Make sure you are getting the financial help you are entitled to:
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment — £331.95 for children aged 2 to 3½
Best Start Grant School Age Payment — £331.95 for children first old enough to start primary school
Scottish Child Payment — £112.80 every four weeks for every eligible child under 16
Families receiving Scottish Child Payment and are eligible for Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment or School Age Payment will be paid automatically, there is no need to apply.
Working families urged to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare on Playday to help pay for holiday clubs, after-school clubs, nurseries and childminders
Latest statistics show families save almost £100 a month with Tax-Free Childcare
Number of families using Tax-Free Childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by 20%
Working families are being encouraged to check if they could cut the cost of childcare this Playday (5 August), as HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) latest statistics show families using Tax-Free Childcare saved an average of almost £100 a month.
Playday, the national day for play, is a reminder for eligible parents to see if they could benefit from the scheme. Tax-Free Childcare can provide up to £2,000 per year per child (or £4,000 for a disabled child) helping manage childcare costs while balancing work and family life.
People can visit GOV.UK to check eligibility and sign-up for Tax-Free Childcare.
Once families have signed up, they can receive a £2 government top-up for every £8 they deposit into their account. Families can open an account for each of their children aged up to 11 and, if they have a disabled child, aged up to 16.
It can be used to pay for any approved childcare including nurseries, childminders, holiday clubs, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. Almost 75,000 providers are now signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments.
While the majority of families who use the scheme have younger children, recent statistics show the number of families using it to pay for childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by more than 20% compared to the previous year.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Tax-Free Childcare can help with your summer childcare plans and, looking to the term ahead, with whatever type of care you require for your child.
“If you haven’t signed up already, do it today so you don’t miss out. Go to GOV.UK and search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’.”
Families can receive up to £500 worth of top-up money, or £1,000 for a disabled child, every 3 months.
Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in their account to use it whenever it’s needed. Unused money can be withdrawn at any time.
Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:
have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they can receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday
the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the government funded childcare hours, subject to eligibility.
Hundreds of young carers from across Scotland will come together this week for the annual Scottish Young Carers Festival, a unique event providing young people with caring responsibilities the opportunity to take a break, connect with others and enjoy new experiences.
Young carers are children and young people who help care for a family member, friend or loved one who has an illness, disability, mental health condition, addiction or additional support needs.
Organised by Carers Trust Scotland and receives funding by the Scottish Government, the three-day festival brings together young carers from across the country for a programme of activities, entertainment and opportunities to spend time with others who understand the realities of being a young carer.
The festival offers young carers a chance to step away from their day-to-day caring responsibilities and focus on friendship, fun and wellbeing. It also provides an opportunity for young people to share their experiences and ensure their voices are heard on issues that affect their lives.
The event will also welcome a number of decision-makers and stakeholders, giving young carers the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives directly with people involved in shaping policy and support services across Scotland.
Through activities, discussions and informal conversations, young carers will have the chance to highlight the issues that matter most to them, including breaks from caring, education, wellbeing and recognition.
Why a Break Matters
There are at least 30,000 young carers under the age of 18 in Scotland, many of whom provide vital unpaid care for family members. Carers Trust Scotland’s work highlights that time away from caring duties is not just a treat – it’s essential for young carers’ wellbeing, development and happiness.
Becky Duff, Director of Carers Trust Scotland, said:“The Scottish Young Carers Festival gives young carers the chance to take a break from their caring responsibilities, spend time with friends and enjoy opportunities that they might not otherwise have access to.
“We know from listening to young carers how important breaks, friendships and support are to their wellbeing. The festival brings young carers together from across Scotland, creating a space where they can connect with others who understand their experiences and simply enjoy being young people.
“It is also an opportunity to highlight the important contribution young carers make every day and ensure their voices continue to be heard by decision makers.”
Alison Thewliss MSP, Minister for Community Care, said: “Young carers make an invaluable contribution to their families, communities and to society as a whole The care and support they provide every day is remarkable, but I also recognise that caring responsibilities can bring challenges and make it harder to access the same opportunities as their peers.
“We remain committed to supporting young carers through initiatives such as the Young Carer Grant, the Young Scot Young Carer Package and our work to deliver a Right to Breaks for carers.
“I am delighted to attend this year’s Scottish Young Carers Festival and hear directly from young carers about the issues that matter most to them. I hope everyone attending the festival has a fantastic time and creates memories and friendships that will last long after the event has ended.”
The festival is supported by local carer organisations from across Scotland, who work throughout the year to provide advice, information and opportunities for young carers in their communities.
Throughout the event, young people will take part in a wide range of activities while building confidence, making new friends and creating lasting memories.
Glasgow woman who had cancer four times welcomes development
A drug commonly used to treat parasitic worm infections could offer a new way to tackle one of the most difficult childhood blood cancers to treat, research funded by Leukaemia UK has identified.
Dr Noelia Che and her colleagues at UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, investigated whether the drug mebendazole, could be repurposed and used in combination therapies to treat childhood acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
While survival rates for childhood leukaemia have improved dramatically in recent decades, AML remains one of the most challenging forms of the disease.
Established treatments such as chemotherapy and stem-cell transplants, while effective, are intensive and can often lead to relapse and serious long-term side effects for patients.
This was the case for Nichola Smith, whose diagnosis of AML at aged 12 led to decades of difficult treatment, relapse and serious life-long consequences. “I was constantly tired and run down,” recalled Nichola, now 44, from Glasgow.
“Then one day after playfighting with my cousins I noticed an enormous hand-shaped bruise where one of them had grabbed me. Then the next day I collapsed and my mum took me to Yorkhill Children’s Hospital where, to my shock, I was diagnosed with leukaemia”.
Nichola underwent intensive chemotherapy. After relapsing a year later months later, she also required a stem cell transplant and more chemotherapy.
While her treatment was successful, the impact on Nichola has been life-long. In 2006, a routine mammogram revealed pre-cancerous cells in both her breasts, a recognised long-term effect of the leukaemia treatment she had received as a child. She underwent a double mastectomy and several major operations.
Then, in 2022, Nichola was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood cancer that can develop into AML.
“I was devastated,” she said. “I kept saying to myself, ‘Here we go again’ and ‘Why me?’ I couldn’t believe I was going to have to fight another blood cancer after everything I’d already been through.”
Her condition later progressed and she once again required chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant.
Experiences like Nichola’s are driving researchers to find more targeted and less toxic ways of treating AML. Reducing the devastating long-term effects.
Dr Che, a recipient of the Leukaemia UK John Goldman Fellowship, is focusing her research on a protein called MYB, which AML cells rely on to survive and grow.
She and her colleagues found that mebendazole can reduce levels of MYB within leukaemia cells, depriving them of a key survival mechanism and causing them to die.
She hopes the approach could form part of a new generation of targeted therapies. Unlike chemotherapy, which attacks all rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapies attack cancer cells more precisely while reducing damage to healthy tissue.
Dr Che and her colleagues are now exploring further how mebendazole can be used with newer targeted therapies rather than chemotherapy, identifying a promising treatment strategy for children with AML. Potentially avoiding the increased toxicity associated with more intensive chemotherapy.
Dr Noelia Che said: “Our research is exploring whether mebendazole, a safe and well-established drug, could be used in a completely different way to target vulnerabilities within AML cells.
“We hope this work will contribute to gentler, more effective treatments, so that children survive without life altering complications.”
Simon Ridley, Director of Research and Advocacy, Leukaemia UK, said: “We’re proud to support innovative researchers such as Dr Che who are exploring bold new approaches to treatment.
“It is important to note that this research is still in early stages, but it shows one of the many routes that researchers are working to fight leukaemia through new strategies, repurposed medications and innovative combinations.
“Which, in the future, could reduce the long-term impact of treatment on patients and their families.”
WORK GETS UNDERWAY ON A NEW MULTI-MILLION POUND HOLLYWOOD BOWL VENUE AT THE CENTRE, LIVINGSTON CREATING 40 LOCAL JOBS
Pic Greg Macvean 29/07/2026
The Centre, Livingston – Hollywood Bowl with Patrick, Simon and Laura (HB manager)
Work is officially underway on a new 26,500 sq. ft, multi-million-pound Hollywood Bowl venue at The Centre, Livingston, one of Scotland’s largest shopping centres, scheduled to open this autumn and create 40 local jobs.
The state-of-the-art venue, which will feature 22 lanes of ten-pin bowling, a large arcade with the latest Namco games as well as pool tables and a bar and diner, is a major milestone for The Centre, Livingston as it not only marks their expansion into the leisure sector but also ties in with their 50th anniversary this year.
Since the owners, LCP UK, part of M Core, one of Europe’s leading, privately owned commercial property development and management companies, acquired the shopping centre over two years ago, their mission has been to create a vibrant destination where visitors can ‘shop, eat and play’.
The arrival is set to further enhance the offering at The Centre, Livingston which has a diverse mix of over 150 stores and restaurants, spanning one million sq. ft. including M&S, Flannels, H&M, Nando’s, wagamama and the country’s largest JD Sports store, welcoming over 15.8 million visitors a year.
Recent global brands to open include Starbucks, Wingstop, MINISO, Søstrene Grene, Flying Tiger and the first ArrowHeadz store in Scotland.
Pic Greg Macvean 29/07/2026
The Centre, Livingston – Hollywood Bowl with Patrick, Simon and Laura (HB manager)
Stephen Burns, CEO of Hollywood Bowl Group, said: “We are pleased to announce that work has begun at our new multi-entertainment centre at the popular retail destination, The Centre, Livingston. This marks another important step in our strategic growth as we continue to expand across the UK.
“We’re delighted to be opening another site in Scotland, creating new local jobs while bringing high-quality, affordable entertainment to the community. This investment reflects our continued commitment to growing our estate and delivering great leisure experiences for our customers.”
Pic Greg Macvean 29/07/2026
The Centre, Livingston – Hollywood Bowl with Patrick, Simon and Laura (HB manager)
Simon Eatough, Director at LCP UK, part of M Core and Asset Manager to The Centre, Livingston, said: “Starting construction on this state-of-the-art Hollywood Bowl venue is an incredibly proud moment for us.
“It represents a major evolution for The Centre, Livingston as we dynamically expand into the leisure market, in the year we celebrate our 50th anniversary, reinforcing our absolute commitment to creating a thriving destination for all our visitors, both locally and from further afield, to shop, dine out, connect and have fun.
“The countdown is officially on, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to experience this game-changing entertainment centre this autumn.”
The transaction was completed by Robin Kennedy, Associate Legal Director (UK) at LCP UK part of M Core.
Families have just a few weeks left to enjoy discounted tickets at Which? UK’s third best tourist attraction, with five floors of interactive illusions, family-friendly experiences and panoramic rooftop views waiting to be discovered.
With the school summer holidays in full swing and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival bringing the city to life in August, Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is inviting visitors to make the most of their Edinburgh adventure with all tickets reduced as part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings Initiative.
Families, friends and curious explorers can save on admission while stepping into a world where nothing is quite as it seems from shrinking rooms and gravity-defying illusions to mesmerising light displays and spectacular views across the capital.
After exploring more than one hundred interactive exhibits, visitors can unwind away from the festival crowds with panoramic views of Edinburgh from the attraction’s latest rooftop bar, with refreshments available to purchase including cold soft drinks, snacks and ice cream.
With extended summer opening hours and a location on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, Camera Obscura offers the perfect addition to a summer day in the city.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions welcomes families of all needs. To support visitors with sensory needs, they can borrow Sensory Backpacks containing items such as ear defenders, sunglasses, a torch, an activities sheet and sensory toys, alongside a sensory map of the building to help families plan and enjoy their visit.
Discounted tickets are now available via the Camera Obscura’s website and available for walk-up admissions and will continue to be until September 1. A family of four visiting during the summer holidays could save more than £10 compared to standard admission prices.
Reduced ticket prices include:
Adult tickets reduced from £24.95 to £21.85
Senior/Student tickets reduced from £21.95 to £19.20
Child tickets reduced from £17.95 to £15.70
Children under 5 go FREE
Andrew Johnson, General Manager of Camera Obscura said; “The response to the Summer Savings initiative has been fantastic so far, and we are delighted to be supporting an initiative that helps people discover and enjoy what UK attractions have to offer.
“The summer holidays can be a financially stressful time for many families, which is why we are pleased to be offering discounted rates and helping visitors make the most of the summer season, especially as the city comes alive with activity.
“Our latest addition to the rooftop offers the perfect place to take a break from the festival crowds, enjoy a soft drink or an ice cream and soak up some of the best views overlooking Edinburgh.”
It’s the last full week of the summer holidays, and we’ve got a few more special events on for you.
We’re super excited to host Danyah Miller for an amazing storytelling session on Tuesday afternoon. Come in and help inspire some truly great tales with her and a magic carpet!
This is best for ages 4-7 but older and younger children can definitely still enjoy it, as can the whole family!
Remember to book your place on Eventbrite. with the following link:
On Wednesday at 3:30pm, join Kali from Edinburgh Zoo for a story, lots of facts, and a fun activity all related to sloths and armadillos.
Join us for our Library Afternoon Tea at 2:30pm on Friday. We will be talking about books, colouring in, and enjoying a warm drink, juice and some snacks.
Just like every Saturday, we have Junior Board Games on at 2pm. Discover a new game or play an old favourite with your family, other library users, and maybe a member of staff!
We also have Bookbug on for your wee ones, including our fortnightly Saturday session. Tuesday and Saturday are at 11am, Wednesday is at 2pm.
