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Glasgow Times
04-08-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Son's diagnosis of diabetes prompted Scottish mum to go to college
Leigh Bennett, from Cumbernauld, spent two decades managing shops before embarking on a new career path in genetic science after her son Max was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The 46-year-old enrolled in the SWAP Access to Chemical and Biological Science course at Glasgow Kelvin College in 2015, after Max's diagnosis inspired her to learn more about his condition. The course, part of the Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP), gave Leigh a pathway to university, where she graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2020 with a degree in biological science. Read more: Meet the 21-year-old asylum seeker who earned a spot at Glasgow School of Art Leigh said: "I was 35 when I joined Glasgow Kelvin College. "I had always wanted to go to university, and the access course was my way in. "When I got in, I thought, right, this is it, I'm doing this. "That decision changed everything for me. 'I went from standing on shop floors, doing long shifts and late nights, to being in classrooms learning about something that really mattered to me. "It was hard work, but I felt like I was moving towards something that would make a difference in my life and in my son's life.' Balancing study with family life was tough, but Leigh has described her time at Glasgow Kelvin College as transformative. She said: "Make no mistake, that course changed my life. "It gave me a chance to move into a skilled sector and finally do something I had been dreaming about for almost 20 years." After finishing her degree, Leigh joined Merck Group in Glasgow as an associate scientist 1. Over three years, she progressed through several internal promotions and now works as a scientist 1 in the company's genetic stability team. She said: "Ten years ago, I was running shops. "Now I am in a role where, when I speak, I feel listened to. "I have been trusted to lead projects, give opinions in meetings and make decisions that really matter. "Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I am in a place I never thought I would reach." Leigh hopes her journey will inspire others to take the leap into further education, regardless of age. She said: "Opportunity is something you have got to go and grab. "It does not land on your lap, you have got to go and get it. "If you are older and thinking about it, do not let the years you have spent in another career put you off. "Just go for it. "Knuckle down for that short time, even when it feels tough, and it can open doors you never imagined. "And if you are younger and not sure what you want to do yet, pick something you enjoy. "That passion is what keeps you going when it gets hard. "You just have to see the bigger picture and keep moving forward.' Leigh is sharing her story to mark National Opportunity Day, an initiative by Glasgow Kelvin College designed to highlight the doors that college can unlock. Read more: 'Made me who I am': Glasgow sports hub 'scores a winner for children's rights' Leigh is sharing her story as part of the third National Opportunity Day (Image: Supplied) Taking place on August 6, it aims to show how clearing and access routes can be the start of something bigger. Glasgow Kelvin College will host an open day on August 14. To find out more about the event, visit the college's website.
Powys County Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys Council paid £28,000 overtime to one member of staff
OVER £28,000 was paid in overtime to a single Powys County Council worker- a report has revealed. At a meeting of the council's Governance and Audit committee on Wednesday, July 16, members received an internal audit report from SWAP (South West Audit Partnership) into overtime payments made by the council over a 15-month period. During that time £2.84 million was spent on overtime, of which £2.24 million was in the 2023/2024 financial year - about one per cent of the council's total wage bill. The report also showed five council employees received over £20,000 in overtime, 39 between £10,000 and £20,000 and 92 between £5,000 and £10,000. SWAP principal auditor Kevin Price said: 'The council did not operate under a single overtime policy and meant the existing rules were fragmented and inconsistently applied across the board.' He explained that overtime needed to be agreed in advance by managers. Mr Price said: 'We found this process was often informal and lacked proper documentation. 'Noticeably there were a large number of employees that received substantial overtime payments which suggested possible staffing pressures and raised concerns on the impact of long working hours on employee wellbeing.' He stressed that all overtime had been approved before payment was made. Cllr Pete Lewington Cllr Pete Lewington (Conservative) said: 'I do find it a concern that we have five employees earning over £20,000 in overtime, I'm pleased to see that the council's fraud team will be reviewing this as it doesn't seem quite right to me. 'As well as getting the controls framework correct and operational around this, what is the plan to reduce this unacceptably high level of overtime?' Cllr William Powell (Liberal Democrat) was concerned that the council is 'routinely becoming reliant' on staff willing to work overtime and that this is storing up problems in the future. He wanted to see a further study done to look at the wider issues of overtime working at the council. Committee vice chairman and lay member John Brautigam wondered whether the reported signified that there is a skill shortage in the council workforce. Mr Brautigam: 'In my experience it causes those that have the skills to work extraordinarily long hours.' Cllr Graham Breeze (Powys Independents) said: 'Any action we are proposing to take needs to be a matter of urgency, a serious look is needed. 'I'm shocked that it's allowed to happen at this level.' Head of workforce and organisational development Paul Bradshaw said: 'The main thing for me is that whenever anyone works overtime, they are not paid until the manager authorises it.' He believed that flexibility to allow overtime had to be built into organisation structures to deal with work demand and that other councils would also report similar amounts of overtime payments. Mr Bradshaw said: 'I would expect to see one per cent overtime possibly more, so I was reassured.'
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Powys council worker paid £28k in overtime over 15 months
Concerns have been raised about a council's staffing levels after it was revealed an employee was paid more than £28,000 in overtime during a period of 15 audit for Powys County Council found it spent £2.84m on overtime in that time, of which £2.4m was spent in the 2023/24 financial year – about 1% of the council's wage council "did not operate under a single overtime policy" meaning the rules were "fragmented and inconsistently applied across the board", said Kevin Price, principal auditor for South West Audit Partnership (SWAP).Council head of workforce Paul Bradshaw said he was "reassured" of the 1% figure, adding other councils would report similar overtime payments. The report revealed five employees received more than £20,000 in overtime payments, 39 received between £10,000 and £20,000 and 92 between £5,000 and £10, Price told a council committee the audit found the overtime process was "often informal and lacked proper documentation".He added the fact that a large number of employees received "substantial" overtime payments suggested "possible staffing pressures and raised concerns on the impact of long working hours on employee wellbeing".Pete Lewington, a Conservative councillor, said he was "pleased to see the council's fraud team will be reviewing this as it doesn't seem quite right to me"."As well as getting the controls framework correct and operational around this, what is the plan to reduce this unacceptably high level of overtime?" he Brautigam, committee vice chairman, questioned whether the report highlighted a skill shortage in the council workforce."In my experience it causes those that have the skills to work extraordinarily long hours," he Bradshaw, the council's head of workforce and organisational development, said flexibility to allow overtime had to be built into organisation structures to deal with work added other councils would report similar amounts of overtime payments."I would expect to see one per cent overtime possibly more, so I was reassured," he added that a new computer dashboard was being installed that would allow senior staff to see overtime information and "drill down" into why it was needed.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Fury over bid to expand Britain's biggest asylum seeker camp: 'Threatened' villagers living next to ex-RAF base fear arrival of hundreds more 'intimidating' young men to quiet Essex countryside
Residents near Britain's biggest asylum seeker camp fear controversial plans to expand its capacity will put more strain on their quiet village. Wethersfield air base in Essex currently houses around 500 migrants but this is set to increase as part of Labour's pledge to end the use of hotels. Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged last week that all asylum seekers would be moved out of hotel accommodation by the time of the next general election, due in 2029. Latest figures show £3.1 billion was spent on housing asylum seekers in hotels in 2023-24, out of a total asylum support bill of £4.7 billion. Using former military bases like Wethersfield - which has an overall capacity of 800 - is considered cheaper than paying for hotels. Yet local residents in Wethersfield village are up in arms about the prospect of the site being expanded. Celia Harris, 76, and her husband Robert, 77, live close enough to the camp to hear conversations from behind the fence from their garden. Celia, a retired cleaner, said: 'We did all the protests against it. We did not feel then and still do not feel that it's an appropriate place. 'They've got to stop them coming in the first place. We're not racist. But why is taxpayers' money being spent on them when our winter fuel allowance has been stopped?' Alan McKenzie, head of campaign group Stop Wethersfield Airbase Prison (SWAP), was infuriated by the news. 'If they are intending to increase the capacity in Wethersfield, it would be another folly on the part of the government - It's already been shown not to be value for money,' he told the BBC. 'If they're talking about increasing the accommodation further, then it's sheer people get unhappy up there, it's a very enclosed environment, it's a long way to the centre of Wethersfield village where there are no facilities.' Personal assistant Christine Blake, 72, was also angered by plans and said: 'I'm a single female, there are many single females in this village, and we all feel threatened and concerned.' Retired office administrator Melody Temperley and her husband Alan, both 77, live with their extended family in bungalows on a large plot of land near the camp. The couple said the camp had made it much harder to sell property. Melody said: 'We can never sell this property - they said it should be worth £900,000 but now we can't sell it.' Asked what she thought about the idea of using the camp to move asylum seekers out of hotels, she said: 'They're not going to settle in a camp after hotel life. 'I don't think they should be here at all. If they increased the number of people in the camp we would have a lot more men standing about doing nothing. 'People feel intimidated. They should process them much quicker and then they could be integrated. But then they're going to take all the social housing.' Charles, who is in his 70s, didn't want to give his name due to fears of being labelled racist. 'It's quite intimidating because I am living next door to many hundreds of men who are allowed out to roam wherever they like including after dark,' he said. 'It's left me feeling vulnerable. I have put a big steel gate up. It's the threat of young men and having them shouting. 'It would be better if they were prevented from coming in the first place. I feel like the politicians have let us down.' Wethersfield parish councillor Nick Godley lives with wife Mair in the village centre. Nick, 75, believes asylum seekers would be better off housed elsewhere, but insisted he has never had any problems with them. He said: 'There's no hypocrite like a politician. When they opened this asylum camp the Labour party was against it and now they're all in favour of it. 'Setting aside whatever people feel about the way these guys get in and whether they should be here or not, sticking them in an old camp in the middle of nowhere is not good for anyone. 'Nobody can sell their house. It is affecting people's way of life. 'However, the asylum seekers are not causing any harm. Whatever happens in the village that's unfortunate, the guys up there [asylum seekers] get the blame. Sometimes it's true, but mostly it's not. 'I never felt unsafe for one moment [near the camp]. They are incredibly polite.' Earlier this year, four former Wethersfield residents brought legal action against the Home Office for their stay there between July 2023 and February 2024. File photo John Sutcliffe, 77, and his wife Simone, 78, live next door to the camp with their dog Remy. John, a retired mechanic, said: 'All I know is they make a right noise. I walk down the main lane and there's a deep ditch with a plastic sheet in it and body wipes and someone has been using it as a toilet. Why? 'They've got to go somewhere and the only thing is to stop them coming.' Simone, who used to run her own curtain-making business, said: 'You cannot take them out of four-star hotels and put them in temporary accommodation like that. 'They are all going to be up in arms aren't they? Living in isolation like that is what brings trouble.' Any expansion to Wethersfield would against Sir Keir Starmer's election pledge to close it. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper herself insisted last year that the site could not be 'seen as either a sustainable solution for housing asylum seekers nor value for money for the taxpayer'. The mooted expansion of the former airbase and the separate site in Huddersfield - which consists of a 650-capacity former student accommodation block bought by the Home Office last year - was revealed by the BBC. In response to the reports, a Home Office spokesman said the government was seeking to develop 'a more sustainable and cost-effective asylum accommodation system'. 'Our use of any property or Home Office-owned site will be used in line with the permissions set by planning permissions,' they added. More than 30,000 asylum seekers, many of whom arrived illegally in small boats, are currently housed in about 200 hotels across Britain. Earlier this year, four former Wethersfield residents brought legal action against the Home Office for their stay there between July 2023 and February 2024. They claimed officials acted unlawfully by housing them at the site when it was 'not suitable' because of their characteristics which included being victims of torture and human trafficking or being disabled. The Home Office opposed the challenge, saying its allocation system was 'not incapable of being operated lawfully'. But High Court judge Mr Justice Mould backed the four men's claim and accepted the site had not been a 'suitable' place to house them. He said: 'In this case, the only conclusion I am able to reach on evidence is that the defendant did not attempt to assess the equalities impacts of the proposed policy change.'
Scottish Sun
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Man Utd stars to make Soccer Aid history as record number of Old Trafford legends sign up for huge celebrity match
MANCHESTER UNITED are making history once again, by having a record number of former stars playing in Soccer Aid. This year, Soccer Aid is being hosted at Old Trafford, where reigning champions England will take on the Soccer Aid World XI in the globe's biggest charity match. 7 Wayne Rooney is leading a record-breaking contingent of former Man Utd stars appearing at Soccer Aid this year Credit: Rex 7 He will be joined on team England's side by Gary Neville Credit: PA 7 Paul Scholes will also line up for the Three Lions in the charity match Credit: Reuters 7 Meanwhile, Peter Schmeichel will be barking orders from the touchline as manager of the World XI Credit: Getty But it will feel like a homecoming for many of the top stars on the billing following their careers, which saw them playing at the Red Devils' home for many years. As many as NINE former Man Utd players have signed up for the event across both teams, not to mention the fans of the club also gearing up to play. The ex-pros include many stars who have tried their hand at coaching and management, such as Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, and others who are now household names in punditry, like Gary Neville or Paul Scholes. That quartet will be lining up for team England, with Rooney also in the managerial dugout. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL MIC SWAP Carrick takes up new offer alongside Man Utd icon O'Shea just days after Boro axe Meanwhile, the World XI will have their own share of Man Utd greats in their ranks. Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, and Carlos Tevez will all be taking to the pitch, while legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel will be barking orders from the sideline as the team manager. The ex-stars will also be joined by a sizeable contingent of celebrity Man Utd fans. Among them will be businessman Steven Bartlett, content creators AngryGinge and TBJZL, boxer Tyson Fury, musicians Nick Byrne and Dermot Kennedy, ex-rugby star Bryan Habana and actor Noah Beck. Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford Despite this large contingent of Man Utd support, there will be a notable absence of super fan Usain Bolt. While appearing in Soccer Aid last year, the legendary Olympic sprinter ruptured his Achilles and was stretchered off the field. Sam Thompson reveals Soccer Aid appearance is hanging by a thread - and horrifying after-effects of 260 mile bike ride Soccer Aid 2024 broke records as it raised over £15million for Unicef, while it has raised more than £100m since it was founded by Robbie Williams in 2006. The match will be available to watch for free on ITV1, ITVX and STV on June 15, kicking off at 7.30pm BST. If you wish to buy tickets, starting from £10.50 for concessions and £21 for adults, find out how here. You can donate to Soccer Aid by clicking the link here. 7 Rooney will be joining Man Utd fan and boxer Tyson Fury as a coach Credit: PA 7 A number of Red Devils fans are playing in the event, including content creator AngryGinge Credit: PA 7 There will be a notable absence of Man Utd fan Usain Bolt after he ruptured his Achilles playing last year Credit: Getty England team and coaching staff Here is a look at the full team for England for Soccer Aid 2025... Team: Steven Bartlett (Entrepreneur) Alex Brooker (TV personality) Jermain Defoe (Former footballer) Toni Duggan (Former footballer) Angry Ginge (YouTuber) Tom Grennan (Musician) Bear Grylls (TV personality) Joe Hart (Former footballer) Steph Houghton (Former footballer) Aaron Lennon (Former footballer) Dame Denise Lewis (Olympic gold medallist) Paddy McGuinness (TV personality) Sir Mo Farah (Former Olympian) Gary Neville (Former footballer) Sam Quek (Former hockey player/TV personality) Wayne Rooney (Former footballer and manager) Paul Scholes (Former footballer) Jill Scott (Former footballer) Sam Thompson (King of the Jungle) Louis Tomlinson (Musician) Michael Carrick (Former footballer) Phil Jagielka (Former footballer) Roman Kemp (Radio host) Jack Wilshere (Former footballer) Bella Ramsey (Actor) Coaches: Wayne Rooney (Former footballer and manager) Tyson Fury (Boxer) Harry Redknapp (Former football manager) Vicky McClure (Actor) Goalkeeping coach: David James (Former footballer) World XI team and coaching staff Here is a look at the full team for the World XI for Soccer Aid 2025... Team: Tony Bellew (Former boxer) Leonardo Bonucci (Former footballer) Tobi Brown (YouTube star) Martin Compston (Actor) Richard Gadd (Actor) Bryan Habana (Former rugby star) Dermot Kennedy (Musician) Kaylyn Kyle (Former footballer) Gorka Marquez (Dancer) Nadia Nadim (Footballer) Livi Sheldon (Gladiators star) Edwin van der Sar (Former footballer) Nemanja Vidic (Former footballer) Harry Kewell (Former footballer) Big Zuu (YouTube star) Noah Beck (Actor) Carlos Tevez (Former footballer) Billy Wingrove (Football freestyler) Robbie Keane (Former footballer) John O'Shea (Former footballer) Maisie Adam (Comedian) David Trezeguet (Former footballer) Nicky Byrne (Singer) Kheira Hamraoui (Former footballer) Manager: Peter Schmeichel (Former footballer) MAN UTD TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest deals and rumours from Old Trafford
