WOOD FLOOR WAREHOUSE EASTER SALE EVENT NOW ON!

Wood Floor Warehouse are the ultimate experts in flooring, offering everything from stylish laminates to luxury engineered herringbones at unbeatable prices.

Unlike many retailers who dabble in wood flooring, Wood Floor Warehouse deals exclusively in flooring, which makes them specialists. All the staff are highly trained and offer only the very best professional advice to their customers.

Wood Floor Warehouse is a market leader and they import directly from manageable forests. This means they have bigger stocks, wider choice and better prices. They constantly source new products from around the world and strive to get the best quality and value for their customers. They are always monitoring current trends and offer a vast range of colours and styles from quality suppliers to suit everyone’s budget.

Wood Floor Warehouse offers a wide range of laminates, engineered, LVT and solid wood from quality brands such as Egger and Lamett. All floors are available to view in the showrooms at 68 Balloo Road, Bangor and Ravenhill Road, Belfast or on-line at www. woodfloorwarehouse. co.uk

The showroom is open 8.00am – 5.00pm

Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm Saturday and late night Thursday to 8pm. Make sure you drop in during these times for a great deal and a friendly chat!

Increased help w I th ch I ldcare costs announced I n the s pr I ng Budget

More support towards childcare costs through Universal Credit announced in the Spring Budget.

Childcare costs are the topic of many of the queries we receive through our helpline and can be a source of stress on the finances of many families.

We also know that childcare providers have been under significant pressure for some time trying to keep their businesses afloat in the face of rising costs, including for heat and electricity, business rates and staff wages.

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, and its predecessor Working Tax Credits, the maximum amount of support that working families could claim towards their registered childcare costs has been fixed at £646.35 per month for one child or £1,108.04 for two or more children. These figures represent 85% of the maximum registered childcare costs that a household could claim help with through Universal Credit. The result of inflation and rising costs has meant that over the years these figures have fallen behind the amount that the average parent pays towards their childcare bill.

The Chancellor announced in the Spring Budget that from July 2023 these maximum figures will increase by almost 50% to £951 per month for one child and £1,630 for two or more children. This means that through Universal

Credit parents who have one child in registered childcare will receive 85% of childcare costs up to £1,118 per month, and £1,917 per month for two or more children. These higher levels of support are much more in line with the reality of the childcare bills that parents are paying.

In addition, the Chancellor has also committed to increasing these figures in line with the Consumer Price Index each year until 2027/28, meaning that as registered childcare costs rise over time the support parents receive will remain more aligned with any increases in their childcare bills. In certain circumstances parents in Northern Ireland may also be able to receive additional support through the Adviser Discretion Fund towards childcare costs if they are required to pay a childcare bill up front – such as when moving into work or increasing hours.

Through this fund the Department for

Communities can pay the initial childcare bill instead of the parent having to pay their costs upfront and then claim support back.

Extension of 30 hours free childcare scheme in England

The Budget also saw the announcement of the extension of the 30 hours free childcare scheme in England.

As this scheme is not in place in Northern Ireland, families here will not benefit. Equivalent funding will be provided to Northern Ireland, but there is no guarantee this will be invested in childcare. Further information

To discuss how these changes to Universal Credit may impact you, contact the Family Benefits Advice Service for a free, personalised ‘better off’ calculation. We can help you work out if you will be better off on Universal Credit or claiming an alternative form of childcare support. Freephone 0800 028 3008 or email hello@ employersforchildcare.org.

All’s well when the lawn’s well.

Over recent years many of us have found a new appreciation for our garden spaces.

They truly do provide a space for relaxation and recuperation and the best garden is enjoyed alongside a luscious green lawn. Whether your garden is large or small, we’re here to help you achieve a lawn you can all enjoy.

GreenThumb Lawn Treatment Service expertly treat lawns – turning them from tired, weed infested grass areas, to lawns you can be proud of. GreenThumb Belfast is family-owned, with a team of fully trained, local lawn operatives. We have three treatment programmes that include 5 treatments per year of unique bespoke feeds, professional herbicides, and our Oasis water conserver. Plus, additional beneficial treatments dependent on the treatment programme. Whatever problems your lawn may suffer from, you can rest assured we will have a solution to transform your piece of grass into a lush, weed-free centrepiece to your garden.

It’s not just when we treat your lawn, you’ll benefit from GreenThumb. You can contact us any time for advice on all things lawns, because we know the secret to a perfect lawn is working together. Get in touch today for a FREE lawn analysis and no-obligation quote: belfastsouth@greenthumb. co.uk or 02890 357 850.

TIP: One of the most important lawn care jobs for a good-looking lawn is correct and regular mowing. As the weather warms up it’s likely your lawn will need mowing weekly. You should keep the cut between 25mm (1’’) and 40mm (1.6’’) in length.