Inaugural Royal Opera House Mentorship Scheme Announced

Today the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House launches a groundbreaking pilot programme for young musicians from underrepresented backgrounds. The new scheme will work with young musicians aged 18-25, prioritising engagement with young people from the global majority and other underrepresented backgrounds.

The scheme will provide essential mentoring tailored to the participants’ individual needs whilst enhancing skill sets, insight and training in the classical music field. The project is being delivered in collaboration with Black Lives in Music, an organisation established to champion diversity in the classical music industry.

Royal Opera House Music Director Tony Pappano said: “Working in any orchestra is a hugely collegiate experience and we believe it’s vital to assist and mentor young talent as they navigate the very beginnings of their career.

“Gaining access to organisations at the start of your career can feel daunting and overwhelming and we want to support, mentor and positively shape these very first experiences in a professional environment. This new pilot scheme will welcome young, diverse talent, helping them feel like they belong.”

Amelia Conway-Jones, 1st violin in the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House said: “I’m so thrilled and proud that the orchestra are championing opportunities for musicians from diverse backgrounds through this scheme.

“It’s vital that we work towards a time when we as a group are truly representative of our community in London, and our artistic voice will be hugely enriched by the inclusion of musical voices from diverse backgrounds. As part of the orchestra’s Diversity Working Group, I’m really excited to be involved and to work with the mentees on their journey into the profession.”

Roger Wilson, Director of Operations at Black Lives in Music said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young musicians from across the UK to continue their musical journeys. 

“The project will help to level the playing field for all young musicians and enable them to realise their aspirations of joining the classical sector as professionals.  The ROH mentoring project combines traditional mentoring with real opportunities to play alongside and learn from some of the best musicians around, this is a game changer!

“Initiatives like this will help to break down walls and build relationships.  Black Lives in Music are excited to be working alongside the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in this hands-on approach to supporting change in the UK classical music sector.”

Thirteen musicians from the Royal Opera House Orchestra will mentor participants on a range of orchestral instruments. Recruitment for the scheme will be a simple process, reducing barriers to entry and re-thinking the application process so that it breaks with traditional norms and enables those interested to apply in the most accessible way possible.

Participants will be invited to give feedback throughout their experience, and beyond as they embark on their musical careers, to measure the impact of the scheme, with the aim of making the scheme a permanent programme attached to each Royal Opera House Season.

The ROH mentor programme is aimed at young musicians aged 18 – 25, with participants welcome from across the UK. The scheme aims to break-down any traditional barriers to classical music, broadening the available pathways into the industry and make a lasting impact on representation.

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House mentor scheme joins other programmes run by ROH which provide entry level pathways into the arts industry for young talent at the very start of their careers. The ROH Apprentice scheme has been offering sector-leading apprenticeships since 2007 with the scheme recently expanding to include positions in IT, Finance and Marketing. 

Apprentices gain a relevant industry qualification and are guided by some of the most accomplished and recognised practitioners in the UK’s arts industry. 76 apprentices have graduated from the scheme since 2007 and 90% of those have remained in the creative industries forging successful careers.

The Jette Parker Artists programme has been running at ROH since 2001 and has launched the careers of over one hundred and fifty singers, conductors, directors and artists – many of whom had no direct experience and came from marginalised communities across the globe.

Letters: Body Image

Dear Editor,

For a lot of children and young people, body image is a great concern. Going through physical body changes and developments is challenging enough, yet with outside influences such as social media, young people can feel even more pressure to look a certain way to fit in.

Every summer, we are confronted by advertisements asking if we are ‘beach body ready’. Here at Childline, we have seen just how much these advertisements, messages and perceptions can affect the way in which young people view themselves.

Between April 2021 and March 2022, Childline delivered 5,085 counselling sessions on the topic of struggling with eating and body image in Scotland and across the rest of the UK – a 6% increase from 4,787 in 2019/20.

We believe one of the reasons that children and young people are feeling low about their appearance is the increasing amount of time they spend on social media, particularly since the pandemic. Some young people in Scotland have told Childline’s trained counsellors that they feel insecure and self-conscious about their weight after seeing images of others on social media platforms.

Here at Childline, we would like to remind all children that the service’s counsellors are here to support them and that they don’t have to cope alone.

They can contact our counsellors on 0800 1111 or online at www.childline.org.uk, where they can visit the ‘my body’ advice page and also speak to other young people who might be feeling the same away via moderated message boards.

Paul Johnson

Childline Team Manager, Aberdeen

Fringe Street Events Taster stages bring 650 performances to New Town

As the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe gets underway, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society are delighted to announce a full programme of activity for the new Taster Stages in St Andrew Square and Cathedral Square in St James Quarter.

Following an announcement about the extension of the traditional Street Events programme to new sites across the city centre, the Fringe Society team have been excited by the level of support shown by artists for the new spaces.

Scheduled daily from 11:00 – 18:00, the new stages will bring a taster of the Fringe to the New Town, with performers from 170 shows participating in 650 performances across both stages.

From music to magic, dance to comedy, and theatre to circus, there will be something for everyone visiting the spaces this August.  In St Andrew Square the TikTok team will be in residence and will live stream on various dates throughout August.  In the St James Quarter, the Taster Stage in Cathedral Square will be the first event to take place in this new space.

Audiences are encouraged to make repeat visits to the two stages, with performers changing throughout the day.  The tasters have been designed to allow visitors to the area the opportunity to get to know work by the artists, before booking a ticket to see their full show.

Shona McCarthy, CEO at The Edinburgh Fringe Society said: “This summer we’re delighted to be able to expand the Street Events programme to these new spaces in the New Town. 

“It’s been fantastic to see the volume of artists who have engaged with these opportunities and we encourage anyone visiting these areas to stop by to get a taste of the Fringe Festival. 

“We are grateful to our sponsors and partners in supporting our expansion of Street Events and look forward to watching performance in both the live experience, and digitally on TikTok.”

James Stafford, Head of Community & partnerships, TikTok UK, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Festival Fringe Society this year as the Official Virtual Stage.

“We will be livestreaming from the TikTok Taster Stage in St Andrews Square throughout the festival, so whether you are lucky enough to be in Edinburgh or want to tune in from afar on TikTok, the magic of the Fringe will be more accessible than ever before.’

Cllr Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is a very special year for the Fringe, not only does it see the return of an amazing programme of artists and performers from around the world, it also marks 75 years of this extraordinary festival.  

“This exciting addition of new sites offering taster performances from the Fringe’s jam-packed programme brings a wider opportunity for current and potential Fringe fans to sample some of the 650 acts who will be entertaining audiences this month.”

Paul Bush, VisitScotland Director of events, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting the return of the Fringe Street Events at this year’s Festival as they extend to new locations across the city centre.

“Our atmospheric crowds, iconic venues and picture-perfect backdrops make Scotland the perfect stage for events and after the challenges of the last two years now is the time to get out and enjoy all these free events have to offer.”

Nick Peel, St James Quarter said: “We are thrilled to be hosting the Taster Stage in Cathedral Square kicking off a fantastic summer of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Quarter.

“The Fringe is such an integral part of the city, the partnership supports our ambition of offering guests new experiences every time they visit. We can’t wait to see the incredible talent from across the globe descend on Cathedral Square, giving us a taste of what’s on offer across the City this August.”

Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Fringe Society and St James Quarter to bring free Fringe activity to St Andrew Square Garden and Cathedral Square.

“I encourage everyone to stop by and get a real feel for the fantastic artists and shows on offer. With the addition of the free Fringe stages, there is now significant Fringe presence throughout the New Town, complementing the traditional Old Town offering and ensuring we have a thriving and vibrant area during August, welcoming residents and visitors to our wonderful city centre.” 

Dad living with Lyme disease urges people to be tick aware when enjoying the outdoors this summer

 
Glasgow father-of-three Rico Franchi, who has lived with Lyme disease for the past 12 years, has backed a national campaign to raise awareness of tick bites and the symptoms of Lyme disease.
 
With a new survey revealing over half of people in Scotland (54 per cent) don’t know what to do when bitten by a tick, the Scottish Government campaign drives home the importance of acting quickly if a tick is found on the body.
 
The research also highlighted how common tick bites are, with almost two thirds of people in Scotland (64 per cent) having been bitten by a tick, or knowing someone who has been bitten.
 
Forty-year-old singer and vocal coach Rico has been living with Lyme disease since 2010, when he first experienced symptoms including extreme fatigue and joint pain. He was diagnosed around two years later, and the disease continues to impact his day-to-day life. Today, he encourages people to be aware of the early signs and seek medical advice early if concerned:
 
“Rewind to 2010, I was super healthy, super fit, I was always in the gym, or playing football or practicing martial arts. But in the space of a couple of weeks, I started to develop headaches, muscle aches and severe fatigue.
 
“It completely floored me, and my lifestyle changed completely. I basically had to conserve all my energy for work, and even then, I struggled. For over two years I searched for a diagnosis, which was frustrating, as it was hard trying to explain how I was feeling. Eventually, a friend’s dad who was a doctor suggested I get tested for Lyme Disease. Six weeks later my results came back positive.
 
“Like many sufferers, I can’t recall where I got bitten. Ticks are incredibly hard to spot so it could have been years before, even when I was a child, with symptoms only occurring years later.
 
“One of the worst things about Lyme disease is not knowing how you’re going to feel when you wake up in the morning, if it’s going to be a good day or a bad day. I play a lot of gigs and sing at lots of weddings, meaning late nights and long days, it’s quite an intense job. It’s challenging putting on a brave face most days, but when you’re self-employed, you must, and ultimately, it’s usually my family that suffers my complaints.
 
“I have my three kids, my wife and I love my job, so I am still able to live a happy life. I am fortunate because a lot of others with Lyme disease can’t. However, I would love to be able to do sport again, or just go for a big walk without feeling completely out of breath, and not always have to ration my energy.
 
“At the time I got infected with Lyme disease, myself and my parents didn’t know anything about Lyme disease or what to look out for. If we’d known, we might have caught it early and had it treated.
 
“So many people still have no idea what this invisible illness is. I hope this campaign helps create awareness of Lyme disease and associated symptoms and encourages more people to take precautions against tick bites when spending time outdoors, so they don’t have to go through what I did.”

 Two thirds of people in Scotland (66 per cent) aren’t aware of the earliest and most common symptoms of Lyme disease, which include a red circular rash on the skin, often described as looking like a bullseye on a dart board.

People can also experience cold or flu-like symptoms such as tiredness, headaches and muscle or joint pain. 
 
Ticks can be found throughout Scotland in wooded and grassy areas, so preventative measures when outdoors, such as sticking to pathways instead of going through long grass, using a repellent spray on clothing and not exposing skin can help reduce the risk of being bitten.
 
According to data, Scotland has 25% of UK cases of Lyme disease, and Professor of Molecular Microbiology for the University of Glasgow, Tom Evans, today reinforced that prevention is key to reducing the risk of serious infection:
 
“Ticks are in peak season in summer, and with people spending more time outdoors it’s important that they take steps to prevent becoming ill from Lyme disease.
 
“If you do get bitten, you should remove the tick as soon as possible to prevent infection. Using fine-tipped tweezers to gently grip the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull it steadily away from the skin without twisting or crushing it. Special tick removers are also available from most pharmacies. You should wash the area with water and soap afterwards and apply an antiseptic cream.
 
“Lyme disease can be difficult to detect, and while most cases are mild, if not found early it can have serious and lifelong side effects. Therefore it’s really important to be aware of any symptoms in the weeks following a tick bite so it can be effectively treated.” 

Dr Emilia Crighton, Interim Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “As long as you are diligent when out and about this summer, you should be ok.

“Being careful to check yourself for ticks after a trip to the countryside is really important and means if you’ve been bitten, you’ll be able to spot and remove the tick quickly, which help minimize the chances of Lyme disease. Otherwise, be aware of the common symptoms, particularly if you have been out in the countryside recently.”
 
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We definitely want people to spend time in Scotland’s beautiful outdoors, but with tick populations especially high in the summer months, we also want to make sure people do so safely.
 
“Ticks can be found all over Scotland so wherever you are spending time outdoors this summer, taking measures to prevent bites, knowing what to do if you are bitten, and being able to recognise the signs of Lyme disease will help avoid infection.
 
“More information about ticks and Lyme disease is available at NHS inform, and we’ve also placed information posters in pharmacies across Scotland where you can go for more advice about ticks.”
 
For more information about ticks visit nhsinform.scot/lyme-disease.  

Free Fringe stretches into Morningside for first time

Host of acts take to the stage as suburb enjoys Free Fringe for the first time

A BUSTLING Edinburgh suburb will see a host of acts and entertainers descend on the area as it becomes part of the Free Fringe for the first time, thanks to the Merlin pub

The team at the popular Morningside venue is delighted to have landed the major coup – which will see a packed programme of shows daily throughout the annual arts festival.

At least 15 separate acts will be involved in the Free Fringe at the Merlin and among the performances daily from noon until late night, will be theatre, cabaret, stand up, improv, reggae music, magic, poetry, storytelling and even incredible feats of memory.

Justin Cranley, general manager of the venue, said: “There’s always a huge amount going on in Morningside, but we are thrilled to be bringing the Free Fringe here for the first time ever.

“It’s a brilliant programme that has been pulled together meaning there will be something for everyone, from child-friendly shows early in the day to the best comedy for those who prefer late night entertainment.

“In previous years it has felt like Morningside has missed out on the Fringe, but that won’t be the case in 2022. In fact, it will be possible to spend the entire day right here in the Merlin watching a feast of entertainment through to the wee small hours.”

Now the pub, which has been a renowned fixture on Morningside Road for decades, will be listed as Venue 604 for the duration of the Fringe, which runs from August 5-29.

The team at the Merlin, part of Greene King’s 51-strong Local Pubs Division in Scotland, will transform its upstairs function room into a 100-seater venue during the world-renowned arts jamboree.

Justin added: “It’s a fantastic space and we hope the local community really gets behind this initiative and that we’ll see it packed out most days.

“Certainly, we are going to see just how flexible a space the function room is, because there are an incredibly diverse range of acts who will be appearing.

“While the Merlin has bounced back tremendously well after the pandemic, functions have not recovered fully. This is a great way for us to get local people back in to see what a superb space we have for the other 11 months of the year for weddings, birthdays or any kinds of events.”

The programme includes a feast of reggae music in a show called How Music From A Small Island Changed The World. It will see musician Duane Forrest showcase acoustic versions of classic from legends like Bob Marley.

Late night comedy will come in the shape of Law & Disorder, a stand-up special from lawyer Sam Benedict and “professional free spirit” Joe Riley, a pair who have graced various BBC shows and reached the Student Chortle semi-finals.

Popular magician James Phelan will also be performing daily with his highly-anticipated show, James Phelan Blows Your F#@king Mind!, which follows multiple TV appearances and a successful residency in Las Vegas.

The full line-up and timetable can be found here – https://freefringe.org.uk/ and audience members simply need to turn up. While the performances are free, those attending are encouraged to make a donation at the end of the show.

The Free Fringe was started in 1996 by Peter Buckley Hill – known as PBH – who brought his comedy show to the city, but was disheartened by the cost of booking venues and the pricey tickets for the public. The PBH Free Fringe now puts on hundreds of shows every year.

He pioneered the model of persuading venues to offer space for free in return for acts bringing in additional customers. If audience members enjoy a show, they are encouraged to make a voluntary donation at the end.

Luke Meredith, an actor and performer who is also the CEO of The Free Fringe in Edinburgh, said he was delighted that free shows would be available in Morningside for the first time.

He added: “Everyone knows Morningside and what an important part of Edinburgh’s heritage it is, so it’s remarkable that the Free Fringe has never had a toehold here – until now. It’s brilliant that it’s finally arrived in this part of the city.”

Voices: The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo kicks off with spectacular showcase for 2022

  • More than 900 performers graced Edinburgh Castle’s Esplanade to celebrate expression and share their creative voice 

Performers from across the globe are sure to wow audiences with sensational music, dance, costume, and spectacle as The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo makes its highly anticipated return tonight with this year’s Show, Voices. 

Running until 27 August, the year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a celebration of expression, giving a stage to performers and acts from around the globe to share their voice. Voices draws inspiration from people across the globe who, despite physical separation, continue to connect and share their voices creatively through spoken word, song, music, and dance – languages common to all. 

Tonight’s performance will mark the inaugural Show from the Tattoo’s new Creative Director, Michael Braithwaite who alongside new creative production partners are introducing a brand-new approach to pre-show with street style drummers welcoming audiences onto the Esplanade. For the very first time there will be staging on the Esplanade and soundscapes tying each spectacular performance together, with the Show being opened with original composition and vocals from The Highland Divas.    

Audiences will experience stunning musical and cultural showcases from performers from Mexico, The United States, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, alongside homegrown talent from the UK at the centre of it all.  

Musicians from the Army are reinforced by the UK’s finest military musicians, the legendary musicianship of the Massed Pipes and Drums echoing across the Esplanade and the dazzling talent of the Tattoo Dancers and Tattoo Fiddlers.

The Tattoo performers also gave an exhilarating performance of ‘Shake that Bagpipe’ with never-before-seen at the Show, Electro Pipes, taking centre stage with a DJ and a high energy, colourful dance act.  

Buster Howes, Chief Executive of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “Seeing the Castle Esplanade come alive with the colour, music, word-class talent and of course, for our audiences to once again join us, is exactly the come-back we wanted. 

“We set out to ensure that the 2022 Tattoo was a welcome return and a celebration of the connections, cultures and languages that bring people together time after time on the Esplanade of Edinburgh’s 3,000-year-old fortress. After last night’s preview performance, the first Show from our new Creative Director, Michael Braithwaite, I’m sure everyone will agree we have done just that. 

“I’ve been blown away by the talents on display during rehearsals and I’m confident the audience will be able to feel the electric atmosphere on the Esplanade tonight! There’s still time to grab tickets throughout August, and I would encourage anyone looking for a great night out to come and experience the magic of the Tattoo.” 

International performers this year include Tattoo favourites the New Zealand Army Band with this year’s dynamic performance marking their seventh appearance on the Castle Esplanade.

Banda Monumental will storm the stage with over 100 performers bringing stunningly dramatic costume and the bright carnival atmosphere of Mexico to their show stopping performance.

Swiss drumming sensation, The Top Secret Drum Corps are set to captivate audiences with their energetic precision drumming which has received global recognition since their first performance with the Tattoo in 2003.  

While The United States Air Force Honor Guard, the official ceremonial unit of the Air Force, will make their return to the Tattoo this year with its lively display of precision drill. 

Playing a vital role in this year’s show were Tattoo newcomers and world-renowned performers The Highland Divas whose vocals were used throughout the show in soundscapes. Audiences were treated to a unique musical journey that showcased the best of the Divas awe inspiring voices.

The United States Army Field Band will make theirTattoo debutbringing military mash-ups of traditional and contemporary hits to the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for the very first time.   

The full line up for 2022 also includes: The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, British Army Band Colchester, British Army Band Sandhurst, The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland Pipes and Drums, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland Pipes and Drums, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland Pipes and Drums, Combined Scottish Universities Officers’ Training Corps Pipes and Drums, Royal Air Force Pipes and Drums, The Crossed Swords Pipes and Drums, Brisbane Boys College Pipes and Drums, Paris Port Dover Pipes and Drums, The Pipes and Drums of Christchurch City, and Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools Choir. 

The Show will run until 27 August 2022. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188. 

Witness appeal following Sheriffhall accident

Road policing officers are appealing for witnesses after a crash involving a car and a pedestrian in Edinburgh.

The incident happened around 9am yesterday (Thursday, 4 August, 2022) on Millerhill Road, near the Sheriffhall Roundabout.

The pedestrian, a 37-year-old man, was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with life threatening injuries. The driver of the car was not injured.

The road was closed for around four hours while investigations were carried out.

Officers are appealing for anyone who saw what happened or anyone with dashcam footage of the area at the time to contact police. You can call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 0775 of Thursday, 4 August, 2022.

The Proclaimers set walking challenge for Edinburgh resident

You don’t have to walk 500 miles to raise funds for Mary’s Meals this summer

The Proclaimers famously sang about walking 500 miles – and now the musical brothers are asking people in Edinburgh to take on their own walking challenge to help Mary’s Meals feed hungry children. 

The Scottish duo is calling for residents to take part in the charity’s Move for Meals campaign, which encourages people to raise sponsorship while getting active.  

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals in some of the world’s poorest countries. The promise of a good meal attracts hungry children to the classroom, giving them the energy to learn and hope for a brighter future.   

The Proclaimers – Craig and Charlie Reid – have supported Mary’s Meals for several years.  

Craig says: “Summer is here, and there’s never been a better time to get your walking shoes on and raise money for this great charity. 

“It costs just £15.90 to feed a hungry child with Mary’s Meals for an entire school year – so a little sponsorship can make a big difference.” 

Charlie adds: “We’re not asking you to walk 500 miles, or 500 more… With Mary’s Meals, just a small number of steps can help to feed hungry children across the world.” 

Mary’s Meals reaches 2,279,941 children every school day in 20 countries, including Ethiopia, Syria and Haiti.   

Dan McNally, head of grassroots engagement at Mary’s Meals, says: “We serve Mary’s Meals in the world’s poorest, and often most difficult, locations because we know that’s where children need us the most.  

“Today, we face some of our greatest challenges yet in a world devastated by conflict, food insecurity and the cost of living crisis. It is easy to feel hopeless when faced with so much suffering.

“But every single thing that people do for our mission makes an enormous difference to the children who eat Mary’s Meals.” 

To find out more, please visit marysmeals.org.uk/move-for-meals 

Princess Royal attends Redford Barracks rehearsals on eve of Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal today attended one of the final rehearsals of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo ahead of its official opening night tomorrow (Friday 5 August).

All performers from this year’s Show, Voices, took part in the rehearsal at the Redford Barracks, giving Her Royal Highness an exclusive preview of their stunning musical and cultural showcases and military precision.  

Over 900 performers from across the globe are taking part in this year’s Tattoo. Voices, is a celebration of expression, giving a stage to performers and acts from around the globe to share their voices through spoken word, song, music and dance. 

Crowds will gather at Edinburgh Castle this summer, from 5 August – 27 August, for the cultural spectacular, which returns for the first time since 2019.  

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188.  

Over 50s to be hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis and the financial impact of the Covid pandemic

A report by leading UK data scientists has revealed that the over-50s are being hit hardest by the current financial crisis and could face a lifetime of financial insecurity.  

That’s according to new research from the University of Edinburgh’s Smart Data Foundry, supported and funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust. 

According to the report, economic inactivity rates have risen a third amongst the over 50s since 2019, and people aged 50-54 face double the financial vulnerability risk than those aged 70-74.  

Findings reveal that people in their 50s and 60s are facing the ‘perfect storm’ of circumstances including redundancy, ill health or caring commitments combined with a lack of savings and pension provisions.   

To offset this loss of income, many people are being forced to withdraw lump sums from their pension pots to deal with pre-retirement income shocks.  

And with the majority of pension pots worth under £30,000, this is causing knock-on issues with income tax and entitlement to benefits.  Worryingly, the research also identified that those people who do cash in their pension pots early are 1.75 times more at risk of financial vulnerability in the future.   

To tackle this, Smart Data Foundry is calling on the Department of Work and Pensions to act now to reduce the risk of pension assets being spent before retirement. It recommends an increase to the current capital limit of £16,000 for means tested benefits and, for those on Universal Credit, the reform of the Support for Mortgage Relief (SMI) loan facility by removing the zero earnings rule. 

Chair of Smart Data Foundry, Dame Julia Unwin, explains: “We are seeing a pattern of people in their early to mid-fifties going from being in positions of comfortable, middle-aged breadwinners eyeing their future retirement over the horizon, to a generation suddenly finding themselves facing long-term financial hardship.  

“A combination of being unable to secure viable work, confused messaging over pensions, little by way of state aid, and the savage cost-of-living rises resulting in many making decisions that could have long-term negative consequences.  

“With this report and our key recommendations, we are calling for UK Government to intervene to protect and support the most vulnerable before it is too late. If they don’t act now, we will undoubtedly see even bigger problems in the years ahead. Data doesn’t lie; the evidence is there – older workers are at very real risk of financial vulnerability, but it is not yet too late to act.” 

The research study also uncovered a widespread lack of understanding about the benefits system, confusion about claims processes, and hardship arising from payment frequency.  To improve the transition to retirement, the report calls for increased government investment in the Pension Wise guidance service and expansion to include the state pension. 

According to the findings, older workers are encountering barriers to returning to work, including lack of digital skills, unavailability of flexible working, lack of specific government initiatives, ageism, psychological barriers, and retraining needs.  

The longer the unemployed worker remains out of work, the harder it is for them to find a suitable position and the greater their risk of falling into forced retirement.

The report calls for a government-funded employment programme targeted at those who need support in changing careers, starting from the first day of unemployment for the over 55s. 

Lead researcher Dr Lynne Robertson-Rose from the University of Edinburgh added: “We set out to understand the financial vulnerability amongst those in their 50s and 60s and have been surprised by the bleak picture that the data paints.

“Any disruption in earning capability in the decade before the state pension is forcing older workers to draw down on savings earmarked for retirement with little ability to top up the pot, leading to the risk of financial vulnerability becoming lifelong. 

“We have access to rich data supplied to Smart Data Foundry by UK financial institutions and these insights have furnished us with the information that enabled us to make policy recommendations.  It also flags  opportunities for the financial services and fintech sector to innovate in order to help individuals better manage their finances.” 

Karen Barker, Head of Policy and Research at abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, added: “Making decisions about your pension is tricky to navigate, and for those on lower incomes, advice is too expensive.

“The Government needs to improve access to advice on pensions planning for those on lower incomes to avoid a living standards catastrophe.”  

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