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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
I'm pregnant after affair with wealthy man but he won't take any responsibility… should I contact his mum?
He is from a wealthy background and I am certain he hasn't told anyone about this DEAR DEIDRE I'm pregnant after affair with wealthy man but he won't take any responsibility… should I contact his mum? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DEAR DEIDRE: A PASSIONATE but short-lived affair with a wealthy man has ended with me now expecting his baby. I am a 30-year-old single mum. I've been divorced for two years and have two beautiful daughters, aged seven and five. One night I was lonely at home after they had gone to bed and I set myself up on a dating app. It was quite encouraging to see the responses I got and it wasn't long before I had arranged to meet up with a guy. He was 37, single and very, very good-looking. He told me he was a financial adviser and he was clearly pretty well-off. We went to a bar for a few drinks and afterwards I went back to his penthouse flat. We used condoms but one night I noticed the condom was torn. Still, I thought it was safe and put any worries out of my head — until I missed my period. I was pregnant. When I messaged him, he told me he wanted nothing to do with the baby or me. I was so shocked at his tone and messaged back to tell him I'd booked a termination. Predictably he replied, telling me it was the right decision and to get rid. But before my appointment, my maternal instincts kicked in and I couldn't go ahead with an abortion. I told him I'd had a change of heart and cancelled the appointment. Since then I have sent him updates of my pregnancy including photos of ultrasound scans. Dear Deidre: Cheating and can you get over it It hasn't made any difference. He is adamant he doesn't want to be a father or take any responsibility. He is from a wealthy background and I am certain he hasn't told anyone about this. He is still on the dating app and acting as though nothing has happened. I know I can cope on my own and my daughters are excited at having another sibling. I am wondering whether I should contact his mum and tell her she is going to be a grandmother. Why should she miss out? Is this a good idea? DEIDRE SAYS: The decision to tell his family must lie with him. You can't know how his mum will react. He can't abandon you either. He has a legal obligation to pay towards his child's upkeep even if he doesn't want to be involved in their life. Take a look at He may also have a change of heart and want to become an involved dad once the baby is born. Get in touch with Deidre Every problem gets a personal reply, usually within 24 hours weekdays. Send an email to deardeidre@ You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page. HE WANTS ME AS I'M A VIRGIN DEAR DEIDRE: AFTER a perfect first date with a lovely guy, he has told me he only wants a casual, physical thing. I am not sure if this is such a bad idea. I am 18 and he is 20. We met through a mutual friend a couple of weeks ago. I was so excited when he asked me out on a date. We ended up going for a drink in town before heading off into our local park for an impromptu picnic. It was so romantic and I thought it was the beginning of something really special. We talked about anything and everything and had loads of things in common. Then he told me that he wasn't looking for a girlfriend. He just wants someone to hook up with occasionally and keep things casual. I am still a virgin. He said that because of that he likes me even more. He has promised to look after me and make our first time special but is it a good idea? DEIDRE SAYS: This guy is investing nothing in you emotionally. He doesn't want a girlfriend, he just wants sex and to be your first. He has also made that pretty plain. You owe him nothing, so only have sex when you are ready and when you are with the right guy. You could be setting yourself up to get very hurt and feeling used. Tell him being so casual just isn't your scene. My support pack Learning About Relationships explains more. SO REGRET FINISHING WITH HER DEAR DEIDRE: SPLITTING up with my girlfriend was the worst decision I ever made. I realised that I'd made a big mistake when she spotted me at a beer festival in town. I am 34 and she is 33. We split up just over a year ago after being together for three years. We just seemed to be drifting apart and things were stale – or so I thought at the time. It was my decision to end our relationship, and I know she was heartbroken when I told her how I felt. We have been able to stay friends and I see her out and about. She has a new guy now. She seems really happy with him whereas I have not been able to move on. She told me they have plans to go to New Zealand next year. It is a place I have also wanted to visit for many years. I know I made a terrible mistake in letting her go. DEIDRE SAYS: Please don't beat yourself up over this. You made a decision that felt right at the time. The chances are if you and she got back together you would soon feel the same way all over again. She has put you behind her and you have to get on with your life. My support pack Moving On will help you to do this. Start planning your own holiday now. It will give you something to look forward to. There are lots of single traveller websites if you don't want to travel alone. SPITEFUL EXES KEEPING KIDS AWAY FROM ME DEAR DEIDRE: MY daughter's mother says I can only see our girl for a few hours in the morning on my birthday, rather than having her stay with me overnight as originally planned. It means she will miss out on seeing my parents too as they were going to arrive in time for a celebration dinner. I'm 37 and my daughter's ten. I know my ex is doing it to punish me because I can't pay her this month. I also have a son by a different woman. He is almost 13 but I barely see him at all. His mother has virtually alienated him against me so all I get is an occasional text and a visit once in a blue moon. I am doing my best to provide for both of my kids, but I have recently changed jobs and won't get my first wages for another week, which is why I can't pay my daughter's mum her monthly maintenance until later. I know she will have twisted it and told my little girl that I don't care about her. It is all lies but this is what she is like, as we had a bad break-up. I'm in a bad way. I feel like everyone's against me. Sometimes I think it would just be the easier option for everyone if I ended it all. DEIDRE SAYS: This is heartbreaking for you and your children too. It is cruel of your exes to deny you contact. I wonder whether you gave your daughter's mum the heads-up that your money would be late this month. Tell her the cash will be coming soon. If she won't speak to you, is there someone such as a friend or relative who can mediate between you? If not, mediation could really help ( For more advice check out Both Parents Matter ( 0300 300 363). If you continue to feel down, call the Samaritans ( 116 123) and please do see your GP too.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Supermarket vouchers worth up to £180 landing on doormats NOW for summer – are you getting one?
Families with children on free school meals are eligible HELPING HAND Supermarket vouchers worth up to £180 landing on doormats NOW for summer – are you getting one? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOUSANDS of households need to look out for supermarket vouchers landing on doormats worth up to £180. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figures for June confirmed food prices have soared in the last 12 months. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Cropped shot of a woman holding a basket while shopping at a grocery store Credit: Getty But there are ways to drive down the cost of your weekly shop, starting with help through the Household Support Fund (HSF). The £742million fund has been shared between councils in England who then decide how to allocate their share. Some are directing cash payments to residents in need while others are distributing supermarket vouchers to cover the summer holidays. We've rounded up what some local authorities are offering below. We won't have covered all the councils offering help, so if your local authority isn't included it's worth checking with it to see what you are eligible for. Most councils have pages on their websites dedicated to the Household Support Fund where you'll find details on who is eligible and what you're in line for. You can find what local council area you fall under by visiting That said, below are some of the councils offering qualifying households supermarket vouchers. Bracknell Forest Council Schools in Bracknell are automatically distributing supermarket vouchers to children registered for free school meals. These vouchers have been paid for through Bracknell Forest Council's allotment of the Household Support Fund. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now The council has not confirmed how much the vouchers are worth. Wakefield Metropolitan District Counci Wakefield Metropolitan District Council is issuing supermarket vouchers worth £50 to families receiving council tax support. The vouchers are being issued via letters on July 21 and take up to seven days to arrive. Full instructions on how to redeem the vouchers will be included in the letters. Once the voucher has been redeemed, it doesn't have to be used all at once and can be used several times until it is spent. Nottingham City Council Nottingham City Council is distributing £75 supermarket vouchers to households each month until March 2026. There is a limit on the number of vouchers being shared each month meaning you have to act fast to claim one. Applications for this month's vouchers opened on July 7 so may all have been allocated for July. Nottingham City Council has said the dates applications for vouchers will open between August and next March will be confirmed "later in July". Ealing Council Ealing Council is giving supermarket vouchers worth £90 to families with children on benefits-related free school meals this month. The vouchers are worth £90 per child meaning you could get £180 if you have two kids. You don't need to apply for the vouchers as they are being sent automatically to emails or as letters. The council's partner, Blackhawk, is issuing a 16-digit personalised code and instructions on how to redeem the vouchers on the Blackhawk website - Devon County Council Devon County Council has 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. The council has said the vouchers can be redeemed in major supermarkets but hasn't said which ones. Portsmouth City Council Portsmouth City Council is issuing £50 supermarket vouchers to children on benefits-related free school meals. You might also be eligible if your child is not on free school meals and you're on a low income, and can apply for the vouchers from the end of the school term. You can also forward your email address to the council and will be contacted when the application window opens. More details can be found via Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council Families on free school meals are eligible for supermarket food vouchers being distributed by schools in the area. You do not need to apply as they are being issued automatically. Food vouchers may also be available for children under five years if certain criteria is met. To receive a voucher, children must be living in Bournemouth, Christchurch, or Poole and meet one of the following criteria: currently claiming 2 year old early education funding at an early years setting in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole during the term currently claiming Early Years Pupil Premium funding for 3 and 4 year olds at an early years setting in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole during the term (this is different to the early education funding available to all 3 and 4 year olds) currently have an open case with a social worker or Early Help family support worker and are of pre-school age Food vouchers for this group of families have to be applied for, with more details on the BCP Council website. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. 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. The last round ran until the end of March 2025, but was extended. The most current round is running between April 2025 and March 2026. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
DWP to make big changes to means-tested benefits including Universal Credit within DAYS
Plus, we share if you could be missing out on important benefits TO YOUR BENEFIT DWP to make big changes to means-tested benefits including Universal Credit within DAYS HOUSEHOLDS should be aware of a big change to means-tested benefits which is due to come into force in days. Payments received through the miscarriage of justice compensation scheme will no longer count as income when determining eligibility for support such as Housing Benefit and Universal Credit. Advertisement 1 The DWP said the payments re Credit: Getty The government-funded programme gives payouts to those who have been wrongly convicted of a crime or had their conviction overturned. Under current rules, people who receive this reward may not be able to claim means-tested benefits as it can push their income above the eligibility threshold. But come Tuesday July 22, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it is no longer counting this compensation as capital when calculating these types of benefits. The new rules apply across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Advertisement It means individuals who have been awarded compensation for a miscarriage of justice will not have this payment included when assessing their eligibility for means-tested support. And if you previously could not claim the support because of the compensation payout, you could reapply. The DWP said: "Any compensation payments you received will not be taken into account as capital when calculating entitlement to these benefits. "You will need to provide a copy of your compensation award as part of the application process." Advertisement If you are already claiming means-tested benefits but have received a payment, you should also report this as a change of circumstance. The department will be able to consider your benefits to ensure you are receiving the correct amount. Cost of Living payment updates — Thousands have just days to claim free £300 DWP cash You can report a change in your circumstances by visiting What are means-tested benefits? Means-tested benefits are awarded based on a person's financial situation. Advertisement The types of means-tested benefits include: Pension Credit Universal Credit Housing Benefit income-based Jobseeker's Allowance income-related Employment and Support Allowance Income Support The support is only available to those who can prove that their income is under a certain amount. Plus, exactly how much you are entitled to can vary from person to person. For example, every £1 you earn from working, your Universal Credit payment goes down by 55p. Advertisement Meanwhile, the maximum amount of savings you can have to qualify for Universal Credit is £16,000. Therefore, if you receive a sum of money that takes you over this threshold, you are likely to see your benefits stopped completely. If you have £6,000 or less in your bank account, this will not affect your Universal Credit claim. To qualify for Pension Credit, you must have less than £10,000 in savings. Advertisement
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Thousands of parents to get help with school uniform costs with grants worth up to £300
Keep scrolling to see how you can apply KITTED OUT Thousands of parents to get help with school uniform costs with grants worth up to £300 THOUSANDS of parents can get help with school uniform costs. The support comes through the government's Household Support Fund (HSF), which helps hard-up families with living costs. Advertisement 1 Parents can get support through the government's household support fund Credit: Getty The grants are available across several councils across England, and you can claim up to £300. You will need to get in touch with your council to apply. Most councils have website pages dedicated to the HSF support they offer, or you can ring your local council to find out more. You can find your local council by visiting visit Advertisement HOW MUCH SUPPORT COULD YOU GET The amount each child is entitled to varies from council to council. For example, in Tower Hamlets families can get up to £150 per child. The amount you get depends on what year your child is in. For example, parents with reception year children can get £50 per child. Advertisement This increases to £150 per child when they reach Year 7. So, if you had two children in Year 7 or above you would receive £300 to support them with school uniform costs. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now To qualify, your annual household income must be £50,350 or less. You will need to provide the last two months of payslips for both you and your partner. Advertisement You can apply as soon as you are notified of your child's school placement until September 30 that year. Elsewhere, Sandwell residents can get £20 to put towards a school uniform for reception children or £25 for children in secondary classes. Meanwhile, Medway Council, in South East England, is distributing school uniform vouchers to hard-up households worth £100. You receive £100 for every dependent school age child, per household per year, unless in exceptional circumstances. Advertisement So, if you have two dependent children you can get £200. What about outside England? All local authorities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales offer school uniform grants, unlike in England. For example, the Welsh Government provides a school essentials grant which gives eligible parents grants worth up to £200. However, applications for this year's grants ended on May 31. Advertisement Meanwhile in Scotland, councils distribute grants of at least £120 per child for primary school pupils and £150 per child for secondary school pupils to eligible parents. You can find out more via In Northern Ireland, parents of primary school pupils could be eligible for £42.90, with £87.60 available for secondary pupils under the age of 15 on August 1, 2024, and £93.60 for pupils over 15 years of age on August 1 2024. You can find out more by visiting Advertisement
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
All UK mobile phones to receive 'Armageddon alert' - what you need to do next
The 'Armageddon alert', which was first trialled in 2023, is sent to phones across the UK to ensure people are aware of a life threatening emergency in their area Millions of people across the UK will hear a loud siren from their mobile phones in a major test of the emergency alert system. The "Armageddon alert", which was first trialled in 2023, is sent to phones across the UK to ensure people are aware of a life threatening emergency in their area, such as a wildfire, severe flooding or extreme storms. Emergency alerts are only sent by the emergency services or government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with urgent situations. A national test will take place later this year to ensure the system is working properly. Ministers compared the need to test the alert process to testing a fire alarm in your house. Similar emergency systems exist in countries like Japan and the US. In Finland, a nationwide test is done every month, while other countries like Germany trial it annually. A public information campaign will be rolled out ahead of the test, including communications targeted at vulnerable groups, such as victims of domestic abuse. Everyone is urged to keep the life-saving alert switched on but it is possible to opt out if it would put someone at risk. Here's everything you need to know about the national test of the alert system later this year. What time will the test take place? The system will be tested for the second time at 3pm on Sunday, September 7, with Brits receiving a message warning of danger to life nearby. Mobile phones will vibrate and emit a loud siren for around 10 seconds - even if they are set on silent. A message will also pop up to make clear that this is only a test. There is no need to do anything when the test alert happens, just swipe the message away or click 'OK' on the phone home screen. When a real alert happens, the message will include a phone number or a link to the website for more information about the emergency. You can see all previous alerts at: Why is the test taking place? Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it be needed in an emergency. Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: "Emergency alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms. Just like the fire alarm in your house, it's important we test the system so that we know it will work if we need it." Who will receive the test alert? The test will function like a real life Emergency Alert on the approximately 87 million mobile phones in the UK. Emergency Alerts work on all 4G and 5G phone networks in the UK. Your mobile phone or tablet does not have to be connected to mobile data or wifi to get alerts. However, you will not receive alerts if your device is turned off; connected to a 2G or 3G network; wifi only; or not compatible. For real emergencies, it depends on where you are and if are affected by a local emergency. Alerts are based on a phone's current location - not where someone lives or works. A person does not need to turn on location services to receive alerts. Data about people, their device or location will not be collected or shared. The emergency services and the UK government do not need a person's phone number to send an alert. What should drivers do? The government says you should not read or respond to an emergency alert while driving or riding, reminding people it is still illegal to use a hand-held device while driving. People are urged to find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. If there's nowhere safe and legal to stop, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, people can listen to news on live radio to find out about the emergency. Has the alert been used outside of a test? The "Armageddon alert" was first trialled across the country in 2023 and five localised alerts have been sent since then to warn of extreme weather. The largest use was during Storm Eowyn in January, when 4.5million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland got the alert after a red weather warning was issued over risk to life. Some 3.5million people in Wales and the South West of England received an alert during Storm Darragh in 2024, and it has also been used during flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire. It was also rolled out when an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered in Plymouth in February 2024. Tracey Lee, chief executive of Plymouth City Council, said: "This was the first time the system had been used in a real emergency, and it played a vital role in helping us safely evacuate over 10,000 people and coordinate a complex, multi-agency response." What is being done to support victims of domestic abuse? Domestic abuse campaigners have previously warned that the siren could alert abusive partners to someone's secret phone. The government has assured there is the option to opt out of alerts if needed. The government is continuing ongoing engagement with domestic violence charities and campaigners in the run up to the test, to ensure people know how to switch off alerts on a concealed phone. How you opt out depends on your device. Full instructions telling you how to opt out are available at: People are advised to contact their device manufacturer for help if they continue to get alerts. What is being done to support deaf, hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted people? During the test, audio and vibration attention signals will let people know they have received an alert, if accessibility notifications have been enabled on their mobile phone or tablet. The government is also continuing ongoing engagement with disability charities and campaigners in the run up to the test.
