Miller Homes unveils £10, 000 community fund for Scotland East

Miller Homes will donate £10,000 to charities, community groups and causes linked to its developments in the East of Scotland, including Edgelaw and West Craigs Manor in Edinburgh, over the next year.

The leading homebuilder has announced the creation of a community fund which will allow groups to apply for funding to support their projects. From local sports teams looking for sponsorship, nurseries looking to equip their garden or perhaps a food bank in need of additional supplies, Miller Homes wants to support its neighbours across the Edinburgh area.

The fund will officially launch on Wednesday 28th September and will cover all of Miller Homes’ developments in its Scotland East region. Applications for this first round will close on Friday 11th November after which donations between a minimum of £250 and a maximum of £2000 will be awarded to the successful applicants. Two funding rounds will take place each year in June and November and applications will be accepted throughout the year.

Each of Miller Homes’ ten regional offices across the UK will have its own £10,000 fund, which combined will contribute £100,000 to community initiatives across the country every year.

Lynsey Brown, Regional Sales Director for Scotland East at Miller Homes said: “We don’t just build houses, we create communities, making Edinburgh a better place to live.

“There are so many amazing groups undertaking vital work in the Edinburgh area, doing everything from supporting vulnerable members of society to enhancing the town’s green spaces.

“Through our community fund we’ll help as many of these organisations as we can and we encourage projects of all shapes and sizes to get in touch and let us know how we can help.”

To make an application to the Miller Homes Community Fund visit: 

www.millerhomes.co.uk/corporate/commuity-fund.

Scotland’s recycling rate starts to recover as covid restrictions ease

Scottish household waste statistics 2021

  • Scottish 2021 household waste figures reflect the reality of easing pandemic restrictions
  • Scotland generated 2.48 million tonnes of household waste (0.45 tonnes per person) in 2021
  • Overall household recycling rate was (42.7%) up slightly on 2020
  • Recycling of household wood and construction wastes increased after lockdowns
  • Carbon impact of Scotland’s waste increased by 53,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2021, but is down 860,000 tonnes CO2e since 2011

Waste from all sources landfilled and incinerated in Scotland 2021

  • Waste from all sources landfilled in Scotland in 2021 increased 22.4% largely due to more soils and sorting residues being landfilled  
  • Waste from all sources incinerated in Scotland in 2021 increased by 7.4%, also mainly due to an increase in sorting residues incinerated

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) statisticians yesterday published Official Statistics which provide detail of Household Waste collected across all Local Authorities during 2021, as well as waste landfilled and incinerated in Scotland in 2021.

The figures, when compared to 2020, reflect the impact the pandemic had on Scotland’s waste. An increase in both the amount of waste generated and amount recycled are likely due to a bounce back after lockdowns and other restrictions were lifted.

Increases in waste wood and construction waste are likely due to people restarting of home improvement projects. 

SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLD WASTE STATISTICS 2021

Scottish households generated the equivalent of 0.45 tonnes of waste per person in 2021, with 0.19 tonnes recycled, 0.12 tonnes sent to landfill and 0.14 tonnes diverted through other means, such as incineration.

The total amount of household waste generated was 2.48 million tonnes in 2021, an increase of 55,000 tonnes (2.3%) from 2020. Of this, 1.06 million tonnes (42.7%) was recycled, a 0.7 percentage point increase from 2020. 

Data for every one of Scotland’s 32 local authorities are available on SEPA’s website.

Carbon impact of Scottish household waste  

The Scottish carbon metric measures the whole-life impact of resources. A measure of national performance, the metric takes a holistic view, from resource extraction and manufacturing emissions, through to waste management emissions. This is measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).  

The carbon impact of Scottish household waste generated and managed in 2021 was 5.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, which equates to 1.08 tonnes of CO2e per person. This was an increase of 0.9% (53,000 tonnes CO2e) from 2020, largely due to more waste being generated.

While the amount of waste generated by Scottish households in 2021 was 4.7% below 2011 levels, the carbon impact of Scottish household waste generated and managed was 12.8% (0.86 million tonnes CO2e) below the 2011 level.

Amount of recyclables collected at the kerbside continues to rise

The amount of segregated recyclate collected via kerbside collections in 2021 was 721,000 tonnes, an increase of 5,400 tonnes (0.7%) from 2020. The change was more pronounced for rural authorities (up 4,700 tonnes, 1.6%) compared to urban authorities (up 600 tonnes, 0.1%).

These increases continue the overall trend since 2013 when 578,096 tonnes was collected, an overall increase of 24.8%.

Less than half as much waste sent to landfill as in 2011

2021 was the first time in 10 years there was no decrease in household waste sent to landfill – though the amount was more than half what was disposed of in 2011.

The increase of 4,000 tonnes to 664,000 tonnes, was a 0.6% increase from 2020, but 54.4% less than 2011. While there was an increase in the amount of waste landfilled, there was a slight decrease in the percentage sent to landfill (down 0.4 percentage points).
  
Waste recycled and diverted from landfill

The 2021, Scottish household waste recycling ratewas 42.7%, up 0.7 percentage points from 2020. The amount of household waste recycled between in 2020 and 2021 increased by 41,000 tonnes (4.0%) to 1.06 million tonnes.

The majority was recycled or reused (677,000 tonnes, 63.8%), composting contributing the remaining 384,000 (36.2%).

The increase in waste recycled between 2020 and 2021 is likely due to a bounce back from the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown and other restrictions in 2020, which resulted in the amount of waste recycled and the waste recycling rate falling to the lowest levels since 2013.

The amount of household waste managed by other diversion from landfill was 758,000 tonnes, an increase of 10,000 tonnes (1.4%) from 2020. Most was managed by incineration (612,000 tonnes, 80.7%), which was also the case in 2020, although the proportion of the total was higher (81.9%) in 2020.
 
Wood and construction wastes largest changes in materials recycled

Of the seven material categories that were the most recycled or reused in 2021, wood wastes showed the largest change compared with 2020 (increase of 10,000 tonnes, 14.7%). These were followed by construction and soils waste (increase of 8,000 tonnes, 9.0%).   

The increase in the recycling or reuse of these two wastes in 2021 follows a 21.5% reduction for each in 2020. This decrease is likely due in part to a reduction in the number and scale of home improvement projects, resulting from pandemic factors, such as lockdown and the inability to source raw materials.   

WASTE FROM ALL SOURCES LANDFILLED AND INCINERATED IN SCOTLAND 2021

Also published today were statisticsproviding the details of waste landfilled and incinerated in Scotland for calendar year 2021. The corresponding data set for all waste generated and recycled in Scotland during 2021 will be published in March 2023.

Total waste landfilled in Scotland

The total quantity of waste landfilled in Scotland in 2021 was 3.2 million tonnes, an increase of 587,000 tonnes (22.4%) from 2020.

The increase was largely due to more soils (increased 297,000 tonnes, 35.7%) and sorting residues (increased 221,000 tonnes, 32.1%) being landfilled from 2020. These increases are likely due to a resumption of construction activity in Scotland following extended lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions in the previous reporting period. 

The waste landfilled in Scotland statistics are available on SEPA’s website  

Waste incinerated in Scotland 

The total quantity of waste incinerated in Scotland in 2021 was 1.35 million tonnes, an increase of 93,000 tonnes (7.4%) from 2020. Sorting residues made up a third (33.3%) of all waste incinerated (450,000 tonnes, up 74,000 tonnes – 19.5%). 

This increase is likely to due to a resumption of construction activity in Scotland after pandemic restrictions and an increase in treatment of residual waste, which was delayed in 2020 due to pandemic lockdowns at local authority recycling centres.

Hazardous waste comprised 0.2% (2,000 tonnes) of waste incinerated in 2021 and was solely composed of hazardous health care and biological wastes.  

The waste incinerated in Scotland statistics are available on SEPA’s website. 

Gary Walker, Waste and Landfill Tax Manager at SEPA, said: “The latest official statistics reflect the reality of the easing of COVID pandemic restrictions, as household waste recycling centres re-opened.

“While Scotland has seen a reduction in the amount of waste generated in the last decade, the latest figures are a timely reminder of the need for a continued focus on recycling by us all.

“Recycling is a simple daily step everyone can take to build a more sustainable Scotland. We can all make choices to reduce the amount of waste we generate and keep products and materials in use for as long as possible through re-use and recycling to help Scotland tackle the climate emergency.”

Tory MSP calls for increased funding for Public Services across Lothian

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has spoken about the need to increase investment in public services across the South East of Scotland to meet growing demand – while at the same time his party is urging the Scottish Government to cut the highest rates of tax in line with England!

During a debate at Holyrood yesterday on Scotland’s Population – Meeting the Needs of our Communities, Economy and Public Services – the Conservative MSP said that “Edinburgh and the South East continues to be a resilient region and the only part of the Scottish economy which has seen continued economic growth.”

Mr Briggs went on to say that this should not “mask the huge pressures which are facing our public services.”

Scottish Government funding for NHS Lothian as well as Edinburgh City Council are at their “lowest level” according to Mr Briggs, while the region is projected to have a growing population, leading to greater demands on services.

Local authorities in Lothian have the fastest growing populations in Scotland. 

Midlothian is predicted to have the fastest growing population in Scotland, 13.8%, East Lothian the second fastest at 7.2%, City of Edinburgh sixth fastest, 6.6% and West Lothian seventh fastest, 5.9%. These local authorities all have much faster predicted population growth than the Scottish average of 3.5%.

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has previously campaigned for a change to the formula which determines funding for NHS Boards, saying that NHS Lothian has not been receiving their fair share over the last ten years.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The financial sustainability of delivering public services is becoming more difficult to deliver here in Lothian and it is time for SNP-Green Ministers to recognise this.

“The fact that levels of homelessness and children living in temporary accommodation are at their highest anywhere in Scotland is a direct consequence of not being able to deliver on local housing outcomes.    

“NHS Lothian is seeing an unprecedented demand on services and waiting times for treatments are unacceptably long.”

If only there was a magic money tree …

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund has rebuked the UK Tory Government’s reckless ‘growth plan’ …

Pop-Up Play Cafe at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Pop-up Play Cafe for children 0-7 and families in Pilton, Granton, Muirhouse and Drylaw area, with:

@Alt_NEArts

@SSNorthEd

@PiltonComHealth

@froebelfutures

@EdinburghUni

Wednesday 5th, Thursday 6th & Saturday 8th October 9.30am – 3pm

Let us know you’re coming here: https://tiny.cc/playcafe

£450,000 funding support for Public Library projects

Culture Minister Neil Gray has announced Scottish Government funding of £450,000 to support library services across Scotland.

Mr Gray announced the opening of the 2022/23 Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF) today on a visit to Rutherglen Library to see the impact the Memories Scotland project has had on the community. 

Funded by the PLIF, the Memories Scotland project launched in May, giving libraries across Scotland the opportunity to open their rich local history collections to the public, both online and in person. 

Helping to promote social inclusion in the community, these heritage resources also provide a focal point for Library Memory Groups which support people suffering from dementia and other forms of memory loss.

The Memories Scotland archive includes a collection of historical images, artefacts, film and audio on the themes of Working Life and Social Life.

Culture Minister Neil Gray said: “The network of library-based memory groups across Scotland is a great example of what libraries can achieve with support from the Scottish Government’s Public Library Improvement Fund.

“The Covid pandemic increased the impact of isolation for many individuals within our communities, particularly those living with dementia, and for them these memory groups are a real life-line.”

The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) distribute funding on behalf of the Scottish Government and will award the 2022/23 Public Library Improvement Fund to public library projects focusing on:

  • Economic wellbeing (support for the cost of living crisis)
  • Bridging the digital divide (recognising that data poverty has become an even bigger issue as a result of the pandemic and cost of living crisis)
  • Closing the attainment gap (in recognition that children and young people need the support of the local library now more than ever); and
  • Sustainability, which SLIC sees as an overarching theme of its strategy, Forward, which focuses on sustainable development goals

Pamela Tulloch, chief executive of SLIC, said: “The Public Library Improvement Fund supports creative, sustainable and innovative public library projects throughout Scotland.

“These projects support the vision set out in Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025, as well as the Scottish Government’s Net Zero ambitions. Focusing on the themes of People, Place & Partnership, the PLIF places significant emphasis on ensuring that the impact of these projects is sustained beyond the one-year period of the funding.

“Leaving behind a valuable legacy of skills, experience, resources and partnerships that will continue to benefit the community for years to come, these projects help to map out an exciting future for Scotland’s public libraries and the role they play in communities across Scotland, and we can’t wait to see what ideas the services submit this year.”

The Public Library Improvement Fund 2022 is now open to applications and will close at 12pm on Wednesday 2November 2022.

For more information on how to apply, visit: The Public Library Improvement Fund (scottishlibraries.org)

Report finds nation’s EYE Q is missing the mark & putting millions at risk of avoidable sight loss

One in three of us will suffer sight loss in our lifetime, yet half of this could be avoided. Routine eye tests, to ensure early detection and treatment of eye conditions, and adopting healthy lifestyles are key to preventing unnecessary sight loss; however, the findings of a new report reveal many of us lack even the most basic ‘know-how’ when it comes to looking after our vision and eye health.

“Many of us lack even the most basic ‘know-how’ when it comes to looking after our vision and eye health”

The Eye Q report, commissioned by Eye Health UK and Thomas Pocklington Trust to mark National Eye Health Week (19–25 September), found just one in four of us rate routine eye tests as important for maintaining good eye health. Worryingly, the report also found more than 17.5million of us haven’t had an eye test in the last two years, as recommended; with men and minority ethnic groups most likely to skip this essential health check.

As well as fears about the cost of eye care, the misnomer that ‘if your eyes are fine you don’t need to have an eye test’ was a common reason not getting eyes checked.

The report also uncovered a shocking lack of awareness of ‘reg flag’ symptoms linked to sight-threatening eye conditions. Despite being symptoms of retinal detachment – a condition requiring urgent treatment to avoid permanent sight loss – only one in five of us (19%) would seek same-day medical attention if we suddenly saw lots of flashes and floaters in our vision, and fewer than half of us (48%) would take urgent action if we saw a shadow, veil or curtain over our vision.

When it comes to understanding how lifestyle can impact risk of sight loss, a meagre eight per cent of us link exercise and eye health despite evidence showing being physically active can slash the risk of visual impairment.

Eighty per cent of us are in the dark about the eye health benefits of eating a nutritionally-balanced diet; just four in 10 (38%) understand exposure to the sun’s UV can impact eye health, and, a paltry 13 per cent link smoking and sight loss, even though smoking is a direct cause of sight loss, including macular degeneration – the UK’s leading cause of blindness.

Awareness that the menopause can affect eye health was also woefully low, with just 13 per cent of peri- & menopausal women making a connection between the two, despite ‘the change’ triggering dry eye and blepharitis, and, increasing the risk of glaucoma and cataracts.

UV protection is vital to prevent poor eye health and future sight loss, however, one in five believe eyes only need protecting on sunny days, when in fact, eyes should be protected whenever the UV index rises to three or more,[5] even if the skies are cloudy, as 90 per cent of UV can transmit through the clouds.[6]

With increasing screen use more and more of us are suffering screen fatigue – headaches, sore or tired eyes and temporary blurring of our vision – because we don’t know how to be screen smart. Just one in seven of us follow the 20-20-20 rule [look away from your screen every 20 minutes and focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds]; only 28 per cent adjust room lighting and four in five don’t consciously blink.

Other misconceptions about factors that can have a negative impact on vision and eye health include:

  • 75% of us think it’s okay to shower in contact lenses. It’s not. Contacts should be removed before showering to prevent water-borne infection.
  • 72% of us are unaware of the dangers of using old mascara. Using mascara that’s been open for more than three or four months is a common cause of eye irritation and infection.
  • 65% of us think reading in dim light could damage our eyes. It won’t. It will simply highlight any existing imperfection.
  • 56% of us are unaware that rubbing our eyes could be harmful. However, excessive rubbing is linked to keratoconus – a condition that distorts your vision.

With little knowledge about how to care for our eyes and factors that can affect them it’s probably no surprise the report found 77 per cent us suffered poor eye health in the last 12 months, whilst more than half of us (52%) say our daily lives have been disrupted by the quality of our vision – affecting our ability to do, or enjoy, daily things like household chores, driving, reading or our hobbies.

The state of our eye health also affected our emotions and mental well-being. Fifty-five per cent of respondents say their vision affected their mental state – leaving them feeling frustrated (24%), anxious (16%) or stressed (13%). The affect of eye health on mental state was particularly prevalent amongst people living with sight loss[7], with 76 per cent saying their vision had affected their mental health.

Commenting on the report David Cartwright, optometrist and chair of Eye Health UK said: “With 60 per cent of us worrying about our long-term vision it’s time for us to wise up and learn how to look after our eyes.

“Making some simple changes to our lifestyle and having regular eye tests could give your eye health a boost and prevent future sight loss.”

Mike Bell, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns at Thomas Pocklington Trust added: “The Eye Q report has revealed how little knowledge there is about the importance of eye health, including amongst people already living with some form of sight loss.

“Looking after your eyes is just as important as looking after the rest of your body. Regular eye health checks can help prevent or limit the damage done by many eye conditions. They can also help identify the signs of other health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. The message is clear, get regular eye health checks and never ignore changes in your vision.”

Visit the National Eye Health Week website (visionmatters.org.uk) to check your risk of future sight loss using on the online eye health calculator.

Shrinking Safety Nets: Working families raid savings to meet the demands of rising living costs 

  • The average working household has £2,400 in savings –  the equivalent of less than a month’s worth of basic expenses
  • Over half of all savers say they will fall back on their rainy-day funds to meet rising living costs
  • Working families estimate they need £12,100 in the bank to feel financially secure but less than a third of households have this set aside
  • It would take the average household three years to put aside the desired financial safety net

One in four working households with savings (28%) have started dipping into them to meet rising living costs, according to a report from Legal & General. A further 30% anticipate they will need to do so in the next year.

With consumer prices 10.1% higher in July 2022 than a year before2, and with annual household energy costs set to rise to an average £2,500 in October 20223, many households will likely have to rely even more on the money they have tucked away. This could see household savings built up during the pandemic lost.

The average working household currently has £2,400 in savings. However, this equates to less than a month of basic expenditure for the average family, if they lost their income and were pushed to rely on their savings.

Financial security under threat

To feel financially secure, households estimate they need £12,100, or nearly five months worth of basic household expenses, set aside. However, only three in 10 working households (30%) have this set aside, and pressure to dip into savings will likely see this number fall.

Based on current savings patterns, with the average working household saving just over £300 a month, it would take three years to reach the desired financial safety net, and nine years to put aside a year’s worth of essential spending. However two-thirds (64%) of all households that currently save have either already decreased or stopped their savings habit altogether (31%), or expect to have to do so (34%), due to increased living costs.

No safety net for some

There is also a growing number of people who cannot put aside any money; nearly 1.9 million households have no money left at the end of the month, an increase of 330,000 since 2020.

This is likely why 16% of households have no savings at all in case of emergency.

“With the cost of basic essentials on the rise many households will find themselves having to make difficult choices and dipping into savings  is likely to become more common. This is a far cry from the five-month financial safety net that people hope for”, said Bernie Hickman, CEO, Legal & General Retail.

“It can be concerning for people to feel like they have nothing to fall back on in times of difficulty. While dipping into savings is inevitable for some,  there are also steps people can take to try to control their costs as much as possible by checking their regular outgoings and subscriptions, shopping around for discounts and deals and by making sure they are taking up free financial guidance services like MoneyHelper.

“To help people better understand their money and make informed decisions, we have put together a financial safety net content hub to help people find free tools and resources.”

Winter vaccine appointment letters starting to land for those aged 5+ with underlying health conditions

Appointment letters for winter vaccines inviting those aged 5 and over who are at higher risk of COVID-19 or flu are being sent out by NHS Lothian via post, e-mail or text over the next five weeks.

This includes those with certain underlying health conditions such as chronic respiratory, liver, kidney, heart or neurological disease, diabetes or with a severely weakened immune system. 

More than two million people in Scotland will be offered vaccines over the next three months – with those most at risk the first to be vaccinated to protect themselves and help relieve pressure on the NHS.

Pat Wynne, Nurse Director for Primary and Community Care for NHS Lothian, who is overseeing the delivery of this year’s programme, said: “We strongly recommend those who are more vulnerable to serious complications from COVID-19 and flu get the vaccines.  Both COVID-19 and flu can be serious even if you are healthy. 

“Protection fades over time, so it’s important to restore it by having the vaccines when offered them.  If you are unable to make the appointment time, please follow the instructions on your letter to rearrange it.”

Appointment letters will include information about how carers aged 16 and over and people aged 5 and over who live with someone with a weakened immune system can book an appointment.

If you have a condition and do not receive an appointment letter, you can check whether you are eligible and book an appointment at NHS Inform.  Appointments for children under 16 must be booked by calling 0800 030 8013. 

All people aged 65 or over should have received a scheduled appointment for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations by now. If you have not yet received this you can book an appointment at NHS Inform.

Those who are pregnant are also eligible and should speak to their midwife if they do not yet have an appointment.

If you are aged 50 to 64 with no additional risk factors, please wait to be contacted about your winter vaccination appointment.

Nominations open for annual Bookbug Hero Award

Scottish Book Trust has opened nominations for its Bookbug Hero Award 2023. The national charity, which runs the Scotland-wide Bookbug programme for young children and families, is asking people across the country to nominate a librarian, early years worker, volunteer, health visitor, or anyone who uses Bookbug in their work.

Run in association with Walker Books, the award honours someone who has made a real difference to the lives of young children, families and communities they work with.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Bookbug touches the lives of so many young families all over Scotland, in libraries, early years and nursery settings and also through the health service.

“We are excited to open nominations for our fourth Bookbug Hero Award, which celebrates the brilliant work of our Bookbug practitioners.

“Without this work, many families and children would not discover the fun and lifelong benefits of sharing stories, songs and rhymes.  We are grateful to Walker Books for their support in helping us recognise these heroes in local communities.’

Ian Keane, librarian and Bookbug Co-ordinator, Clackmannanshire Council and winner of the Bookbug Hero Award 2022, said: “I was very surprised to win the Bookbug Hero Award.

“The idea expressed by the people who nominated me was that somehow during Covid times, I had offered an anchor that helped bring a bit of stability to the week.

“However, the truth is they offered me an anchor, a light to cling to in darker times, I’ll forever be grateful to the attendees for recalling me to life. I think without Bookbug we have all been a lot poorer – it is a panacea for our times.”

Ed Ripley, Walker UK Sales and Marketing Director: “At Walker we appreciate the huge impact individuals can have on supporting communities to grow their reading culture, and as such we’re delighted to get behind any initiative that celebrates and applauds these individuals.

“Scottish Book Trust’s programmes have a huge impact on families and young people, and the vast array of practitioners who help implement them do stellar work, so we are thrilled to support the Bookbug Hero Award.”

Nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award can be made online via Scottish Book Trust’s website. The closing date for nominations is Friday 4 November 2022.

The winner will receive a special trophy and a bundle of picture books worth £500 from Walker Books.

Experts warn university students in Edinburgh to keep their houses safe

ADT shares advice for students to help keep homes safe   

Glenn Amato, Managing Director at ADT UK&I explains: “Moving into a university house after being in halls of residence should be an exciting time. But with lots of carefree students all living together under one roof, each with many expensive personal belongings, such as laptops and phones, burglars can sadly see student homes as a bit of a quick win with potentially big payoffs.   

“Universities are notoriously bad at publishing crime data (both on and off campus) and so before deciding on an area to live, it is highly recommended that students compare the crime rates within the most popular student areas using data from ADT’s Crime In My Area tool, an easy, online platform to check crime rates in a given postcode.    

“Once students have picked an area to live, the good news is that there are many simple ways to keep a house safe and sound from unwanted intruders, leaving students free to be able to focus on enjoying university life. The below advice provides simple and practical ways for students to look after a house for the first time, to help make living away from home a little safer and less daunting.”   

ADT guidance on protecting a university house from burglars   

·        Remember to always lock your windows and doors: Seems simple right, but the more doors and windows a home has, the more potential entry points there are. Before leaving for university or a social engagement, check that every window and door of the property is closed and locked – an open window is a big temptation for opportunists, even if it’s only left open at night. It’s crucial to make sure all doors are locked (front and back) before heading out, as it’s harder to hear someone entering the property from the back of the house. Also, if there’s a lock on the bedroom door, always remember to lock it before heading to lectures or on a night out.      

·        Make it look like someone is home even when they’re not: There are times throughout the year when universities close and the homes will be sat empty and so making it appear like someone is home could help to deter burglars. Smart bulbs (and smart plugs) can connect to a home’s Wi-Fi and can be operated remotely via a smart phone, even when no one is home. This is a great way to indicate that a house is occupied out of term-time, rather than the predictable routine of a conventional plug-in timer switch.     

·        Keep valuables out of sight: This is a simple step that can make a big difference. Before leaving the house (or going to bed), make sure there are no flashy valuables or expensive bits of tech left lying around, especially in any places that are visible from the exterior of the home. If you’re leaving the house for a long period of time, such as for the Christmas holidays, remember to take all your valuables with you, such as your laptop. It’s also worth keeping a back-up of your coursework on the cloud or an external hard drive, just in case the worst does happen, and your laptop is stolen.   

·        Forget hiding a key: Most people have managed to lock themselves out at least once but hiding a key in the vicinity of a home – whether under a flowerpot or above the doorframe – simply isn’t worth the risk. If a spare must be kept outside, at least keep it in a locked key safe, which requires a code.     

·        Be mindful on social media: Tempting as it is to share snaps when the house is lying empty, posting a location on a non-private social media account is a clear signal to potential intruders that the house is empty. Don’t let criminals know when the home is vulnerable to intrusion. ONS1 has revealed that it is as likely that a burglary is conducted by a stranger as it is to be done by someone who is known to the victim.    

·        Set your alarm: If there’s one installed in the property, be sure to use it!    

·        House party preparations: Moving away from home offers plenty of opportunities for house parties, but with multiple members of the household usually inviting friends along, it can be hard to keep track of who is inside. Where possible, try to only let people known and trusted inside. It’s also worth dedicating one bedroom for hiding all valuables and personal belongings, to stop potential thieves from stealing expensive items.