Crisis grants money set to dry up in Dumfries and Galloway next year

The level of homelessness in Dumfries and Galloway is higher than it was before the pandemic.

Scottish Water bosses have been blasted for announcing a 5% hike in charges during a cost of living crisis.

Developers behind plans for a windfarm in Bonhill that could power more than 50,000 homes are set to meet residents to discuss the proposals.

The cost of living crisis is having an impact on optimism and confidence amongst businesses across Dumfries and Galloway.

More than 40,000 families in Scotland raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people, could be eligible for financial help from Family Fund to cope with higher costs of living. The charity is urging carers or parents on low incomes to check if they qualify for a grant which could ease the additional pressures on household budgets this winter.

Public concern over a proposed 75-turbine windfarm’s effect on Moffat’s Golden Eagle numbers and dark sky status have forced a 20 per cent scaling back of the project.

Parts of Scotland are set to be battered by gale force winds in the last few days of January with guts of up 75mph sweeping through the country.

Carol Vorderman says her former pal Michelle Mone should be "slammed in jail where she belongs" over a PPE scandal. The former Countdown host appeared on ITV's This Morning on Friday when she broke her silence over a feud between the pair.

More details are slowly emerging about the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) which is due to be paid to some 900,000 households across Great Britain who do not have a direct relationship with their electricity supplier from next month.

Food banks have been set up for NHS staff who are struggling to pay for meals for their children and unable to afford their bus fare to work in the Lothians. They have been launched at various NHS sites around Edinburgh by members of Unison Lothian Health Branch, supporting staff who are experiencing economic hardship, reports Edinburgh Live.

Stirling residents are being urged to take extra care over improvised heating and cooking methods amid the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis.

People struggling to pay their Council Tax during the cost of living crisis are being encouraged to check if they are eligible for money off their bill. The Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme is unique to Scotland and helps people on low incomes save an average of £750 a year on their bill.

A rape crisis centre has closed its waiting list for victims amid a row over SNP/Green Government funding coming to an end. Edinburgh has a backlog of nearly 300 survivors and has stopped putting any more people on their books.

More than 100 people attended a rally at the council headquarters as teachers went on strike in Dumfries and Galloway yesterday.

Plans for dramatic changes to one of Scotland’s first onshore windfarms have been lodged with the Scottish Government.

Scotland needs 1000 new hospital beds to deal with a bed-blocking crisis clogging up the entire health service. More than 1900 patients are currently trapped in hospital who are well enough to leave, according to the latest figures.

Calls have been made for unused wards at the Vale of Leven Hospital to help “tackle the worst NHS winter crisis in living memory.”

Today the Daily Record begins a week dedicated to saving our NHS by shining a spotlight on the huge challenges facing our GP surgeries and hospitals.

Dumfries and Galloway teachers are taking strike action again on Monday.