Veterans’ Foundation launches Britain’s biggest thank you to veterans in Edinburgh

The Armed Forces Pledge will unite people across Britain to stand with millions who have served, as Mark Ormrod warns his generation of veterans is disappearing from public view

The Veterans’ Foundation is calling on people across Britain to show veterans they have not been forgotten, as it launches The Armed Forces Pledge – Britain’s biggest thank you to veterans.

People across Britain can add their name to The Armed Forces Pledge and leave a message of support, creating Britain’s biggest thank you to the more than 1.8 million veterans living in the UK today.

Veterans’ Foundation Ambassador and former Royal Marine Mark Ormrod MBE will formally launch the Pledge at Merchants Hall in Edinburgh on the evening of 30 September, at an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Veterans’ Foundation, which was founded in the city in 2016.

Earlier that day, Mark  Veterans’ Foundation Trustee Guy Cartwright and representatives from Scottish grant recipient organisations including Scottish Veterans Residences, Vector24 and Housing Options Scotland for a media photocall at Whitefoord House, 53 Canongate, Edinburgh, a Scottish Veterans Residences site.

“My generation of veterans is disappearing from view,” Mark said. “When I was injured, Afghanistan was everywhere. You turned on the television and you saw it. You saw young men and women coming home with life-changing injuries.

“You saw families waiting at bedsides, families grieving, families suddenly having to rebuild their lives around someone who had come home completely changed – or who wasn’t coming home at all.

“People knew what was happening. But, nearly 19 years later, Afghanistan isn’t on the news. War isn’t sexy anymore – but we’re still here. I’m still here, and my legs aren’t going to grow back.”

The Armed Forces Pledge is intended to show that, however much time has passed, the service and sacrifice of those who served continue to be recognised and valued.

Today’s veterans span generations. They include those who served during National Service and in Northern Ireland, the Falklands and the Balkans, alongside a generation who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and men and women who have left the Armed Forces much more recently.

They are living and working in communities across the country, raising families, building careers, and running businesses. Most make a successful transition into civilian life and will never need specialist support.

But leaving the Armed Forces does not always mean leaving the consequences of service behind. For some veterans and their families, the need for support is immediate. For others, it can emerge years or even decades later, through physical or mental health problems, difficulties with housing or employment, isolation, financial hardship or pressures on family life.

Don’t forget about us

Mark Ormrod MBE was 24 and serving with 40 Commando Royal Marines in Afghanistan when, on Christmas Eve 2007, he knelt on an improvised explosive device, losing both legs and his right arm. Three weeks later, the previously six-foot-two Royal Marine was told he would never walk again.

With the support of his family, the military community and charities, Mark rebuilt his life and went on to become a multiple-medal-winning Invictus Games competitor and build a successful new career.

“I had my family, the military community and charities that gave me opportunities, and I know how lucky that makes me,” Mark said. “I’ve had an incredible life. I’ve competed at the Invictus Games, won medals, travelled the world and built a career. People know my story, but there are thousands of veterans whose stories we never hear.

“They’re not at the Invictus Games and they’re not being interviewed, but what they gave matters just as much. They still served our nation, they’re still living with whatever their service left them with, and they’re part of my military family.”

This year marks 20 years since British forces deployed to Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, where Mark would be catastrophically injured. More than 150,000 UK military personnel would serve in Afghanistan during the campaign.

“Some people needed help straight away, while others built careers, raised families and got on with their lives before, ten or twenty years later, something catches up with them,” Mark said. “For some of us, when the uniform comes off, the battle continues.

“That’s what worries me – the veterans you don’t see. The ones who aren’t in the news or at Invictus, whose families might be quietly trying to hold things together. They served this country and then simply disappeared back into everyday life. Don’t forget about them.”

Britain’s biggest thank you to veterans

The Veterans’ Foundation has created the Armed Forces Pledge to give people across Britain a simple way to show that the Armed Forces community has not been forgotten. By adding their name and leaving a message of support for veterans, serving personnel and their families, they will become part of Britain’s biggest thank you to veterans – recognising the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community long after a conflict has disappeared from the headlines or someone has taken off their uniform.

Jane Gurney, Chief Executive of the Veterans’ Foundation, said: “The Armed Forces community is enormously diverse. Behind the word ‘veteran’ are people of different ages, backgrounds and experiences, most of whom are simply getting on with their lives and making an enormous contribution to the communities around them.

“But sometimes service can leave a legacy, and when somebody does need support – whether that is during service, immediately after leaving the Armed Forces or many years later – we want to ensure the right help is there.

“For ten years, the Veterans’ Foundation has backed the organisations closest to those people and their families. We have awarded more than £40 million, but we know there is much more to do.

“The Armed Forces Pledge is an opportunity for the whole country to stand alongside our community. It is a thank you for what they have given, but it is also a very simple way of saying: we remember you, we value your service and we are still with you.”

Mark Ormrod OBE; Ambassador Veterans’ Foundation

The Veterans’ Foundation was founded in Edinburgh ten years ago. Since 2016, the Foundation has awarded more than £40 million through more than 1,500 grants to over 600 organisations supporting veterans, serving personnel and their families across the UK, and has set an ambition to invest £200 million in the Armed Forces community by its twentieth anniversary.

To make the Armed Forces Pledge, add your name and leave a message at: veteransfoundation.org.uk/signthepledge.

Saturday: Strollers up for the Cup

THE Civil Service Strollers who play in the Lowland League East, the 5th tier of football in Scotland, are playing Formartine United  from the Highland League in the 1st round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup this Saturday. 

We are hoping for a good crowd at Christie Gillies Park at Marine Drive to cheer us on to a win and hopefully play one of the top SPFL teams in the next round.

Kick Off is 3.00pm  Admission is £15 and Concessions are £8. Tickets can also be purchased on the Fanbase App

For more information about The Strollers see our website:

https://www.csstrollers.com/

New Vaping Products Duty comes into effect from today

  • New Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme come into effect from 1 October 2026.
  • All vaping liquids manufactured in, or imported into, the UK from 1 October are now subject to excise duty.
  • New vaping duty stamps to start appearing on retail packaging, which will support the high street by helping to combat illicit trade.

A new excise duty on vaping products has come into force in the UK today (1 October 2026) to reduce the affordability and appeal of vaping, especially to young people and non-smokers.

Vaping Products Duty is charged at £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid and will be paid by manufacturers, importers and warehousekeepers approved by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). It is a commercial decision whether the duty cost is passed on to retailers and consumers.

HMRC has also launched the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme. Once fully rolled out, vaping duty stamps will provide digital traceability throughout the supply chain, enhancing consumer protection, and helping the high street by strengthening the fight against illicit trade.

This will also support the government’s commitment to back legitimate businesses, crack down on rogue operators and create fairer, safer high streets.

To support businesses, HMRC has introduced a six-month grace period meaning wholesalers and retailers can sell any existing eligible unstamped, non-duty liable, stock until 31 March 2027.

But from 1 April 2027, all vaping products sold in the UK must carry a valid vaping duty stamp and consumers should only buy duty-stamped vaping products. Anyone who suspects a vaping product may be illicit can report it to HMRC.

Tobacco duty rates have increased today to maintain the financial incentive for current tobacco smokers to switch to vaping. This is a one-off (pro-rata) increase of £2.20 per 100 cigarettes or per 50 grams of tobacco, in addition to the standard tobacco duty escalator. 

James Murray, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General, said: Our new measures will help get illicit vapes off high streets across the country.

“We’re backing all those retailers who play by the rules by making it easier for law enforcement agencies to take action against those who don’t.”

Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Health, said: “Our public heath advice is clear: while vaping is less harmful than smoking and can help adult smokers to quit, children and non-smokers should never vape.

“These measures are an important step in our ambition to tackle youth vaping by reducing the affordability of vaping products, which goes hand-in-hand with the work we are already doing to tackle the appeal and availability of vapes on our high streets.”

Further changes to vaping and tobacco-related products that come into effect today are:

  • vaping duty stamps will start to appear on retail packaging
  • new personal allowance rules for travellers bringing vaping products into the UK

Winter heating help for over 1 million people in Scotland

Scotland’s unique package of winter heating support will begin this month

An estimated 1.4 million payments will be made to people across Scotland to help with heating their homes this winter, with payments set to begin from October.

The Scottish Government’s unique package of winter heating benefits provides guaranteed support to pensioners, low-income households and families with disabled children and young people.  

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has replaced Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland, providing people of State Pension age with a payment between £105.55 and £316.70 depending on their age and household circumstances. Payments are issued to all eligible pensioners but are recovered from those with an individual income of over £35,000 by HMRC. Payments will begin from November and continue throughout the winter.

Child Winter Heating Payment supports households with disabled children and young people who have the highest care needs in the winter months. This type of assistance is not available anywhere else in the UK. This year payments will start from week commencing 5 October.

Winter Heating Payment is a guaranteed, annual payment for low-income households in receipt of certain benefits. This is paid irrespective of how cold the temperature gets outside, unlike the UK Government’s Cold Weather Payment which is only paid if the average temperature reaches, or is forecast to reach, freezing or below for a full week. Payments will begin from December.

For the majority of eligible people, the winter heating benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland are paid automatically with no need to apply.

Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Over a million people are set to benefit from the Scottish Government’s package of winter heating support – which is stronger than anywhere else in the UK.

“With energy costs predicted to rise again, this could be a valuable lifeline for older people, families on low incomes, disabled children and young people.

“We are committed to treating people with the dignity, fairness and respect they deserve. Our approach supports those most in need. The Scottish Government will continue to ensure vulnerable people get the financial help they need this winter.”

In winter 2025/26, over 1.57 million payments were issued for Child Winter Heating Payment, Winter Heating Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

More than 1.46 million clients received at least one of the three winter heating benefits.

Read last year’s winter heating benefit statistics: Winter Heating Benefits: Statistics for Winter 2025/2026 – Social Security Scotland

Energy bill tax cut starts today ‘to give families breathing space’

  • Tax cut will help households with their energy bills by taking around £45 off the yearly Ofgem price cap.
  • Part of Prime Minister’s wider plan for ‘everyday fixes’ to give families some breathing space.

Households will be better protected from rising global energy costs this winter after the Government cuts tax on household electricity bills from today.

The action keeps the Energy Price Cap £45 a year less than it would have been, giving people a bit of breathing space on their energy bills between October and December.

Around a third of households are on fixed tariffs and therefore will not be affected by the Energy Price Cap rise. The Government expects suppliers to pass on the VAT cut to these customers too, meaning they could be in line for their energy bills to fall overall. The Government encourages people to shop around for the best deal for their home.

This is the latest measure in the Prime Minister’s series of ‘everyday fixes’ to give families room to breathe. It follows action to cap bus fares at £2, ban fake discounts and end subscription traps, as well as cracking down on school uniform-rip offs and cut business-rates for the pubs, social clubs and high-street businesses that hold communities together.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “For many families, the energy bill is the one they dread the most. I don’t accept that it has to be this way, and I am determined to bring down costs for good.

“But I know people can’t wait. Families need breathing space now.

“That’s why, from today, VAT is gone from your electricity bill. And we’re going further, capping bus fares at £2 from January and cutting business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues”.

While the Government is giving people short term relief on their energy bills, it is also taking action to fix Britain’s energy problems for the long term.

This week the Prime Minister committed to reduce energy costs so that they are in line with other countries in Europe within ten years by introducing greater public control in the system. He announced a new publicly owned body within Great British Energy – Great British Grid (GB Grid) – alongside other reforms to help improve competition, speed up grid connections for businesses, and lower costs.

It will help to reform the broken energy market so it better serves the public interest. Other measures include the delivery of Sizewell C to kickstart a golden era of nuclear, and investment in homegrown, clean energy production.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey MP, said: “This tax cut will help keep energy bills down a bit as we head into the winter.

“We are acting on cost of living pressures to give people some breathing space for the next few months while we make long-term changes to better shield the country from global shocks like those we face today.”

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, said: “I know energy price rises weigh heavily on homes across the UK this winter.

“From today, our VAT cut will give households some much needed breathing space, making the energy price cap £45 a year less than it would have been. This follows the £150 of costs we removed from bills earlier this year.

“Alongside this, we continue to look at what more we can do to protect families from unaffordable bills, as we drive down bills for good through clean power.”

Savings for households depends on how much energy they use, but the cut will help families keep more money in their pockets as temperatures fall and energy use typically increases.

The move follows a rise in global energy costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East and reflects the Government’s commitment to give people some breathing space, taking practical action where it can make the biggest difference.

This builds on the £150 of costs taken off energy bills in the Budget last year and expansion of the £150 Warm Home Discount to around six million households.  Our Warm Homes Plan will also lower bills for millions of households and help lift households out of fuel poverty.

Police: Theft from vulnerable family members – warning signs

Here are some practical steps you can take to protect vulnerable family members or friends against financial abuse by someone in a position of trust:

  • Reviewing financial statement
  • Watch for warning sign
  • Act quickly if something feels wrong

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: Bedtime Checklist

A fire starting at night while you’re asleep means less warning to escape.

Your smoke alarms should wake you if a fire does break out but you can further reduce your risk by carrying out these simple checks before you go to bed.

More info: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/at-home/bedtime-checks/

Invest in Edinburgh?

Earn up to 4.84% annual return by investing in nature-based projects and flood prevention in Edinburgh.

By investing you will help us to reduce emissions, improve access to nature, offer cooler spaces during heatwaves, reduce flood risk during heavy rainstorms, and boost biodiversity.

🔗 Learn more about the Edinburgh Green Investment, including full terms and risk information https://www.abundanceinvestment.com/council/edinburgh

Foysol Choudhury: Students must not become collateral damage

GOVERNMENTS AND UNIVERSITIES MUST ACT NOW TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS, SAYS FORMER MSP

The commencement of a five-week strike at the University of Edinburgh, planned to run until 30th October, is deeply alarming for students, families, and our wider Lothian community (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MBE).

While I fully respect university staff and support their fight against compulsory redundancies and excessive workloads under proposed £140 million budget cuts, we cannot allow our students to become collateral damage in this ongoing crisis.

There is a common misconception that all home students in Scotland attend university completely free. The reality is that thousands of local Scottish students enrolled in Postgraduate Diplomas, professional qualification courses, and specialized diploma programs are paying thousands of pounds directly out of their own pockets. Many exhaust life savings or take on heavy personal debt to gain these essential qualifications for their future careers.

At the same time, international students pay exorbitant tuition fees alongside steep visa and living costs to study in our capital city. Whether local diploma students or international postgraduates, these individuals have invested enormous amounts of money with the expectation of receiving top-tier, uninterrupted education.

To expect students to pay premium fees, or exhaust life savings, while losing over a month of core lectures, seminars, and academic support is unjust and unacceptable. Their degrees, financial livelihoods, and future career prospects are being placed at serious risk through no fault of their own.

University management must urgently return to the negotiating table with staff and trade unions to resolve this dispute fairly. Crucially, university leadership must immediately put protections in place, including academic remediation and financial compensation or tuition fee rebates for lost teaching time.

However, the burden does not rest solely on the university. The Scottish Government must also take accountability for the systemic funding crisis across our higher education sector.

Throughout my tenure in the Scottish Parliament representing the Lothian region, I have continuously raised parliamentary questions, challenged Ministers, and worked on parliamentary committees to champion student welfare, from campaigning against spiraling student housing costs to advocating for hardship support and fair education funding.

Our universities cannot fix institutional budget deficits at the expense of staff security and student futures.

Emergency action is required now from both university leadership and government ministers to step in, protect our staff, and ensure our students get the education and fairness they have paid for.