UK sanctions on Russia top £18 billion

  • New figures released today reveal the full effect of UK sanctions on Russia – with over £18 billion frozen and reported to OFSI.
  • The figure, released in OFSI’s Annual Review, is around £6 billion more than held across all other UK sanctions regimes.
  • The UK and its allies have imposed the most severe sanctions Russia has ever faced, sanctioning more than 1,200 individuals and more than 120 entities.

New data released today (10th) reveals the full effect of UK sanctions on Russia – with £18.39 billion of Russian assets frozen and reported to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).

The figure, released for the first time in OFSI’s Annual Review, demonstrates the key role the UK has played in standing up to Russia following their illegal invasion of Ukraine. It is nearly £6 billion pounds more than reported across all other UK sanctions regimes.

In conjunction with its allies, the UK has imposed the most severe sanctions Russia has ever faced, designating more than 1,200 individuals, over 120 entities and freezing the assets of 19 Russian banks with global assets of £940 billion since they began their illegal invasion.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith said: “As staunch defenders of democracy, the UK is united with its allies in opposition to Russia’s barbaric and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. We have imposed the most severe sanctions ever on Russia and it is crippling their war machine.

To make sure we are doing all we can to keep the pressure on Putin’s corrupt cronies we are more than doubling OFSI’s headcount. Our message is clear: we will not allow Putin to succeed in this brutal war.

FCDO Minister of State, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “When Putin invaded Ukraine he assumed we would sit idly by. He was wrong. Instead, the UK and our international partners have stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in their fight for territorial integrity and political independence.

“Today’s report shows the scale of UK sanctions – freezing over £18 billion of Russian assets to stop Putin funding his war machine. We will continue to ramp up our sanctions to exert maximum economic pressure on the Russian regime until Ukraine prevail.”

By implementing these sanctions alongside our international partners, the UK is degrading Russia’s military machine. Despite the Russian regime’s attempts to firefight, GDP is predicted to decline by up to 6.2% in 2022 when compared to pre–invasion forecasts, and decline a further 2.3% in 2023. 60% of Russia’s foreign reserves have been immobilised, Russia’s exports have plummeted, and imports of critical goods have dropped by 68% from sanctioning countries.

The £18.39 billion figure is a significant contribution to the $30 billion of frozen Russian assets reported by the Russian elites, proxies, and oligarchs (REPO) taskforce in June. All this is having a major impact on the Russian military complex – vital semiconductors are now being scavenged from fridges and soviet-era equipment is being sent to the front line.

In order to ensure that the most stringent financial sanctions in history on Russia have not adversely affected the UK’s private and voluntary sectors, where appropriate OFSI has worked with businesses and granted general and specific licences allowing UK businesses to move away from Russian facing positions without an increased risk.

These licences have been granted where sufficient evidence has been provided and are often for basic needs and legal fees. The careful granting of these licences by OFSI in line with legislation, has helped UK individuals and businesses to function throughout a challenging period and helped maintain the UK’s place as a centre for financial stability.

The Russia sanctions regime will continue to play a major part of the OFSI’s work for as long as Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine continues. The government has committed to ensuring that OFSI is fully resourced, more than doubling its headcount.

Support for people living in Edinburgh to tackle energy bills and fuel poverty

There are now an estimated 860,000 fuel-poor households in Scotland following the latest increase in energy bills on 1 October

As more and more people across the country continue to worry about the cost of living, Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie wants people living in Edinburgh to know that free impartial advice and financial support is available to help make home energy improvements.

Home Energy Scotland’s ‘Warmer Homes Scotland’ programme could provide funding of up to £5,000 to help support homeowners in Edinburgh to make their homes warmer, greener and more efficient to heat. This latest Scottish Government campaign aims to raise awareness of the support available to tackle energy bills and fuel poverty. 

Commenting on the launch of the Home Energy Scotland 2022/23 campaign, Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie said: “Many people across the country including Edinburgh continue to worry about the cost of living crisis and the big rise in energy bills caused by surging gas prices.  

“Our latest estimates indicate that there are around 860,000 fuel-poor households in Scotland, of which 600,000 will experience extreme fuel poverty, following the latest increase in energy bills on 1 October. 

“We are making sure that anyone in Edinburgh worried about or struggling to pay their energy bills can get the right support and advice.  

“Our Home Energy Scotland service, delivered by the Energy Saving Trust, provides free and impartial advice, support and funding to help households in Scotland to better insulate their homes saving on energy costs while at the same time reducing their impact on the environment.  

“The Home Energy Scotland team are on hand to advise how our Warmer Homes Scotland programme could provide funding of up to £5,000 to help make your home warmer, greener and more efficient to heat.  

“A range of measures – big and small – to improve energy efficiency around your home are likely to be available, and I’d urge all households to find out more and get advice as soon as possible.”  

Climate Conversation in Granton

FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER from 5 – 7pm at GRANTON PARISH CHURCH

GRANTON Goes Greener are very excited to be hosting our first Climate Conversation delivered by @ScotCCAN at the West Hall of @GrantonParish tomorrow (Friday between 5-7pm).

The conversation will be tailored to suit families with older children and is going to be structured around the ways the sea and wildlife is affected by climate change 💚💚

It is a drop in session with free refreshments provided.

Any questions-email: anna@grantongoesgreener.org.uk

Trussell Trust: 1.3 million emergency parcels provided in last 6 months

  • New figures from the Trussell Trust show more emergency food parcels were given out during the April to September period than ever before
  • Over the last six months, 320,000 people have been forced to turn to food bank in the Trussell Trust network for first time
  • New research finds one in five people referred to food bank in the Trussell Trust network are in working households
  • The charity is urging the UK government to take immediate action as food banks face ‘breaking point’
  • Volunteers set for busiest winter yet as levels of need outstrip donations 

New figures released today by the Trussell Trust reveal that 1.3m emergency food parcels were provided to people between April and September this year by food banks in the charity’s UK network and almost half a million of these went to children.

That’s a third more than were provided during the same period in 2021 and an increase of more than 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels.  

The Trussell Trust, which supports more than 1,300 food bank centres, says the cost of living emergency has created a ‘tsunami of need’, as people struggle to survive amidst the soaring costs of living.  

With need outstripping donations for the first time in its history, the charity has been forced to launch an emergency appeal to ensure that food banks can meet the alarming level of need in their communities.   

In the first half of this financial year alone, the Trussell Trust’s food bank network provided more parcels than in a full 12-month period five years ago, when 1.2 million emergency food parcels were distributed.

Over the last six months, 320,000 people have been forced to turn to a food bank in the Trussell Trust network for the first time which represents a 40% increase compared to 2021. 

The charity warns that food banks are at ‘breaking point’, both physically and mentally, and are set to face the hardest winter yet as they expect to provide more than 7,000 emergency food parcels a day on average in the next six months.  

Josie Barlow, food bank manager at Bradford Foodbank said: “Someone who came to the food bank recently told me that ‘buying milk is a luxury now’. So many people are struggling with bills and food prices. We are fortunate to be able to help people and we work hard to support them in both the short and long term, but we are also facing challenges.

“We have seen a huge increase in people coming to the food bank in the last two months compared to the same period last year and our stock levels are very low for this time of the year.” 

Furthermore, new research to be released by the charity next year, finds that one in five people referred to a food bank in the Trussell Trust network are in working households.

The charity is supporting more and more people who are working but still can’t afford the essentials which is leading to food banks having to change their opening times to make sure working people can pick up their parcels outside of work hours.  

The Trussell Trust is calling on the UK government to act decisively in next week’s Budget.

Over the last few years, the charity’s network of food banks has seen how the right support, at the right time, can help people out of hardship.

Most recently, the government’s targeted support to people on the lowest incomes via July’s Cost of Living Payment correlated with a small dip in need at food banks.

However, the charity warns that short-term interventions are neither sustainable for government nor dignified for people who are struggling, and they don’t solve the longer-term problem of people having to rely on food banks. 

Emma Revie, chief executive at the Trussell Trust, said:  “These new statistics show that, even in summer months, people are struggling to afford the essentials and we are expecting that this winter will be the hardest yet for food banks and the people they support. This is not right. 

“We know that with the right support and a stable and sufficient income, people don’t need to turn to food banks for support.

“Over the last few years, the government has acted to protect people who are struggling, and this action has had made a difference. They must now act again: with swift support now to help people through the winter, and with vision for the longer-term to ensure that social security is always enough to weather challenging times. 

“We are calling for the Prime Minister to act decisively in next week’s budget.

“We urge the UK government to realise their commitment of supporting people on the lowest income with a broad package of support. As well as ensuring that benefits rise with inflation as soon as possible, this must go further to close the gap between price rises and incomes over the winter.”

Read more about these figures

If you are in a position to donate, you can support the Trussell Trust’s Emergency Appeal Fund now by donating vital funds to help the charity support food banks this winter. 

Visit trusselltrust.org/appeal. 

Holyrood Committee launches call for views on community planning

An inquiry has been launched into the impact of Part 2 of the Community Empowerment Act (2015) (“the Act”) on community planning and how Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) can respond to significant events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis.

The Committee is seeking views from organisations directly involved in Community Planning Partnerships as well as communities and individuals about the impact the Partnerships have had.

Community Planning aims to improve how organisations such as local government, health boards, and the police work together with other partners to improve local outcomes in an area.

Commenting, Committee Convener Ariane Burgess MSP said: “The Community Empowerment Act recognised in 2015 how important community planning is to improving people’s lives across Scotland and our inquiry will seek to understand how successful the Act has been in bringing partners together to deliver better services that make a real difference to people’s lives.

“We want to understand how effectively Scotland’s Community Planning Partnerships have been able to respond to challenges such as the current cost crisis and unprecedented events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

“By hearing directly from organisations involved in Community Planning Partnerships as well as from communities and individuals about the impact the Partnerships have had we can understand what further improvements may be required to truly empower communities, tackle inequalities and bring about real change.”

Let the Committee know your views here. 

The inquiry’s call for views closes on 30 December 2022.

Talking about the Total Craigroyston initiative at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Charity urges more families to apply for support for disabled young adults

A forward thinking national charity scheme which aims to improve quality of life and independence for young disabled adults aged 18-24, is calling for families to apply for the much-needed support.

Faced with three times higher costs to raise a disabled child or young adult, the current cost-of-living crisis is deeply challenging for families – now finding it even harder to afford the things their disabled young person needs to transition to adulthood- including technology, training and leisure activities.

National charity Family Fund is urging families with an 18-24 year old young adult to apply for wide-ranging grants through its Your Opportunity scheme, set up three years ago to help young disabled adults lead more fulfilling lives and realise ambitions.

The scheme has so far supported over 2,000 families and funds are available to help over 1,000 more young adults by next spring.

Family Fund, is the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families living on a low income, raising disabled and seriously ill children and young people.

Cheryl Ward, Family Fund’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Raising a disabled or seriously ill child is three times more expensive than raising other children .When a child reaches 18, we know they lose an average of 57% of the support and benefits they had before they reached adulthood so costs are even higher for families.

“This financial cliff-edge can be very tough for parents and carers of young adults, but when the cost of living is rising ever higher, and families are having to cut down on essentials like food and heating, there is little room for the extras which improve a young person’s quality of life.”

Your Opportunity grants include:

·       computer or tablet grants to support young people with further education, online hobbies and the overall building of independence;

·       transport costs for bus fares for appointments, or to support independent travel to clubs or hobbies;

·       help with the cost of membership fees, season tickets, computer games, and music systems to promote recreation and days out;

·       help with the costs of buying a provisional driving licence, and other learning materials to support driving ambitions;

·       white goods to help with independence, or help make mealtimes easier for carers;

·       sports, or lightweight, wheelchair to enable participation in sport activities, or access to activities that would not be possible with a day-to-day wheelchair.

The Your Opportunity scheme was initially set up in 2019 by Family Fund with a donation of £500,000 over five years from the Edward Gostling Foundation.  The Foundation has committed to continue the funding for the next ten years.

The success of the scheme has also led to the Pears Foundation providing grants of £600,000 over two years.

Cheryl Ward added: “We are extremely grateful to The Edward Gostling Foundation and the Pears Foundation for recognising the need to plug the gap in support and we are proud to be working with them to improve the lives of so many young people.

“We are committed to continue to grow this income further.”

Families are eligible to apply if the young person lives at home with their parent or main carer.

Families interested in making an application for a young person should go to:

Your Opportunity: Help for 18-24 year-olds | Family Fund

Bonfire disorder: Police appeal for information following Niddrie attack

POLICE are appealing for information following disorder in Niddrie on Bonfire Night.

Throughout the evening officers responded to numerous calls of reckless behaviour in the area and enquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible.

Around 8.40pm, on Saturday, 5 November, a police vehicle was attacked with bricks in the area resulting in a window being smashed and an officer sustaining a minor cut to their lip.

Chief Inspector Neil Wilson said : “The actions of those responsible could have had much more serious consequences and our investigation is under-way.

“Officers are carrying out door to door-to door enquiries and reviewing CCTV footage in an effort to identify those involved.

“I would appeal to motorists who were in the Niddrie area and who may have dash-cam footage to come forward. You may have captured something that could assist our enquiries.

“I would also appeal to anyone with mobile phone footage of any of the incident to get in touch with Police Scotland as a matter of urgency on 101.”

Charity to gift books via food banks to combat cost of living crisis

National charity Scottish Book Trust has unveiled plans to give free books to children and families visiting food banks this winter, as the country faces the cost of living crisis.

With overwhelming demand to help children and families living in increasingly challenging circumstances, the charity has launched an urgent Christmas fundraising appeal. The rising cost of living means more children do not have books at home, with over half of parents saying books are too expensive.1

Research has also shown one in five households on low incomes in Scotland have already gone hungry and cold this year, with over a quarter of families with children cutting back on their child needs such as food or childcare, rising to almost 30% for low-income families.

Marc Lambert, CEO Scottish Book Trust, commented: “This Christmas is looking very stark for so many families across Scotland. Access to books is essential for a child’s development.

“Without books at home children are missing out and we know the impact of this lasts a lifetime. The simple pleasure of owning a book can make a huge difference in children’s lives, bringing comfort, escapism and togetherness in families.

“Every family deserves a little magic at Christmas and donations to our appeal will be helping Scottish Book Trust deliver more vital work to support those most in need this Christmas.”

Books help families bond, bring joy and comfort, give children a sense of escapism and, importantly, improve their mental health and wellbeing. Research conducted by Scottish Book Trust revealed that 85% of parents from Scotland’s most deprived areas said that reading helps them bond with their child and that reading makes their children happy, while 95% of all parents in Scotland said they think it is important for children to own their own books.

Scottish Book Trust also surveyed education and early years practitioners and over two thirds stated some children they work with only own books gifted to them by Scottish Book Trust.

Judith Kerr’s Mog the Forgetful Cat will feature in the charity’s appeal, underlining the nostalgia, magic and escapism that books can give children. Scottish Book Trust is very grateful to Judith Kerr’s family and publisher HarperCollins for use of an illustration from the children’s classic Mog’s Christmas.

Funds raised from the appeal will enable Scottish Book Trust to give books to families via food banks and community hubs and deliver more of its life-changing work. Some examples of its programmes include specialist outreach support for young families through Bookbug for the Home, providing tactile books for children with additional support needs and supporting those living with dementia and the people who care for them.

To learn more about Scottish Book Trust’s Christmas appeal, visit :

scottishbooktrust.com/donate

Beecraigs Festive Forest back bigger and brighter than ever

The spectacular Beecraigs Festive Forest is back bigger and brighter than ever with even more extravagant lighting effects and one of the UK’s most powerful laser shows. 

This year the team behind the awesome illuminations deep in the woods near Linlithgow is 21CC Group, one of the UK’s leading light and production companies. And their unrivalled expertise has created the perfect Christmas treat – a magical experience for all the family. 

Beecraigs, the original festive forest event, broke all records last year and already has sold-out nights for their 2022 event run. 

Located in Beecraigs Country Park, with panoramic views of the Forth bridges, Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife, the Festive Forest is not only the ultimate Christmas family feelgood event but those attending will also be helping Maggie’s cancer support charity, Beecraigs’ charity partner. 

The illuminated trail is a spectacular 1.8m walk through woodland, packed with stunning visuals and sound effects. It opens on December 2 and runs until December 23, 4 pm to 10 pm (the first entry is from 4 pm with the last entry at 8:30 pm) and is suitable for everyone and all age groups, including those with Additional Support Needs and Autism Spectrum Disorder. All carers’ tickets are free. 

The event also features the delightful Santa’s Grotto and Storytelling Experience, not included in the Trail ticket and required to be booked separately in advance.

And there is a host of other attractions: The longest light tunnel in Scotland, Radio Forth’s Silent Disco, Cala Homes’ live music stage with DJ, musicians, choirs and carol singers; fire performers, stilt walkers and jugglers, some favourite festive characters, market stalls, children’s amusements and fair rides including a carousel, helter-skelter, Candy Cane bungee jumps, Crazy Elf cars and a new mini polar express! 

A wide variety of festive food and drink is available in the new Santa village too, including all the seasonal favourites from hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows to mulled wine, hot cider, tea and coffee, Scottish street food as well as festive fizz and beers.  

Roy Snedden, Director of Rowen Events, said: This year we’ve really pulled out all the stops for a fabulous festive treat and made it bigger, brighter and bolder than ever before.

“It’s always the most magical time of the year but we want to make it a truly unforgettable experience for everyone – that’s why we are working with 21CC Group and supporting the wonderful Maggie’s who deserve a really significant gift for the tremendous work they do all year round.

“We’re hoping all our visitors will be as generous as they can and help us spread the real spirit of Christmas.” 

For more information on the Festive Forest and to book tickets, visit:

https://beecraigsfestiveforest.com/event