Following a successful debut in Perth last year, organisers The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) is bringing the championships back to the South Inch on Saturday, August 9.
The event is one of the biggest piping competitions in the world.
More than 100 pipe band from across the world will be taking part in the competition, with musicians from as far afield as Canada and Australia taking part along with dozens of bands from across Scotland.
Tickets for the European Pipe Band Championships will go on sale on April 1 through Perthshire Box Office and will also be available on the gate.
Perth and Kinross Provost Xander McDade said: “We’re looking forward to returning to Perth in August for the European Pipe Band Championships.
“Last year’s event was a fantastic success and I am sure 2025’s will be even bigger and better.
“This is one of the most important competitions in the piping calendar and is an amazing showcase of Scottish culture that the whole family can enjoy.”
Perth and Kinross Council leader Councillor Grant Laing said: “This will be another fantastic showcase for Perth and I am sure it will be another unforgettable competition.
“I look forward to welcoming pipe bands from across the world back to Perth in August.”
Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Chief Executive Colin Mulhern, said: “Last year’s spectacular European Pipe Band Championships attracted a fantastic attendance from bands from across the globe, as well as spectators from near and far. This demonstrated just how much this iconic event means to the international piping community, and how much interest there is in the music of Scotland’s national instrument.
“This year’s Europeans promises another superb showcase of piping, drumming and drum majors, and – judging from the number and very strong contingent of bands already signed up – we can look forward to an incredible, hard-fought contest. We’re expecting a tremendous turn-out at the South Inch in Perth on Saturday 9 August, so are urging everyone planning to attend not to delay in booking their tickets so they don’t miss out on a truly unforgettable experience
Alison Duthie, RSPBA Director for Dundee, Perth and Angus said: “”It’s fantastic to have the European Pipe Band Championships return to the Fair City of Perth. We have bands from all over the world joining us for another spectacular day of Piping, Drumming and Drum Majors.
“It would be great to have the South Inch filled with spectators to boost the bands and give them support. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the South Inch for what looks to be a wonderful showcase of Scottish Tradition alive and kicking.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Museums and libraries set to receive a share of over £30 million of funding to improve access to arts and culture
Over £30 million of funding available to support museums and libraries with maintenance repairs and upgrades to their buildings
Expressions of interest to open in May for the Museum Estate and Development Fund and the Libraries Improvement Fund
Support to boost people’s access to art and culture, delivering Government’s Plan for Change to increase opportunities for all
Museums and libraries will soon be able to apply for a share of over £30 million of funding as part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to arts and culture in the places they call home.
The funding will support museums and libraries’ vital maintenance repairs and upgrades, ensuring they can continue to tell the story of our nation’s rich history and providing spaces for people from all walks of life to access books, work and learn. For example, funding could be used to refurbish tired buildings, increase accessibility, offer more workshops, open new exhibitions, or buy specialist equipment.
The Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) will open for expressions of interest on Tuesday 6 May 2025, followed by the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) opening for expressions of interest on Monday 12 May 2025. Full guidance, including eligibility criteria and details of how to apply can be found on Arts Council England’s website.
Public libraries across England are encouraged to apply for a share of the £5.5 million Libraries Improvement Fund as part of the Government’s commitment to ensure libraries are able to upgrade their physical and digital infrastructure to adapt to changing user needs and can be enjoyed by future generations.
Likewise accredited museums across England will be able to apply for a share of £25 million to undertake vital infrastructure projects and tackle urgent maintenance backlogs, protecting important collections and buildings, whilst improving the visitor experience and museums’ resilience. Grants from £50,000 to £5 million will be available, to ensure museums can continue to share the stories of our rich regional and national history with visitors for many years to come.
It follows the announcement from the Culture Secretary last month of the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, which aims to support economic growth and increase opportunities for people across the country.
Arts Minister, Sir Chris Bryant said:
Local museums are the storytellers of our nation’s rich history and creative heritage, providing precious civic spaces that attract millions of visitors every year, whilst public libraries play a key role in communities by providing access to spaces where everyone can work and learn.
Our Plan for Change will support these vital institutions to boost opportunity for all. I’m delighted that this investment into museums and libraries will fund repairs and upgrades to their infrastructure, improving the experience for visitors and ensuring they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Arts Council England Chief Executive, Darren Henley said:
Museums and libraries are cherished cultural spaces in villages, towns and cities across the country where people come together, share ideas and make discoveries. This new investment in museums and libraries will help secure their future for years to come.
Notes to editors
In February, Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy announced more than £270 million in funding for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector in a major boost for growth.
Arts Council England delivers these funds on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Guidance has been published today by Arts Council England to provide further information for museums and libraries considering making an application to these schemes.
The online portal to register Expressions of Interest for LIF opens on Tuesday 6th May 2025. Full guidance, including eligibility criteria and details of how to apply can be found on Arts Council England’s website.
The online portal to register Expressions of Interest for MEND opens on Monday 12th May 2025. Full guidance, including eligibility criteria and details of how to apply can be found on Arts Council England’s website.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
UK’s first RSV vaccination programme protects older people
New UKHSA study shows the RSV vaccination programme already achieving a 30% reduction in hospital admissions in older people in England as roll-out continues.
Early data from the roll out of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme in England shows it is making a significant reduction to hospital admission rates in older people. This analysis by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was published as a research letter in the Lancet.
The findings indicate 30% fewer hospital admissions in 75 to 79 year olds, who are eligible for the vaccine under the new programme, than would have occurred without vaccination. This was seen after around 40% of eligible older people took up the vaccine this winter, and the impact is expected to increase with further vaccine uptake.
The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the RSV vaccine in UK older people following the programme’s launch in September 2024. The UKHSA analysis used data from age groups either side of the vaccine programme to work out what the expected rate of admissions would be in 75 to 79 year olds, if there had not been a vaccine programme. UKHSA will also be evaluating infant RSV admissions prevented by the maternal vaccine programme.
Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA said:
Our analysis clearly demonstrates the excellent benefit of RSV vaccination for older people in avoiding severe illness, with a direct impact on reducing hospital admissions.
We are still in the early stages of the RSV programme roll out and the benefits will increase as more people take up their vaccine, including those newly turning 75. These positive initial findings highlight why it’s so important for eligible older people to come forward and protect themselves.
Pregnant women should also take up the RSV vaccine to give their baby vital early protection. We encourage pregnant women to contact their maternity service or GP surgery to book an appointment in week 28 or as soon afterwards as possible.
Since launching on 1 September, the RSV vaccination programme for older people has reached more than 50% of those eligible through the catch-up campaign. However, with more than 1 million yet to receive their vaccination, there is still significant opportunity to increase protection across the population.
Prof Wei Shen Lim, consultant respiratory physician Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Deputy Chair, said:
Older people admitted to hospital with respiratory infections due to RSV may become severely ill, to a similar extent as those admitted with flu.
The RSV vaccine provides a high level of protection against being hospitalised and this protection is expected to last more than 12 months.
I strongly encourage all those who are eligible to take up the offer of the RSV vaccine ahead of next autumn, if they have not already done so.
Minister for Public Health and Prevention Ashley Dalton said:
These results from our RSV vaccination programmes are incredibly encouraging.
This safe, effective and free vaccine for pregnant women and older adults is already protecting more than a million people from this potentially deadly disease. With 50% of eligible older adults now protected, we’re making good progress – but I urge those who are eligible but haven’t yet come forward to get vaccinated.
The evidence is clear: this vaccine works and is helping protect vulnerable groups while reducing pressure on our NHS.
Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening, said:
These findings demonstrate the success of the NHS’s first ever RSV vaccine rollout and reinforce just how important it is for those eligible to get their jab, as it is preventing people getting seriously ill and ending up in hospital.
More than 1.5 million older people have been vaccinated so far since the rollout was launched in September, and we continue to work hard to reach anyone who has not yet had the jab, with around 1.3 million invites being sent out last month and tens of thousands of people coming forward each week.
If you have been invited but haven’t yet taken up the offer, please get vaccinated as soon as possible – for older people it can prevent you developing a severe illness like pneumonia and even save your life, while for pregnant women it is the best way to protect your baby from getting seriously ill with RSV.
Emerging evidence from other countries about a maternal RSV vaccination programme, similar to that launched last September in the UK which aims to protect infants from RSV, has also shown a clear benefit. A major 2024 study in Argentina, one of the first countries in the world to introduce a maternal vaccine, shows a 70% reduction in RSV hospital admissions in infants up to 6 months of age in mothers vaccinated during pregnancy. Data about the impact of the maternal programme in England will be published by UKHSA later this year.
Of women giving birth in England in October, UKHSA data from GP systems shows that 39% had received an RSV vaccine. The vaccine is offered from week 28 of pregnancy. Eligible women who have not yet been vaccinated are encouraged to contact their maternity service or GP practice to arrange an appointment.
The research consolidates similar observations from Scotland published in Lancet Infectious Disease earlier this year.
MMO introduces licence condition for I-VMS ahead of new legislation
In a variation notice issued this week, Marine Management Organisation (MMO), introduces a new licence condition that will come into force on 12 May 2025, requiring the use of a type-approved I-VMS device on any English under-12m vessel undertaking a trip to sea.
This early notice of the incoming requirements is the next stage of MMO’s preparations to support English fishers ahead of statutory legislation, expected to be laid by government later this year.
This announcement follows the roll-out of I-VMS devices which saw over 80% of industry purchase and install an I-VMS device, with more than £1.57million in European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) grant funding paid out to fishers.
The main requirement of this licence condition is for fishers to have installed a functioning type-approved I-VMS device that shares positional data during a trip to sea.
Sean Douglas, MMO’s Head of Regulatory Assurance, said:
“Good data is essential for sensible decision-making to protect fishing for the future. We’ve worked closely with the new government, DEFRA and suppliers to move forward with I-VMS for the benefit of both fishers and fisheries management.
“This announcement should assure industry that I-VMS legislation is just around the corner. We urge those in the under-12m fleet who are actively fishing to make use of the coming weeks to ensure they have a device, switch it on and check things are working as they should.
Mike Cohen, Chief Exec of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) shared, in support of I-VMS:
“Today, many different people want to use the sea for many different purposes. Whether it is building a seaweed farm, installing wind turbines, declaring a conservation area, or something else. All of these things carry a risk that fishermen will get pushed out.
“We have to defend our access to the traditional grounds that our industry depends on. The best way to do that is with data that proves how important those areas are to us. Larger vessels in the national fleet have been able to do that for some time now, thanks to the VMS devices they carry. In every map of fishing effort in UK waters, however, there is always a stark gap where the inshore fleet works.
“I-VMS is the tool that we need to close that gap and defend the inshore fleet. With the data it provides, we can prove how important the inshore grounds are to fishing businesses and fishing communities. The better the coverage we have, the stronger our argument”.
A marine future with I-VMS
Sean Douglas, continued: “The data from I-VMS will, for the first time, provide a true understanding of what is happening across England’s marine environment. It will allow for smarter, evidence-based, decisions when it comes to marine developments, marine and fisheries management planning, regulatory displacement, niche and seasonal fisheries, as well as conservation and stock protection.
“The licence condition is very much an introductory stage to support industry ahead of the statutory instrument, due this year. During this time, we will take a measured approach to enforcement, working with industry and suppliers to address issues. However, we will take action where necessary to ensure a level playing field”.
“The sooner devices start transmitting data, the sooner fishers will become familiar with their device and tracking software, will know what is expected of them and can work with us – and their supplier – to resolve any unexpected issues.
“Importantly, I-VMS data will also help fishers track their own activity and better understand their fishing effort.”
Device suppliers provide either an app or web portal for fishers to track their own I-VMS data. These can be used to help fishers refine their efforts and business plans, as well as provide evidence to challenge developments or closed areas and use it as evidence in any compliance or conflict resolution.
MMO has advised that a small minority of the under-12m fleet is yet to take any action, foregoing MMO’s offer of grant funding during the earlier roll-out period. But the message is clear: If you’re an English under-12m fisher planning a trip to sea from 12 May 2025, you must get a device now.
The I-VMS hotline remains open for enquiries on 01900 508618, Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm) and emails can be sent to ivms@marinemanagement.org.uk. Updated guidance can be found online at: gov.uk/mmo/i-vms-england.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has elected a woman as its president for the first time ever. Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry is also the youngest ever IOC president and the first from an African country, becoming a symbol of the IOC’s drive to diversify its leadership and image.
Sports management scholar Davies Banda was part of a global research team that compiled an IOC-commissioned report on the roles of women in the organisation. He traces Coventry’s journey as a swimming star, politician and sports administrator.
Who is Kirsty Coventry?
She is Africa’s most decorated Olympian of all time. She won seven medals across the 2004 Athens Games and the 2008 Beijing Games.
Born in Harare, she is not only Zimbabwe’s best known sports star but also the politically troubled country’s sports minister. The IOC presidency makes her one of the most powerful figures in world sports.
Coventry is driven. She set her sights on the Olympics at the age of nine. She achieved her dream through hard work and a profound understanding of what a results-oriented athletic career looks like. She believes true success lies in sharing knowledge and skills, extending her impact beyond athletics into social activism and a political career in Zimbabwe.
Her Olympic journey began at the 2000 Sydney Games, where she competed in two swimming events but failed to qualify for the finals. Her breakthrough happened at the 2004 Athens Games, where she won the first of her two gold medals in the 200-metre backstroke. She successfully defended this title at the 2008 Beijing Games.
She retired from swimming competitively after her final Olympic appearance at the 2016 Rio Games, holding the joint record for the most individual women’s swimming medals in Olympic history. By then her sports administration dreams had begun to pay off.
In 2012 she was elected to the IOC’s powerful Athletes’ Commission. Thanks to her extensive experience of being an Olympic athlete, she became a significant voice within the body. She was elected chair of the commission in 2018 and held the post until 2023, when she was elected to the IOC’s executive committee under Thomas Bach, also a former athlete and the outgoing IOC president.
At the same time, Coventry transitioned into government service as an independent member of parliament in Zimbabwe. She was first appointed as the country’s Minister of Sport, Art and Recreation in 2018, and re-appointed in 2023.
She’s a member of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, previously serving as its vice president. She’s also a member of the Athletes’ Commission of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.
Why has it taken so long to have a female president?
In 1997 the IOC set targets for National Olympic Committees to achieve at least 10% female representation in executive decision-making positions by the end of 2000. This was followed by a goal of at least 20% by 2005 and 30% by 2020.
The IOC reported that female representation on its commissions doubled between 2013 and 2023, reaching 50% by the latter year.
These deliberate measures can be seen as foundational to Coventry’s election. Globally, National Olympic Committees have seen a rise in female executive board members and leaders, increasing the pool of qualified candidates. An IOC report highlighted co-mentoring of female members on a governance leadership development initiative.
Policies promoting the recognition of women’s leadership in sport and communities have nurtured leaders capable of competing for the highest IOC roles.
However, considering that women were first allowed to participate in the 1900 Paris Games, it’s taken 124 years to see the election of a female IOC president.
Despite the extended time frame, the IOC’s progressive initiatives, particularly its gender equality targets, have yielded tangible results.
Some observers believe that Bach’s legacy, particularly in promoting gender equality, will be continued by Coventry, given their shared values and aspirations for the Olympic movement.
What would a female president bring to Olympic sports?
There is a drive for gender equality in Olympic sport. Coventry’s extensive experience as an athlete representative and her continued involvement with the Athletes’ Commission provide her with a deep understanding of athletes’ concerns. These include gender eligibility, a threat to the integrity of the Games due to doping, climate change, and athlete advocacy.
Her relatively young age, 41, further strengthens her connection with athletes, the Olympic Games’ most valuable stakeholders, who are much younger than the administrators. This unique perspective allows her to engage with athletes in ways that previous IOC leaders could not. Her predecessors were close to or past their 60th birthdays when elected.
So she is also likely to connect with younger generations more effectively than her predecessors, through modern technologies.
Coventry is poised to lead the Olympic movement’s focus on sport for social change, given her experience of life in the global south, where she has been a social activist for underprivileged youth.
The substantial growth of sport-for-change initiatives in the global south and beyond fuels the hope among scholars, including myself, that sport and athlete advocacy can achieve greater visibility. It can make an impact on global challenges, moving them from the sidelines to the heart of major sporting events.
Coventry’s political career, conducted in Zimbabwe’s challenging economic climate, suggests a potential for using sport as a catalyst for positive social transformation.
That said, while she may champion athlete advocacy on certain issues, her stated commitment to neutrality, particularly regarding the games, indicates a potential reluctance to engage with politically charged issues. The IOC’s status quo, the apolitical stance of the games, is likely to continue to limit the potential impact of athlete activism.
What will be closely watched will be her approach to the contentious issue of transgender athletes in women’s events. Her current position advocates for their exclusion from female categories. She’s emphasised the protection of women’s sport and the enforcement of gender eligibility standards.
It remains to be seen how closely her policies will align with, or diverge from, those of her predecessor. But for the IOC she no doubt represents a more diverse, gender equal movement.
Davies Banda is affiliated with University of Edinburgh in Scotland and University of Lusaka in Zambia as a Senior Visiting Scholar
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
UKHSA publishes first annual report summarising latest infectious disease trends
The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) first annual report summarising the latest infectious disease trends, bringing together all the key data from 2023 to early 2025 and outlining steps the organisation is taking to tackle these threats.
The Infectious diseases impacting England: 2025 report shows a rise in both endemic disease and vaccine-preventable infections. Infectious diseases were the primary reason for over 20% of hospital bed usage, at an annual cost of almost £6bn in 2023 to 2024. Developing scientific capability and effective interventions are having positive impacts, but more action is needed.
The report shows the re-emergence, re-establishment and an unrelenting rise in a number of infectious diseases since 2022 to 2023, with particular increases in endemic diseases and vaccine-preventable infections. The agency acknowledges that the return of social mixing, international travel and migration following the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to these patterns.
The report also shows some really positive impact in some areas due to the introduction of new public health interventions.
An intense influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) season was seen in 2024 to 2025, for the second consecutive year after the pandemic, with activity and hospital admissions at similar levels seen post-pandemic in 2022 to 2023. The introduction of the new RSV vaccine programmes for the elderly, and pregnant women are already helping to reduce winter pressures. Interim findings published today confirm a 30% reduction in the rate of RSV hospital admissions in the winter of 2024 to 2025 in 75 to 79 year olds; this cohort are eligible for vaccination under the new programme.
COVID-19 transmission has declined, with the virus circulating at baseline levels of activity for much of the current winter season. Incremental vaccine effectiveness was around 45% against hospitalisation, with vaccine uptake in older age groups at 60% to 70%. Vaccination of priority groups, in particular the elderly, remained an important intervention to protect against severe disease.
Tuberculosis (TB) cases have increased by 11% in 2023 compared to 2022, with provisional data for 2024 showing a further increase of 13%, which amounted to more than 600 additional notifications of people being diagnosed in 2024 compared to 2023. This trajectory would see the UK lose its World Health Organization (WHO) low incidence status if not reversed. UKHSA continues to work with NHSE and other partners on the TB action plan, which sets out steps to improve the prevention and detection of TB.
Continued progress in eliminating viral Hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health problem by 2030 has been made, with the number of people living with chronic HCV infection falling dramatically by 57% from 2015 to the end of 2023. England is also meeting and exceeding the WHO’s absolute targets on Hepatitis B virus (HBV) related mortality, incidence, mother-to-child transmission and vaccine coverage.
There has been surge in cases of measles in children under the age of 10 and an outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) in 2024, with 433 cases in infants under 3 months of age, of whom 10 died. Both outbreaks highlight the critical importance of vaccination in eligible groups.
UKHSA analysis found that over 20% of secondary care bed days in 2023 to 2024 in NHS hospitals (admitted care) were primarily attributable to infectious disease, at a cost of £5.9bn. These infections are also distributed unevenly; in England, from 2023 to 2024, hospital admission rates due to infectious
Diseases and infections were nearly twice as high for people in the 20% most deprived areas compared to the least deprived. UKHSA is undertaking further work to better understand these disparities.
UKHSA continues to be at the forefront of the work being done to tackle the spread of TB, working closely with the NHS and local systems to ensure optimal prevention and control measures are implemented, for example. Also crucial is developing the evidence base for new interventions to support further policy development to help reduce transmission of the disease.
There are also novel interventions on the horizon for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), based on UKHSA evidence. A routine gonorrhoea programme using the 4CMenB vaccine for GBMSM (gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men) at high risk has been advised. UKHSA has also worked with the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV to develop their evidence-based clinical guideline for the use of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis for the prevention of syphilis, which is currently out for public consultation.
Richard Pebody, Director of Epidemic and Emerging infections at UKHSA, said:
It is clear that a number of factors altered the rates and impact of endemic and epidemic infectious diseases in England over recent years, and the reductions in transmission related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been followed by a rise in a range of infections since 2022 to 2023 due to the return of social mixing, international travel and migration.
We have also seen vaccine uptake decrease for a number of infectious diseases, including measles, whooping cough and in certain groups eligible for the flu vaccine, such as under 65 at risk, pregnant women and health care workers.
This winter has demonstrated that rises in rates of infectious diseases can cause significant strain, not only on the individuals directly affected, but also on the NHS. It is vital that we are not complacent about infections where we can reduce the burden of disease via interventions such as our world-class vaccination programmes.
Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said:
Our scientific capability and the introduction of new interventions are all helping to keep people safe and well, but our report also highlights that we have plenty of work and opportunities ahead.
Along with our partners across the healthcare sector, we need to be bolder. Behind this data there are real people, people who are sick or at risk of becoming sick, and in some cases dying. This brings with it a cost to our economy too. Yet much of this harm and distress is preventable.
Our rich data sources provide us with a huge amount of knowledge, and we will continue to use it, carefully and confidentially, to reduce the burden of infectious disease across the country, ensuring our interventions reach the people who need them most.’
CHICAGO, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VelocityEHS, the global leader in EHS & ESG software solutions, is excited to unveil an advanced AI-powered feature designed to streamline contractor safety management. This new capability automates contractor verification processes, reduces compliance risks, and significantly improves operational efficiency for organizations that manage contractors onsite.
As part of its Contractor Safety Solution, Velocity deploys AI to generate guided workflows, flag risks, and make intelligent recommendations, making it easier for non- or less-experienced EHS managers to verify contractor credentials like Certificates of Insurance and OSHA Logs to facilitate compliance.
Contractor workers face significantly higher risks on the job, with injury and illness rates 36% to 72% higher than those of full-time employees. Additionally, 37% of all temporary workers are employed in high-risk industrial sectors, underscoring the critical need for more effective safety and compliance solutions.
“Our mission is to help create safer workplaces,” said Matt Airhart, CEO of VelocityEHS. “We are dedicated to developing AI-driven innovation that enables our customers to reach better outcomes faster. Even before this new feature, our Contractor Safety & Permit to Work solution helped organizations achieve 70%-time savings compared to traditional third-party management processes. Now their operational efficiency will reach new heights.”
As regulatory demands and safety concerns continue to escalate, organizations need reliable, scalable, and intelligent solutions to ensure contractor compliance—particularly in safety-critical industries such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food & beverage, where staying on top of complex requirements is a daily challenge.
Key Benefits of the AI-Powered Contractor Safety Feature
Faster, More Accurate Compliance Assessments: AI-driven automation accelerates document reviews, eliminating manual errors and ensuring precise contractor verification.
Reduced Compliance Risks: Quicker and easier access to crucial data to make informed decisions, ensuring contractors meet safety standards.
Lower Administrative Burden: Saves time by streamlining manual contractor verification processes, giving workers time to focus on higher-value safety initiatives rather than repetitive compliance tasks.
“Many businesses face challenges with manual compliance workflows, resulting in costly delays in contractor verification and increased exposure to risks,” said Dr Julia Penfield, VP of Research & Machine Learning.
“Over time, this leads to reactive risk management, human error, productivity losses and potential fines for non-compliance. Our new AI-powered Contractor Safety Solution is changing the game, transforming the process with an intuitive, automated solution that simplifies compliance and drives better overall safety outcomes,” she added.
For more information about VelocityEHS, visit www.EHS.com
About VelocityEHS Relied on by more than 10 million users worldwide to drive operational excellence and achieve outstanding outcomes, VelocityEHS is the global leader in true SaaS enterprise EHS & ESG technology. The VelocityEHS Accelerate® Platform is the definitive gold standard, delivering best-in-class software solutions for managing Safety, Ergonomics, Chemical Management, and Operational Risk. In addition, Velocity offers world-class applications for Contractor Safety & Permit to Work, Environmental Compliance, and ESG.
The VelocityEHS team includes unparalleled industry expertise, with more certified experts in health, safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, sustainability, the environment, AI, and machine learning than any other EHS software provider. Recognized by the EHS industry’s top independent analysts as a Leader in the Verdantix 2025 Green Quadrant Analysis, VelocityEHS is committed to industry thought leadership and to accelerating the pace of innovation through its software solutions and vision. Its privacy and security protocols, which include SOC2 Type II attestation, are among the most stringent in the industry.
VelocityEHS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Oakville, Ontario; London, England; Perth, Western Australia; and Cork, Ireland. For more information, visit www.EHS.com.
Media Contact Jennifer Sinkwitts jsinkwitts@ehs.com
French string quartet Quatuor Béla set to stop off in Derry-Londonderry as part of NI tour
25 March 2025
Walled City Music and Moving On Music (Belfast) present Quatuor Béla, one of France’s leading string quartets on a rare tour of Northern Ireland, supported by Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Queens University Belfast.
Guided by the personality and work of Béla Bartok, the quartet play and deliver programmes with sincere conviction. Recognized for their “diabolical technique” (Télérama), Quatuor Béla have become one of the leading European quartets working with contemporary composers such as Garth Knox, Kaija Saariaho and Francesca Verunelli.
Founded in 2006 by four musicians from the National Higher Conservatory of Music of Lyon and Paris, the Béla Quartet were brought together by a shared passion for the repertoire of the 20th century. The quartet is committed to championing new compositions and exploring the relationship between composers and performers.
This tour of NI will feature significant works of the classical repertoire with Beethoven’s Serioso Quartet, Fauré’s only string quartet, alongside works by Queens University associated composers Piers Hellawell, and world premieres by Simon Mawhinney and Pedro Rebelo.
The tour will begin in Christ Church Derry on Thursday 3rd April with Walled City Music, continuing to St Macartin’s Enniskillen with Music in Fermanagh, Market Place Theatre Armagh on Saturday 5th and finishing in Harty Room QUB Belfast on Sunday 6th April.
For concert details and tickets for the Derry performance, please visit www.walledcitymusic.com.
“The Lower Thames Crossing is a gargantuan waste of money that will dirty our air and increase road traffic danger and congestion across the South East.
“We have known for many decades that building new roads creates new traffic, and it’s estimated that this £10 billion scheme will only help journeys on the Dartford Crossing for five years while it induces new journeys to clog up all the roads in the area in short order. How many years before a multi-billion-pound relief road is suggested to cut congestion on the Lower Thames Crossing by those who want this scheme?”
“Instead of building ridiculously expensive and unnecessary new roads, we should be expanding our green public transport network to improve the day-to-day journeys of everyone who needs to get around, for a fraction of the cost.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
DWP appoints new Chair of Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC)
Professor Gillian Leng CBE has been appointed as the new Chair of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) effective from 1 April 2025.
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced the appointment of Professor Gillian Leng CBE as the new Chair of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) effective from 1 April 2025.
Professor Gillian Leng CBE will succeed Dr Lesley Rushton, who has held the post of IIAC Chair since 1 April 2018.
Minister for Transformation Andrew Western MP said:
I am very pleased to welcome Professor Gillian Leng CBE to the role of IIAC Chair. Professor Leng CBE will bring a wealth of experience to this challenging but rewarding role. I would also like to thank Dr Lesley Rushton as the IIAC Chair, for her substantial contribution to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.
Professor Gillian Leng CBE said:
I am delighted to be appointed as the next chair of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. The Council has played a vital role in advising on industrial injuries since 1945 and is now entering an exciting time with the ability to commission additional scientific support. I look forward to playing a part in the next phase of its work.
Dr Lesley Rushton, outgoing Chair of IIAC said:
It has been my privilege to serve as Chair of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council for the past seven years. We have evaluated a wide range of occupation-related ill-health issues including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK workers, probably the most challenging issue in IIAC’s recent history. I am pleased to welcome Professor Gillian Leng CBE as the new IIAC Chair and I am sure she will find the role as rewarding as I have.
About IIAC
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) is a non-departmental public body established under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946, which came into effect on 5 July 1948. The Council provides independent advice to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in Great Britain and the Department for Communities (DfC) in Northern Ireland on matters relating to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and its administration.
About Professor Gillian Leng CBE
Gillian is a clinician by background, with a passion for using evidence to improve care. She joined NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, in 2001 to establish its clinical guidelines programme. In 2020, she became only its second CEO. She led the development of a new 5-year strategy and set out updated methods and processes to put NICE at the forefront of evaluating new technologies and to deliver dynamic living guidelines for frontline staff.
She is now the President at the Royal Society of Medicine, and a non-executive director for the Department of Science Innovation and Technology. She retains her interest in the use of high-quality evidence and is a trustee of the Cochrane Collaboration and a Council member of Alive, the international Alliance for Living Evidence. In 2024 she was asked by government to lead an independent review into the roles of Physician and Anaesthesia Associates.
IIAC Chair
Professor Gillian Leng CBE takes up her 5-year appointment as IIAC Chair from 1 April 2025.
Professor Gillian Leng CBE is entitled to an annual remuneration of £22,000, reflecting a time commitment of approximately 60 days per year.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Youngsters go wild for well-being in Cornwall this Easter
Natural England is joining forces with the NHS to run free sessions across Cornwall for primary aged children and a parent or carer.
A youngster enjoying one of last year’s sessions. Photo credit: Lian Jones
With Easter holidays just around the corner, youngsters in Cornwall are being given the opportunity to get out and go wild, thanks to a scheme being run at Natural England and National Trust sites in the county.
It is increasingly accepted that getting out in the fresh air and enjoying nature is good for our well-being. Now Natural England is joining forces with the NHS Cornwall Mental Health Support Team and partners, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the National Trust, to put on Wild Wellbeing workshops for children, mums, dads or carers during the up-coming holidays.
Sessions are being held at venues across Cornwall and are open to primary school children and a parent or carer. They are being organised by the Cornwall Mental Health Support Team in Cornwall, working in partnership with Natural England, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the National Trust.
The workshops are built around the NHS Five Ways to Wellbeing initiative: Connect, Take Notice, Be Active, Keep Learning, Give. They link to the Five Pathways to Nature Connection: Sensory contact, Emotional bond, Beauty, Meaning, showing Compassion.
Last year similar sessions were held on Goss Moor, Golitha Falls and in Tywardreath, and their success has led to them being widened across the county this year.
Positive feedback from those sessions included from one youngster who attended saying: “We really enjoyed our session with MHST learning about the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing.’ We particularly enjoyed making our breathing sticks and we still use ours at home now if I am struggling with my emotions.”
A parent who went along said: “Thank you for a lovely afternoon. We have loved having some mindful time together.”
Morgan Stevens of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said:
This is a fantastic and exciting opportunity for organisations to work together to promote wellbeing, nature and the outdoors to the children and families of Cornwall.
Chris Waddle of Natural England said:
Nature’s ability to benefit our health and wellbeing is a blessing to us all. Having the opportunity to work with specialists from the NHS is incredibly valuable in supporting our delivery and understanding of balancing nature recovery with people.
Engaging young children and families has been an absolute pleasure. Partnering with the Wildlife Trust and National Trust will not only help to grow this service further, it creates an opportunity for the younger generation to engage with nature in a variety of ways.
Lydia Allt, Volunteering and Community Officer for the National Trust said:
We are thrilled to introduce these Wild Wellbeing sessions at Penrose, giving young people the chance to experience the uplifting effects of nature in this tranquil setting.
Amy Gosney, Community Engagement Officer with Cornwall Wildlife Trust said:
We’re really excited to be working with the CAMHS team to provide sessions to help young people connect with nature.
We know how important nature is for our wellbeing and the more connected we are to nature, the more we want to care for and protect it.
We are able to reach and have a much greater impact when we work collaboratively with different organisations and so this brilliant programme builds on our collect strengths and helps us to support more young people across Cornwall.
The free sessions at Natural England sites are being held at: Tuesday, 8 April at Golitha Falls, Thursday, 10 April at Tehidy Woods, Tuesday, 15 April at The Dipping Pond, Goss Moor, Tuesday 15 April at Widemouth Bay, Bude.
Each session will last approximately two hours and are being held at 10am and 1pm.
Sessions in West Cornwall are on: Wednesday, 9 April at Penrose and on Wednesday, 16 April at Kennack Sands. Also approximately two hours long, they will start at 10am and 2pm.
Aisling Gillespie (PCSP), Lynette Cooke (PCSP), Deputy Lord Mayor Concillor Kyle Savage, Sandra Larmour, Fiona Spargo-Mabbs and Patricia Gibson (PCSP).
Over 300 young people from the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon area recently came to Portadown Town Hall to watch a hard-hitting and impactful theatre production based on the harrowing true story of a 16-year-old boy who tragically lost his life to an MDMA overdose in 2014.
The play, called ‘I Love You Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die’, delivered a powerful, verbatim account of the events leading up to the death of teenager Daniel Spargo-Mabbs, as told by his family and friends.
This event was organised by the ABC Policing and Community Safety Partnership, and in addition to the play, attendees also participated in an engaging workshop with the cast, hearing firsthand from Fiona Spargo-Mabbs – Daniel’s mother – as well as Sandra Larmour. Their deeply personal accounts reinforced the life-changing impact of drug misuse and the critical need for open conversations around the issue.
The workshop also featured presentations from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Lydia Scholes from the Public Health Agency – Southern Drug and Alcohol Coordination Team (PHA – SDACT), further enriching the discussion with professional insights and expertise.
“This event was not just a performance – it was an opportunity for local schools and the wider community to come together, engage in interactive discussions, and hear directly from those whose lives have been deeply affected and changed forever by substance misuse,” commented the Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Kyle Savage.
“It was very difficult to listen to at times, but these difficult conversations must be had with our young people to encourage community engagement around drug awareness and to ensure that young people know the dangers surrounding sasubstance misuse.”
The play was written by acclaimed playwright Mark Wheeller.
A delegation from Aberdeen which recently attended CERAWeek, the world’s premier energy conference, has met Houston-based GlobalScots, Scotland’s international business network, to discuss energy transformation opportunities for the Granite City.
The ‘Team Aberdeen’ group included Council Co-leader Councillor Christian Allard and Julie Wood the Council’s Chief Officer for City Development and Regeneration, as well as representatives from Peterson Energy Logistics, the Net Zero Technology Centre, Robert Gordon University, and the University of Aberdeen.
Yesterday at the Aberdeen Houston Gateway, Julie Wood was able to build on earlier conversations with Justin Hoffman, CEO @ cSolutions, who is a Global Scot based in Houston.
Mr Hoffman said: “By working together with industry partners in Houston and Aberdeen, we can develop solutions to significantly reduce risk and emissions, while ensuring secure, reliable, and affordable energy. This type of collaborative approach creates the environment and efficiencies needed to meet our growing “All Of The Above” energy demand”
Events like those hosted by Scottish Development International recently in Houston and Granite PR in Aberdeen yesterday help maintain connections and discussions on energy transformation. The Aberdeen team’s connection with the GlobalScots network is invaluable as they provide the local expertise and presence in Houston and other cities around the world. Through continued collaboration with the GlobalScots network, Aberdeen is able to raise its profile globally.
Ms Wood said: “Collaboration is key to enabling our decarbonisation journey here in Aberdeen, in our partner city Houston, and around the world.
“We are delighted to continue discussions with members of the GlobalScots network as well as our colleagues at Scottish Development International as we all work together to achieve NetZero.”
Aberdeen and Houston have a close relationship through our membership in the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP). Aberdeen attends CERAWeek in Houston annually to participate in the conference and the WECP Board Working Group.
Like all partner WECP Member Cities, Aberdeen is home to many of the world’s largest energy companies which are leading initiatives to build a lower-carbon energy future, developing the full range of energy sources to power the world today and into tomorrow.
Photograph shows Justin Hoffman and Julie Wood at the Aberdeen Houston Gateway event
Children and young people from across Edinburgh took to the stage at the prestigious Usher Hall yesterday evening (Monday 24 March) for the City of Edinburgh Council’s spring concert.
The concert showcased the inspiring standard of music-making taking place across the city’s school bands, orchestras and ensembles, with the concert providing young musicians the opportunity to perform in a public concert hall, collaborate with their peers and perform to a large audience.
The programme for the spring concert included a variety of captivating music, performed by children and young people from schools across the city as part of various groups including the Edinburgh Schools’ Senior Brass Ensemble, Edinburgh Schools’ String Training Orchestra, Edinburgh Schools’ Classical Guitar Ensemble, Edinburgh Schools’ Choir, Edinburgh Schools’ Jazz Orchestra, Edinburgh Schools’ Rock Ensemble, Edinburgh Schools’ Wind Ensemble and Edinburgh Schools’ Symphony Orchestra.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s schools instrumental service provides weekly lessons to over 5,000 primary and secondary school pupils across the city. Lessons are introduced to pupils from Primary 4 for upper strings, Primary 5 for woodwind, brass, cello, piping, Scottish drumming and clarsach, and S1 for voice, guitar, percussion, piano, keyboard and double bass.
This concert forms part of the celebration of Edinburgh 900, marking 900 years of formal ‘local democracy’ when, in 1124 King David I created the royal burgh of Edinburgh, one of the oldest in Scotland. This year, a series of events, talks, tours and tales will help to tell the fascinating and diverse stories of Edinburgh’s journey and unique story.
City of Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said:
It was a true pleasure to hear our incredibly talented young people perform last night in celebration of Edinburgh’s 900 years as a Royal Burgh.
Edinburgh 900 is a year-long celebration of our city’s rich history, culture, and bright future. What better way to honour this milestone than with nearly 500 young musicians from across Edinburgh, filling the spectacular Usher Hall with their inspiring performances? From Bach to Bohemian Rhapsody, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
A heartfelt thank you to the Instrumental Music Service Team, teachers, families, and supporters who work so hard to make these events possible. And, of course, to our wonderful young musicians—your dedication and talent continue to make our city proud.”
Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education and Children and Families Convener, said:
The school’s instrumental service concerts are always a special event for me, offering a fantastic opportunity to experience the musical talents of our youngsters in the setting of the Usher Hall. I am always astounded by the exceptional array of musical ability that is showcased by the young people who perform individually or as part of an ensemble or orchestra.
The performances represent hours upon hours of tuition from dedicated music teachers, and the hard work and practice put in by our young musicians. I am incredibly proud to be part of a city that invests in making music tuition accessible to such a large proportion of our learners and want to thank all those who work so hard to make concerts like this one possible.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Government paves the way for local people to build more homes
The government has announced a £20 million investment to support the delivery of community-led housing.
Thousands more homes to be unlocked through government investment in community-led housing
Local communities to get more power to locate, design and build high quality homes with £20 million package
All part of the government’s Plan for Change – delivering 1.5 million homes and the biggest boost in affordable housing in a generation
Thousands of new high-quality homes, including social and affordable, will be designed and built by local people for local people, thanks to new government investment to accelerate the delivery of community-led housing.
A £20 million package for community groups, such as community land trusts and housing co-operatives, has been confirmed by the Housing Minister that will directly support the construction of more than 2,500 new homes over the next decade. These housebuilding projects will be led by communities to specifically address local needs in their area.
Community-led housing is about placing power into the hands of local people who will take the lead in the design and location of new homes, with community groups being able to access land and receive planning permission where speculative developments cannot.
This is the first time the government has supported this approach to finance housebuilding at this scale and will help overcome critical barriers to community-led housing delivery, such as community groups accessing the capital needed for housebuilding.
The new investment announced today forms part of the government’s Plan for Change and commitment to build 1.5 million new homes as well as helping more working people and families achieve the dream of homeownership, boosting growth and raising living standards across the country.
Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook said:
“Community-led housing not only delivers social and affordable homes for local people, it also gives local communities a greater say on where new homes are built and how they are designed.
“This investment will help community-based organisations overcome barriers to housing delivery and will support the growth of the community-led housing sector.
“Through our Plan for Change we are boosting housing supply and reforming the housing system, delivering on our commitment to the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.”
The community-led housing sector is grossly under-developed in the UK compared to other countries in Europe, resulting in a significant loss of potential social and affordable housing as well as depriving communities of the high-quality housing they want.
Recognising the value of community-led housing, the government is investing the £20 million in a social finance fund, which will be led by Resonance who have strong experience in working with community organisations to support the delivery of these homes.
This investment will be used to attract up to £30 million in match-funding from the private sector as well as local authorities and combined mayoral authorities.
Head of Developing Communities at Resonance, Jon Rolls said:
“This is a landmark moment for our fund and for the community-led housing movement. MHCLG’s investment will act as a vital catalyst, unlocking more support for communities determined to shape their own futures. It’s simple – when communities are in the driving seat, brilliant things happen.”
Chief Executive at the Community Land Trust Network, Tom Chance said:
“This investment will be welcomed by hundreds of communities working to build thousands of much-needed homes, from tourist hotspots where local are priced out to city neighbourhoods blighted by a lack of investment. Community-led development offers local people a tool to be builders rather than blockers.”
The new funding follows the government’s overhaul of the planning system with a new growth-focused National Planning Policy Framework, which has imposed new mandatory housebuilding targets for councils so they can play their part to meet local housing need.
The updated planning framework has also strengthened support for community-led housing, which includes broadening the definition of organisations able to deliver this housing and making changes to the size limit on community-led sites to allow more homes to be built.
Government investment in housing has increased to £5 billion for this year, including a top-up of £800 million being injected into the existing Affordable Homes Programme to help deliver tens of thousands of new social and affordable homes across the country.
An extra £2 billion injection of new grant funding to build up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes has also been confirmed today, helping to deliver the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation while making sure those homes go to the people who need them most.
As part of its Long-Term Housing Strategy, which is due to be published later this year, the government is considering further measures to help grow the community-led housing sector.
Further information
Community-led housing is developed by community-based organisations, such as community land trusts and housing co-operatives, to deliver much-needed affordable housing in their area.
The government has invested £20 million in the Resonance Community Developers social finance fund for a 10-year period. Resonance Limited is an established social finance company with experience in supporting the delivery of community-led housing.
Resonance is expected to begin investing directly into local housebuilding schemes across England over the next few weeks.
Community-led organisations and housebuilders across the country have already benefitted from previous funding. This includes Chagford Community Land Trust delivering nearly 30 affordable homes in Devon, YorSpace building 19 affordable homes and a common house in York, and Cohousing in Cambridge providing 42 apartments and town houses with community facilities and a sociable shared garden.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Solihull man prosecuted for failing to remove waste from land
The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a Solihull man who failed to remove waste from his land.
Birmingham Magistrates Court imposes fines and costs totalling £7,752.85
Defendant given 4 months to completely clear outstanding waste
Plastics, metals and treated wood among waste found on land
Benjamin Summers ignored a formal Notice from the Environment Agency to remove the waste and also operated a waste facility without the necessary environmental permit.
At Birmingham Magistrates on Friday 21 March 2025, Benjamin Robert Summers, 80, of Pig Trot Lane, Tanworth-in-Arden, Solihull, admitted the offences.
He was fined £1107 and ordered to pay costs of £6545.85.
Additionally, the magistrates imposed a Remediation Order of 4 months to completely clear any outstanding waste from the land.
Environment Agency investigation
The Environment Agency commenced an investigation in February 2023, having been notified by the Local Authority. They provided evidence that approximately 35 cubic metres of mixed waste was being stored on the land, made up of plastics, metal, treated wood and derivatives.
Between February 2023 and August 2023, Environment Agency officers made a total of 5 site visits and requested Summers to clear the waste. However, the waste remained on site and was added to over time.
On 1 November 2023, a formal Notice was served on Summers to clear the waste by 1 January 2024.
On 9 January 2024, Environment Agency officers made a further site visit and discovered that no waste had been removed.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:
The Environment Agency will pursue any person or company that fails to uphold the law to protect nature and will continue to press for the strongest possible penalties.
Failure to comply with these legal requirements is a serious offence that can damage the environment and harm human health.
If anyone has environmental concerns, they should call our 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously and in confidence on 0800 555 111.
The charges
1, Benjamin Summers, on 2 January 2024, being the occupier of land, namely Summerhill Cottage, Pig Trot Lane, Danzey Green, Tanworth-in-Arden, Solihull, B94 5BJ failed without reasonable excuse to comply with a Notice dated 1st November 2023 to remove controlled waste from the land, contrary to sections 59ZB (2) and 59ZB (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
2, Benjamin Summers, prior to and between 17 February 2023 and 3 May 2024, operated a regulated facility on land at Summerhill Cottage, Pig Trot Lane, Danzey Green, Tanworth-in-Arden, Solihull, B94 5BJ which was not authorised by an Environmental Permit, namely a non- exempt waste operation involving the deposit, storage and disposal of waste, contrary to Regulations 12 (1)(a) and 38 (1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Case study
Tree planting at Ireby Green Farm provides a boost for biodiversity, business and communities
Ireby Green Farm used their England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) funding to invest in trees for a more sustainable future.
Ireby Green Farm facts:
site: Ireby Green Farm, Cowan Bridge, Carnforth, Lancashire
size: 7 hectares of new woodland
type: native broadleaf and non-native conifer
species: oak, birch, silver birch, alder, beech, Scots pine, Douglas fir and crab apple
date planted: 2022
grant: England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)
Main objectives:
reduce the farm’s reliance on their sheep enterprise
provide a reliable income during a time of uncertainty
grow their caravan park
Trees planted on Ireby Green Farm. Copyright Ireby Green Farm
Ireby Green Farm is a 35 hectare, family-run farm located in the upper Lune Valley. With access to both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, the farm runs a successful caravan campsite alongside their sheep enterprise of around 150 ewes.
Despite great success in diversifying their farming operation, the landowner John Welbank was aware that the end of the Basic Payment Scheme would affect his family and business. They began to research other options for diversification and, after exploring funding for woodland creation and organic certification, John decided on tree planting as the next project for the farm.
Funding a greener future
In 2022, 7 hectares of native broadleaf woodland with a 20% conifer mix were planted with the help of EWCO. The grant funding included capital items, the cost of planting and supporting the early establishment of the trees, as well as additional contributions including nature recovery, water quality and riparian planting. These stackable payments provide extra support when the design of a new woodland delivers public benefits to nature and the environment.
Whilst initially hesitant about the complexity of the scheme, John was pleased to find that the grant was relatively easy to apply for. With the support of EWCO, Ireby Green Farm now proudly boasts 7 hectares of woodland, providing a boost for biodiversity, the business and the local community.
The benefits of tree planting
A year after planting, Ireby Green Farm was already seeing the benefits. Neighbours, visitors and the parish council are now making use of permissive footpaths and the environmental boost in the community. The farm has also seen benefits to:
biodiversity – kingfishers, hares and other native species are inhabiting the new woodland and surrounding area
business – increasing the woodland area has helped to reduce the costs of supporting their sheep enterprise, increasing their gross profit per hectare
soil structure – improved structure and nutrient content provided by the tree’s roots and leaf litter from fallen leaves, resulting in better grass coverage and growth, saving on feeding supplements for their sheep
flood mitigation – flood mitigation – the trees have helped to reduce nutrient run off, which has meant less inputs into the soil are required
John is also hoping the planting will successfully offset their carbon, demonstrating the environmental and social credentials of the farm and campsite.
The tree planting scheme has received additional contributions under EWCO for riparian planting and improving water quality. Copyright Ireby Green Farm
Managing woodland for long-term success
Ireby Green Farm has big plans for the woodland; they have planted with timber production in mind to provide another revenue stream for the future of the farm business. After 15-20 years, a portion of softwood can be extracted whilst maintaining the minimum canopy cover required under EWCO.
The new woodland also means that John has been able to proceed with plans to expand the caravan park, as the woodland minimises the visual impact from the road. This will increase business for their farm and the local area, providing more capacity for their often-sold-out holiday park.
Alongside these benefits, John is pleased that a legacy will be left in the woodland planted. He encourages others to investigate woodland creation as a potential opportunity for their farm.
John Welbank, Landowner, Ireby Green Farm said:
Local farmers have had mixed thoughts on planting woodland, but taking a more detailed view of finances and the opportunity trees can bring, is one to be enthusiastic about.
Top tips
Speak to your Woodland Officer early. Woodland creation can be a confusing process, but starting conversations can be the first step. Woodland Officers are local experts and can help you find useful resources and answer your questions.
Plan a woodland scheme that fits your farm and your objectives. Take time to work out what will work for you as a woodland is a long-term investment.
Invest in tree protection. Using proper tree protection throughout the process can massively reduce replacement and maintenance costs.
Look after your crop. In the same way that you wouldn’t spend £36,000 on a traditional farm crop and then close the gate and walk away, woodland needs to be managed if you want to optimise your outcomes.
Young people from Dalneigh Youth Club have designed an extension to Hawthorn Drive play park as part of a community-driven project in Dalneigh. Funded by The Highland Council and Dalneigh and Columba Community Council, the project has brought local community groups together with youth club members to create a new play area for teenagers.
Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, Cllr Graham MacKenzie, said: “Play is fundamental to the wellbeing and development of children of all ages in communities across the Highlands and this project is a fantastic example of a community-led collaboration. The views of children and young people should be valued when developing play parks in their local areas and by investing in these community assets we can support young people with their physical health, mental wellbeing and future development.”
The projected was supported by local ward members from Ward 14 Inverness Central who congratulated the youth club members and community organisations for their commitment to the project and creating an opportunity to encourage young people to spend more time outdoors.
Led by Dalneigh Youth Leader, Shannon Kelly and Highland Council staff, Dalneigh Youth Club members took part in workshops to design an additional play area and select new equipment including a climbing frame with monkey bars and nets, a hammock and a zipline, which is due to be installed in summer 2025. Dalneigh Playpark Association also supported the project.
Barry Kane, Chair of Dalneigh and Columba Community Council, said: “We’re delighted to have supported the consultations and planning for the second phase of the Hawthorn Drive play park. We are sure this will be an excellent and well-used facility and we’re extremely grateful for the support of local ward members and Highland Council staff who have provided invaluable support, and for the enthusiasm, creative ideas and input of the Dalneigh Youth Club members.”
Dalneigh Youth Club Leader, Shannon Kelly, said: “This extension will be a welcome addition to the park which is often used by the young people who attend the youth club and have been very enthusiastic during the process of choosing which equipment should be installed. Teenagers are often excluded from good old-fashioned play with many play areas catering to younger children, so this has been a great opportunity for young voices to be heard on a decision that will directly impact them in their local community.”
A member of Dalneigh Youth Club said: “It felt very good to be asked about what we want to see at the park, and I am excited about the climbing frame. I liked that we had options, and I felt like my voice mattered.”
Dalneigh Youth Club is a free club for young people living in the Inverness High School catchment area. The club runs on Wednesday nights in James Cameron Community Centre from 6-7pm for P6-S2 and 7.15-8.45pm for S3+.
Members of The Highland Council are to be presented with the Annual Report of Statutory Performance Indicators, Benchmarking and Best Value for financial year 2034/24 when they meet on Thursday, 27 March 2025.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner thanked staff for their continued efforts to support service improvements. He said: “I am pleased to see improvement across a number of areas of the Council including those that support the vulnerable in our communities, especially for children and young people, and in Housing Benefit and Council Tax services.”
Convener of the Council, Cllr Bill Lobban said: “It is encouraging to see the overall evidence of improvement in the Council’s key performance indicators when compared to what was reported at the same time last year. These results are evidence of the positive impact that our services can have on our communities such as the increase of community payback order supervision and the reduction in the time taken to process homelessness applications.”
The report explains that data is currently available for analysis of 70 indicators out of a total 81. Fifty five (79%) of the 70 indicators analysed are on target or within agreed performance threshold. This compares to a 2% increase on target or within threshold as reported at the same time last year.
Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) are locally determined and are drawn from local performance indicators (LPI) and the Local Government Benchmarking Framework (LGBF) indicators used in the Council’s Performance Plan.
There are 34 SPIs which the Council considers to be Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPIs provide a high-level overview of the Council’s performance overall and are selected considering their weighting in terms of evidencing effective service delivery of key Council functions.
The performance analysis available for 27 of the Council’s KPIs in 2023/24 shows that 85% are on target or within the performance threshold.
Some of the key areas of improvement to be highlighted to councillors are:
Children’s Services:
Adult Services:
Corporate Services:
Business Development Services:
Housing Services:
Cultural and Leisure Services:
The Council’s Performance Plan sets out its strategic and operational priorities along with relevant Local Government Benchmarking Framework indicators and targets to monitor progress, with the Council’s Delivery Plan being a key mechanism through which the priorities are delivered. These LGBF indicators along with locally determined indicators are now the focus of the Council’s SPI reporting.
The Scottish Government has called on UK Government ministers to urgently deliver a targeted energy bill discount to protect customers in greatest need and drive down high fuel poverty rates.
The final report of the Social Tariff Working Group – comprising energy suppliers, consumer and fuel poverty groups and disabled people’s organisations – published today, recommends targeted energy bill support to address the issue of unaffordable bills, plus a move beyond determining eligibility based on receipt of benefits.
The group concluded that support applied automatically to eligible households, using metrics based on a combination of household income, medical need and rurality would have a positive impact.
Acting Climate Action Minister Alasdair Allan said:
“High energy prices remain the single greatest driver of fuel poverty in Scotland, and we have taken various steps – within the limits of our devolved powers – aimed at raising household incomes and improving energy efficiency. We have reinstated the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners; we have increased funding for Warmer Homes Scotland by £20 million, helping around 1,500 more households save on energy bills; and we have committed a further £20 million for the Scottish Welfare Fund to support the most vulnerable people.
“However, this is not enough to drive down stubbornly high fuel poverty rates and energy prices continue to rise. Targeted bill support is urgently needed to ensure that consumers are protected against high costs at source and can afford all their energy needs.
“We have worked very productively with energy providers and advice groups to come up with a deliverable scheme, and the final report demonstrates clear consensus on the way forward. However, the fundamental levers to make a difference are with the UK Government.
“Existing one-off flat rate rebates are insufficient and are not a long-term solution, and the UK Government must urgently deliver a unit rate discount, with the level of discount proportionate to need. The outputs from our group must act as a foundation and mainstay of a revised strategy, providing a signal of intent and leadership by the UK Government in tackling fuel poverty at source.”
The group considered fuel eligibility, consumer eligibility and data, level and form of support, and funding, as well as feedback from frontline advisers and campaigners.
Its conclusions differ from previous models which would have meant moving customers on to a different tariff, thereby removing them from the competitive market and from other means of saving money.
It has been moved into Quadrant 1 – the top group – of the Youth Justice Oversight Framework and has been commended for the way it continually focuses on the needs of the children, families and the communities it serves.
The multi agency Youth Justice Service, formerly known as the Youth Offending Team, works with children aged 10 to 18 who are involved in the criminal justice system, from early stages of intervention in pre-court disposals to intensive orders and custodial sentences.
It also prepares reports that are used by the courts to help them sentence young people, and works with the victims of crime to, where possible, facilitate the process of mediation and to repair the harm caused.
In a letter to the City of Wolverhampton Council, Louise Wood, Director of Operations North, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, said: “This change is in recognition of the strong performance your service has demonstrated, including decreasing first time entrants and custody rates, your proactive and committed Management Board and your inclusive approach and contributions to regional initiatives.
“The Youth Justice Board commends you on the way in which you continually focus on the needs of the children, families and the communities you serve.”
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This is a really important endorsement by the Youth Justice Board of the excellent work which is being undertaken by our Youth Justice Service.
“It works hard to balance the wellbeing of young people who have offended with managing risk to the community. Central to its approach and intervention is the understanding of what the young people may have experienced in their lives, and a focus on trauma informed practice which balances the need to create boundaries for their behaviour with the need to prevent reoffending and the need to protect people from harm.”
The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales has a statutory responsibility to oversee the operation of the youth justice system and a specific function to monitor its operation and the provision of youth justice services.
The Youth Justice Oversight Framework explains how this monitoring function is fulfilled and reinforces putting children at the heart of the system and achieving better outcomes for them.
Northern Ireland Open Judo Open is back at the Foyle Arena
25 March 2025
An international field of judoka from across the UK and Europe will join the cream of local players when the Northern Ireland Judo Open returns to the Foyle Arena next month on Saturday 12th and Sunday April 13th. The tournament, which has a new sponsor for 2025 in the form of SmartPayNI, will see hundreds of judoka descend on the Waterside venue. SmartPayNI deliver payment solutions to businesses and have added the capability to pay by card for those attending this year’s tournament. Excitement is building for the Open already and Steve Setterfield, Area Leisure Manager for Derry City and Strabane District Council said they were delighted to again host the prestigious event. “The team at the Foyle Arena are delighted to welcome the SmartPayNI Northern Ireland Open back in April 2025,” he said. “The event has been a resounding success since the centre opened back in 2015 and it now forms an important part of our events calendar. “We would like to wish all the competitors the very best of luck. “We’ll see you next month!” Russell Brown, Chairman for Northern Ireland Judo added: “There’s always a buzz around the Open, the fact that competitors are looking to qualify for further events, the homegrown talent testing their mettle against those across the water and the high level of competition always draws excitement. “It’s fantastic to welcome SmartPayNI to the team this year, and we’d like to thank them for their input and support for the event.” Marc McLaughlin, Sales Director from SmartPayNI said: “SmartPayNI are proud to be sponsoring partners of the Northern Ireland Judo Open we are always keen on supporting the growth of local sport.” The SmartPayNI Open is ready for entries, and you can find out more about the event here – https://www.nijudo.com/events/calendar To learn more out more about services at the Foyle Arena visit derrystrabaneleisure.com/foyle-arena email [email protected] or call 028 71 376555 and to find your nearest Judo club, log on to www.nijudo.com.
Repair & Share Foyle awarded £188,094 to tackle waste
25 March 2025
Repair & Share Foyle has successfully secured £188,094 to tackle waste through three key repairing and sharing initiatives, Tech Connect, Fixing Factory & RePaint.
Repair & Share Foyle is supported by The National Lottery Communities Fund through the ‘People and Communities’ grant to launch more ‘repairing & sharing’ initiatives.
These projects will actively engage local residents across the Derry City & Strabane District Council area to tackle the growing problem of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste paint. Through community engagement programmes, skills-based workshops and wider business development, the community interest company (C.I.C) plans to collaborate with a broad range of participants, community organisations and businesses to develop circular economy solutions.
Welcoming the news, Managing Director, Caroline McGuinness-Brooks, said: “Working towards an authentic circular economy at the local level requires forward thinking, collaboration and innovation. Our volunteer led team has demonstrated that we are leaders in grassroots sustainability solutions. This funding award is our first significant leap forward as a young non profit and we’re confident that we’ll make a positive impact, tackling waste streams collectively with our community.”
For the first time since starting their repair cafes back in 2022, the team will now employ three permanent members of staff to take the C.I.C to the next level. They will scale up their existing laptop campaign, via ‘Tech Connect’, training volunteers and residents with new repair skills and understandings of supply chains and material recovery. Their ‘Fixing Factory’ model will enable the group to expand their current repair cafe capacities, beyond monthly pop ups.
Ever wanted to learn how to fix household electricals yourself? This is where the fixing factory comes in, with workshops for schools, residents, and businesses interested in repair culture. Additionally, these projects will continue to advocate for the ‘Right to Repair’ movement where legislation and policy change is required to make repair more accessible and affordable for everyone. A ‘Waste Electrical & Electronic Coordinator’ will spearhead these projects.
Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund, said:“Congratulations to Repair and Share Foyle on their £188,094 National Lottery grant. We look forward to seeing the difference this project will make to support local people to repair and re-use, creating a more sustainable community, and reducing the effect of the cost-of-living crisis.
“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are continuing to deliver on our strategy, ‘It starts with community’, with several programmes open for applications to support those in need.”
Derry City & Strabane Council and Council works closely with Repair & Share Foyle on a number of waste reduction initiatives, and Council’s Climate Programme Manager, Cathy Burns, said: “E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world and processing of waste paint costs the taxpayer significantly as local authorities have a statutory obligation to manage waste. Social enterprises like Repair & Share Foyle are vital in developing the circular economy, keeping valuable resources in circulation.”
After securing £4000 capital costs from the SSE energy fund in 2024 to remanufacture waste paint, Repair & Share Foyle are delighted to now have funding in place from the National Lottery to create a ‘Paint & Innovation Technician’ role, which will be advertised in the coming weeks.
Caroline McGuinness-Brooks said she was looking forward to expanding their team. “As an accredited real living wage employer, we expect to receive plenty of applications for the job postings, and will be ensuring that our first team of staff will set precedent for the future of jobs within Repair & Share Foyle. This is a really exciting time to join our team.”
Bruised Orange: A Tribute to John Prine Live at The Alley Theatre
25 March 2025
The music of John Prine will be brought to life at the Alley Theatre in Strabane this Saturday night (29th March).
Bruised Orange, named after one of Prine’s iconic songs, is set to deliver an unforgettable evening celebrating the music of one of folk and Americana’s most beloved singer-songwriters.
John Prine, known for his unique blend of wit, wisdom, and storytelling, has left an indelible mark on the world of music. Bruised Orange captures the essence of Prine’s work, bringing his songs to life with the same raw emotion and craftsmanship that defined his career. From ‘Angel from Montgomery’ to ‘Sam Stone’, Bruised Orange will perform a collection of Prine’s most cherished songs,
Bruised Orange brings together a talented group of musicians from Co Meath who share a deep admiration for Prine’s music, and their live performances are known for their warmth, sincerity, and sense of community. Whether you’re a long-time fan of John Prine or discovering his music for the first time, Saturday night at the Alley promises to be full of unforgettable moments.
Tickets are £20 available from the Alley Theatre website: www.alley-theatre.com or call the Alley Theatre Box Office on 028 71 384444
Council wants public to have their say on Improvement Objectives
25 March 2025
Derry City and Strabane District Council is seeking the views of the public to its recently published draft Performance Improvement Objectives for 2025/26.
Part 12 of the Local Government Act (NI) 2014 legally requires Council to produce a Performance Improvement Plan, (setting out Improvement Objectives), that strives towards continuous improvement in the quality of life of its citizens.
The Council is keen to get the views of the public on the proposed Improvement Objectives and to find out what alternatives they would like considered.
The draft objectives include promoting healthy lifestyles byachieving greater participation in leisure, sport and physical activities, as well as a commitment to create a greener, cleaner and more attractive district and improved customer support services and are set out on our website at https://derrystrabane.uk.engagementhq.com/consultation-on-draft-performance-objectives-2025-2026.
Encouraging the public to take part in the consultation, Derry City and Strabane District Council Chief Executive John Kelpie said public feedback on the draft objectives is essential in helping the Council improve its services and identifying issues that are important to the people across the entire City and District.
“Derry City and Strabane District Council is firmly committed to delivering on continuous improvement,” he stressed. “This consultation process is important in gauging opinion that in turn helps us bring about improvements across all areas of our work. We look forward to hearing the views and opinions of the public and would encourage everyone to view the plan and provide their feedback.”
The Albanese Labor Government is Building Australia’s future, investing in the transport infrastructure we need to support a growing nation.
The Government is investing in nationally significant infrastructure that creates jobs and economic opportunity, improves productivity and drives efficiency.
Our Budget investments will make Australia’s road and rail networks stronger, safer and more efficient – which means more convenient commutes, less congestion and faster freight delivery.
The 2025–26 Budget delivers $17.1 billion for new and existing road and rail infrastructure projects through the Infrastructure Investment Program, supporting critical planning, construction and delivery. This includes:
$7.2 billion for safety upgrades on the Bruce Highway in Queensland – the single largest investment ever into this nationally significant transport corridor.
Over $2.3 billion for critical infrastructure upgrades in the growing Western Sydney region, including $1 billion to preserve the corridor for the South West Sydney Rail Extension and $500 million to upgrade Fifteenth Avenue.
A further $465 million for New South Wales to plan for regional projects and fix notorious choke points, including $250 million to upgrade Mona Vale Road and $115 million to reduce travel times on Terrigal Drive.
$2 billion to upgrade Sunshine Station in Victoria, a crucial project to deliver Melbourne Airport its first rail link.
$1.1 billion to support upgrades along the Western Freeway in Victoria.
$1 billion for the Road Blitz, a new package of works to increase capacity and improve efficiency in Melbourne’s suburbs and surrounds.
$350 million for the Westport – Kwinana Freeway Upgrades in Western Australia.
$200 million to duplicate sections of the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Katherine in the Northern Territory.
$200 million to upgrade the Arthur Highway in Tasmania.
$125 million for the Curtis Road Level Crossing Removal in South Australia.
$50 million towards upgrading the Monaro Highway in the Australian Capital Territory.
A further $200 million to ensure the delivery of the Rockhampton Ring Road in Queensland.
A further $70 million to seal the remaining 11 kilometres of unsealed pavement on the Kennedy Developmental Road between The Lynd and Hughenden in Queensland.
The Australian Government is committed to increasing road safety and productivity.
Funding has also increased substantially so that the Roads to Recovery Program will progressively rise to $1 billion per year, and Black Spot Program funding will reach $150 million per year. At least $200 million is also available each year under the new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program, to address current and emerging priorities in road infrastructure.
We are investing $16.9 million to support skills and training in the maritime industry. This includes $14.4 million over four years to provide access to training berths at sea, and $2.5 million for the Transport and Logistics Jobs and Skills Council to address training barriers.
As part of the Government’s priorities for transport, we are providing $32.7 million in 2025-26 to support ongoing safety and regulatory services provided by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Our Government is making Australia’s cities and regions even better places to live, building social infrastructure, connecting place and designing healthier, more liveable towns.
We’re getting on with the job of delivering a better future for all Australians – helping build economic opportunity and thriving communities.
Bus passengers across England have said they are more satisfied with their journeys – with satisfaction up to 83 per cent in the second year of the Your Bus Journey survey, independent watchdog Transport Focus confirms.
The results from the 2024 survey showed passenger satisfaction improving overall from its first-year level of 80 per cent – but there were still some wide differences across local authorities.
Passengers in Derby City were the most satisfied with their journey at 92 per cent. Passengers in West Yorkshire were for the second year the least satisfied with 77 per cent. East Sussex and Warrington were two of the most improved areas in the survey, both up eight percentage points after some hard work following passenger feedback, and with East Sussex moving from 26th to 12th place in the survey.
As the definitive, independent bus passenger satisfaction survey in England, Scotland and Wales, Your Bus Journey gives detailed passenger feedback on 48,000 journeys. It provides a benchmark of passenger satisfaction including on board the bus, punctuality of the service, value for money and journey times.
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability at Derby City Council said:
I’m delighted with the results of the 2024 Your Bus Journey survey, putting Derby on the map as an accessible place to live, work and visit. The results of the survey show what we already know, which is that Derby has a thriving and expanding transport offer which is tailored to the needs of our residents.
We’re more passionate than ever about transforming Derby into a sustainable city, championing public transport as a way to contribute to decarbonisation, air quality, and health improvements. Recently we have been investing significantly into our public transport and I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to achieve by working in collaboration with partners by putting passenger’s needs at the heart of what we do.
Louise Collins, director at the independent watchdog Transport Focus said:
The positive changes seen across bus services in England have boosted overall passenger satisfaction. The changes show how government funding, hard work from local authorities and operators, and listening to what passengers want can improve journeys.
Buses play a vital role connecting communities across the country to work, education, leisure activities and vital appointments. The wide variation in scores at a local level in the survey shows that some passengers still aren’t getting the bus service they should. Government, bus operators and local authorities must continue to work together to deliver the promised improvement to bus service reliability and frequency.
The results from areas like Derby City, Derbyshire, East Sussex and Warrington show what can be done when everyone is focussed on delivering for passengers. We’ll be using the results from the survey with local transport authorities and bus operators up and down the country to drive improvements and help make bus the first choice for more people.
Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said:
I’d like to extend a big congratulations to Derby City Council for ranking highest for passenger satisfaction in this survey, which shows that councils are putting bus service funding to good use.
Our Bus Services Bill will hand control back for local leaders to operate services, and it’s great to see areas like Nottingham where councils operate their own services, scoring higher than average satisfaction rates.
Alongside nearly £1 billion to enhance service frequencies, improve bus stop infrastructure and boost the comfort and accessibility of services, we’re backing our buses like never before, and I’m excited to see how this will continue to grow customer satisfaction and make our bus services even more attractive. Roll on the 2025 survey.
Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of Confederation of Passenger Transport said:
It’s fantastic to see bus passenger satisfaction on the rise – a testament to the excellent partnerships between bus operators and local authorities in many parts of the country and the dedication of everyone working in the industry.
We want every passenger to be satisfied with their journey and with significant changes ahead for the bus industry, including the Bus Services (No.2) Bill and the impact of government spending decisions, we urge policymakers to prioritise passengers, ensuring even greater satisfaction and better services in the year ahead.
Key survey results:
Passenger satisfaction with value for money has seen significant improvement up six percentage points to 73 per cent. Passengers in Nottinghamshire were the most satisfied at 91 per cent, while 60 per cent of West of England and North Somerset passengers were satisfied with the value for money of their journey.
The top-ranked operator was High Peak in Derby City and Derbyshire, which had a passenger satisfaction score of 99 per cent. Arriva in West Yorkshire was the lowest rated bus operator with 69 per cent of passengers satisfied with their journeys.
Increased satisfaction with value for money reflects overall improvements to bus services and not just the impacts of the £2 bus fare cap that was in place throughout 2024.
Perception of punctuality is up five percentage points to 75 per cent. Passengers in Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole were the most satisfied at 80 per cent and least satisfied in Greater Manchester at 67 per cent.
Journey time satisfaction overall is 83 per cent. Derby City is the highest performing area for journey time, with 92 per cent of passengers satisfied. Stoke on Trent is the lowest rated area by passengers at 79 per cent.
Across England, passengers with disabilities were satisfied with 82 per cent of bus journeys, up from 79 per cent in 2023 reflecting the overall increase in bus satisfaction nationally. This remains lower than for non-disabled passengers at 85 per cent.
Passengers in rural and semi-rural areas reported increased satisfaction with the value for money of their service. Improvements in performance, punctuality and on-board environment and facilities have contributed to passengers’ perceptions of better value for money.
Urban areas have seen improvements to punctuality in particular with journey experience upgrades to bus stops and vehicles also being noticed. Metropolitan areas have also seen improved levels of satisfaction, but at a slower pace.
Significant Government investment as part of Bus Service Improvement Plan funding in many areas and £2 bus fare cap, appears to be having an impact.
More information can be found on the Transport Focus website, along with the full report from the 2024 survey.
Self-storage businesses across the Isle of Wight are joining forces to prevent criminals from using self-storage facilities to house counterfeits and illicit goods.
The TickBox scheme, a national scheme designed to keep criminals out of self-storage facilities, was introduced to the Island in 2020. Since then, self-storage business including Barn Store, Cowes Movers, Isle of Wight Removals and Storage and InnerSpaces Self Storage, have joined the scheme ensuring their businesses are doing their utmost to keep their premises, and by extension their customers safe from illegal activity.
In recent years, enforcement action by Trading Standards in England and Wales and the police have resulted in the seizure of thousands of counterfeit items estimated to be worth millions of pounds, disrupting criminal networks.
The benefits that self-storage facilities offer, in terms of ease of rental and ready access, can make them attractive to criminals who want to operate ‘below the radar’ and store illicit goods, including counterfeit goods and unsafe consumer products.
However, these counterfeit goods pose a serious risk to both self-storage businesses and the public storing their belongings there. Fake products do not undergo the same rigorous safety testing as genuine products and could be highly dangerous, like fake batteries. Electrical items or unsafe chemicals could cause fires or chemical leaks, putting not only stored goods but the lives of customers and staff at risk.
Dominic Hampson, Operations Manager at InnerSpaces, based in Cowes, shared how Tick Box has been invaluable in highlighting potentially suspicious behaviour.
‘‘The scheme was very simple to implement, and we were supported throughout. It has strengthened our approach to customer verification and reinforced the importance of vigilance across all stages, from inquiry to contract completion.’’
‘‘We’ve worked hard to build the trust of our customers over the 15 years we’ve been operating on the Island. Fake and illicit goods would undermine that relationship and damage our standing within the community and industry.’’
‘‘Storing counterfeit products isn’t just about the immediate risks. It opens the door to a chain reaction of negative consequences, from compromising safety and security to fuelling larger societal issues. At InnerSpaces, we are committed to ensuring that our facility remains a safe, law-abiding environment for all.’’
James Potter, Trading Standards and Community Safety Manager for the Isle of Wight Council said, “The appeal of cheaper goods may seem tempting, but counterfeit goods will be of a very poor quality and will not have gone through the same amount of rigorous testing as genuine products on the market to keep consumers safe. Purchasing counterfeit goods has further proven consequences, including contributing to job losses in the UK every year, a negative impact on the economy, impacting workers rights and being linked to organised criminal groups who are involved in serious crime. If you’re caught making or selling counterfeit goods, this can have serious implications with an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and/or an unlimited fine.
We’re pleased to be part of the Tick Box scheme working in conjunction with the Intellectual Property Office and local businesses here on the Isle of Wight. It’s been great to work in partnership to prevent counterfeit and unsafe goods from being stored at these locations along with helping businesses be compliant. We look forward to continued partnership working as part of this scheme”.
Tick Box is a free partnership between local Trading Standards, the Intellectual Property Office, and the Self-Storage Association UK. It provides storage facilities with a voluntary code of practice to verify customers’ identities and the intended use of storage units.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
‘Public sector must get better at recognising and responding to signs of trouble’ – Doug Chalmers, Committee on Standards in Public Life
The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life has today published a new report, ‘Recognising and Responding to Early Warning Signs in Public Sector Bodies’.
Launching the Committee’s new report, Doug Chalmers said:
“Recent public inquiries – Grenfell; Windrush; Infected Blood; Post Office Horizon IT – have laid bare the catastrophic impact of major public sector failure on human lives. There are common themes among these scandals – a failure to listen to and act on concerns raised; a failure to learn lessons from similar incidents, and a failure to identify and share emerging risks.
“The public sector has never been more complex, with a multitude of public bodies involved in the delivery of public services, as well as contracted private providers. There is value in taking a step back to consider what more public sector bodies can do to spot problems at the earliest possible stage – while there is still time to act and, potentially, avert a disaster.
“Our evidence shows there are things organisations can do to increase the likelihood of risks and issues being uncovered. When leaders are committed to advocating the benefits of an open culture and listen with curiosity when staff raise concerns, or offer suggestions for better ways of doing things, organisations can spot risks and make improvements.
“It is not always easy to speak up – it requires moral courage to be the person who says, ‘I’m not sure this is going to plan’. But in doing so, we honour the basic contract that holders of public office have with the public we serve.
“We want this report to bring change, stimulating leaders across the public sector to reflect on how they can better equip their organisations and people to identify and respond to the early signs of a problem and achieve better outcomes for the public.”
The Committee, established by then PM John Major in 1995, is also marking the 30th anniversary of the Nolan Principles of Public Life this year. The Principles – Accountability, Honesty, Objectivity, Openness, Selflessness, Integrity and Leadership – apply to all holders of public office and those delivering services to the public on behalf of the taxpayer.
[Read Doug Chalmers’ letter to public sector leaders]
Interview requests and media enquiries should go to Maggie O’Boyle on 07880 740627.
The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life advises the Prime Minister on arrangements for upholding ethical standards of conduct across public life in England.
The current members of the Committee are Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE (Chair), The Rt Hon Lady Mary Arden of Heswall DBE, The Rt Hon Dame Margaret Beckett GBE MP (Labour), The Rt Hon Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party), Cllr Ruth Dombey OBE (Liberal Democrat) Ewen Fergusson, Baroness (Simone) Finn (Conservative), John Henderson, and Professor Gillian Peele.
The Scottish Government must urgently act to maintain vital renter protections that are set to expire this time next week, says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman.
In March 2024 the then Green Minister, Patrick Harvie, introduced a temporary rent adjudication system which followed a freeze on most in-tenancy rents. This potentially allows rent increases to be limited to no higher than 12% if a tenant applies to a rent officer for a decision.
The Scottish Government had said the rent adjudication system would support the transition away from the rent cap and to the forthcoming system of Rent Control Areas, avoiding a ‘cliff edge’ for renters. It would also protect them from excessively large increases which could be experienced with a sudden move to open market rent levels.
“With living costs soaring, a lot of renters will be watching their bills stacking up and worrying about the future. Meanwhile, there will be rogue landlords all over Scotland eagerly waiting to cash-in from the minute that these protections are lifted.
“Time and again the landlord lobby has shown that it can’t be trusted to look out for the best interest of renters, and I don’t want to see the communities I represent left at the mercy of a broken housing market.
“Unless the Scottish Government acts now, households and families will be plunged into totally avoidable poverty. Do they really want to do that on top of all the cuts that Labour is implementing from Westminster?”
Ms Chapman added:
“The forthcoming Housing Bill could play an important role in transforming renters rights, but we need to ensure that we are protecting people here and now.
“Homes are for living in and not for profiteering. It is time to redress the balance and ensure that everyone has a warm, comfortable and affordable place to call home.”