Are you planning to purchase an e-scooter this Christmas? Make sure you know the laws and implications beforehand – using an e-scooter in a public place in Scotland is ILLEGAL.
This includes roads, pavements, parks, town centres and promenades. E-scooters can only be used on privately owned spaces, with the land or property owner’s permission.
E-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs). They are treated the same as motor vehicles and subject to the same legal requirements, such as insurance, a valid driving licence and compliance with manufacturing and use requirements.
Superintendent Simon Bradshaw, Deputy Head of Road Policing, Police Scotland said: “We understand that e-scooters are a tempting option for Christmas presents this year. It is important however, to make it clear, these are not toys and they are illegal to use in public.
“If an e-scooter is on your Christmas wish list, make sure you know how and where to use them safely.”
99% of Scotland’s designated bathing waters met the required environmental water quality standards for the 2021 bathing water season.
38% of bathing waters achieved ‘excellent’ status – the highest since tighter standards first came into force in 2015.
Significant improvement achieved at Ayr (South Beach) which achieved Good status.
Improvement measures and plans for Rockcliffe aim to sustain this year’s improved water quality.
Farmers and land managers have continued to show good compliance with environmental protection measures.
Management plans in place at Dhoon Bay designed to improve water quality in 2022 and beyond.
Scotland’s bathing water quality is the best it has been since 2015 when tighter standards first came into force, with almost all sites now classified as sufficient or better for next season. On top of that 32 out of 85 – (38%) are rated as ‘excellent’, the highest number since the annual classifications were reported from 2015.
Of particular note this year is the step change improvement at Ayr (South Beach) following collaborative work involving SEPA and Scottish Water, supported by Scottish Government, South Ayrshire Council, farmers and rural land managers, the National Farmers Union and Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Having been classified as ‘Poor’ for four years in a row, 2021 was a key season for Ayr (South Beach), as another poor classification would have resulted in the loss of its designated bathing water status.
Results from this season show that the planned pollution control measures and improvement projects, combined with a largely dry summer which also helped reduce pollution run-off, resulted in a significant improvement in water quality.
With further improvements continuing into future years and continued collaboration and partnership working moving forward on improvement actions, the bathing water will continue to be a valued bathing water location.
Rockcliffe on the Solway coast, which had been classified as Poor since 2017, has also seen a ‘step change’ after SEPA authorised temporary treatment operated by Scottish Water at nearby Kippford for the 2021 season.
The success this year is ahead of a permanent solution for sewage treatment which will sustain this improved status for the longer term.
Scotland’s results
2021/22
2020/21
2019/20
2018/19
2017/18
2016/17
2015/16
Excellent
32 (38%)
Results carried over from 2019/20
29 (34%)
28 (32%)
25 (29%)
26 (31%)
17 (20%)
Good
35 (41%)
31 (36%)
35 (41%)
34 (40%)
36 (43%)
38 (45%)
Sufficient
17 (20%)
20 (24%)
13 (15%)
16 (19%)
11 (13%)
12 (14%)
Poor
1 (1%)
5 (6%)
10 (12%)
11 (13%)
11 (13%)
17 (20%)
Total Bathing Waters
85
85
86
86
84
84
Terry A’Hearn, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said: “Improving Scotland’s water environment is a key priority for SEPA, and that includes the bathing waters so many of us enjoy.
“Across Scotland, we work to protect watercourses through licensing, inspection and regulation of discharges, and pollution incident response. In addition, we provide advice and guidance to the public, industry, developers, and local authorities.
“The successes at Ayr (South Beach) and Rockcliffe demonstrate the bold and timely action that can come from partnership working. We’ll continue to work with our partners to raise or maintain the state of bathing waters throughout Scotland, with particular attention on Dhoon Bay in 2022.”
Minister for Environment and Land Reform Mairi McAllan said: “Scotland’s bathing waters are so important to our environment and to people’s health and well-being and it is great to see hard work and investment delivering results.
“This is great news for the people of Ayr and the thousands of people who visit its shores every year. Ayr beach is one of Scotland’s most popular visitor areas, with a long tradition of welcoming people from far and wide to enjoy its coastline.
“By investing in improving Ayr’s bathing waters along with others across Scotland, we have made sure many more people can continue to enjoy them and will potentially bring a boost to the local tourism economy.”
At Dhoon Bay, SEPA is working closely with the local community and the local authority to put in place improved private sewage treatment systems serving domestic homes in time for the 2022 Bathing Season, with funds made available by the Scottish Government.
South of Scotland Enterprise is also involved in plans to upgrade treatment at a caravan park in an area that is important for tourism. These actions are aimed at improving water quality in what will be a critical year for this location.
While season results are normally based on a four-year rolling average, when there is a significant improvement that is sustainable in the future, it is appropriate to use a “step-change” to classify using one season’s samples.
The improvements at Ayr (South Beach) and Rockcliffe are significant enough that, alongside continued beach management, on-going use of SEPA’s daily prediction signage and discounting systems and upgraded electronic signs for 2022, there is good confidence that similar classifications should be maintained in future years.
The Scottish Government funded “My Beach Your Beach” campaign which is delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful has also successfully helped people care for our beaches and bathing waters by raising public awareness to reduce beach pollution from dogs, gulls, and litter.
The campaign has focused its activities at Ayr, Troon, Irvine, Saltcoats/Ardrossan, Kinghorn, Portobello and Fisherrow beaches.
Significant Scottish Water investment
Ayr (South Beach)
Scottish Water’s investment of around £10 million, including increased storm storage capacity at two wastewater treatment works, has driven clear improvement in water quality at Ayr (South Beach), which now achieves a “Good” classification. Temporary chemical disinfection at Minishant septic tank also proved to be successful and this improvement will be made permanent with Scottish Water installing a new wastewater treatment works for this location.
Additional work in the coming years will include first-time provision for properties which currently discharge to the River Doon, with around £3 million of targeted Scottish Government funding as part of a programme of improvements.
Rockcliffe
A significant improvement in water quality was seen at Rockcliffe and the Bathing Water would achieve an “Excellent” classification if the classification was calculated on single year data.
During 2020/21, Scottish Water installed chemical dosing as a temporary measure at the septic tank at Kippford at a cost of around £220,000. Dosing is proposed to continue until a new wastewater treatment works is constructed, along with a new discharge point, by 2024.
Simon Parsons, Strategic Customer Services Planning Director at Scottish Water, said: “We’re delighted that our £10 million investment in wastewater infrastructure at Belleisle, Mauchline and Drongan has positively contributed towards protecting the bathing water status of Ayr (South).
“A collaborative approach with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, South Ayrshire Council and other key parties was instrumental to expediting this major investment and has ensured its successful delivery.
“In addition to the improved treatment capability that this investment brings, the continued operational diligence of our assets in the area is helping to ensure the best possible water quality is achieved. This is great news for local people, the local tourist industry and the environment.”
Farmers and land managers working together to improve Scotland’s rivers
SEPA has been working alongside NFUS over a number of years to help farmers and rural land managers reduce diffuse pollution affecting both Ayr (South Beach) and Rockcliffe catchments.
Inspections have shown that of 410 across the two areas only a small number in Ayrshire are still completing remedial measures.
All others are fully compliant, with many adopting new practices and spending significant sums of money to improve slurry storage, fence off water courses and install alternative water supplies for livestock.
Around £50 million has been spent on improvements, through self-funding and grants from Scottish Government, and in many cases farmers have gone even further than is legally required to help protect Scotland’s water environment from farming activities.
We are sorry to say, we will cancel any face-to-face groups until further notice after the latest Scottish Guidelines ask us to avoid unnecessary contact with other people, especially in crowded places.
While many of our groups are held outdoors, we don’t want to create a situation where we need to tell everyone to isolate for 10 days, due to being a close contact of a person from a group who has tested positive, and thus leave them having to isolate over Christmas.
We want to do everything to avoid that and allow people to see their family and loved ones this Christmas.
Chat Cafe – moved to online
Raising Children With Confidence – online
Baby Massage – online
Garden Cooking Club – postoponed until further notice in January
Community Lunch – postponed until further notice in January
Play Together Outdoor Adventures – postponed
Women’s Winter Wellbeing – continues online
Bookbug – postponed until further notice in January
UK Government and NHS announce ambition to recruit tens of thousands of volunteers to help get jabs into arms
All eligible adults will be offered the chance to get their jab before the New Year
PM: “We need you to come forward again, to work alongside our brilliant GPs, doctors, nurses and pharmacists, to deliver jabs and save lives.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard have joined forces to issue a rallying cry for thousands of volunteers to come forward and support the NHS booster campaign.
The public will be urged to play a crucial role in the UK’s fight against Omicron by helping the NHS to get as many jabs into arms as quickly as possible. No task will be too small to contribute towards this national effort.
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced a new ambition for every eligible adult to have the chance to get their jab by the end of the year.
This follows new evidence that suggest the Omicron variant is extremely transmissible and two jabs are not enough to protect against infection.
The new target means the NHS will be massively ramping up its vaccine operations in the next few days, and it needs as many people as possible to play their part by volunteering their time to help.
Urging volunteers to sign up to the booster drive, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “As part of our Get Boosted Now vaccination drive we need to increase our jabbing capacity to unprecedented levels.
“But to achieve something on this scale, we need your help. So today I’m issuing a call for volunteers to join our national mission to get jabs in arms.
“We need tens of thousands of people to help out – everyone from trained vaccinators to stewards.
“Many thousands have already given their time – but we need you to come forward again, to work alongside our brilliant GPs, doctors, nurses and pharmacists, to deliver jabs and save lives.
“So please come forward if you can.”
There are now almost 3,000 vaccine sites across the country, staffed by over 90,000 volunteers who have given up 1.1 million hours of time so far.
In the next week hundreds more sites, mobile units and pop ups will be springing up across the country. These will be in a range of locations that will make it as easy as possible for people to get boosted – such as at football stadia, shopping centres and racecourses.
This means volunteers are needed to perform tasks such as registering patients, managing queues and giving jabs.
Last week the NHS announced a recruitment drive for 10,000 paid vaccinators and support staff and that it will also work with the Royal Voluntary Service and St. John Ambulance to recruit a further 40,000 volunteers for roles such as admin and stewarding queues.
In the last week, 13,000 people have come forward as steward volunteers, and a further 4,500 people have registered their interest to take up one of the 10,000 paid vaccinator roles. The government and NHS now want to go even further.
NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said: “In the face of the grave threat posed by the new Omicron strain of Covid, the NHS is seeking to offer vaccine booster protection to all eligible adults by the end of the month, a new national mission in which everyone can play their part.
“There is no doubt that our incredible NHS staff will rise to the challenge but we cannot do this alone – we need the support of the public and volunteers to once again support the Covid vaccination programme.
“Since we first issued a call to arms we have had an outstanding response but Omicron has shifted the goalposts and we are now renewing our plea to the nation – I would urge anyone who has volunteered in the past, or considered it but not taken up the opportunity, to come forward now – search ‘NHS vaccine team’ today and find out more about how you can help us save lives.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “To help us turbocharge our COVID-19 booster programme we need people across the country to join our national mission to get boosted now.
“We are so grateful to the volunteer vaccinators from organisations such as St John Ambulance and Royal Voluntary Service who have made an enormous contribution by administering millions of vaccinations since the start of this year.”
People interested in either a voluntary or paid role are urged to visit the Join Vaccine Team page or search ‘NHS vaccine team’. People who volunteered or were trained for paid roles previously are also being contacted to help out again.
Scotland’s First Minister will make a statement on the situation in Scotland this afternoon. It’s expected that restrictions will be strengthened here as Omicron variant cases continue to rise sharply across the UK.
Armed forces step up to support vaccination drive across UK
Over 100 personnel are currently supporting the vaccine rollout in Scotland. 600 Armed Forces personnel have been made available to NHS England to administer vaccines, working in small teams across the country.
In addition, around 50 personnel will provide planning support to NHS England. 41 planners will deploy to NHS trusts across England and 10 logistics experts will be based at NHS England’s headquarters in London.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “We have rapidly mobilised Service personnel to work alongside our dedicated health services to accelerate the vaccine booster programme.
“Our Armed Forces will help to get vaccines into arms as quickly as possible as we continue our efforts to support the UK’s response to the pandemic.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We are turbocharging our COVID-19 booster programme to offer every adult in England a vaccine by the end of the year to protect people from the Omicron variant.
“Building our defences through boosters is a hugely important national mission and it’s brilliant to see the military supporting our NHS staff in our race against the virus.
“Please get boosted now to top-up your immunity and keep yourself and your loved ones safe this winter.”
Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: “I’m proud of our Armed Forces who are once again stepping up to help protect people and communities.
“We have a long history of working hand in hand with the NHS as two organisations with a common goal – to help keep our people safe.”
Planners based at NHS England headquarters will be led by Brigadier Phil Prosser who was previously deployed to support the delivery of the vaccine programme which began in December 2020. They will work alongside NHS England to maximise existing capacity and ensure the vaccine programme can be delivered at pace.
Since March 2020, Defence has supported over 430 tasks as part of Operation Rescript – Defence’s support to the UK’s response to the pandemic.
Defence is currently supporting ambulance services in Wales and Scotland and the vaccine rollout in Scotland among other tasks including testing.
Personnel supporting on Operation Rescript tasks have deployed from across the three services – Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force – and are a mixture of regulars and reservists.
Don’t give your festive guests the gift of penalty points this Christmas
With children heading back from university for Christmas or friends and family coming to stay, many hosts will be confronted with the same question: ‘Can I borrow your car?’
Such requests are likely to be even more common this year, with many guests trying to avoid public transport or staying for longer periods to make up for the time apart during the pandemic.
However, according to leading insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk, obliging hosts should be aware that depending on the insurance in place, they could face losing their no claims bonus – or even getting in trouble with the law.
According to research from the Office for National Statistics, almost two-thirds of UK students have moved out of their family home to study at university – meaning when they do flock home for the festive season they are unlikely to have a permanent insurance policy in place on the family car.
Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “Whether or not to let children or guests drive your vehicle is a seasonal dilemma for many hosts, and the pressure will be even greater this year. However vehicle owners need to be aware of the insurance options before handing over the keys.
“Perhaps the most obvious solution is to add the other person to your own insurance policy as a named driver, particularly if it’s your own children that are asking to borrow the car. However, if they are involved in an accident, you could lose your no claims bonus.
“An alternative is for them to take out a separate policy in their own name. Temporary policies can be arranged for anything from a few hours to a month, and could give you greater peace of mind, especially if you have a large no-claims bonus. It may also work out cheaper too because you aren’t insuring them for the full year.
“Either way, insurers will want details of your guests including their driving licence and details of any convictions.
“Whichever option you choose, the most important thing is to ensure that your guest does have insurance in place. There is still a common misconception that anyone with comprehensive insurance on their own vehicle is automatically insured to drive another car on a third-party basis. However, this isn’t always the case so it’s important to check whether their policy specifically includes ‘driving other cars’ (DOC) cover.
“Driving without insurance is a serious offence punishable by a minimum £300 fine and six penalty points. In more serious cases, the driver may be given an unlimited fine or disqualification and the police may have the right to seize and destroy the vehicle, even if it belongs to someone else. The vehicle owner could also be committing an offence and may be given points and a fine.”
Where children or other guests do stay for longer periods and hosts add them to their own policy, they should be wary of how much time they spend behind the wheel The main policyholder (known as the proposer) should still do the bulk of the driving, because if someone else is driving more often it could be regarded as ‘fronting’, a type of insurance fraud that could result in a large fine and a criminal record.
Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland as part of the Traffic Scotland Operations and Infrastructure Service, are carrying out essential equipment repair works around the M90 north of the Queensferry Crossing in Fife on three nights this month.
This scheme will see slip road closures to allow for the repair and reinstatement of traffic detection loops, which allow for data to be captured on traffic volumes.
The work will be carried out using multiple closures of slip roads overnight from 2000 to 0600 to minimise disruption and to ensure the safety of roadworkers and the public:
Tomorrow (Tuesday) – 14/12/12 – M90 Northbound J2a Halbeath Off Slip – diversion to J3 and return Southbound
Wednesday – 15/12/21 – A92 Southbound link to M90 J2a Halbeath – diversion to M90 J3 and return
Monday – 20/12/21 – M90 Southbound J2 exit link at A823(M) – diversion to J1 and return Northbound
Our operatives will follow strict physical distancing and hygiene protocols throughout the programme, in line with the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 guidance.
Please note, all schemes are weather dependent and may be cancelled or rescheduled if weather conditions are not favourable.
Real-time journey information can be obtained by visiting:
Scotland’s Budget will deliver record levels of investment in tackling the climate emergency – helping to protect and restore the natural environment, and slash emissions from homes, industries and transport.
The 2022-23 budget provides more than £2 billion for measures that will accelerate a just transition to a Scotland which leads the way in ending climate change.
This includes:
£53 million to protect and restore the natural environment, including peatlands, and a further £69.5 million to create and sustain woodlands;
£336 million invested in energy efficiency and low carbon and renewable heat to deliver warmer, greener homes. This includes £160 million to support those least able to pay for home energy improvements, helping to cut emissions while tackling a major driver of fuel poverty and creating jobs across the country;
Investment of £53 million for the energy transition and industrial decarbonisation projects;
The first £20 million allocation of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray will be made – with impacted workers playing a key role in deciding how the funds are spent;
Almost £1.4 billion will be spent to maintain, improve and decarbonise Scotland’s rail network. Free bus travel for young people will receive £110 million, and £150 million will be invested in active travel, such as walking and cycling. This will support efforts to cut car kilometres by 20% by 2030.
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Michael Matheson said: “We are playing our part in tackling the global climate emergency head on. This budget carries forward the momentum created by COP26, with record investment in transforming Scotland into a net zero, climate resilient nation.
“We are prioritising investment in the natural environment, including our vital woodlands and peatlands. This is not just good for the planet, it will also support local jobs in the rural economy.
“We are also taking action to make our homes warmer and greener to help reduce emissions, while tackling fuel poverty and creating green jobs.
“The transition to net zero has to be made in a way that is fair and just, with no one left behind. Our Just Transition Fund will give communities impacted by the transition a real say in their future, and create new economic opportunities in which they can thrive.
“We have set a challenge of reducing the number of kilometres travelled by car in Scotland by 20% by 2030. Achieving this will require a big modal shift in how people travel and a greener, decarbonised public transport network as an attractive alternative.
“That’s why we are prioritising transport spending on public transport and active travel. By investing almost £1.4 billion in 2022-23 to maintain, improve and decarbonise Scotland’s rail network and providing record investment for walking, wheeling and cycling of £150 million next year.
“Bus services and users will benefit from £414 million, which includes £110 million for free concessionary bus travel for young people aged under 22, helping to establish and embed positive sustainable travel habits among our younger generations.”
It’s rare to hear about cross-party consensus in UK politics, but last week this happened in the House of Lords at Westminster and for a most unusual reason – crabs and lobsters!
The ten-legged crustaceans were debated late into the night, with Lords agreeing to support a government amendment declaring that animals like crabs, lobsters and prawns experience feelings such as pain and should be included in the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill.
The amendment was laid on behalf of the government by Conservative peer Lord Benyon, and sponsored by opposition Labour peer Baroness Hayman of Ullock and Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville. It is believed to be only the second time this has happened in recent history.
Following Brexit, the UK government launched an Action Plan for Animal Welfare, including the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill which is currently making its way through UK Parliament.
After the debate in the House of Lords it will now include decapod crustaceans (animals like crabs, lobsters and prawns) and cephalopod molluscs (animals like octopus and squid).
If passed into law their welfare would have to be considered in any future policy decision-making. It would also pave the way for their inclusion into other UK animal welfare legislation such as the Animal Welfare Act.
The UK will be joining countries who already have protections for these animals in law, including Norway, Austria, Switzerland, New Zealand and various Australian territories and cities in Germany, Netherlands and Italy.
The issue is particularly relevant for the UK, where approximately 420 million crabs, lobsters and langoustines are landed in UK ports by UK vessels each year.
On the 19th November 2021 an independent report was released that reviewed the evidence for sentience in decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs. The report was commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The review, led by Dr Jonathan Birch of the London School of Economics (LSE), analysed over 300 scientific studies over several months. The team concluded that there is strong scientific evidence of sentience in decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs, and recommends that they should be included in animal protection legislation.
The government amendment that was supported by the House of Lords, was drafted directly in response to the findings and recommendations of this report.
Crustacean Compassion, the leading group campaigning for the humane treatment of animals like crabs and lobsters, has welcomed the news. They have shown this issue to be of public concern and to have significant expert support.
Their petition calling for decapod crustaceans to be protected in law has been signed by almost 60,000 people to date, and their open letter was signed by scientists, veterinary organisations and public figures, including the British Veterinary Association, RSCPA and wildlife broadcaster Michaela Strachan.
Claire Howard of Crustacean Compassion said:“There is no longer debate about whether or not animals like crabs, lobsters and prawns can feel pain. The scientific review published by London School of Economics has shown the evidence is clear and compelling.
“In the UK this has now led to government recognition of their sentience for the first time. It would be great to see this inspire legal protection for these animals in countries around the world.”
Juliette Booker of Crustacean Compassion said: “It is fantastic to see this cross-party support resulting in crabs, lobsters and prawns being included in the UK Sentience Bill.
“The peers have reviewed the extensive scientific evidence in the LSE report and taken the findings seriously. Knowing that these animals can feel pain, we now need to ensure that inhumane practices such as boiling them alive are stopped.”
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BRITS WOULD FOREGO A WHITE CHRISTMAS AS ENERGY BILLS RISE
Almost seven in 10 Britons (68 percent) hope for a white Christmas each year
However, 62 percent admit they would prefer a warmer Christmas this year if it meant they could save money on their heating bills
Almost three quarters (74 percent) will consider using the heating less during the festive season in order to save money
Ever since Bing Crosby hit the airwaves in 1942 with Irving Berlin’s nostalgic song, ‘White Christmas’, snow-laden vistas and frosted windows have defined the perfect festive setting for many of us.
Yet whilst almost seven in 10 Britons (68 percent) continue to hold out hope for a snowy Christmas, new research has revealed that 62% would actually prefer a warm Yuletide if it meant they could save on their dreaded winter heating bills this year.
The research by home heating expert Alpha Heating Innovation comes as the collapse of further energy firms is predicted for the coming weeks, following the 22 suppliers which have already folded since September 2021.
With the energy price cap now expected to rise by over 40% next April, the UK is bracing itself for an increase in household bills and looking for ways to conserve home running costs.
As a result, almost three quarters (74 percent) would consider using the heating less during the festive season in order to save money.
Darran Smith, Technical Manager for home heating expert, Alpha Heating Innovation, commented: “With gas prices set to radically increase in 2022 and fuel poverty likely to extend far beyond the four million households already struggling to pay their energy bills, it is little wonder that most of us would happily forego a white Christmas.
“We are urging households to consider ways of keeping their heating bills manageable over the festive period and look to establish some good home heating habits now before the price hikes arrive.”
When it comes to the nation’s Christmas finances, a warm home features in the top three items which UK households prioritise (38 percent), along with presents for friends and family (53 percent) and festive food (52 percent).
The top 10 things Brits prioritise financially over the Christmas period:
1. Lovely presents for friends and family (53%)
2. Festive food (52%)
3. A warm home (38%)
4. Trees and decorations (29%)
5. Christmas lights (26%)
6. Alcohol (24%)
7. Posting gifts/cards (17%)
8. Days out (14%)
9. Nights out (13%)
10. Hosting Christmas parties (12%)
But there’s good news. Whilst gift budgets can be set and purse strings for food tightened, there are simple and efficient ways to save on heating bills without compromising on comfort.
Darran continues: “One of the best ways to heat your home economically is to learn how to control the settings of your heating system so it delivers the optimum temperature for your lifestyle and comfort level, while ensuring you only use the energy you need.
“Don’t waste energy on heating the whole house all night. If you have thermostatic radiator valves, turn them down or off in rooms that aren’t regularly used. Think about what room temperature you normally set and reduce it by just 1ºC – you won’t notice any difference but you can cut heating bills by up to £105 a year in a typical home.
“And finally, put on an extra layer such as that festive must-have: the Christmas jumper. Very simple; but it never fails to make a surprisingly big difference.”
For more practical tips on how to save on heating bills, visit:
We’ve had a busy November, discussing this funding with as many people as we can.
To try to make it more accessible, instead of long application forms we’re asking you to fill in a few key details setting out what you think your organisation or group can do to meet the needs of communities in Edinburgh. Please also tell us what support you might find helpful.
These expressions of interest will be publicly available for others to see on our website from mid-December, so do check back in a week or two. We hope this open process will stimulate partnerships and ideas.
Expressions of Interest All expressions of interest need to be submitted using this online form, but we’ve also created a word version of the form to help you draft your application.
The closing date for expressions of interest is Fri 14 Jan 2022.
For details of the process after this point please see the Partnership Plan.
Other Ways to Get Involved If you don’t plan to apply to the fund, but would like to be involved in the process – e.g. as part of the decision-making collaborative – we would really welcome this and can discuss funding for your time where appropriate.
Word version of the expression of interest form to help you prepare for completing the online form. Please note we are only able to accept applications submitted using the online form above.
Fund Guidance – a two-page document summarising key points like who can apply, what can be funded.
Partnership Plan (Tue 30 Nov) – this document has been updated to reflect partnership conversations and sets out Edinburgh’s approach to the funding in more detail and how the process will work.
£1.255 million has been allocated to Edinburgh to support Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing, for those aged 16 and above.
The fund is to support mental health and wellbeing at a small scale, grassroots, community level. It can be used to increase capacity for existing groups and projects or for new initiatives.
Groups do not have to have mental health and wellbeing as their main focus, but there needs to be a clear benefit to the mental wellbeing of people in their community.
Initiatives with a focus on addressing mental health inequalities by supporting those who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic will be prioritised, particularly those supporting communities experiencing multiple forms of marginalisation.
