HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding working families to save money on their childcare costs in time for the school holidays
With the Easter break just weeks away, families yet to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare could be missing out on annual savings of up to £2,000 per child, or £4,000 if their child is disabled.
Tax-Free Childcare can help pay for approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if the child has a disability. Parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months, which means for every £8 paid into their online account, they will automatically receive an additional £2 top up from the UK Government.
It takes just 20 minutes to apply online for a Tax-Free Childcare account and can be used to help pay for a child’s nursery, childminder, breakfast or after school club or holiday activity club.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Springtime is a good opportunity to take a fresh look at family finances.
“A quick check online and you can find out how Tax-Free Childcare can help cut the cost of your childcare bills. Every bit of financial support helps – I would urge families to ’hop to it’ and search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’ on GOV.UK to find out how you could be better off and open your account today.”
Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money immediately, so it is ready to be used whenever it is needed; and unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.
Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:
have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday
earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
do not receive tax credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
Families can learn more about the childcare offers available to them and what could fit their family by visiting Childcare Choices.
The UK Government is offering help for households. Check GOV.UK to find out what cost of living support, including help with childcare costs, families could be eligible for.
STRUT is a night time performance and projection parade shining a light on 5 talented dancers with a connection to Greater Craigmillar whose personal choreographies reflect the celebratory energy of the town with Highland, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Disco and Breakdance styles in the mix.
These talented movers and shakers were selected from a wide-ranging Open Call, with the help of a community panel. The rotating one-performer parade weaves its way around locations in Craigmillar and Niddrie with spectators watching from the pavement, waving from their windows or following the event and dancing along.
STRUT: Greater Craigmillar takes to the streets on Wednesday 20 March, 7-8pm (Craigmillar) and Thursday 21 March, 7-8pm (Niddrie).
Emiegh – Dancer
Hiya, my name’s Emiegh and I am 17 years old. I have lived in Craigmillar for the past 8 years. I am still in school but dance is a big part of my life whenever I’m not in classes. I do many different styles of dance including jazz, commercial, contemporary and highland.
There are many reasons I love dance, but one of them is that it makes me happy and allows me to express myself in many different ways. Another reason I love dance is the opportunities it gives me, including going to Portugal to dance in the Dance World Cup and dancing in parades in Spain. I also competed at Disneyland Paris in a Highland Dance Competition.
I am very excited to be a part of STRUT as the opportunity to do something in my community is very special to me. Soon I will be going to University to be a nurse and I hope to become a dance teacher alongside my nursing and studies.
Bianka – Dancer
Hi, I’m Bianka and I’m nearly 13 years old. I will perform some contemporary dance as part of STRUT and have created my very own choreography for the performance.
I have recently joined Lyra’s Young Company and have just started to take aerial dance classes with All or Nothing. I love dancing. When I dance I can show other people what hard work is and what it does.
I am excited to do STRUT because I love to perform and show my dance skills. This is my first ever solo performance so it’s a big opportunity for me! I’ve lived in Craigmillar for almost 6 years, and I know the area really well. I was born in London but I really like living in Edinburgh.
Gabriele – Dancer
I am Gabriele, a 25-year-old dancer originally from Southern Italy, now based in Edinburgh, Scotland. My main dance style is Breaking, although in the past few years, I have developed an interest in Afrobeats, House and Hip Hop choreography.
I believe dance connects us on a deeper level, and one dance language is not enough to express yourself. Learning more about different ways you could move is like speaking different languages which allows you to facilitate broader communication.
This is one of the reasons why I love to dance. Dance has also made me a more confident individual and helped surround me with great people, who have the same goals and ambitions, connecting us all as a family (or in my specific case a dance Crew which I am proud to be a part of, called TMRW crew).
I am looking forward to taking part in STRUT mainly because as a street performance it will allow me to connect to the crowd around us. I’d love to inspire more kids in the audience to give dancing a go, or at the very least, just have a great time with everyone in the community during the performances.
My connection to Craigmillar is rooted in a local project where I have performed before. Alley Oop took place at Lyra’s basketball court across two weeks. The innovative dance project, choreographed by Tony Mills and performed by myself and Ursula Manandhar, allowed me to get more involved with the Craigmillar youth community and inspire kids in the audience to give dance a go.
Kieren Gabriel – Dancer
My name is Kieren and I am 11 years old. My style of dance is hip hop and I love dancing because I get to express myself and my feelings in many different ways. I like to look for inspiration from YouTube for my moves and also freestyle.
I am a member of Lyra Dance Troupe, part of their Young Company’s next show. I am originally from the Philippines and I am proud to be a Filipino. My family have recently moved from London to Edinburgh and we have been settling in well, so far.
I’m so excited to be taking part because STRUT is my first ever show. I am also excited to be involved because I love meeting people, connecting with them and making people joyful and happy through dance.
John Mcloughlin – STRUT: Craigmillar MC
Hey, I’m John, 36, from Craigmillar, Edinburgh. I do drag, discos, karaoke and am a born entertainer. I lived in Spain for seven years, running five different gay bars with lots of staff to look after.
I’m excited to be hosting STRUT: Craigmillar as it’s an opportunity to meet new people and see something really different come to the community. I’ve been part of this community my whole life and it’s brilliant to see something like this happen in Craigmillar, especially for young people in the area.
Rita Hu – Dancer
Rita is a dancer specialising in soul, funk and Waacking styles. Born in China, Rita discovered soul dance at just 6 years old, finding Waacking later, in 2014.
She has trained avidly in multiple dance styles over the last 20 years, and also loves old school hip hop, commercial styles and K-pop.
Rita has performed, battled and taught around Asia and the world, including performing at World of Dance. Some of her favourite battles include Summer Dance Forever, Amsterdam, and Old School Night, Japan, and she has won several competitions including the Huawei New Year’s Eve 2v2 freestyle champion in 2018 and the 2020 Changsha Queen of Disco for Waacking.
Before moving to Scotland, she taught regular classes at 227 Studio and Kinjaz China, as well as teaching workshops all over China. Rita now teaches weekly classes in Scotland, has been a judge for UDO (United Dance Organisation) and more, and has taken the Waacking Scotland Team to Greece, Poland, and elsewhere in Europe. Her mantra is simply: keep on dancing!
She says: “Craigmillar is where I had my first flat in Scotland and made tons of great memories and new friends. Now I live ten minutes away and love running through the castle grounds. I can’t wait to be back dancing in my first Scottish neighbourhood”.
Edinburgh Tradfest has launched its 2024 programme of traditional music, storytelling, film, workshops, talks, ceilidhs, and special events taking place at various venues across the city, thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and from the William Grant Foundation.
Over the 11 days of the Festival, hundreds of international and Scottish musicians, storytellers and artists will perform, kicking off on Friday 3 May with live music from electronica supergroup VALTOS, headlining a bumper line-up of musicians including Assynt and Josie Duncan at the Queen’s Hall.
Also playing on opening weekend is multi-award winning folk singer and guitar master Martin Simpson, and Scandi-fiddlers Nordic Fiddlers Bloc. Plus, Hands Up For Trad’s concert to celebrate #WorldPlayAStrathspeyDay takes place on Sat 4 May – the day when people all around the world are invited to record, video and upload themselves playing a strathspey to social media.
And, the city’s annual May Day Parade on Sun 5 May will leave from the Castle at mid-day and finish at The Pleasance where there will be a rally, music and stalls.
Other international musicians headlining at this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest include raucous fiddle folk duo Lena Jonsson from Northern Sweden and Brittany Haas from Northern California; Canada’s finest fiddle quartet The Fretless joined by award-winning folk singer-songwriter Madeleine Roger; LA-based singer-songwriter Alice Howe (appearing with Freebo); and Irish fiddler ClareSands. Closer to home Everyone’s Welcome toEdinburgh, this year’s new commission with tunes and songs from the capital city is curated and arranged by award-winning fiddler Robbie Greig. It will be performed by some of the most talented musicians in Scotland – Ciaran Ryan, Duncan Lyall, Hannah Rarity, Jenn Butterworth, and Signy Jakobsdottir.
Other huge Scottish talents joining the line-up are Julie Fowlis who will close this year’s festival at the Assembly Rooms with special guests Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr; Gaelic supergroup Dàimh; velvet harmonies from fresh new electro-trad band Birdvox (Inge Thomson, Charlotte Printer, Jenny Sturgeon, Sarah Hayes); Triptic formed from three members of Moishe’s Bagel (Greg Lawson, Phil Alexander and Mario Caribé); and a whole host of talented new musicians and soloists including BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist 2024 Evie Waddell.
At the Scottish Storytelling Centre the festival continues with storytelling and spoken word events including premieres of Rickle O’ Stanes a tale about Scotland’s land and the layers of history on which we stand today with storyteller Shona Cowie, musician Neil Sutcliffe and dramaturg Liam Hurley; old tales from Lithuania and around the world brought to life by Daiva Ivanauskaite and musician Gaynor Barradell in Fire from the Woods a new production exploring the silence between generations and life growing up without hearing stories from your ancestors; and Welsh storyteller Milly Jackdaw presents Mochyn Mryddin / Merlin’s Pig a fusion of traditional storytelling, physical theatre, music and ceremony based on the life of Myrddin, the inspiration for Merlin in Arthurian legend.
Plus, there will be ceilidhs, tales told around the hearth, and poetry including singer/songwriter John Hinshelwood’ssensitive musical interpretations based on a selection of Emily Dickinson’s poems.
The Folk Film Gathering returns to Edinburgh Tradfest this year with a selection of films from around the world including the Scottish premiere of Songlines. This film celebrates the songs and singers at the heart of the Irish traveller community.
The South African film Mapantsula features a petty gangster who becomes caught up in the growing anti-apartheid struggle of the late 1980s.
There are two films from Ukraine – the silent masterpiece Earth (1930) directed by Alexander Dovzhenko and accompanied by Scottish musicians Luke Sutherland and Semay Lu, and Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors – a tale of crossed lovers introduced with a short concert from Edinburgh’s Ukrainian Choir.
Later in the Festival there will be a screening of Tale of the Three Jewels a film by Michel Khleifi, which tells the story of young Yussef living in Gaza and portrays the resilience and the horrors endured by Gaza’s children. This film will be introduced by Palestinian/Scottish poet Nada Shawa.
There will also be a screening of Je’Vida the first ever film made in the Skolt Sámi dialect (only spoken by around 300 people today) about the bonds of ancestry and the resilience of indigenous peoples. Je’Vida will be introduced by music from Finnish musicians Lau Nau and Pekko Käppi, who produced the film’s score, and who will also perform a one-off concert at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Fri 10 May.
From Scotland there will be two films by Mike Alexander: Down Home and As An Eilean (From the Island); a premiere of Itu Ninu – an indigenous science fiction film shot in Edinburgh which tells the story of two climate migrants stuck within a dystopian ‘smart city’; and a screening of To See Ourselves a moving portrait of grass roots organising during Scotland’s independence.
Plus, over at the Scottish Storytelling Centre there will be a screening of Journey to the Isles: Marjory Kennedy Fraser, an archive film with live accompaniment from storyteller Marion Kenny and multi-instrumentalist Mairi Campbell; and The First Wave by Kate Sweeney and Roma Yagnik accompanied by stories, songs, and reminiscences of living in a coastal town during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, from Berwickshire Coastal Arts.
For younger audiences there will be a Jaunt Round Auld Reekie told through music, comedy and puppetry performed in Scots and English by one of Edinburgh’s newest community theatre companies Ceilidh Crew; mask-making ahead of the May Day Parade; an arts and crafts storytelling session celebrating the magic of Beltane; and a Family Ceilidh.
There will also be a book launch of Yum: written in Scots by author and storyteller Susi Briggs; and the opportunity to take part in the Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin (EYG) – a three day workshop programme supported by the William Grant Foundation.
This traditional music workshop programme for 13-18 year olds will be led by some of Scotland’s finest musicians, and culminates in an exclusive performance during Edinburgh Tradfest. In addition, there will be two taster workshops in April this year, for those new to being in the EYG Big Band and making music with others.
Other workshops held during the festival include traditional Zimbabwean singing with Bruce Ncube who specialises in teaching traditional songs from Zimbabwe in 3 to 6 part harmonies; Scottish dance and song traditions led by Evie Waddell; a fiddle workshop with renowned award-winning music educator Anna-Wendy Stevenson; and song-writing with renowned singer and composer Karine Polwart.
Plus, the Traditional Music Forum will present an interactive and fun workshop for musicians who want to be better storytellers on stage, led by storyteller Svend-Erik Engh.
Returning this year is the festival’s popular Rebellious Truth lecture presented in collaboration with Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh, which will feature a talk and performance by legendary folk musician and broadcaster Archie Fisher both in-person andlive-streamed.
Plus, from 3 May until 15 June there will be a new exhibition FISHING: by Dutch artist Stephanïe Vandëm at the Scottish Storytelling Centre which combines oil painting and mixed media materials salvaged from the shoreline to creatively evoke the linkages between the communities of the North East of Scotland and their fishing heritage.
The exhibition will open with a performance of songs from Doric harmony singers Tripple about the living heritage of fishing communities on Scotland’s east coast.
Speaking at Wednesday’s launch,Siobhan Anderson, Music Officer, Creative Scotland said: “Edinburgh Tradfest continues to celebrate the city as a key part of Scottish traditional music year on year, nourishing Edinburgh’s musicians as well as their traditional music audience to ensure the capital can continue to be a place to see and experience some of the finest traditional music in Scotland.
“Alongside an appreciation and celebration of legends like Archie Fisher and Julie Fowlis, Edinburgh Tradfest also paves the way for the next generation of artists through the Edinburgh Youth Big Band and the ETF spotlight concert which will shine on four bright young acts. The packed programme has something for everyone and allows audiences to bask in a range of excellent artists.”
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We are thrilled with the 2024 line-up for Edinburgh Tradfest – surely the best yet.
“We’re particularly happy to welcome the Folk Film Gathering back into the fold for the first time since the pandemic. Now we really are back to full power! We are extremely fortunate to work with partners who have the same ethos as ourselves and work very hard to deliver world class events at an affordable ticket price.
“We want as many people as possible to enjoy the best traditional arts from Scotland and around the world. Please check out the full programme online, and we look forward to welcoming you in May.”
Daniel Abercrombie, Programme & Events Manager, Scottish Storytelling Centre said: “Edinburgh Tradfest is a highlight of our calendar in the Scottish Storytelling Centre and we’re delighted to be involved once again.
“There are some excellent storytelling performances on offer and a variety of traditional arts activities, including many family events, for all to enjoy. The days will be getting longer and there is much to celebrate in this wonderful Tradfest programme!”
Jamie Chambers, Folk Film Gathering said: “We are really excited to be back in step with our friends at Tradfest, to further explore the links between cinema and traditional arts from around the world.
“There is a lot of music in our programme (including a new score for the Ukrainian silent masterpiece EARTH from visionary Scottish composer Luke Sutherland, and a special appearance from Finland’s folk musicians Lau Nau and Pekko Käppi), and we think audiences will have great fun finding links between our programme and the exciting main body of events that Tradfest have put together.”
Musician Phil Alexander from Triptic said: “As a new band (formed of very old friends!) we are delighted to be a part of Tradfest, and especially pleased to be playing at the launch.
“Tradfest is a glorious and imaginative celebration of traditional music in all its diverse forms, and Triptic is proud to stake our claim within it!”
Edinburgh Tradfest 2024 will run from Friday 3 May – Monday 13 May. For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com
Are you thinking about setting up your own business? Or maybe you’re already your own boss and want to learn more about how to grow and scale your company? Next week, Virgin StartUp is coming to Edinburgh to host a free Founder Meet Up event.
On Wednesday 20 March at 6pm, Virgin StartUp will be coming to the Virgin Money store on George Street to chat about all things entrepreneurial. The Meet Up event is a great way to meet other budding founders in the area, to share advice, make connections and inspire you to take the next steps.
Jill and Steve Henry, husband and wife team and co-founders of Edinburgh-based outdoor clothing brand Meander Apparel, will be joining the conversation and sharing their experience of starting and scaling a successful business.
Meander Apparel started life in 2018 using a Start Up Loan from Virgin StartUp and the sustainable clothing brand is now targeting revenues of £1.5 million in 2025.
Virgin StartUp is Virgin’s not-for-profit hub for entrepreneurs and its team of experts will be on hand to answer all your questions about start-up funding, investment and business growth.
Virgin StartUp is one of the largest National Support Partners for the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme. Since 2013, it has distributed more than £75 million in funding to more than 5,500 business founders and is aiming to distribute a further £36 million in Start Up Loans before the end of 2025.
Guests attending the Meet Up will also have the chance to win some exciting rewards thanks to Virgin Red, Virgin’s Group-wide rewards club. Virgin Red is bringing its Points Board to the Virgin Money store during the day, and there will still be prizes up for grabs in the evening.
Andy Fishburn, Managing Director at Virgin StartUp, explains: “We know that Edinburgh is a hub for entrepreneurship as we’ve supported many talented early-stage business founders in the city over the years.
“I’m delighted that Jill from Meander Apparel can join us and I know she will have lots of fantastic insights and advice to share.
“Whether you’ve been running a business for a few years and are looking to scale, or you have an exciting idea for a new business and aren’t sure where to start, we’d love for you to join us.”
The Scottish Police Authority has approved plans to dispose of three police stations following public consultation.
At the SPA Resources Committee held on Wednesday, 13 March, 2024, Balerno in Edinburgh, Seaton in Aberdeen and Carluke in South Lanarkshire were all formally declared as surplus.
Police Scotland announced on 14 December 2023 proposals to close police stations across the country as part of their estate transformation strategy.
Public consultation was launched both at a local level and nationally through an online Engagement Hub, with consultations on individual properties taking place at different times. The consultations on the properties in Balerno, Seaton and Carluke all closed on Sunday, 18 February, 2024.
Balerno, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, has historically been underutilised and has not been used as an operational response station for many years. Officers deploy from Wester Hailes which is less than five miles away and has the nearest public counter.
Carluke was last fully utilised as an operational station three years ago, due to extensive water damage. Local community officers have been deploying from Lanark police station just over five miles away. Lanark is the main response hub for the area and nearest public counter. Officers have continued to effectively serve the area from Lanark with no detriment to the level of policing service delivery to the community of Carluke.
Seaton is leased space within Seaton Primary School. The station was last in operational use in response to the Covid pandemic in 2020/21. Since then, policing services in Aberdeen have been realigned and the property has not been used as an operational station for over two years. Officers previously based at this location relocated to other city stations, such as Tillydrone, which is less than two miles away.
Comments received from the public on all three properties recognised that the stations are not currently used and there was agreement that there is limited use of the buildings as a local safe place. One theme that emerged was the sentiment that local police sites represent policing and infer feelings of safety within the community.
All three properties were considered surplus to requirements by local Divisional Commanders and the SPA Resources committee approved them being declared surplus, with a view to being disposed of.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said : “Police Scotland inherited a very large and ageing estate, much of which was not fit for purpose, with high maintenance costs and environmental inefficiencies.
“Although we have rationalised and reduced the number of our properties over the last ten years, in some cases we are still maintaining multiple buildings just a few miles apart.
“Also, with advances in digital technology and our fleet, officers are no longer tied to working from police buildings and much of their time is spent out in communities dealing with calls and helping the public.
“All buildings incur running costs and ongoing repairs and maintenance. Retaining vacant and underutilised buildings, such as these three properties, is not good use of public funds.
“I realise that that for some, the presence of a police building can bring reassurance and confidence to their local area.
“I can assure the public that our officers will continue to be active, visible and accessible in these communities. Disposing of a vacant building does not mean there will be a withdrawl of service to that area.
“Those local communities will continue to receive the same high level of service from our officers.”
The outcomes of the consultations for Seaton, Balerno and Carluke have been published and can be found on the Engagement Hub.
A loving dad has given his son an amazing second chance by donating his kidney to save him from an incurable disease.
James MacDonald, 57, gave his son the gift of life after Craig, 28, developed chronic kidney failure.
The disease had reduced Craig’s kidney function by a staggering 92% and his mum, dad, older sister and several extended family members stepped forward to save him from a future on dialysis.
James emerged as the most compatible match and the pair, from Livingston, West Lothian, underwent the lifesaving transplant operation at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in February last year.
Now in time to celebrate World Kidney Day, Craig has made a full recovery, returned to work with his dad and the golfing buddies are closer than ever before.
James, a Manufacturer at a packaging company, said: “Craig and I are really close. We have worked together for many years, and I just wanted to give Craig his life back.
“I didn’t think twice about it and I think any father would want to do that for their child.”
Craig added: “I’m so thankful to my family, to my dad and to the transplant team for saving my life. The transplant experience has brought me and my dad even closer together.”
Craig’s journey with kidney issues began in childhood, but it wasn’t until a family holiday in 2021 that his symptoms became clearer. His mum noticed his ankles were swollen and insisted he see a doctor.
After visiting his GP, Craig was swiftly admitted to St John’s Hospital in Livingston with extremely high blood pressure as he was at risk of having a stroke.
Craig went on to be diagnosed with IgA nephropathyin November 2021 and was put on dialysis in October 2022. He said: “It was really scary being admitted to hospital so quickly and then being told that my kidney function was declining rapidly. I didn’t feel unwell which made it even more disconcerting.
“I felt way too young for this to happen and there was so much more I wanted to achieve in my life.”
James was identified as the optimal donor and in 2023, Craig and his dad underwent the lifesaving kidney transplant.
Craig’s mother, Carol, said: “I felt so helpless having my husband and my son in surgery. I was pacing up and down the hospital corridors just waiting to hear whether they were both okay.”
The operation was a success and within days, the transplant began making a visible difference to Craig.
James said: “He looked significantly healthier after the surgery – his face just lit up. “Before the operation, his kidneys were functioning at 8% and after one day post-surgery, his kidneys were up at 21%, it was amazing.
“Seeing him healthy and happy was the greatest reward any father could ask for.”
Since the operation, Craig has returned to work with his dad at the packaging company the pair go golfing regularly.
Craig said: “I’m now able to do what I want and I can finally lead a normal life. I’m just back from a golfing holiday with my dad and the experience has ignited an excitement within me for exploring the world more.
“I’ve been given a second chance and I want to enjoy every minute.”
Nina Kunkel-Howden, Live Donor Transplant Coordinator, NHS Lothian, said: “Craig’s journey is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of living kidney donation. Living donors really do change lives.
The Government is unable to provide any compelling examples of what Levelling Up funding has delivered so far. In a report published today, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warns that councils have been able to spend just a fraction of the Government’s promised Levelling Up funding, with only just over 10% of the funds provided to reduce inequality under the Levelling Up agenda actually spent and making a difference on the ground.
The PAC’s report finds that, of £10.47bn in total funding from central government, which must be spent between 2020-21 and 2025-26, local authorities have been able to spend only £1.24bn from the Government’s three funds as of Sept 2023.
Furthermore, only £3.7bn had been given to local authorities out of the total allocation by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) by December 2023.
In evidence to the PAC, DLUHC cited project-specific issues and the impact of the pandemic and inflation for a lower-than-anticipated level of spending to date. The PAC is calling for six-monthly updates from DLUHC, both on the amount of money released to and spent by councils, and on the progress of projects themselves.
The report finds that more impactful bids to funding lost out due to optimism bias in favour of so-called ‘shovel-ready’ projects. Yet, the report raises concerns that not enough was done by DLUHC to understand the readiness of schemes and the challenges facing local authorities before funds were awarded.
This also means that DLUHC has had to extend the deadline for successful bidders for earlier funds to spend their money.
Round 1 of Levelling Up Funding was awarded to ‘shovel-ready’ projects that were supposed to be completed and delivering for local people by March 2024 – but 60 out of 71 of these projects have had to extend to 2024-25, with further delays in other schemes likely.
The PAC’s inquiry also found a worrying lack of transparency in DLUHC’s approach to awarding funds, with rules for accessing funding changing while bids were still being assessed, which was also not communicated in advance to councils.
55 local authorities therefore bid under changed rules with no chance of being successful in Round 2, with an average bid for grants like Levelling Up costing around £30k.
This approach wasted scarce public resources, and the report calls on DLUHC to set out the principles it will apply and the decision-making process for awarding future Levelling Up funds.
Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Committee, said: “The levels of delay that our report finds in one of Government’s flagship policy platforms is absolutely astonishing.
“The vast majority of Levelling Up projects that were successful in early rounds of funding are now being delivered late, with further delays likely baked in. DLUHC appears to have been blinded by optimism in funding projects that were clearly anything but ‘shovel-ready’, at the expense of projects that could have made a real difference.
“We are further concerned, and surprised given the generational ambition of this agenda, that there appears to be no plan to evaluate success in the long-term.
“Our Committee is here to scrutinise value for money in the delivery of Government policy. But in the case of Levelling Up, our report finds that the Government is struggling to even get the money out of the door to begin with.
“Government has not helped the situation by changing the rules for funding mid-process, wasting time and money and hindering transparency.
“We will now be seeking to keep a close eye on DLUHC’s progress in unclogging the funding system. Citizens deserve to begin to see the results of delivery on the ground.”
Granton Waterfront is delighted to be working with the Edinburgh Science Festival to bring the free ‘Consumed’ Exhibition to Granton Station Square from 15th-19th March.
Consumed is an interactive exhibition that shows us how small changes make a big difference. Visit the repurposed shipping containers filled with fun games and hands-on displays for little ones and the whole family to enjoy!
Learn how what we eat, what we wear, and how we live can impact the world. Little changes in our daily habits can make a big difference for our climate. Find out how you can make positive changes that are easy on your wallet and great for the planet.
Don’t miss out on the free drop-in LEGO® Build the Change workshops on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March between 10am and 5pm.
Join a team of builders to learn about real-world challenges and create your own brilliant solutions in this workshop exploring the circular economy.
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, today launches Dobbies Community Gardens, to offer support for community and charity groups in Edinburgh and the Lothians to help transform, restore or start their indoor or outdoor green spaces.
Committed to bringing a smile to its local communities, Dobbies is inviting anyonewho has a community space that needs gardening knowledge and inspiration – indoors or outdoors – to get in touch, with applications now open.
Dobbies’ colleagues are passionate about gardens and plants, championing garden living all year round to create experiences that bring people and communities together.
The Stockbridge little dobbies and Edinburgh store will select a project to support from the nominations that are made. The winning groups will receive products, tools and plants to help bring their community space to life during a personal-shopper session with a dedicated Dobbies’ colleague. In addition to this, there will be volunteer hours allocated to help bring the project to fruition.
Successful applicants will receive support over the year to keep their indoor or outdoor space blooming.
Nick Anderson, Dobbies’ Operations Director, is looking forward to hearing from groups across the country. He said: “There are so many brilliant community groups near our Stockbridge little dobbies and Edinburgh store – from schools and nurseries, to In Bloom Groups and charities, and even local sports teams.
“Our store colleagues are ready to take on a fresh challenge for this year and we want to hear from groups in Edinburgh and the Lothians who would benefit from our support.
“If anyone knows of a community group that has a garden living project in need of our help, please encourage them to enter.”
Applications are now open and taking part couldn’t be easier. Those entering must be located within 20 miles of Dobbies’ Edinburgh store or five miles of the Stockbridge little dobbies store. For more information about how to get involved in Dobbies Community Gardens, visit Dobbies Community Gardens
Nominated projects will be invited along to the Edinburgh store for the free Grow How session on Saturday 4 May, 10.30am, and the winner will be announced. The Stockbridge little dobbies store doesn’t hold a free Grow How session, the winner will be contacted separately.
The winning team for each store will meet a colleague that will support them throughout the project.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Importance of sleep
Insomnia, or difficulties in sleeping, can be linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Studies found that poor sleepers have a 39% higher risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, and seven to nine hours of sleep per night is optimal for a healthy heart.
Poor sleep can lead to unhealthy habits such as being less motivated to be physically active and making unhealthy food choices. Both can cause obesity and high blood pressure, two risk factors for heart diseases.
Here are some tips on how to get a better night’s sleep:
Reduce your screen time
For at least one hour before bed, you should avoid using electronic devices such as phones, tablets and computers.
These all give off blue light which reduces your melatonin production and prevents you from falling asleep. Instead, you could try reading a book, listening to a podcast or meditating.
Follow a routine
By following a routine, it improves your sleep hygiene. Your routine should begin with a set time to start winding down and relaxing.
Going to bed and waking up should be done at the same time every day, including weekends for optimal sleep quality.
Change your sleep environment
Many people find it easier to fall asleep if their environment is right, for most this means dark, quiet and cool.
This varies for every person, you may prefer to listen to white noise or gentle music to help you to fall asleep instead.
Diet and exercise
It is beneficial to avoid eating large meals close to bedtime with most studies recommending that you shouldn’t go to bed for three hours after your evening meal.
Drinking caffeine in the morning is unlikely to impact our sleep. However, with caffeine staying in the bloodstream for hours after consumption, you may find it beneficial to avoid drinking it after lunch. Swapping to caffeine-free alternatives might help.
Partaking in physical activity can help with sleep by increasing melatonin production. Try to avoid being too energetic for up to 90 minutes before bed as this can hinder our sleep.
