- Families across the UK will pay less for children’s meals in restaurants, kid’s tickets to cinemas and theatres, and entry to a wide range of attractions thanks to government action.
- Throughout the summer, VAT will be temporarily cut to help reduce the cost of days out and support businesses by increasing footfall as the Labour government launches the Great British Summer Savings scheme.
- The move is the latest in the Starmer government’s drive to support families and help ease pressures on household budgets.
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Free pictures on behalf of West Dunbartonshire council. 2019 Loch Lomond Highland games at the Moss O’ Balloch. A record number of visitors turned out to watch the popular annual Loch Lomond Highland Games at Balloch today. More than 9,000 visitors attended the event, in Moss O’Balloch Park, for a range of traditional highland game competitions including cycling, running, hammer throwing and heavy weights and the traditional tossing of the caber and tug-of-war. Dancers entertained the crowds by performing traditional highland dances with their immaculate costumes and perfect hair, and spectators enjoyed music from Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun and Tulliallan pipes and drums. The popular games welcomed visitors from as far afield as Germany and Canada who travelled to Scotland to enjoy the traditional Scottish games and was broadcasted to millions of viewers in China watching Chinese travel programme ‘Zhu’s life in Britain’. Aynsley Gouck, Assistant Director of Niagra Highland Dance Academy, said “We are over from Ontario Canada and we are attending four Highland Games during our visit. We love Balloch it’s a beautiful area of Scotland and we’ve been looking forward to our visit. The Highland Dancing competition is very well organised and the girls are very honoured to be dancing in Scotland.” German friends Tina and Arthur Helbig and Kirsten and Volber Rademacher, said: “We are in Scotland for 10 days and although we’re not staying in Balloch we couldn’t miss this event. It’s a great to see all the smart girls in their beautiful Highland dress and hear the pipe band. We are very excited to be here today.” West Dunbartonshire Council leader Jonathan McColl, said: “This year’s event was a fantastic day and helped by the wonderful weather. Well done to all the competitors for putting on a great show and thanks to the spectators for encouraging the athletes and putting on a great show. It’s always lovely to meet visitors who have travelled around the world to attend this great event. I am proud of our Scottish heritage and the Games are a great way for tourists and visitors to get a true taste of Scotland. Well done to the Games’ committee, West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust and West Dunbartonshire Council on organising yet another hugely successful event.” The Chieftain of the Loch Lomond Highland Games, Major James Macrae said: “I am delighted with this year’s event which has been a great success and has been very well attended. We’ve been really fortunate with the weather the last two years and we are grateful to the thousands who came along, which is great testament to everyone involved in organising the Games. Over the years, the games have attracted contestants and spectators from home and abroad every year and I would like to thank everyone who played their part in making this year’s games a huge success. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank our contestants and sponsors, in particular West Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, for their continued support.” For a full round up of results please visit Loch Lomond High Games website at
http://www.llhgb.com Copyright photo by Paul Chappells, 07774730898
http://www.paulphoto.co.uk 
16.06.23 Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Free pictures on behalf of West Dunbartonshire council. 2019 Loch Lomond Highland games at the Moss O’ Balloch. A record number of visitors turned out to watch the popular annual Loch Lomond Highland Games at Balloch today. More than 9,000 visitors attended the event, in Moss OÕBalloch Park, for a range of traditional highland game competitions including cycling, running, hammer throwing and heavy weights and the traditional tossing of the caber and tug-of-war. Dancers entertained the crowds by performing traditional highland dances with their immaculate costumes and perfect hair, and spectators enjoyed music from Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun and Tulliallan pipes and drums. The popular games welcomed visitors from as far afield as Germany and Canada who travelled to Scotland to enjoy the traditional Scottish games and was broadcasted to millions of viewers in China watching Chinese travel programme ÔZhuÕs life in BritainÕ. Aynsley Gouck, Assistant Director of Niagra Highland Dance Academy, said ÒWe are over from Ontario Canada and we are attending four Highland Games during our visit. We love Balloch itÕs a beautiful area of Scotland and weÕve been looking forward to our visit. The Highland Dancing competition is very well organised and the girls are very honoured to be dancing in Scotland.Ó German friends Tina and Arthur Helbig and Kirsten and Volber Rademacher, said: ÒWe are in Scotland for 10 days and although weÕre not staying in Balloch we couldnÕt miss this event. ItÕs a great to see all the smart girls in their beautiful Highland dress and hear the pipe band. We are very excited to be here today.Ó West Dunbartonshire Council leader Jonathan McColl, said: “This yearÕs event was a fantastic day and helped by the wonderful weather. Well done to all the competitors for putting on a great show and thanks to the spectators for encouraging the athletes and putting on a great show. ItÕs always lovely to meet visitors who have travelled around the world to attend this great event. I am proud of our Scottish heritage and the Games are a great way for tourists and visitors to get a true taste of Scotland. Well done to the GamesÕ committee, West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust and West Dunbartonshire Council on organising yet another hugely successful event.Ó The Chieftain of the Loch Lomond Highland Games, Major James Macrae said: “I am delighted with this yearÕs event which has been a great success and has been very well attended. WeÕve been really fortunate with the weather the last two years and we are grateful to the thousands who came along, which is great testament to everyone involved in organising the Games. Over the years, the games have attracted contestants and spectators from home and abroad every year and I would like to thank everyone who played their part in making this yearÕs games a huge success. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank our contestants and sponsors, in particular West Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, for their continued support.” For a full round up of results please visit Loch Lomond High Games website at
http://www.llhgb.com Copyright photo by Paul Chappells, 07774730898
http://www.paulphoto.co.uk
Families will enjoy discounted attractions and meals out this summer, with the launch of the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme to help people enjoy days out for less.
From 25 June to 1 September 2026, VAT will be slashed on eligible activities, helping families enjoy the weekend treats, the days out, the small plans that make life enjoyable during the cost-of-living squeeze while supporting the businesses that depend on summer footfall.
Great British Summer Savings will be a targeted and temporary scheme to reduce the costs of children’s meals in restaurants, children’s tickets for theatres and cinemas and tickets for everyone for attractions like soft play, adventure centres, and theme parks, helping families enjoy a day out for less.
In a further boost for households, children aged five to 15 in England will be able to travel free on local bus services throughout August – making it easier and more affordable for people to get out and about.
The scheme is estimated to cost about £300m. The Chancellor has been clear we are taking a targeted and responsible approach, consistent with our strategy to reduce borrowing and debt and meet the non-negotiable fiscal rules.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “When I think about the summer holidays, I think about the Lake District — where I went as a child and later made memories with my own family.
“I know how precious that time is, yet too many parents feel they have to hold back because the cost of living is still squeezing budgets.
“This summer we’re cutting the cost of a day out together – free bus travel for children aged five to 15 in England, and VAT slashed on a wide range of kid’s attractions – so families can afford more time together.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Whether it is a fun day out, a family meal or taking advantage of the thousands of amazing attractions across the UK, Great British Summer Savings will support families with the little treats in life while boosting business across the UK.
“This comes on top of support we’ve already put in place including freezing fuel duty, taking off £117 off energy bills, freezing prescriptions, fuel duty and rail fares.
“We are able do this because we have made the right choices, resulting in the UK having the fastest growing economy in the G7, with inflation going down.
“I know the cost of living is still a number one concern for households. Our economic plan is the right one, supporting families and businesses and building a stronger and more secure Britain.”
Reeves also announced this week that the government is reforming the foreign branches exemption—a rule that allows companies to offset overseas losses—so multinationals can’t use it to reduce the tax they pay in the UK.
We expect these reforms to raise hundreds of millions a year and fund the package of measures set out today. Final costings for all measures will be published at the next Budget following certification from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
The support for families was announced by the Chancellor as she updated the House of Commons today on the government’s economic response to the Middle East. She reiterated that the government has the right economic plan, with inflation falling faster than expected and the UK being the fastest-growing economy in the G7 at the start of the year, with the IMF upgrading its growth forecast for the UK.
The VAT rate on eligible activities will be cut from 20% to 5% and applies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The reduced rate will apply to:
- Children’s menu meals served in restaurants for consumption on the premises
- Children’s and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions
- Admission tickets, for both children and adults, to a range of attractions, including: amusement parks, fairs, museums, zoos, soft play centres, circuses, adventure parks, nature reserves, wildlife parks and observation attractions.
This money-saving package supports families, while also supporting businesses through increased footfall. The government expects businesses to pass on VAT savings to customers.
Guidance for businesses in the scope of the policy has been published by HMRC, which outlines how businesses can operate the scheme.
The Chancellor has also announced a new £350 million Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund that will support strategically important producers and sites, strengthen critical supply chains and help support thousands of skilled jobs, alongside a ceramics package worth £120 million, which will back energy efficiency and decarbonisation in a sector vital to UK manufacturing and local communities.
The government will continue to work in partnership with these sectors on the wider challenges they face, including regulatory costs and the potential for action by the Trade Remedies Authority on unfair overseas competition.
She also confirmed a 10p per mile increase in tax‑free mileage rates for the 2026-27 tax year, backdated to April 2026. On average, this will save around £120 for a worker doing 6,000 business miles, using their own vehicle for work. This builds on the Chancellor’s announcement yesterday that she is extending the fuel duty cut until the end of the year – saving motorists £120 since 2025.
This comes on top of the action the government has already taken to reduce the cost of living, including cutting energy bills, freezing prescription charges, protecting motorists from fuel duty increases and raising the minimum wage.
