46% of 18–24-year-olds have never checked themselves
Nearly a quarter (23%) of men don’t recognise lumps as a symptom of cancer
Leading GP gives her step-by-step guide on how to check for signs
This week is Men’s Health Week, and research has found that, shockingly, more than a quarter (26%) of UK males have never checked themselves for signs of testicular cancer, while another 15% only check themselves once a year or less.
A new study, commissioned by health experts at Livi, the online GP service, has found that surprising numbers of men are not checking themselves for testicular cancer, despite it becoming increasingly common, with an increase of 24% since the 90s1.
Younger generations appear to be significantly less likely to check their testicles, with nearly half (46%) of 18–24-year-olds admitting that they had never checked themselves for cancer. This is particularly concerning as testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer amongst young men, particularly those in their early 30’s2.
However, older generations appeared to be significantly more likely to check themselves. Those aged 25–34 years old were found to be the most likely, with only 21% stating they had never checked their testicles.
The survey also revealed which signs of the cancer men are most likely to recognise, with over three quarters (77%) of men recognising lumps as a symptom, but only a third (34%) identifying heaviness in the scrotum and a difference in appearance between the testicles (33%) as potential signs.
The 5 most recognisable signs of testicular cancer
1. Lumps – 77% knew this was a sign
2. Enlargement of testicles – 58%
3. Pain or discomfort in testicles – 46%
4. Heaviness in scrotum – 34%
5. Difference in appearance between testicles – 33%
Additionally, many men incorrectly identified unrelated symptoms as signs of cancer, including sexual impotence (18%) and discomfort in the penis (21%).
Dr Rhianna McClymont, Lead GP at Livi, provides a step-by-step guide for checking for signs of testicular cancer:
· The best time to check yourself is during, or after a warm bath or shower. This helps to relax the testicles and make them easier for you to examine.
· Hold your testicle in your palm and gently examine each one with your thumb and forefinger.
· You’re looking for any type of abnormality, or difference in feel. Your testicles should feel smooth and firm, but not hard.
· Make sure you check yourself regularly and if you notice any lumps, or hardness in the testicles, get yourself checked by a medical professional as soon as possible.
Dr. McClymont adds: “Testicular cancer, like any form of cancer, can strike at any age, but it’s more common in younger people, so we recommend beginning checks in puberty.
“If you notice any lumps or difference in the feel of your testicles, then it’s important to speak to a doctor to get checked out immediately. These symptoms are not a guarantee you have cancer, but they can be indicators, so it’s always vital to see a medical professional if you spot any signs.”
Please respond to the Scottish Government Consultation on buffer zones.
Sending a response only takes 10 minutes.
The DEADLINE to respond is 10th August 2022 Gillian Mackay MSP has launched a Private Member’s Bill for Safe Access Zones, or buffer zones, outside abortion facilities across Scotland.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
This is a really important step in the move for buffer zones. You can access the consultation here www.bufferzones.scot Y
Thrilling Tartan Titan challenge for all the family
Conifox Adventure Park is taking family fun to another level with an exhilarating and globally unique assault course experience.
Billed as the world’s longest and best continuous inflatable assault course, the Tartan Titan is an immersive interactive adventure, propelling participants into the realms of their favourite game shows – Ninja Warrior, Total Wipeout and Gladiators.
At a whopping 560metres, it is almost 65metres longer than the current world record course and packed full of challenges for all ages. The whole family can climb, crawl, jump and bounce their way to glory, with dedicated time slots for adults and younger children to ensure everyone enjoys the experience.
Conifox is currently seeking Guinness World Records verification to confirm the Tartan Titan’s official status as the longest inflatable assault course in the world.
Open to everyone taller than 1.1metre, the new attraction features 50 sections of obstacles including the Corkscrew, Wipe Out, Ninja Run, Ladder Challenge, Tidal Wave and Everest Slide. There will also be special Challenge Days when visitors can attempt to set a record time on the course with a prize for the winner of the #TitanChallenge 2022.
The spectacular course is the latest addition to Conifox Adventure Park, at Kirkliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, which recently invested £2million in a new Activity Centre.
James Gammell, Managing Director of Conifox Adventure Park, says: “This is just the most exciting time for us all at the park.
“We’re constantly looking for new ways to up the fun factor here, for both children and adults, and we’ve come up with something thrilling that really fits the bill. It’s an action-packed adventure, accessible for the whole family to enjoy.
“The Tartan Titan is unique worldwide – only available at Conifox – and it’s set to be an absolute blockbuster for us. We’re sure it is going to prove fantastically popular with visitors who are up for a challenge and a lot of fun.
“We’re especially looking forward to real enthusiasts taking up the Titan Challenge and encouraging super-fit celebrities and sports stars to join in and help raise the bar. So come on down and take on the Titan!”
Bookings are now open for the Tartan Titan. Please visit:
From June 24th to July 3rd, experience a free 10-day public event of fresh floral couture by local florists at St James Quarter – all in celebration of remarkable women.
World-renowned bespoke floral show Fleurs de Villes, is thrilled to announce the launch of its very first public showing in Scotland, in partnership with St James Quarter – Edinburgh’s chicest retail destination.
The show is open to the public from Friday June 24th, exactly one year on since St James Quarter opened its doors, when guests will be able to tour the self-guided exhibit until Sunday, July 3rd.
The FEMMES exhibition will showcase a series of fresh floral mannequins celebrating remarkable women around the world. Fleurs de Villes is proud to be working with local floral talent who will create these tributes based on an inspirational photo or painting of each woman.
Participating florists include Amanda Coghill, Border Blooms by Gail Watson + Bluebells Florist Crieff, Cassia Salvona Floral Design, Farima Perry Florals & Events, Floral Ambitions, Fruit Salad Flowers, Gillytree Studio, In Bloom Studio, KDM Event Styling & Floral Design, Narcissus Flowers, Ollie + Ivy, Penelope Fleur by KDM, Petals by the Shore, Quate & Co., Rogue Flowers, Rose & Ammi Flowers, Simpsons Florist, Wild Flowers, and Wildflower & Willow.
Visitors to St James Quarter can also shop for fresh blooms at a pop-up flower market on Saturday June 25th and visit the Fleurs de Villes JARDIN area that will host floral demonstrations and talks from Friday June 24th to Sunday June 26th.
The public are encouraged to vote for their favourite mannequin, and to enter a ‘snap and share’ social media contest for a chance to win tickets to “My Fair Lady” at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
(L-R: Frida Kahlo, Oprah Winfrey and Audrey Hepburn displays from past Fleurs de Villes FEMMES city exhibitions – Photo Credit: Fleurs de Villes)
Fleurs de Villes FEMMES at St James Quarter will feature these fifteen remarkable women of cultural significance and historical impact:
Annie Lennox – Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox is one of the most successful celebrated artists of her generation. From her time in ’80s synthpop duo Eurythmics to her solo career, she has sold millions of records around the world, and is also known for her social activism and philanthropic works.
Isobel Wyley Hutchison – sponsored by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Scotswoman Isobel Wylie Hutchison overcame the constraints that her age, gender and class placed upon her, to become a solo Arctic adventurer, an accomplished botanist and a successful poet and writer.
Mary Queen of Scots – Perhaps the best-known figure in Scottish royal history, Mary Queen of Scots’ life, marital decisions, political actions including an alleged plot against Queen Elizabeth I, and subsequent execution has established her as a divisive and widely romanticised historical character, depicted in culture for centuries.
Karen Gillan – sponsored by FUSE. Scottish actress Karen Gillan has gained recognition for her work in film and television, including “Guardians of the Galaxy”, “Avengers”, and “Doctor Who.”
Eunice Olumide – Born in Edinburgh, Eunice Olumide is an international supermodel, broadcaster and curator who in 2017, was awarded an MBE for her contribution to Arts, Broadcasting and Charity work.
Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady mannequin – sponsored by Edinburgh Playhouse. This FEMME is inspired by the much-loved Cockney flower seller Eliza Doolittle played by the iconic Audrey Hepburn in the 1964 musical film. The Lincoln Center Theater’s multi-award-winning production of “My Fair Lady” will be playing at the Edinburgh Playhouse from December 14th 2022 to January 7th 2023.
Rose Ayling-Ellis – sponsored by Deaf Action. British Sign Language user Rose Lucinda Ayling-Ellis is best known for playing Frankie Lewis in BBC soap EastEnders, and her groundbreaking Strictly Come Dancing win with Giovanni Pernice in 2022.
Flora MacDonald – sponsored by Clarendon Fine Art Gallery. One of the most romantic characters in Scottish history, Flora Macdonald is best known for helping Bonnie Prince Charles Edward Stuart evade government troops after the Battle of Culloden in April 1746; since becoming immortalised in the famous 19th century “The Skye Boat Song” that narrates the getaway.
Megan Beveridge – sponsored by Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Megan Beveridge of the British Army made history by becoming the first serving female Lone Piper at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Edinburgh in 2016.
Marilyn Monroe – Actress, singer, and model Marilyn Monroe became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, and is still one of the world’s most enduring iconic figures.
Mary Somerville – Scottish science writer and self-taught polymath Mary Somerville became the first female member to be elected to The Royal Astronomical Society at a time when women were largely absent in scientific circles and their participation was discouraged.
Frida Kahlo – Possibly the most well-known female painter of modern times, Kahlo is famous for her ground-breaking self-portraits and works inspired by the nature and artefacts of her native Mexico.
Queen Victoria – Queen Victoria was the first English-born monarch of Great Britain to share her love of Scotland. Throughout her reign of 63 years she visited the country many times, and even inspired a trend for tartan and tweed across the kingdom.
Empress Xiaozhuangwen – The mother of the first Emperor of the Qing Empire, Empress Xiaozhuangwen proved to be a critical stabilising figure in her young son’s reign, remembered for her wisdom and insight.
Cleopatra – For almost 3 decades, Cleopatra VII served as the dominant ruler in her co-regencies. Her romantic liaisons, military alliances and supposed powers of seduction has earned her an enduring place in history and popular myth.
Audiences of all ages, cultures and genders will be able to learn more about these fascinating women by scanning the QR codes on signs adjacent to each floral sculpture that will link visitors to their incredible stories.
Proud sponsors of these FEMMES include the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Clarendon Fine Art Gallery, Deaf Action, Edinburgh Playhouse, FUSE, Cash for Kids and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Other highlights of the FEMMES exhibition within St James Quater include a selfie-invoking swing adorned with blooms, a floral cocktail menu at The Alchemist raising funds for charity Cash for Kids, a “flower-bombed” Maserati MC20, and ornate floral doorways at retailers Reiss, Miele, Juliet Rose, Thai Express, IOLLA and Clarendon Fine Art Gallery.
(L-R: Malala Yousafzai, Carline Astor, Grace Kelly displays from past Fleurs de Villes FEMMES city exhibitions – Photo Credit: Fleurs de Villes)
The partnership is part of St James Quarter’s ongoing commitment to provide a cultural and lifestyle hub for art, culture and fashion and offer opportunities for the local community to get involved with unique experiences. This activity follows on from a number of successful events over the last year including Edinburgh Style, Love Beauty and a seafood festival.
Visitors to St James Quarter will be able to view the floral exhibition in the main Galleria area while shopping with luxury retailers such as H beauty and Reiss or before a refreshment stop at cocktail bar and restaurant The Alchemist or food hall Bonnie & Wild. Guests will also be able to see other retailers unleash their inner botanist as stores get involved with the event with their own floral displays.
“We felt that this was the ideal time to launch Fleurs de Villes FEMMES as people are starved for in-real-life, tactile and inspirational experiences that they can enjoy safely with friends and family. The exhibit will offer the opportunity to learn about these important women who have left their mark on history and what better backdrop than a unique venue like St James Quarter,” says co-founder Tina Barkley. Co-founder Karen Marshall adds: “We are very excited to bring our event to Edinburgh for the very first time and to launch the new exhibition FEMMES at the iconic St James Quarter. Each of our shows is an entirely different experience, celebrating the local community and made possible by local partners like St James Quarter which support Fleurs de Villes events being freely and most beautifully open to the public. With such a diverse group of local florists and creative talents, we can’t wait to spread joy and tell the stories of these women, en fleurs, to honour each as truly remarkable.”
Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, says: “We are delighted that Fleurs de Villes FEMMES is coming to Scotland for the first time and there’s no better place to showcase the series than St James Quarter, the hub of the capital city.
“We could not be more pleased to have Fleurs de Villes FEMMES grace our Galleria and celebrate inspirational women from across the globe in such a spectacular fashion.”
The global FEMMES tour visits four countries this year in these world-class destinations:
Miami, Bal Harbour Shops March 4-13, 2022
Chicago, 900 North Michigan Shops, March 30-April 3, 2022
Costa Mesa, South Coast Plaza, April 20-24, 2022
Toronto, Bloor-Yorkville, May 4-8, 2022
Montreal, Complex des Jardins and Quartier des Spectacles, May 20-29, 2022
Vancouver, Downtown, June 3-12, 2022
Edinburgh, St. James Quarter, June 24-July 3, 2022
Sydney, The Royal Botanic Garden, August 19-28, 2022
The First Minister will pledge the Scottish Government’s support to work in partnership with industry for a more resilient economy following the pandemic, to help create a wealthier, fairer and greener Scotland.
In the opening address at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) Annual Forum in Edinburgh, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to urge businesses to adapt to new ways of working that will help achieve net zero and improve overall wellbeing.
The SCDI Annual Forum will bring together up to 300 delegates consisting of SCDI members and senior leaders from the Scottish and UK governments, business, third sector and academia to discuss Scotland’s future.
During the conference, the First Minister will confirm the expansion of Scotland’s network of Productivity Clubs. As one of the actions from the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, grant funding of up to £200,000 will introduce a further club in the Tayside region.
With over 1,800 members across Scotland, Productivity Clubs offer peer support to improve and grow enterprises, running specialist events based around key themes such as digital transition, innovation and fair work.
The First Minister is expected to say: “We are recovering from the worst pandemic in more than a century, and the huge economic and social challenges it has brought.
“We face the highest inflation in more than a generation, and the growing cost of doing business is being made far worse by Brexit, which has removed us from a single market seven times the size of the UK.
“And of course all businesses, like all governments, need to adapt their working methods as we seek to reduce our climate change emissions, and become a net zero economy that truly serves our collective wellbeing for current and future generations.
“Those challenges can sound daunting. But we also need to keep in mind that Scotland has huge opportunities and assets to help transform our economy. Inward investment in Scotland increased by 14% in 2021 – far above the UK’s increase of 2 percent. There was a rise of more than 70% in the number of inward investments in the digital sector.
“That highlights the strengths of Scotland’s skills and infrastructure, but it also reflects that businesses are increasingly taking investment decisions based on issues such as a country’s approach to sustainability, wellbeing, and climate change.
“The National Strategy for Economic Transformation – which we published in March – aims to capitalise on these strengths. And it makes it clear that recovery has to be a truly national endeavour. That won’t be achieved by business alone, by government alone, or by the third sector alone – we will all need to work together to create a wealthier, fairer and more sustainable nation.”
As the covid crisis eases, the national sight loss charity RNIB Scotland is emphasising it is more important than ever that people with diabetes attend their regular eye-examinations now that these have resumed.
During Diabetes Week this week [June 13-19th], the charity is pointing out that diabetic retinopathy, a complication of the condition, is a leading cause of sight loss among working-age Scots.
Director James Adams said: “Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, can affect the small blood vessels at the back of the eye and is a major cause of sight loss among working-age adults. But damage to vision can be arrested if detected early enough.
“While it’s possible that diabetes won’t cause any changes to your vision, the most effective thing you can do to prevent sight loss is to go to your retinal screening appointments and eye examinations, where safety measures are in place.”
Each year, 5,500 patients with diabetes in Scotland need to undergo further imaging or see an NHS eye specialist for the first time due to worsening in their retinopathy.
Angela Clelland, 47, from Inverness received a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy during lockdown.
“Getting diagnosed was very, very scary,” Angela said, “because I was isolated in the pandemic. If you are on your own, it affects everything from simple things like making a cup of tea, having the confidence to go out, or not being able to check your diabetes because you can’t read the monitor.
“You need to take your eye health seriously. You need to make sure that you are going for your eye health checks. Even with the slightest change, go to your optician. As things were delayed due to COVID, I would urge anybody who is maybe late or due an appointment to go and make one, because the effect on your life if you don’t go and something happens is devastating.”
There are 3.5 million people in the UK who have been diagnosed diabetes, and an estimated 500,000 people living with undiagnosed diabetes. Within 20 years of diagnosis, nearly all people with type 1 diabetes and almost two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes will have developed some form of diabetic retinopathy. People with diabetes are also at increased risk of glaucoma and cataracts.
People from a South Asian or African-Caribbean background are two to four times more likely to get type 2 diabetes. They tend to develop it at a younger age which means they live with the condition for longer.
The risk of complications increases with the length of time people have the condition. It is not known why this is the case, but it is likely to be a mixture of genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
* If you’re worried about your vision, contact RNIB’s Sight Loss Advice Service on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk/eyehealth.
For more information on the NHS Scotland eye-screening service, visit:
Research also finds that young people, disabled people and the LGBTQ community at higher risk of chronic loneliness
Ministers across a range of Government departments to launch a renewed effort to tackle loneliness as part of national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
New research published today by the Government has identified direct links between chronic loneliness and mental health distress.
The findings, which coincide with the start of Loneliness Awareness Week, analysed mental health wellbeing and the impacts of loneliness over a sustained period, with results showing that chronic loneliness played a significant role in the onset and continuation of mental health distress.
The analysis also shows that mental health distress can play a significant role in the onset and continuation of chronic loneliness. Chronic loneliness is defined as people reporting they ‘often’ or ‘always’ feel lonely.
It suggests that targeted early intervention may play a more significant role in combating the effects of loneliness on mental health in the short term.
The Minister for Civil Society and Youth will now bring together ministers from a range of government departments to drive forward a renewed effort to tackle loneliness. The group will develop a delivery plan which will draw on this new evidence and set out new government action on loneliness early next year.
It will build on the 2018 Tackling Loneliness Strategy and the Government’s work to tackle loneliness during the pandemic through its £750 million charity funding package.
Minister for Civil Society and Youth Nigel Huddleston said: “Loneliness can affect all of us and the research published today highlights that young and disabled people, alongside those with long-term health conditions, are disproportionately affected by loneliness.
“As we start Loneliness Awareness Week I encourage everyone to reach out to someone they think may be feeling alone or isolated.
“The Government prioritised tackling loneliness through the pandemic and we will now redouble our efforts to protect those most at risk.”
Since the strategy for tackling loneliness was launched in 2018, the Government has continued to play a world-leading role, including appointing the first ever Minister for Loneliness.
It has joined forces with a range of charitable partners to invest over £50 million pounds to help tackle the issue, with funding helping thousands of people to connect through the things that matter to them.
The independent research from the National Centre for Social Research was compiled from data encompassing over 35,000 people aged 16 and over from 2013/14 to 2019/20. As part of the study, researchers looked at what types of people were vulnerable to loneliness, whether risk factors for loneliness had changed, the relationship between mental wellbeing and loneliness, and what factors alleviated loneliness in the short term.
The new findings show that, in addition to the link between loneliness and mental health distress, specific groups of people are more vulnerable to the effects of loneliness:
Young people between 16-34 were found to be particularly at risk, with research showing they were at five times greater risk of chronic loneliness than those aged 65 or older. Drivers of loneliness in young people were identified as negative social experiences, such as bullying from peers and siblings and arguments with parents.
People with a disability or long standing health condition were 2.9 times more likely to experience chronic loneliness, and were less likely to move out of loneliness than those without a disability.
Those in the LGBTQ community were also disproportionately affected, with people who identified as gay or lesbian 1.4 times more likely to be lonely, and people who identified as bisexual 2.5 times more likely to be lonely.
Those in the lowest income quintile were 50 per cent more likely to experience chronic loneliness when compared with the wealthiest quintile.
Minister for Mental Health Gillian Keegan said: “Loneliness is a growing issue – and this research emphasises the continued need to ensure those feeling lonely can access the resources they need.
“We’re accelerating the rollout of mental health support teams in schools and expanding community services for adults and young people to make sure everyone can access support, as well as providing helpful advice and resources on the Every Mind Matters website.
“We’ve also recently opened a call for evidence to gather views from the public to inform a new 10-year mental health plan which will focus on ensuring the nation is in positive mental wellbeing.”
Dr Sokratis Dinos, Director of Health at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), said: This research highlights the significant relationship between loneliness and mental health. People experiencing chronic loneliness were shown in our study to be nearly four times more likely than people without chronic loneliness to be in mental distress.
“Poor mental health can lead to difficulties connecting with others, social withdrawal and loneliness, while loneliness can equally contribute to poor mental health.
“Our research highlights the benefit of targeted support for people at different life stages, and community based activities for people with shared interests to improve outcomes.”
During the pandemic, the Government made tackling loneliness a priority by allocating loneliness as a specific target category in the Government’s £750 million charity funding package.
The Government continues to encourage people to ‘lift someone out of loneliness’ as part of the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign, emphasising the benefits of social connection this Loneliness Awareness Week.
The annual summer holidays can be a tiring and expensive time for parents. With the kids at home looking for constant entertainment and no school to keep them busy or provide meals, often parents end up splurging on activities, food and outings – making the ‘six weeks’ the most expensive times of the year.
To help parents save money this summer and still maximise their quality time with their children, CashLady.com has partnered with ‘Instagram Mum’, Emma Stretton, who shares her expert advice on how to have fun with the kids this summer break, without breaking the bank.
“I’m super lucky in that the summer holidays are actually pretty easy for me. My husband is a teacher so I don’t have to worry about where the kids are going to go for six long weeks. It does mean though, that all three of them are at home and need entertaining every day. These are some of the tried and tested things we do to save money over the school summer holidays.”
Emma Stretton is a mum-of-two and savvy saver living in Manchester. She has a keen eye for fashion and interiors and knows how to keep her two children entertained during the summer holidays. Emma commented:
Picnics
“Picnics are literally my favourite thing in the world. Pitching up at a nice park or beauty spot and just enjoying a few sandwiches easily passes a couple of hours with the kids.”
“The boys will take their bikes, scooters or a football and entertain themselves for a bit.
Our picnic blanket is a piece of gingham fabric I bought from the bargain bin at a fabric store too, which is a cheap and easy option for those looking to save a few pennies.”
Snacks
“If the cost of feeding two kids wasn’t bad enough already, my food bill has shot up in the last few months. Without free school meals each day, it goes up even more in summer. I tend to buy snacks at budget supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl and have found a few cheap ways to make fun stuff. My kids’ all-time favourite snack is peanut butter and jam in a rolled-up wrap. They would live off them and it costs peanuts!”
“We also make homemade sausage rolls using veggie sausage meat and tortilla wraps. Flatten the ‘sausage’ meat all over the wrap, roll it, cut it into pieces and bake for about 20 minutes. It’s loads cheaper than Greggs. Pesto pasta is another super cheap meal, and pitta pizzas are also a big win in our house.”
Parks
“Obvious? Yes! But my kids love a park, especially a new one they haven’t been to before. The summer holidays are an excellent time to explore new parks or places they can run around in. Even a trip through the woods is an adventure for them.”
“Sometimes I’ll draw a nature or ’treasure’ map that they can follow on our walk as well. Just Google local parks and make use of them all summer long – they’re free!”
Free museums
“There are quite a few free museums near us (in Manchester); like the Portland Basin or the Imperial War Museum. We also get free entry to the Football Museum in Manchester if you can prove you live in the right postcode. Again, just get on Google and look for free things to do near you. Daysoutwiththekids.co.uk is a great website with loads of fun things to do across the UK.”
Shopping
“I know the food shop isn’t the height of excitement but it does kill time and is a good activity for when it rains. I normally do it online but in the summer holidays, my husband takes a list to the shops and gets the boys to read it and shout when they spot what we need.”
“Some shops have those hand-held scanners you carry around with you. The kids love scanning the items and fighting over who gets to hold the scanner next. Making an everyday expense into an activity for the kids kills two birds with one stone.”
Restaurant deals
“Lots of places will do ‘kids eat free’ offers over the holidays. Usually, it’s when you buy an adult meal. Have a look for places near you that are running similar offers.”
“We also use Manchester Confidential a lot where you can buy vouchers for local restaurants at half their value. So, we recently bought £50 worth of vouchers for £25 and had a nice meal together. Banyan is a big chain that often does it”
Loyalty Schemes
“My bank account is linked to my Sainsbury’s Nectar card so I earn points every time I spend. I can then use these to get discounts or vouchers for big days out like Alton Towers. I would also always look for 2 for 1 deals on things like cereal before I ever booked a big attraction.”
“We get £5 cinema tickets from our bank account which are great for rainy days and we’re signed up to Subway rewards and Mcdonald’s rewards so we get free food every now and then. Never spend before checking whether you can get a discount or better deal first.”
Buddy up
“If there are days when my husband can’t be with the kids, we try to ask friends or family rather than pay for holiday clubs. One of my friends does a summer swap every year where she has her friend’s kids one day and then her friend does it another day. So they can both go to work without forking out a fortune on childcare.”
“We also still pay £10 a month into childcare vouchers so that come the summer holidays, we’ve accrued enough to put the boys in for a couple of days. Most school holiday clubs will take them so it’s worth checking if you have any left that you didn’t use up when your kids were in pre-school.”
Commenting on the tips, CashLady.com’s Personal Finance Expert, Dan Whittaker, said:“The summer holidays are easily one of the best and brightest times of year to spend quality time with your children. However, it’s also one of the most expensive, with the costs of entertainment, meals and childcare increasing enormously.
“Emma’s tips demonstrate tried and tested ways to save money over the summer break, whilst still having fun and adventures with her kids. The advice goes to show that you don’t have to spend a fortune to have the most fun in the sun.”
Edinburgh Pentlands MSP Gordon Macdonald has welcomed the planned introduction of the new Low Income Winter Heating Assistance benefit to help households both across the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency and the wider city pay their energy bills.
The support is being introduced by the SNP Scottish Government and will guarantee an annual payment of £50 to around 400,000 low income households from February 2023.
It replaces the UK government’s Cold Weather payments which were only triggered during a ‘cold spell’ of seven consecutive days below zero degrees, whilst the new payment from the Scottish Government will provide a reliable, stable guaranteed payment in winter, no matter the weather.
It will be the thirteenth social security payment introduced by the SNP Scottish Government and will be only available in Scotland.
Commenting, Gordon Macdonald said: “The SNP Scottish Government is providing a guaranteed payment of £50 to low-income households across Edinburgh to help pay their energy bills every winter, starting in February 2023.
“Once again the SNP Scottish Government is stepping up to support households within its limited budget, and despite the majority of powers lying with the Tories at Westminster.
“The Scottish Government’s annual £20m investment will mean households will get an automatic payment. The UK Cold Weather payments only reached 11,000 households in 2021/22.
“As the Scottish Government continues to step up and provide support to households across Scotland, it does so with one hand tied behind its back by the UK Tory government.
“That is why it is only with the full powers of independence can we start to build a fairer, more equal country.”
