There has been huge amounts of speculation about the coming UK budget and what is going to be in it. The government came to power promising no changes to Income Tax, VAT and Corporation Tax but there a wide range of potential horrors that could still be coming depending on your personal circumstances.
In this video I discuss the recent announcement that Russia has struck a trade deal with Pakistan under which it will be paid in POTATOES, ORANGES & RICE. This deal has been agreed due to the ongoing payment problems that Russia is experiencing as a result of the Financial Sanctions.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has played out largely on land and in the air. It is a bitterly contested, grueling ground war, accompanied by brutal Russian aerial attacks on civilian infrastructure and a slow but increasing Ukrainian response.
Should the government raise capital gains tax in the Budget?. What is the case for reforming capital gains tax? What are the options for reform?.
The Labour MP Torsten Bell is widely considered to be a rising star of the party. His recent book, Great Britain? How We Get Our Future Back, provides a detailed description of what he sees as the key economic challenges facing the UK today and proposes a series of policy ideas to return the country to economic and social prosperity.
Relative child poverty has increased. Which children are most likely to be affected? What policies would most effectively reduce child poverty?.
A new report by The Housing Forum answers the all-important question: How much does it cost to build a house? The Housing Forum, is a cross-sector body for the construction and housing sector and became aware of concern across the sector about the rising costs of building new homes. The high inflation seen over the last few years has had a particularly severe effect on construction and is having a long-term impact on costs, with delays and uncertainty in the planning system exacerbating the issue.
Most people assume that we tax to fund government spending, but we don't in economies like that we have in the UK. Instead, we have an economy where the government spends by creating new money and tax then takes it out of circulation, and that creates a need for very different economic management from that we're being offered.
Early childhood development is a global priority, yet questions remain about how best to support disadvantaged children in low- and middle- income countries. We study the impacts of high-quality, center-based early childhood education on low income children in Colombia through a randomized controlled trial, tracking participants longitudinally over five years.
New rules for reimbursing victims of authorized push payment (APP) fraud will come into effect in the UK on October 7, 2024. These rules will apply to all UK banks and are intended to improve consumer protection and reduce the financial losses caused by APP fraud.
Teams of 2, 3 or 4. See poster..
The culture sector needs to have stable and supportive financial arrangements in place in order to fulfil its potential, the Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has said. In a letter to the Chair of Creative Scotland, Mr Robertson reiterated the Scottish Government's support for the arts and culture sector.
We're delighted to announce that FoFNL is marking this year's sesquicentenary of the completion of the Far North Line to Thurso and Wick with a photographic exhibition about the line 16 to 19th October. 150th Anniversary.
A message for everyone who may be entitled to Pension Credit!. On Wednesday 2 October 2024, Caithness CAB is running a Pension Credit Walk-in Clinic between 11 am and 3 pm at our Thurso office.
Brits spend an average of £69.11 when buying a new outfit for a first date, with this being the highest in Liverpool (£78.88). Over half (52%) of people said they typically purchase a new outfit for a first date, Londoners (61%) were the most likely to do this.
Voices of communities at the heart of plan to tackle discrimination and social exclusion. Improved access to housing, education and health services and tackling discrimination are at the heart of a new Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA.
Caithness Family History Society Annual General meeting followed by a presentation by Doreen Leith of Wick Voices. Will include audio recordings from the Wick Societyâs oral history section, Wick Voices.
Join us 6th or 7th December for Too Many Penguins. A family friendly Christmas show created especially for 1 to 6 year olds and their families.
Two Age Groups. See poster for times and details.
Lots of fun for Halloween. Check poster for times for each age group..
Check poster for each age group times. Ages 2 - 6 and 6 plus..
Over 6 Years Old See poster..
2 to 6 Year Olds. See poster..
Two parties for two age groups. See poster for details.
Violence Against Women and Girls in Scotland 14,602 sexual crimes were recorded by Police Scotland in 2022-23.i The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2019-2020 showed that only 22% of victims/survivors of rape reported it to the police.ii At least 37% of the 14,602 sexual crimes recorded in 2022-23 by the police related to a victim under the age of 18.iii There has been a notable decrease in the extent to which people agree with rape myths since 2014. In 2019, 8% of people in Scotland thought that ‘women often lie about being raped' (down from 23% in 2014).
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Safety Alert to warn of the risks that water beads can pose to children and vulnerable adults. This follows action taken by OPSS to remove unsafe products from the market.
Licensed Bar - Over 18s only. Doors Open 7.30pm..
Energy is an unusual commodity as it imposes running costs and capital expenditure. The main way to permanently reduce running costs is to spend money on more efficient use of energy: better insulated homes, more modern boilers, new appliances.
Specialist teams at SSEN Transmission have been working with communities and public bodies to minimise the impact of infrastructure works on the Flow Country - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this blog, Senior Consents and Environment Manager Tara Cowley explains that environmental protection is at the heart of our project development process.
Lauren McKittrick from Inverness has taken up the role of Highland Youth Convener, becoming the 16th young person to take on the job since 2007. 22-year-old Lauren has been involved in outdoor education and has experience as a volunteer youth worker with the Army welfare service as well as undertaking community engagement projects with the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
With the cost of living increasingly hitting the household budget it may be time to see how many people can save money on their laundry and still get the same results. As often is the case Granny new best how to save money without ever thinking about it as so many modern products did not exist.
CYC Comics Club is an opportunity to be creative and learn new ways of storytelling through Comics. Come along to Wick or Thurso Library for our monthly Comics Club sessions with illustrator and comics maker Aimee Lockwood.
The Highland Council Trading Standards service is urging motorists to be aware of a recent trend in scam texts aimed at tricking people into thinking they have to act quickly to pay a parking penalty charge notice (PCN). The text asks you to pay the PCN which has been issued by "a local Council".
New national guidance which aims to reduce the cost of school uniforms for families has been published. Following consultation with schools, families, uniform suppliers, pupils and councils, the new guidance also sets out key considerations to ensure pupil comfort, freedom and happiness.
A MAJOR high street banking giant will close 55 more branches for good. Lloyds Banking Group will shut down a number of branches across its Halifax, Bank of Scotland (BoS) and Lloyds brands.
A national campaign to support young people to safely navigate social media and prevent violence has been launched. ‘Quit Fighting For Likes' aims to get young people to think about and discuss attitudes and behaviours around the filming and sharing of violent incidents.
A focused strategy has been launched to place Scotland at the forefront of the net zero economy, with targeted actions to secure growth and investment. Delivered as part of the Programme for Government, the Green Industrial Strategy sets out five priority areas where efforts and resources will be concentrated.
Third Force News magazine September edition is a packed mag looking at austerity, funding and much, much more. In a packed magazine, we take a look at a range of issues which really get to the heart of what the voluntary sector is, and what we do.
The Education Committee met today (Thursday 12 September 2024) and agreed the Community Learning and Development Plan 2024-2027. Community Learning and Development (CLD) plays an important role in ensuring individuals, families and communities reach their potential, through lifelong learning, mutual self-help and community organisation, ensuring support and opportunities are community-led and built around people's individual and collective aspirations.
Highland Council has appointed four chief officers in the latest phase of its new senior management restructuring. As previously intimated in Highland Council's budget plan, a new senior management structure is being implemented following approval by the Council on 14 March 2024.
The Highland Council in Scotland is starting a consultation process to look into the impact a tourist tax would have on the region. More than six million people visit the picturesque Highlands every year and under new Vistor Levy legislation passed by SMPs at Holyrood earlier this year, the council has the power to introduce a tourist tax to visitors who stay overnight in the area.
Highland communities will gain from a policy which seeks to secure meaningful environmental, social, and economic benefits through the Council's procurement activities. The newly agreed Highland Community Benefit Policy will ensure that community benefits are routinely considered during procurement.
The Highland Council has received a boost to its work in addressing the challenges of depopulation in the Highlands. The Scottish Government has awarded the council £60,000 for 2024/25 from the Addressing Depopulation Fund, as part of a wide-ranging plan to strengthen communities facing population decline, including funding for local-led research, initiatives, and community support.
Caithness Forums
What's On in Caithness
Property For Sale
Property For Rent
Sutherland Property
Planning Notices
Who Is Building?
Submit Your Details
Other Enquiries
