Thousands of families are saving around £4,900 annually thanks to funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) from the Scottish Government.
The latest figures show that 111,574 children were in funded ELC places at the end of January 2022 – an increase of 20,684 (23%), since August 2021.
Of these, 88% (97,887 children) were taking advantage of the full offer of 1,140 hours of funded ELC a year. The total saving to families from the 1,140 hours offer is estimated to be £4,900 per child per annum.
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “It’s fantastic to see so many families accessing funded ELC and making significant savings – particularly at a time when so many are struggling with cost of living increases.
“As well as saving families money, funded ELC brings real benefits for children. Providing access to free, high-quality early learning and childcare enriches children’s early years and provides them with skills and confidence for starting school and beyond. It also supports parents’ ability to work, train or study.”
The latest figures show that at the end of January 2022:
Every council had reported an increase between 6% and 26% in numbers of two to five-year-olds accessing funded ELC compared with August 2021
97% of those (108,678) were accessing more than 600 hours a year
20,684 more children were accessing 1,140 hours compared with August 2021
the number of three to five-year-olds in funded places increased by 23%
the number of two-year-olds in funded places rose from 5,966 to 6,913 – an increase of 16%
Legislation came into effect on 1 August 2021 to make the expanded offer of 1,140 hours available across Scotland. The offer is available to all three and four-year-olds and two-year-olds who need it most.
More than half of all cash savers (52%) don’t know what impact inflation will have on the real value of their cash savings over time, while 13% believe inflation will leave them better off
New research from Legal & General1 has found that despite inflation reaching record levels many people in the UK are not aware of its impact on their finances.The findings reveal:
More than half of all cash savers (52%) don’t know what impact inflation will have on the real value of their cash savings over time:
One in 10 (13%) incorrectly believe inflation will leave them better off
13% think the real value of their savings would stay the same
More than a quarter (26%) say they don’t know what impact inflation could have on their cash
Millions of savers (64%, the equivalent of 10.3 million) have taken no action on their savings, despite cash earning next to nothing in interest and inflation rising steeply. In fact, half of all savers (54%) currently keep their money in cash over the long-term.
The total cost of “saver inaction” in such an environment (6% inflation) could amount to £18 billion if this trend continues over the next five years2.
Savers currently have £136 billion sitting in cash ISA accounts on average interest rates of 0.26% per year3.
Legal & General analysis shows the impact of inflation for every £1,000 stashed away:
Inflation rate
Average £ lost overfive years
Time for savingsto halve
National cost of saver inaction overfive years
6%
£243
13 years
£18 bn
7%
£278
11 years
£21 bn
8%
£311
Under 10 years
£23 bn
Source: Legal & General, 2022
Emma Byron, Managing Director, Legal & General Retirement Solutions, said:“Inflation is at its highest rate for three decades and it’s worrying that savers don’t realise its eating away at millions of pounds sitting in low-interest paying accounts.
“Understanding the impact of inflation is crucial to understand how much money you have in real terms. Whilst it is essential to keep some cash in the bank for an emergency fund, savers might want to consider other options to make their money work harder.”
Three ways of protecting your savings from inflation
Tip 1: Work out how much to put aside as an easy-access emergency fund
The Money Helper4 service suggests that you should save for emergencies. As a rule of thumb, you’ll need enough to cover your essential expenses for three months.
You should be ready cover bills like energy, your mortgage, travel and food costs, so should the unexpected happen, you’ll be prepared.
And you’ll know exactly how much money you need to keep in cash (which can be hit by inflation), so you can start saving any extra income in more inflation-proof ways.
Tip 2: Get best the interest rate you can on your savings
Make sure that any cash savings you have are getting the highest interest rate possible.
These days you can switch savings accounts and ISAs relatively easily. But if you do find a higher rate, remember that they can quickly go down.
For example, it’s common for Cash ISAs to offer high rates for the first year. Those rates can drop dramatically after the first year. So always set a reminder to keep an eye on any new savings rates you find. You can find more information on most bank websites and compare interest rates on comparison websites.
Tip 3: Think about investing your money or topping up your pension to beat inflation
It’s important that consumers are aware of the long-term impact of their pension contributions, alongside the compound effects of investing.
So if you can stash your savings away for the long term, think about topping up your pension, or investing in a stocks and shares ISA.
People will understandably be feeling unsure about the future at this moment in time, but the key thing to remember is that investing is for the long term.
With time on your side, you can balance out the ups and downs of market volatility. And if you have an emergency fund, you might well be able to ride out any storms and leave your investments untouched. That’ll give them a chance to go back up in value again.
Students! Edinburgh College Wellbeing team have launched a Creative Mental Health Group and are looking for students to join to help explore mental health through a number of creative methods.
More Scots are walking the walk and not just talking the talk when it comes to keeping active by heading out for a stroll.
Scottish walking charity Paths for All, which champions everyday walking in pursuit of happier and healthier lives, has been encouraged by the findings of a major Scottish Government study.
The Scottish Household Survey, which shapes the Scottish Government’s approach to policy, found that 86% of adults had participated in physical activity in the four weeks leading up to the survey – and of that large cohort the most common activity was walking – with 82% of adults having walked for at least 30 minutes.
Disabled adults also opted for walking with 61% saying this was their most common activity, while women were just as likely to pull on trainers or walking shoes than men – 85% compared to 87%.
Not surprisingly taking part in physical activity varied by age group. Younger adults – aged 16 to 24 – were more likely to take part in recreational walking (89%) than those aged over 75, and the survey found 36% of this older cohort did not participate in any physical activity.
Paths for All chief executive, Kevin Lafferty, said: “Scots of all ages are putting their best foot forward in large numbers and as the Scottish Household Survey demonstrates, walking remains one of the healthiest and easy-to-access activities which can enable people to enjoy healthier and happier lives.
“Our objective is to get Scotland walking, and while it is encouraging to see that more than 80% of those surveyed had walked for at least 30 minutes in the weeks before the study, that still means there is room for significant improvement.”
Paths for All launched their “Step it Up” strategy in January which places walking and physical activity at the heart of the response to tackling some of Scotland’s biggest issues, including physical, mental and social health and wellbeing.
Based on the WHO Global Action Plan for Physical Activity, Step it Up promotes walking, by foot or with a wheelchair or mobility aid, as the natural choice in improving health.
The Scottish Household Survey also revealed that walking as a physical activity dropped dramatically in the 20% most deprived areas to just 66%, compared to 89% in the 20% least deprived areas, and in those deprived areas 29% of adults did not participate in any physical activity.
A separate report by Nature Scot – Enjoying the Outdoors – supported by Paths for All highlighted the increasing importance of nature to people’s health and wellbeing and spending time outdoors to de-stress, relax and unwind.
The report established that local parks and spaces were the most visited sites and that 79% of those surveyed took part in walking (August to September 2021), with more than half enjoying walks of two miles or less, while 41% enjoyed longer walks of between two and eight miles.
Kevin Lafferty added: “Both reports underline the importance of getting off the sofa and out into the fresh Scottish air to make the most of our local environments, paths, tracks, and green spaces.
“We are lucky to be spoiled for choice in Scotland when it comes to wonderful places where we can stretch our legs and unwind our minds, both urban and rural, and we hope that when the next Scottish Household Survey takes place that the popularity of walking as a healthy activity will be even higher.”
Alzheimer Scotland fundraising week with strapline: ‘Now you’re talking’
Coffee morning-style events set for May 30 – June 5 to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week
Just pick a date, a location and gather up some friendly faces to have a chat over a cuppa – and a slice or two of cake if you fancy!
New all-in-one fundraising platform with packs and resources at blether.alzscot.org goes live
Every penny raised stays in Scotland to fulfil Alzheimer Scotland’s mission to ensure nobody faces dementia alone
Alzheimer Scotland are calling on the people of Edinburgh to pop the kettle on and get talking about dementia.
Ahead of Dementia Awareness Week, which kicks off next month, Alzheimer Scotland has launched its Tea & Blether campaign.
Communities across Scotland are encouraged to host a coffee morning-style event in a bid to raise funds and awareness of dementia.
And it’s simple: Just pick a date, a location and gather up some friendly faces to have a chat over a cuppa – and a slice or two of cake if you fancy!
Alzheimer Scotland’s Dementia Resource Centres will also run their own events to coincide with those happening across the country.
Whether at work, in school, at home or elsewhere in your community, every brew poured and slice served goes a long way to support people living with dementia.
Alzheimer Scotland promises that every penny raised will stay in Scotland as they strive to “ensure nobody faces dementia alone”.
Kirsty Stewart, Executive Lead for Stakeholder Engagement, said: “Alzheimer Scotland is delighted to launch Tea & Blether as a new national fundraising campaign.
“Some of our local teams across Scotland have been delivering Tea & Blether-style coffee mornings for quite a few years and we know our supporters enjoy taking part in this style of event.
“The successful ingredient is, of course, connection, and we hope that by talking about dementia, we are able to help raise awareness, reduce stigma and bring communities together to support people with dementia and their carers.
“Every penny raised for Alzheimer Scotland stays in Scotland and, as a charity, we are continually amazed and grateful for our supporters’ efforts to, ultimately, help us ensure nobody faces dementia alone.”
To get started, first register online for free at blether.alzscot.org to get your fundraising pack that ensures you’ll host a Tea & Blether worth talking about.
Participants are invited to host their Tea & Blether coffee morning during Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from Monday 30 May to Friday 5 June.
However, if you wish to enjoy your Tea & Blether another time, you are more than welcome to choose another date in June.
Whenever you decide to host your Tea & Blether and wherever it takes place, getting together to chat is great for everyone.
Fundraising is key to the campaign, but it’s important to complement this with awareness-raising as we continue to reduce stigma around dementia and educate ourselves on the positive impact that social interaction has on our wellbeing and brain.
To support this, fundraising packs include conversation flash cards to help raise awareness during people’s Tea & Blethers.
All that’s left to do now is sign up and start planning!
Join in the conversation online by posting a photo on Twitter or Instagram with your favourite mug and mention @AlzScot with the hashtag #MugShot.
Please remember that clinics, GP practices and many community pharmacies won’t be available on Good Friday or Easter Monday so try to collect prescriptions before Friday.
If you need urgent medical care over the weekend, please contact NHS 24 on 111 or visit NHS inform.
The legal requirement to wear face coverings in most indoor public spaces and on public transport will become guidance next week.
It is strongly recommended that face coverings continue to be worn where appropriate – including in indoor crowded spaces and on public transport – as members of the public are advised to carry on taking sensible precautions to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Data shows the situation has generally improved but Covid has not gone away with over 5,000 cases a day still being recorded in Scotland.
In a letter to the Presiding Officer and relevant Committee Convenors, Ministers confirmed the remaining legal requirements will be lifted as expected on 18 April.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “In recent weeks we have seen steady progress as we move back to a greater sense of normality and a more sustainable way of managing this virus.
“However our NHS is still under pressure and the most vulnerable members of our society can still benefit from additional measures to protect them from the virus.
“That is why although the use of face coverings will become guidance rather than a legal requirement I strongly recommend members of the public continue wearing face coverings in indoor settings where possible, and particularly when significant numbers of people are present.
“We should also all continue to follow the latest advice on hygiene, ventilation, testing and of course vaccination to protect ourselves and each other.”
It was confirmed earlier this month that people without COVID-19 symptoms will no longer be asked to take regular lateral flow tests from 18 April.
The change forms part of the Test and Protect Transition Plan, which sets out how testing will become more targeted, with the aim of reducing serious harm from COVID-19.
The changes to Test and Protect mean that from 18 April:
most people without symptoms will no longer be asked to take COVID-19 tests
free lateral flow devices (LFDs) for the purposes of twice weekly routine testing will no longer be available for the general population given the changing advice, but will continue to be free for any purpose for which testing continues to be advised – for clinical care, for health and social care workers and for people visiting vulnerable individuals in care homes or hospitals
until the end of April, people with symptoms should still isolate and get a PCR test
vaccinated close contacts of someone with COVID-19 should continue to test daily for seven days with LFDs
People who have symptoms of COVID-19 will still be able to book PCR tests in the usual way until 30 April.
From that date, test sites will close and people with symptoms will no longer be advised that they need to seek a test.
The public health advice for people who feel unwell will be to stay at home until they feel better, to reduce the risk of infecting other people.
New fund to investigate international best practice in the built environment for healthcare
Edinburgh Napier University to administer £1million budget
Administration of a £1m research budget focused on developing international best practice in the built environment for healthcare has been awarded by NHS Scotland Assure to Edinburgh Napier University.
The fund, launched on 1 April, is open to researchers who are looking to work collaboratively to identify ways to deliver safe healthcare environments that are free from avoidable risk.
NHS Scotland Assure has been designed to improve the management of risk in the built environment across Scotland, providing greater confidence to stakeholders, and a key focus is to develop opportunities for multi-disciplinary working within the healthcare-built environment.
This fund aims to provide opportunities to explore development of a consortium of different disciplines which delivers research in line with the identified needs of NHS Scotland Assure. The service will share best practice case studies in standards and models for the built environment.
The buildings and environment in which healthcare is delivered play a large part in preventing and controlling the risk of transmission of infection and other harms, and it is essential that buildings are safe, resilient and not vulnerable to these risks, where these can be prevented.
The guidance and advice generated by NHS Scotland Assure helps to ensure that patients, their carers and those delivering healthcare are in an environment which is not only safe but also effective and person centred. Research plays a pivotal part in supporting this as it ensures that produced guidance and given advice are based not only on best practice but also on best evidence.
It will also ensure that the most up-to-date and robust research is translated into practice to improve future health outcomes.
Over the next two years, the research programme will focus on eight healthcare environments:
· Water systems, including drainage (Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance (DICM))
· Ventilation systems (DICM)
· Pathogens, the microbiome, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), transmission risks and burden of disease in the hospital environment
· Hospital design, including size and single room provision
· Lessons learned from Covid-19
· Human factors/Ergonomics and Infection Prevention and Control
· Climate change requirements and the unintended consequences on built environment risks
· The role of safety and harms in relation to medical gases, electrical systems and fire safety.
The closing date for the first round of funding applications, based on research meeting one or more of the eight themes above, will be set for July 2022.
Professor Nick Antonopoulos, Vice Principal, Research & Innovation, Edinburgh Napier University, said: “We are very excited to announce this award, which is a good fit for the University’s experience and ongoing strategy, and reflects our commitment to develop our well-established research and teaching expertise in health and wellbeing.
“The success of the fund will be a priority for our Schools of Applied Sciences and Engineering & the Built Environment, and the University’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise department, who will all play their part in supporting the research programme.”
The Research Service at Edinburgh Napier will also be running regular events over the next two years, to nurture an inclusive approach between professional roles within the built environment and across infection prevention & control (IP&C); healthcare providers; academia; and research institutions.
Further information and relevant pro formas for application can be found here.
Are you a fan of 80s music? Child Bereavement UK needs you! The charity is looking for music fans to give 4 hours of their time to volunteer at Let’s Rock Scotland selling wristbands and raffle tickets to raise funds to support its work.
In return volunteers get to enjoy the rest of the event free of charge!
Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. The charity supports children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying.
The line-up for Let’s Rock Scotland, which takes place on Saturday 18 June 2022 at Dalkeith Country Park, Edinburgh, includes Squeeze, OMD, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Level 42 and Nick Heyward.
Lorna Murchie, Community Projects Manager for Child Bereavement UK said: ‘This year Child Bereavement UK is delighted to be the beneficiary charity of some of the UK’s most anticipated festivals and gigs.
“Our volunteers tell us they have a great time soaking up the festival atmosphere and seeing their favourite acts, in return for just a few hours of their time helping us raise much-needed funds. If you’re tempted to join in, please visit our website to find out how you can get involved .’
For more information on volunteering or to see a full list of events please visit:
With spring well and truly here and the gardening season in full swing, research from the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, Dobbies, has found that 65% of Edinburgh locals are looking forward to doing more gardening this spring.
The research, from Independent Media News, looked into this year’s gardening trends, attitudes towards gardening, garden centres themselves and some of the misconceptions about the UK’s favourite pastime.
Dobbies’ Edinburgh store has had a great start to the season and looking at customer trends from last year and this year to-date, General Manager, Jenna Bavidge, predicts Lupins will be the most popular plant for Edinburgh gardeners this spring.
Perennial Lupins, a favourite cottage plant, is a haven for bumblebees and butterflies with striking, tall bright blooms that come in a variety of colours and shades. These are wonderful pollinators and will inject gorgeous colour into the garden right the way through spring and summer and will continue to bloom year on year.
Research from Dobbies shows that just under half of Edinburgh residents are hoping to encourage more wildlife into their garden, and Lupins are the perfect plant to do that.
Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, encourages Edinburgh residents to Spring it on this year by sharing his top tips on Lupins and why they are so popular in East Scotland: “Lupins is a great addition to any garden, no matter the size or shape of your borders.
“We recommend planting Lupins in early spring to maximise their flowering potential and mulching well with peat-free compost to encourage strong growth and good moisture.
“These hardy blooms thrive in a bright spot that benefits from partial shade. If you don’t have a garden space, Gallery Lupins have been bred to be smaller and can flourish in a balcony space.”
For more information on what’s in stock at your local Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, visit www.dobbies.com.
If you would like to explore Dobbies full SS22 range, you can do so via their digital Look Book and Look Book Video.
