Tewkesbury animal charity hit with £12k bill over VAT dispute
Ms Gould said that there had never previously been a problem over the matter before the backdated charge but British Gas said some of the site's activity is classed as a business, meaning it would now move to the higher VAT rate."As a charity, we've always submitted a VAT declaration and it's always been approved straight away. We did the same with British Gas when we started with them, which was in November 2023," Ms Gould added."The first thing we had was just an email saying that they no longer thought we were entitled to the 5% VAT anymore, so from now on, they would be taking the 20%."I opened the bank account one morning a couple of weeks ago and found that they'd taken £12,200 out of our account."
Ms Gould said that she believed that the utility company had overlooked the fact that the charity raised significant funds outside of the hospital building."They can see from our accounts that we do a lot of sale of goods, but we've got two charity shops," she said."We sell on eBay, which is done by volunteers outside of the hospital. We go and do talks, which is outside of the hospital. We do outside fundraisers."So the vast majority of our sale of goods, as they've put it, is outside of the hospital. But they won't listen."Vale Wildlife Hospital, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024, relies on public donations to continue its work, with running costs of about £75,000 a month.It treated more than 8,000 animals last year, including foxes, badgers, birds, rabbits and hedgehogs.
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The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
How Maresca can fit £190m new strikers Delap, Joao Pedro, Gittens and Estevao into his Chelsea team next season
CHELSEA'S transfer strategy since the take over by Todd Boehly and BlueCo in 2022 has been scattergun to say the least. The new ownership group has installed a clear recruitment plan - buy young players with high potential whatever it costs. 17 The burn and churn policy means Chelsea have a lot of players on their books, which gives manager Enzo Maresca a huge headache. TheItalian coach has made it clear he favours a smaller and tighter squad so that players would be able to build understanding and momentum. Yet the logic of having so many top scouts and sporting directors dictates that more and more players will continue to be brought into the club. They have already strengthened their forward options since the end of the season with Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30m, Joao Pedro from Brighton for £60m, Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund for £48m and Estevao f rom Palmeiras for £52m all coming into the club. So how on earth will Maresca navigate a way through this mess, and find an attack that blends the old with the new? Boehly and the board have spent another £190m on four attackers this summer, and there may yet be more players coming in at Stamford Bridge. Our tactics expert Lee Scott takes a look at each of these players with a view to understanding how they might fit at Chelsea next season. Liam Delap England U21 international striker Liam Delap was one of the most coveted strikers in the window. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK There was significant interest in signing the former Man City academy player from rivals Man United. But it was Chelsea that moved quickest to secure the signature of the player for £30m. Last season Delap finished with 13 goals and 3 assists in all competitions for a team that were relegated. Compare that to Nicolas Jackson, the forward that Delap will likely replace at Chelsea, who scored 13 goals and had 6 assists for a team who created far more chances and crucially far more high quality chances. 17 17 Here, we see an example of what Delap brings to Chelsea, in the Club World Cup game with ES Tunis. He receives the chipped forward pass from Enzo Fernandez having found space between the fullback and the near side central defender. As he takes the ball down he takes contact from the fullback and holds the player off as he spins and drives into the area before finishing in style. One of the biggest criticisms of Jackson is that the Senegalese striker would regularly miss chances that appeared to be clear cut. He is strong in transition and shows good movement but his final action was still relatively erratic and not consistent enough. Delap, on the other hand, is a forward who pounces on half chances and is much more likely to take advantage of crosses and balls that are played into the area. Delap's strength is his ability to be a focal point on the last line and to create shooting opportunities. This is the aspect of his game that will be most beneficial for Chelsea in terms of upgrading what they had at the position last season. 17 17 Delap provides a genuine presence in the opposition penalty area. Here, as the ball is crossed to the far post we see the English striker keep himself alive and separated from defensive players. As the ball comes back across he has an easy finish. Delap is likely to start the season as the main striker for Chelsea with Jackson dropping to the bench. Joao Pedro The signing of the 23-year-old Brazilian Joao Pedro, for £60m from Brighton, is slightly more difficult to read. This is because it is difficult to decide what his best position really is. He is perhaps best described as a modern versatile forward. While looked amazing as a lone striker with his two-goal performance against Fluminense in the Club World Cup, he is best when playing in close connection to others. We believe there is a chance that he is being seen as an option to play as the advanced attacking midfielder just behind Delap. Last season the Brazilian forward ended the campaign with 10 goals and 7 assists as this more creative forward type for Brighton. 17 Here, we see the type of chance creation that Chelsea fans can expect to see from Joao Pedro. He takes possession initially on the near side and drives inside into space. He has the composure to see the run from his side towards the centre from Yankuba Minteh and he slides a pass through the last line to create a goalscoring opportunity. Even when Joao Pedro played as a central striker at Brighton and at Watford he showed a clear tendency to drop deeper in towards the midfield and to look for pockets of space between the lines. This is why we do not believe that he will regularly play as the No 9 as Maresca needs a 9 who will play, as Delap does, on the last line threatening space and pushing the opposition defensive line back. He does move the ball very well to find teammates and to take advantage of space that the opposition leaves behind. His technical level is extremely high and he shifts the ball effectively at speed taking advantage of any spaces that are present in the opposition defensive block. 17 17 17 17 This time we see Joao Pedro taking possession of the ball on the edge of the opposition area as Mitoma pulls the ball back to him. As he receives the ball there are two opposition players immediately pressing. The Brazilian international is intelligent enough to allow the press to develop before flicking the ball across to a teammate to finish. Joao Pedro will without a doubt bring value to Chelsea going into next season although it remains to be seen exactly how he will be used positionally by Maresca going into next season. Jamie Gittens The 20-year-old English U21 international Jamie Gittens has just moved to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He played 2,803 minutes in all competitions and he ended with 12 goals and 5 assists. He is naturally right-footed and he typically plays as an attacking left-winger. Chelsea struggled for consistent production from their wingers last season with Noni Madueke arguably being the best wide attacker that they had. Now, Madueke appears to be for sale with several clubs showing significant interest as Chelsea perhaps look to make space for their new arrivals. Gittens is a wide attacker who is at his best when he gets the ball in positions where he can dribble and look to outplay opposition defenders in 1v1 situations. 17 17 Here, we see Gittens receiving the ball out wide in a position where he is faced up 1v1 against the opposition defender. He immediately takes the ball and looks to attack. He is well balanced with quick feet providing real threat in terms of outplaying the defender on either the inside or the outside. Gittens is still not the finished article but he is a young attacking player with genuine and real potential. If he develops properly then he could provide the point of difference in terms of having a real 1v1 threat that Chelsea were missing last season. Often they were too predictable when receiving the ball wide and Gittens is anything but predictable. He provides a threat in terms of shooting as he has a clear tendency to drive inside and even when defenders know that this is what he wants to do they still struggle to stop him. Again, here we see him receiving the ball in a position where he can immediately face up the opposition defender in a 1v1 situation. While he is well balanced and can attack down the outside he wants to create maximum threat and to go inside to a position where he can shoot at goal. Despite the fact that Gittens is not yet fully developed we still believe that there is a chance that he starts the new season as the first choice left-sided attacker for Chelsea. Estevao The most exciting of the new arrivals is the hardest to predict at this stage of his development. Chelsea moved quickly to secure the signing of the 18-year-old Brazilian international winger Estevao from Palmeiras. The youngster made his debut as a 16-year-old and very quickly started to attract interest. Now, Chelsea have beaten off competition for his signature. Estevao is a left-footed attacking player who profiles best as a right-sided attacking winger with his ability to come inside and create threat when coming inside in possession. He is a dangerous dribbler but he is at his most dangerous in the final third in positions where he can take the ball and come inside to create shooting opportunities for himself. 17 17 Here, we see Estevao actually scoring against Chelsea in the Club World Cup. He is positioned intelligently in the channel and as he receives the pass inside he immediately pushes the ball forward before then finishing with power at the near post. It remains to be seen whether Estevao is an immediate starter at Chelsea or whether he will back up the likes of Cole Palmer or even spend his first season in Europe on loan in France with Strasbourg. If he does remain at Chelsea though and if he does get first-team minutes then he has the quality to contribute. 17 This time we see the young Brazilian international holding a wide position to stretch the pitch and find space on the outside of the opposition defence. All it takes is one long pass to release Estevao into space as he drives forward and ends up scoring in the opposition area. He is intelligent in his positioning and in the runs that he makes. When playing with more technical and intelligent players at Chelsea he will likely make a real impact if he is given a chance to do so. Conclusion Knowing Chelsea and their ownership the way that we do now there is little doubt that their signings are not finished for next season. We will likely continue to see them be active in the market as they strengthen and add more young talent. With the four attacking players that have been added so far, however, there is little doubt that they have given Maresca more options next season.
Telegraph
33 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The high street looks Victoria Starmer wore to meet the Macrons
This week, British politicians and royals dusted off their glad rags for the state visit of France's Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. While the Princess of Wales wore Dior and Sarah Burton for Givenchy, and Mrs Macron favoured her beloved Louis Vuitton, Sir Keir Starmer's wife, Victoria, and the leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, chose instead to champion the great British high street. On the first day of the visit, Lady Starmer wore a £228 pleated navy and white dress by Reiss, an appropriately understated choice for a visit to Parliament Square to mark 20 years since the 7/7 bombings. As has increasingly become the case with her outfits, the dress has now almost completely sold out online. The following day, she opted for a long-sleeved floral maxi dress by Karen Millen for a visit to the British Museum, suitably breezy for the heatwave yet still elegant enough for the occasion. The Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also chose a high street label for her meeting with the Macrons, opting for a vivid orange dress by LK Bennett. For a special service at St Paul's Cathedral to honour and remember the 7/7 attacks, Badenoch turned to the high street again, wearing a blue skirt suit by The Fold. Lady Starmer is known for championing the British high street, previously showing a fondness for the mid-market brand Me+Em, which she wore almost exclusively during her husband's campaign run and in the days afterwards last summer. Of course, it wasn't without controversy when it emerged that a political donor had paid for her wardrobe, but you can't criticise her good taste, or the sentiment behind it, which is to support the British fashion industry. And while the Princess of Wales's decision to nod to French fashion throughout the visit, with a touch of Englishness via Sarah Burton, is one way of exercising sartorial diplomacy, these women's choice of homegrown high street fashion brands is another. After all, the fashion industry is the largest of the creative industries in the UK, contributing approximately £60 billion per year to the economy and employing 1.3 million people. Yet despite having some of the world's most recognisable heritage brands, like Marks & Spencer, the high street has undoubtedly suffered over the past five years, hit hard by Covid lockdowns and the cost of living crisis. Of course, there are signs of hope. Topshop, once a juggernaut of millennial style, is returning with a pop-up next month, and new brands like Me+Em, Aligne and Nobody's Child are going from strength to strength. Yet more still needs to be done to ensure that our beloved British high street continues to bounce back, especially given competition from the likes of Spain with Zara and Mango, Scandinavia with H&M, Arket and Cos, and France with Sézane, Sandro, Maje and The Kooples. And for those who might think that what Lady Starmer or Kemi Badenoch wears doesn't matter, remember this: the luxury label Edeline Lee was very much a fashion editor's recommendation prior to when Victoria put it on the map last year, and there is consistent evidence that women copy what these high-profile figures choose to wear. 'When people in the public eye support British brands – whether mid range or top end – it sends a message to consumers that you can be at work, out for dinner, or even at a significant state visit and what our high street has to offer covers it all,' says Clare Bailey, founder of The Retail Champion. 'Shopping in our high streets and especially with our independent retailers is so important to keep those businesses alive and our high streets vibrant. We all know the 'Kate effect' – when she wears high street or more affordable branded items they sell out in record time – so for others in the public eye, whilst not quite the style icon that Kate has become, it certainly helps put high street fashion more front of mind with those following the news. With low cost online retailers like Shein and Temu eating away at sales traditionally diverted to our high street stores, now, more than ever, it is worth reminding ourselves that there's excellent choice, quality and style on the doorstep.' 'It's glorious to see Lady Starmer and Kemi Badenoch championing the stalwarts of the British High street,' agrees stylist Alexandra Fullerton. 'The UK has a heritage of excellent outerwear and country brands along with a reputation for nurturing the edgiest high fashion talent, but sometimes you just need a jolly good dress that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Karen Millen, Reiss and LK Bennett are the places to go for elegant dresses that work for formal occasions but still have a dash of individuality about them, allowing the wearer's personal style to shine through. Lady Starmer and Badenoch's outfits are certain to trigger a flurry of sales from women wanting to look professional and polished. Lady Starmer has already proved herself adept at inspiring a sell-out after she wore scarlet Me+Em to join her husband at Downing Street last year.'
The Sun
34 minutes ago
- The Sun
All the restaurant and pub chains that are cheaper than a McDonald's meal
THE price of McDonald's has shot up in recent years, with punters now forking out nearly £10 for a large Big Mac Meal. Gone are the days when fans of the classic meal could pay for it with the spare change in their pocket. 1 In 2022, the meal cost a mere £6.29, including fries and a drink. Today, just a single Big Mac will set you back £5.89 in London, and if you want to make it a large meal expect to hand over £9.19. Of course, McDonald's prices across the UK vary, with fast-food fans in Leeds paying £8.79 for the same exact large meal. With money tight, many punters are saying adios to the Happy Meal maker and looking for cheaper alternatives. Over the past few weeks, hangry customers have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to complain, with some describing it as "extortionate". While another said: "I just don't go anymore. For the same price as a Maccies I can go to Spoons and get a full meal with a pint." And to make matters worse, favourites such as Happy Meals, fries, and wraps have seen price increases of up to 15% in just a few months. A McDonald's spokesperson previously told The Sun: "We refuse to compromise on the quality of our ingredients – and that means when these ingredients cost more, we have to review our prices. "Raising some prices means we are able to stand by our quality commitments, like our beef patties being made from 100% British and Irish beef or our Chicken McNuggets being made from 100% chicken breast." But if you are keen to save a few quid the next time you are treating yourself, why not try these alternatives. I went to the UK's biggest Wetherspoons with rooftop bar overlooking the beach WETHERSPOONS - £7.49 Spoons is known for its bargain prices and some menu items are cheaper than Maccies. Its American Burger, which comes with a beef patty, cheese, chips and a drink, costs just £7.49. That's £1.70 cheaper than a large Big Mac. Better yet, if you want to enjoy your meal with an alcoholic beverage, it still costs less than a meal at Maccies. Wetherspoons asks punters for an extra £1.53 to add a tipple to their meal, which comes in at £9.02. And Spoons has also hiked prices for customers with the cost of some of its food items by 30p earlier this year. SIZZLING PUBS - £8.79 This family-friendly chain sells a burger and chips at a bargain price. Punters can enjoy "The Old Faithful" Beef burger for £8.79 at its branch in New Farnely in Leeds. That is on par with what some customers pay for a Big Mac meal and 44p cheaper than a London Maccies. But it is worth noting that prices can vary from branch to branch. Its "Two Brothers" branch in Southampton charges £10.79 for the same meal. And unlike Maccie's, this offer does not come with a drink so you will need to fork out extra for that. You can find your nearest branch by visiting ASDA CAFE - £6.75 The popular supermarket charges around £6.75 for a cheeseburger and chips, which trumps Spoons and Maccie's. You can pay 50p to upgrade to large chips, which would take your total to £7.25. Again, you will have to pay extra for a drink as this is not included. Punters can enjoy a warm meal at 205 diners which are located within the supermarkets across the UK. HUNGRY HORSE - £4.64 You will need to follow a hack to get these delicious burgers for less. A cheese burger at the chain costs £9.29 at its Garforth branch, slightly more expensive than a McDonald's meal. But if you head there on a Friday, you can make the most of its "Two for One" offer on burgers. That means if you went there with a friend, you could split the cost the cost of the first burger, paying £4.64 each. This offer is available at all of its 250 locations in the UK. You can find your nearest chain by visiting How to save at McDonald's You could end up being charged more for a McDonald's meal based solely on the McDonald's restaurant you choose. Research by The Sun found a Big Mac meal can be up to 30% cheaper at restaurants just two miles apart from each other. You can pick up a Big Mac and fries for just £2.99 at any time by filling in a feedback survey found on McDonald's receipts. The receipt should come with a 12-digit code which you can enter into the Food for Thought website alongside your submitted survey. You'll then receive a five-digit code which is your voucher for the £2.99 offer. There are some deals and offers you can only get if you have the My McDonald's app, so it's worth signing up to get money off your meals. The MyMcDonald's app can be downloaded on iPhone and Android phones and is quick to set up. You can also bag freebies and discounts on your birthday if you're a My McDonald's app user. The chain has recently sent out reminders to app users to fill out their birthday details - otherwise they could miss out on birthday treats.
