Latest news with #Doncaster
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- General
- BBC News
New collection tells story of love at Doncaster stately home
As the clouds of war gathered over Europe, a "below stairs" love story was beginning at a country servants at Brodsworth Hall, near Doncaster, bonded over an interest in photography and married in maid Caroline Palmer was warned that her love for valet Alf Edwards was likely to end in early widowhood, but the pair had two sons during a union that lasted three the house's owners, English Heritage, have been gifted a treasure trove of photographs, letters and documents about their life together after they were donated by the couple's grandson. Caroline went into service at Brodsworth, the seat of the Thellusson family, in 1906, leaving her home in Northamptonshire. Seven years later Alf moved from London to take up a post as estate owner Charles Thellusson's personal met when Alf began to use the hall's kitchens as a makeshift studio in which to develop photographs he had taken. Many were scenes of life on the estate and the large number of staff who worked there at the poor health meant he was unable to join the forces when war broke out in 1914, and Caroline was cautioned that their marriage could be a short one. They had their wedding in 1916, by which time Caroline had become cook at the house, although she had to leave her position as a married other male servants left for the war, Alf took on other duties, including taking charge of the estate's shoots and gunroom and acting as sons John and Harold were born before Alf died from tuberculosis in 1919. Despite being servants, the couple were liked and respected by the Thellussons - Charles, who died in the same year, was John's godfather and his wife Constance wrote a letter consoling Caroline when both were widowed. After Alf's death, Caroline returned to Northamptonshire with some financial help from the Thellussons towards her sons' struck again when John died aged 15 from an infected insect bite. Caroline became a cook in one of the boarding houses at Oundle School, and in later life moved in with her younger son Harold and his wife. They recorded many of her memories in note form before her death in 1968. Her grandson, Gordon Edwards, contacted English Heritage to offer them the collection of items telling the story of Alf and Caroline's lives at Brodsworth said: "We're so pleased to be able to donate these objects so they can continue to be cared for, shared with the public, and help to tell the important stories of those people below stairs who lived and worked at Brodsworth Hall."Eleanor Matthews, English Heritage's curator of collections and interiors, said it was extremely rare to have a collection relating to the lives of servants survive."Alf's photographs are incredibly important to the history of the site and have provided us with the earliest image of staff at the estate - hopefully in time we will be able identify them all. "These beautiful, poignant items tell a story largely unknown to us until now and, thanks to this donation, we are able to add another layer of understanding to the rich fabric of Brodsworth's history."While the bulk of the collection is being catalogued, a number of items have gone on public display at the hall, including Alf's camera, pipes, wartime registration cards, postcards, and Caroline's watch. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
20 Universal Credit freebies and discounts you can claim in August worth more than £17,000
MILLIONS of households on Universal Credit are missing out on thousands of pounds' worth of extra support – from free food to savings bonuses and council tax discounts. With food inflation still stubbornly high, energy prices creeping up again, and back-to-school costs around the corner, August is a crucial month to check what help is available. 1 If you're on Universal Credit or a similarly low income, you could be missing out on vital financial support, and many of these schemes don't need to be paid back. Here's a detailed breakdown of the help on offer this August, who's eligible, how much you might get, and how to claim. If you're eligible for all 20, you may be able to save more than £17,000 over 12 months. 1. Household Support Fund – Savings: up to £500 The Household Support Fund runs until March 2026 and gives emergency cash or voucher support to households struggling with essentials like food, energy, and white goods. Payouts and eligibility vary by local authority. For example: Brent Council offers up to £500 for struggling families. Apply at Doncaster pays between £100 and £300 to families on UC. See Ribble Valley gives food vouchers worth £200–£500 to households earning under £35,000. Visit How to apply: Go to your council's website and search for 'Household Support Fund' – the easiest way is to Google your council name plus the phrase. If your child gets free school meals, you can usually access the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, run in partnership with councils and funded by the government. Activities include football camps, arts, drama and free meals. In many areas, bookings are open now for August sessions: Leeds offers HAF places including hot meals and sports activities: Hampshire includes cookery clubs, forest schools and free meals: In Scotland, parents receive direct holiday payments instead of food provision. For example: Glasgow pays £135 for summer holidays per eligible child: Wales and Northern Ireland also run holiday support schemes via schools and councils – check with your local authority. Five key changes to PIP & Universal Credit as Labour's benefits crackdown unveiled 3. Warm Home Discount – Savings: £150 credit Eligible low-income households can get £150 off electricity bills automatically between October and March. You usually don't need to apply – energy suppliers apply the discount directly if you qualify. If you're on UC and meet your supplier's rules (especially if your home is classed as "energy inefficient"), the discount will appear as a credit on your bill. Check eligibility at 4. Discounted broadband and mobile – Savings: save up to £196.68 Social tariffs offer cheap broadband to people on benefits. Some of the cheapest include: Virgin Media Essentials: £12.50/month – save £137.88/year vs regular Virgin package. BT Home Essentials: £15/month for fibre + calls. Voxi for Now: £10/month for unlimited mobile data for six months – saving £150 vs regular deal. According to Uswitch, the average broadband bill in the UK is £26.39/month – switching to the cheapest social tariff could save you £196.68 per year. Compare all social tariffs at www. 5. Free school meals – Savings: save up to £503.50 per child per year If your child is at school and you claim Universal Credit, they may qualify for free school meals during term time. To be eligible in England, your household income (excluding benefits) must be under £7,400 a year. This limit also applies in Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, all children in primary years 1 to 5 get free school meals regardless of income, and older pupils may also qualify based on UC claims. The Food Foundation says the average cost of a school lunch is £2.65. Over 190 school days, that amounts to a potential saving of around £503.50 per child per year. Check eligibility and apply at 6. Council tax reduction – Savings: save up to £2,280 If you receive Universal Credit, you can apply for a council tax reduction of up to 100%. Every local authority sets its own rules, but many reduce council tax significantly for low-income households. If you live alone, you can also get a single person discount of 25%. For example: In Manchester, households on UC can get up to 100% off their council tax. Apply at Bristol offers up to 90% for most working-age households on benefits. More info at The average Band D council tax in England for 2025-26 is now £2,280, so a full reduction is worth that amount annually. 7. Help with water bills – Savings: save hundreds off your annual bill Water companies offer social tariffs or capped rates for those on UC and similar benefits. These schemes vary by supplier. For example: Affinity Water caps bills at £119.50/year for eligible households. See United Utilities offers up to 50% off for households with high usage or medical needs. More at According to Discover Water, the average water bill in England and Wales has risen to £603 in 2025. Switching to a capped or social tariff could save you hundreds of pounds depending on your supplier and usage. 8. Energy grants – Savings: up to £1,500 Several energy suppliers offer grants to help customers on low incomes clear energy debts or cover bills. For example: British Gas Energy Trust offers grants up to £1,500 even if you're not a British Gas customer. Apply at Next Energy Fund provides help with white goods and bill support. Visit You'll usually need to show proof of income, provide meter readings, and explain your situation. These grants don't need to be repaid. 9. Free prescriptions and dental care – Savings: variable savings Universal Credit claimants may be entitled to free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and help with health costs. You'll qualify if: You're single and earn under £435/month Or your household earns under £935/month and gets the child element of UC or has limited capability for work These savings can quickly add up: NHS prescriptions in England cost £9.90 each A standard NHS dental check-up is £25.80 10. Help to Save – Earn up to £300 a year This government-backed savings account is designed to encourage low-income households to build a financial cushion. If you're on Universal Credit and meet the eligibility requirements, you can open a Help to Save account and get a 50% bonus on savings. You can save between £1 and £50 each month, and at the end of two years, you'll receive a bonus worth half of the highest balance you've saved. You can continue saving for up to four years, earning a maximum total bonus of £1,200 if you save the full amount every month. Payments can be stopped and restarted without penalty You can withdraw money if needed, but it may reduce your bonus Apply at 11. School uniform grants – Savings: up to £200 Buying new uniforms can be a major back-to-school expense. Fortunately, some local authorities offer school uniform grants to help cover the cost. These grants are often available if your child is eligible for free school meals and you're on Universal Credit. Examples include: City of London: £160 for secondary school pupils. Apply at Sefton Council: £45 for primary and £70 for secondary. See Wales: The Pupil Development Grant offers £200 to eligible families. More info at Grants are often paid as vouchers, bank transfers, or reimbursements. Deadlines and application processes vary, so check with your local authority. 12. Free or discounted travel – Savings: up to 50% off Help with travel costs is available in several forms if you're on Universal Credit and looking for work or studying: Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card: Offers up to 50% off rail fares. Available to jobseekers who have been claiming UC or JSA for at least 13 weeks (or longer depending on age). More info at 16–17 Saver Card: Reduces fares by 50% for young people. Apply at Student Oyster Photocard: Offers 30% off travelcards and bus passes in London. See Note: Eligibility criteria and application processes vary by scheme. Some discounts depend on your age or how long you've been claiming UC. Some councils also offer additional support, for example, Derbyshire County Council provides bus travel support through its Wheels to Work scheme. 13. Flexible Support Fund – Savings: no official cap Administered by your Jobcentre, this discretionary fund can help cover work-related expenses to support you into employment. Unlike Universal Credit, this isn't a fixed payment and is granted based on individual need. You might be able to get: Up to £150 for tools, uniforms, or work clothing Travel costs to interviews or training Short-term childcare support For example, one claimant in Leeds received £120 to cover train tickets for job interviews. To apply, speak directly to your work coach, who can authorise support. 14. Maternity grants – Savings: £500 per child The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off tax-free payment to help with the cost of a new baby. You don't have to repay it, and it won't affect other benefits. You'll get £500 if: It's your first child You're expecting twins or more, and already have children Applications open from 11 weeks before the due date until 6 months after birth. You must be on Universal Credit and not already receiving other maternity payments. Download the SF100 form at and send it by post. 15. Healthy Start vouchers – Savings: up to £442/year Eligible parents can receive prepaid cards that are topped up every four weeks, helping you buy healthy foods and milk. It's designed for pregnant women and parents of children under four. £4.25/week if pregnant (from week 10) £8.50/week for children under 1 £4.25/week for kids aged 1–4 In a child's first year, this adds up to £442, and about £221 per year after that. You're eligible if you're on Universal Credit with earnings below £408/month. Apply online at 16. Funeral expenses payment – Savings: up to £1,000 If you're arranging a funeral and receive UC, you might qualify for this payment to cover necessary costs. This payment is usually made to the funeral director. You can get up to £1,000 for: Flowers Funeral director's fees Travel costs Burial or cremation fees may also be covered separately. Payments depend on your relationship with the deceased and other contributions (e.g. from insurance). Find out more at 17. Legal aid – Savings: varies by case Legal aid can cover the cost of advice or representation for those facing serious legal issues. If you're on Universal Credit, you may qualify if your case meets the criteria. Support is available for: Domestic violence and child protection Housing or eviction cases Discrimination Immigration or asylum matters You may have to contribute towards costs depending on your income or assets. Check eligibility at 18. Childcare support – Savings: up to £1,769/month If you're working at least 16 hours/week and on UC, you can claim back 85% of childcare costs: £1,031.88 for one child £1,768.94 for two or more children The money is paid after you've submitted evidence of payment each month. There are often delays, so it's important to budget carefully or ask providers if they'll accept delayed payment. Apply through your UC account at 19. Free childcare hours (England only) – Savings: up to £7,500 From September 2024, parents of 2-year-olds in working families can access 15 free hours of childcare per week. From September 2025, this extends to 30 hours for children from nine months old. To be eligible: Both parents must be working (or one, in single-parent households) You must earn at least £183/week and under £100,000/year The Government says this will save families an average of £7,500 a year. More details at 20. Discounted glasses and eye tests – Savings: up to £233.56 NHS optical support includes: Free eye tests every two years Vouchers for glasses or lenses worth between £42.40 and £233.56 depending on your prescription Some opticians apply the discount automatically if you show your UC award letter. Check the NHS guide at
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Households on Universal Credit can claim £300 cash this summer holiday – will you get a boost?
HOUSEHOLDS on Universal Credit can claim up to £300 in cash this summer. Hard-up families can claim support through the government's Household Support Fund. 1 The scheme has been extended multiple times, with the latest round running between April 2025 and March 2026. Each council has a share of £742million which it can dole out to residents in need. Eligibility criteria varies but help is usually offered to those on low income or claiming benefits. Households in Doncaster can apply for cost of living cash worth up to £300 to help with a supermarket shop. You must have dependent children to qualify for the support. A dependant child is a child for whom you receive Child Benefit. For example, if you have one dependent child you will receive £100. This rises to £200 if you are a household with two dependent children. If you have three or more kids the amount you receive is £300. To be eligible for the support you must be claiming Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, means tested free school meals or council tax reductions. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now If you previously applied for the support, a payment will be made to the bank account using information you previously provided. If you have not submitted an application before you can do so online by visiting, Elsewhere, residents of North Northamptonshire can apply for supermarket vouchers worth up to £320 on August 4. A person who lives alone will be given a voucher worth £150. Meanwhile, a house with two residents could receive £260 for their food shop. If you live in a home with three residents or more you will receive a voucher worth £320. Does every council offer support? The £742million Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England. So, if you don't live in this area but are struggling financially or are on benefits you will likely be eligible for help. This is because the fund was originally set up to help those on low incomes or classed as vulnerable. What type of help you can get will vary but it could range from a free cash payment to supermarket vouchers. For example, residents in Worcestershire can apply for support worth up to £500 to help with water and energy costs. Devon County Council has also issued supermarket vouchers worth more than £90 to 22,000 families with children on free school meals. The £90 is equivalent to £15 per week for the six week school holiday. Households in Redcar & Cleveland can also now apply for support worth up to £230. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. And don't delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date. Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it's crucial you apply as soon as possible.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Rush-hour trains disrupted by signalling failure
Rail commuters travelling between Sheffield and Doncaster face rush-hour disruption due to a signalling failure. National Rail said services could be cancelled or delayed for up to 40 minutes, although operator TransPennine Express warned that passengers could be delayed for up to an hour. The disruption, caused by a fault in the system near Meadowhall, is expected to continue until about 09:00 BST. National Rail said rail replacement transport had been "requested" for passengers travelling between Sheffield and Doncaster. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Related internet links National Rail
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Sheffield-Doncaster rush-hour trains disrupted by signalling failure
Rail commuters travelling between Sheffield and Doncaster face rush-hour disruption due to a signalling Rail said services could be cancelled or delayed for up to 40 minutes, although operator TransPennine Express warned that passengers could be delayed for up to an disruption, caused by a fault in the system near Meadowhall, is expected to continue until about 09:00 Rail said rail replacement transport had been "requested" for passengers travelling between Sheffield and Doncaster. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
