It was a double celebration for East Lothian at this year’s New Furniture Makers Awards in London, when two graduates from Chippendale International School of Furniture took national honours. Among them was East Lothian local, James Gascoigne.
The alumni from the Gifford-based school took home top honours at the prestigious event, which celebrates emerging designers and craftspeople from across the UK. In total, six Chippendale students were shortlisted at the awards, held on 29th October.
East Lothian based James Gascoigne received the Empty Chair Award for his sculptural and thought-provoking piece You Might Like to Sit Down. The brief challenged designers to create a chair symbolising those excluded or marginalised whether by gender, race, class, age or disability. A former Royal Navy officer who spent nearly two decades in transport finance, James returned to his creative roots through Chippendale’s Professional Course. His practice, The Cabinet Office, now produces one-off and limited-edition pieces that showcase bold and playful design.
Ellen Baines, from Herefordshire and founder of Verb Furniture, took first place in the Bespoke Award category for her striking Flow Display Case. Ellen originally trained as a theatrical carpenter at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has built sets for productions across the UK and Europe, including for The Muppets. Inspired by the natural world and her love of climbing, her award-winning piece reflects a desire to create lasting, meaningful work with a contemporary edge.
James Gascoigne’s You Might Like to Sit DownEllen Baines’ Flow Display Case
Tom Fraser, Principal of the Chippendale International School of Furniture, said:
“We’re incredibly proud of Ellen and James and the creativity they’ve shown throughout their time at the school. Both have demonstrated real vision and originality in their work, qualities we strive to nurture in all our students. It’s wonderful to see their pieces recognised on such a prestigious stage.”
Located in Gifford, East Lothian, the Chippendale International School of Furniture attracts students from around the world to its nine-month Professional Course, designed for those looking to launch a career in fine furniture making and design.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-pair-of-hands-holding-canadian-money-illustrative.jpg?id=53887567&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=238%2C0%2C239%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>November is on its way, which means a fresh wave of federal <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/government-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government benefits</a> and credits are rolling out for Canadians, including many that apply to residents of Quebec. If you're eligible, these CRA payments from the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/government-of-canada" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Government of Canada</a> could offer a handy financial boost to wrap up the year, covering everything from raising children to key <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/pension-payments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pension payments</a>.</p><p>Among the November 2024 <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/benefit-payments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">benefit payments</a> are the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-child-benefit-payment-date-october-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canada Child Benefit</a>, <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-old-age-security-payment-date-october-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Old Age Security</a> and more. Each one offers different support amounts and payment schedules, giving Canadians a range of options to receive government funds right to their bank accounts.</p><p>Here's your guide to the federal payments for November, covering each benefit's purpose, the amounts you might expect and when the funds are set to arrive.</p><h3>Canada Child Benefit</h3><br/><p>The <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-child-benefit-payment-date-october-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canada Child Benefit</a> (CCB) is a monthly tax-free payment aimed at helping families manage the expenses that come with raising children. Issued by the Canada Revenue Agency, this benefit may also include extra support for families with children who have disabilities.</p><p>To qualify for the CCB, you must live with a child under 18 and be responsible for their care, you should be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and either you or your partner needs to meet certain residency requirements, like being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. </p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> The amount you receive is based on your family's income, the number of children you have and their ages. Families with an adjusted net income below $36,502 qualify for the maximum amount in 2024. This means up to $648.91 monthly for each child under 6, and up to $547.50 per month for each child aged 6 to 17. Payments gradually decrease as income rises.</p><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> November 20, 2024</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about the Canada Child Benefit</a></p><h3>Old Age Security</h3><br/><p>The <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-old-age-security-payment-date-october-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Old Age Security</a> (OAS) pension is a monthly benefit designed to support Canadians aged 65 and up with everyday living costs. You can qualify for OAS even if you're still working or if you've never been employed.</p><p>To be eligible, you must be at least 65 years old and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18. If you currently reside outside Canada, you'll need at least 20 years of Canadian residency. Most people are automatically enrolled, but if you don't receive an enrollment letter from Service Canada in the month after your 64th birthday, you may need to apply.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> For the period from October to December 2024, the maximum monthly payment is $727.67 for those aged 65 to 74 and $800.44 if you're 75 or older. OAS payments adjust quarterly to match inflation. Plus, if you turned 75 after July 2022, your OAS payment will increase by 10% starting the month after your 75th birthday.</p><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> November 27, 2024</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about Old Age Security</a></p><h3>Veteran Disability Pension</h3><br/><p>The Veteran Disability Pension is a monthly benefit for veterans living with a disability resulting from their military service. Eligible recipients include veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as those who served during the Second World War or the Korean War. Certain current or former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and specific civilians who served in the Second World War may also qualify.</p><p>To receive this pension, you must have a diagnosed medical condition connected to your service. The Veteran Disability Pension provides lifetime monthly payments, with additional support if you have dependents, like a spouse or children.</p><p><strong>How much you can get:</strong> Payment amounts vary depending on factors like your disability level. For veterans with the highest disability rating (Class 1), the maximum monthly payment is $3,357.30, with extra amounts for dependents: $839.33 for a spouse, $436.45 for a first child, $318.94 for a second child and $251.80 for each additional child.</p><p><strong>Next payment date:</strong> November 28, 2024</p><p><span></span><a href="https://veterans.gc.ca/en/mental-and-physical-health/physical-health-and-wellness/compensation-illness-or-injury/disability-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about the Veteran Disability Pension</a></p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A longer school day awaits Minneapolis students as they return from Spring Break. Starting Monday, 42 minutes are being added to the…
