Latest news with #Boylen
Scottish Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major charity retailer to close three stores starting from tomorrow after shutting 35 this year – see the full list
Read on to find out the full list of closures RETAIL BLOW Major charity retailer to close three stores starting from tomorrow after shutting 35 this year – see the full list A MAJOR charity shop chain is set to close three more of its stores starting from tomorrow. Disability charity Scope has confirmed its stores in Taunton, Bromley and Portsmouth are all closing this month. 1 Scope has had to shut down dozens of stores due to spiralling costs and lower footfall Credit: Alamy The charity previously announced it was considering shutting 77 of its 138 shops across the country. Its bosses said it had to make the difficult decision because of spiralling costs and fewer shoppers heading to the high street. The Taunton store is first to close and will be shutting its doors for good tomorrow. Shoppers responded to the news on Facebook, with one saying: "Oh, no - I've got lots of great bits from there." Another wrote: "Oh no really? That a, really good charity shop aswell." The store in Bromley closes on June 14 while the Portsmouth one is going on June 21. It means shoppers only have days left to grab final bargains from the stores. Debbie Boylen, head of retail at Scope, said: "Our shops have helped us raise vital income to support our work with disabled people and their families. "We know our teams put in their very best efforts, but our shops are collectively now losing money when taking account of all of their costs. "A number make strong profits but there are loss making shops too." Beloved department store chain shutting more locations with clearance sales on now until final May 25 deadline She said the charity had consulted on the proposals to shut 77 shops and had come to the "sad" decision about the Taunton, Bromley and Portsmouth stores. Boylen added: "We've had such incredible support from these wonderful and generous communities. We never take the decision to close our stores lightly. "We recognise for our colleagues and volunteers, it's more than just a job. "We know they feel passionately about playing their part in our work, creating an equal future with disabled people. "We will be doing everything we can to support them and our decision does not reflect their hard work and dedication to Scope." The news comes after Scope already shut 35 of its shops this year. It closed 11 stores between the end of March and the end of May. Full list of Scope closures in 2025 Closed before the end of the consultation in early March: Bexhill Hertford Mitcham Petersfield Scarborough Worthing Closed by March 31: Amersham Barking Bangor Birkenhead Bishop Auckland Castleford Devizes Dewsbury Eastbourne Haywards Heath Lewisham New Milton Orpington Parkstone Scunthorpe Shirley (Southampton) Skipton Workington Closed by May 31: Blyth Hove George Burton Erdington West Hampstead Exmouth Bury Newport Southampton (Portswood Road) Atherstone Welling What's happening at Scope? The charity is among scores of big chains facing trouble on the high street. Chief executive Mark Hodgkinson said previously that its high street stores had been hit by shoppers increasingly turning to online shopping. On top of that, it has faced rising rents, soaring energy costs, increased staff costs, and lower customer spends. In its annual report for the year to March 2023, Scope said it had made £24million from trading activities, including shops and online sales, up from £23.6million the year before. In the same year it had spent £24.7million maintaining and operating its shops, £1million more than the previous year. Hodgkinson said Scope's shops had made a "real contribution to raising vital income" but external factors had "made trading harder". Scope wants to make sure its funds are not taken away from its charitable purpose, the boss said. The store closures have led to a number of job losses and also impacted volunteers.
West Australian
31-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Backyard beekeeping the new buzz in Perth as hive numbers soar
Backyard beekeeping has exploded in popularity across Perth in recent years, but the honey isn't the only thing sweet about this growing movement. With more than 4500 registered hobbyist and commercial beekeepers in WA who own more than 51,800 hives, the State's beekeeping scene has never been bigger. According to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 4000 of the registered beekeepers are recreational and are mostly based in the Perth and South West region. Alongside the boom, a buzzing community has blossomed, most apparent in the Facebook group called Perth Bee Community, which is now nearing 10,000 members. Then there's the WA Apiarists' Society, a not-for-profit association founded in 1953 which now has around 1200 members. It supports and educates both rookies and veteran beekeepers across the State. WA Apiarists' Society vice-president Stephen Boylen is a suburban hobbyist beekeeper who began his keeping journey just seven years ago and has seen first-hand the recent surge in Perth's backyard beekeeping community. Mr Boylen, who manages two hives, hadn't planned on becoming a beekeeper but now finds himself deeply passionate about the craft and couldn't praise the close-knit community enough. 'I never imagined doing anything so agricultural, being a city boy, but I absolutely love it,' Mr Boylen said. 'Keeping bees is an old-school craft that's surprisingly therapeutic. When you're out there with the bees, you're fully in the moment, with nothing else on your mind. Away from the concrete jungle, you start noticing trees, flowers and the seasons in a whole new way. 'The reward comes both from the community and from what's involved in looking after your hives and your bees, not just the honey.' He believes anyone with the right attitude and patience can become a keeper, but they should be aware of the regulations and responsibilities involved. 'Anyone can learn the skills, provided they can either do the physical work or have the support to manage the practical tasks,' Mr Boylen said. 'But you should first check with the local council to ensure it's allowed and take steps like using fences or bushes to keep bees' flight paths away from walkways. 'I'd also encourage them to connect with other keepers and to do a short course for the right skills and guidance.' The hobby's growing popularity has been linked in part to 'Flow Hives', a hive design that enables keepers to extract honey without opening the hive or scraping it out. Despite the convenience of newer hives, under State law all hives must still be registered with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. While registration helps protect the industry from pests and diseases, it does not necessarily grant a license or authorisation to keep bees at a specific location. 'Registration is the cornerstone of hive ownership. With registration comes the responsibility to maintain bee biosecurity and compliance to support healthy bees under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act,' a DPIRD spokesperson said. 'People intending to keep bees in built-up areas should also consult their relevant local government authority to comply with local laws and policies.' Local government laws often require residents to apply for permits for beehives, considering factors such as location and neighbour feedback. Just this week, the City of Joondalup council rejected a Sorrento resident's appeal against the city's decision to refuse their application to keep bees, citing concerns raised by neighbours with allergies. DPIRD is urging responsible hive management and the registration of existing hives to support the growing interest in hobby beekeeping. 'DPIRD encourages people considering beekeeping to make informed decisions to ensure they are responsible beekeepers,' the spokesperson said. 'Successful beekeeping needs to be built on some important foundations that can only be garnered from training and/or good mentoring.' Roy Murphy from Yanchep started beekeeping more than 15 years ago and now runs a successful full-time beekeeping business with more than 200 hives, selling honey at local markets with his family. Mr Murphy, who also visits schools and businesses to talk about the importance of bees and their role in ecosystems, believes the rapid growth of the Perth beekeeping community is a positive for both the industry and the environment. 'Beekeeping brings people together — whether it's swapping tips, sharing honey, or just standing around a hive talking bees,' he said. 'Having bees around also improves everything — more flowers, more vegetables, more life in the garden. 'And there's nothing better than going into your own hive and seeing exactly what you produced, right in your own backyard.' Despite the benefits, Mr Murphy said the hobby wasn't without its expenses and responsibilities, but with the proper preparation it could be incredibly rewarding. 'Getting started realistically costs about $1000, but it's a hobby that pays you back in more than just honey,' he said. 'I always tell people before they spend a cent, do a course with the WA Apiarists' Society to see if it's for you — and before you put a hive in your backyard, talk to your neighbours, check your council's rules, and do the groundwork.'
Perth Now
30-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
The backyard hobby that has exploded in popularity in Perth
Backyard beekeeping has exploded in popularity across Perth in recent years, but the honey isn't the only thing sweet about this growing movement. With more than 4500 registered hobbyist and commercial beekeepers in WA who own more than 51,800 hives, the State's beekeeping scene has never been bigger. According to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 4000 of the registered beekeepers are recreational and are mostly based in the Perth and South West region. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Alongside the boom, a buzzing community has blossomed, most apparent in the Facebook group called Perth Bee Community, which is now nearing 10,000 members. Then there's the WA Apiarists' Society, a not-for-profit association founded in 1953 which now has around 1200 members. It supports and educates both rookies and veteran beekeepers across the State. WA Apiarists' Society vice-president Stephen Boylen is a suburban hobbyist beekeeper who began his keeping journey just seven years ago and has seen first-hand the recent surge in Perth's backyard beekeeping community. Mr Boylen, who manages two hives, hadn't planned on becoming a beekeeper but now finds himself deeply passionate about the craft and couldn't praise the close-knit community enough. 'I never imagined doing anything so agricultural, being a city boy, but I absolutely love it,' Mr Boylen said. 'Keeping bees is an old-school craft that's surprisingly therapeutic. When you're out there with the bees, you're fully in the moment, with nothing else on your mind. Away from the concrete jungle, you start noticing trees, flowers and the seasons in a whole new way. 'The reward comes both from the community and from what's involved in looking after your hives and your bees, not just the honey.' Stephen Boylen says beekeeping is therapeutic. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian He believes anyone with the right attitude and patience can become a keeper, but they should be aware of the regulations and responsibilities involved. 'Anyone can learn the skills, provided they can either do the physical work or have the support to manage the practical tasks,' Mr Boylen said. 'But you should first check with the local council to ensure it's allowed and take steps like using fences or bushes to keep bees' flight paths away from walkways. 'I'd also encourage them to connect with other keepers and to do a short course for the right skills and guidance.' The hobby's growing popularity has been linked in part to 'Flow Hives', a hive design that enables keepers to extract honey without opening the hive or scraping it out. Despite the convenience of newer hives, under State law all hives must still be registered with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. While registration helps protect the industry from pests and diseases, it does not necessarily grant a license or authorisation to keep bees at a specific location. 'Registration is the cornerstone of hive ownership. With registration comes the responsibility to maintain bee biosecurity and compliance to support healthy bees under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act,' a DPIRD spokesperson said. 'People intending to keep bees in built-up areas should also consult their relevant local government authority to comply with local laws and policies.' Stephen Boylen has two traditional bee hives. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian Local government laws often require residents to apply for permits for beehives, considering factors such as location and neighbour feedback. Just this week, the City of Joondalup council rejected a Sorrento resident's appeal against the city's decision to refuse their application to keep bees, citing concerns raised by neighbours with allergies. DPIRD is urging responsible hive management and the registration of existing hives to support the growing interest in hobby beekeeping. 'DPIRD encourages people considering beekeeping to make informed decisions to ensure they are responsible beekeepers,' the spokesperson said. 'Successful beekeeping needs to be built on some important foundations that can only be garnered from training and/or good mentoring.' A bee smoker is used by keepers to calm the bees enough to extract the honey. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian Roy Murphy from Yanchep started beekeeping more than 15 years ago and now runs a successful full-time beekeeping business with more than 200 hives, selling honey at local markets with his family. Mr Murphy, who also visits schools and businesses to talk about the importance of bees and their role in ecosystems, believes the rapid growth of the Perth beekeeping community is a positive for both the industry and the environment. 'Beekeeping brings people together — whether it's swapping tips, sharing honey, or just standing around a hive talking bees,' he said. 'Having bees around also improves everything — more flowers, more vegetables, more life in the garden. 'And there's nothing better than going into your own hive and seeing exactly what you produced, right in your own backyard.' Roy Murphy of Yanchep runs Sticky Prick Bee Haven. Credit: David Baylis / Joondalup Wanneroo Despite the benefits, Mr Murphy said the hobby wasn't without its expenses and responsibilities, but with the proper preparation it could be incredibly rewarding. 'Getting started realistically costs about $1000, but it's a hobby that pays you back in more than just honey,' he said. 'I always tell people before they spend a cent, do a course with the WA Apiarists' Society to see if it's for you — and before you put a hive in your backyard, talk to your neighbours, check your council's rules, and do the groundwork.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Grant Town EMS asks Marion County to help replace unsafe gurney
FAIRMONT — Grant Town Emergency Medical Services needs to replace one of its stretchers that's become too dangerous to keep over concerns it could injure a patient. 'It could lead to a potential injury for them or even death,' Austin Boylen, chief financial officer of Grant Town EMS, said. 'When you're four foot in the air and fall over sideways, you can get a really bad head injury.' Grant Town EMS requested funds Wednesday from the Marion County Commission to replace the stretcher. The stretcher in question is currently out of service, being stored in one of the trucks the agency uses. Boylen said the Rescue Squad won't run that truck until they have a replacement. The problem is a bad wheel on the stretcher that's about to fall off. Normally, such a piece would be replaced, but the current model the Rescue Squad has, a Ferno, doesn't have the ability to replace the wheel. The squad wants to move to a Stryker, which does have replaceable parts. Boylen said they looked everywhere to see if they could replace the wheel, but came up short. The current stretcher is eight years old. Boylen said a brand new one was $100,000 but a refurbished one is available for $22,900. There is also a $500 shipping charge and $2,500 for installation. Boylen asked if commissioners could help cover the cost of the stretcher. The Rescue Squad doesn't have any donations or grants they use to fund the purchase. Boylen added he is also approaching state and federal legislators for help. Marion County Rescue Squad was sued in 2020 after they dropped a woman's husband while transporting him into Fairmont Regional Medical Center in 2019. The lawsuit alleged the patient had not been properly secured to the gurney. The patient died due to severe brain trauma. The case settled in February. County Commissioners also issued a proclamation honoring National Older Americans Month. Leisha Elliott, executive director of Marion County Senior Citizens Inc., was on hand to accept the proclamation. 'The theme this year is called 'Flip the Script,' and it's just an effort to demonstrate that the senior population still has a lot to offer to the communities that may be of retirement age, but they're in no way retiring from their community,' Elliott said. Elliott said sometimes seniors get pushed aside, treated as if their opinions don't matter because their ideas are outdated. That's the furthest thing from the truth, she said. For many years Marion County Senior Citizens has worked to make sure senior residents can continue living inside their homes by providing services that allow them to maintain independent lives. Elliott is also coming up on one year of leading Marion County Senior Citizens. 'It's been great,' she said. 'There's a lot to learn, the programs can get a little complicated sometimes, but we have a great staff that knows the programs in and out, and we have great support from the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services. They work very hard every day to make sure seniors get the best care possible.'
