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Daily Record
23-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Staff and volunteers at Motherwell's PDSA shop urging locals to donate their unwanted items
The shop is desperate for good quality donations including kid's games, ornaments and jewellery as well as men's and ladies clothes, shoes and accessories. Staff and volunteers at Motherwell's PDSA shop are urging locals to donate their unwanted items or time to help sick and injured pets The shop is desperate for good quality donations including kid's games, ornaments and jewellery as well as men's and ladies clothes, shoes and accessories. PDSA Shop Assistant Manager, Kirsteen Reynolds said: 'Perhaps your wardrobe is bulging with unworn clothes or your shelves are full of books you never read? Why not have a clear-out and donate your unwanted items to PDSA? As well as de-cluttering your home, you'll be helping a very worthy cause at the same time. Kirsteen is also appealing for local people to lend a hand and volunteer at the shop. Download the Lanarkshire Live app today She added: 'We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about pets and who can lend a hand. 'Volunteering for PDSA is fun and the skills you learn look great on any CV, plus you get to meet new people and make some friends along the way. No previous retail experience is needed, as full training is provided for all new volunteers. So, if you would like to help sick and injured pets, why not join our friendly volunteer team.' For more details about volunteering for PDSA, please visit Located at Brandon Parade South, the Motherwell PDSA shop raises vital funds to provide free and low cost vet care for those who struggle to pay treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. PDSA encourages all supporters to sign up for Gift Aid* if they are a UK tax payer, to help their donations go even further. Gift Aid allows PDSA to claim an additional 25 per cent of the value of each item sold. For more information about Motherwell PDSA shop, please contact Kirsteen on 01698 262279.
New Statesman
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Gordon Brown on the 'cruel' two-child benefit cap
(Photo by Jeff) The two-child benefit cap is 'cruel', the former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown tells the New Statesman Podcast in a special interview out on Friday 23 May. Devised by the former Conservative chancellor George Osborne in 2016, the limit is considered a driver of child poverty and it is a certain source of division within today's Labour Party. The Labour government chose not to scrap the cap, and has removed the whip from MPs rebelling against this decision. The party promised in its manifesto to end reliance on food banks, and to reduce child poverty in this Parliament. Removing the two-child benefit cap could pull hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty. Speaking to the New Statesman's Britain Editor and podcast host Anoosh Chakelian ahead of his guest-edited issue themed around child poverty, Brown laid out his funding ideas for reducing child poverty. These include a gambling tax, commercial bank levy, and changes to Gift Aid rules for higher-rate taxpayers, among other measures. Outlining these on the podcast, Brown suggested they would be possible without 'breaking the government's tax commitments' or 'breaking the fiscal rules, which, of course, [the Chancellor] Rachel Reeves is obviously right to be concerned about'. In the interview, Brown drew on exclusive polling for his New Statesman guest edit by Focaldata, which revealed 42 per cent of voters are against the cap, and more than 75 per cent of those who support it say it should be scrapped if it is shown to be a cost-effective way of reducing poverty. 'The Reform Party, many of the Conservative Party, the Liberals, the [Scottish] Nationalist Party, they all support lifting the two-child limit,' Brown revealed. 'Now, of course, it's expensive because it was designed to save a lot of money at the expense of children, but you just think of a family that has lost £66 a week overnight – their child is born, the third child, and they don't get the same amount that they get for the second child. 'It really is cruel to see a third child as almost a second-class citizen in that way, and that's what's got to change. Now, I think the government can do this because I've suggested the ways it can be funded. I think it should be hypothecated in the sense of earmarks, so that people know that the money is going for a good purpose.' [See more: Inside the Conservative Party's existential spiral] Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Gordon Brown urges Keir Starmer to fix 'child poverty emergency' with major plan
Labour former PM Gordon Brown said Keir Starmer must act to help 'austerity's children' as rising levels of child poverty could see 4.8 million kids living in hardship by 2029 Gordon Brown will pile pressure on the Government to do more to fix child poverty with a plan to raise billions from taxes on gambling industry and banking profits. The former Prime Minister said Keir Starmer must act to help "austerity's children" as rising levels of child poverty could see 4.8 million kids living in hardship by 2029. Pressure is mounting on the Government to spell out its plans to lift children out of poverty as a review promised for the Spring has not yet emerged. In a submission to the Government's Child Poverty taskforce, Mr Brown proposed creating a "Child Fairness Guarantee" to ensure a minimum amount of support to afford essentials such as food and household bills. This would be funded by raising £9billion from online gambling levies, tiered interest scheme on commercial bank funds and reforms to Gift Aid and corporate philanthropy. It comes as a poll found more than 75% of UK voters believe it's morally wrong so many children go to bed hungry or without a proper place to sleep. The survey by Hope not Hate found 82% think the government should be doing more to reduce child poverty. Nearly 9 in 10 people (87%) would support taxes on from gambling industry and banking profits to fund a Child Fairness Guarantee. Mr Brown warned that the "long tail of austerity" meant numbers of children in poverty were projected to rise by 100,000 per year over this Parliament. He said: "The rising levels of poverty stem largely from the long tail of austerity and are the lingering result of decisions made a decade ago by George Osborne to create generation of austerity's children which deliberately added one million children to the poverty numbers. "Thousands more children are hit by benefit caps that have in turn created an enormous challenge for the current government's Child Poverty Review to roll back the worst of the Conservative inheritance, before even beginning to tackle future challenges." He added: "70% of the children in poverty are in working families exposing the false argument that poverty is caused by feckless or work shy parents who are part of a co-dependency culture." In cities like Birmingham and Manchester, 46% and 44% of children respectively are already living in poverty, with some communities seeing rates as high as 85%. That means in some classrooms, 25 out of 30 children are condemned to live in hardship, according to the report. Every night one million children are trying to sleep every night without a bed of their own, while each day three million children regularly skip meals due to the strains on family finances. He said: "When asked why we must act, people say our children are our future — and we all benefit if they grow up healthy, educated, and productive. The costs of inaction are greater: in poor health, increased crime, and lost contributions to the economy. 'Britons say they are embarrassed and disgusted that countries like the Netherlands and the Nordics are doing far better for their children than we are. "There is now a clear public mandate to act on the government's manifesto promise to reduce child poverty in this parliament and to "end mass dependence on emergency food parcels.' Labour committed to develop an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty, with a taskforce appointed last summer to develop a blueprint. The PM promised at the time to "leave no stone unturned to give every child the very best start at life".
Scotsman
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Scotland steps up: How the Kiltwalk movement is inspiring thousands this summer with spirit and tartan
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Across Scotland, the Kiltwalk phenomenon has become more than just a charity event - it's a national movement of compassion, community and giving. Every year, thousands of people don tartan, lace up their walking boots and take to the streets, trails, and scenic paths in a shared mission to support those in need. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Staff from homeless charity, Cyrenians, encouraged participants along the Edinburgh Kiltwalk route | Edinburgh Kiltwalk Since its inception, the Kiltwalk has raised £53 million for more than 4,000 Scottish charities, thanks to the generosity of walkers and donors, and through the backing of The Hunter Foundation. What started as a single event has grown into a series of fundraising walks across Scotland, drawing people from all walks of life, united by helping others. A sea of tartan swept through the streets of Glasgow last weekend and along the scenic paths between Clydebank and Balloch, as 19,000 walkers of all ages and background stepped forward in a united show of compassion and community. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The event, an annual fixture in Scotland's charitable calendar, was more than just a walk, but a testament to the enduring power of giving. Among those joining the thousands of walkers was comedian and broadcaster Paddy McGuinness, who added his voice and steps to the cause on Saturday. And the journey isn't over. With more Kiltwalk events planned in Aberdeen on Sunday, June 1, from St Andrews to Dundee on Sunday, August 17, and Edinburgh on Sunday, September 14, thousands more are expected to take part, bringing hope - and vital funds - to charities across the nation. Each event offers routes for all abilities and brings communities together to make an impact. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This year, the fundraising carries a particularly poignant weight. All proceeds from the 2025 Kiltwalks, along with any eligible Gift Aid, will benefit five cancer charities chosen by six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy, who was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2023. Sir Chris Hoy admits his cancer diagnosis has put the pressure of his cycling career into perspective. Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Wire. The five cancer charities are Breast Cancer Now, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Maggie's and Prostate Cancer UK. Sir Chris was last year told the disease had spread to his bones and was terminal, giving him anywhere between two and four years to live. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In a video message recorded for Kiltwalkers and posted in February, Sir Chris said: 'The Kiltwalk is an unforgettable experience that takes place in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh, so sign up now, and choose kiltwalk. Thank you, and good luck.' The cyclist has said about his cancer diagnosis: 'When you are young, fit and healthy, you assume you are immune to any of that. You think that is for further down the line. When you are 50, that is when you starting thinking about prostate cancer and checking. 'Even with family history, I had my grandpa and my dad, but actually I should have been thinking about it sooner.' Philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, whose foundation plays a key role in the Kiltwalk's success, described the associated events as 'magic', saying: 'In every community across Scotland, there are people who need a wee hand up, and there are good folks like you who get up in the morning and help them.'
Glasgow Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Eight amazing pictures from Glasgow Kiltwalk 2025
Five thousand heroes walked from Clydebank to Balloch on Saturday before another 14,000 heroes took to the streets and paths from Glasgow Green and Clydebank all the way to the finish line at Loch Lomond today. The turnout was so huge that organisers extended the event to two days, making it the biggest Kiltwalk in history. Some amazing pictures were taken on Sunday, capturing thousands as they crossed the start line. Can you spot yourself? (Image: Images by Elaine Livingstone) (Image: Images by Elaine Livingstone) (Image: Images by Elaine Livingstone) (Image: Images by Elaine Livingstone) (Image: Images by Elaine Livingstone) (Image: Images by Elaine Livingstone) (Image: Images by Elaine Livingstone) (Image: Images by Elaine Livingstone) Sir Tom Hunter, whose Hunter Foundation underwrites the Kiltwalk to ensure 100% of donations plus Gift Aid go directly to charities, celebrated the milestone: He said: 'In the 10 years that The Hunter Foundation has been involved with Kiltwalk, you and our foundation have raised an incredible £53 million for 4000 Scottish charities. 'I believe the magic of Kiltwalk is quite simple: in every community across Scotland, there are people who need a wee hand up, and there are good folks like you who get up in the morning and help them. "All the Kiltwalk does is simply connect you. There isn't a prouder Scotsman on the planet than me this morning.' We previously reported that Paddy McGuinness joined Sir Tom Hunter to rally walkers at this year's Kiltwalk, after Sir Tom supported Paddy's epic BBC Children in Need challenge last year, which saw him cycle 300 miles from Wrexham to Glasgow. Speaking before yesterday's Big Stroll, the TV presenter wished the Kiltwalkers the best of luck, commending them for participating in Kiltwalk for their chosen charities and wishing them a safe walk on their journey to Balloch. This year, walkers also supported Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de Four campaign, raising funds for five cancer charities following the Olympian's stage four prostate cancer diagnosis. To join or learn more about the Kiltwalk, visit
