TRALT Office Chair – Ergonomic Desk Chair with Adjustable Lumbar Support, Mesh Computer Chair, Executive Chair for Home Office Comfortable Lumbar Support (1, White)
Price: $119.99 - $107.99 (as of Jul 28,2026 09:55:55 UTC – Details)
This chair has a maximum weight capacity of 330 lbs. Ensure the chair is assembled correctly for optimal stability. When using adjustable mechanisms, follow the instructions carefully to avoid injury.
High-Resilience Moulded Foam Seat
Won’t Flatten After 1 Year – Unlike budget foam that hardens and sags within months, the seat is made from high-density, high-resilience moulded foam that bounces back day after day. It maintains its shape and cushioning far longer, preventing the “bottoming out” discomfort common at this price point
Adjustable Lumbar
This chair features a durable lumbar mechanism that adjusts depth to match your spine’s natural curve, unlike flimsy plastic supports that crack or lose tension. Genuinely relieves lower back pressure during long sitting sessions
Breathable Mesh Backrest
No Peeling, No Heat Buildup – Say goodbye to flaking faux-leather. The high-tension mesh back promotes continuous airflow, keeping you cool in warm environments and eliminating the mess of peeling upholstery. Mesh holds up significantly better over time and looks professional years later
Anti-Sink BIFMA-Certified Gas Cylinder
A common failure in budget chairs: the pneumatic cylinder loses pressure and slowly sinks during use. Our Class 3 BIFMA-certified gas lift is built to hold its height reliably, so your chair stays exactly where you set it—year after year. No more sudden drops or mid-work adjustments
Heavy-Duty Metal Core Base (330 lbs Capacity)
Thin plastic bases can crack under stress, especially around the cylinder hub. We use a reinforced nylon base with a metal core, providing the durability and peace of mind you need. Smooth-rolling, 360° silent casters glide across hardwood, tile, or carpet without scratching or catching
Perfectly Sized Seat for All-Day Comfort & Ideal Fit – The generously wide 19.7″ seat provides ample room without feeling restrictive, while the 17.3″ seat depth is carefully calibrated to support your thighs while leaving the recommended 2–4 finger gap behind your knees – protecting circulation and reducing pressure. The 17.7″–21.7″ seat height range comfortably fits users from approximately 5’4″ to 6’2″, allowing your feet to rest flat on the floor for proper posture
Smarter Budget:
We invested where it counts – at around $150, we deliberately skipped a cheap, flimsy headrest that adds little value and focused on what matters most: an adjustable lumbar system, a metal-reinforced base, a certified gas cylinder, and a high-density seat. BIFMA basic durability and safety certification is included. It comes with clear instructions for 15-minute assembly and a 2-year warranty.
Professional after-sales guarantee:
If you encounter any of the following problems with the product you receive, please contact our after-sales customer service, and we will solve them for you as soon as possible:
Well over two million people will head to polling stations on Thursday to vote for a new Greater Manchester mayor in what is set to be the biggest by-election in British history.
The mayoral role was created in 2017, with Mr Burnham elected as the inaugural holder and winning every election since – never with less than 60% of the vote.
Attention will now turn to who Manchester chooses as his replacement.
Focus will be on whether Labour can recover sufficiently from its devastating set of results in May and lean on Burnham’s legacy to claim victory.
Or will Nigel Farage’s Reform UK or Zack Polanski’s Green Party make history? Both are hoping to expand their mayoral footprints.
Reform UK had a disappointing result in the Makerfield by-election, and Mr Farage’s party will undoubtedly face pressure to win after he resigned as MP for Clacton-upon-Sea earlier this month amid the furore over his finances.
Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain will also be challenging for some of Reform UK’s votes, while Mr Polanski’s party will look to add to its Manchester victories after winning the seat of Gorton and Denton.
Reform UK has put forward Wythenshawe Councillor Sian Astley
Sian Astley
Sian Astley is Reform UK’s candidate and has lived in the area for 35 years.
The Wythenshawe councillor has claimed to have “always fought” for the area, having prevented Withington Baths from closing and running a campaign to stop domestic abuse survivors from being made homeless.
Ms Astley has vowed to cut waste, cut tax, “fight against illegal migrants being dumped here”, and deliver safer streets. Another one of her priorities includes opening the grooming gang’s files and the luxury developer contracts.
Ms Astley raised eyebrows on Monday as she withdrew from a hustings in Manchester. She claimed on social media that she pulled out after independent candidate Marcus Farmer was prevented from taking part.
Marlon West – Restore Britain
Marlon West has the backing of Rupert Lowe
Restore Britain
Rupert Lowe’s top pick is Marlon West, a born and bred Mancunian with more than 30 years of service in the NHS.
Enquiries into the rape gangs have been a priority for Mr West, whose own daughter is a rape gang survivor.
He has also pledged to “put visible policing back on our streets” and “put infrastructure first.”
Mr West will also “stop obsessing” over central Manchester and start to focus on places like Wigan, Bolton, Rochdale, Stockport, and Sale, according to his manifesto.
Geraldine Coggins – Green Party
Geraldine Coggins (L) with Hannah Spencer MP (R)
Green Party
Geraldine Coggins moved to Manchester from Dublin but has family roots in Balton, Salford, Bury, and Whalley Range.
As one of Manchester’s first Green Councillors, Ms Coggins claims she knows “how to get things done”.
Her manifesto includes building 20,000 publicly owned, energy-efficient homes “by restoring empty properties and a public developer to build rental homes”.
She has also pledged to “revive high streets” and put climate and nature “at the heart of every decision”.
Richard Kilpatrick is the Lib Dem councillor in Didsbury West and considers Manchester his home.
Mr Kilpatrick claims to have opened emergency shelters for flood relief during his time as local councillor, as well as hammering down on public spending.
He intends on campaigning for closer ties with Europe to boost the region’s economy and for more investment in social care.
Bev Craig launches her manifesto at University Academy
PA
Interim Manchester Mayor Paul Dennett announced that he would not be running for the position, with the party putting Bev Craig forward as a replacement.
Ms Craig has Andy Burnham’s backing and has pledged to improve local town centres, freeze fares on the Bee Network, and tackle the housing crisis.
One of her pledges includes expanding neighbourhood policing and giving “every young person the chance to get into work”.
Phil Eckersley currently represents Bowdon Ward on Trafford Council, where he is the party’s deputy leader and a shadow executive member for health and care.
This echoes his profession as the founder of Bridgewater Home Care in Wigan.
He has vowed to “get the area back on track” by prioritising areas outside of Manchester city centre.
His priorities include building more homes “in the right places”; backing public transport and motorists by ensuring services are “reliable” and road charging schemes are blocked; and freezing the mayor’s share of council tax.
Marcus Farmer – Independent
Marcus Farmer is a local businessman that will be standing in his third Greater Manchester mayoral election.
He received just under 1% of the vote last time around.
His five-point plan puts young people first, prioritises investment in small and medium-sized businesses, encourages investment in “forgotten towns”, improves access to choice, and pushes for equality of opportunity.
Odds according to bet365 as of July 28
Liberal Democrats: 1000/1
When will results be announced?
You can vote from 7am to 10pm in person at the polling station on July 30.
Parts of southern England are set to bask in a fourth heatwave this week, with temperatures set to reach highs of 35C.
An amber heat alert has been issued from 9am on Tuesday to 9am on Friday for the East and West Midlands, the south-east, the south-west and the east of England, as well as Yorkshire and the Humber.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a warning of possible “significant impacts” on health and social care services, including a rise in deaths among the elderly or people with health conditions and an increase in drownings.
Since May, three heatwaves have already been recorded across the country, with temperatures breaking records in June, as the UK faces more extreme weather fuelled by human-caused climate change.
Temperatures reaching 33 degrees are set to hit southern England on Wednesday (Met Office)
On Wednesday, temperatures are set to reach 33C in London and surrounding counties, with highs of 25 degrees recorded in Manchester and 26 degrees in Cardiff.
The hot weather will continue into Thursday but will remain cooler in the north, with highs of 19 degrees recorded in Belfast and 18 degrees in Glasgow.
Forecasters expect this week’s heat to be a “North-South split”, with clouds and outbreaks of rain continuing in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
But the peak will be “almost a blink and you miss it”, with temperatures widely cooling to close to average by the weekend, according to senior Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud.
July was 3C above average across the UK, according to provisional Met Office data.
This could put it among the hottest three or four months of July on record, said senior Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud. Some parts of the UK had rain over the weekend, mainly in the north and northwest, with 33mm (1.3in) falling on Sunday at Charterhall, in the Scottish Borders, and Altnahinch Filters, in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, receiving 17mm (0.7in).
But mainly places missed out and stayed largely dry, the Met Office said, with little, if any, relief in some southern regions.
Thursday will also see highs of 28 degrees in the South while the north of England remains cooler (Met Office)
Some spots have gone for weeks without rain – such as Wisley in Surrey, which has had 40 consecutive dry days.
The heat and ongoing dry conditions have led to hosepipe bans for 23 million customers, while even water companies without bans in place are telling households to conserve water, and drought has been declared across a swathe of Wales.
Southern England has had just 1 per cent of its average July rainfall. England has received 5 per cent of its average July rainfall, while the UK as a whole has received 20 per cent, according to the Met Office.
However, the forecaster warned that heatwave thresholds will need to be adjusted to take into account the warming climate, with fire chiefs also warning of the additional risk of wildfires.
At the height of the third heatwave, in mid-July, firefighters were battling 19 significant wildfires simultaneously in England and Wales.
A National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) spokesperson said: “With the Met Office warning that a fourth heatwave could develop this week, bringing another period of very hot weather to parts of the UK, fire and rescue services remain on alert and are continuing to prepare for renewed wildfire risk.”
Temperatures are set to cool slightly on Friday and drop to the mid-twenties (Met Office)
Southern England has had just 1 per cent of its average July rainfall. England has received 5 per cent of its average July rainfall, while the UK as a whole has received 20 per cent, according to the Met Office.
The dry spell has contributed to low water levels, and North Wales and the Upper Severn became the first part of the UK to declare drought status on Thursday.
In addition, fires, if they start, are likely to become exceptionally severe on Wednesday in pockets of the east, south, and south-east England, according to Met Office data used by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.
The “exceptionally severe” warnings focus on eastern England on Thursday.
Met Office chief meteorologist Dan Suri said: “After a prolonged spell of hot, dry and settled weather, some will see a temporary change this weekend as weather fronts move south-east across the UK.
“While some areas, particularly in the North and West, will see rain and showers, many places are likely to receive relatively little rainfall.
“For much of southern England, dry conditions are expected to remain the dominant feature, with temperatures recovering quickly next week and the potential for hot or locally hot weather to return.”
Southern England has had just 1% of its average July rainfall. (PA)
Met Office five-day weather forecast
Tuesday
Outbreaks of rain continue across northern areas, with some heavy bursts possible in Northern Ireland and western Scotland. Elsewhere, it stays dry with sunny spells. The sunniest conditions are expected in the South, where it will feel hot and humid.
Tuesday night
Cloudy across the North West, with a chance of rain. Dry across much of England and Wales with clear spells and a few isolated mist and fog patches. Another warm night.
Wednesday
Rather cloudy across the north, with outbreaks of rain sinking southwards into northern England during the afternoon. Dry and sunny across the South, where it will feel hot and humid.
Thursday to Saturday
Thursday will be fresher with sunshine and perhaps the odd shower. Mostly dry on Friday and Saturday with further sunshine developing at times. It will still be warm in the sunshine.
After an impressive return to the Scottish Premiership, Falkirk manager John McGlynn is targeting another top-six finish despite a summer of change.
The Bairns lost a number of their influential players at the end of last season, including top scorer Barney Stewart.
They begin their new campaign against St Mirren on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, with McGlynn continuing to set ambitious goals.
“If you can do it once, you can do it twice,” he told Sky Sports News.
Every match across the opening weekend is live on Sky Sports!
Friday July 31: Dundee Utd vs Rangers (8pm)
Saturday August 1: Falkirk vs St Mirren (3pm)
Saturday August 1: Aberdeen vs Hearts (5.30pm)
Sunday August 2: St Johnstone vs Kilmarnock (2pm)
Sunday August 2: Hibernian vs Motherwell (4.30pm)
Monday August 3: Celtic vs Dundee (7.30pm)
But we also understand that the second season is probably going to be more difficult.
“[There’s been a] bigger change-around in players; it’s the first time we’ve made such a big change.” We lost 15 players at the end of last season, including some big players.
“Barney is going to West Brom, Calvin [Miller] is going to Hearts, and we’re losing Dylan [Tait] to Dundee United – along with all the loan players who had done really well for us.
Image: Falkirk’s top scorer Barney Stewart has signed for West Brom
“We’re always ambitious. We want to do as well as we can. Like many teams, first and foremost, you’ve got to stay in the league.
“That’s what we tried to do last season. We targeted 15 points after the first 11 games. We managed to replicate that through the second lot of games and the third to get to 45 points, which got us in a very, very comfortable position.
“That’s a target we’ll be trying to achieve if possible. At this stage, we can achieve anything.
Committed to Falkirk amid Scottish speculation
Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells Sky Sports News he is flattered by links to the vacant Scotland job but insists he is fully committed to the Bairns.
Many have touted the 64-year-old as a potential Scotland head coach following Steve Clarke’s resignation after their World Cup exit.
While flattered, McGlynn insists he is concentrating on the new Premiership season.
“It’s wonderful for such high-profile people in the game to be pushing my name for that job,” the former Hearts boss added.
“I am obviously totally committed here, and I’ve had no contact whatsoever, so I’m very focused on the job, but it is very nice for the people who have been putting me forward and supporting me in that way.
“I think they know what I’m like and how well I’ve done, so it’s some kind of recognition. It’s nice to hear, but I’m focused on the job right now.
Image: Steve Clarke stepped down as Scotland boss following their World Cup exit
Asked if he would be interested if the Scottish FA made contact, he added: “Obviously, the SFA will need to go through the proper procedure and speak to the club and see where it goes if it comes to that.
Andy Burnham is set to unveil the biggest overhaul in education in 15 years.
ending a system that prioritises preparing children for university over technical training.
The prime minister is to announce the changes as part of a new drive to tackle “a lost generation” with 1 million young people unemployed or trapped outside education.
It comes after he revealed to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that he plans to bring down the welfare bill by making benefits conditional on people finding work, especially ones linked to mental health issues such as anxiety and stress.
But the move to value “the hard hat as much as the graduation cap” is another break with the legacy of former Labour prime minister Sir Tony Blair, which saw vocational qualifications downgraded in favour of getting 50 per cent of school leavers into university.
Ahead of the announcement, Mr Burnham said: “For too long, students in this country have been told they must take the academic path to succeed and be respected. The whole school system has been built around it, and that has let down young people seeking technical qualifications.
Andy Burnham is set to announce major education reform (AFP/Getty)
I want an education system based on parity between the academic and technical, which gives all young people a clear path in life. From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap.”
He added: “Fixing the youth unemployment crisis in Britain will require a major shake-up in how we do things – and that’s what this government will do. I want to ensure that our education system provides clear pathways for our young people. The changes we’re announcing today will just be the start of our work to restore opportunity and hope across the country.”
It represents the biggest shift in education since Michael Gove rolled out the school academies and free school reforms in 2011.
But the focus on vocational qualifications also comes at a time when graduates are being hit with massive levels of debt from paying for tuition fees while many are struggling to find employment.
The new pathways of prestigious technical routes will provide 14-year-olds with early access to technical skills, work experience and connections with local employers.
Mr Burnham believes that funding for the changes will come from the existing £570m investment to create additional college places across the country, alongside the wider Department for Education settlement agreed at the 2025 Spending Review, which will increase schools’ funding by £4.7bn by 2028-29.
The prime minister has made it clear that he is determined to put technical education on an equal footing with the traditional academic path and to ensure there are “no dead ends” for young people coming out of the education system.
This will mean that students, parents and employers value and respect high-quality technical education routes. In a message directly to students, he will say, “Whether you choose construction, coding or classics, you’ll get the skills you need and be given the respect you deserve.”
Under the plans, from age 14 (Year 10), students will have the chance to combine core academic subjects – including English, maths and science – with technical education linked to jobs available in their area. They will be able to spend time with employers and gain real-world experience.
Mr Burnham believes he will be building on initiatives which he championed as mayor of Manchester, such as the MBacc (Greater Manchester Baccalaureate), and the new technical routes will mean young people can develop the technical knowledge and skills needed to progress in areas like engineering, healthcare and digital technology, skilling them up with the specific knowledge and capabilities that local employers need.
Former health secretary Alan Milburn speaks to the media in late May about his interim report Young People and Work (PA)
As part of his devolution plans, regional mayors, local leaders, schools, colleges and employers will work together to shape the new technical education pathways, which can be tailored around local industries and growth sectors.
The prime minister will pledge that the government will prioritise funding for high-quality technical education and practical routes into work. The government will also change how it measures school performance. Inspectors will recognise schools that provide high-quality technical education and support young people in developing the skills, experience and confidence employers want.
It comes after former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn’s interim report warned that Britain is at risk of a “lost generation”, with over a million 16- to 24-year-olds now not in education, employment or training.
His findings painted a stark picture of a system that too often leaves young people leaving school without the skills, experience or connections they need to step into the world of work.
Mr Milburn said: “The changes the PM is announcing today are very welcome. They are a big step in the right direction and consistent with the findings of my review. A whole-system reset is needed across health, welfare and labour market policy, as well as in education and skills.
Business leaders and trade unions have also welcomed the move. Michelle Ovens, chief executive of Small Business Britain, said: “This is a significant step towards preparing young people for the future, which must include business skills and entrepreneurship as core to the changing world of work.”
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Putting technical education on the same level as academia brings us closer to the international standard for skills.”
But Tory shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: “The announcements today do not come close to reversing the damage Labour has already done to the job market.
“Labour’s policies are driving youth unemployment to record highs. They are making it too expensive to hire young people and are destroying jobs with their jobs tax and employer red tape. When it’s easier for young people to claim benefits than get a job, it’s no wonder youth unemployment is rocketing.”
Benefit payment dates in August – with bank holiday changes.
Benefit payments will go out as usual for the most part in August, but there are bank holiday dates to be aware of depending on where you live. These include:
Universal credit
State pension
Pension credit
Child benefit
Disability living allowance (DLA)
Personal independence payment (PIP)
Attendance allowance
Carer’s allowance
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Summer Bank Holiday is on Monday 31 August. Scotland has this holiday earlier, on Monday the 3rd. Payment dates that fall on bank holidays usually occur on the previous working day.
The start of the summer holidays also brings extra expenses for parents as kids enjoy their six weeks away from school. The summer is usually a time when cost-of-living pressures are less intense, with energy demand low and the shock of April’s bill increases becoming part of the normal expenses.
At the same time, concerns remain around the disruption caused by the US-Iran war, which has severely impacted the global oil trade. The conflict has brought knock-on effects to the price of essentials such as energy and fuel, with collapsed peace talks between the nations prompting fear of greater pressures to come.
Inflation fell to 2.6 per cent in the year to June, defying expectations of an increase. Easing prices for products like motor fuel, chocolate and beef contributed to the dip, although experts stilpredict that priceses will begin to rise again.
A record 7.4 million households are now unable to afford at least one essential item, recent research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found, up from 7.1 million a year ago.
The state pension rose by 4.8 per cent in April in line with annual earnings growth (PA)
Against this difficult economic backdrop, households should claim all the support they are entitled to. There are now around 24 million people in the country claiming some combination of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) administered benefits, which include those drawing a state pension, representing around one in three people.
Yet research by Policy in Practice shows that £24bn worth of benefits goes unclaimed every year – you can use its helpful calculator to work out what you might be entitled to
The DWP has now completed its migration of all ‘legacy benefits’ to universal credit, it confirmed to The Independent in July, with just a few claimants remaining on the old system in exceptional circumstances.
Pension payment dates in August
The basic state pension is paid straight into bank accounts, similar to how benefits are paid. It is usually paid every four weeks, with the exact day you receive it corresponding to the last two digits of your national insurance (NI) number.
When will benefit rates go up?
In April 2026, all universal credit claimants received an above-inflation income boost of around 6.2 per cent to the standard allowance. For a single person over 25, this is a £6 per week increase, rising from £92 to £98.
Couples with one or both partners over 25 saw their weekly amount rise by £9, from £145 to £154.
Most other benefits were uprated by September’s inflation rate alone, increasing by 3.8 per cent. This included PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and more.
However, at the same time, the weekly payment rate for the health-related element of universal credit for new claimants was cut from £105 to £50. The rate for existing claimants will also be frozen until 2029.
This is a reduction of more than £200 a month, cutting the additional rate by around half.
The state pension rose by 4.8 per cent from April in line with annual earnings growth. This will bring the weekly amount to £241.05.
Other help available
For families: Great British Summer Savings
In May, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a package of measures to alleviate financial pressures for families over the summer holidays.
The key measure is a temporary VAT cut on family activities lasting from 25 June, when schools break in Scotland, until 1 September, when they return in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This reduces the rate from 20 per cent to 5 per cent, with businesses expected to pass on the savings to families in reduced prices.
It applies to cinemas and theatres, attractions like amusement parks and zoos, and meals in restaurants. In all cases, the VAT cut is only applied to products available for families or children.
More help for parents
Parents with school-aged children who receive benefits-related free school meals can access the government-funded Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme during the six-week break.
Running nationwide across all local councils in England – with similar schemes operating in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – it provides children who receive benefits-related free school meals with free holiday club places and a healthy hot meal.
Funding and eligibility criteria vary depending on location, so parents should check with their local authority’s website for more information.
And when the kids go back to school, it is well worth parents checking if their local council offers a school uniform grant to help with this extra cost.
Crisis and Resilience Fund
From April, councils have been able to administer Labour’s new ‘Crisis and Resilience Fund’, designed to support low-income households at times when affording the essentials becomes a struggle.
It will replace both the household support fund and discretionary housing payments.
Crisis payment
The first part of the new scheme is a ‘crisis payment’ to support low-income households that have experienced a financial shock or are at risk of entering a crisis.
As with the household support fund, councils will continue to have discretion over the exact eligibility criteria. However, the government’s guidance says councils should not limit it just to those in receipt of benefits.
The DWP has asked councils to take a ‘cash-first’ approach to the crisis payment, meaning cash payments should be awarded unless there is a fair reason not to do so.
In March, it confirmed that it was giving local authorities more funding to support those affected by rising heating oil prices.
Housing payment
A new ‘housing payment’ has also been introduced across the UK, aimed at providing financial support for housing costs for those in need.
The payment will usually be related to rent, such as needing rent in advance, a rental deposit, or a shortfall. It could also cover a lump sum associated with housing, like the cost of moving.
Unlike the crisis payment, the housing payment will be restricted to those in receipt of certain benefits. These are either housing benefits or universal credit with the housing element for rental costs. However, DWP says those who do not qualify but are still in need could be considered for a crisis payment instead.
Budgeting advance loans
The government offers a “budgeting advance loan” for people on universal credit who face an emergency lack of money. The loan has a maximum repayment period of two years.
These loans are interest-free and are automatically deducted from universal credit payments. You can borrow an ‘advance’ of up to:
£348 if you’re single
£464 if you’re part of a couple
£812 if you or your partner claims child benefit
Following Labour’s 2024 budget, a new cap was introduced on the amount the DWP can deduct from benefit payments to repay loans and debts, including budgeting advance loans.
Beginning in April 2025, deductions from universal credit have been capped at 15 per cent of the standard allowance, down from 25 per cent.
Charitable grants
If you are struggling financially, you may be eligible for certain charitable grants. There is a wide range of grants available depending on your circumstances.
However, these grants will typically require you to meet specific criteria and will only be able to offer limited funds.
Charitable grants are available for people who are disabled or ill, carers, bereaved, unemployed, students, and for many other reasons. The charity Turn2us has an online tool to search for grants that may be available to some.
Some energy suppliers offer assistance to those who aren’t able to afford their bills, including Octopus and British Gas (PA)
Energy provider help
Several energy suppliers offer help for those struggling with their energy bills. These include British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus. It is worth contacting your energy provider to find out if you are eligible.
Some also offer free devices like electric blankets for households with vulnerable residents to keep warm.
Social tariffs for broadband and water
For those struggling with household costs, social tariffs are available for both broadband and water bills. These measures will mean a reduced rate for certain eligible households.
For water, every company operating in the UK has a social tariff by law. However, the amount on offer can vary between regions and, because water providers can’t be chosen like energy providers, the support has been criticised as a “postcode lottery”.
For instance, some offer as much as 90 per cent off bills, while others cap support at a 20 per cent reduction.
To find out what support your water company offers, it is worth checking on its website or contacting the helpline. In all cases, households will need to be deemed to be on a low income and/or in receipt of certain benefits.
Similarly, many broadband providers offer social tariffs to those on certain benefits, such as universal credit or pension credit.
Council tax reduction
If you meet certain criteria or are on certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a discount on your council tax of up to 100 per cent (this type of assistance is sometimes called council tax support).
Your local council may still be able to offer you a discretionary reduction if you can demonstrate you are facing severe hardship and can’t afford to pay your council tax.
To apply for a council tax reduction, contact your local council via the government’s website.
Up to 30 hours of free childcare
From 1 September 2025, all working parents in the UK became entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for children up to the age of four. This concluded a gradual set of expansions that began in April 2024.
Parents must apply online and reconfirm their eligibility every three months, in time for each school term. Working parents can also apply for tax-free childcare, which gives back 20p for every 80p you put towards childcare, up to a maximum of £500 a year.
The next deadline is 31 August.
Energy price cap: Is it going up?
Ofgem’s energy price cap increased by £221 a year to £1,862 from July. The 13 per cent increase marks the highest level in over two years, triggered by spiking oil prices caused by the US-Iran war.
The energy price cap is the maximum amount suppliers can charge you for each unit of energy if you’re on a standard variable tariff. That includes most households. It is expressed as an annual bill for an average home.
Many experts, including Ofgem itself, recommend households consider a fixed tariff energy deal if possible. However, the US and Iran have seen fewer of these on the market than in previous months.
Ofgem is expected to announce the next price cap, covering October to December, on 26 August 2026.
Will there be another cost of living payment in 2026?
The DWP has not announced any continuation of the cost of living payment scheme that ran between 2022 and 2024. The final payment should have been made to eligible households between 6 February and 22 February 2024.
Mental health support
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call them for free at 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.
Mind runs a support line on 0300 102 1234, which provides a safe and confidential place to talk about how you’re feeling. There is also an information line on 0300 123 3393 for nearby support, and a welfare benefits line on 0300 222 5782 to support the mental health of those navigating the benefits system
Disability charity Scope has a forum where people can have supportive chats with others going through the same experiences
The NHS offers an online mental health triage service
Cyan said he spent about four months developing a prototype for the game in 2025, which was “made for the publisher’s eyes only,” as the teaser video stated. “For various reasons, the project couldn’t move forward at this time, but we’re still proud of the team’s work — so we’re sharing a teaser of the prototype with you all now.
Since then, the fortunes of Myst and developer Cyan Worlds have improved significantly. The most recent game in the series, Myst 5: End of Ages, came out in 2005 and was reasonably well received but not a big seller; Cyan, after years of financial struggles, has moved on to games like Myst, including Firmament and Obduction, both of which rely on crowdfunding
Myst was a huge success: it was the best-selling PC video game of all time and helped launch the CD-ROM era, paving the way for new technologies and unprecedented levels of fidelity in gaming. In 1993, Myst was a major breakthrough.
Studio 2025 laid off its staff by “roughly half”, with Justin Wagner of PC Gamer writing that “it’s great to see a historic indie like Cyanworlds so badly hit by the brutal, ongoing contraction of the game industry”. Justin was certainly right about that, but some people are finding it even more fascinating: Over the weekend Cyan released a teaser for a new Myst game, codenamed Project Anglerfish, that looks really good — and then said it’s not in development because, apparently, publishers aren’t interested.
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A Road Not Taken: Project Anglerfish – YouTube
It’s definitely a Myst game alright, though I don’t remember ol’ Atrus being as loud and screechy as the raging long hair here. As a lapsed fan of the series, I think it looks great, and it’s disappointing that this video doesn’t herald a new game but instead just a look at what could be.
At the same time, it’s not difficult to understand why publishers would hesitate to return the mini-trick to a new Myst game. Myst disappeared for a reason, and there’s a growing chasm between the heavy hit of nostalgia delivered by a three-minute video and the reality of playing old-school adventure games with purposefully obscure puzzles. Is Myst’s brand of storytelling really in demand these days?
What really bothers me is that maybe it could work. A new Myst game might have a small audience (at least compared to, say, Fortnite or Roblox) but it’s also very dedicated and willing to make money as it wants. In other words, it sounds like an ideal candidate for a crowdfunding campaign—yet Cyan isn’t pursuing it. I wonder why that is, because the studio’s previous games, Obstacle and Atmosphere, were both Kickstarter successes, each raising over $1 million.
A new Myst game would almost certainly make even bigger numbers on the weight of the name alone: in 2018, Cyan ran a Kickstarter for it. The 25th Anniversary collection of Myst raised over $2.8 million. People love their Myst, and they want it too.
And who knows? Maybe, after all, they’ll get their Myst. It might be funny, but I find myself wondering if this little showcase is another way to gauge interest ahead of a potential campaign for a new Myst game—a non-teaser that’s actually an actual teaser for a game that’s not in active development. right now, but who can say what will happen in a month? It’s a little contrived, sure, but I like to think of it as more hopeful: you just have to believe, even if it takes some complicated thinking to get there.
A new property tax could be introduced now that Andy Burnham is prime minister. He has long expressed support for a property tax overhaul, proposing a Land Value Tax (LVT) in 2010 when he first attempted to become Labour leader.
“The LVT, an annual tax on the market rental value of land, would allow for the abolition of stamp duty – a tax that makes it harder for young people to settle down and get on with their lives,” he said.
More recently, he has repeated his calls for reform. “I’ve long been persuaded of the argument for a land value tax,” he said. “[Council tax] is a highly regressive tax. I see a strong case for changing land, property, and business taxation.
Burnham is understood to support proposals by campaigning organisation Fairer Share, which have received cross-party support and advocate for a new Proportional Property Tax (PPT).
Under the proposals, stamp duty and council tax would be scrapped, with homeowners instead paying a flat 0.48 per cent tax on the current value of their property. This, says Fairer Share, is the rate required to match the revenue from the current system.
Homeowners, meanwhile, would benefit from an initial cap, which means that the new tax would not cost more than £1,200 per year, or £100 per month.
Those moving house, meanwhile, will no longer need to pay stamp duty on their property purchase.
Some, though, will need to pay more. Under the proposals, second homeowners, foreign owners and empty properties will pay a higher rate of 0.96 per cent.
The revenue from the tax, which Fairer Share says would be the same, would be centrally distributed to local councils. Having a single, centralised point of collection, says David Fell at Hamptons, is potentially much more efficient than 300 councils each collecting independently.
Why is a new property tax needed?
The campaign’s main aim is to address inequalities in the way that property is taxed, where the owners of expensive homes pay less as a percentage of the property’s total value.
Council tax, for example, is based on an estimate of the property’s value in 1991, regardless of its current market value.
There are currently eight council tax bands, with the top bracket, Band H, having no ceiling above £320,000. This means that a £350,000 flat and a £10 million mansion would pay the same tax.
As a result, there have been repeated calls for reform in recent years, arguing that property taxes should more closely reflect property values.
Fairer Share estimates that its proposals would benefit 77 per cent of UK households—equivalent to 18 million people—with an average saving of £556.
Scrapping duty, it adds, would protect individual households from large bills when they buy a home, instead spreading the cost across the period of property ownership.
This, it argues, would remove a barrier to home ownership and make it easier for older households to downsize.
What would a new property tax mean for Londoners?
The bad news for Londoners is that the new tax is likely to raise bills. According to Fairer Share’s estimates, the average homeowner in the capital will pay £260 more per year, with Londoners paying £2.5 billion more as a whole.
The reason for this is because properties in London and the South East have seen the greatest increase in value since 1991, with homeowners paying proportionately smaller council tax bills.
In Kensington and Chelsea, for example, where the average property costs £1.273 million, a homeowner would pay £6,110.40 under the new tax, which would initially be capped at £1,200. They would currently pay £3,286.88 a year in council tax.
“Lower-income homeowners in higher-value areas like London would be hit hard,” says Mr Fell. “Typically, they can currently avoid paying stamp duty by staying put. Renters, who don’t currently pay stamp duty, may end up paying more, either in tax or via higher rents.”
Is a new property tax a good idea?
On the plus side, analysts argue that removing stamp duty will encourage people to move house and help to stimulate the property market, which has broader economic benefits.
But, says Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, “Annual revaluations will turn house price growth into an ongoing tax liability, which would inevitably affect decision-making.
“The psychological difference between a one-off stamp duty bill and a recurring tax charge means up-sizers could think twice, particularly in London and the south-east, where payments are likely to be a proportionately larger share of income.”
There are also concerns about implementation, when some homeowners will already have paid stamp duty on their properties, and about how properties will be accurately valued when homes on the same street can vary wildly in price. As Mr Fell puts it: “Changes in values could mean uncertain income for councils and will be open to challenge.”
Bill also cautions against the potential pitfalls of raising taxes for landlords and developers at a time when landlords are leaving the market and housebuilding is needed.
“At a time when many landlords are struggling to make things stack up financially, any further disincentive is likely to result in less stock and higher rents, which hurts tenants.”
“The concept of taxing the asset rather than the transaction is sensible as it would improve social and economic mobility, generate tax revenue in other areas like VAT, get rid of a universally disliked tax and ultimately generate a more stable flow of revenue,” he adds.
“However, cross-party support or not, proposals should feel politically neutral to avoid replicating the unintended consequences seen with stamp duty changes in the last decade by ensuring a liquid property market that raises as much for the Exchequer as possible, irrespective of your postcode, which would be a real break from the past.”
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Having sold 40 per cent of influencer marketing agency Goat in 2021, Harry Hugo had made his fortune at 26 – and he realised that, by the age of 30, he would have the rare luxury of financial independence.
So, by his own admission, he was chasing “instant gratification” moments. But he also knew he needed to find a purpose.
One day, he and his friends, who had worked with him since he started his first business at age 16, visited a Ferrari garage. He had his eyes on a 458 Spyder in black.
“My mate asked me why I was considering buying it,” he tells Sky Sports.
Image: Farnham Town have earned three promotions in four seasons since Harry Hugo became chairman (Image: LJP Photos)
“My only answer was that it would be fun. That wasn’t a good enough answer, so I challenged my mates to come up with something that would provide as much fun for the money.
“The first suggestion was, ‘Why don’t we buy a football club?’ – and I thought that was quite a good idea!”
The group built a matrix to rank the non-League clubs within a 50-mile radius of his home. Leatherhead ranked highest, so Hugo followed the Tanners – then in the Isthmian Premier Division, one below the National League South – for six months.
Image: Hugo sold 40 per cent of influencer marketing agency Goat in 2021 and the remainder two years later (Image: LJP Photos)
When he met the board, he says, there was scepticism. I get that, first, it’s unusual for a young guy to want to go and spend loads of money on a football club, and, second, there have been a lot of negative stories in non-league football, where people have put loads of money in and then walked away.
Hugo was left deflated when a deal to take over did not materialise, yet he soon realised his love was for non-league football in general and “the raw emotion, the old-school nature of football in its purest form”, not for Leatherhead.
Town takeover leads to back-to-back-to-back
Number two on the matrix was Farnham Town. Hugo grew up locally and attended school in the town, about 11 miles from Guildford, Surrey, so there was a tie-in. The only downside? They were another two tiers down the pyramid.
But the board were instantly receptive and a deal was completed within five weeks.
Soon, the reality of what he had inherited became clear.
“When we walked in, it cannot be understated how shit it was here,” he says, overlooking the pitch at The Memorial Ground, which is looking in excellent condition despite the intense recent heatwaves.
“It was the clubhouse, a stand behind the goal… and that was it. A concrete block wall around the side of the pitch and a fence across the top. I was embarrassed to bring my wife down here!”
Today, it is almost difficult to believe it is the same stadium. But more on that shortly; to understand why this is the case, we must look at Farnham’s incredible rise, led on the pitch by manager Paul Johnson.
In 2022/23, Hugo’s first season, Farnham finished sixth in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.
In 2023/24, they won that same division with 108 points.
Image: Paul Johnson has been in charge of Farnham Town since November 2022 (Image: LJP Photos)
And in 2025/26, they finished second to Walton & Hersham in the Southern League Premier Division South before beating Gloucester City 5-1 in the play-off final to reach the National League South.
Before Hugo’s arrival, the club had never played above the ninth tier of English football. They will be competing in the sixth tier during the 2026/27 season.
Does Farnham have any recognisable faces?
Sam Hutchinson: Five Premier League games for Chelsea, 207 games for Sheffield Wednesday in all competitions
Brandon Mason: Two Premier League games for Watford, 36 League One games for Coventry City
Rakish Bingham: 64 Scottish Premiership games for Hamilton Academical
Billy Clifford: 31 League One game for Colchester United and Walsall, 43 League two games for Crawley Town
Aaron Kuhl: Six Championship games for Reading, five Scottish Premiership games for Dundee United
Wrexham links and the value of socials
Naturally, there have been comparisons to Wrexham, who are the most high-profile example of a club achieving three back-to-back promotions, from the National League to the Sky Bet Championship.
“I’m fine with that!” says Hugo, with a laugh.
“Like them, we also care about media, brands, images and experiences, and the biggest thing is they brought people up; they made more National League and EFL teams look at themselves and think they could be doing it.
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While the Red Dragons have their Disney+ series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, Farnham produce ‘Non-League Diaries’, which is released weekly on YouTube.
Hugo harnessed his connections to get social media collective The Sidemen to sponsor the team in his first season, while last September, the club went viral after former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch walked out as a mascot as a forfeit for losing his Fantasy Football League.
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Due to a forfeit, Peter Crouch agreed to become Farnham Town’s mascot – and he drew a record attendance for the non-league side!
From 2023 until earlier this summer, Love Island runner-up Harry Cooksley was a key member of the squad and, on TikTok, they boast over 150,000 followers.
“Social media is huge commercially, from a fan engagement and brand-awareness perspective. It’s weird, the number of people who know about Farnham Town,” Hugo adds.
Image: Harry Cooksley (left) of Love Island fame played a key role in Farnham’s rise (Image: LJP Photos)
“They might not have ever come, but they know Crouchy walked out in a full kit as a mascot or we won the play-off final 5-1, or we hold the British record for the most wins in a row in a league campaign. Other clubs have done things like it, but they can’t get the message out; they can’t tell the story.
“We’ve done a really good job of doing that and it’s been a major focus because it’s my background. It’s the perfect distribution channel that allows us to tell that story.”
Rapid rise forces need for rapid growth
Online, some accuse him of just throwing money at it. He accepts that the criticism was “a legitimate point” in his second year, when getting out of the ninth tier became imperative.
“People who keep the lights on do a wonderful job and make sure these non-league football clubs exist; then there are the people who are trying to push it forward. That’s a positive thing for everybody,” he says.
“Farnham’s success on and off the pitch, achieved for the first time, drives everybody to be better.” People have gone from hating us to admiring us because they’ve seen someone who is genuinely invested in the club and wants to do it sustainably for the long term.
“I don’t hide in a corporate box and I genuinely love football. I’m Farnham’s number one fan and the chairman’s second. I have never been an anxious person, but I dislike the 90 minutes because it means so much to me, which is why I do commentary. It’s like therapy to me because I’m so nervous!”
Farnham’s rise on the pitch has put a welcome strain on Hugo and those off it. Each promotion has brought a nine-month deadline for the club to bring their stadium up to the requirements for that level. The official capacity is currently 2,300, but by March 31, 2027, it needs to be 3,000.
But they have not focused solely on that this summer. There are impressive new stands, but the whole club has received a makeover of the highest order. The transformation is striking.
“It’s constant money, but also planning. I love that, but I think it’s critical for people to understand it’s not just about winning on the pitch,” Hugo says.
“There’s so much you have to think about off the pitch if you’re as successful as we’ve been. It’s not just about throwing money at it; it’s about being strategic.
“The nice thing is we’re going to have brought a fanbase through that takes nothing for granted because they’ve seen where we’ve come from. Hopefully everyone comes down to support the football club because we’re going to need to put a lot of cash back in the coffers with the work we’ve done.”
On the financial side, Hugo is incredibly transparent on social media. He often posts details on X, highlighting the importance of the spend-per-head metric. Why?
“Because moving the dial from an average attendance of 1,000 to 1,500 is disproportionately harder than getting someone to spend £18, not £15, inside the ground. Once you get someone in and you give them opportunities to spend, that is way easier than trying to get someone brand new in.
“That’s not necessarily about putting prices up, but more about giving them opportunities to spend on better things.
“That metric has improved massively since we’ve been involved, without the ticket prices going up much at all. We offer a low-cost day out.
The EFL is no longer just a pipe dream
Farnham’s rise has been so quick that it is difficult to believe they are only two promotions from Sky Bet League Two. The ambition to get there is significant – and growing.
“The biggest thing that drives me is that Surrey doesn’t have an EFL team. That’s ridiculous,” says Hugo. How does one of the most affluent counties, so close to London, not have one of the 92 EFL teams?!
Surrey’s top non-League teams
National League: Sutton United, Woking
National League South: Dorking Wanderers, Farnham Town, Walton & Hersham
Woking and Sutton are in the league above us; when we started, Sutton was in the EFL, and we were in step five. Now there’s one league between us. Who’s to say Farnham can’t get in ahead of all the others? Three years ago, I didn’t even consider that.
“We know how to get promotions. I know it takes everything, so much that people don’t see, but we can stand up and say we think we can get to the EFL, and we’ve proved we know how to do it, though we know it’s going to get harder.
We will obviously try to get promoted again this season because that’s in our nature, but would it be the end of the world if we didn’t? Absolutely not. But we’ve only ever been promoted, so it will feel weird if we reach the end of the season without a pitch invasion!
Is he one to watch?
Local lad Owen Dean came through Farnham Town’s youth ranks and has since become the club’s prized asset.
The 23-year-old has played 202 games for the club since the 2021/22 season, scoring 87 goals and providing 39 assists.
“Some clubs will go through a chairman’s lifetime and never have one – we’ve had four in four years. I’m fine with our pitch not being invaded this year! It means we’d have time to figure out our facility and get it ready to be National League and EFL-ready.
A long journey undoubtedly lies ahead, but it would take a brave person to bet against Hugo and Farnham, who have already changed perceptions of what a modern non-League club can be.
Several years on from that day in the Ferrari garage, it is certainly fair to say Farnham’s young chairman has found the purpose he was seeking.
