Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly. Vaccines offer the best protection.
If you’re under 25 years of age and have not yet had the MenACWY vaccine, find out how you can get it at http://nhsinform.scot/vaccinesforstudents…
Following the successful ‘Meet The Artist’ event that took place earlier this week at the FROM WASTE TO WALL exhibition held at the Image Collective Gallery in Leith, James Owen Thomas (also known by his initials J.O.T.) arranged to meet Laura McCall, marketing manager of The Royal Yacht Britannia & Fingal Hotel Ocean Drive Leith.
The exhibition takes place directly opposite Britannia’s Visitor Centre and James was delighted to present Ms McCall with a framed original collage Emblem for the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Laura received a personal tour around the art exhibition before inviting James for a tour on board the Britannia. As a COP26 One Step Greener ambassador and environmental artist, James was very impressed with Britannia’s environmental commitment to eliminate, reduce, reuse and recycle waste and he hopes to collaborate with Britannia and Fingal on future projects.
These are his thoughts exactly as James describes how the art he creates has all been made from recycled items.
He said: “If what I can do will encourage and inspire people to re-use and recycle, then hopefully we can look forward to a more environmentally-friendly future.”
James’ exhibition at the Image Collective Gallery, 2nd Floor, Ocean Terminal continues until 30th September and he can be contacted via his website www.jamesowenthomas.com or by email art@jamesowenthomas.com
Come to get your face painted TODAY at 11.30.
You can choose from a tiger, a pirate, a butterfly, a rainbow, a dog or a cat …
ONE in 5 (19%) key worker households have children living in poverty, new TUC research has revealed.
The research, which uses the government definition for key workers, shows that the number of kids growing up in poverty in key worker households has increased by 65,000 over the past two years to nearly 1 million (989,000) in 2022.
It forecasts that in 2023 that number will rise again to 1.1 million unless ministers take further action to support families.
North East hit hardest
The analysis – undertaken for the TUC by Landman Economics – highlights how in some regions of the UK more than two-fifths of children in key worker households are now living in poverty.
Key worker families in the North East (41%) have the highest rate of child poverty followed by the North West (29%) and London (29%) and the East of England (24%).
Scotland (8.3%) and Wales (8.9%) have the lowest rates.
Worse set to come
The TUC warned child poverty rates among key worker households are likely to get worse.
Ministers have announced another of year of real-terms pay cuts for key workers in the public sector.
The union body says this will have a devastating impact on frontline workers after a brutal decade of pay freezes and cuts:
And ministers are calling for wages to be held down for some key workers in the private sector too.
The TUC says the additional support announced by the Treasury this year to help families with energy bills will be offset by cuts to real-terms pay and other rising living costs.
Risk of recession
The TUC says government calls for widespread pay suppression will reduce household spending and demand as the UK teeters on the brink of recession.
The union body highlighted how at the same time key workers are being told to tighten their belts, city bonuses are rocketing.
TUC analysis published in June month revealed that bonuses in the financial and insurance sector grew by 27.9% over the last year, six times faster than average wages in the same period, which grew by 4.2%.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Our amazing key workers got us through the pandemic. The very least they deserve is to be able to provide for their families.
“But the government is locking too many key worker households into poverty.
“Ministers’ heartless decision to hold down pay will cause widespread hardship and put the UK at greater risk of recession.
“After the longest wage squeeze in 200 years we urgently need to get more money in the pockets of working families. This will help people get through this cost of living crisis and inject much-needed demand into our economy.
“It is particularly galling that as key workers are being told to tighten their belts, city executives are enjoying bumper bonuses. Once again ordinary working people are being forced to carry the can for a crisis made in Downing Street.”
Support needed for key worker families
The TUC is calling on the government to guarantee decent living standards by:
Children in poverty in key worker households by UK nation and region in 2022
| Region | Total number of children in key worker families | Number of children in poverty in key worker families | Percentage of children in poverty in key worker families |
| North East | 170,586 | 70,311 | 41.2% |
| North West | 600,325 | 174,495 | 29.1% |
| Yorks & the Humber | 434,335 | 47,659 | 11.0% |
| East Midlands | 426,335 | 49,150 | 11.5% |
| West Midlands | 396,756 | 93,156 | 23.5% |
| East of England | 490,577 | 115,563 | 23.6% |
| London | 661,487 | 189,691 | 28.7% |
| South East | 811,614 | 125,848 | 15.5% |
| South West | 362,539 | 43,287 | 11.9% |
| Wales | 249,789 | 22,285 | 8.9% |
| Scotland | 445,826 | 37,005 | 8.3% |
| Northern Ireland | 146,353 | 20,787 | 14.2% |
| Total | 5,196,522 | 989,237 | 19.0% |
To mark the 75th anniversaries of the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Film Festival, £2.1 million in Scottish Government funding will support anniversary programmes.
This year’s Edinburgh International Festival will also include a special appearance of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, one of three free concerts – including opening and closing events – staged thanks to this additional funding.
A showcase of the largest Made in Scotland event at the Fringe will demonstrate the best in home grown talent with 27 artists, companies and ensembles performing. The Edinburgh International Film Festival, which is back in its August slot for the first time in over a decade, includes a line-up of over 80 new feature films.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The culture sector is renowned for its creativity and resilience so I’m delighted to see the Edinburgh Festivals back with ambitious and diverse programmes following the pandemic.
“With over 3,000 shows to choose from over the next few weeks, there really is something for everyone and many of these shows are free. As well as gallery exhibitions, film screenings and author events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, there are live performances of theatre, dance and music.
“For people who are not in Edinburgh or unable to attend in person, they can support the festivals by buying tickets to view, or live stream content, online.
“Edinburgh has an incredible 75 year pedigree of offering the best in world-class talent across all genres so I would encourage people to take the opportunity to sample this abundance of culture we’re so fortunate to have on our doorstep.”
Director of Festivals Edinburgh Julia Amour said: “Everyone at the Festivals has greatly welcomed the Scottish Government’s PLACE Resilience Fund – including these awards for our three founding festivals celebrating their 75th anniversaries – as their financial and wider support is crucial not only to our ongoing recovery but also to our continuing ambition to bring increased opportunities to artists and audiences throughout the country, while also showcasing Scotland as a contemporary, creative, outward looking nation.”
PILTON YOUTH & CHILDREN’S PROJECT
25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OPEN DAY
WEDNESDAY 10th AUGUST 1 – 3pm
POLICE are appealing for information following vandalism at a school in North Edinburgh.
The incident took place at Trinity Primary School on Newhaven Road at about 1.30pm on Friday, 29th July, during which over £5000 worth of damage was caused to school equipment.
A thorough investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information is urged to contact Police via 101, quoting incident 2591 of the 29th July 2022 or anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Climate campaigners have said that BP reporting a tripling of quarterly profits shows that the UK energy system is ‘fundamentally broken.’ The oil giant today announced profits of £6.9 billion ($8.45 billion) in just 3 months.
Meanwhile, energy consultants have forecast that energy bills could reach over £3,600 per household.
BP have said they will use these record profits to pay out to their shareholders as well as buy back shares in the company from investors. Share buybacks are a way of increasing the value of shares for shareholders.
BP continues to invest in fossil fuel projects such as the Murlach oil field which will further ‘lock us into’ this broken energy system for decades, increasing company profits even further at the expense of people and the planet, campaigners say.
Climate scientists and energy experts have warned that we cannot afford any more investment into fossil fuel extraction if we are to limit dangerous climate warming to 1.5ºC.
Recent research revealed the oil and gas industry has made over $52 trillion in profit over the last 50 years.
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Oil and Gas Campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “This announcement of yet another obscene profit for BP is a clear sign that our energy system is fundamentally broken.
“Rising energy prices are a key driver of the cost of living crisis which is plunging millions of people in the UK into fuel poverty, yet bosses and shareholders at BP are getting even richer by exploiting one of our most basic needs.”
“BP is also worsening climate breakdown and extreme weather by continuing to invest and lock us into new oil and gas projects for decades to come. Instead of allowing these companies to continue causing social and environmental devastation to boost their profits, we need to overhaul our energy system to rapidly phase out oil and gas.
“A fair and fast transition to renewables must ensure that everyone has access to affordable and clean renewable energy.”
At the height of the wedding season, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding married couples and people in civil partnerships to put extra cash at the top of their gift list and sign up for Marriage Allowance.
Marriage Allowance allows married couples or people in civil partnerships, including those who have been together for many years, to share their personal tax allowances if one partner earns below the Personal Allowance threshold of £12,570, and the other is a basic rate taxpayer.
Eligible couples can transfer 10% of their tax-free allowance to their partner, which is £1,260 in 2022/23. It means couples can reduce the tax they pay by up to £252 a year. They can apply any time and, if eligible, could backdate their claims for up to four previous tax years to receive a payment of up to £1,242.
Marriage Allowance is free to apply for, and customers are reminded to claim directly via HMRC’s online portal to ensure they receive 100% of the tax relief they are eligible for. Visit GOV.UK to find out how to apply for Marriage Allowance.
Marriage Allowance is one of a number of benefits and reliefs available to boost family finances at a time when many are concerned with the rising cost of living.
Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, said: “We want to ensure people are receiving vital financial support at a time when they need it most.
“Married couples or those in a civil partnership could potentially receive tax relief worth up to £1,242, meaning extra cash in their pockets.
“To find out if you are eligible and how to apply search ‘Marriage Allowance’ on GOV.UK.”
More than 2 million couples currently benefit from Marriage Allowance, but there could be thousands more who are eligible to claim.
Even if couples don’t qualify for Marriage Allowance when they first get married, a change in circumstances years later could mean they become newly eligible. These include:
If a spouse or civil partner has died since 5 April 2018, the surviving person can still claim by contacting the Income Tax helpline.
Marriage Allowance claims are automatically renewed every year. However, couples should notify HMRC if their circumstances change.
Monday 1st August 10am – 4pm
