Latest news with #Horncastle
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Lincolnshire baby banks report rapid rise in demand for services
Organisations supporting families with babies say they have seen a rapid rise in demand for their banks provide donated nappies, cots, clothes and other items to parents in Bennett, founder of the Market Rasen Baby Bank, in Lincolnshire, said the number of users had risen from 19 to 76 over the last six described the increase in demand as "quite disturbing". "I would say a large percentage of service users are your average working family – money just isn't stretching to the end of the month," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service."Nobody has any contingencies, every little penny is just going into living."Even households where both parents were working were struggling, particularly with nursery fees, Ms Bennett figures from an annual survey by the national Baby Bank Alliance show that 220,000 families across the UK were supported by baby banks in 2024, up from 163,000 in the previous than 3.5-million items were distributed last year, marking a 143% increase on the previous Bain, director of Little Treasures Baby Bank, in Horncastle, said she had also seen a noticeable rise in referrals, where items are requested through healthcare explained that before the start of this year, the baby bank typically received between two and four referrals a week, but that figure had now doubled."The number of items in a referral has doubled as well," Ms Bain added, noting that larger items such as cots and travel systems were particularly in baby bank has recently put out an urgent appeal on social media for unused and unwanted to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Backlash over property developer's public holiday posts
High-profile Christchurch property developer Matthew Horncastle has stirred up controversy by criticising public holidays. In two posts to his personal Instagram on April 24 and Anzac Day, Horncastle said public holidays are 'unethical' because they are Government-mandated. He said it forced many businesses to close or pay employees more if they did work. 'That is not freedom. That is control,' Horncastle said. People who work on public holidays are entitled to time-and-a-half pay and many businesses must close unless an exception applies, with almost all shops needing to shut until 1pm on Anzac Day for example. Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are all subject to strict Government regulations. "In a free country, free people should choose when they work and when they rest," Horncastle posted. Property developer Matthew Horncastle criticised public holidays in two Instagram posts. PHOTO: FACEBOOK "But in New Zealand, the Government mandates when a day is special. "It forces many businesses to close. It forces employers to pay more if someone works that day. "It dictates the terms of private agreements between employer and employee," Horncastle posted. The Instagram posts were lambasted by other users with hundreds of comments critical of Horncastle's opinion. Horncastle is co-founder and co-managing director of Williams Corporation, one of the largest Christchurch property developers. When contacted for comment by The Star, Horncastle emailed: 'No comments. Any article I deem defamatory will be involving lawyers. Have a nice day.' Michelle Brown. Canterbury RSA president Michelle Brown said she did not understand how Horncastle could hold such views on public holidays. 'Anzac Day is one of those sacrosanct days and I would suggest that a property developer in the modern day might want to look back at its importance in New Zealand history before making those kinds of statements,' she said. Horncastle said in the posts he personally celebrates Anzac Day but believes it should be a choice for businesses whether they open and for employees whether they want to work. 'No one should be forced to stop. No one should be told how to price their time. No one needs government-approved rest days. Let people take holidays when they choose. Let them work when they choose,' he said. One commenter wrote: 'Yikes, how out of touch can you get.' Another said it was an 'insane take by a very privileged individual'. Horncastle is no stranger to controversy over his social media posts. In December 2022, he faced criticism over comments about women after saying they should use their 'youth and beauty to get the best possible man', but also said he believed in personal freedom in relationships. After being scrutinised in the media for the comments, Horncastle was asked by an Instagram follower how he deals with 'media attacks'. In response, Horncastle said as a mental exercise he would imagine himself as a Jewish business owner in Nazi Germany. 'I imagine if I'd worked so hard my whole life, I've done everything right, I've followed the rules, I've saved my money, I've paid my taxes and then I get hauled off to a concentration camp. And I remind myself that the world's not just,' Horncastle said at the time. The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand told the NZ Herald at the time the statement 'belittles the memory of six million people murdered in the Holocaust'.
Otago Daily Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
'That is not freedom': Backlash over property developer's public holiday posts
High-profile Christchurch property developer Matthew Horncastle has stirred up controversy by criticising public holidays. In two posts to his personal Instagram on April 24 and Anzac Day, Horncastle said public holidays are 'unethical' because they are Government-mandated. He said it forced many businesses to close or pay employees more if they did work. 'That is not freedom. That is control,' Horncastle said. People who work on public holidays are entitled to time-and-a-half pay and many businesses must close unless an exception applies, with almost all shops needing to shut until 1pm on Anzac Day for example. Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are all subject to strict Government regulations. "In a free country, free people should choose when they work and when they rest," Horncastle posted. "But in New Zealand, the Government mandates when a day is special. "It forces many businesses to close. It forces employers to pay more if someone works that day. "It dictates the terms of private agreements between employer and employee," Horncastle posted. The Instagram posts were lambasted by other users with hundreds of comments critical of Horncastle's opinion. Horncastle is co-founder and co-managing director of Williams Corporation, one of the largest Christchurch property developers. When contacted for comment by The Star , Horncastle emailed: 'No comments. Any article I deem defamatory will be involving lawyers. Have a nice day.' Canterbury RSA president Michelle Brown said she did not understand how Horncastle could hold such views on public holidays. 'Anzac Day is one of those sacrosanct days and I would suggest that a property developer in the modern day might want to look back at its importance in New Zealand history before making those kinds of statements,' she said. Horncastle said in the posts he personally celebrates Anzac Day but believes it should be a choice for businesses whether they open and for employees whether they want to work. 'No one should be forced to stop. No one should be told how to price their time. No one needs government-approved rest days. Let people take holidays when they choose. Let them work when they choose,' he said. One commenter wrote: 'Yikes, how out of touch can you get.' Another said it was an 'insane take by a very privileged individual'. Horncastle is no stranger to controversy over his social media posts. In December 2022, he faced criticism over comments about women after saying they should use their 'youth and beauty to get the best possible man', but also said he believed in personal freedom in relationships. After being scrutinised in the media for the comments, Horncastle was asked by an Instagram follower how he deals with 'media attacks'. In response, Horncastle said as a mental exercise he would imagine himself as a Jewish business owner in Nazi Germany. 'I imagine if I'd worked so hard my whole life, I've done everything right, I've followed the rules, I've saved my money, I've paid my taxes and then I get hauled off to a concentration camp. And I remind myself that the world's not just,' Horncastle said at the time.
CBC
23-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, RNC warn of trickier scams with evolution of AI
In a world of proliferating scams, an advocate is urging people to approach investment opportunities with a healthy dose of skepticism. According to the Better Business Bureau's recent report, the most common scams right now appear as investment opportunities. Jeff Horncastle, outreach officer with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, said in 2024 more than $310 million was reported in overall losses from investment fraud, adding that since 2021 it's been more than $1 billion. "This is estimating that only a fraction of the victims report," he told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show. Investment scams, including cryptocurrency fraud, get people to visit a fraudulent website and invest money, said Horncastle. He said in a lot of cases people do get a return on their initial investment of about $200 or $300, which convinces them the website is legit. But when the person attempts to withdraw the funds after further investing, they find out they have been scammed, said Horncastle. People can be contacted through a social media ad, a message from someone they think is a friend or through Google searches. "Unfortunately, the first five to 10 results that appear in a lot of cases are fraudulent platforms," said Horncastle. "That's where they're getting their victims." Due diligence should be required before making investments, he said, but the scams are getting increasingly harder to detect. Artificial intelligence has become a tool that fraudsters use. That includes falsified videos known as "deep fakes" that feature notable public figures like Elon Musk endorsing cryptocurrency investment platforms. Horncastle says a fraudster will try to develop a sense of urgency in their target to force a quick decision. "So take as much time as you need, never feel pressured or threatened, and in most cases you'll save yourself from being a victim," he said. Anyone who should fall victim to a scam should reach out to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as well as the local police. A scam industry Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Const. James Cadigan says investment scams can be enticing to people who are in financially difficult positions. He said people should be on the look out for deals that are too good to be true. The types of scams can also depend on the time of year, he said, adding there's usually an influx of CRA-related scams during tax season or rental scams when there are a lot of students looking for housing. "These crime networks that operate these scams, this is an industry for them. So they're paying attention to the calendar, what types of issues people are facing in each time of the year," Cadigan told CBC News. In Canada, Cadigan said fraud is a $100 million dollar industry. "It really gives you an idea just how big this is," he said.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, RNC warn of trickier scams with evolution of AI
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says the most common scams appear as investment opportunities. (CBC) In a world of proliferating scams, an advocate is urging people to approach investment opportunities with a healthy dose of skepticism. According to the Better Business Bureau's recent report, the most common scams right now appear as investment opportunities. Jeff Horncastle, outreach officer with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, said in 2024 more than $310 million was reported in overall losses from investment fraud, adding that since 2021 it's been more than $1 billion. "This is estimating that only a fraction of the victims report," he told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show. Investment scams, including cryptocurrency fraud, get people to visit a fraudulent website and invest money, said Horncastle. He said in a lot of cases people do get a return on their initial investment of about $200 or $300, which convinces them the website is legit. But when the person attempts to withdraw the funds after further investing, they find out they have been scammed, said Horncastle. People can be contacted through a social media ad, a message from someone they think is a friend or through Google searches. "Unfortunately, the first five to 10 results that appear in a lot of cases are fraudulent platforms," said Horncastle. "That's where they're getting their victims." Due diligence should be required before making investments, he said, but the scams are getting increasingly harder to detect. Artificial intelligence has become a tool that fraudsters use. That includes falsified videos known as "deep fakes" that feature notable public figures like Elon Musk endorsing cryptocurrency investment platforms. Jeff Horncastle says scams are getting more technologically advanced with artificial intelligence. (CBC) Horncastle says a fraudster will try to develop a sense of urgency in their target to force a quick decision. "So take as much time as you need, never feel pressured or threatened, and in most cases you'll save yourself from being a victim," he said. Anyone who should fall victim to a scam should reach out to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as well as the local police. A scam industry Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Const. James Cadigan says investment scams can be enticing to people who are in financially difficult positions. He said people should be on the look out for deals that are too good to be true. The types of scams can also depend on the time of year, he said, adding there's usually an influx of CRA-related scams during tax season or rental scams when there are a lot of students looking for housing. "These crime networks that operate these scams, this is an industry for them. So they're paying attention to the calendar, what types of issues people are facing in each time of the year," Cadigan told CBC News. The RNC recently warned the public about romance scams after a woman in Newfoundland and Labrador. lost $500,000 over a nine-month period In Canada, Cadigan said fraud is a $100 million dollar industry. "It really gives you an idea just how big this is," he said. "They're operating a business really, as a crime network and they're using all the same sophistication and technologies." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
