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The month of July usually means school holidays, foreign travel and perhaps even some good weather at home.
This year, it means looking back with sadness for those who have lost loved ones, and looking forward to a bit of an unknown future landscape for everyone.
In this issue we write about the return to school for all pupils, which is almost universally welcomed by parents, particularly those who work.
Many times I have heard about the household bargaining that has had to be done over who could use the wifi or computers.
The return to school might be welcomed by children too, some of whom sadly will have been vulnerable at home.
Voluntary groups have worked wonders in providing cooked meals and supplies from food banks to those families who asked, or were identified as having a need.
The Scottish Government is funding food for those eligible for free school meals throughout the summer. There are 175,000 children and young people in Scotland who get free school food. This figure rose by more than 50,000 during the pandemic, as a result of family incomes and finances being reduced. For assistance the free helpline is
0800 111 4000. The text line is 0800 111 4114. Calls will be routed through local councils.
There have been many calls on government funding. We are involved with one specific aspect.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that The Edinburgh Reporter, as a member of the Independent Community News Network, will benefit from advertising revenue for a planned public health campaign. We are really glad about this as it will help to fill a gap in our income.
I met the leading cast members of the King's Theatre Panto on a hilarious Zoom call and you can read part of that interview on Page 7. There is a podcast version too. If you look to the right hand side of this page you will see the QR code to take you to the podcast.
We would be very glad to hear from you if you have a business which would like to advertise with us. Or you can sign up to have the paper sent to you direct at home or at your office. And do get in touch if you have any stories for us.