single filament, two different bioinks.
The inner core of the filament is a nanocomposite hydrogel that contains lipid nanoparticles encapsulated with thyme oil. The outer shell of the filament is represented by a hybrid hydrogel and enriched with free thyme oil. Thyme oil and other essential oils, have a promising future as an all-natural antibiotic replacement, helping address the issue of increasing incidences of antimicrobial resistance.
This combination provides two different release ratios of the drug molecule; a bulk release for the first 24 hours and a sustained release for up to 10 days. This enables an initial disease prevention post-administration, which may be the highest-risk time, followed by sustained infection prevention during the following days of antimicrobial efficacy.
Commenting on the importance of this study, Professor Dimitrios Lamprou, lead on the project and Chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast, said: “This innovative, personalised, and sustainable approach, provides the healing needed for the diabetic foot ulcers, to avoid any complications, and enables doctors to monitor the healing constantly.
“This avoids needing to remove dressing constantly, which can provoke infection and delay the healing process. Medical professionals also do not need to change the drug dosage as this double release, supports that need.”
Dr Matthew Wylie, Lecturer from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast and responsible for the in vitro antibacterial activity evaluation of these novel bandages, said: “Diabetic foot ulcers are chronic wounds highly susceptible to infection which can lead to limb- or life-threatening complications.
“Our natural liposomal antibacterial approach has shown promising initial antibacterial results highlighting the potential of this strategy to prevent bacterial colonisation during the crucial early stages of wound healing, as well as longer term protection of the wound.
“Improved wound management will not only enhance patient quality of life but could reduce the need for traditional antibiotic therapy, a key aim in the fight against antimicrobial resistance development.”
