The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 35 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

5.4 million yet to file their tax return

Almost 25,000 taxpayers ‘celebrated’ the New Year by filing their Self Assessment tax return
If customers miss the 31 January deadline, they could face a penalty

With less than a month to go, the countdown is on for 5.4 million customers who still need to complete and pay their Self Assessment and avoid penalties, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) warns.

Thousands of taxpayers have already done so by completing their tax returns before the fizz was barely flat on New Year’s Day. HMRC can today reveal more than 24,800 people filed on 1 January. A further 38,000 had even squeezed theirs in before the bells on 31 December, with 310 filing between 23:00 and 23:59.

Filing your tax return and paying on time plays an important role in supporting public services and the government’s Plan for Change, which is delivering economic stability and investment across the UK. Anyone who is yet to file their tax return can do so online, via GOV.UK.

Anyone required to file a tax return for the 2023 to 2024 tax year who misses the 31 January 2025 deadline could face an initial late filing penalty of £100.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “We know completing your tax return isn’t the most exciting item on your New Year to-do list, but it’s important to file and pay on time to avoid penalties or being charged interest.

“The quickest and easiest way to complete your tax return and pay any tax owed is to use HMRC’s online services – go to GOV.UK and search ‘Self Assessment’ to get started now.”

Some 97% of customers now file online and one benefit is that they don’t have to complete it all in one go – they can save what they have done and pick it up again later.

Once a tax return is filed, payments can also be made quickly and securely through the HMRC app. Customers can set up notifications in the app to remind them when payments are due, so they don’t need to worry about missing deadlines or penalties.

Information about the different ways to pay, can be found on GOV.UK.

HMRC has a wide range of resources online including a series of video tutorials on YouTube, help and support on GOV.UK, to support customers in completing their tax return.

For people who can’t meet the tax return deadline, HMRC will treat those with reasonable excuses fairly if they tell us before 31 January.

The penalties for late tax returns are:

an initial £100 fixed penalty, which applies even if there is no tax to pay, or if the tax due is paid on time
after 3 months, additional daily penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900
after 6 months, a further penalty of 5% of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater
after 12 months, another 5% or £300 charge, whichever is greater

There are also additional penalties for paying late of 5% of the tax unpaid at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months. If tax remains unpaid after the deadline, interest will also be charged on the amount owed, in addition to the penalties above.

If someone regularly sells goods or provides services through an online platform, they may need to pay tax on their income. Customers can find out more about selling online and paying taxes on GOV.UK by searching ‘online platform income’ or by downloading the HMRC app.

The guidance will help them decide if their activity should be treated as a trade and if they need to complete a Self Assessment tax return.

You also may need to file a return if you:

are newly self-employed and have earned gross income over £1,000
earned below £1,000 but wish to pay Class 2 National Insurance Contributions voluntarily to protect your entitlement to State Pension and certain benefits
are a new partner in a business partnership
have received any untaxed income over £2,500
receive Child Benefit payments and need to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge because you or your partner earned more than £50,000

Criminals use emails, phone calls and texts to try to steal information and money from taxpayers. Before sharing personal or financial details, people should search ‘HMRC tax scams’ on GOV.UK to access a checklist and help decide if the contact received is a scam.

Cash Boost for Community Festival

CRUDEN HOMES AND CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT NORTH EDINBURGH COMMUNITY FESTIVAL WITH £2,000 DONATION

The North Edinburgh Community Festival (NECF), one of the city’s most anticipated family-friendly events, has received a £2,000 donation from Cruden Homes and City of Edinburgh Council, to help deliver its biggest and most inclusive festival yet.

Taking place on Saturday, 17 May 2025, from 12:00pm to 5:30pm at West Pilton Park, the free event will feature a vibrant mix of activities, live music, workshops, food stalls, a community parade, sports, and opportunities for jobs, skills, and learning.

This generous donation will go directly towards the essential costs of hiring equipment and providing vital support for over 150 local charities, groups, and organisations leading community-focused stalls and initiatives at the event.

Cruden is building 143 energy efficient affordable homes at Silverlea on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council and this donation forms part of the range of community benefits that are being delivered here.

Adele Conn, Festival Director of the North Edinburgh Community Festival, said: “Many thanks to Cruden and the City of Edinburgh Council for their £2,000 donation, supporting the hiring of equipment and supporting local charities and organisations involved with the event.

“The 2025 festival is set to be one of the biggest and most inclusive festivals yet, and this donation will help us to continue to strengthen community bonds, pride, and unity in North Edinburgh.”

Michael Palethorpe, Production and Community Benefit Manager at Cruden, said: “The North Edinburgh Community Festival is a cornerstone of local culture, uniting the community through a vibrant celebration of music, dance, and food, alongside invaluable workshops focused on jobs, skills, and learning.

“As a company with deep roots in the area, Cruden is proud to be involved, alongside our partners at the City of Edinburgh Council, in supporting this enriching event that makes such a positive impact on the community.”

Jane Meagher, Leader of City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’re delighted to see this important annual festival for north Edinburgh receiving support through our contractor who is building affordable homes for us as part of our £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront.

“Providing events such as these is so important to bring communities together to enjoy inclusive cultural activities and have lots of fun for residents of all ages to enjoy.”

The North Edinburgh Community Festival has become a key event in the local calendar, fostering a sense of pride and creating opportunities for families, residents, and organisations to come together in a fun, inclusive, and celebratory environment. The 2025 festival is set to showcase North Edinburgh’s talent, culture and community spirit, with a diverse and exciting programme that will highlight the very best of the area.

Parents and carers urged to help children start New Year healthy

UKHSA urges parents and carers to take these simple steps to ensure children make the healthiest start to the New Year

The UK Health Security Agency is reminding parents and carers of the simple steps they can take to ensure their children make the healthiest start to the new school term. The new year brings with it an opportunity to teach children about the importance of good hygiene and with the recent increase in cases of flu and high levels of other viruses such as norovirus, it’s more important than ever.

The latest surveillance data from UKHSA shows that flu activity continued to increase over the Christmas break, with hospitalisations also increasing. Flu is now circulating at high levels in the community, an increase on the levels we saw before the school holidays, which is why it’s especially important to reinforce good hygiene habits as children return to school.

Figures are expected to rise further as children go back to school and many parents return to the workplace. However, there are simple steps that all families can take to reduce the spread of these infections and protect households and classrooms from illness this New Year.

Teaching good hygiene habits

Parents are encouraged to lead by example and encourage good hygiene habits such as using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, as well as washing hands.

Regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, or using hand sanitiser when convenient, is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs. Alcohol gels don’t kill all bugs so don’t rely on these.

Knowing when to keep your child at home and when to send them to school

January marks the start of a new term, with new things to learn and friends to make. Time off school can disrupt learning and also inconvenience parents and carers having to stay off work. This is why it’s important to know when to keep your child at home and when to send them to school.

Children can stay in school with symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or slight cough if otherwise well and do not have a high temperature but should stay home if they’re displaying symptoms such as having a fever. If your child has diarrhoea and vomiting, they should stay home for at least 48 hours after these symptoms clear up.

If you have symptoms of flu or COVID-19 such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others. If you have symptoms and need to leave the house, you should consider wearing a face covering.

Stopping the spread of stomach bugs

Stomach bugs spread easily in schools, nurseries and households. If you or your child have diarrhoea and vomiting, washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will help stop infections from spreading.

Alcohol gels do not kill off norovirus so soap and warm water is best. Don’t prepare food for others if you have diarrhoea or vomiting or for 48 hours after symptoms stop. If you are unwell, you should also avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to avoid passing on the infection to those who are more vulnerable. Do not to return to school, nursery or work until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.

Getting vaccinated

Flu vaccination helps to protect against infection and severe disease. Although it is late in the programme, if you are eligible and not yet vaccinated, you can still take up your offer of immunisation.

Last year, falling vaccination rates among young children resulted in a widespread measles outbreak in England, which is why it’s important to check your children are up-to-date with their routine vaccinations, which protect against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and polio. If parents are unsure of their child’s vaccination status, they can check their child’s red book or contact their local GP.

If you are pregnant, it’s also important that you take up all vaccinations offered to you, including whooping cough and the new RSV vaccine which protects newborn babies against serious illness.

Dr Richard Pebody, Director, Clinical & Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: “It’s an important time of year, as children get started on the new school term.

“There are simple steps you can take to help stop the spread of nasty illness in the next few weeks of winter, including making sure your child is regularly washing their hands, knowing when to keep your child off school and ensuring they are up to date with vaccinations.”

Ambulance Staff Assaulted Nearly Once a Day

A Scottish Ambulance Service staff member is verbally or physically assaulted nearly once a day, new figures from the Service have revealed.

For the year, 2023-24, 346 staff experienced abuse – an increase of 11% over the previous year.

This has included incidents of spitting, punching and threatening staff with bottles or other weapons.

Verbal assaults saw the biggest increase over the previous year, rising by 30%

Call handler Declan Cowan, based at SAS’s West Ambulance Control Centre in Cardonald, has spoken of one incident. He said: “It was a really busy day and there was a queue of calls all day due to the pressure on the service. I received a call from a patient who I triaged through our system and the advice was to have them contact their GP or NHS24.

“The caller wasn’t happy that he was not getting an ambulance and proceeded to shout at me over the phone. He said if he died or anything happened to him that I would be to blame, he called me horrible and derogatory names that attacked both my character and identity and he also threatened that he would find out where I was based and come find me. It was a really scary and upsetting call.”

SAS Chief Executive Michael Dickson said: “Our staff are having to deal with incidents nearly every single day and no form of abuse will be tolerated. They have the right to carry out their work helping patients and saving lives without fear of assault or abuse.

“We also strongly condemn the abuse our hardworking call handlers face on a daily basis. We understand calling 999 can be a stressful time during emergencies, but abusing our staff is totally unacceptable.

“Physical and verbal assaults can have a significant and lasting impact on our people, sometimes even leading them to leave the ambulance service. We will continue to work with Police Scotland to take action against perpetrators, which includes those who abuse our 999 staff.”

JOHN MULVEY

IT is with deep sadness that I share the news this morning that JOHN MULVEY passed away on Sunday, a week away from his 81st birthday.

John will be remembered as a formidable campaigner for socialism who led Lothian Regional Council in the fight against the worst of Thatcher’s cuts in the 1980s.

Locally, North Edinburgh activists will remember that John led the European Commission’s Poverty 3 programme when he headed up the Pilton Partnership, an innovative community-led initiative to encourage participation, tackle poverty and to give a voice to the people of Greater Pilton, one of Edinburgh’s poorest communities.

There is lots more to say about John, a man I have known and whose company I enjoyed for more than forty years. I will share some fond memories of an exceptional and inspirational man, but that will come later.

Farewell, Comrade.

Change the Game at Spartans

Aged 16 – 25yrs and not in education, employment or training and looking to kick start your career in sport and physical activity?

Join us for 8 weeks of free training. Open days 16th and 23rd Jan.

Contact eddiemalone@spartanscf.com

Scotland trails behind as nationwide trends highlight growing shift toward plant-based diets

A new survey of over 10,000 people, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of The Vegan Society, shows that 2% of people in Scotland now identify as vegan or follow a plant-based diet, compared to the national average of 3%.
Across Great Britain, 10% of the population are now reducing or eliminating animal products from their diets in some way.
Animal welfare is the leading reason people choose to go vegan or plant-based, with 57% of respondents identifying it as one of their primary motivations. This is followed closely by concerns about physical health (52%) and the environment (48%).

New research from The Vegan Society reveals that 2% of people in Scotland now identify as vegan or follow a plant-based diet, compared to the national average of 3%. This marks a notable gap, as Britain’s evolving dietary habits reflect the growing appeal of ethical and sustainable food choices.

Across Great Britain, 10% of the population are now reducing or eliminating animal products from their diets, spanning vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, and other plant-forward lifestyles. This includes approximately 2 million people (3% of the population) who follow vegan or plant-based diets, and an additional 4% who identify as vegetarian, indicating a broad, collective movement toward more mindful and sustainable eating habits.

The research reveals regional variations in the adoption of vegan and plant-based diets across the UK. London, the North East, and the South West emerge as hotspots, with 4% of their populations identifying as either vegan or plant-based, above the national average of 3%. In contrast, regions such as Scotland, Wales and the East Midlands report the lowest levels, with only 2% of residents following these diets.

The data also highlights key demographic trends. Younger generations are at the forefront of this shift, with those aged 16-44 being twice as likely to follow a vegan lifestyle as older age groups, signaling a strong momentum for continued growth in this lifestyle. Women are more likely than men to adopt vegan or plant-based diets, with 3.60% of women identifying as such compared to 1.98% of men.

Commenting on the findings, Claire Ogley, Head of Campaigns, Policy and Research at The Vegan Society, said: “These results reveal a remarkable transformation in attitudes toward veganism and plant-based living across Britain.

“It’s inspiring to see younger generations leading the way, with a growing number of people adopting more sustainable and compassionate lifestyles for a variety of reasons, from health to the environment to animal welfare.”

The Vegan Society’s research underscores a commitment shared by millions to reducing the impact of human consumption on animals and the planet. As awareness grows, regions including Scotland will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of food and lifestyle choices in the UK.

For more information on veganism, visit The Vegan Society’s website.

Portait Drawing at Granton Hub

Portrait Drawing: All Levels

10 weeks, 23rd Jan to 27th Mar 2025 from 6:30 – 8:30pm

Join us to explore and elevate your portrait drawing skills in this engaging and supportive class!

Price: £96.60 for 10 sessions (two hours each)

Course Overview:

Open to anyone aged 16 and above, this Portrait Drawing class focuses on capturing faces from life. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, you’ll receive expert guidance to build confidence in your artistic style.

Participants will learn essential techniques, including facial proportions, capturing expressions, and understanding the nuances of posture and emotion.

Police Scotland launch recruitment TV and radio adverts in continued drive to recruit more police officers

Police Scotland has launched the second phase of a national advertising campaign with TV, radio and digital advertising to recruit police officers across Scotland.

The campaign encourages potential candidates to consider the transferable skills they can bring to the role of police officer and explains why policing is a job like no other.

The first phase of the national recruitment campaign, which launched in September 2024, featured social media video adverts with real officers telling the story of their journey into the policing.

In November 2024 Police Scotland officer numbers increased to 16,603. Continued recruitment will help the Service to maintain this number.

The latest campaign messaging focuses on the transferable skills prospective candidates can bring to policing with the key message: the skills you need to be a police officer might be the ones you already have.

If you want to learn more about the job of a police officer, visit our jobs webpages, or if you’re ready for a job like no other, apply now.

Met Office: Cold snap to continue

COLD WEATHER IN WINTER SHOCK!

The UK’s cold snap will continue this week, with low pressure remaining in charge bringing below-average temperatures and the potential for disruption in places.

National Severe Weather Warnings for snow and ice are currently in place and are likely to be updated through the week.

Last night, the UK experienced its coldest night of winter so far, with -13.3°C recorded in Loch Glascarnoch in Scotland. Southeast England was much milder though, with temperatures remaining in double figures in places.

That mild air has now been swept away by a cold northwesterly flow, which will allow further very low overnight temperatures to occur at times this week, especially where there is snow cover. But even away from snow cover, there will be widespread night frost and below average temperatures by day.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Frank Saunders, said: “Hail, sleet or snow showers are expected to affect parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, spreading to Wales and parts of northwest England this evening, before moving into part of southwest England, the Midlands and southern England during the early hours of Tuesday. Rain or hail is more likely towards some western coasts.

“Icy stretches which develop overnight as a result of these showers, or the recent wet conditions, could bring some disruption to travel. In addition to the ice, we could see snow accumulations of a few cm above 200 metres, with a chance of greater than 5 cm above 200 metres in Wales.

“The heaviest snow showers may also produce temporary accumulations of 0-2 cm at low levels. It is not possible to say exactly where this snow might fall, so it’s important that people are prepared.”

Further ahead

Things look to turn more settled towards the end of the week, although further weak fronts may push in from the west on Friday and into the weekend, which may possibly bring a little more snow to some parts.

You can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.