The Environment Agency has urged people to stay vigilant to the risk of flooding and stay away from swollen rivers
The Environment Agency has urged people to stay vigilant to the risk of flooding and stay away from swollen rivers.
Those travelling following New Year celebrations are urged to stay away from swollen rivers, with significant river flooding impacts possible in parts of North West England today (Wednesday 1 January).
The Environment Agency continues to monitor the forecast and impacts on river levels. Its message to the public remains to check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation.
Ben Lukey, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Heavy and persistent rain from last night into this morning means river levels will remain high across parts of the North of England until Thursday, with significant inland flooding possible today and minor impacts probable in places on Thursday.
“Environment Agency teams will be out on the ground, operating flood defences, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding, issuing flood warnings and supporting those communities affected.
“We advise anyone travelling or out celebrating the New Year to be especially careful and urge people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.
“People should search ‘check my flood risk’, sign up for free flood warnings, and keep up to date with the latest situation at @EnvAgency on X.”
Nearly three quarters (73%) of firms expect to see their turnover increase in the year ahead, up from 60% polled in December 2023. Nearly a quarter (23%) of these expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more.
Meanwhile 70% of businesses are confident they will be more profitable in 2025. This compares to 68% who said the same last year.
While general revenue and profitability growth is firms’ top priority at 52%, 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than a fifth (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability.
To support their goals, 28% will be investing in new technology, with a further 19% making specific investments in AI. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter (24%) will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and a similar proportion (23%) will be investing in staff training.
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland Commercial Banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams.
“As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”
The original manuscript of a Gaelic love song written during the Battle of the Somme is to be housed at a new cultural centre.
North Uist Historical Society will receive £165,000 of Scottish Government funding to convert Carinish Old School and showcase items from its collection, many of which are currently kept in storage.
These include an original copy of Gaelic love song “An Eala Bhàn” (The White Swan). The song was written by a former pupil of the school during the Battle of the Somme and performed by local musician Julie Fowlis at a commemorative service at the Thiepval Memorial in France to mark the centenary of the Battle in 2016. It will be available for centre visitors to view.
Other items include historical artefacts from St Kilda, war memorabilia from local soldiers and press cuttings, posters and photographs from Gaelic rock band Runrig. The centre will also operate as a tourist information point and offer tours to the site of the Battle of Carinish and the ruins of Trinity Temple.
A further £200,000 will be made available to support the construction of an auditorium for Gaelic lectures and music events at Cnoc Soiller in South Uist.
Deputy First Minister and Gaelic Secretary Kate Forbes said: “Protecting and promoting the Gaelic language can attract tourists into the country, grow the economy and contribute to community wellbeing.
“This funding will enable people to learn about Uist’s Gaelic heritage from the Middle Ages up to modern day.
“To support the growth of the Gaelic language, we have allocated an additional £5.7 million for Gaelic in the draft Budget for next year.
“The Scottish Languages Bill will also create a system to enable all parents to apply for Gaelic early learning and childcare services and introduce measures to strengthen the provision of Gaelic education.”
Musician Julie Fowlis said: “I am delighted that North Uist Historical Society has been awarded this funding support.
“The organisation and the wider community have collected and made safe hundreds, if not thousands, of precious items pertaining to cultural life in North Uist and the wider Island community. It is only right and proper that these artefacts are brought home to this building, which has been at the heart of the community for decades.
“It was a great honour and privilege for me to be asked to sing An Eala Bhàn by local bàrd Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna, at the 100 year memorial of the Battle of the Somme in Thiepval”.
This investment is being delivered through the £4 million Gaelic Capital Fund.
A’ cur taic ri dualchas Gàidhlig
Pròiseactan ùra air am foillseachadh.
Thèid an làmh-sgrìobhainn air an deach òran gaoil Gàidhlig a sgrìobhadh aig àm Blàr an Somme a thaisbeanadh aig ionad cultarail ùr.
Gheibh Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath £165,000 de mhaoineachadh bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba gus seann taigh-sgoile Chàirinis a leasachadh mar thaigh-tasgaidh far an urrainn dhaibh stuthan bhon tasglann aca a thaisbeanadh, agus an t-uabhas dhiubh sin an-dràsta air an stòradh.
Nam measg tha a’ chiad dreachd den òran “An Eala Bhàn”. Chaidh an t-òran a sgrìobhadh aig àm Blàr an Somme le fear a bha na sgoilear aig Sgoil Chàirinis. Bha e air a sheinn le Julie Fowlis aig seirbheis cuimhneachaidh aig Carragh-chuimhne Thiepval san Fhraing – gus ceudamh ceann-bliadhna a’ Bhlàir a chomharrachadh ann an 2016. Bidh e air a thaisbeanadh do dhaoine a tha a’ tadhal air an ionad.
Cuideachd air an taisbeanadh bidh stuthan eachdraidheil à Hiort, cuimhneachain cogaidh le saighdearan às an sgìre agus pìosan naidheachd, postairean is dealbhan leis a’ chòmhlain-ciùil roc Albannach, Runrig. Bidh an t-ionad cuideachd air a chleachdadh mar ionad-fiosrachaidh do luchd-turais is thèid tursan a thabhann gu làraich Blàr Chàirinis agus tobhtaichean Teampull na Trionaid.
Ann an Uibhist a Deas bidh £200,000 eile air a thoirt seachad gus cuideachadh le bhith a’ togail talla aig Cnoc Soilleir far an tèid òraidean Gàidhlig is tachartasan ciùil a chumail.
Thuirt an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear is Rùnaire na Gàidhlig Ceit Fhoirbeis:
“’S e a bhith a’ dìon is a’ brosnachadh Gàidhlig rud as urrainn luchd-turais a thàladh don dùthaich, a bhith a’ fàs na h-eaconamaidh is a bhith a’ cur ri math choimhearsnachdan. Bidh am maoineachadh seo a’ cuideachadh dhaoine gus ionnsachadh mu dhualchas Gàidhlig Uibhist bho na Meadhan Aoisean chun an latha an-diugh.
“Gus taic a chur ri fàs na Gàidhlig, tha sinn air £5.7 millean a bharrachd a chur ris a’ Ghàidhlig anns an dreachd dhen Bhuidseat airson na h-ath-bhliadhna.
“Tro Bhile nan Cànan Albannach thèid cuideachd siostam a chruthachadh far an urrainn do phàrantan uile cur a-steach airson seirbheisean tràth-ionnsachaidh is cùraim-chloinne Gàidhlig is far an tèid foghlam Gàidhlig a neartachadh.”
Thuirt an neach-ciùil is seinneadair Julie Fowlis:
“Tha mi air mo dhòigh glan gun d’ fhuair Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath an taic-airgid seo. Tha a’ bhuidheann agus daoine eile sa choimhearsnachd air ceudan, no fiù ’s mìltean, de nithean prìseil a chruinneachadh is a ghleidheadh, nithean a tha a’ buntainn ri cultar Uibhist a Tuath agus cultar muinntir Uibhist air fad. Tha e air leth freagarrach gu bheil na rudan sin gu bhith air an taisbeanadh san togalach seo, a bha aig cridhe na coimhearsnachd fad iomadach bliadhna.
“B’ e urram glè mhòr a bh’ ann nuair a chaidh iarraidh orm an Eala Bhàn le Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna a sheinn aig Thiepval gus 100 bliadhna a chomharrachadh bho thachair Blàr an Somme.”
Cùl-fhiosrachadh
Tha an taic-airgid seo air a lìbhrigeadh tron Mhaoin-chalpa Ghàidhlig aig a bheil luach uile-gu-lèir de £4m.
Today is one of the busiest days of the year for the 111 service and our staff are working extremely hard to answer all calls as quickly and as safely as possible.
The information you need may be available at #NHSinform – check out the links below for more advice.
Use Wi-Fi calling and ensure your phone is charged to prevent disconnections due to network demand.
NHS 24 does not disconnect calls; network issues may cause interruptions.
If you still need to speak to us by dialling 111 please be patient, our dedicated team will answer. If you can try the above options first, it could save you time. We want to help you get the right care, in the right place.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Alcohol can often be at the forefront of the festive season. This time of year, is for gathering and celebrating with your loved ones, which can often mean consuming too much alcohol.
Over 60% of drinkers in the UK over-indulge during the festive period, consuming more alcohol than usual and having their first drink at an earlier time of day. Alcohol consumption can have a negative effect on the heart and a few drinks can cause you to sleep poorly and be tired the next day, making you reach for unhealthy foods for a quick energy fix.
In this week’s healthy tip, we share some ideas for how you can reduce your alcohol consumption this festive season and enter the new year feeling full of energy.
Alcohol-free drinks
With so many alcohol-free alternatives of your favourite big-name brands now available, why not use Christmas as a time to try them out?
You may need to try a few to find one that you like, but often they taste very similar to their alcoholic counterpart. Even if you don’t quit drinking entirely, you can reduce the amount of alcohol you consume by alternating your regular drink with an alcohol-free version.
Mocktails
Mocktails or cocktails without alcohol are a great way to enjoy a tasty drink this festive season. Bars and restaurants often have a wide range of mocktails for you to choose from, and they’re usually cheaper too.
Be mindful when choosing your drink of how much sugar is in it, try to avoid those containing sugar syrups and fruit juices. Instead, opt for ones containing ingredients like mint, lime juice and soda water. A fancy glass makes all the difference, so why not buy some decorative cocktail vessels, and make some indulgent mocktails at home.
Enjoy alcohol in moderation
To look after our heart, we don’t have to stop drinking completely. The key is to enjoy alcohol in moderation and adopt other healthy lifestyle habits alongside this.
The NHS recommends drinking no more than 12 units of alcohol per week, spread across three or more days which is the equivalent to six medium (175ml) glasses of wine or six pints of 4% beer.
By not exceeding these recommendations, you may feel more able to be physically active and cook healthier meals.
ASH Scotland is encouraging people in Edinburgh who smoke to aim for a tobacco-free 2025 to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
The health charity’s call is part of its campaign promoting NHS Scotland’s free, expert stop-smoking support services.
Quitting smoking is one of the most impactful steps a person can take to lower their risk of long-term smoking-related illnesses, and also save money.
When people decide to make give up smoking their New Year’s resolution, not only will they find their health can improve but also an average smoker can save in the region of £250 by the end of January.
60% of people in Scotland who have given up smoking did not use anything to aid their quit attempts while 25% used Nicotine Replacement Therapy such as gum, patches and lozenges.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Tobacco can be highly addictive so, if you’ve tried to quit before and gone back to smoking, don’t be discouraged. Each attempt helps you to understand better what methods work best for you.
“Giving up tobacco is the most important step you can take to improve your health, your finances, and the wellbeing of you and those around you. And you don’t have to face quitting alone.
“This New Year, we encourage people to reach out to local stop-smoking services or the national Quit Your Way Scotland service. With their specialist support, you’ll gain the confidence, tools, and motivation you need to have a tobacco-free 2025.”
For tips and resources to help you quit smoking, visit QuitYourWay.Scot or call the Quit Your Way Scotland free helpline on 0800 84 84 84.
SEEKING a new adventure in 2025? The British Council is on the lookout for people from across Scotland to teach English in one of 10 destinations around the world.
Through their English Language Assistant (ELA) programme, they provide placements in countries including France, Canada and Colombia – giving participants a unique opportunity to teach internationally, develop professional skills, and fully immerse themselves in a new culture for six months to a year.
Language requirements vary between countries, but applicants can be from any walk of life, and do not need a formal language qualification to apply – their language skills can be acquired through travel, private study, or university language courses.
Twenty-four-year-old Ailie Ross-Oliver from Dunblane in Stirlingshire took part in the programme in 2023. She applied in her final year studying Politics at the University of Edinburgh, and got placed in Quebec, Canada.
Speaking about her experience, she said: “I decided to apply to be an ELA as I was really keen to find an opportunity where I could improve my language skills and travel while earning money. This programme seemed like a great opportunity to combine these things.
“I worked in Lévis, a city in eastern Quebec, and lived across the river in Quebec City. My school was a secondary school called Juvenat Notre Dame de Saint Laurent and there I taught students aged 12-16 years old.
“Depending on the class teacher and their preferences, I either prepared a class activity for 30 minutes or took small groups to a side room and ran activities. My activities were designed by me and generally I focused on aspects of culture or adapted games into creative class formats.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged the students were in learning about Scotland, we had a highland games day where students participated in a caber toss, tug of war and other typical highland games activities.”
Ailie, who currently studies at Sciences Po (Paris Institute of Political Studies), believes the programme has significantly enhanced her skills.
She said: “Personally, I really benefited from the experience of living abroad and practicing my French. I am now studying for my masters in France which I previously wouldn’t have had the confidence for. I also got to try out teaching which was a career path I had considered and through this experience I gained great public speaking skills.
“Quebec is a fascinating place and there are so many amazing places with nature and cities to discover. It’s great if you’re looking for a sense of adventure and something a little different.
“Your colleagues will be so interested in the perspectives you have to offer and it’s a great way to get professional experience while working abroad. You’ll also have great opportunities to travel and explore – I went to Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as well as New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Niagara Falls.
“If you’re considering the programme, I would say 100% take the chance and apply.”
Adam Heron (far right) lived in Paris during his time on the programme
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Adam Heron, who is currently studying for a PhD in music at the University of Glasgow, spent seven months teaching in Paris, France. For him, the ELA programme offered a chance to fulfil his long-standing wish to live and study in a French-speaking country.
He said: “Even though my background is in classical music, I’ve always had a passion for languages, especially French. My studies have meant that I’ve had little opportunity to explore living and studying abroad and I was eager to have new experiences and broaden my horizons. The English Language Assistant programme presented a perfect opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and challenge myself – both personally and professionally.
“I look back on my time in Paris very positively – the programme provides a lot of valuable opportunities that you may not get otherwise. It gives flexibility, and because you only teach 12 hours a week, there’s plenty of time outside the classroom to learn about the French culture.
“I had wonderful students, very nice colleagues, and it was fantastic to live in such a multicultural, exciting, vibrant city. Outside of teaching I spent my time at the theatres, concertos and museums, galleries, there was just so much to do. I also met a wide range of people, not just from the UK, but from all over the world, and it was a lovely cultural melting pot.
For Adam, the programme has expanded the possibilities for his future career path.
He said: “I come from a very focused, very narrow upbringing in classical music training, which can be very intense and isolating. Going to France through the British Council was something completely different.
“It was very open, diverse and varied and strengthened my language and pedagogical skills. it really gave me a lot of happiness, I think, and confidence. I now have a greater sense of independence, self-sufficiency and social skills.
“I’ve not fully decided what I want to do in the future, but I’m considering taking a CELTA course because I enjoyed teaching so much. With my PhD, I can’t say for sure if or when it will happen, but it’s more about keeping the possibility open.”
Every year, the British Council sends approximately 1,800 assistants from the UK abroad to support the teaching of English in schools, universities, and language centres, and with the programme approaching its 120th anniversary in 2025, it continues to open doors for participants while promoting educational exchange worldwide.
The programme, supported by the Department for Education (DfE), Scottish Government, operates on a reciprocal basis.
Modern Language Assistants from around the globe teach French, German, Italian, and Mandarin across Scotland and the wider UK. In 2024, over 700 Modern Language Assistants were teaching at schools, colleges, and universities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Participants can be placed in Switzerland as part of the programme.
Speaking about the programme was Peter Brown, Director, British Council Scotland, who was an English Language Assistant in 1982-83. He said: “Applying to be part of the Language Assistant Programme is more than just an opportunity to teach; it’s a chance to immerse yourself in another culture and grow in ways you never imagined.
“Having worked in Hamburg, Germany in the ‘80s, I can honestly say that experience changed my life. It broadened my horizons, deepened my understanding of the world, and gave me skills that have shaped my career ever since.
“I’m passionate about this programme because I know first-hand the incredible impact it can have—not just on the students you teach, but on your own personal and professional journey.
“If you have a passion for languages, exploring new culture, and inspiring others, I encourage you to apply and help make 2025 a year of adventure and new opportunities.”
Applications for the English Language Assistant programme are now open. The deadline to apply is Thursday, 30 January 2025.
For more information andfull eligibility criteria visit:
The English Language Assistant programme continues the British Council’s work, building connection, understanding and trust between people in the UK and overseas through arts, education and English language teaching.
To find out more about their work in Scotland visit:
Glasgow City Centre Disorder – Sunday, 15 December
Police Scotland has released CCTV images of 19 people they believe may be able to assist with their ongoing investigations into the large-scale disturbance by football fans that occurred on Sunday, 15 December, 2024 in and around the city centre of Glasgow prior to the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic FC and Rangers FC at Hampden Park.
Those depicted or anyone who believes they may recognise them are asked to contact the police.
Officers are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the city centre and witnessed any of the incidents to get in touch if they have not already spoken to the police.
Members of the public can contact Police Scotland directly by calling 101, quoting incident number 1510 of 15 December 2024.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
We are recruiting for our next cohort of Speak Out Champions
Are you a Girlguiding Scotland member aged 14-25 and interested in using your voice to represent us?
Speak Out is Girlguiding Scotland’s youth voice forum. A group of 20 young members acting as spokespeople, sharing their views on key issues that are important to them and taking a direct role in shaping our advocacy and campaign work.
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