UK Government delivers on pledge for £50 million MND research funding

Red tape will be cut to speed up research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND) across the UK, enabling faster progress towards treatments

  • The full £50 million pledged for MND research is being placed into the hands of researchers as quickly as possible with further awards made today.
  • £29.5 million of government funding to be invested immediately through specialist research centres and partnerships with leading researchers.
  • A further £20.5m to accelerate work on the most promising treatments has also been committed for use in MND research, available through open call processes.

The UK Government will cut red tape in order to speed up research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND) across the UK, with immediate investment so NHS patients can benefit from cutting edge treatment and medicines, the Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, and Business Secretary, Grant Shapps, have announced today.

Work being done in the field of MND research has highlighted the impact that cutting-edge research can have, but also on the progress still to be made to help sufferers of this debilitating condition.

Removing red tape will ensure funding reaches frontline researchers more quickly, enabling faster progress towards treatments. This will be done through Biomedical Research Centres – which are collaborations between academics and clinicians to translate breakthroughs in the lab into potential new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies – to get funding to the most promising researchers who are already working in MND.

As well as this, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Medical Research Council (MRC) will work together to ensure proposals are referred to the most appropriate scheme for consideration at the early idea stage.

This presents an opportunity for outstanding researchers to get further funding beyond the initial £50 million to get new treatments from the lab to patients.

The Health and Social Care Secretary will also host leading researchers and patient groups at a roundtable to discuss their research on MND and how they can access this additional funding and ensure bids are made – this will ensure an open dialogue of communication.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Motor neurone disease can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, and I’m determined to help accelerate research to find a cure and develop innovative treatments.

“We’ve already invested millions to improve treatments and our understanding of this condition but there’s more we can do and that’s why I’m now slashing red tape to fast-track funding and ensure it reaches frontline researchers more quickly.

“I’m grateful to the United to End MND campaign, for their work raising awareness and I warmly congratulate Kevin Sinfield on his epic achievement completing seven ultra-marathons, as well as remembering the late Doddie Weir for his outstanding contribution over the past five years.”

Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Grant Shapps said: “Some of the UK’s brightest and best scientific minds are battling to find treatments – and one day, a cure – for the cruel and devastating condition that is Motor Neurone Disease.  We have invested millions of pounds in supporting them in that fight, but we are committed to doing more.

“Today’s measures will cut unnecessary red tape, getting that vital funding to the front line faster, as well as investing more in the crucial work that our world-leading scientists and researchers are doing.”

£50 million was committed to MND research over the next five years by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy last year, reinforcing progress being made by the UK’s world-leading scientists.

Recent successes include stem cell research by the Francis Crick Institute to investigate the molecular processes that cause the disease; and the development by the UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI) of a new form of testing for MND, which is now being used in a clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of a new treatment.

Today the government is accelerating £29.5 million of the committed funding into specialist research centres and partnerships with leading researchers to reduce bureaucracy and help researchers access funding as quickly as possible.

The £29.5 million package includes:

  • £8 million for early phase clinical research for MND, speeding up innovative new treatments for patients through the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres, specialist research centres which bring together experts to translate scientific breakthroughs into potential treatments for patients.
  • £12.5 million to support the best discovery science at the UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI), recognising the fact that the underlying mechanisms of MND are shared with frontal temporal lobe dementia, presenting new possibilities for targeted drug development.
  • A £3 million translational accelerator investment from MRC (to be matched later by another £3 million from NIHR) to join up these investments with other relevant programmes such as the MND collaborative and the UK Dementias Platform (DPUK).
  • £1 million of government funding which was allocated in June 2022 enhance coordination of UK MND research by setting up a MND Collaborative Partnership, bringing together people living with MND, charities and MND researchers across the UK to discover meaningful MND treatments. This is co-funded by the medical research charity LifeArc and MND patient charities MND Association, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and MND Scotland.
  • £2 million additional investment in this MND Collaborative Partnership to focus on gathering and analysing existing data on the condition to explore the underlying causes of MND and help develop breakthrough new treatments.

The remainder of the committed £50 million MND funding is available for researchers to access via NIHR and MRC. To support this work, the government has today published a joint NIHR/MRC Highlight Notice inviting outstanding researchers across the academic and life science sector to submit applications to an open call for the highest quality projects, responding to progress in science so breakthroughs can reach patients as quickly as possible.

NIHR and MRC are particularly looking for the opportunity to see ‘pull-through’ of treatments with early promise into clinical trials, as they emerge from the initial funding in this space. The NIHR and MRC already fund programmes across the whole translational research pipeline and anticipate funding scientifically excellent applications that will have a positive impact on patients’ lives, with the anticipation that this will increase the funded applications further over coming years over and above the initial commitment.

The funding will support researchers to better understand the disease and its related conditions, develop and test treatments and eventually give people living with the condition the chance of a better quality of life, and more good years with their loved ones.

CEO of the NIHR Professor Lucy Chappell said: “Today’s significant commitment to delivering Motor Neurone Disease research is a hugely welcome next step towards really tackling this debilitating illness.

“This detailed plan makes full use of our world-leading health research sector, and gives us the best chance of making truly impactful findings and treatments.

“Health research saves lives. We look forward to working with our researchers, partners and people living with Motor Neurone Disease to ensure the work outlined today is the best it can be.”

The government will continue to harness expertise and innovation, such as the work that is already underway at NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre where scientists are trialling new treatments to treat the condition. Promising trials have recently shown a delayed progression of the disease when the new drugs were given to patients.

The funding builds on the Life Sciences Vision, published in 2021 and sets out the government’s commitment to speed up innovative neurodegeneration and dementia research, so that new treatments reach patients faster.

Dr Catriona Crombie of LifeArc, on behalf of the MND Collaborative Partnership said: “The UK is leading the way in MND research. This new £2 million funding awarded to the MND Collaborative Partnership will help us to unlock the potential in patient data and could reveal new clues for scientists and researchers to develop new treatments.

“We are grateful the government has listened to the coalition of people living with MND, the MND scientific community and MND charities who have highlighted how vital and urgent MND research progress is. We look forward to continuing to work together to ensure the funding plans outlined today have the biggest impact and drive new treatments towards people with MND, fast.”

This boost to MND research is part of wider funding into neurodegeneration research, including funding to support pioneering clinical trials which have led to major advances in how the disease is understood.

This includes improving our understanding of how different types of MND are passed on genetically which could unlock new treatment options for patients using gene therapy.

The government will continue to harness expertise and innovation, such as the work that is already underway at NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre where scientists are trialling new treatments to treat the condition. Promising trials have recently shown a delayed progression of the disease when the new drugs were given to patients.

The funding builds on the Life Sciences Vision, published in 2021 and sets out the government’s commitment to speed up innovative neurodegeneration and dementia research, so that new treatments reach patients faster.

Children offer to donate pocket money to help pay for Christmas

ONE IN SIX WORKING PARENTS SURVEYED IN SCOTLAND WORRY THEY WON’T BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANY PRESENTS

  • New Action for Children research finds one in five children of working parents (22%) surveyed in Scotland will offer to donate their gift or pocket money to help their parents cover costs of festive season.
  • One sixth (15%) of working parents polled in Scotland worry they won’t be able to afford any Christmas presents.
  • Almost all (98%) working parents in Scotland said they had worried about money in past six months, more than half (52%) having worried often – resulting in trouble sleeping, worse mental health, getting upset and losing temper with kids.
  • One mum said: ‘“There are some days we won’t put the fire on and just have blankets around us. I don’t eat much anyway but some days I just have some beans on toast once or twice a day so my kids can have a proper meal.”

New Action for Children research released today uncovers the cost-of-living turmoil facing millions of working families in the run-up to Christmas.

To launch its annual Secret Santa campaign to help the country’s most vulnerable children, the charity commissioned a unique Savanta ComRes poll of 2,700 UK working parents and their children (nearly 5,500 in total), as well as a nationwide survey of its frontline staff. The research shows how the financial burden families are facing is taking an emotional toll on relationships, mental health and Christmas celebrations.

With the highest inflation rate in over 40 years, nearly all (98%) working parents the charity surveyed in Scotland said they have worried about money over the past six months, with more than half (52%) of those having worried often. Of those:

  • Almost six in 10(59%) have had trouble sleeping
  • more than two-fifths (44%) have tried to hide their money worries
  • more than two-fifths (44%) have noticed their mental health worsen
  • almost a quarter (22%) have become upset or stressed in front of their children, and
  • Just under a fifth (19%) have lost their temper with their children. 

The research also shows one in six (15%) of working parents surveyed in Scotland worry they won’t be able to afford any presents this Christmas. And despite their money worries, more than two in five (41%) said they will put on a brave face and try to act happy, with many children also thinking their mum and dad will be faking their festive cheer (37%).

The polling also recognises the severity of the situation and emotional pressures felt by the children and teenagers of the parents surveyed with:

  • Over a quarter (28%) of those who’d seen their parents worry in the last six months had also seen their parents become upset or stressed in front of them due to money worries and under a quarter (24%) experienced their parents losing their temper with them.
  • Almost a third (32%) thinking their parents will be worried about not having enough money to pay the bills over the festive period, and
  • One in five (22%) saying they will offer their pocket or gift money to help their parents cover costs this Christmas.

As a charity that delivers children’s services, Action for Children is instead increasingly having to provide emergency relief to families as the cost-of-living crisis deepens.

In a nationwide survey of nearly 200 of its frontline staff during November, it found over two-thirds of those surveyed (69%) are currently supporting a child, young person or family that is experiencing poverty or extreme financial hardship.

Nearly half (45%) reported they were extremely worried about the health and wellbeing of the children, young people and families they support due to their financial situation, and one in ten (10%) had even donated their own household items or clothing to families, such is the urgent need.

Three quarters (75%) of children in poverty are in working families¹ with rates expected to worsen² as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

Some of the issues highlighted by the charity’s frontline workers included:

  • a family having to pawn all their electricals to buy food for their children
  • a child who sleeps on a pile of blankets as its parents can’t afford a bed, and
  • a single parent to several children with additional needs working seven days a week trying to balance support for their children and earning enough money to make ends meet.

One worker asked a young girl if there was anything she would like from Santa this year, to which she replied: ‘I’m not asking for anything and I’m not writing it down on paper (then nodded towards her mum) because she would get too sad.’

Paul Carberry, National Director for Scotland at Action for Children, said: “For most of us the festive season is a happy time, yet as our shocking research shows there will be children across Scotland who face a very different Christmas this year.

“Instead of enjoying a safe and happy time, many children will wake up on Christmas morning to no presents, food or warmth. Every day our frontline workers are helping families keep their heads above water, making sure they have the basics like hot meals and proper winter clothes, as well as offering emergency support to keep homes warm and help families pay the bills.

“In yet another year when children and families have been pushed deeper into crisis, supporting them is more important than ever.

“Poverty is not inevitable, it is about political choices. The Scottish government has made a big step in the journey to end child poverty via their Scottish Child Payment, which we supported and called for, but families now require urgent giant leaps from both the UK and Scottish Government to make child poverty consigned to the past.

“Until every family can keep their child warm and well fed, we’ll be there to help them – that’s why we’re asking people to donate to help us make a life-changing difference to vulnerable children this Christmas and beyond. With your help we can be a vital lifeline for even more children across Scotland.”

Case study: 

Tina Buchan, 43, lives in Inverness and has five children with her partner Moni Buchan, 52. Tina works full-time as a Deputy Store Manager B&M store and her husband is a chef. He has struggled to find work near home and is currently working in London, leaving him apart from his family. Like so many families in Scotland, they are struggling to make ends meet this Christmas.

Tina was already struggling to make ends meet before household bills increased and, despite a recent promotion in work, is still being forced to take drastic measures to feed her children.

“There are some days we won’t put the fire on and just have blankets around us,” said Tina. “I don’t eat much anyway but some days I just have some beans on toast once or twice a day so my kids can have a proper meal.

“I’m pay as you go for my electric and I’m paying around £50 more a month just now. For heating, we have a coal fire and the price of coal has gone up a lot. The coal used to be £10 per bag and now it’s gone up to £15 a bag so it’s having a big impact on our budget.

“I’m good at budgeting which is a godsend because if I wasn’t the stress would overwhelm me. I’m on a salary so my pay is the same each month which helps me know what I’m working with. Once I’ve paid my bills and bought some food for the house I’m hardly left with anything.

With five children, Christmas is a particularly difficult period for Tina. Her children are aware of the family’s financial struggles and do not have any expectations for Christmas presents.

“I’m lucky in that my kids don’t expect much and don’t ask for a lot because they know how expensive things can be,” she said. “They’re quite happy to have things like socks, pyjamas, and maybe a couple of wee toys. I speak to them properly about it. The youngest still believes in Santa Clause so he gets a couple of extra things but the others all know roughly what I’ll be giving them.

“I’m not one to ask for help, I’m too proud but last Christmas our support worker from Action for Children, Sarah Sproul, brought food hampers and some presents for all the kids. Having five kids is expensive so that made a big difference.”

The pressure of making ends meet is not only affecting Tina but the children as well. Her 16-year-old son Aiden has suffered from anxiety which led the family to initially coming into contact with Action for Children for support around two years ago.

Thankfully Aiden has come a long way since then and has “come out of his shell completely to the point that he’s a completely different person now”, according to his mother.

Unfortunately, Tina is now seeing her 10-year-old son Amir’s mental health impacted by the stress of the cost of living crisis and is arranging for him to receive support from Action for Children.

“I told the school two years ago that he was struggling to deal with his anxiety and I was told by the doctors that there’s nothing they could do at the moment because the children’s mental health waiting lists are so long.

“I’ve spoken to Sarah and she’s going to make sure Amir receives the support he needs through Action for Children. She has been amazing for this family and I can’t possibly thank her enough for everything she’s done to help us all. If it wasn’t for Action for Children, I don’t know where we’d be.”

To become a Secret Santa for Action for Children visit iamsanta.org.uk

Ladbaby announce ‘FOOD AID’, a rework Band Aid feat, Martin Lewis

  • NEW SINGLE FEATURING MARTIN LEWIS AND YET TO BE ANNOUNCED ALL STAR CAST
  • OUT ON 16TH DECEMBER 2021
  • 100% OF PROFITS FROM THE SONG WILL BE DONATED TOWARDS THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER AND POVERTY. 
  • 50% WILL GO TO THE TRUSSELL TRUST AND 50% WILL BE DONATED TO THE BAND AID TRUST. 
  • HUNGER IS EVERYWHERE – ‘TSUNAMI OF NEED, AS PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE’
  • The Trussell Trust is handing out food parcels every 13 secs’
  • For the first time, the need for emergency food is outstripping donation
  • Half a million of parcels were distributed for children in just 6 months

Chart topping social media stars and charity campaigners LadBaby aka Mark and Roxanne Hoyle are set to make history becoming the first ever act to be allowed to rework the iconic Band Aid song ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’. 

“Food Aid”, released on 16th December will feature Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis plus a variety of yet to be announced musical collaborators. As the cost of living crisis spirals, LadBaby and Martin Lewis are aiming to raise as much money as possible to help tackle hunger and poverty. 

The track is available to pre-order from today .

100% of profits from the song will be donated towards the fight against hunger and poverty. 50% will go to the Trussell Trust and 50% will be donated to the Band Aid Trust. 

The track was rewritten with kind permission from Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and the Band Aid Trust. To rework the track, Mark and Roxanne teamed up with Grammy winner Amy Wadge, one of the UK’s most prolific contemporary songwriters, known for her long established writing partnership with Ed Sheeran and this year’s UK Eurovision entry, to rewrite the festive song with a touch of the tongue-in- cheek humour that LadBaby are renowned for.

Mark and Roxanne said: “We never intended to release a 5th Christmas single but as ambassadors of the Trussell Trust we were not prepared to sit back and do nothing in a year when people are struggling more than ever.

“The Trussell Trust, which supports more than 1,300 food bank centres, has told us that the cost of living emergency has created a ‘tsunami of need’, as people struggle to survive amidst the soaring costs of living. 

“With need outstripping donations for the first time in its history, we need to help ensure that food banks keep going this winter.

“Working households, families and disabled people are all really struggling.

“So, a few months ago we approached Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and the Band Aid Trust to ask permission to rework the most iconic Christmas track of all time ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’. And we were truly honoured when they said yes! So today we are announcing ‘Food Aid’ to raise as much money as we possibly can for the Trussell Trust and the Band Aid Trust.

“We knew we needed to enlist an icon to launch this year’s campaign, and we’re so excited to announce that the people’s champion and fellow supporter of the Trussell Trust Martin Lewis is joining us on this year’s track. An exciting variety of yet to be announced musical collaborators will also be announced in due course! 

“We HAVE to do whatever it takes to build a future where all of us can afford to go to sleep with a full stomach. We hope everyone can support us as much as they can!”

Martin Lewis says: “When Mark and Roxanne contacted me out-of-the-blue to ask if I’d join them in Food Aid I thought they’d confused me with someone else. The nearest I’ve ever got to thinking about a Christmas number one is going to the loo on Boxing Day after too much orange juice the day before.

“Yet once I knew they were serious, and it was for the Trussell Trust, a hugely important charity I’ve a history with, I decided to give it a go, and do it with gusto.

“This has been a tough year for many, prices have rocketed. Advice charities and food banks are swamped. Deficit budgeting is becoming more common – meaning even after everything has been cut to the bone – people still have less income than expenditure. 

“It’s going to be a tough winter, and things aren’t likely to ease much in 2023. So the need to help and support people struggling across the UK is profound. Hopefully this Ladbaby song and their lyrics will raise some cash and awareness.”

Emma Revie, CEO of the Trussell Trust said: “We are so grateful to LadBaby for their incredible support for a fifth year running. Between April and September this year, food banks in the Trussell Trust network provided 1.3 million emergency food parcels to people facing hardship.

“Soaring food and fuel costs are affecting us all, but for families on the very lowest incomes this crisis means so much more and more people are likely to need a food bank’s help.

“Food bank teams are working tirelessly to ensure help continues to be available. But ultimately, no one in the UK should need a food bank – all of us should have enough money for the essentials like food, clothing and heating.

“The support of LadBaby and the Band Aid trust will help food banks within our network continue to provide the lifeline of emergency support for local people in crisis, while we work in the long term to end the need for food banks, for good. Thank you so much” 

The Hoyle’s are keen to use their social media platforms of over 13 million followers for good, especially when so many families across the nation are struggling.

Mark and Roxanne will support the Trussell Trust with both fundraising and awareness campaigns.

Through their Christmas chart topping endeavours where they’ve donated 100% of the songs profits and branded partnerships, the couple have already raised over £1.2 million for the Trussell Trust through their charity singles and brand partnerships, but as the cost of living crisis gets worse they are committed to do even more to help.  

Now, more than ever, food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network need vital funds to support people struggling to afford the essentials. Figures released by the charity just a few weeks ago revealed that food banks in its network across the UK provided around five emergency food parcels a minute as families struggled to afford to feed themselves.

More emergency food parcels were given out during the April to September 2022 period than ever before for this time of year. Over the last six months, more than 320,000 people have been forced to turn to food banks in the Trussell Trust network for the first time. 

For the first time, the need for emergency food is outstripping donations as the cost of living emergency is leading to a drastic increase in the number of people turning to food banks for support.

New figures from the Trussell Trust show more emergency food parcels were given out during the April to September period than ever before. Food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK-wide network distributed 1.3 million food parcels to people facing hardship – this is an increase of 52% compared to the same period in 2019. 

Half a million of these parcels were distributed to children. One in five people referred to food banks in the Trussell Trust network are in working households.

LadBaby have surpassed the Beatles and the Spice Girls as the act with the most consecutive Christmas number ones in a row.

The duo first topped the chart in 2018 with We Built This City, a cover of Starship’s 1985 hit; followed by I Love Sausage Rolls, their take on The Arrows / Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll; Don’t Stop Me Eatin’, a cheeky version of Journey’s beloved power ballad and last year topped the chart with ‘Sausage Rolls For Everyone’, the duo’s collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John.

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Six in ten parents think their child has experienced mental ill health

  • New polling also reports significant impacts on family life and siblings
  • Findings also report impact on working life of parents

New polling for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) by The Diffley Partnership has exposed a dramatic concern among parents for their children’s mental wellbeing.

The polling has shown that:

  • 50% of parents think their child has experienced mental ill health, with over one quarter considering it moderate or serious
  • Nearly 60% of those parents reporting a mental health issue consider it to have a fair or great impact on their family life, with over 60% considering it to have such an effect on their childrens’ friendships and social activities
  • Almost half believe their child’s mental health issues have a great or fair impact on the other children in the household
  • More than one-quarter of parents with children whom they believe have a mental health issue have had to take time off work as a result

ECHC exists to transform the lives of babies, children and young people in hospital and healthcare so they can be a child first and a patient second. All its work streams are centred around this objective, putting children and young people at the heart of everything it does, and its activity includes support for child and adolescent mental health services. 

It is currently considering enhancing its services for children and wellbeing with a mental health concern to reflect the increased need illustrated by this polling.

Commenting on the polling, ECHC’s Chief Executive Roslyn Neely said: “The data from this poll is deeply concerning. The truth is that we simply don’t know enough about the impact that life in the 2020s – with a period of social exclusion layered on top of unprecedented social media exposure – is having on young people’s mental health.

“However, what we do know is that we are seeing more problems than ever before, and we believe we can play a part in solving them.

“We are working on a ground-breaking programme which will not only help the young people experiencing mental ill health, but their families too.

“There is no more time to wait. We cannot simply cross our fingers and hope that our young people work out any problems without help. There is too much at stake.”

The polling follows a wellbeing and resilience report compiled by ECHC following in-depth consultations with the parents of children and young people who had experience with CAMHS or mental health issues.

Roslyn Neely added: “These in-depth consultations provided us with a wealth of information which, critically, show us that parents explore a range of different sources of help for their children, including CAMHS, GPs and schools.

“ECHC is now discussing the possibility of creating another route down which parents and young people can go.”

A Pawsome Christmas Lunch at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store

Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, is inviting customers and their dogs in Edinburgh for a Pawsome Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 14 December, in the dedicated dog-friendly area of the restaurant, to allow the whole family to join in on some festive fun.

Customers in Edinburgh are in for a treat with Dobbies’ great-value two-course menu for £14.95 per adult. For the main course, there is a traditional Christmas turkey roast dinner with pigs in blankets, sage and onion stuffing, roast potatoes, creamy mash, seasonal vegetables and gravy.

The vegetarian option includes Quorn sausages, served with seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, creamy mash, sage and onion stuffing and gravy.

Building on the festivities, Dobbies’ dessert options are guaranteed to get you feeling festive. Customers can enjoy Christmas pudding drizzled with a decadent and creamy brandy sauce or a mince pie cheesecake with pouring cream or the choice of vanilla ice cream. Diners hoping to make a celebration of it can enjoy a 200ml bottle of Prosecco for an additional charge of £6.35 per person.

Our canine best friends will be in for some Christmas cheer at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store. Each customer will receive a Barking Bakery Woofin doggy cupcake treat to take home as well as a money off voucher for Dobbies’ pet department. A maximum of two dogs per person attending are permitted and customers in Edinburgh are encouraged to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Dobbies’ Partnership and Events Manager, Sarah Murray, said: “We are very excited to welcome our customers and their dogs to our Edinburgh store for a very special Christmas lunch, the dedicated dog-friendly area in our restaurant.

“We pride ourselves on being dog-friendly and know how important pets are to the family. Everyone deserves to enjoy the festivities and we can’t wait to meet the dogs in Edinburgh. We hope they enjoy this event as much as our customers do and have a barking good time.”

For more information and booking, please visit: events.dobbies.com.  

Second hand toys for a cheaper, greener Christmas

Cash strapped parents struggling to find the extra cash for Christmas are being urged to clear out the cupboards and sell unwanted toys.

The penny pinching experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have pulled together their tips for families hoping to sell used toys, and buyers hoping to bag a bargain this Christmas.


With money being tight for many this festive season, the experts are expecting parents to find alternative ways to buy their kids the toys they’ve asked for without forking out for brand new items.

Buying second hand is a good option for securing a bargain for the buyer, and raising a little extra cash for the seller.

Rebecca Bebbington, online consumer expert at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “Christmas is an expensive time of year and with the ongoing cost of living crisis, it will put additional pressure on families.

“Selling unwanted toys is a good way for parents to get additional cash together – and is great for those hoping to buy a bargain bundle of second hand toys.

“It’s also better for the environment too. Rather than toys being put into landfill, they’re being cleaned down, repackaged and sold on for another little one to enjoy.

“We’ve put together some helpful tips for toy sellers and buyers to make sure everyone gets a good deal this Christmas.”

Here are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s top tips for buying and selling toys this Christmas:

For sellers:

  1. Photos

Take plenty of pictures showing the toys at their very best. If they’ve been in the back of a cupboard to up the loft, give them a good wash down so they look as good as new. However, there’s no point trying to hide any imperfections. Ensure your images represent the item in the best way so a buyer knows exactly what they’re getting and the quality it will be in.

  1. Description

Write a detailed description, describing the items as accurately as possible to avoid any confusion. Don’t be misleading. It’s always important to be honest in your description, even more so when the item is likely to be a special gift for Christmas.

  1. Haggling

Be prepared for a haggle. Lots of buyers will offer you a price lower than you are selling for. Be aware of this and price accordingly.

  1. Price comparisons

Have a look online to see what the same items are selling for, you don’t want to miss a sale because you’ve overpriced. Likewise, you don’t want to underprice and not get the amount the items deserve.

  1. Delivery

Offer to deliver for a small fee. Sometimes this may make the difference in securing a sale.

  1. Hold your nerve

Don’t settle on the first offer. It’s likely that you will receive a few offers after posting your item. Hold out a day or two to be sure you get the best price.

For buyers:

  1. Haggle

Don’t be afraid to ask for a few pounds off. If someone really wants a sale they will be happy to negotiate a price.

  1. Offer a swap

If you don’t want to pay the full price or can’t afford to, have you got something the seller might want? Ask if they’re happy to do a swap instead of a sale. You never know, you might just have something they’re looking for.

  1. Buy local and collect

Try to buy items in your local area and collect them wherever possible. Often, sellers can create their own fees for delivery so it’s always worth saving yourself a few pounds by picking the items up yourself.

  1. Photos

If you think the pictures don’t depict the item clearly, ask for more. You want to be sure that you get what you’re paying for and that it’s in the condition they have stated. Particularly important if you’re shopping for the item as a gift and you want it to look as good as new.

  1. Ask questions

If you have any doubts about the quality or condition of an item, ask lots of questions. It may be that the seller wasn’t clear enough – it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

For more tips on saving on toys this Christmas including buying secondhand, toy swaps and making your own https://www.netvouchercodes.co.uk/blog/save-this-christmas-with-second-hand-toys

NHS Lothian marks 2nd anniversary of COVID-19 vaccine roll out

2.5 million doses given across the region

NHS Lothian is marking two years since Scotland’s roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine began on 8 December 2020. Since then, more than 14.5 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Scotland with 2,451,177 of those being given across Lothian.

The initial effort to protect people from the deadly virus was the biggest logistical operation Scotland had seen since the Second World War.

Thousands of volunteers signed up to help NHS staff, mass vaccination centres were rapidly assembled in major cities and mobile units toured the country.

This rapid deployment meant a million Scots were jabbed within three months – averting 27,656 deaths, according to the World Health Organisation, which noted Scotland’s quick uptake.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf commented: “When marking this milestone we must first remember all those who have lost a loved one to this virus and reflect on what has been an incredibly challenging time for everyone.

“As a nation we can be incredibly proud of our world-leading vaccination programme.

“This could not have happened without the incredible efforts of staff and volunteers across the country. Unfortunately COVID-19 has not gone away and I continue to urge everyone to take up the offer of a vaccination when they become eligible.”

Pat Wynne Nurse Director for Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian said: “The past two years have been a hugely challenging time for everyone and we are hugely grateful to our team of vaccinators, support staff and to everyone who has come forward for vaccination as we mark the second anniversary of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out in Scotland.

“COVID-19 is still circulating and it can spread more easily during the winter months. So if you’re eligible and you’ve not had your vaccine yet please book an appointment online today for both your flu and COVID-19 vaccines, or attend one of our drop-in clinics. By getting vaccinated you can top up your protection and reduce the risk of becoming seriously unwell from the virus.”

Those who are eligible can book an appointment online at nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines or attend a drop-in clinic.

You can find out if you are eligible at nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines. More information on Lothian’s drop-in clinics is available at:

https://www.nhslothian.scot/HealthInformation/Immunisation/WinterVaccination/Pages/default.aspx

Don’t let callous car thieves steal Christmas

Motorists have been warned not to leave Christmas presents on display in parked vehicles after almost a third admitted to being a victim of car crime.   

Experts at  Quotezone.co.uk have revealed that more than one in ten Brits leave their precious presents in the car during the festive season, presenting an ideal opportunity for heartless thieves to ruin Christmas.    

New data from Quotezone.co.uk reveals that 11% of us admit to leaving gifts we have purchased for loved ones in our cars while we continue our Christmas shopping or enjoy a night out.  

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 The car insurance comparison experts also asked 1,000 drivers if they had experienced a vehicle break-in, with almost one third, 31%, confirming they had.   

Now they are warning car owners to be more careful this year and ensure presents are kept in the safety of the home, or at least well hidden from view in vehicles. 

Better still, take presents straight home from the shops and get them wrapped and placed under the tree.    

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk said: “It must be a terrible feeling to have carefully chosen or sentimental Christmas presents stolen from a car just before the big day.    

“Our data shows that almost one third of drivers have experienced a car break in, yet 11% of us still leave presents in a parked car.  Christmas is a time of goodwill but sadly for some thieves it’s a time of opportunity.   

“It’s also an incredibly busy time of year, drivers need to remember to be careful and always keep presents hidden out of sight under the boot cover or in the glove box, ideally parked next to a streetlight on a busy street.  If the car is left unlocked or the stolen items are in full view, it may invalidate an insurance claim.    

“Fully comprehensive car insurance usually includes cover for some possessions damaged or stolen from a car but there’s usually a cap on this amount.  If drivers know they’ll be travelling to see family this Christmas and have a large sack of expensive gifts in the car, it would be worth informing their insurer to double check they’re covered and potentially increase the price cap temporarily.  Also don’t forget to keep all receipts, they may be needed if they have to make a claim.”    

To further prevent car break ins, drivers should park in a well-lit, populated area, ensure that all windows are rolled up, and consider installing a steering-wheel lock, car tracker and immobiliser – if the car doesn’t have one as standard.    

Car security is really important any time of the year, but especially during the festive period with expensive and sentimental presents in danger of being stolen and ruining Christmas.   

If cars are broken into, drivers should take photos, identify the damage and inform the police – obtaining a crime reference number, also inform the car insurance company as soon as possible.   

Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year find savings on everyday household bills and essentials, such as fully comprehensive car insurance

Supporting low-income workers

Self-Isolation Support Grant scheme pays out £73 million over pandemic and will end next year

Low income workers who lost earnings when they self-isolated after contracting Coronavirus (COVID-19) have received awards totalling almost £73 million.

The temporary Self-Isolation Support Grant is the longest running scheme of its kind in the UK. It helps those earning less than the Real Living Wage, around £1,771.25 per month, if they cannot go to work following their positive PCR test or someone they care for has a positive PCR test.

From October 2020 until October 2022 the scheme made more than 150,000 awards but will close to new applicants on 5 January 2023 as most people now no longer need to take a COVID-19 test. To prevent the spread of infection, people should try to stay at home if they feel unwell.

Alternative financial support will continue to be available, depending on individual circumstances, through Crisis Grants through the Scottish Welfare Fund, alteration to Universal Credit rates and Statutory Sick Pay for absences lasting longer than three days.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The Self-Isolation Support Grant has provided vital help for those who would find it impossible due to their financial circumstances to follow the health guidance to stay at home if unwell.

“This emergency pandemic measure was introduced to support the important role of self-isolation in controlling transmission.

“The stay at home guidance has, since its launch, changed to reflect the prevalence of the virus and actions taken to combat it. We will continue to consider further measures to support those in high risk categories.

“Our COVID-19 vaccination programme has been hugely successful and has enabled us to ensure a safer and sustainable return to normality.”

Self-Isolation Support Grant (£250) – mygov.scot

Edinburgh care home manager offers tips on moving an elderly relative into a family home

MOVING AN ELDERLY RELATIVE INTO YOUR HOME? EASE THE TRANSITION WITH SIMPLE COST-EFFECTIVE TIPS  

As the cost-of-living crisis looms over us this winter, many families will be facing the tough decision of whether it is financially sensible, and safer, to move an elderly relative into the family home. With this, comes a host of new challenges to navigate for both the welcoming family and the elderly relative who is being moved homes.  

Renaissance Care is a national care home provider and is well-versed in providing housing transition support for elderly people moving into its facilities and can offer some practical tips on easing that adjustment for both parties.  

Jozi Stables, care home manager at Edinburgh’s Glencairn Care Home said: “It can be a challenging time for families when they are transitioning a relative from independent living into an existing family home environment and something we are very aware of when residents  come to stay with us at our care homes.  

“It’s often a journey that all members of the family have to embark on and it’s very normal for there to be teething problems along the way.  However, there are easy and effective ways that you can ease this transition to make the journey ultimately enjoyable for all involved.”  

·         Retain a sense of independence:  Elderly relatives who have lived alone for many years have their own routine, their own social commitments and their own needs for personal space. So, it’s really important to make sure when moving a relative into the family home that these rights are respected. Relatives should be able to come and go to their existing commitments as they wish, freely and without judgement. It can be easy to become overprotective, but it is important to continue to promote and support your relative’s independence. . Set clear boundaries from the outset on what they would like your help with and what they can manage on their own and stick to these – there’s no harm in reviewing these often but it’s important not to fuss and overstep the mark.  
 

·         Routine is important: Moving an elderly person into a hustling, bustling family home can be overwhelming – the noise, the pace and the routine are all quite unfamiliar. Try and make sure the relatives routine is implemented and blended into the running of the family home, this might look like earlier dinner times, adapting meals to suit the palette of your relative, changing the TV schedule and quieter evenings if they are early to bed. It is important to ensure your relative still has choice and you support them with their choices and routine.  
 

·         Small adaptations are easily made: Making your home a safe environment that encourages independence can seem like a daunting task but actually there are so many products available on the high street and online that making small changes is very achievable. Ergonomically designed kettles that are suitable for elderly people, as well as specially designed crockery and cutlery, and apparatus that can assist with getting dressed, are all readily available and can make a huge difference to the enjoyment of someone elderly moving into the family home. At Renaissance Care – and across the care sector – we encourage risk enablement, meaning that if the benefit outweighs the risk then the behaviour or task isn’t modified, so encouraging elderly people to continue making their own cups of tea is just one example of this.  
 

·         Reassurance: Often elderly people feel that they have become a burden on their family, so providing consistent reassurance to the relative is very important. If it helps to take away the sense of being looked after, let your elderly relative contribute financially to the home, it might only be £20 but it will give them a sense of ‘paying their way’ – something heavily engrained in their generation.  
 

·         Health Monitoring: Often such a big upheaval can lead to elderly people experiencing depression and low moods, and so it is really important to keep an eye on your loved one and monitor behaviours and be aware of any changes in their baseline health. It’s normal to have the odd day here or there where you’re not feeling 100% but if it becomes a constant, it’s time to flag your concerns to your elderly relative and – if you can – the family GP.  
 

·         Create a quiet space: It might seem obvious but creating a small space with home comforts that the relative can escape to for some quiet time can be invaluable. This can simply be putting a TV in their bedroom so that they can watch their own programmes without the interruption of family life.  

Jozi continued: “It’s really important to remember that your elderly relative is used to their independence, their home comforts and their own space – try and replicate those conditions in certain spaces within the home so that there is an escape from the hustle and bustle of a busy household. Most elderly people enjoy being around others but just like anyone else, they need time to recharge and unwind and we should be respectful of that. 

“Sometimes it’s beneficial for both parties in the newly combined household to take a break, that’s where respite stays are an invaluable resource for families to call on – it can be a short weekend stay, a week or two.  

“This is a big transition for everyone involved and it’s okay to take time, adjust and adapt – it might not happen overnight. There are also valuable resources available through Alzheimer’s Scotland, Health and Social Care Scotland and from your local GP practice.”  

Renaissance Care Homes owns and operates sixteen homes located across Scotland and currently provides care provision for 700 residents throughout the UK.