The STV Children’s Appeal has launched a new fundraising campaign focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Scotland’s children and young people, following research that suggests the Covid-19 pandemic will have a damaging long-term impact on young minds.
Glasgow-born Hollywood icon James McAvoy has joined other top Scottish talent – TV presenter Gail Porter, Booker Prize-winning author Douglas Stuart, comedian Janey Godley, Love Island star Laura Anderson and singer-songwriter Joesef – in recording video messages of support for the campaign.
A lockdown survey* highlighted that 67% of young people believe the pandemic will be harmful to their mental health in the long-term.
In response, the STV Children’s Appeal – which was first launched in 2011 – will today begin airing a new TV campaign voiced by long-time trustee Lorraine Kelly, which asks viewers to consider the impact of a year of lockdowns on youth mental health, and donate to support the recovery phase.
The campaign highlights the particularly detrimental impact of the pandemic on the one in four children currently living in poverty in Scotland. Most lifelong mental illness begins in childhood and those living in deprivation are three times more likely to experience it, according to the British Medical Association.
100% of the money raised will be quickly distributed by the STV Children’s Appeal to fund vital counselling sessions and peer support groups in communities right across Scotland. It will also support local projects which give children access to sports, art, music and other means of essential peer-to-peer connection, of which they might otherwise be deprived.
Lorraine Kelly, STV Children’s Appeal Trustee, said: “It’s so important we help to raise funds and awareness of our children’s mental health. They’ve been through such a lot and we need to make sure they are looked after with kindness and compassion.
“I’m always so inspired by the response of the Scottish public who are incredibly generous and I’m sure we will be able to make life so much better for all the children who need that extra support.”
Jacqueline Cassidy, Director (Scotland) at children’s mental health charity and STV Children’s Appeal partner organisation Place2Be, said: “For some young people, this pandemic has been a nightmare. We are seeing increased levels of anxiety and emotional worry within the schools and wider communities in which we work.
“Our evidence shows when young people get the right support at the right time, their school performance improves and so do their life chances. And that stays with them as they grow.
“Thanks to the STV Children’s Appeal, we have been able to provide specialist support for parents and carers in Glasgow, as well as training for youth workers across Scotland to build their skills and confidence in responding to the mental health needs of children and young people.
“We are hugely grateful for STV’s support which means we can reach many more young people across Scotland before it’s too late.”
To donate £10 to the STV Children’s Appeal, text TEN to 70607 (standard network rates apply).
STREET Soccer Scotland’s free adult football session at Muirhouse starts back this Friday – for all abilities and anyone looking to improve physical and mental health get in touch!
Drylaw Telford Community Council is to meet local police tomorrow following a spike in antisocial incidents across the area.
Recent weeks have seen two serious street attacks in Wester Drylaw along with a number of other incidents of vandalism including refuse bins being set on fire.
The community council was alerted to one incident by an Easter Drylaw woman last month: “My neighbours house (unoccupied) was set fire to last night by kids setting fire to wheeliebins.
“I had 4 small children in my house petrified and screaming as we couldn’t get out our front floor for flames. It is same group of kids constantly causing trouble in street cutting through street to skate park.
“I have had my windows smashed, fire posted through letter box and glass bottles thrown at my dogs. Its getting our of hand last night luckily someone seen the fire taking real hold last night or a dread to think what the outcome would have been today. It is now putting peoples lives in danger. What has happened to this area?”
The community council has now been able to arrange a virtual meeting with local police officers to discuss community concerns. The meeting will take place via Microsoft Teams tomorrow evening at 7pm.
If you would like to submit question to local police or you are interested in attending the meeting, please contacr vickynicolsondtcc@hotmail.com or visit Drylaw Telford Community Council’s Facebook page.
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty has beaten rivals including the iconic Chanel Rouge Coco as Which? tests reveal the red lipstick with the greatest staying power.
Red lipstick may be a staple item in every make-up bag, but finding one that can survive a busy day, especially now face masks are a part of everyday life, can be a challenge.
Which? tested 10 matte and satin lipsticks, from brands including Chanel, Maybelline and Tom Ford, to find the lipstick that held up best when faced with the rigours of modern life.
Three Which? researchers, aged between 24 and 56, tested each lipstick in different scenarios: while wearing a face mask and reading out loud, eating three different types of food, and kissing the back of their hand.
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint was the top choice for all three Which? experts and was awarded a Which? Editor’s Choice. It maintained its colour through all tests and was the only lipstick that did not require a touch-up or additional application.
Described by Fenty Beauty as a “weightless, long-wear liquid lipstick with a soft matte finish”, the Stunna Lip Paint triumphed when tested with face masks, which involved the researchers wearing a white face mask, with the lipstick on, and reading aloud a 900-word article. The Fenty Beauty Lip Paint left only a faint stain on the masks.
The £20 Lip Paint also performed well and retained its colour during the food test, which involved taking two bites of a muffin and an apple while wearing the lipstick, as well as tackling 40g of plain buttered spaghetti. Which?’s researchers noted that the matte formula “wasn’t drying like some of the other matte lipsticks”.
While Fenty Beauty claimed the top spot as the best lipstick for staying power, L’Oreal’s affordable Matte Liquid Lipstick was the second favourite for two Which? researchers and joint-top for another.
As a worthy contender, it was also awarded a Which? Editor’s Choice. At just £10.99, the lipstick retained its colour well throughout all tests, with the testers also commenting that it was hard to remove after the tests were completed.
Chanel’s Rouge Coco in the Carmen shade, which at £33 was the second most expensive lipstick tested, performed disappointingly in Which? tests and finished at the bottom for two of the three Which? experts.
The Chanel lipstick failed to maintain its colour during the tests, struggling particularly with the eating and kissing tests. For the latter, which involved researchers placing their lips on the back of their hand, the Rouge Coco left large red stains on their hands and testers noted colour loss on their lips.
Other lipsticks that failed to impress Which? testers included NARS Lipstick, which had the most loss of colour and bleeding during the food tests, and Maybelline Color Sensational Made for All Lipstick, with one researcher noting bleeding and smudging throughout testing.
While the Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick was also a contender with impressive staying power, other lipsticks such as Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution, Mac Matte Lipstick and Tom Ford Lip Colour earned mixed reviews.
Matthew Knight, Which? Product Testing Expert, said:““No make-up bag is complete without a staple red lipstick, and for a long-lasting product that won’t fade after wearing a face mask and a bite to eat, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty beat contenders from some iconic brands in Which?’s tests.
“For a more affordable lipstick that retains its crimson colour during a typical day, consider L’Oreal’s Paris Rouge. Our tests revealed that if you’re looking for a long-lasting lippy, it’s worth opting for a liquid, matte finish lipstick over traditional bullet-style products.”
Environmental charity joins local communities to urge everyone to take better care of the sand and sea
This week, members of Keep Porty Tidy, who are committed to improving Portobello beach, carried out a litter survey to kick off this summer’s My Beach, Your Beach campaign from environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Over 110 items of litter were recorded on 100m of the beach and prom at Portobello, capturing a snapshot of the local beach litter problem prior to the official bathing season start date of 1 June.
Litter is a key indicator for the My Beach, Your Beach campaign, which encourages beach users to take better care of the sand and sea, supporting efforts to improve bathing water quality, and in turn benefitting the local environment, community, and businesses.
The successful campaign, now in its fourth year, aims to raise awareness of the actions people can take to protect the beach and bathing water – including binning litter or taking it home, ensuring dog poo is picked up and removed, and not feeding the gulls.
Last summer 90% of people visiting Portobello beach said they’d be willing to pick up litter when visiting the beach in order to leave it cleaner than they found it.
This year, during the Year of Coasts and Waters, the campaign focuses on seven of Scotland’s well-loved beaches that have faced challenges with bathing water quality, as measured by SEPA.
Although last year’s campaign focused mainly on local beach users, this year the campaign will reach out to visitors as well, as lockdown restrictions ease.
In addition to old campaign favourites like the doggy ambassador competition and #LuckyToLiveHere image gallery, this year’s activities will include litter surveys for people to get involved with, business support packs, a Young Reporters for the Environment competition and educational resources that celebrate the beach.
Georgina Massouraki, Campaigns Officer with Keep Scotland Beautiful said, “Natural spaces like beaches are now more precious than ever, as so many of us have discovered over a year of lockdowns.
“We are encouraging and supporting people to take a more active role in protecting these shared spaces and asking them to consider leaving the beach cleaner, rather than dirtier, than they found it.
“Plan ahead to leave no trace, simply taking an extra bag for your waste can help, and if everyone also picked up a few pieces of litter along the way it would make a massive difference.”
Greta Elliott, Volunteer Manager at Keep Porty Tidy said, “We have benefitted from being part of the campaign since it began four years ago, seeing levels of litter drop between the first two years of campaign activity.
“The beach was very much a local haven during lockdown for many of the community, and we work hard to care for it and keep it nice for everyone. But there is still a lot of room for improvement, and together with local businesses, the council and the community we are looking forward to welcoming back visitors and supporting them to do the right thing and enjoy, but also respect us and our beach.
Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Environment Convener, said: “We’re proud of Edinburgh’s beautiful beaches and so we’re supporting this campaign to spread the word – please don’t pollute the sand and sea and help us to keep Porty beach clean.
“Our cleansing teams have worked hard throughout the pandemic to keep Porty and the rest of Edinburgh clean and tidy and we’ve been providing information to make sure people who are #LuckyToLiveHere or visit the beach have a positive experience.
“We’re preparing for a busy summer and would ask everyone visiting the beach to respect our local communities and environment by using the bins provided or by taking your litter home with you.”
The campaign, funded by the Scottish Government and supported by SEPA is being led by Keep Scotland Beautiful to sit alongside its Upstream Battle and Clean Up Scotland campaigns and annual Beach Awards.
Ruth Stidson, Senior Scientist at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said, “Scotland is proud of its stunning coastlines and beautiful beaches. SEPA monitors the water quality across Scotland’s 85 designated bathing waters and supports the MBYB campaign in encouraging people visiting beaches to protect the beach and bathing water.
“Waste from animals or litter isn’t just unsightly but can have a negative impact on the water quality so we encourage the public to follow the advice to take litter home, to clean up after their dogs and to avoid feeding the gulls, ensuring a good beach experience for everyone who visits.”
Holyrood’s MSPs are set to elect a First Minister for the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament today (Tuesday 18 May 2021). Under the Scotland Act 1998, a new First Minister must be elected within the first 28 days of the election, or another Scottish Election must be held.
The election process will take place at 2pm, with the new Presiding Officer announcing, in alphabetical order, the names of the nominations received.
Each nominee will then speak for five minutes in support of their candidacy before the voting process begins via the Parliament’s digital voting system.
After a candidate is selected, each party leader will be invited to speak for five minutes each, taken in party size (largest party first) with the successful candidate being called to speak last.
The approximate timings are as follows:
9.30 am: nomination period opens
1.30 pm: nomination period closes
2.00 pm: Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone MSP, presides over the election of a First Minister.
While Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie has thrown his hat into the ring, it would be a shock of cataclysmic proportions should anyone other than the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon be announced as the victor! The SNP won 64 of the 129 seats in the parliament at the election on 6 May.
Two-thirds of Scottish employees (66 per cent) are worried about contracting Coronavirus when they return to their place of work, a new survey has found.
The findings follow a UK-wide survey, carried out by JD Cooling Group, the UK’s leading independent supplier of environmental control systems with offices in Kelty, which revealed that despite the extensive vaccine roll out, many people across Scotland and the rest of the UK remain cautious about the prospect of a return to the office.
Lack of space and ventilation
Almost half (47 per cent) of all respondents cited the possibility of catching Coronavirus through airborne transmission indoors as their biggest concern, followed by 40 per cent who said poor air quality is a worry for them about returning to their workplace.
Two in five said they are concerned their co-workers might not be vigilant enough with handwashing, while 37 per cent of people admitted to being concerned about others not wearing masks. Lack of space is also an issue, with 35 per cent concerned about meetings in smaller rooms with limited ventilation, and a third (33 per cent) concerned about social distancing not being possible.
Providing reassurance
Despite these worries, there are a number of solutions that would help reassure employees about returning to work, with three in five (62 per cent) saying they would like a ventilation system installed to improve air quality, circulation and flow.
Social distancing measures being in place and enforced would reassure two in five (42 per cent), while a third (33 per cent) would be reassured by regular cleaning of surfaces. Two in five (39 per cent) would be reassured if the majority of the company had been given a coronavirus vaccine – slightly higher than the 32 per cent who would be reassured if they had been given the coronavirus vaccine themselves.
Changes to the workplace would also help to provide reassurance, as three in ten (31 per cent) support changes to allow them to have their own office or workspace, 26 per cent supporting Perspex screens being added to their workspace, and a fifth (18 per cent) feeling reassured if gloves and PPE was provided.
Mike Gould, HVAC Manager at JD Cooling Group said: “This data clearly shows that while there are measures in place, such as face masks and social distancing, people remain concerned when it comes to the next stage of restrictions lifting, and it won’t be enough to simply open doors and windows to encourage better air flow.
“Even with the vaccine roll out, proper ventilation is coming out as the top way to help employees feel comfortable about returning to the office.
“Good ventilation can rid a workplace of contaminated and stale air. As people are still clearly concerned about catching the virus at work, it’s important that employers do what they can in order to protect, reassure and ultimately keep their workforce safe.”
The study also found a significant minority (42 per cent) said that they would be likely to consider looking for another job if their employer did not put in adequate measures to minimise the spread of Coronavirus before they returned to their normal workplace. This highlights the importance of employers taking steps to protect their workforce.
Beyond this, the pandemic will undoubtedly have far-reaching long-term impacts on workers’ attitudes, as a third (35 per cent) say that they will be more concerned about catching common colds and flu viruses at work than they were before the pandemic, even after the vaccination programme has been fully rolled out.
The Parking Lot Social has announced the line-up for its hugely popular “Parking LOL” sessions. Scottish comedy heroes Des McLean, Susie McCabe, Christopher MacArthur-Boyd and Ray Bradshaw will all be taking to the stage to entertain crowds at Dalkeith Country Park on Sunday 23 May.
The Parking Lot Social has been delighting audiences across the UK for the last two months with an unrivalled line-up of drive-in entertainment, adding additional dates in many cities due to demand. With comedy clubs across Scotland still closed due to COVID, Parking LOL is on hand to provide those longing for laughs with a hilarious night out.
Here’s what to expect from Parking LOL in Edinburgh:
Des McLean – Des McLean is an award-winning stand-up comedian, presenter and actor.
Based in Glasgow, Des has toured extensively across the UK, America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. A regular on TV, Billy Connolly has cited Des as his favourite Comedian!
Susie McCabe – Susie took her first steps into comedy as part of a drunken dare. Most people have to do a shot or strip. Well, Susie was drunk with her clothes on and building a career out of it. After a successful career working in the construction industry Susie has cemented herself as one of rising stars of UK stand up.
Christopher MacArthur-Boyd – Born and bred in Glasgow, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd is a rising star of Scottish stand-up. Fast becoming a Fringe festival favourite, Christopher’s debut hour Home Sweet Home was officially the best reviewed of any Scottish stand-up at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Ray Bradshaw – One of the brightest and most exciting acts on the UK Comedy circuit, Ray has performed sell out solo festival shows in Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Christopher MacArthur-Boyd (above) said, “I’m really looking forward to doing stand-up again. I think it’s brilliant that Parking Lot Social are booking Scottish comedians instead of shipping in acts from elsewhere.
“Some of my pals have worked with them before and they said it was class, so I’m really looking forward to it. COVID struck a real blow to live comedy, so it’s great to be out doing events like this in front of a live audience again.”
Josh Kinnersley, Chief Operating Officer at XL Event Lab, added: “Parking LOL is always a popular session for us, and it’s been great to work with such incredible comedians up and down the UK, giving people access to live comedy while the clubs are sadly still shut.
“Scotland has a fantastic scene and we’ve got four of the country’s best loved performers on this bill for this event, so laughs are guaranteed!”
As well as Parking LOL, drive-in tickets are also on sale for a host of other live entertainment. Legendary party night The Big Weekender takes place on May 21, live spring panto The Wizard of Oz is May 22 and there’s two chances to catch the interactive family fun of Social Kids, taking place on both May 22 and 23. Classic films will play over the three days too.
Audiences will be entertained in their cars from a vast custom made stage. Shows are broadcast across two 60ft screens and audio is transmitted from the stage directly to each vehicle through a dedicated FM radio channel. Food comes from street food masters The Big Feed with orders made online and delivered straight to each car.
Quarriers has launched its ‘Bring Back Smiles’ appeal to support vulnerable young people and to help them to recover from the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.
As a leading social care charity, Quarriers already provides vital support for children, families and young people and has launched the fundraising campaign to support over 1000 children across Scotland and to provide positive experiences and resources.
Dr Ron Culley, Chief Executive of Quarriers, said: “For many young people the changes brought by the pandemic have been overwhelming and the world has seemed a scary and unpredictable place.
“Every day our highly experienced staff are seeing children who have high levels of anxiety, low mood, lack of motivation and loss of confidence.
“As restrictions are relaxing, many of us are getting back to the activities that we enjoy. However, poverty, disability and disadvantage will make it too hard for many families to give their children positive experiences over the summer to support their mental health and that is why we have launched the ‘Bring Back Smiles’ appeal.”
Donations can be made at www.quarriers.org.uk/smiles and just £5 could support vulnerable youngsters in the following ways:
Boost independence – help to cover transport costs for teenagers in rural areas to meet up with friends over the summer.
Build confidence – provide funding for a child to take part in an activity they have never done before such as paddle boarding.
Lift spirits – help to fund safety equipment to help youngsters have fun, such as a bike helmet.
Quarriers provide essential support across Scotland through their work with young carers, children with complex needs and young people who are in care or have experience of care, and families coping with poverty.
Quarriers also provides mental health support through school-based services and they have first-hand experience of the help children need to move on from the difficulties of recent times.
Beautiful little girl in a blue dress eating an ice cream.
Christine Dow, Project Worker, Quarriers Let’s Talk Service, said: “COVID has changed the experience our children have had of childhood, and we don’t know the long-term impact this will have on our youngster’s development.
“But what we do know is that we are seeing a huge effect on their mental health right now and we want to help them. Throughout the pandemic, Quarriers frontline workers have kept support going and by using video calls, telephone calls or sometimes just texting we have learned that many of the children we support are anxious.
“Some children can’t stop thinking about the dangers of the virus and some feel frightened of the outside world or find going outside stressful. Lockdown saw family routines break down, sleeping patterns disrupted and appetites affected. Some children have experienced low moods and lack of motivation whilst others have experienced panic attacks.
“We know mental health services have seen a huge increase in referrals and supporting our young people at this crucial time is vital. We hope to help as many youngsters as possible across Scotland through the Quarriers Children’s Fund.”
One year on since the housing market reopened, and the Covid-led decline in rental demand for city centre housing is bouncing back
As the UK emerges from lockdown, renter demand is up 26% in central Edinburgh, 12% in central Leeds, 7% in inner London and 5% in central Manchester in the month since Easter
London’s rental demand is being fuelled in part by a sharp improvement to affordability; with rents down -9.4%, affordability is running at a ten year high
Average rents in the City of London, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster, are running at their lowest for a decade, with average Westminster rents running at £2,259 pcm – down from £2,617 pcm in February last year
By contrast, UK rents outside of London are up 3% on the year, signalling the highest level of growth in four and half years
Rents are rising fastest in the North East (+5.5%) and the South West (+5.3%) yoy – the strongest rates of growth in a decade in these regions amid increased demand and constrained supply
Rental performance outside of London is being driven by a 59% uptick in demand for rental properties in the 28 days to the end of April, compared to the average demand recorded during the same month in the more ‘normal’ markets of 2017 -19
One year on since the housing market reopened and the Covid-led decline in rental demand for city centre housing is starting to bounce back, as the UK emerges from lockdown and affordability for renters improves.
These are the latest findings fromZoopla, the UK’s leading property portal, in its quarterly Rental Market Report:
City centre rental markets finally revived
The impact of Covid was felt most acutely in the city centre rental markets of the UK’s major regional cities. Central Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and London were at the forefront of the rental slowdown, as offices remained closed and an extended hiatus in tourism took hold.
Stock moving over from short-term lets into the rental market, and more rental stock coming back to the market amid easing demand, led to a softening in rents in city centres, which are still down by 0.7% in Leeds, -1.1% in central Manchester, -3.2% in central Edinburgh and -9.9% in inner London (see figure 1).
However, the city centre downturn is starting to reverse as the economy opens up, workers start to return to their offices, leisure activities restart, and renters return in search of a rental bargain and restoration of their social life.
Renter demand is up 26% in central Edinburgh, 12% in central Leeds, 7% in inner London and 5% in central Manchester in the month since Easter – and is starting to absorb the supply surplus that characterised the market over the past year.
Figure 1: Rental growth in inner and outer cities in March 2021
Source: Zoopla Research
London’s rental affordability reaches ten year high
Rental declines in London bottomed out in February of this year, down -10% year on year, with overall London rents now running at -9.4%. Average monthly rents are now at the same level as they were in December 2013.
The fall in rents in London over the past year has resulted in rents being at their most affordable for ten years. Average rents now account for 42% of an average single-earner income in London, down from 49% in March 2020, and a peak of 53% in Q4 2016
Average rents in the City of London, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster, are running at their lowest for a decade, with the average monthly rent in Westminster at £2,259 – down from a high of £2,617 in February last year.
Many of London’s renters are looking to future-proof current rental affordability, locking in cost savings for as long as possible, with agents reporting an increased number of longer-than-average tenancies (in excess of 12 months) being agreed.
Regional rents rising 3% year on year – but affordability remains unchanged
The rental market outside of London paints a starkly different picture, with rents rising at 3% year on year, signalling the highest level of growth in four and half years (see figure 2).
Despite rent rises, average affordability remains broadly unchanged as wages rebound from the dip recorded last summer, keeping pace with rental growth.
Rents are rising fastest in the North East (+5.5%) and the South West (+5.3%) year on year – the strongest rate of growth in a decade in these regions amid increased demand and constrained supply. However, the North East remains one of the most affordable regions in the country, with average rents absorbing 21% of the income of the average single earner (pre-pandemic, compared to the UK average of 32%.
Northern towns of Wigan and Barnsley are seeing some of the highest rental growth in the country, at 8%, with Rochdale at 7.8%; this outperforms average annual rental growth in these towns of around 1.5% between 2011 and 2019 by some margin.
Current rental performance is being driven by a 59% uptick in demand for rental properties in the 28 days to the end of April, compared to the average demand recorded across the ‘normal’ markets of 2017 -19. In the first quarter of the year, demand for rental property outside of London was 32% higher than the same period last year.
Figure 2
The supply challenge
The supply of rental properties in most markets is failing to keep up with demand, and the new supply of property coming to the market outside of London is 5% lower than in Q1 last year.
Supply constraints are being driven by a multitude of factors. Firstly, many renters were unable or reluctant to exit the rental market and buy a property during the pandemic, limiting the flow of renters out of the sector, and absorbing more supply. At the same time, investment into the private rental market, which is predominantly made up of independent landlords, has not recovered to 2015 levels, before the additional 3% stamp duty levy was introduced for investors.
The number of properties purchased using a buy-to-let mortgage was 45% lower in 2020 than in 2015, and the number of homes in the private rented sector has fallen slightly since 2016 as landlords rationalise their portfolios in the face of tax changes and additional regulation.
Private outdoor space remains top priority for renters
Increased demand for private outdoor space has characterised renter behaviour throughout lockdown, but even as we emerge from pandemic restrictions, it remains a priority.
The proportion of renters searching for rental properties with gardens has doubled since the pre-pandemic period last year. The good news for renters is that nearly half of properties available to rent currently have a garden or access to a shared garden, and the number of these properties available to rent has risen during Q1 to levels seen last summer.
David Ross, Managing Director, Hometrack, comments: ““Rental demand will continue to rise in city centres as offices start to re-open and this, coupled with increased affordability levels in many cases, will start to counter the negative pressure on rents seen over the last 12 months.
“In London, where rents are down 9.4% on the year, a modest reversal in rental declines has begun, but it will be a slow build back to pre-pandemic levels in inner London.
“The recovery will be uneven and we expect new or recently refurbished properties to attract higher levels of demand in H2.”
