Bundlezy My WordPress Blog

Taylor Swift obtained a temporary restraining order against stalker, Brian Jason Wagner, who has been trespassing at her Los Angeles home.

Keep track of the live scoring as the Proteas take on Australia in the World Test Championship final, which starts on Wednesday.

Kaizer Chiefs have wrapped up yet another signing from their arch rivals Orlando Pirates with the contract details now also revealed...

Chiefs' pursuit of Mayele could be on the brink of collapse, leaving the striker’s reunion with Nabi hanging in the balance.

The Boys Season 5 will bring the show to a close, and Eric Kripke wants to make sure it doesn’t go down in history as having a bad finale.

Nathan Fillion says Guy Gardner thinks he can defeat Superman in new movie, but is really the worst of the Green Lantern Corp.

One of Japan’s largest book publishers has had to “urgently” reprint a classic piece of literature after mobile game fans flocked to purchase it. 

A TikToker’s travel ‘hack’ for getting extra baggage on a flight for free has been blasted as “dangerous” by experts after it resurfaced online. 

A MAJOR DIY retailer is set to close one of its high street stores next month.

B&Q in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, is set to pull down its shutters for the last time on August 9.

The home improvement store, on Buchan Way, opened in 2005.

However, the lease on the unit is about to expire and the landlord plans to occupy the space themselves.

Forty staff members are at risk of losing their jobs, although the company is searching for alternative premises in the area.

John Eason, Director of North, ROI & Islands, B&Q, said: “Our team of 40 B&Q colleagues have been serving the Peterhead community, helping them to improve and enjoy their homes, for the last 20 years.

“They would very much like to continue to serve the local residents and we are continuing to look for an alternative store location in the area.

“Due to the lease expiry, it is with regret that we propose to close the store on 9 August this year.

“In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to welcome our Peterhead customers to our store, and I would like to thank our colleagues for their ongoing hard work and commitment.”

B&Q has over 300 brick-and-mortar branches in the UK and Ireland and sells over 30,000 products in store – with a further 300,000 available online.

Earlier this year the company was forced to apologise after listing a bathroom cabinet which was easy to assemble ‘even if you are a girl’.

The sexist product listing for their flatpack bamboo unit appeared on the company’s website. 

The 140cm x 33cm cabinet was shown storing towels, bathroom plants and toiletries. 

Its product information said: “Tall storage cabinet is perfect for saving space, slim design to fit in almost any corner. 

“Three shelves provide plenty of storage to keep essentials organised and neat, and the cabinet door provides added privacy.

“Easy to assemble the cabinet even if you’re a girl.”

However, the iconic retailer has also has some big hits this year, with shoppers in May rushing out to buy a ‘classy’ looking garden furniture set that was retailing for only £100.

In the financial year 2024/25, annual sales at B&Q rose 0.4 per cent to around £3.84 billion.

However, the market has proved challenging for other companies in the home improvement space.

Earlier this year arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft announced that it was closing nine of its stores.

HALF a million more kids will be eligible for free school meals, it’s been confirmed by the Chancellor.

As part of her spending review today, Rachel Reeves announced that every child in a Universal Credit household will now be eligible for state-sponsored lunches.

Reuters

Free school meal has been confirmed for half a million kids[/caption]

Currently, Universal Credit households must earn under £7,400 per year to qualify.

The move is expected to save parents on benefits £500 a year, according to the Department for Education.

Kids in UC households currently not eligible will be able to start claiming lunches from the start of the 2026 school year.

The entitlement will apply in all settings where free school meals are available, including school-based nurseries and further-education settings.

Most parents will be able to apply before the start of the new school year by providing a national insurance number.

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson previously told The Sun the move was a “game changer”.

“This will make a big difference to children’s attendance and behaviour at school because we know that if kids are hungry, they don’t concentrate well.”

The expansion of the scheme comes ahead of ahead of the government’s Child Poverty Taskforce publishing a ten-year strategy to drive down poverty.

Labour are also facing mounting pressure to scrap the two child benefit cap,

If you are keen to apply for the support you need to do so via your local council.

You can find out what council you are in by visiting www.gov.uk/find-local-council.

What age do kids get free school meals in the UK?

In England, all eligible children from reception to year two qualify for free school meals – so kids aged roughly between four and seven.

In Scotland, all children between four and nine will qualify, while in Wales, pupils aged around four get free school meals.

But, of course, all primary school-aged children should be eligible for the scheme by the end of 2024.

That means children between four and 11.

In any part of the UK, from year three onwards, your children could qualify for free school meals.

But this is when the eligibility criteria kicks in, meaning you’ll need to be receiving certain benefits and your income may be taken into consideration.

Currently, your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

WHAT OTHER HELP IS AVAILABLE?

You get child benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16 or under 20 if they are in approved education or training

The payment is used to help parents cover the costs of childcare.

It is paid at two weekly rates – £26.05 for your eldest or only child and £17.25 for any additional children.

Payments are usually made every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday, but sometimes are made weekly.

If you are claiming child benefit for a child under 12, you also receive National Insurance (NI) credits.

NICs count towards your State Pension so claiming the benefit can be useful if you are missing any.

Parents can also get help with free food vouchers through the government’s Household Support Fund.