A SINGLE mum says she’d charge her kids rent even if they were on Universal Credit – because youngsters these days don’t know responsibility.
Lynne Cavanagh, 43, shared her views on TikTok after growing tired of parents mollycoddling their adult children.
She admitted she was part of the problem as she also spoils her three offspring and knows they’re not as mature as she was at their age.
Lynne said: “When I was 21, I was married.
“By the time I was 25, I was married, had two kids, a mortgage for a long time, a job, my husband had a job, we had responsibility and life skills.
“And from a very young age, I had to pay dig money, and I mean even when I had a low wage, I still had to pay dig money.
“My mum made me pay in endowments, credit unions, learn money, which at the time I hated because I was always skint, but it teaches you values and responsibility.
“I’ll always charge my kids dig money, I don’t even care if they’re on Universal Credit or anything, they will be paying because they’ll get their lazy arse up and get themselves a job if they want money.
“I just think nowadays, adults are kids. Like, as I said at 21 I had full blown responsibility.
“My kids at 21 only care about what they’re wearing at the weekend.
“I do think I’m part of the problem and it needs to stop. I think it’s about time we got tough and showed the kids what life is.”
And those in the comments were in complete agreement with Lynn’s assessment.
One person said: “I took dig money off my daughter, saved it up and when she bought her house she was given it to do a new kitchen. I believe in life you have to pay bills.”
Another wrote: “100 percent, guilty of it myself, my dad had money but I had to work on the ice cream van from 14 to earn money to get the stuff I wanted when I was younger.”
A third follower added: “Totally agree with you.
“I started work at 15 and had two jobs and my first wage was under a fiver.
“Yes they should pay their way all the way.”
LUKE LITTLER has PULLED OUT of the Hungarian Darts Trophy barely 24 hours before it is due to start.
Littler looks to have taken the weekend off after being left out of the playing schedule released by the PDC.
The 17-year-old sensation won the Euro Tour tournaments in the Belgium and Austria earlier this year.
But he chose not participate in the tournaments in Rosmalen, Netherlands and Leverkusen, Germany.
It comes after having his unbeaten run of 15 matches snapped by World No.70 Maik Kuivenhoven.
Michael van Gerwen – who Littler beat in the World Series semis – went on to win in Wigan by beating Dave Chisnall 8-7 in the final.
Now the Hungarian capital hosts the 11th Euro Tour tournament of this season.
It is part of a heavy fixture schedule to come for Littler & Co.
On September 24-25 and October 1-3, Players Championship tournaments will be played again.
In between that, the Swiss Darts Trophy will take place in Basel.
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title – which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.
He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.
He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.
Then, from October 7 to 13, the World Grand Prix will be played, where Littler looks to try to win his first ranking major.
Ryan Joyce joins Littler is also opting out of the Hungarian Darts Trophy.
WE all want to try and keep to a budget when redecorating our homes.
But in the same sense, we don’t want our living areas and bedrooms to look cheap.
From paint colours and lighting to wall treatments and bedding, it can be tricky to get it just right – especially if interior design doesn’t come naturally to you.
But there are some mistakes DIY fans should avoid when doing the interiors of their home, and the experts are here to help avoid.
And interestingly, making your home look chic isn’t always about splurging on expensive items.
Speaking to the Home Decorations site, Veranda, interior experts believe it is about combining key design elements to create an inviting space.
Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Design believes that people should select a few meaningful pieces that “truly reflect” their personality.
She believes that “too many knicknacks” can clutter a room and make it feel “dated” so it is important to be strict when choosing your keepsake items.
Old, dull fixtures can really bring down the vibe of your interior,” says Kelly.
She believes that it is time to part ways with the chandeliers and the “gaudy brass sconces from the ’90s.”
Instead, she suggests to opt for a “less is more” approach and go for layered lighting that illuminates your space and creates a welcoming ambiance.
Bethany Adams of Bethany Adams Interiors also urges homeowners to make sure they have good lighting as harsh light makes a space look cheap.”
Rather than your living space feeling flat, mix wood tone and finishes with furniture to “add visual interest,” according to Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design.
She suggests incorporating antique or vintage furniture alongside newer pieces to achieve a curated, eclectic feel.
Less is more, according to Bethany Adams of Bethany Adams Interiors.
She says there are a few tricks to keep your home looking like a “discount store” as she revealed a “few tricks of the trade.”
Bethany says: “If you can’t afford silk draperies, for example, don’t settle for cheap polyester panels.
“Leave your windows bare until you can save for the real thing. Invest in your drapery fund instead.”
Colour can bring life and personality to a room, but a mismatched array of hues or bold colours without proper balance can quickly become overwhelming.
Bethany Adams of Bethany Adams Interiors, known for her vibrant designs, cautions against going overboard, as she says going “colour crazy without the right budget or designer is a mistake.”
When it comes to furnishing a room, scale is crucial for achieving a harmonious look, according to Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design.
Utilising a larger rug makes the room “feel more spacious” and by choosing appropriately scaled pieces, you can create a more balanced and inviting environment.
Kelly believes that homeowners should make sure their ceilings are smooth and flat, rather than bumpy.
By diversifying your art collection, you can create a more distinctive and inviting atmosphere, according to Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design.
Incorporating original art can add charm to your space.
Find unique pieces by exploring local antique shops, or supporting small businesses.
Don’t hesitate to combine different colours and textures to craft a bedding ensemble that’s uniquely yours, rather than something straight out of a bed-in-a-box set.
By mixing and matching, you can achieve a more dynamic and individualised aesthetic in your home.
According to Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Design, “It creates a more eclectic and personalised look than the predictable matchy-matchy feel.”
INTERIOR design guru Kelly Hoppen knows how to create plush living spaces.
The former Dragons’ Den star has worked with celebs including the Beckhams and has created glam interiors for hotels and superyachts. But she also loves a bargain and says there are ways of adding luxury to your space without breaking the bank.
This is no doubt music to the ears of the one in three homeowners planning to renovate interiors this year.
“Luxury isn’t about how much you spend, it’s about how you feel,” she says.
“It can be very easy and affordable to add a touch of luxury and comfort to your home. It’s all about finding different ways of looking at things.”
Here, Kelly gives Emma Lazenby her brilliant tricks for making your pad more plush.
Place it down
RUGS are a brilliant place to start if you want to quickly change a space. A great way to have fun with them and add texture is to also layer two together.
You might already have rugs that are either too big or too small, but layering can put them to better use. When I was styling Boy George’s house, I placed one rug over another, slightly to the right, and it instantly gave an eclectic feel.
People sometimes panic about rugs, but layering makes it easy to adapt them to your space.
Pad it out
CUSHIONS are fantastic if they are positioned well. It’s common for people to put them across the back of the sofa – left, right and in the middle.
But one of the ways I’ve used cushions in my new home is to put them against the side of each sofa arm instead. It creates a completely different look.
It’s also quite nice as an arm rest when you sit down.
I’ve tried putting a smaller, flatter cushion in a different colour on top of a larger one, which works really well too.
Turn books into art
BOOKSHELVES and bookcases can be arranged in a cool way by taking the books that you don’t really need or want to look at – we all have those – and turning them the other way around so you see the paper and not the spine.
Then you can pile them up at different heights and place accessories on top. It can create a really artistic-looking space.
And if you have ten or so random books that happen to be the same colour, you can turn those to have their spines facing, piling them horizontally and placing them between the paper-facing piles.
Get a wonderwall
IF you are renting your home and cannot paint or wallpaper your walls, or if you do not want to commit to anything permanent, buy a large MDF sheet, wallpaper it and put it up against a wall.
This would not be the whole size of the wall, but you could have it in the centre and push it up against the wall with your chair or sofa to keep it in place.
It then means you have a whole new backdrop with a different texture.
You could move it to another room if you wanted to, or even paint it a different colour as the seasons change.
Mix it up with marble
THERE are some amazing tiles out there right now and you can get cheap marble off-cuts that work really well for creating both kitchen and bathroom splash-backs.
My top tip here is to mix marble with more matte tiles so you can play around more with patterns. Just make sure you stick to the same colour tone.
Make a splash
WHEN you move into a new place, it is often the kitchen that can feel a bit icky, with dated walls and tiles. But a really good and easy way to freshen up the space is putting up a metal splashback panel over the oven.
You can get these in stainless steel or even bronze. They are easy to keep clean, create a different texture and reflect light around the kitchen.
Stack it up
ANOTHER trick with books is to stack them on your floor against a wall. If you are like me and you have a lot of them, but not many bookcases, you can pile them up neatly, with the bigger ones at the bottom and the smaller ones at the top.
I’ve grouped together books of similar colours and every so often I will put a little sculpture on top, which gives an artistic look.
The large ceramic vase from my new M&S home design range (£29.50) would work perfectly here.
This is also a very cool way to create a small table next to a chair or sofa if you can’t afford to get a new piece of furniture. Just place a dish or similar on top and it looks really cute.
According to Kristin Marino of KozyKasa, certain items can make your home appear cheap.
This includes artwork gallery “sets,” which often come across as contrived and unnatural.
Instead, opt for unique art pieces or a combination of pieces that truly reflect your personal style.
This approach not only provides emphasis but also gives the eye a place to settle, creating a more authentic and visually appealing space.
A WOMAN has tragically lost both her partner and her son just years apart after they were treated at hospitals in Essex.
Melanie Leahy’s partner Colin Flatt, 81, passed away mere months after being discharged from a hospital where he was “flanked by security guards, naked,” she said.
Colin, a former professional footballer, was admitted to the hospital in 2021 for a heart condition.
However, staff there decided he needed to be transferred to a mental health facility.
During his treatment, Colin was “chemically quashed, deprived of his liberty and abused,” Melanie claims.
Just three months after being discharged from an inpatient mental health unit run by North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), Colin had died.
His death, along with Melanie’s son Matthew’s, is among thousands of cases being reviewed by the Lampard Inquiry into Essex’s mental health units.
Melanie has been one of the driving forces pressing for the inquiry after losing her two family members
“How a man in his 80s [was left] lying in urine-soaked sheets at the bottom of a hospital bed while suffering from a severe infection, is what led me to be here today,” she told the inquiry in Chelmsford.
“Helpless, I just watched the man I loved deteriorate in front of me”, she added.
She said she was still waiting for an inquest into his death with a feeling of “dread and deja vu”.
“I am bracing myself for the nightmare I know it will be,” she added.
Melanie had previously given a separate statement about her son Matthew, who was found hanged in 2012 while under the care of NHS mental health services in the county
She said the last eight days of her son’s life at the Linden Centre, Chelmsford, were spent “in a place… I truly believe was hell on Earth”.
Matthew was “alone, malnourished, over-medicated, scared, bleeding, bruised, raped, injected multiple times, ignored and frightened” while under the care of “so-called professionals”, she said
Melanie said she had been told Matthew’s body “was a crime scene” and she was not allowed to touch him.
Matthew had claimed staff had raped him during the night, which the hospital described as a “paranoid and suspicious thought” related to his “delusional disorder”.
Melanie said her son was a “beautiful soul”, who “was generous and kind,
” He excelled at school and he was smart. He was funny”
She said she “misses them both so much”.
Melanie has long campaigned for a public inquiry amid similar complaints of “failings” from other families.
The Lampard Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Kate Lampardm, is examining more than 2,000 deaths at NHS-run children and adult inpatient units in Essex between 2000 and 2023.
This includes people who died within three months of being discharged and those who died as inpatients receiving NHS-funded care in the independent sector.
Addressing the inquiry beside a photo of Colin, Melanie said: “In 2012 when Matthew died Colin was there, he was by my side.
“And I don’t know if I’d be here today if it wasn’t for Colin.”
“How a man in his 80s ended up flanked by security guards, naked, lying in urine-soaked sheets at the bottom of a hospital bed while suffering from a severe infection and a haematoma, is what led me to be here today.”
In 2021, Colin became “confused” in the early evening, Melanie said.
“I know this is not uncommon as we get older, but still was concerning.”
One day, Colin checked his heart rate with an at-home monitor and found it was 38 bpm, which is alarmingly low
After calling 111, paramedics quickly rushed him to the hospital.
“I sat down on the stairway and had this sinking feeling he wasn’t coming home, but I couldn’t have predicted why,” she said.
She alleged that on visiting Colin at the hospital he had “bruises all up and down his arms,” and was “surrounded” by security guards.
She told the inquiry that Colin had been “chemically restrained” and “didn’t know who [she] was”.
“Suffice to say within 19 weeks my partner was dead,” she added.
The Lampard Inquiry, which opened earlier this month, has been hearing directly from the families of those who died.
Melanie said she was “worried people would hear the name of an older man and assume he died because he was old.
“But the way he died and what contributed to his death is why we are here today.
“His death was not suspicious, I lived it with him and I saw exactly what went wrong.”
Melanie, who met her Colin more than 20 years ago, remembered him for his “good sense of humour,” which kept people laughing “even in the darkest of times.”
“He had lots of party tricks, one involved standing on his head which he did until he was 79,” she added.
“Colin never said a bad word about anyone, even in private. He would champion people and support them.”
“He loved going to the pub so he could talk to people; the beer was just a bonus.”
She said: “If he walked through the door, you’d just be happy to see him because you knew you would be in safe hands,”
“And you’d learn something from a conversation with him.”
Priya Singh, a partner at law firm Hodge Jones & Allen which is representing more than 120 victims and families, previously described the state of mental health services in Essex as an “ongoing scandal”.
“We, with the families, have fought for more than four years to get this statutory inquiry, so that it has the same powers as the Post Office and Covid Inquiries,” she said.
“This inquiry must get to the bottom of how these people died, to allow the families some closure and understanding of why their loved ones were lost whilst under the state’s care.
“It is only when we know what happened, can happen.
“Sadly, the situation in Essex is being repeated across the country daily, which is why this inquiry is of such fundamental importance.
“We will be pushing for interim recommendations to be brought in to prevent more people from dying while the inquiry is ongoing.
“This tragedy needs to stop.”
THE Lampard Inquiry is an independent statutory inquiry investigating the deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex.
It was set up to find out what happened and why, and make recommendations to try to prevent what went wrong from happening again.
The inquiry is looking into the deaths of more than 2,000 people between 2000 and 2023.
Chaired by Baroness Kate Lampard CBE will hear evidence from former patients, bereaved families, experts and staff.
Because it has statutory status, anyone called to give evidence is legally obliged to appear.
A previous attempt in 2021 – the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry – did not have statutory powers and was abandoned after only 11 members of staff of the 14,000 contacted agreed to give evidence.
The inquiry started on September 9 in Chelmsford and is likely to conclude in 2026.
Marjorie Wallace, founder and chief executive of mental health charity SANE, added: “Over more than 40 years of being involved with inquiries, this is the largest ever investigation into mental health services I have seen in this country.
“The families have waited too long.
“They deserve answers to what happened to their sons, daughters, fathers and mothers at the darkest moments in their lives, so that faith in mental health services can be restored.”
Paul Scott, chief executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), said: “I want to say how sorry I am to anyone who has lost a loved one or whose care has not been of the standard it should have been.
“I welcome the Lampard Inquiry and we will do all we can to support Baroness Lampard and the team to deliver the answers that families and patients are seeking.”
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@mind.org.uk or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).
YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.
Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.
THE John Lewis Black Friday deals are some of the most anticipated by shoppers thanks to the retailer’s huge variety of brands across all categories on offer.
The renowned department store typically offers substantial savings across its home, tech, fashion and beauty categories throughout November.
Latest John Lewis deals
With Christmas not long after Black Friday, the John Lewis sale is a great time to pick up something for yourself and get your Christmas shopping list sorted – without spending a fortune.
Last year saw major price cuts on top brands like Apple, Shark, Dyson, Kenwood, Charlotte Tilbury, Mulberry and more.
Check out our full rundown of the best deals to expect in the John Lewis Black Friday sale this year…
Black Friday falls on 29 November 2024, the day after the US Thanksgiving holiday, although the meaning behind its name is disputed.
The shopping event is part of the wider ‘Cyber Weekend’, which widely concludes on Cyber Monday.
Although originally a US-only sale event, over the last few years it’s morphed into a global phenomenon, with thousands of international retailers taking part and millions of shoppers picking up amazing bargains.
We’ll be updating readers on all the best Black Friday deals throughout, so keep an eye on our guide.
Remember to research, compare and track price changes before parting with your cash to ensure you get the best deal available on your purchase.
Yes! John Lewis has already confirmed on its Black Friday page that it’ll be taking part in this year’s festivities, once again.
The retailer states: “This Black Friday 2024, don’t miss out on a world of incredible savings at John Lewis.
“We’ve curated a varied collection of Black Friday shopping deals that span all departments, ensuring there is something for your every need.”
Nothing else has been announced just yet, but it’s likely email subscribers will receive updates as soon as they come in, so make sure you’re subscribed to the John Lewis newsletter to stay in the know.
Latest John Lewis deals
In the past, we’ve seen amazing deals in the John Lewis Black Friday sale, spanning all categories including fashion and beauty, furniture and homewares.
John Lewis is the ideal one-stop-shop for snapping up everything on your wishlist, whether that’s a new dress or bag, microwave or sofa.
It’s not uncommon for John Lewis to host bigger offers on some of their own branded items, too.
For example, the ANYDAY range, which has many household and garden essentials as well as clothing, will almost certainly feature in any discounts over Black Friday.
Last year John Lewis shoppers were treated to a month-long season of Black Friday deals, which were available to shop in-store and online.
There were plenty of impressive deals across all categories and here are some of our favourite discounts:
Tech
Fashion
Beauty
Home & Garden
Last year John Lewis launched its Black Friday offers at the beginning of November – before the official start date of Black Friday – so there’s a chance it will do the same again in 2024.
More and more retailers like John Lewis are choosing to offer early deals, spending out the discount season and allowing bargain hunters more time to browse and research offers.
John Lewis also offers a price drop guarantee, which means if you buy a product from the retailer and it’s then reduced in price, you can claim a refund on the extra you paid within 35 days of purchase –whether that’s online or in-store.
The John Lewis sales usually end at the close of Cyber Monday, which this year is on 2 December.
Previously, different departments launched their offers on separate dates so it could be that some price reductions continue after Cyber Monday, finishing slightly later.
Last year, John Lewis added new offers throughout November, so it’s definitely worth checking the website early on in the month.
This year, Cyber Monday falls on 2 December.
It is always on the first Monday immediately after Black Friday and usually concludes the offers for the Cyber Weekend.
Cyber Monday was traditionally the online counterpart to Black Friday, but as there has been a shift towards offering deals online throughout the sale period in November, Cyber Monday is now considered the end date of most sales.
Many retailers will offer discounts right up until midnight, however, some popular items tend to sell out fast and may not still be available.
That said, some retailers continue their offers into December to benefit from the Christmas shopping rush.
Generally, Black Friday sales tend to last until Cyber Monday – though some do continue into December.
In theory, Cyber Monday – which is on 2 December this year – will be the final day of the 2024 Black Friday sales.
However, some retailers can be generous and extend their deals into the rest of the week – or even later.
It’s worth checking out the John Lewis website after Cyber Monday to see if any of its Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts continue.
Of course, that’s a gamble so if you want to be sure of getting your discount shopping, do that by midnight on Cyber Monday.
Delivery costs £4.50 on orders under £50, while purchases over £50 are delivered for free – though there are exceptions for large items and some items being delivered to non-UK mainland locations.
Alternatively, you can click and collect for free on orders over £30, or arrange a Collect+ delivery to a location near you for £2.50.
Smaller items are usually delivered within five working days. Check out all of John Lewis’s delivery options on the Delivery & Collection page.
If you’re an NHS worker, you’ll be able to save using the Health Service Discounts website, more details of which can be found here.
There are also some offers available to students via the Student Beans website, including an extra £50 off the Macbook Air.
Plus, make sure to check out the Sale & Offers page on the John Lewis website for the latest product discounts.
Latest ANYDAY collection
The ANYDAY range is John Lewis’s range of high-quality, reasonably-priced products.
The line focuses on everyday essentials ranging from fashion items such as jackets, dresses and footwear to baby products, home furniture and garden accessories.
Speaking about the fashion offering, Iain Ewing, Partner and Head of Product Design, Fashion said: “The aim was to create a range that spans everyday great-value building blocks that underpin your wardrobe and great seasonal trend pieces, all at amazing prices”.
While Wil Law, Partner & Home Design Stylist added: “I love how lots of ANYDAY is designed with flexibility in mind.”
John Lewis is currently owned by a trust on behalf of all its employees– and that trust controls the John Lewis Partnership (JLP).
Dame Sharon White is the current chair of the company, however, she recently announced she is stepping down from that position.
Dame White has held the role since 2000.
There’s also a partnership council with 58 elected Partners and a Partnership Board.
It’s a large operation as the Partnership covers all John Lewis and Waitrose supermarket branches, banking and financial and retail services.
It absolutely is. As above, it was established by a British man and carried on by his family – making John Lewis a quintessentially British brand.
That legacy has been upheld and John Lewis stores are all located across the UK and have become a symbol of excellence.
John Lewis has further widened its reach with the acquisition of other British brands, such as Peter Jones and Waitrose.
Sun Vouchers is your one-stop shop for every deal and discount code currently available from your favourite online retailers. Don’t click ‘buy’ until you’ve checked Sun Vouchers for a discount code to apply to your basket.