As the days get shorter and colder, motorists are being offered advice on what they should do if they breakdown.
The experts at LeaseCar.uk have put together their tips to give drivers a helping hand if they find themselves ground to a halt.
Advice varies slightly depending on whether cars are on the motorway or driving in the countryside, but the overriding rule is to find somewhere safe to stop.
Among other advice is to get out of the vehicle and ensure the car is visible to others on the road.
Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “Breaking down can be overwhelming particularly if it’s cold, the weather conditions are poor and you’re not sure where you are.
“The general rules are to pull over somewhere safe and to make sure the vehicle is visible to other road users. If you have breakdown cover, call them to get the recovery in process.
“What you do next very much depends on where you’ve broken down and how vulnerable you and your passengers feel.”
It’s important to get your car off the road, if you can, to avoid obstructing traffic and causing any unnecessary incidents. That can be harder on a motorway but where possible pull off at the next exit or onto the hard shoulder, stopping as far to the left as you can.
2. Make your car visible
Your car needs to be visible to other motorists, particularly if it’s dark or the weather conditions are poor. Make sure hazard lights are on and sidelights if it’s dark or foggy. Do not put a warning triangle out – the priority is to get off the road.
3. Stay safe
The advice is to get out of your car using the doors furthest away from the traffic and wait behind a barrier. If you’re on a motorway, try and move up a bank where possible. Leave any animals in the car.
4. Be seen if you have high vis jackets or waistcoats, put them on so you’re seen.
5. Warning triangles
If you’re on a motorway, do not use a warning triangle – your priority is to get away from traffic. If you’re on a quieter road and it’s safe, a triangle can be placed at least 45m behind your vehicle.
6. On a smart motorway
Smart motorways use technology to manage and keep an eye on the flow of traffic. The hard shoulder may be used as an extra lane, so if you breakdown and can’t get off the road, pull into one of the emergency refuge areas. If it’s safe, get out of the car. If you breakdown in a live lane, stay in the car with your seatbelt on and call for help.
7. In a city
Try to find a safe spot and put on your hazard lights. Open the bonnet if you can to show others you’ve broken down and you’re not just waiting by the side of the road.
8. In the countryside
If you are not causing an obstruction, there’s no need to put your hazard lights on. Instead stay in your car until recovery arrives. If you feel at risk, lock the doors.
9. In a car park
This is one of the safest places to breakdown. Open your bonnet so the recovery vehicles can find you. If you don’t want to stay with your car, wait by the entrance and you can guide the breakdown team to your vehicle.
This winter will be one of the most difficult in living memory with lockdown and increasing unemployment forcing more people to spend time in homes they can’t afford to heat and potentially ending up in hospital. Many people will use more, pay more and owe more, while earning considerably less.
Yesterday was Fuel Poverty Awareness Day and Scottish Gas Networks is raising awareness of how we can make sure our communities stay safe and warm this winter.
This includes our Help to Heat scheme, which supports those struggling to make ends meet by providing funding to connect some households to our gas network for free. In some cases, we can also fully or partially fund a gas central heating system.
According to National Energy Action (NEA), the same health conditions impacted by cold indoor temperatures will place people at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.
Coping strategies which people normally use to get through the cold winter months, such as only having one heated room for the family to socialise in, could also increase the spread of infection.
This not only threatens even more lives but hampers collective efforts to reduce infection and prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed. Some households also take risks by using unsafe heating sources such as a cooker or outdoor patio heater to get warmed up, which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning or start fires.
It’s important to us that our communities are safe and warm this winter and we want to help people to reduce their heating costs.
Heating a home with electricity is proven to be three times more expensive than it would be with a gas central heating system, so could you or someone you know benefit from a free connection to our gas network?
Mr R, a father of two from Winchester, received funding for a gas connection and A-rated central heating system from SGN’s Help to Heat Scheme. Mr R said: “I found the scheme while my heating was being temperamental. When we found out we could get the funding me and my wife were very happy, it was a huge relief. The heating system install was actually rushed through because eventually our old oil boiler just broke.”
The family had their brand new energy efficient heating system installed during the coronavirus pandemic, with emergency work continuing to ensure they weren’t left without heating.
“The contractors were great, I was really happy with the installation, it all ran very smoothly. I was really happy with Felicity on the phone, she took control of my install and I’m thrilled with the outcome, it worked out brilliantly!”
To find out if you or someone you know is eligible for a free gas connection and gas central heating from our Help to Heat scheme, visit sgn.co.uk/HelptoHeat, or call YES Energy Solutions on 0800 015 5174 to speak to a Help to Heat advisor.
You can also email our team at HelptoHeat@sgn.co.uk with your name and contact details.
If you’re already connected to our gas network, you can receive free independent support to assess your energy bills and consumption.
We work with established partners to help you to reduce your utility costs and help you to stay safe and warm this winter. Find out more at sgn.co.uk/extra-help
As we approach the festive period and darker nights, it’s a good time to review security of your home, says Police Scotland.
Do you keep your keys in view of a window? If you have an alarm, do you use it, is it zoned? Have you recorded the serial numbers for your electrical equipment? Are your valuables easily accessible? Have you uploaded your photos to the cloud or onto a hard drive? Here’s a few tips
:• Ensure your locks are tested to British Standard or meet the needs of your insurance company.
• Keep doors and windows locked.
• Keep car keys secure and hidden.
• If you are out whilst it is dark, consider fitting light timers or leaving a light on.
• Fit outside security lights, either motion senor or dusk to dawn.
• Window locks should be fitted where appropriate and used all the time. Do not leave the key in the lock.
• Mark all the electrical equipment with an ultraviolet marker pen
• At the front of the house hedges or trees should be trimmed or cropped so as not to provide cover for thieves.
• Laptop computers and mobile phones are favourite housebreaking targets. These should be locked away or removed from view. Add tracking software to smart phones, laptops and Ipads to aid in the recovery of these items
• Consider investing in a safe or strong box for storage of cash and valuables. A safe should be securely fixed to the fabric of the building and should only be used for short-term storage of cash.
Black Friday shoppers have been encouraged to pay on credit card, do their research before the day and be wary when it comes to some deals this year.
Penny pinching pros from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have revealed six helpful tips to make a successful Black Friday haul.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday is one of the best weekends of the year to spend money due to the bargain prices many shops offer.
It’s important, however, to stay as safe as you can whilst shopping and to make sure that the deals are actually deals.
A spokesperson for NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “Black Friday weekend is one of the best times to buy presents for Christmas, but it can get busy quickly.
“Many shoppers are expected to ditch the shops and buy online this year due to the current coronavirus restrictions, so it’s important to do your research before the weekend.
“By following our tips hopefully you’ll make Santa jealous with your haul of presents, all whilst keeping your bank account happy too!”
These are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk tips to stay safe and have an enjoyable weekend shopping:
1. Make a list
It can be very easy to go blind when you’re confronted with lots of offers. Before Black Friday, make a list of who you need to buy for, or what you want to buy. This will make it more difficult to over buy. You could even have a browse and write down pre-Black Friday prices. Browse around and compare prices, then make a note of the best two websites that stock the products. If it sells out before you have chance to buy it you’ll have a back-up store ready.
2. Social Media
Many brands will be advertising their deals on social media in the lead up to Black Friday. Some may even offer exclusive deals to their followers. If you have the option to follow local stores, this may mean you can enjoy deals exclusive only to individual shops.
3. Start early
Some shops have been known to start their Black Friday deals up to a week before the big day. Sometimes it can pay to buy a few smaller items on these days, so on Black Friday you’ll have more time to trawl through the offers.
4. Be wary
If there’s a deal which looks too good to be true, it probably is. Just because there’s a deal on doesn’t mean you have to buy. It’s easy to think that because an item is reduced on one site then it’s a great deal. It may only be reduced by a small amount or may be even cheaper elsewhere. If you have the time to shop about, do it. Using a price tracking website will let you look at a product’s price history so you can see if it is a great deal or not.
5. Voucher sites
Although some of the offers may seem great already, your bank account isn’t going to say no if you can save even more money! Spend some time going through voucher sites which could help you get even more of a discount on your Black Friday shopping. Write down any codes next to relevant items on your list. This will help speed up the checkout process when it comes to the big day.
6.Card
If you’re planning on making your purchases online, it’s important to consider which card you will be using. If you pay with a credit card or via PayPal you’ll have more protection if anything goes wrong.
Two Midlothian based entrepreneurs have successfully launched a new clothing brand following support from Business Gateway.
Launched in April 2020, MC Apparel is a fashion clothing brand created by Midlothian locals Michael Surgeon and Liam Chisholm. The team identified the opportunity and were motivated to launch their second business after their first paused trading due to COVID-19.
Working closely with Business Gateway, MC Apparel received a variety of start-up support services including support to create a business plan, marketing and networking opportunities, as well as accessing online resources such as webinars and advertising tutorials.
This guidance from Business Gateway ensured the team were able to adapt their business model to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic and increase margins by shifting from early drop-shipping to stock holding, this enabled MC Apparel to improve quality control and reduce delivery timescales for customers.
Michael Surgeon, Founder of MC Apparel, said: “We gained a wide range of support from Business Gateway and this meant the process of launching our new business went smoothly.
“The team at Business Gateway Midlothian have been very supportive during this period and the online workshops we attended were invaluable, helping us to develop a digital marketing strategy that allowed us to reach our target audiences even with the challenges of lockdown.
“I would recommend anyone who is starting out in business to get in touch with Business Gateway. They are always there when you need them and if they don’t have the answer, they can signpost you to the right person or resource.”
When COVID-19 restrictions ease, the team at MC Apparel are looking forward to organising photoshoots to showcase the clothing range and have plans to collaborate with local fashion brands to give away 20 t-shirts to support a local charity.
Annie Watt, Business Gateway Lead Officer, said: “It’s impressive to see how Michael and Liam have adapted to lockdown, identifying an opportunity to launch a new business and taking it forward.
“They have been incredibly proactive, accessing a range of Business Gateway resources, attending workshops and arranging one-to-one sessions via Zoom to receive guidance and support on development plans.
“Recent research by Business Gateway revealed that despite the challenges, COVID-19 has not hampered peoples’ appetite to start a business, and Michael and Liam’s experience is a testament to this.
“While it is a difficult trading environment, I would encourage anyone with an idea for a new business to get in touch and see how our resources, advice and support can help get it off the ground.”
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has released a Covid-19 poster resource pack for Men’s Sheds in Scotland.
The Association is still advising Men’s Sheds to remain closed in Phase 3 however, a recent SMSA poll – on the reopening of Sheds in Scotland – identified that 15% of the Sheds that responded are already open within the Scottish Government’s Guidelines for Phase 3.
The resource pack – currently containing 25 individual posters – will allow Sheds that are open to print off and prominently display the posters that they require for their Shed premises but also help those Sheds considering opening in the future to prepare in advance.
The SMSA is in ongoing discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the closure of Sheds and the health and safety of Shedders during the pandemic.
SMSA is currently working on the guidance (including risk assessments) for Sheds which will be issued at the appropriate time in line with Scottish Government guidance.
More people will be able to benefit from free debt advice following investment from the Scottish Government. More than £2.4 million will be distributed among a number of advice organisations to expand their services and invest in more effective methods to help individuals with problem debt.
The investment will assist projects offering face to face advice using video calls and projects aimed at moving debt solution processes online. This investment will also help the debt advice sector to manage the expected increase in demand as a result of the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).
AdviceUK will be one of the new recipients of funding and has 70 Scottish-based partners who will now be able to extend their services.
Minister for Communities Aileen Campbell said: “I am pleased that this funding will enable more people to access free debt advice, especially as we expect to see increased demand on these services due to the long term effects of COVID-19.
“Our Debt Advice Routemap sets out our vision for a user-friendly and collaborative free debt advice system in Scotland. Through this additional investment we aim to distribute funds across Scotland, focusing on those hardest to reach, including those who maybe have never sought advice before.
“Debt advice services are looking at innovative new approaches, using technology and new ways of working. I would encourage anyone who finds themselves struggling with problem debt to seek help at the earliest opportunity.”
AdviceUK Executive Director Chilli Reid said: “AdviceUK warmly welcomes this funding from the Scottish Government, which will make a huge difference to people struggling with money worries.
“Our members serve communities across Scotland, and this investment will support them in their vital work tackling child poverty, supporting households on low incomes, and helping those most exposed to the impacts of COVID-19.”
The funding is part of the Financial Services Levy for debt advice which has been increased by the UK Government in response to the expected growth in demand for free debt advice due to the long-term effects of COVID-19.
The funding was devolved to the Scottish Government in 2019 and the Debt Advice Routemap was launched to help improve access to services across Scotland.
Established in 1979, Advice UK is the largest network of independent advice providers in the UK.
Granton Information Centre has continued to provide an advice service throughout the coronavirus lockdown, supporting people with debt, housing and employment issues.
If you need help to deal with mounting debts, or are unclear about which benefits you may be entitled to, call Granton Information Centre on 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458 or you can email info@gic.org.uk
SafeDeposits Scotland is working with landlords who provide student accommodation to help overcome challenges brought on by Covid-19, as the number of overseas students returning to the UK drops.
During lockdown, the not-for-profit organisation reached out to landlords and tenants to provide advice and information around changes to the sector due to the pandemic. It works closely with all landlords including those that have been impacted by the decrease in students enrolling this academic year.
The Glasgow-based tenancy deposit scheme holds deposits on behalf of landlords and agents in line with government regulations designed to ensure responsible leasing.
As the sector continues to work towards pre-Covid-19 levels of activity, SafeDeposits Scotland is urging landlords to focus on providing the best renting experience for current tenants, while considering options to diversify their future tenant base.
Mike Smith, operations manager at SafeDeposits Scotland, said: “UK universities expect to see a £2.6 billion shortfall in the next academic year due to the pandemic, with 20% of domestic students not returning to university, and 75% of overseas students not enrolling this September.
“Pre-lockdown, demand for student accommodation in Scotland was notably high. Boasting some of the UK’s top universities, it’s no surprise areas including Aberdeen, Dundee, St Andrews, Glasgow and Edinburgh experienced an influx of students each year looking for housing.
But despite the drop in numbers of students expected to enrol this year, it’s evident there’s faith in the resilience of the sector, with a number of high-profile developments announced in the past month alone.
“Two recent Edinburgh examples of long-term growth within the sector include the new 120-bed purpose built student accommodation complex set to be built at Haymarket, while Unite Student has confirmed plans for a £24 million build of student flats at Meadowbank.”
To understand the concerns of landlords in the private rented sector during these unprecedented times more clearly, SafeDeposits Scotland carried out research to find out how they have coped during lockdown and how they feel about leasing property in the new academic year.
Mike explained: “We’re confident demand for student housing will return, whether it is in the private rented sector or for purpose-built accommodation. However, until we have a clearer picture of what future academic enrolment figures are like, landlords could consider alternative ways to lease properties.
A good example is renting to young professionals that are looking to move away from home for the first time. The demands of these tenants are similar to students in the private rented sector, and it can be a way of keeping properties occupied until we know more about the future of higher education.
“We recently carried out research with our landlords that are renting to students. This revealed that almost half (43%) secured new tenancies during lockdown while almost three quarters (73%) of this group expressed concerns around what this academic year will look like for them.
“To alleviate concerns, we’ve been working closely with landlords to ensure the tenants they do have in place now have the best experience. To support, we’ve moved our face-to-face workshops online to offer free advice and information. Our Charitable Trust has also recently announced its funding towards research being carried out by the University of Stirling. This research is exploring the benefits of allowing tenants more flexibility to make a house a home.
“We believe having happy tenants leads to longer tenancies, creating more vibrant communities where people want to live. This boosts local economies and helps increase demand for rental property in that area.
“The property sector has been resilient during past economic challenges, but the full impact of the pandemic is yet to be seen. We know the government is working hard to support international students hoping to return to Scotland to continue their higher education studies. This will have a hugely positive impact for our landlords who rely on overseas students to rent their properties, and hopefully we will see the results of this work.
“In the short term, we urge landlords to implement safety guidance from the Scottish Government and manage risk wherever possible, while tenants adhere to the measures put in place.”
