Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lifting of the Thames Gateway Bridge safeguarding direction

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Written statement to Parliament

    Lifting of the Thames Gateway Bridge safeguarding direction

    Announcing the lifting of the Thames Gateway Bridge safeguarding direction.

    Today (17 July 2025) I am informing the House of my decision to lift the safeguarding direction for the Thames Gateway Bridge. This reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring our transport and infrastructure supports housing delivery and drives growth as part of the Plan for Change.

    Safeguarding is an important planning tool used to protect land for future transport schemes from conflicting development. In this case, the safeguarding direction for the Thames Gateway Bridge dates back to 1940, when the area’s transport needs were very different. It was intended to protect land for a road crossing that has not been delivered. Since then, London’s transport priorities have evolved, and over the decades, we have seen major investments in London’s river crossings – most notably the Dartford Crossing and, recently, the Silvertown Tunnel. The safeguarding directions therefore no longer align with the direction of transport policy or the evolving needs of this part of London.

    The continued safeguarding of this land has been an obstacle to much-needed development, and I am therefore lifting these directions. The government is keen to deliver new homes and unlock economic opportunity, and we are taking steps to remove unnecessary barriers to progress.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stoke-on-Trent awarded funding to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Thursday, 17th July 2025

    Partnership working to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping is set to continue across Stoke-on-Trent.

    The city council has been allocated cash from various government initiatives to support the ongoing work it is doing to help rough sleepers in Stoke-on-Trent and those facing homelessness.

    The latest round of funding – which looks set to be agreed by cabinet members at a meeting later this month –  will enable the council to continue to provide vital services to support rough sleepers and homeless individuals in the city.

    This includes extending the current agreements it has in place with partners delivering these important services, such as Brighter Futures, Honeycomb Group and the North Staffs Combined Healthcare Trust, for a further 12 months.

    It comes as Stoke-on-Trent City Council is currently reviewing its Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out the authority’s vision and priorities for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping over the next five years.

    Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, planning and governance at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Our support services, provided with trusted partners, do a great job in supporting rough sleepers and those facing homelessness.

    “But despite those efforts, rough sleeping continues to rise – nationally and locally – due to housing pressures and the cost of living crisis. We are determined to do more.

    “We recently undertook a review into homelessness and rough sleeping to help us get an understanding of the current picture of homelessness in the city and this has given us an idea of where to focus our resources in the future.

    “Everybody has the right to a decent home, and we are determined to do everything we can to ensure everyone has the support they need to live independently.”

    Over the past three years, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has developed and delivered a range of initiatives in collaboration with partners, including:

    • A Homeless Hub which supports more than 900 people every month
    • Enhanced outreach support via the Rough Sleepers Outreach Team which has supported over 330 individuals out of rough sleeping
    • Health and mental health support to help people access universal health services and manage chronic conditions, with around 250 people accessing the service per month
    • Providing long-term accommodation options for individuals moving on from emergency off-street accommodation such as B&Bs and night shelters. This service has supported around 65 individuals during 24/25.

    Anyone concerned about a person sleeping rough, or at risk of sleeping rough, is encouraged to report it to the city council via the website or by calling the Rough Sleepers team on 0800 970 2304 which is a free phone number.

    Alternatively visit www.brighter-futures.org.uk or www.thestreetlink.org.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More than £1 million invested in holiday activities and food this summer

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    They include 35,862 places available for eligible children and young people, as part of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, delivered at 46 locations across the city by 36 providers thanks to over £1 million worth of investment.

    There’s something for everyone with activities ranging from sports and outdoor adventures to arts and crafts, trips, drama and productions, martial arts, cooking, snooker and much more – visit Yo! Wolverhampton Young Opportunities for full details.

    These activities and food are open to all eligible children and young people who attend a Wolverhampton school and receive a benefit related free school meal.

    The City of Wolverhampton Council has also extended the offer to children who are supported by a Wolverhampton based social worker, children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and children who are home educated.

    There are also a wide range of summer holiday activities open to all children and young people, including those who are not eligible for the HAF programme. For full details, please visit Yo! Wolverhampton Young Opportunities.

    Meanwhile the council’s popular Yo! Active programme, delivered in partnership with Wolves Foundation, will be offering a wide range of free activities to children and young people aged up to 18, or 25 for care leavers or those with a disability, including free swimming, pool parties, gym and court hire, multi sport sessions, a Nerf Club, special activities for the under 5s and more. See the full timetable at Yo! Active – Summer Holiday Activities and sign up for free at Yo! Active.

    All places are offered on a first come, first served basis and demand is always high, so people are encouraged to book activities as soon as possible.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This is a bumper holiday and food activities programme and we’re proud of funding so many places at so many locations across the city this summer.

    “But please don’t delay in booking, as you could be disappointed with so many fun and different activities on offer that will be snapped up quickly.”

    For details of HAF eligibility for the Department for Education funded programme, please visit Yo! Wolverhampton Young Opportunities.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Affordable Homes Standard to transform housing across North Yorkshire

    Source: City of York

    A major milestone has been reached in the mission to provide affordable, high quality and sustainable homes across York and North Yorkshire with the launch of a new Affordable Homes Standard.

    Spearheaded by the York and North Yorkshire Housing Partnership, the Standard represents a shared commitment to ensuring that all affordable homes across the region meet a consistent, high-quality benchmark and reflect the needs of local communities, now and for generations to come.

    At its core, the Standard provides a clear framework for what good affordable housing should look like. It sets out agreed specifications covering space standards, energy efficiency, design quality, types of housing, and how homes can be adapted to people’s needs over time.

    The Standard is designed to support housing needs at all stages of life and will make affordable homes indistinguishable from those sold on the open market.

    Environmental sustainability is a central part of this. The Standard sets out how new homes should be built with high levels of insulation, low carbon heating such as heat pumps, and features to protect and enhance the natural environment, ensuring space for nature to thrive alongside people.

    Most significantly, the 23 members which make up the York and North Yorkshire Housing Partnership have all committed to only building or acquiring homes that meet the new Standard.

    The Standard has received the full support of York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith, reflecting his vision for creating healthy, thriving communities across the region. It is also supported by City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council which are partnership members.

    David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:

    We need to deliver the right homes in the right places, ensuring our next generation can stay and thrive in York and North Yorkshire. That ambition takes a big step forward with the launch of the Affordable Homes Standard.

    “This sets a consistent, high-quality benchmark as we play our part and deliver on the national target of building 1.5 million homes.

    “It means that we build more energy efficient homes with a better quality of design, built with nature in mind. That’s good news for our environment and for residents, who will benefit from lower energy bills.

    “This underpins our commitment to create and support thriving communities and I look forward to working closely with the York and North Yorkshire Housing Partnership on delivering the homes we deserve and need.”

    The Standard has been developed in response to growing recognition of the need for more consistent standards and a more community-focused approach to the delivery of homes secured through Section 106 agreements – an essential tool for providing affordable housing through the planning process.

    While these homes help boost affordable housing supply, the partnership is clear that quality and long-term suitability must go hand in hand with quantity.

    Councillor Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing at City of York Council, said:

    This new Standard which we proudly support, echoes our commitment to improving the quality and supply of affordable homes in the city.

    “We are providing great quality homes through our own Housing Delivery Programme and we welcome this approach to ensure that all affordable homes developed in the city in future years will be spacious, healthy and environmentally friendly.”

    Councillor Simon Myers, Executive Member for Housing at North Yorkshire Council, added:

    This new standard sets out exactly what the people of North Yorkshire should be able to expect from affordable homes and makes an important contribution to improving their quality of life.

    “It reflects our commitment as a landlord to improve our own homes and raises the bar for our partners and others in the sector to do the same.”

    Nick Atkin, Chair of the York and North Yorkshire Housing Partnership, said:

    This new Standard is a big step forward in making sure affordable housing across our region is built to a consistently high standard. It’s about creating homes that people can be proud of, well designed, energy efficient, and built to meet the needs of local communities now and in the future.

    “By working together across the region, we’re setting a clear shared benchmark for what good affordable housing will look like in York and North Yorkshire.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New appointments to Board of the Office for Environmental Protection

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    New appointments to Board of the Office for Environmental Protection

    Two appointments and two re-appointments to the OEP Board

    Professor Elizabeth Fisher and Caroline May have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), and Professor Dan Laffoley and Dr Paul Leinster CBE have been reappointed for second terms.

    Elizabeth Fisher’s and Caroline May’s new roles will run from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2029. Dan Laffoley’s and Paul Leinster’s second terms will run from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2026.

    The appointments have been made in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet Office. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

    The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) was created in November 2021 under the Environment Act. It is an independent statutory body with a remit to protect and improve the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account in England and Northern Ireland.

    Biographies

    Professor Elizabeth Fisher

    • Professor Elizabeth Fisher is Professor of Environmental Law at the Faculty of Law and a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford.

    • She has over three decades of experience as an environmental law academic and writes widely on environmental law and administrative law in national common law jurisdictions.

    • She was General Editor of the Journal of Environmental Law from 2012 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2025 she held a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship for a project exploring legal imagination and environmental law.

    • She is a Delegate of Oxford University Press and has served as Vice Dean of the Oxford Law Faculty. She is also an Overseas Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and has been a Member of the OEP’s Advisory Group on Environmental Principles since 2023.

    Caroline May

    • Caroline May has been a specialist environmental  lawyer for over 35 years. She is currently head of the environment, ESG and safety practice for Europe, Middle East and Asia at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, where she has been a partner since 2006.

    • She is Chair of the Law Society Climate Change Committee which produced the world’s first professional services guidance on climate change.

    • She is Honorary President of the Legal Sustainability Alliance and a former Director of leading sustainability NGO, the Aldersgate Group. She sat on the National Council of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA) for 6 years.

    • She is a Freeman of the City of London and is listed in the Ends Power List 2024, as a Green Ambassador for the UK by Legal 500, and in the Guide to the World’s Leading Environmental Lawyers.

    Professor Dan Laffoley

    • Professor Dan Laffoley is a scientist, communicator, explorer and marine biologist, with over four decades of experience in the UK, Europe and around the world.  He is a UK and international expert on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and conservation.

    • He is Emeritus Marine Vice Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s World Commission on Protected Areas responsible for global targets and guidance on ocean protection.

    • Prior to that he led the development and scale-up of the marine conservation work of Natural England and English Nature. He has been responsible for the creation of many global, European and UK public and private sector partnerships, alliances and frameworks that underpin modern-day marine conservation.

    • This work includes creating the concept behind Blue Carbon, scaling up knowledge and action on ocean warming, acidification and deoxygenation, scaling-up work on marine World Heritage and conservation of the High Seas, and various global guidance on implementing MPAs and marine spatial planning.

    Dr Paul Leinster CBE

    • Dr Paul Leinster CBE has over 40 years of practical experience in environmental management, science, policy and regulatory development and implementation in the private and public sectors.

    • He is Chair of Water Resources East, the Cambridge Water Scarcity Group, the Bedfordshire Local Nature Partnership, the Great Ouse Rivers Trust, and the Upper and Bedford Ouse Catchment Partnership and is a Board Member of Delphic HSE.

    • He is a visiting professor at Cranfield University where from October 2015 to December 2020 he was Professor of Environmental Assessment and was a Member of the Government’s Natural Capital Committee.

    • Immediately prior to this, he was Chief Executive of the Environment Agency for more than seven years. Prior to joining the EA in 1998 he worked for more than 20 years in the private sector.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cyngor Dinas Belfast

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cyngor Dinas Belfast

    Rhaglen Dinasyddion Creadigol Belfast 2024.

    | Yn 2020 cyhoeddodd Cyngor Dinas Belfast strategaeth ddiwylliannol 10 mlynedd oedd wedi’i gyd-ddylunio, A City Imagining, er mwyn datblygu “a people-focused approach to cultural development by facilitating citizen, community and creative, cultural and heritage sector participation”. Yn y strategaeth roedd yna gynlluniau ar gyfer digwyddiad diwylliant, Belfast 2024, sef prosiect “sbarduno” blwyddyn o hyd a fwriadwyd i roi gwerthoedd y strategaeth ar waith, gan ymgysylltu’n uniongyrchol â chymunedau o fewn y strategaeth, a sadio’r momentwm tuag at greadigrwydd fel grym ar gyfer datblygu dinesig a rhanbarthol. Un peth oedd yn ganolog i Belfast 2024 oedd y rhaglen Dinasyddion Creadigol, sef ymgysylltiad cyhoeddus helaeth a pharhaus nid yn unig i gyd-ddylunio’r rhaglen, y themâu a’r gweithgareddau am y flwyddyn, ond i rymuso dinasyddion a chymunedau mewn gwirionedd. Trwy ddull cyllidebu cyfranogol o’r enw The Bank of Ideas, y dinasyddion oedd yn penderfynu’n uniongyrchol ar ddyrannu’r gyllideb, gan gynnig a dewis prosiectau creadigol ar gyfer y ddinas. Yn ogystal â throsglwyddo’r pŵer i wneud penderfyniadau, roedd y cynllun yn anelu at leihau’r rhwystrau oedd yn atal mynediad at gyllid er mwyn i ystod ehangach o ddinasyddion, grwpiau cymunedol a sefydliadau eraill gymryd rhan.

    Yn fersiwn gyntaf y cynllun yn 2024, cyflwynwyd 93 o syniadau i’r cyhoedd mewn diwrnod pleidleisio yn Neuadd y Ddinas, gyda mwy na 2000 o bleidleiswyr yn penderfynu beth ddylai fynd yn ei flaen. O ganlyniad, cynhaliwyd 28 o brosiectau a drefnwyd gan grwpiau cymunedol, mudiadau gwirfoddol a phractisau creadigol bach mewn cymunedau a chymdogaethau ledled Belfast.  Roedd y prosiectau’n cynnwys carnifal amrywiaeth, llyfrgell deithiol, theatr ryngweithiol aml-synhwyraidd i blant ag anableddau, a phrosiectau bioamrywiaeth oedd yn defnyddio creadigrwydd fel offeryn ar gyfer addysg gymunedol. Roedd y prosiectau hyn yn helpu dinasyddion a grwpiau ymylol i ddod yn fwy cysylltiedig â chymunedau lleol.

    Mae’r ymagwedd a gymerwyd gan y ddinas, sef creu’r amodau ar gyfer cyfranogiad gweithredol yn y gymdeithas trwy wrando, ymateb a grymuso cymunedau lleol, wedi cael ei chydnabod yn lleol ac yn rhyngwladol, gan ennill Gwobr Ymgysylltu Cymunedol Gwobrau Llywodraeth NILocal yn 2025 a chael ei chydnabod gan reithgor rhyngwladol Llywodraethau Lleol Dinasoedd Unedig fel yr arferion gorau o dan Agenda 21 y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar gyfer Diwylliant.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cymunedau Cryfach Barnsley

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cymunedau Cryfach Barnsley

    Gwella ardaloedd lleol trwy gydgynhyrchu gyda chymunedau.

    Yn 2013, symudodd Rhaglen Cymunedau Cryfach Cyngor Barnsley o ddarparu gwasanaethau traddodiadol i fodel partneriaeth gymunedol. Mae’n mynd ati i gynnwys cymunedau a sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil wrth ddylunio, darparu ac adolygu gwasanaethau trwy wneud penderfyniadau datganoledig.

    Er mwyn targedu adnoddau yn y ffordd fwyaf cost-effeithiol i ateb anghenion lleol, cynyddodd y cyngor gyfranogiad cymunedol, gan symud o wneud pethau ar gyfer trigolion a grwpiau cymunedol i weithio gyda nhw.

    Sefydlodd Cyngor Barnsley gynghreiriau ward, bob un gydag aelodau etholedig a chynrychiolwyr cymunedol, cyllideb ddatganoledig, a phwerau penderfynu. Roedd y cynghreiriau ward yn cynnwys trigolion a grwpiau lleol i lywio blaenoriaethau cyffredin lleol a dyraniad cyllidebau. Mae’r strategaethau maen nhw wedi’u cydgynllunio ar draws Barnsley wedi cynyddu’r ymrwymiad a’r cyfranogiad lleol. Cynhyrchwyd cynllun sbwriel a throseddau amgylcheddol ar gyfer 2024 i 2030 ar y cyd ag aelodau o’r gymuned a gwirfoddolwyr y mae eu profiadau wedi llywio’r strategaeth, gan feithrin perchnogaeth gyffredin.

    Mae’r newid yma i weithio gyda’r gymuned leol yn golygu bod mwy o gymunedau yn cymryd rhan mewn penderfyniadau lleol, bod yna gynnydd yn yr oriau gwirfoddoli ac yn nifer y grwpiau lleol sy’n weithredol yn yr ardal. Mae’r pwerau i ddyrannu cyllidebau o fewn cynghreiriau ward wedi cefnogi ystod o brosiectau lleol, ac wedi grymuso cymunedau i ddod at ei gilydd, a theimlo’n unedig mewn ymdeimlad o falchder yn eu hardal. 

    Mae’r effaith gymunedol yma wedi cyfrannu at gydnabyddiaeth genedlaethol i Gyngor Barnsley, gan ennill teitl Cyngor y Flwyddyn gan y Local Government Chronicle a gwobr Awdurdod Lleol y Flwyddyn gan y Municipal Journal yn 2023, yr unig gyngor i ennill y ddwy wobr yn yr un flwyddyn.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: AllChild a Better Society Capital

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: AllChild a Better Society Capital

    Comisiynu hyblyg ar gyfer gweithredu cynnar effeithiol.

    Mae AllChild yn elusen a grëwyd i harneisio adnoddau cymunedol i weithio gydag ysgolion, awdurdodau lleol, dyngarwyr, y llywodraeth a’r sector gwirfoddol a chymunedol i wella cyfleoedd bywyd i’r 20% o blant sy’n wynebu’r risg fwyaf o ganlyniadau gwael. Mae’r rhaglen yn becyn dwy flynedd dwys o gymorth wedi’i deilwra i gryfderau, anghenion a dyheadau unigryw pob plentyn.

    O ran ei fodel cyllido, mae AllChild yn cael ei gefnogi drwy waith comisiynu sy’n seiliedig ar ganlyniadau, sy’n gweld buddsoddwyr cymdeithasol fel Better Society Capital yn sianelu arian trwy reolwyr cronfeydd i ddarparu cyfalaf gweithio i’r sefydliad. Mae’r comisiynydd, yn yr achos hwn llywodraeth leol, yn talu allan unwaith y bydd canlyniadau targed yn cael eu cyrraedd, megis gwell lles i blant. Mae’r model cyllido hwn yn lleihau’r risg ariannol i gyrff cyhoeddus, a thrwy hynny yn hybu buddsoddiadau mewn rhaglenni arloesol a hyblyg.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Mae contractau sy’n seiliedig ar ganlyniadau yn rhoi hyblygrwydd a chynaliadwyedd i sefydliadau’r sector cymdeithasol, gan eu galluogi i greu partneriaethau â’r rhanddeiliaid gan gynnwys y sector cyhoeddus lleol, dyngarwyr a buddsoddwyr, wrth ddarparu gwasanaethau effeithiol sydd wedi’u teilwra.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ODIHR’s latest report adds to the mountain of evidence detailing serious concerns with Russia’s actions in Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    ODIHR’s latest report adds to the mountain of evidence detailing serious concerns with Russia’s actions in Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE

    Ambassador Holland condemns Russia’s appalling actions in Ukraine – including civilians deaths, CRSV and widespread use of torture – as detailed in ODIHR’s seventh interim report on reported violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.  Today I would like to address the issue of civilian casualties from Russia’s war in Ukraine.

    Firstly, every death in this conflict is a tragedy.  These are people, not statistics, and for each life lost, many more are destroyed as a result.  We cannot allow the normalisation of such death and destruction here or anywhere else.

    Secondly, we must remember that Russia chose to start this war.  There was no threat to Russia or Russians or Russian speakers in Ukraine.  What Russia feared was Ukraine escaping Moscow’s orbit.  It feared a prosperous, successful and sovereign Ukraine on its doorstep.  The responsibility for the increased risk to Russians, Ukrainians and our collective security sits squarely with Moscow.

    But just as President Putin chose to start this war, he could choose to end it.  President Trump has called for the senseless killing to stop and proposed an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.  Ukraine agreed to it.  Russia rejected it.  Despite Moscow’s attempts to obfuscate, these are the facts.

    Thirdly, Mr Chair, when it comes to civilian casualties, let us remember that Ukraine permits access to independent organisations who provide impartial reporting and verification of developments on the ground.  Many of these, including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, have requested equal access to Russia.  But these requests have been denied.  We strongly urge Russia to allow access by independent international bodies who can offer impartial analysis of incidents in the Russian Federation, which would be of benefit to all OSCE participating States.

    A timely example of factual reporting from an independent organisation, this week ODIHR published their seventh interim report on reported violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine.  The report covers some of the deeply concerning issues that we have raised in this room.  For example, ODIHR reported that in the six months to 31 May 2025, the number of verified civilian casualties in Government-controlled areas of Ukraine was over 50% higher than in the corresponding period in 2024.

    ODIHR’s report also covered the 4 April attack on Kryvyi Rih, which involved a Russian ballistic missile hitting a playground and killing 20 civilians, including nine children.  Colleagues will remember that we held a Special Permanent Council on this shocking incident.  ODIHR states: “Following analysis of photographs and videos, as well as eye-witness statements and other publicly available evidence, ODIHR has reasonable grounds to believe that, contrary to the Russian Federation’s claims, there were no military objectives in the area immediately prior to or at the time of the strike.”

    There is much more of concern in ODIHR’s report, including testimony that conflict-related sexual violence is intensifying and increasingly cruel.  And the reconfirmation of ODIHR’s previous findings on the widespread and systematic use of torture by the Russian authorities against detained Ukrainian civilians and POWs. We are appalled by these findings and urge the full implementation of the recommendations within the report.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 16 year olds to be given right to vote through seismic government election reforms

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    16 year olds to be given right to vote through seismic government election reforms

    Sixteen year olds will be given the right to vote in all UK elections as part of seismic changes to modernise UK democracy

    • Modernisation of UK democracy will see 16 and 17 year olds able to vote in next general election
    • Voter ID to be extended to include bank cards to help more people exercise their democratic right
    • Tougher new rules to guard against foreign political interference and abuse of campaigners

    Sixteen year olds will be given the right to vote in all UK elections as part of seismic changes to modernise UK democracy, delivering a key manifesto commitment and helping to restore trust in politics through our Plan for Change.         

    This will mean young people, who already contribute to society by working, paying taxes and serving in the military, will be given the right to vote on the issues that affect them. This will bring UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales and is a major step towards meeting a manifesto commitment, ushering in the biggest change to UK democracy in a generation. 

    The plans, published today [17 July] in a new strategy paper, will boost democratic engagement in a changing world, and help to restore trust in UK democracy.     

    As part of the plans, the government is going further to make sure eligible voters are not deterred from voting, by expanding voter ID to permit the use of UK-issued bank cards as an accepted form of ID at the polling station. This is alongside harnessing more digital options to support voters and polling station staff, including allowing accepted IDs such as the Veteran Card and UK driving licence to be used at polling stations when they become available in digital format.  

    A new digital Voter Authority Certificate will also be created to ensure Electoral Registration Officers can meet the digital needs of voters, reduce printing costs and ensure faster delivery.  

    An increasingly automated voter registration system will also make it easier for people to register to vote and reduce the need to fill out their details across different government services on multiple occasions.      

    Major new changes will boost transparency and accountability in politics by closing loopholes that would allow foreign donors via ‘shell companies’ to influence UK political parties. Meanwhile, new requirements on unincorporated associations will mandate checks on donations over £500 to tackle foreign interference and protect UK democracy from those who attempt to undermine it.   

    Alongside this, the reforms will allow the Electoral Commission to take action and enforce heavier fines of up to £500,000 on those who breach political finance rules, and enable tougher sentences for those who abuse election campaigners – stabilising the foundations of UK democracy.     

    Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said:       

    “For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline.       

    “We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change, and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give sixteen year olds the right to vote.   

    “We cannot take our democracy for granted, and by protecting our elections from abuse and boosting participation we will strengthen the foundations of our society for the future.”       

    Minister for Democracy, Rushanara Ali, said:    

    “We are modernising our democracy, so that it is fit for the 21st century. By delivering our manifesto commitment to extend the vote to 16 and 17 year olds, we are taking a generational step forward in restoring public trust and boosting engagement in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change.    

    “By reinforcing safeguards against foreign interference, we will strengthen our democratic institutions and protect them for future generations.”   

    Alongside expanding the right to vote, we are going further to restore and maintain public trust by ensuring elections are as accessible as possible for legitimate voters.      

    That’s why the government is making common sense changes to move towards an automated electoral registration system, stripping complexities and barriers for voters to make their lives easier. Learning from countries such as Australia and Canada, which have high rates of legitimate voter registration via automated systems, the government will bring the UK’s democracy into the 21st century.    

    At the same time, far too many people are being deterred from voting because of voter ID rules, with the Electoral Commission finding that 4% of non-voters at the 2024 General Election saying that a lack of voter ID was a key reason they didn’t vote, equating to around three quarters of a million people across Great Britain.   

    Boosting participation is crucial to restoring faith in democracy, and adding the Veteran ID card last year to the accepted forms of Voter ID was just the start of this. Through the new plans, the government is going further to allow UK-issued bank cards to be used as ID when voting, making it far easier for more voters to meet the requirements.     

    This change will allow us to continue to protect the integrity of the UK electoral system, while allowing greater accessibility. Bank cards, which are issued after the applicant has passed necessary security checks for a bank account, will add a widely and commonly carried item to the range of documents already accepted. Research on the ownership of bank cards shows that over 96% of the UK population has a bank account, with the majority expected to also have a bank card.   

    These measures will strike the right balance by continuing to protect voters from the risk of impersonation, while also removing barriers to ensure legitimate voters are not prevented or discouraged from exercising their right to vote.      

    Another key aspect of the reforms is ensuring UK democracy is protected and all voters, candidates, campaigners and electoral staff are safe from intimidation, harassment and abuse.    

    This behaviour is on the rise, particularly against women and ethnic minorities – with recent Electoral Commission research showing 55% of candidates at the 2024 General Election experienced abuse. The reforms will crack down on these unacceptable practices, delivering tougher sentences for those who intimidate campaigners and stronger protections for candidates in public life by removing the requirement for their home address to be published and openly available.    

    This supports ongoing work including through the Defending Democracy Taskforce, which was given a new mandate by the Prime Minister to coordinate and drive forward government’s response to the full range of threats to UK democracy.    

    That includes working across government with the police, parliamentary authorities, and the Electoral Commission to actively review our levers to tackle the harassment and intimidation of elected representatives, candidates, and electoral staff.  

    In relation to political finance, the changes being brought by the government will effectively meet an evolving and sophisticated threat of illicit money being funnelled from abroad to political parties. Tough new rules will ensure that in the future, ‘shell companies’ will not be permitted to make political donations to UK political parties.  

    This will end the status quo, where a new company registered today, owned by anyone, funded from anywhere, without even a single day of trade, can donate and have influence in UK politics.     

    The introduction of ‘Know your Donor’ checks will increase scrutiny of donations, requiring recipients to conduct enhanced checks to decrease the risk of illegitimate donations entering our system, guarding against foreign interference. This will close loopholes, reinforce our democracy and protect our citizens from those who seek to undermine and harm our society.    

    Further information:      

    • To deliver these changes, we will bring forward an elections bill. The bill will deliver the Government’s manifesto commitments and wider ambitions set out in this Strategy by putting in place the legislation required for these important reforms.
    • A subsequent programme of secondary legislation will set out the detail for implementation and we will provide more detail on implementation timings in due course.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sadiq to host first-ever mayoral London-Africa business summit to attract new foreign investment to the capital and boost trade links across the continent

    Source: Mayor of London

    • Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announces City Hall’s first-ever London-Africa business summit to be held next year
    • Sadiq is in Africa this week – he is the first ever London Mayor to lead a trade delegation to the continent to drive trade and investment and strengthen cultural links
    • Summit in London next year will bring together entrepreneurs and investors, state officials, mayors, trade groups and stock exchanges from across the African continent, to attract foreign investment to the capital and boost trade links
    • Sadiq declares that expanding ties with Africa will be key to delivering his international trade ambitions for London
    • New figures reveal that UK bilateral trade with Africa is currently worth almost £50 billion [1] and projected to be worth £62 billion by 2030

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that City Hall will host its first-ever London-Africa business summit next year as he revealed that the UK’s bilateral trade with the African continent is likely to reach £62 billion ($79 billion) by 2030. [2]

    The Summit will bring together entrepreneurs and investors, state officials, mayors, trade groups and stock exchanges from across the continent, with the aim of promoting London as the best global city for African businesses to expand and invest in.

    It will focus on strengthening trade and investment links both ways, and the opportunities that can be unlocked for both London and Africa via key growth sectors, including fintech, creative industries, education and sustainability.

    The announcement comes as Sadiq this week leads a trade mission to Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa to bang the drum for London as a place to invest and do business, making him the first London Mayor to do so.

    The Mayor is determined to meet the goals of his Growth Plan and has doubled down on his commitment to attract foreign direct investment to help grow London’s economy by £107 billion by 2035 and create 150,000 good jobs by 2028.

    Africa’s economic growth is expected to accelerate, with several African countries projected to rank among the top 10 fastest-growing economies globally in 2025. [3]

    The bilateral trade relationship between Africa and the UK has shown consistent growth over recent years, despite global challenges. More businesses from London expand into Africa than from any other city globally and the UK stands as one of Africa’s significant trading partners, with trade between the UK and Africa worth nearly £50 billion ($63 billion) in 2024 and UK exports up seven per cent year on year [4].

    Since 2013, London has been the leading destination city for African FDI in Europe and the US with 72 projects, and ranks as the second most popular destination globally outside Africa — behind only Dubai (202 projects) and ahead of Paris (63 projects). [5] Over the past decade, there have been a total of 71 projects recorded from Africa to London, accounting for an estimated £578 million in Capital Expenditure and creating 2,145 jobs. [6]

    Sadiq is visiting Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa this week to build on extensive connections between the region and the capital’s growing African diaspora, and boost trade links with London. Alongside the visit, the Mayor’s growth agency London & Partners is hosting a trade delegation of 36 London-based companies that are looking to grow their business and access opportunities in Africa.   

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Trade between the UK and Africa is projected to be worth £62 billion by 2030. Whether its their tech start ups or business and financial services, London is perfectly placed to benefit from Africa’s growth.

    “Today I am announcing that City Hall will host the first-ever mayoral London-Africa business summit to tap into the huge economic opportunities that a strong, mutual relationship with the continent can bring.

    “Expanding ties with Africa will be key to delivering our international trade ambitions, creating thousands of good jobs in the next five years and beyond.

    “London has a rich history with the continent through our diaspora communities. I’m proud to be the first Mayor of London to visit Africa to drive trade and investment and strengthen our cultural links as we work to build a better, more prosperous city for everyone.”

    With nearly eight per cent of Londoners being of African heritage [7] and African students studying in London accounting for four per cent of all international students, half of whom are studying at post-graduate level, [8] the Summit will be a landmark opportunity for London to build on its strong cultural links and history with the African continent.

    The Mayor is keen to tap into Africa’s successes as a growing tech hub and has already begun to establish relationships with cities leading in this space, including Lagos in Nigeria which has generated five tech ‘unicorns’ [9] – startup companies valued at over US$1 billion – and is ranked as the world’s fastest-growing tech hub by global data analysts Dealroom [10].

    Accra, the capital of Ghana has also been highlighted by Dealroom [11] as an up-and-coming business sector with a tech hub that punches above its weight in innovation startup activity, research output, and university-industry collaboration.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “London is a global city, where the world comes to do business.

    “The UK is committed to a new approach with African countries – rooted in partnership, not paternalism and built on mutual respect. By bringing together investors, innovators and decisions-makers the London-Africa Business Summit will strengthen those ties and unlock growth and prosperity.

    Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners said: “We’re proud to be joining the Mayor on this historic visit to Africa. It’s an exciting opportunity to explore the continent’s dynamic growth sectors, as well as discovering how their innovation and ambition can inspire new approaches back home in London. With next year’s first Africa–London Summit, this trip is a pivotal moment to build lasting partnerships, unlock new opportunities, and strengthen business ties between our regions.”

    Adjoba Kyiamah, Executive Director of the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, said: “We welcome the Mayor’s first-ever London-Africa business summit next year, to forge deeper, mutually prosperous ties between London and Ghana.

    “As Accra continues to emerge as a vibrant tech hub, this summit will be a crucial platform to unlock new opportunities, benefiting businesses and ensuring economic prosperity in both London and Accra.

    “As the leading private sector voice of the UK-Ghana business community in Ghana, we are committed to promoting bilateral trade and investment between Ghana and the UK. We are thus encouraged by the summit’s focus on key growth sectors such as fintech, creative industries, education, and sustainability, which hold immense potential for mutual prosperity.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor of London joins leaders in Accra to announce ‘historic’ new memorial site for victims of Transatlantic Slavery

    Source: Mayor of London

    • New memorial in Accra will stand testament to the one million people who were trafficked from the Gold Coast (present day Ghana) as part of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
    • Planned artwork in Accra and Freetown will be first of a global network linked to the landmark memorial planned in London & funded by the Mayor
    • Sadiq made the announcement during his trade mission to Africa

    The first of a global network of memorials to victims of Transatlantic Slavery will be created in Ghana, linked to the landmark memorial planned in London, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Mayor of Accra Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey announced today.

    The Mayor of London joined his counterpart in Accra to unveil plans for the memorial, as part of his historic five-day trade mission to Africa, as he continues to strengthen ties with countries across the continent.

    Sadiq announced last year that ‘The Wake’ by Khaleb Brooks had been selected as the Memorial to Victims of Transatlantic Slavery in London, with £500,000 funding from the Mayor. The first of its scale and profile in the UK, the new memorial will be located in West India Quay in London Docklands. A number of smaller memorials will be installed at other locations that have connections to the trade of enslaved people, recognising that the legacy of Transatlantic Slavery is still present the capital.

    Accra in Ghana will host the first of these partner memorials at a site outside its City Hall, with plans led by local leaders and communities. It will kickstart a global network of memorials that will connect back to ‘The Wake’ design in London, a seven-metre tall sculpture in the shape of a bronze cowrie shell that includes the names of enslaved people inside and a wind-chime soundscape, which is expected to be installed in 2026. Freetown in Sierra Leone will also join this global network of memorial sites. Each international partner memorial will be marked by a smaller cowrie shell artwork also designed by Khaleb Brooks.

    London played a key role in the organisation and funding of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. While there are some monuments commemorating abolition in Ghana, and many statues and buildings reflecting the wealth and power the slave trade created internationally, more needs to be done to remember the millions of people who were enslaved and abused as a result – along with its impact on generations of Africans around the world.

    All of the partner memorials will involve programmes educating future generations about the connections between London’s wealth and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The new partner memorial in Accra will recognise the lasting and devastating impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and stand testament to the one million people who were trafficked from the Gold Coast (present day Ghana) across the world.

    Sadiq is this week visiting Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa to build on extensive connections between the countries and the capital’s growing African diaspora, and boost trade links with London.

    The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I’m honoured to join the Mayor of Accra to announce the first partner memorial to Victims of Transatlantic Slavery. This painful history continues to shape global society, and remembering the horrors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade is essential for us to understand ongoing inequalities today.

    “This historic artwork will directly connect to the landmark memorial we are creating in London, providing a place to educate people about of the capital’s role in this terrible episode in human history.

    It’s now more important than ever that we commit to confronting these difficult parts of our history so that we can remember the millions of lives that were changed forever, but also learn from it.”

    Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Mayor of Accra, said: “The new memorial to be mounted in Accra marks an important and solemn moment for our city and for Ghana as a whole and will stand as a powerful reminder of the resilience of those who were enslaved and of our shared responsibility to remember and honour their lives.

    “Hosting the first of these partner memorials in Accra, we hope to create a space for reflection, education, and healing to educate future generations of the painful chapter of our history and its enduring impact. This initiative, in partnership with the Mayor of London, will no doubt help in fostering dialogue and building stronger connections between the two communities.

    “On behalf of the city of Accra, we are grateful to Mayor Sadiq Khan and the people of London for their commitment to telling this story in a way that transcends borders.”

    Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, said: “I welcome the official plans for the first partner memorial site in Accra, Ghana which will link back to the memorial being created for London as part of a global network of locations educating future generations on the history and legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

    “When complete, this memorial will bring to light a history that should never be forgotten, marks a past that we must learn from, and reminds us of our collective duty to creating a better society. Only by educating our current and future generations and actively working to tackle the inequalities of today, can we build a fairer London and world for all.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Elizabeth South

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash at Elizabeth South.

    The single vehicle collision occurred on Philip Highway, Elizabeth South at 6.40pm on Thursday 17 July.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.

    Emergency crews are expected to remain at the scene for several hours.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New affordable homes ready to welcome tenants

    Source: City of Derby

    Six new affordable and sustainable homes built on the site of a former day centre have been completed.

    Councillor Shiraz Khan officially took possession of the new homes on behalf of Derby City Council at a handover ceremony at Brentford Drive, Mackworth on Wednesday 16 July.

    The project saw the demolition of two older properties on a site identified as suitable for redevelopment to make way for the modern, energy-efficient residences which will help address the city’s housing needs.

    The six two-bedroom homes, funded by the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme, are owned by the Council and managed by Derby Homes.

    Built by appointed contractor Mercer Building Solutions Limited, these homes have been given A-rated Energy Performance Certificates due to high levels of insulation, air source heat pumps, and photovoltaic panels, all designed to keep energy bills low and to reduce carbon emissions. Each house also includes off-road parking for one car and car charging points.

    Providing new council homes is a key priority for the Council to address the large numbers waiting for suitable properties. As of 30 September 2024, 8,030 applicants were actively looking for affordable homes through the Council’s lettings system, Homefinder.

    Councillor Shiraz Khan, Derby City Council said:

    It is no secret that the UK is facing a major housing shortage, particularly for those seeking affordable accommodation to rent.

    In Derby, the need for more affordable housing is acute, and that’s why creating new Council homes is so vital. These properties play a key role in helping us meet some of that pressing demand, offering our tenants not just a roof over their heads, but a high-quality, modern, and energy-efficient living space.

    We’re dedicated to increasing our affordable housing provision, because we firmly believe that everyone deserves a secure and comfortable home.

    A lack of suitable and available land is one of the reasons for the shortage of properties, and the Council continually reviews its underused assets to assess their potential for redevelopment. Last year saw 208 additional affordable homes provided in the city and 102 of those were delivered by Derby City Council.

    Katy Mercer, Director at Mercer Building Solutions Ltd said:

    We’re incredibly proud to have delivered these high-quality, energy-efficient homes for Derby City Council.

    At Mercer Building Solutions, we are committed to building not just houses, but sustainable communities. These new homes reflect our dedication to innovation, environmental responsibility, and meeting the real housing needs of local people.

    It’s been a privilege to work on a project that will have such a positive and lasting impact.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cyngor Dinas Caergrawnt

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cyngor Dinas Caergrawnt

    Adeiladu nodau cyffredin a chysoni â’r strategaeth adeiladu cyfoeth cymunedol

    Mae gan Gyngor Dinas Caergrawnt strategaeth wrth-dlodi ers 2014 a honno wedi’i chynllunio i fynd i’r afael â thlodi ac anghydraddoldeb. Dros y deng mlynedd diwethaf mae dull y cyngor wedi esblygu. Er mwyn mynd i’r afael ag achosion hirdymor dwfn tlodi, cydnabu’r cyngor fod angen iddyn nhw weithredu dull cyffredin sy’n cyfuno arweinyddiaeth gan y cyngor a chydweithio â chymunedau lleol ac ystod o bartneriaid lleol a rhanddeiliaid allweddol i godi eu heffaith ar y cyd i’r eithaf. Arweiniodd hyn at ddatblygu strategaeth Adeiladu Cyfoeth Cymunedol (CWB), a fabwysiadwyd yn 2024.

    Nod dull CWB yw mynd i’r afael ag achosion tlodi trwy weithio’n gyfannol ar draws y sectorau tuag at weledigaeth a nod cyffredin gyda’r holl randdeiliaid; trwy gyfuno asedau, cyfrifoldebau statudol a rôl ymgynnull y cyngor â’r gwasanaethau, y dulliau a’r perthnasoedd y gall y sectorau cymunedol, gwirfoddol, busnes a chyhoeddus eu darparu.

    Mae yna themâu allweddol sy’n sail i ddull CWB y Cyngor, gan gynnwys:

    • sicrhau bod dull cyfannol ar y cyd o fynd i’r afael â thlodi bob amser yng nghanol rhaglenni a phrosiectau yn y dyfodol; gweithio ar draws sefydliadau a sectorau er mwyn creu atebion

    • sut y gall y cyngor archwilio cyfleoedd i ddefnyddio’u harweinyddiaeth a’u hasedau i gynhyrchu cyfoeth yn ôl i’r gymuned, gan gynnwys gwerth cymdeithasol o gontractau a thrwy ddefnyddio adeiladau a thir y cyngor yn well

    • gweithio gyda’r sector preifat lleol i gefnogi economi lleol cynaliadwy a chynhwysol

    Un enghraifft o egwyddorion newydd strategaeth CWB yw prosiect Shaping Abbey. Mae Shaping Abbey yn dwyn ynghyd drigolion lleol, y gymdeithas sifil a phartneriaid o’r sector preifat, ochr yn ochr â buddsoddiad o £100 miliwn a gefnogir gan y cyngor a Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i ailddatblygu rhannau o Ward Abbey yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Caergrawnt. Yma, mae trigolion a grwpiau cymunedol wedi bod yn rhan annatod o lunio dyfodol Ward Abbey, ac wedi bod yn rhan o sgyrsiau Shaping Abbey, lle mae lleisiau cymunedol wedi bod yn ganolog i ddatblygiad yr ardal. Mae rhaglen gysylltiedig Focus on Abbey yn darparu cyllid ar gyfer prosiectau cymunedol lleol.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Trwy eu strategaeth CWB, datblygodd Cyngor Dinas Caergrawnt ddull partneriaeth newydd gyda sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil leol, a rhanddeiliaid lleol ehangach, ar sail gweledigaeth gyffredin i fynd i’r afael â thlodi ledled y ddinas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Calderdale

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Calderdale

    Cydnabod gwerth y VCSE ar gyfer dyfodol ffyniannus.

    Mae strategaeth VCSE Cyngor Calderdale 2024-2029 yn cydnabod rôl hanfodol y sector Mentrau Gwirfoddol, Cymunedol a Chymdeithasol (VCSE) yn Calderdale. Mae’n gwerthfawrogi’r VCSE fel partner allweddol wrth gyflawni’r weledigaeth leol o fod yn lle mentrus, llawn cyfleoedd, lle gall pawb fyw bywyd ehangach.

    Adeg ei chreu, roedd grwpiau’r VCSE yn wynebu llai o gyllid o’r sector cyhoeddus, costau cynyddol, a galw cynyddol am eu gwasanaethau. Roedd prinder staff, cyflog is, a llai o wirfoddolwyr yn ychwanegu at y pwysau. Un peth sy’n ganolog i’w datblygiad a’i gweithredu oedd cydnabyddiaeth Cyngor Calderdale o werth ac arbenigedd cynhenid y sector VCSE.

    Mae’r strategaeth, sydd wedi’i chydgynhyrchu gyda chynrychiolwyr y VCSE, yn cydnabod natur amrywiol a chymhleth y sector VCSE a’i heffaith arwyddocaol ar drigolion a chymunedau Calderdale. Mae’n cydnabod cyfraniad y sector i’r gymdeithas yn ogystal â’r economi lleol. Nododd ymchwil iechyd a lles lleol yn 2023 fod cyfanswm gwerth y VCSE yn Calderdale oddeutu £549.5 miliwn. Mae’r ffigur yma yn cynnwys gwariant y sector, y gwerth a gynhyrchir gan wirfoddolwyr cyson, a gwerth a grëwyd i ddefnyddwyr gwasanaethau.

    Mae Cyngor Calderdale wedi ymgorffori cydnabyddiaeth o rôl y VCSE mewn sawl strategaeth arall yn y fwrdeistref. Un enghraifft allweddol yw Strategaeth yr Economi Cynhwysol, sy’n gweld sector VCSE ffyniannus yn sylfaenol i gyflawni economi cynhwysol. Yn Calderdale, mae’r VCSE yn rhan allweddol o’r economi lleol, gan gyflogi dros 5,000 o bobl, a chefnogi 13,000 fel gwirfoddolwyr. Fel rhan o Strategaeth yr Economi Cynhwysol, bydd Calderdale yn ceisio archwilio mwy o lwybrau gyrfa i bobl ifanc yn y sector VCSE lleol, gan ddarparu mwy o gyfleoedd i bobl ifanc aros yn Calderdale, gyda mynediad at waith o ansawdd da.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells receives new flood warning service

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells receives new flood warning service

    New warning for Southborough Stream. 106 properties in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells to benefit. Households urged to register for new, more targeted, service.

    Southborough Stream, which now benefits from an improved flood warning system.

    The Environment Agency has announced that they’ll be offering a new flood warning service to 106 properties in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, Kent, for the Southborough Stream.

    Parts of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells are at risk of flooding from the Southborough Stream, which drains the north of the main Tunbridge Wells urban area, flowing north towards its meeting with the River Medway, east of Tonbridge. This stream was previously included as part of a wider flood alert area for the middle Medway and had no existing flood warning service. A new flood alert and flood warning area has now been created for the stream to allow more than 100 properties to be better prepared for flooding.

    The new areas have been created by targeting groups of households where during periods of flood risk, the chances of flooding might be greater than the larger surrounding area. This will make the flood warnings they receive more targeted and enable the homeowners to take the steps they need to respond in good time. 

    Flood Warnings tell people about an imminent risk of flooding to their home or business and helps people make informed decisions about how to respond. There are three types of warning – flood alert, flood warning and severe flood warning. Each warning type is triggered by particular weather, or river or sea conditions that cause flooding.

    Householders are encouraged to prepare if they receive a flood alert, which could mean packing a bag that includes medicines, insurance documents and anything else they wouldn’t want to lose if flooding were to take place.

    A flood warning calls on people to act now which means turning off gas, water and electricity and moving family and pets to safety.

    A severe flood warning means you are in immediate danger and to follow advice from emergency services.

    Henry Bethell, Environment Agency flood resilience team leader for Kent, said:

    We know the devastating impact that flooding can have, which is why protecting people and communities is our top priority. However, the climate emergency means we cannot prevent all flooding – so we’re working to make communities resilient to future flooding.

    We want to ensure that everyone has as much time as possible to prepare for flooding, which is why we’re pleased that people in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells will now be able to receive our free flood warning service for the Southborough Stream.

    Home and business owners will be automatically enrolled to the flood warning service via their mobile network. However, to get the most benefit out of the service the Environment Agency is encouraging people to register directly with them by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188, or visiting www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings where they can register preferred contact details. 

    Background:

    • 6.3 million properties in England are at risk of flooding.
    • With climate change projections, 8 million properties could be at risk of flooding by mid-century.
    • The average cost of flood damage to a home is £30,000.
    • The average cost of flooding to a business is £82,000.
    • If you are flooded, temporary accommodation costs on average £10,000.
    • If you are flooded you are likely to be out of your home for an average of 5 months.
    • Know what to do when you receive a flood warning and download a personal flood plan – www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-alerts-and-warnings-what-they-are-and-what-to-do.

    All Environment Agency news releases, both area and national, can be found under Announcements at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency.

    Follow us on Twitter, now known as X: @envagencyse

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Clymblaid Troseddau Cyllyll y Swyddfa Gartref

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Clymblaid Troseddau Cyllyll y Swyddfa Gartref

    Dull wedi’i seilio ar bartneriaeth o leihau troseddau cyllyll.

    Mae’r Glymblaid i Fynd i’r Afael â Throseddau Cyllyll, a lansiwyd gan y Prif Weinidog ym mis Medi 2024, yn bartneriaeth o unigolion sydd â phrofiad byw, y gymdeithas sifil, a grwpiau ymgyrchu. Mae wedi mabwysiadu dull partneriaeth gyda’r llywodraeth er mwyn haneru troseddau cyllyll o fewn degawd.

    Mae’r cydweithrediad yn dod â dealltwriaeth ddofn o ymyriadau a all helpu i atal troseddau cyllyll, gan ddod â’r safbwyntiau hyn i mewn i’r gwaith o greu polisïau a rhaglenni i fynd i’r afael â’r mater.

    Mae’r Swyddfa Gartref hefyd yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid y Glymblaid i roi llwyfan i lais ieuenctid a’u safbwyntiau ar y materion craidd ynglŷn â throseddau cyllyll, gan gynyddu diogelwch y cyhoedd a chefnogi’r rhai sydd ei angen fwyaf, gan sicrhau bod profiadau byw pobl ifanc yn cyfrannu at lunio polisi’r Llywodraeth.

    Un enghraifft allweddol lle mae’r Glymblaid yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â’r llywodraeth yw’r cyfraniad gwerthfawr a wnaeth er mwyn llywio’r broses o ddatblygu polisi a dylunio’r trefniadau ildio estynedig ar gyfer cleddyfau ninja, cleddyfau ac arfau eraill.  

    Gydag aelod o’r Glymblaid FazAmnesty a Word 4 Weapons, mae’r llywodraeth yn cyflwyno trefniadau estynedig ar gyfer ildio arfau drwy fis Gorffennaf 2025. Mae FazAmnesty yn gweithredu fan ildio symudol yn Llundain Fwyaf, Gorllewin Canolbarth Lloegr, a Manceinion Fwyaf, tra bydd Word 4 Weapons yn darparu biniau ildio dienw yn yr ardaloedd hynny ar gyfer cyllyll ac arfau eraill, gan gynnwys cleddyfau ninja.

    Mae’r mentrau hyn yn darparu opsiynau diogel i bobl ifanc ildio arfau peryglus, gan wneud ein strydoedd yn fwy diogel a thynnu mwy o arfau o gymunedau.

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    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cytundeb VCFSE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cytundeb VCFSE

    (Mentrau Gwirfoddol, Cymunedol, Crefyddol a Chymdeithasol) Manceinion Fwyaf (GM).

    Cafodd [Cytundeb VCFSE Manceinion Fwyaf (GM)] ](https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/communities/voluntary-community-faith-and-social-enterprise-accord/) ei lofnodi ym mis Tachwedd 2017 fel cytundeb cydweithredu rhwng cyrff cyhoeddus a’r gymdeithas sifil.

    Sefydlwyd y Cytundeb gan Awdurdod Cyfun Manceinion Fwyaf a Phartneriaeth Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol Manceinion Fwyaf gyda grŵp o arweinwyr y gymdeithas sifil wedi’u lleoli ym Manceinion Fwyaf er mwyn adeiladu perthynas a fyddai’n cydnabod ac yn datgloi potensial llawn y gymdeithas sifil i fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau yn y ddinas-ranbarth er budd y cyhoedd.

    Mae’r Cytundeb wedi helpu i godi proffil sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil gydag arweinwyr y sector cyhoeddus lleol gan fwrw goleuni ar y gwerth a’r arbenigedd y gallan nhw eu cynnig. Un bartneriaeth sy’n deillio o hynny yw Uned Lleihau Trais Manceinion Fwyaf (GMVRU) rhwng y llywodraeth, yr heddlu, iechyd, addysg, gwasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid, awdurdodau lleol, asiantaethau statudol eraill a’r gymdeithas sifil. Mae’r GMVRU wedi ymrwymo i arddel ymagwedd a arweinir gan y gymuned yn ei hymdrechion i atal trais. Mae’r dull yma yn cydnabod gwerth a chryfder sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil wrth weithio’n agos gyda chymunedau, i ddeall eu hanghenion, eu heriau a’u cryfderau mewn perthynas ag atal trais. Mae hefyd yn rhoi penderfyniadau yn nwylo cymunedau, gan gynnwys gosod blaenoriaethau a chytuno ar gyllid ar gyfer prosiectau ac ymyriadau sy’n anelu at ymgysylltu â phlant, pobl ifanc a theuluoedd.

    Mae mentrau’r VRU wedi cynnwys rhaglen StreetDoctors dan arweiniad y gymdeithas sifil, sy’n darparu sesiynau hyfforddi i bobl ifanc weithredu mewn argyfwng meddygol. Yn sgil hyn roedd 95% o’r bobl ifanc yn gwybod beth i’w wneud os byddai rhywun yn gwaedu neu’n anymwybodol, ac roedd 85% yn barod i weithredu mewn argyfwng meddygol.

    Mae [Adroddiad Interim ar Gynnydd Cytundeb VCFSE Manceinion Fwyaf] https://www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/resources/greater-manchester-vcfse-accord-interim-progress-report)  yn awgrymu gwella gwelededd y Cytundeb ac ymgorffori ei egwyddorion ar draws sefydliadau’r sector cyhoeddus. Bydd hyn yn gwella cydnabyddiaeth o werth y gymdeithas sifil ar draws Manceinion Fwyaf, a thrwy hynny yn cefnogi mwy o gyfranogiad gan VCSEs a chynyddu lleisiau dinasyddion mewn gwaith ledled Manceinion Fwyaf.

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Awdurdod Llundain Fwyaf

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Awdurdod Llundain Fwyaf

    Cynyddu ymddiriedaeth gyda’r gymdeithas sifil a chymunedau yn ystod ac ar ôl COVID.

    Yn ystod yr ymateb i’r pandemig COVID-19, bu Awdurdod Llundain Fwyaf (GLA) yn gweithio ar y cyd â chymdeithas sifil Llundain, gan gynnal byrddau crwn ar-lein, sesiynau briffio iechyd cyhoeddus, a digwyddiadau Sgwrs Fawr. Gan weithio gyda phartneriaid iechyd, chwaraeodd y fforymau hyn ran hanfodol wrth ategu profion a’r ymateb i’r brechlynnau, adeiladu ymddiriedaeth, a rhannu gwybodaeth gywir a diwylliannol gymwys.

    Yn dilyn y pandemig, roedd yna agwedd benderfynol at ddysgu’r gwersi o’r cydweithredu yma, gan ymgorffori’r dulliau yma ymhellach mewn rhaglenni brechu a gwaith i fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd. Digwyddodd hyn yn bennaf trwy Bartneriaeth Ecwiti Iechyd Etifeddol Llundain. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, parhaodd sesiynau briffio iechyd cyhoeddus, a gynullwyd ar y cyd gan y GLA a’r GIG, yn ymdrin â materion fel parodrwydd ar gyfer y gaeaf ac iechyd meddwl.

    Mae’r GLA wedi cryfhau perthnasoedd ymhellach â phartneriaid cymunedol a phartneriaid ffydd o fewn eu hymagwedd at wydnwch, gan gynnwys trwy gydgynhyrchu Partneriaeth Argyfyngau Cymunedau Llundain (LCEP), sef ymagwedd a arweinir gan y gymdeithas sifil at gydlynu parodrwydd ac ymateb i argyfyngau. Mae LCEP yn eistedd ar Fforwm Gwydnwch Llundain, ochr yn ochr â’r gwasanaethau brys ac asiantaethau cyhoeddus eraill, gan ddod â gwerth y llais a’r ddirnadaeth gymunedol i ymateb brys Llundain. Mae hyn wedi helpu i adeiladu ymddiriedaeth rhwng asiantaethau a chydweithrediad â’r gymdeithas sifil mewn ymateb i ddigwyddiadau.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Gall gweithio ar y cyd â’r gymdeithas sifil cyn, yn ystod ac ar ôl argyfyngau gryfhau gwydnwch ac, yn achos y pandemig, wella canlyniadau iechyd, megis y niferoedd a gymerodd y brechlynnau.  Gall modelau dan arweiniad y gymuned gynyddu ymddiriedaeth mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, a sicrhau bod negeseuon ac ymagwedd y llywodraeth yn ddiwylliannol gymwys. Ar ben hynny, trwy gydnabod gwerth sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil o ran cyrraedd cymunedau lleol, mae’r GLA wedi llwyddo i weithio’n effeithiol gyda’r sector i fynd i’r afael â heriau cyffredin.

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Labordy Canlyniadau Llywodraeth (GO Lab)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Labordy Canlyniadau Llywodraeth (GO Lab)

    Labordy Canlyniadau Llywodraeth, Rhannu Data, a Gweithio mewn Partneriaeth (SoF).

    Mae Labordy Canlyniadau Llywodraeth (GO Lab) yn ganolfan ymchwil a pholisi yn Ysgol Lywodraeth Blavatnik, Prifysgol Rhydychen, a sefydlwyd trwy bartneriaeth â Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Cenhadaeth y GO Lab yw galluogi’r llywodraeth i bartneru’n fwy effeithiol â’r sectorau preifat a chymdeithasol i wella bywydau pobl. Mae’r GO Lab yn cynnig canolfan gydweithredol i wella proses ddysgu’r llywodraeth yn sgil comisiynu sydd wedi’i seilio ar ganlyniadau trwy ymchwil o’r radd flaenaf, curadu a rhannu data, ac ymgysylltu’n ymatebol â pholisïau.

    Trwy fentrau fel INDIGO (y Rhwydwaith Rhyngwladol ar gyfer Data ar Effaith a Chanlyniadau Llywodraethau), mae gwaith y GO Lab yn dangos sut y gall penderfyniadau dan arweiniad data ategu perthnasoedd gweithio effeithiol ar draws sectorau. Mae INDIGO yn gydweithrediad data byd-eang sy’n rhannu data yn agored ac yn dryloyw am bartneriaethau sy’n canolbwyntio ar ganlyniadau. Mae menter INDIGO yn cynnwys cynnal cymuned o ymarferwyr, system ar gyfer rhannu data a setiau data agored sydd wedi’u cynllunio i wasanaethu fel nwyddau cyhoeddus, megis set ddata gynhwysfawr ar bartneriaethau canlyniadau cymdeithasol, a chanlyniadau a gyflawnir gan brosiectau’r Gronfa Cyfleoedd Bywyd.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Mae rhannu data agored rhwng cyrff y gymdeithas sifil a chyrff cyhoeddus yn creu cronfa dystiolaeth gyffredin ac yn gwella cyd-ddealltwriaeth, gan rymuso’r gymdeithas sifil a rhanddeiliaid eraill yr un pryd i ddeall ac ymgysylltu â mentrau’r llywodraeth yn well.

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS)

    Gwella gwasanaethau trwy fesur effaith.

    Mae Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS) yn elusen yn yr Alban sy’n helpu sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil, ymddiriedolwyr a chyllidwyr, i fesur a dangos eu heffaith trwy werthuso. Y nod yw defnyddio data a thystiolaeth ynglŷn ag effaith i lywio datblygiad polisïau yn y dyfodol; cafodd ei greu ar ôl i ymchwil ganfod nad oedd gan lawer o sefydliadau a chyllidwyr y trydydd sector (gan gynnwys cyrff cyhoeddus) mo’r sgiliau a’r adnoddau i wneud gwerthusiadau ac i ddefnyddio’r ddirnadaeth i lywio penderfyniadau.

    Mae ESS yn cael cyllid craidd gan Lywodraeth yr Alban i ddarparu gweithdai agored, cymorth wedi’i deilwra, modiwlau dysgu hunangyfeiriedig ar-lein am ddim, a chyfoeth o adnoddau ar-lein. Maen nhw hefyd wedi datblygu nifer o ganllawiau i gyllidwyr a sefydliadau, gan gynnwys [pum egwyddor gwerthuso da] (https://evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk/ess-principles-for-good-evaluation), sy’n galluogi sefydliadau i gael mewnwelediadau mewn amser real, addasu eu gwaith a pharhau i ymateb i adborth gan gymunedau a dinasyddion. Cafodd partneriaeth ei chreu hefyd â Llywodraeth yr Alban i ddatblygu egwyddorion partneriaeth gadarnhaol](https://evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/final_prinicples_for_positive_partnership.pdf), i wella’r berthynas rhwng rheolwyr grantiau a deiliaid grantiau, gan ddarparu cyngor ymarferol i gryfhau’r ddau barti.

    Yn 2023, ariannwyd ESS gan Gronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol (TNLCF), mewn ymateb i gynllun gweithredu digartrefedd Llywodraeth yr Alban, i ganolbwyntio ar atal digartrefedd yn Glasgow a Chaeredin. Gyda chefnogaeth ESS, gallai sefydliadau dynnu sylw at effaith eu gwaith yn well a helpodd hyn i lywio’r broses o dargedu gweithgareddau yn y dyfodol.  Roedd hyn yn cynnwys sicrhau bod y rhai sy’n wynebu’r risg o fod yn ddigartref:

    • yn gallu cael mynediad at wasanaethau sy’n ateb eu hanghenion, gan gynnwys cymorth iechyd meddwl a gwasanaethau allgymorth ieuenctid

    • yn cael mwy o fynediad at lety mwy addas i’w hanghenion

    • yn cael mwy o ddylanwad ar y systemau sy’n effeithio arnyn nhw, trwy gynnwys profiadau byw o fewn polisïau cymdeithasau tai

    Mae gwaith ESS wedi helpu’r TNLCF i wneud penderfyniadau ynghylch cyllido prosiectau yn y dyfodol, ac wedi sicrhau bod ffrydiau cyllido’r dyfodol yn cael eu hysbysu am gymorth ac ymyriadau effeithiol oedd yn cael effaith go iawn ar y bobl y cawson nhw eu cynllunio i’w cefnogi.

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen Hygyrchedd Hedfan (AATFG)

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen Hygyrchedd Hedfan (AATFG)

    Cyd-ddylunio hedfan hygyrch trwy bartneriaeth.

    Cafodd y Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen Hygyrchedd Hedfan ei sefydlu ym mis Tachwedd 2024 dan gadeiryddiaeth y Farwnes Tanni Grey-Thompson, ac unodd y diwydiant, y rheoleiddiwr ac eiriolwyr defnyddwyr. Nod y grŵp, a hwylusir gan yr Adran Drafnidiaeth, oedd cyd-ddylunio gwelliannau ymarferol ar gyfer teithwyr awyr anabl a llai symudol.

    Mae’r fenter yn pwysleisio cydweithredu cynhwysol, gan ymgysylltu â’r gymdeithas sifil, elusennau anabledd, ac unigolion sydd â phrofiad byw trwy fyrddau crwn, adborth uniongyrchol, ac ymholiadau manwl. Mae’r dull hwn yn cyfrannu’n uniongyrchol at ymrwymiad ym maniffesto Llafur i hybu hawliau pobl anabl ac at yr egwyddor o weithio gyda nhw, gan sicrhau bod eu barn a’u lleisiau wrth wraidd pob polisi a’r holl weithredu. Roedd y pwyslais ar newidiadau ymarferol a deialog barhaus gyda theithwyr anabl er mwyn sicrhau gwelliannau ystyrlon, cynaliadwy.

    Mae’r dull cynhwysol yma wedi dylanwadu’n gadarnhaol ar gysylltiadau rhwng y llywodraeth a’r gymdeithas sifil. Mae mynd ati i gynnwys grwpiau ac unigolion sy’n eiriol dros anabledd wedi caniatáu proses gydweithredol a chynhwysol. Y nod yn hyn o beth yw meithrin ymddiriedaeth a chyd-ddealltwriaeth, lle mae pryderon dinasyddion anabl yn cael eu clywed.

    Roedd y campau nodedig yn cynnwys sefydlu ymgysylltiad uniongyrchol ag unigolion anabl ac elusennau, meithrin dull polisi cydweithredol, a gosod cynsail ar gyfer cynnwys grwpiau ymylol yn ystyrlon mewn polisïau sy’n effeithio’n uniongyrchol arnyn nhw.

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Y Strategaeth Ieuenctid Genedlaethol

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Y Strategaeth Ieuenctid Genedlaethol

    Gosod pobl ifanc wrth wraidd datblygu polisi.

    Pobl ifanc sydd wedi bod wrth y llyw o ran cydgynhyrchu Strategaeth Ieuenctid Genedlaethol newydd ers iddi gael ei chyhoeddi ym mis Tachwedd 2024 gan Ysgrifennydd Gwladol y DCMS fel rhan o genhadaeth y llywodraeth i wella cyfleoedd.

    Fel cam cyntaf, i sicrhau y byddai lleisiau ieuenctid wrth wraidd y broses, penododd y llywodraeth 13 o bobl ifanc amrywiol i ffurfio Grŵp Cynghori Ieuenctid (YAG) a dod â phrofiad byw ar draws meysydd allweddol gan gynnwys eiriolaeth, atal trais, symudedd cymdeithasol ac iechyd meddwl. Eisteddodd Grŵp Cynghori Arbenigol o 14 o arbenigwyr o amrywiaeth o sectorau ochr yn ochr â’r YAG i ddod ag arbenigedd o sectorau perthnasol, gan roi mewnbwn a herio syniadau.

    Ffurfiodd y DCMS bartneriaethau â chonsortiwm arbenigol – ymgynghoriaeth ymchwil farchnad Savanta, My Life My Say a’r Mudiad #iwill gyda gwaith cydlynu gan Volunteering Matters a UK Youth – i sefydlu ymgyrch ymgysylltu dan arweiniad ieuenctid i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc o bob rhan o’r wlad yn cael cyfle i ddweud eu dweud. Gweithiodd y consortiwm gyda deg Cydweithiwr Ieuenctid i sicrhau bod yr holl weithgareddau ymgyrchu yn cael eu dylunio a’u harwain gan bobl ifanc mewn gwirionedd. Defnyddiodd yr ymgyrch “Deliver You” ystod o ddulliau arloesol wedi’u targedu er mwyn sicrhau bod grwpiau sydd wedi’u tangynrychioli yn gallu lleisio’u barn. Sicrhaodd yr ymgyrch fewnwelediadau gan fwy nag 20,000 o bobl ifanc.

    Mae ein hymagwedd wedi grymuso pobl ifanc i arwain newid wrth galon y broses o lunio polisïau ac yn eu bywydau eu hunain. Bydd eu profiadau byw, gan gynnwys eu pryderon a’u gobeithion ar gyfer y dyfodol, yn sail i uchelgais newydd i bobl ifanc yn y Strategaeth Ieuenctid Genedlaethol.

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cynllunio Lle Medrwn Môn

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cynllunio Lle Medrwn Môn

    Cydweithio fel cynghrair.

    Mae Cynllunio Lle Medrwn Môn yn grymuso cymunedau Ynys Môn drwy gynghreiriau cymunedol i fynd ati i lunio gwasanaethau lleol. O’r blaen, roedd darpariaeth gwasanaethau traddodiadol o’r brig i lawr yn aml yn anwybyddu anghenion unigryw cymunedau. Roedd hyn yn creu rhwystr oedd yn atal dinasyddion rhag cyfranogi, gyda dinasyddion yn aml yn teimlo eu bod nhw heb gysylltiad â’r penderfyniadau oedd yn effeithio arnyn nhw. Cafodd cynllun Cynllunio Lle Medrwn Môn ei ddatblygu gyda Chyngor Sir Ynys Môn i helpu i ddod o hyd i ateb. Gyda chymorth cyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru a thrwy ddefnyddio egwyddorion Cynllun Trydydd Sector Cymru, sefydlodd y rhaglen Gynghreiriau Cymunedol sy’n creu map o asedau cymunedol yn eu hardal, gan gynnwys cyfleusterau corfforol a’r sgiliau a’r profiadau lleol sydd ar gael. Bydden nhw’n gweithio wedyn gyda’r gwasanaethau statudol i ddatblygu gwasanaethau sydd wedi’u seilio ar asedau ac anghenion lleol.

    Mae manteision Cynllunio Lle yn cynnwys cynnydd ym mhresenoldeb grwpiau cymunedol, defnyddio adeiladau cymunedol, a mwy o gyfleoedd i wirfoddoli. Mae Linc Cymunedol Môn, sef rhaglen presgripsiynu cymdeithasol i drigolion, wedi dod yn bwynt mynediad sengl ar gyfer gwasanaethau ymyrraeth ac atal cynnar i ddarparwyr statudol gan gynnwys y tîm iechyd meddwl cymunedol, darparwyr cymorth tai, meddygon teulu, a’r heddlu lleol. Erbyn hyn mae un o’r Cynghreiriau Cymunedol, sef Cynghrair Seiriol, yn Sefydliad Elusennol Corfforedig sy’n cyflogi ei staff ei hun, yn rhedeg ei drafnidiaeth gymunedol ei hun ac yn cynhyrchu ei arian ei hun ar gyfer prosiectau ar raddfa fach dan arweiniad y gymuned. Mae hyn wedi gwella perthnasoedd rhwng y llywodraeth a’r gymdeithas sifil trwy hwyluso mwy o ymddiriedaeth a diwylliant o gyfrifoldeb cyffredin. Mae’r gwasanaethau, wedi’u datganoli ac wedi’u cadw, wedi dod yn fwy perthnasol a hygyrch, gan adeiladu gwydnwch cymunedol cryfach trwy gyfranogiad gweithredol. Mae partneriaid y sector cyhoeddus yn dal yn ymrwymo i gynllunio cymunedol ystyrlon, gyda Chynllunio Lle bellach wedi’i ysgrifennu’n uniongyrchol i mewn i ddisgrifiadau swydd a dyletswyddau swyddogion gweithredol Cyngor Ynys Môn ynghyd ag ymrwymiad i sicrhau bod holl adrannau’r cyngor yn ymwybodol o’u cyfrifoldebau i gynnal y ffordd yma o weithio.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cyngor Dinas Leeds

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cyngor Dinas Leeds

    Adeiladu partneriaethau effeithiol trwy gyfathrebu ac ymgysylltu rhagweithiol.

    Mae Cyngor Dinas Leeds yn adeiladu partneriaethau cryf gyda’r gymdeithas sifil trwy gyfathrebu ac ymgysylltu cyson a rhagweithiol. Wrth wraidd hyn mae Partneriaeth y Trydydd Sector, sef fforwm strategol sy’n dod ag uwch arweinwyr o’r Cyngor, y GIG, prifysgolion, yr Awdurdod Cyfunol, Trydydd Sector Leeds, a chynrychiolwyr eraill o’r gymdeithas sifil at ei gilydd. Mae’r llwyfan yma yn caniatáu deialog gynnar, agored ar faterion allweddol ledled y ddinas, i gefnogi sector cymdeithas sifil gwydn a ffyniannus sy’n parhau i gyflawni canlyniadau cadarnhaol i drigolion Leeds.

    Mae’r Bartneriaeth yn cyfarfod bob yn ail fis gydag agendâu sydd wedi’u cydgynhyrchu ac mae’n rhannu diweddariadau rheolaidd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys trosolwg blynyddol o sefyllfa ariannol y cyngor, y gyllideb arfaethedig, a’r risgiau allweddol. Mae’r mewnwelediadau hyn yn helpu i reoli disgwyliadau a llywio negeseuon y gymdeithas sifil. Hefyd, mae cyfarfodydd brecwast bob dwy flynedd yn dod ag arweinwyr y gymdeithas sifil a’r cyngor ynghyd i gysoni strategaethau lobïo a chodi’r effaith gymdeithasol i’r eithaf.

    Mae’r cyfleoedd ymgysylltu cyson yma wedi helpu i adeiladu ymddiriedaeth, ymgorffori safbwyntiau’r gymdeithas sifil wrth ddatblygu strategaethau, ac ategu cyfathrebu tryloyw, dwyffordd. Mae hefyd yn cryfhau cydweithio, gan helpu i sicrhau bod penderfyniadau’n cyd-fynd ag anghenion cymunedol.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Mae cyfathrebu cyson a rhagweithiol yn cael ei ategu trwy ddarparu mannau diffiniedig ar gyfer ymgysylltu rheolaidd rhwng y partneriaid, ochr yn ochr â thryloywder wrth wneud penderfyniadau. Mae hyn yn bwysig ar gyfer adeiladu partneriaethau effeithiol a dibynadwy.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appeal launched for information on graffiti tag

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Canterbury City Council is appealing for information about the identity of this man who could hold vital information about the spraying of a graffiti tag in Canterbury that has also been seen in other locations across the district.

    The individual pictured below was seen on CCTV (above) in St Dunstan’s Street on 17 June this year.

    The tag has also been spotted in New Dover Road and St George’s Place in the city and at Whitstable Harbour (below), among many places.

    Such has been the prolific nature of this tagging on public facing walls, underpasses and street ‘furniture’ such as utility boxes, the council estimates it has spent around £2,000 of council taxpayers’ money cleaning off and covering up this one tag alone, through the work of its dedicated graffiti team.

    Investigations so far have not resulted in the council being able to identify the tagger, so a public appeal is now the only option to try and stop these activities from continuing.

    Cabinet member for enforcement, Cllr Connie Nolan, said: “There is no evidence the tagger has slowed their activities at all, which means our cleaning and removal costs will continue to rise and public areas will continue to be defaced unless we take proportionate action.

    “We know the vast majority of residents abhor graffiti tagging as it increases public anxiety, makes the place look unkempt and costs money to clean up, which could be spent on other vital frontline services.

    “Hopefully this appeal will result in information that allows us to stop this tag from appearing in the future.”

    Information can be provided, anonymously if necessary, by emailing streetsceneenforcement@canterbury.gov.uk or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

    The council also offers a £500 reward for information that leads to the formal sanction of an individual for committing these offences.

    Published: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Planning Inspectorate publishes June official statistic

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Planning Inspectorate publishes June official statistic

    The Planning Inspectorate has published the June official statistic

    We have today published our latest official statistics on appeals performance which represents the greatest volume (in terms of number of cases) of the work of the Planning Inspectorate.

    The quarterly statistics also include our current appeals handling times to let customers know the average time it takes to receive a decision.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MAIB Annual Report 2024 published

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    MAIB Annual Report 2024 published

    This report provides information on the branch’s activities during 2024.

    Today, we have issued our annual report which details the work of the branch during 2024 and includes:

    • a statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents
    • an overview of accidents reported
    • a summary of investigations started
    • details of publications issued
    • recommendations issued in 2024 and an update on their status
    • updates on open recommendations made in previous years
    • marine accident statistics

    Read more in our Annual Report 2024.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AAIB Report: Grob G109B, G-CHYB

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    AAIB Report: Grob G109B, G-CHYB

    Grob G109B (G-CHYB), aircraft pitched down from final approach and struck trees before coming to rest on the A419 near Aston Down Airfield, Gloucestershire, 27 August 2024

    Grob 109B

    The aircraft was on the late stage of final approach to Aston Down Airfield when it pitched down rapidly. The aircraft struck trees and then came to rest on the A419. Both those on board were injured and taken to hospital by the emergency services. The aircraft was severely damaged and the A419 was closed for several hours. The passenger, an experienced glider pilot, was flying the approach. The passenger’s gliding experience meant that they would normally fly the approach with their right hand on the control column and their left hand controlling the rate of descent using the airbrake handle. Flying the Grob 109 from the right seat, this control arrangement was reversed. When attempting to reduce the rate of descent, the passenger inadvertently pushed forward on the control column which caused a rapid increase in the rate of descent which could not be corrected before the aircraft struck the ground.

    Read the report

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom