Two projects which will bring welcome improvements to Nairn beach and harbour have received a total of £19.8K from the area’s Community Regeneration Fund.
Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term for a number of funds that are available for communities and organisations to access in Highland.
The first project will help to make the popular East Beach Harbour and Pier area more accessible to people of all abilities. The area is very popular with walkers with its close proximity to various local amenities at the Nairn links. Enhancing the path network will help the area increase its visitation and more visitors to walk to nearby local businesses.
The second project will look to install a beach shower unit at Nairn Links for beachgoers and those pursuing water sports. Nairn’s vibrant water sports community currently has no shower facilities so this addition will provide a convenient station for users to wash off sand and saltwater after their activities.
Cllr Michael Green, Nairnshire Area Chair said: “We are delighted to support both projects which will bring welcome improvements to our coastal offering. Nairn beach and harbour is a popular spot for locals and visitors to stroll along and it is right that everyone should be able to enjoy this pastime, no matter their ability. The beach shower unit will also be a great addition to our beach front and its intended location close to the splashpad will help to maintain the operation of the Team Hamish site.
“I can also confirm that the Committee has recently agreed an uplift to the Team Hamish Nairn Links Regeneration Phase 2 Project to include a new path section linking the Marine Road carpark passed the cottages to reach the Links path at the cricket pavilion. This is another development that will improve accessibility for all at the popular Links area.”
A proposed list of prioritised roadworks has been agreed by Nairnshire Committee Members, which will be funded out of The Highland Council’s Capital Budget allocation for 2025/26.
Councillors have agreed funding allocations for specified locations for roads resurfacing works including footpath reconstruction/resurfacing works which can be funded from the capital allocation.
The estimated local allocation for Nairn and Cawdor (based on 2024/25) is £586K comprising £391K for overlay/inlay works and £195K for surface dressing works.
Cllr Michael Green, Nairnshire Area Chair said: “I am pleased we were able to agree a list of prioritised roadworks which will make travel in and around the Nairn and Cawdor areas smoother and will result in improved transport links for locals, visitors and businesses.
“We also recognise that there are some prioritised roads which will have works carried out should funds become available, such as any finalised increase in capital budget allocation and any potential underspend being carried forward.”
The local allocations capital budget for 2025/26 remains to be established, which will be calculated from the approved capital budget allocation.
The full list of prioritised roads for the Nairnshire area can be found in the Area Roads report to the Nairnshire Area Committee.
Garage rents for the Nairnshire area will increase by 20% for 2025/26 as agreed at today’s Area Committee.
Councillor Michael Green, Chair of the Nairnshire Area Committee, said: “Garages and garage sites within Nairnshire are competitively priced, and even taking today’s agreed increase into account, our rates still sit below the average across all other areas in Highland.
“Equally, we recognise that the majority of our garages are used by local residents for storage purposes, with the Council’s offering at a fraction of the cost of commercial solutions.”
Garage Rent for Council Tenants will increase by £1.60 to £9.62. Meanwhile, Garage Rent for non-tenants will go up by £1.92 to £11.54 per week.
For Garage Sites, the weekly rent for Council Tenants will increase to £1.12. Garage Site Rent for Non-Tenants will also increase to £1.34.
As a result, the increase will bring a total of £21,949.78 annually based on current occupancy.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A man who tried to use a cloned Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence to work in the security industry has been prosecuted.
A man who tried to use a cloned Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence to work in the security industry has been given a community order and must pay almost £4,000 in costs.
Luke Donnelly paid an unknown man £300 for a cloned security licence to work illegally, without proper training. Active Security Solutions Ltd, the company he applied to work for, spotted the deception while conducting routine checks.
The company alerted the SIA, who launched an investigation into Mr Donnelly.
Following the investigation, Mr Donnelly was charged and ordered to appear in court for his trial. He failed to appear at Dudley Magistrates’ Court and was found guilty in his absence on 13 December 2024.
A warrant was then issued for Mr Donnelly’s arrest. He was arrested and appeared at Walsall Magistrates’ Court on 9 January 2025. He was sentenced for using a cloned licence and for failing to surrender to bail. He was given a community order of 120 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £3,903 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £114.
Mark Chapman, Criminal Investigations Manager for the SIA, said:
When somebody works in the private security industry with a cloned licence they put the public, their colleagues and themselves at risk.
In this case, Mr Donnelly thought he could take a shortcut by avoiding the training necessary to safely de-escalate conflict and deal with dangerous situations. He claimed he believed the licence he bought was genuine. However, having held a genuine licence previously, he would have known that this was not the case and that he was breaking the law. This sentence serves as a warning to others who may try to circumvent the legal requirements to hold a valid licence and then avoid being held to account when caught.
I would like to thank Active Security Solutions Ltd for reporting this to us so that we could prosecute an individual trying to break the law.
Notes to editors
Licensed security operatives are subject to robust training requirements to help them protect the public. Deploying untrained and unvetted security operatives with fake or cloned licences puts the public at risk. Anyone suspected of breaking the law should be reported to the SIA.
If you suspect an individual of using a cloned licence you should report it.
The offence relating to the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 that is mentioned above is:
Section 3 – knowingly using a false instrument
Further information
The Security Industry Authority is the regulator of the UK’s private security industry. Our purpose is to protect the public through effective regulation of the private security industry and working with partners to raise standards across the sector. We are responsible for licensing people who do certain jobs in the private security industry and for approving private security companies who wish to be part of the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
The director of a Manchester-based security company has been prosecuted after failing to comply with an investigation.
The director of a Manchester-based security company has been ordered to pay over £3,500 after failing to comply with an investigation into the suspected deployment of unlicensed security operatives.
Katie O’Neill, the director of I-Guard Security Ltd, ignored several requests for information and invitations to interview from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) last year.
The SIA first began investigating I-Guard Security Ltd after receiving intelligence from Merseyside Police that unlicensed security operatives had been deployed to a venue in Liverpool. The SIA requested information from O’Neill in March 2024 regarding security provision for the venue but received no reply.
On 22 April 2024 the SIA sent a further request for information. O’Neill did not respond to this second request. The SIA then invited her to attend an interview under caution in respect of her refusal to provide the information requested. When she did not respond the SIA began prosecution proceedings.
Manchester Magistrates’ Court sentenced O’Neill on 9 January 2025. The court fined her £1,100 and ordered her to pay a victim surcharge of £440 plus prosecution costs of £2,000.
Mark Chapman, Criminal Investigations Manager at the SIA, said:
As regulator for the private security sector, our priority is ensuring that security companies operate within the law, and that their staff are properly trained and licensed to perform their role. When we suspect wrongdoing and need information for our investigations, we have the statutory powers to request this.
Katie O’Neill failed to respond to such a request. It is an offence to ignore our requests or obstruct our investigation and she has now paid the price. I hope this case serves as a warning to others that we at the SIA take these matters seriously and will not hesitate to act to ensure those who break the law are held accountable for their actions.
Notes to editors
By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on GOV.UK/SIA.
Section 19 – obstructing SIA officials or those with delegated authority, or failing to respond to a request for information
Further information
The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).
The Environment Agency has started construction of a £1million new fish pass at Turf Lock on the River Lark at Mildenhall in Suffolk.
The River Lark is a chalk stream and one of just over 200 in the world.
The aim of the work is to enable the free flow of native wild brown trout, eels and coarse fish. This will allow them to access habitat in the River Lark upstream of Mildenhall for spawning and foraging.
The partnership is hosted by Suffolk County Council and includes local councils, the Environment Agency, Anglian Water, Natural England, and many more.
Work will be carried out to remove two weirs that are currently impeding the fish and eels’ progress at Turf Lock. Once this work is done a new fish passage known as a rip rap rock ramp will be created using natural limestone boulders. A rip rap rock ramp provides shelter to the fish as they go between them. This work will take around three months to complete.
Chalk streams are a ‘valuable natural resource’
Lou Mayer, Environment Programme Manager for the Environment Agency said:
It’s fantastic to see work beginning on this important nature recovery project, as part of the catchment-based approach.
Chalk streams are an incredibly valuable natural resource which the Environment Agency are working hard to restore and protect through working in partnership.
Turf Lock is one of three structures in Mildenhall that will need modification for fish passage. Through consultation with Mildenhall Town Council, West Suffolk Council, landowners and local residents we are hopeful that we can continue to work in partnership to improve the biodiversity of the land around the river as well.
Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality said:
Suffolk County Council is proud to support excellent partnership projects such as this, that deliver meaningful, and lasting outcomes to protect and enhance Suffolk’s biodiversity through the restoration of our valuable chalk steam habitats.
Ian Shipp, West Suffolk’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture said:
We welcome this work which will benefit the river and support biodiversity in line with our own strategic priority for environmental resilience and thank all of those involved for their hard work in delivering such a complex scheme.
Whilst this work is carried out the footpath from the path adjacent to the works will be closed, on the North side of the River Lark, from the bridge at Mill Street, to the access track adjacent to the cricket field. An alternative route will be signposted.
Background
The Environment Agency is funding this project from the Water Environment Improvement Fund, which has been used to unlock £3million of Lottery Heritage Fund for the Brecks Fen Edge and Rivers Landscape Partnership scheme, delivering heritage conservation projects on the Breck’s fenland fringe, key freshwater habitats and primary river corridors.
The Catchment based approach is about working together, through engaging people, groups and organisations from across society to help improve our precious water environments. The Environment Agency is a partner organisation of the River Lark Catchment Partnership.
The River Lark’s Catchment Partnership objective is to make improvements to habitat and ecological status of the river. The River Lark Catchment Partnership
The River Lark has been identified as a flagship river for The Chalk Stream Restoration Project nominated as a Flagship catchment by Anglian Water and supported by the River Lark Catchment Partnership.
One of the ways to do that is by removing restrictions to migratory fish species and unlocking river habitat improvements further upstream as part of a holistic approach to nature recovery.
About The Brecks Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme
The Brecks Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme is a National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) funded Landscape Partnership Scheme for the Brecks.
BFER is hosted by Suffolk County Council and has delivered a series of new and exciting community-based landscape and heritage conservation projects, focused on the Brecks’ fen edge and river corridors over a 5 year period (2020-2024). The partnership is made up of regional, national and local organisations with an interest in the area, community groups and members of the community.
The Scheme outputs have concentrated on the key Fen Edge and Freshwater habitat areas within the Brecks, with the aim of delivering real understanding of water-based heritage and conservation issues, and positive conservation changes on the ground. This area encompasses a unique landscape in Britain with an incredible and much overlooked heritage and biodiversity.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Brecks Fen Edge and Rivers (BFER) Landscape Partnership scheme has been awarded £1.97 million by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery players, the NHLF inspires, leads and resources the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
More than 120 members of the armed forces, policing and government have taken part in an exercise to practise responding to a national security emergency.
The nation’s preparations for a large-scale security incident were put to the test last week as the Home Office, Ministry of Defence and Counter Terrorism Policing planned and conducted a national exercise to simulate their response to an extreme national security emergency.
Taking place between 5 and 7 February, more than 120 members of the armed forces, policing and government simulated their joint response to a national emergency, such as a major terrorist incident.
The exercise – known as Octacine 2 – was part of the government’s regular counter-terrorism efforts. The focus was to test the ability of police and military to work together in extreme circumstances, as well as familiarising personnel with different sites and participating in joint briefings.
Octacine 2 built on a previous, similar exercise and was designed to simulate the deployment of military personnel to support the Strategic Armed Policing Reserve.
Armed police officers were temporarily redeployed from their routine roles in order to respond to a major national security incident, protecting and reassuring the public in a time of heightened tension.
It simulated the response that would be deployed under Operation Temperer, a contingency plan drawn up in 2015 to provide military support to the police in extreme national emergency circumstances, such as surge support in response to a major domestic terrorist attack or threat. It covers all of Great Britain, and is directed by the National Police Chiefs’ Council Counter Terrorism Coordination Committee.
The exercise included a live-play exercise, when the Operation Temperer national mobilisation coordination centre was stood up and military and police personnel were deployed to 11 sites across Great Britain.
Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said:
Exercises like Octacine 2 are vital to ensure that our armed forces and policing partners are able to work well together to protect the British public from ever present threats.
I am grateful for their tireless and dedicated work in serving our country, and their ongoing preparation to perform those critical roles that keep us safe.
Minister for Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, said:
Our national security is the foundation for this government’s Plan for Change and exercises like this are critically important to ensure we can respond to threats quickly and effectively.
I’d like to thank all members of our armed forces who are held at readiness throughout the year, ready to keep the public and country safe at a moment’s notice.
The training, while routine, is crucial for the armed forces to support policing partners and respond effectively in case of a major incident. This routine exercise allows us to test coordination and teamwork with various partners while also providing a visible presence to reassure and protect the public in instances of high-risk and national security incidents.
The public will be invited to submit their views on how to make the Council Tax system fairer, as part of wider efforts to explore options and build a consensus for potential reform.
As part of a joint programme of engagement by the Scottish Government and COSLA, independent analysis will also be commissioned to examine the Council Tax system accounting for market changes, reforms, and improvements.
This will inform public engagement later this year, followed by a Scottish Parliament debate on the findings and proposed policy reforms.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison said:
“Partnering with COSLA, we want to examine ways to make Council Tax fairer, which will help to continue to deliver better public services across Scotland.
“By working closely with local authorities and listening to the public, we will be seeking a consensus on a local taxation system that is fairer, financially sustainable and fits a modern Scotland.”
“Local Authorities wish to see a fair and proportionate Council Tax, which benefits people and communities.
“COSLA is looking forward to working with the Scottish Government on a programme of engagement with the public, with the shared goal of achieving a better, fairer system of local taxation.”
Background
Programme of engagement:
Expert and independent analysis will be commissioned, including to provide high level analysis and modelling on alternative scenarios and reforms of the system.
Following that, a range of activities to seek the views from a wide range of people from across Scotland will be undertaken, consisting of three key elements:
A formal public consultation process.
A number of public events or ‘town hall’ meetings held over the autumn months, ensuring a reasonable geographical spread and diversity.
A set of focused discussions with key stakeholders and experts.
The public engagement will aim to capture a wide spectrum of opinions and considered responses, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives, including representation from those paying Council Tax across different bands.
More than 100 organisations across Scotland working to tackle violence against women and girls will share in a funding uplift of £2.4 million.
The funding boost will bring the total Scottish Government investment in Delivering Equally Safe, which funds projects to prevent violence and support survivors, up to £21.6 million for the year ahead subject to the 2025-26 Budget being approved.
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart announced the funding increase on a visit to SAY Women – a Glasgow charity offering safe accommodation and emotional support for young survivors of sexual abuse who are facing homelessness.
Ms Stewart said:
“Grassroots organisations across Scotland are at the heart of tackling violence against women and girls. Their work is fundamental to creating a country free from gender-based abuse.
“This funding boost will support these organisations, will help prevent abuse occurring and ensure that women and girls who have experienced violence can continue to access the support they deserve.”
SAY Women CEO Pam Hunter said:
“SAY Women is delighted to receive the additional funds. This will go towards increasing our investment into projects for the young women within our services.
“In the face of the rising cost of living, increase in N.I contributions and inflation, the organisation made the challenging executive decision to limit the variety of activities on offer to those in our care so that we may allow the staff to have a fair living wage. This additional funding will reinstate many of the services that were temporarily paused so that SAY Women may continue to do the good work supporting young women affected by sexual violence and homelessness.”
Background
The Delivering Equally Safe Fund supports organisations across Scotland in their work to tackle violence against women and girls, and has done since 2021.
The Delivering Equally Safe fund is the Scottish Government’s funding programme to support third sector organisations and public bodies to contribute to the objectives, priorities and outcomes of the Equally Safe strategy – Scotland’s strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls.
A £19.2 million funding extension to allow these organisations to continue their work until March 2026 was announced in December 2024, provided the Scottish Budget 2025-26 is approved by parliament: Preventing violence against women and girls – gov.scot
This funding uplift of £2.4 million brings the fund total for 2025-26 to £21.6 million.
The organisations funded through Delivering Equally Safe are as follows:
Organisation
Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen Cyrenians Ltd
Aberlour Child Care Trust
Action for Children
Amina – the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre
Angus Women’s Aid
Argyll & Bute Rape Crisis
Argyll & Bute Violence against Women and Girls Partnership
Argyll & Bute Women’s Aid SCIO
ASSIST, Glasgow City Council
Barnardo’s Tayside
Barnardo’s Falkirk
Border Women’s Aid Ltd
British Red Cross Society
Caithness & Sutherland Women’s Aid
CEA Committed To Ending Abuse
Central Advocacy Partners
Children 1st
Clackmannanshire Women’s Aid
Close the Gap (SCIO)
Deaf Links
Dumbarton District Women’s Aid
Dumfries & Galloway Council
Dumfries & Galloway Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Dumfriesshire & Stewartry Women’s Aid
Dundee City Council
Dundee International Women’s Centre
Dundee Women’s Aid
East Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership
East Ayrshire Women’s Aid
East Dunbartonshire Association For Mental Health
East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid SCIO
East Lothian and Midlothian Public Protection Committee
Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre
Edinburgh Women’s Aid Ltd
Edinburgh Women’s Aid Ltd
EmilyTest
Engender
FENIKS Counselling, Personal Development & Support Service Ltd
Fife Council
Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre
Fife Women’s Aid
Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre
GEMAP Scotland Ltd
Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis
Glasgow Women’s Aid
Grampian Women’s Aid
Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid Limited
INVERCLYDE WOMEN’S AID SCIO
Inverness Women’s Aid
JustRight Scotland SCIO
Kenyan Women in Scotland Association (CIC)
Kibble Education and Care Centre
Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project
Lanarkshire Rape Crisis Centre
LGBT Youth Scotland
Liber8 (Lanarkshire) Ltd
Lochaber Women’s Aid
Monklands Women’s Aid
Moray Rape Crisis
Moray Women’s Aid
Motherwell & District Women’s Aid
Multi-Cultural Family Base
North Ayrshire Women’s Aid
North Lanarkshire Council
Cumbernauld & District Women’s Aid SCIO
Orkney Rape & Sexual Assault Service (ORSAS) SCIO
Perth & Kinross Council
Perthshire Women’s Aid
Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Perth & Kinross
Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland
Rape Crisis Grampian
Rape Crisis Scotland
Renfrewshire Council
Renfrewshire Council, Children’s Services, Women and Children First
Renfrewshire Women’s Aid SCIO
Respect
Ross-Shire Women’s Aid
Rowan Alba Ltd
Sacro
SafeLives
Saheliya
Sandyford – NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
SAY Women
Scottish Borders Council
Scottish Borders Rape Crisis Centre (SBRCC)
Scottish Commission for Learning Disability
Scottish Women’s Aid
Shakti Women’s Aid
Shetland Rape Crisis
Shetland Women’s Aid (SCIO)
South Ayrshire Women’s Aid
South Lanarkshire Council
South West Grid for Learning Trust Ltd
Stirling & District Women’s Aid
The Highland Council
The Improvement Service
The Star Centre
The Venture Trust
West Dunbartonshire Council
Western Isles Rape Crises Centre
Western Isles Women’s Aid SCIO
West Lothian Council
West Lothian Women’s Aid (WLWA)
White Ribbon Scotland
Wigtownshire Women’s Aid
Women’s Aid East and Midlothian Ltd
Women’s Aid Orkney
Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire
Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Dundee and Angus
Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Dundee and Angus
Women’s Support Project
YWCA Scotland
Zero Tolerance
The latest Equally Safe Delivery Plan, published in August 2024, sets out next steps to address violence against women and girls.
Frontline projects funded through the Delivering Equally Safe Fund have supported 67,004 adults, children and young people since 2021.
SAY Women is a charity that offers safe semi-supported accommodation and emotional support for young women aged 16 to 25 who are survivors of sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault and who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness.
SAY Women receive funding through the Delivering Equally Safe Fund, and with this uplift this will increase from £52,009 to £58,770 in 2025/26. Funding is in place to support a full Sessional Team to support young women to participate in additional mental health/wellbeing activities contributing to wellbeing improvements aiding in preventing homelessness.
SAY Women are also supported by the Scottish Government’s Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support (SOCAS) Fund. The fund supports 22 organisations across Scotland who work with adult survivors of childhood abuse. SAY Women have been allocated £190,000 for the period of the Fund (1 October 2024 – 31 March 2026) to provide specialised support to young women survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
A supervised toothbrushing scheme, known as the Big Brush Club, has been running in some areas of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay since 2023. However, the scheme, which is provided for children aged 3 to 5-years old, is now being rolled out to all primary schools in Devon who have an early years nursery, pre-school or reception class provision.
Children at Ernesettle School with Bob the Badger, mascot of the Big Brush Club
It is funded by NHS Devon, in partnership with Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council, and delivered by dentist provider At Home Dental.
Jonathan Bouwer-Davies, Clinical Dental Adviser for NHS Devon said: “We know a quarter of five-year-olds have tooth decay which can, in severe cases, lead to children needing hospital treatment.
“Understanding how to brush your teeth properly is an important life skill for children. It takes schools five minutes a day and the benefits can be life-long.
“I am proud that Devon is the first area in the south west to extend the scheme to all primary schools thanks to the collaboration between NHS Devon, Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.”
Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care at Plymouth City Council, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that the supervised toothbrushing scheme will now be available to all schools across Plymouth.
“When it comes to dental health, we know that prevention is better than cure and this is exacerbated by the difficulties our residents are experiencing when they try to access NHS dental care, so it’s absolutely vital that children create healthy habits at a young age.
“We really hope that all schools across the city take up this offer, as it has such a huge benefit for children.”
L-R: Clare Foster, Project Manager at At Home Dental, Bob the Badger mascot, Councillor Mary Aspinall, Reena Patel, South West Consultant in Dental Public Health at NHS England and Anna Mansfield, Project Facilitator at At Home Dental.
Under the scheme, teachers hold short, daily toothbrushing sessions for three- to-five-year-olds alongside lessons about self-care, healthy eating and reducing sugar.
Chief Operations Officer from At Home Dental, Hayley Beaumont, said: “Our team of dental nurses work closely with teachers, pupils and parents to provide advice, support and training on promoting oral health.
“Each child is provided with a toothbrush and toothpaste pack to take home, encouraging toothbrushing to be a part of their normal daily routine.
“The children love doing it with their friends and the teachers report that it not only reduces problems with teeth but also school absence.”
Rapper and health activist Professor Green is helping the NHS raise awareness among families about the importance of children looking after their teeth, by launching an exciting competition to all primary schools across the south west.
Every child aged between three – five years old has been invited to take part in a competition with a music category and a colouring category. The competition, which will run until the end of May, will give children the chance to win some fantastic prizes for both themselves and their school. Professor Green will join a judging panel for the competition.
Professor Green said: “I am chuffed to be able to support the NHS supervised toothbrushing in schools scheme, and to be judging a competition which gives young children a creative outlet, while also teaching them the importance of brushing their teeth at least twice a day.”
He says he only realised later in life how not brushing properly twice a day affected his own physical and mental health – so now takes this seriously with his own son alongside a healthy diet.
Oral health is seen as a marker of wider health and social care inequalities including poor nutrition and obesity.
Prof. Maggie Rae, South West Deputy Public Health Director at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, concludes: “The Big Brush Club is a fantastic example of forward-thinking, early intervention work that supports the government’s mission to improve the health of the nation.
“The NHS in the south west is absolutely committed to tackling the many unfair disparities of health outcomes across our society.”
The University of Aberdeen has secured a major award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to support PhD research across the arts and humanities disciplines.
This award underscores the University’s international reputation for research excellence in the arts and humanities, and also our commitment to supporting and preparing the next generation of scholars to ensure the vitality of arts and humanities disciplines.” Professor Nicholas Forsyth
The five-year £500K award will provide 15 scholarships to outstanding PhD candidates, with a further £1M provided to foster collaboration with other Scottish Universities through a regional training hub. The PhD candidates will come from a range of disciplines at the University including the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History, the School of Law, the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture, and the Archaeology department within the School of Geosciences.
Professor Nicholas Forsyth, the University of Aberdeen’s Vice-Principal for Research said: “This award underscores the University’s international reputation for research excellence in the arts and humanities, and also our commitment to supporting and preparing the next generation of scholars to ensure the vitality of arts and humanities disciplines.”
The AHRC Executive Chair, Professor Christopher Smith said: “The AHRC doctoral landscape awards provide flexible funding to allow universities to build on existing excellence in research and opportunities for innovation across the arts and humanities.”
This AHRC award follows other recent successes in securing support for PhD research and training. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have confirmed a combined £9M investment in a PhD research and training programme led by the University of Aberdeen to prepare the next generation of environmental scientists who can tackle global environmental grand challenges such as the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.
This combined success has been welcomed in a motion raised in the Scottish Parliament by Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, highlighting that “Investment recognises the excellence of the University of Aberdeen’s research and its commitment to training PhD students as innovative research leaders.”
Professor Stuart Piertney, the University’s Dean for Postgraduate Research said: “Securing funding for PhD research and training that spans science to arts subjects allows the University to deliver on its commitments to grow a vibrant and diverse postgraduate community that is empowered to make high-impact contributions to both academia and society.”
Professor Peter Bradley has today published his second Director of Public Health Report which looks at the evidence for investing in prevention.
This year’s Director of Public Health Report considers the case for prevention in the Jersey context and details:
the current burden of disease faced by Islanders
how that burden is not equally spread across the Island
how the Island’s aging population is likely impact on future health
an estimate of the costs of this aging population
a summary of the evidence of the effectiveness of a preventative approach.
Director of Public Health, Professor Peter Bradley, said: “I am pleased to be publishing this report and raise awareness of the importance of investing in health prevention. This report highlights that prevention is not just about avoiding illness; Investing in prevention means Islanders can enjoy better health and wellbeing, employers have a healthier workforce, and healthcare systems can allocate resources more effectively to those in greatest need.
“Building on existing work and improvements already made, we can embed prevention into our policies across government, as well as into the community, ensuring our Island remains an attractive place to live, work, and visit.”
The full report and executive summary are attached and will be made available online at Public Health reports.
Jersey Property Holdings, JPH, has been overseeing the relocation and display of memorabilia within the Howard Davis Hall.
The portraits, including that of TB Davis, will be positioned securely. Restoration of TB Davis’s portrait is currently in progress under the expert supervision of Jersey Heritage, and it will be reinstated in its original place upon completion.
To enhance public access, JPH is arranging for the hall to be open to visitors:
When: Starting Saturday 15 February 2025
Time: 11am to 3pm on Weekends, for the following seven weekends.
Additionally, discussions are underway with Jersey Heritage to manage the hall.
Infrastructure Minister, Constable Andy Jehan, said: “The Howard Davis Hall holds significant historical and cultural value for our Island. Ensuring its preservation while increasing public access is a key priority. I’m pleased to see progress on this work and look forward to seeing the hall brought back into greater use for the community.”
Deputy Steve Luce, Minister for the Environment, MENV, has introduced revisions to various aspects of planning guidance as part of Goverment CSP to reforming the Island’s planning service.
These changes are aimed at creating positive development while ensuring clarity and flexibility in planning policies.
Removal of 3,000 sq ft Floorspace Limit
The Minister has removed the 3,000 sq ft (279 sqm) floorspace limit on new residential developments, a restriction introduced by the previous administration.
Deputy Luce said: “I have been concerned that there is a perception that this is an absolute cap on development, limiting homeowners from extending or improving their dwellings. This is not the case, and the position is more nuanced.
“The continuation of this restriction in planning guidance is unhelpful. There is already a robust policy framework within the Island Plan, supplemented by additional planning guidance, which effectively manages the development of new or extended large dwellings across the island.”
To implement this decision, three pieces of supplementary planning guidance have been revised:
Housing Outside the Built-Up Area
Density Standards
Residential Space Standards
Greater Flexibility for Windows and Doors in Listed Buildings
The Minister has also revised planning guidance to provide more flexibility regarding changes to windows and doors in certain listed buildings.
Windows and doors are key elements of Jersey’s historic buildings. In the 1990s, the Island Development Committee introduced controls to regulate their replacement, responding to the widespread installation of modern PVCu windows that resulted in the loss of many original features.
With advancements in material performance and adaptability, planning policies for replacing windows in listed buildings have evolved. Greater flexibility already exists for the introduction of double-glazing where original historic windows are beyond repair. The Minister has now further revised planning guidance to allow additional flexibility in replacing plastic windows in listed buildings.
Deputy Luce said: “Modern materials and technologies now offer improved thermal performance while better replicating the design and appearance of historic windows and doors.
“I want to enable the replacement of existing plastic windows in Grade 3 and Grade 4 listed buildings with windows made from composite materials — provided they deliver an overall improvement to the character and appearance of the building. This ensures improved thermal performance while also repairing the damage caused when original windows were lost.”
These revisions aim to balance heritage conservation with modern energy efficiency improvements, ensuring Jersey’s historic buildings can be preserved while adapting to contemporary needs.
The revised planning guidelines are available on the government website:
Council seeking public’s feedback on leisure facilities
11 February 2025
Derry City and Strabane District Council are inviting the public to have their say on its leisure services through an online survey. The Customer Satisfaction survey aims to gather customer feedback on a range of factors including the quality of facilities, value for money, cleanliness and quality of service. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, urged as many people as possible to complete the surveys to allow them to provide the best possible service in the future. “We want to get a better understanding of what the public’s expectations are from our leisure services so we can tailor them to meet user needs and make informed decisions about future projects,” she said. “We want as many service users as possible to take the survey – the more people who give us feedback the more we can give the public what they want. “The survey is open to anyone and we want everyone to give us their feedback regardless of your level of fitness and physical activity.” Derry and Strabane District Council operate ten Leisure facilities in the region offering a wide range of both indoor and outdoor sporting activities. The centres are Foyle Arena, Bishop’s Field, Templemore Sports Complex, Brooke Park, Derg Valley Leisure Centre, Riversdale Leisure Centre, Melvin Sports Complex, Brandywell Stadium, Waterside Shared Village and City Baths. The closing date for the surveys is Sunday March 2nd and you can access online at derrystrabane.com/leisure or at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HV9JWGV
Deputy Mayor attends Strabane Health and Wellbeing event
11 February 2025
There was a great turn out at a special health and wellbeing event held this week in Strabane, featuring helpful advice and information from a range of local organisations.
The event was delivered in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Age Friendly Programme, Sports Development team, the Strabane Health Improvement Project, Neighbourhood Health Improvement Project and Strabane District Caring Services.
As well as information stands offering advice on support available locally, those attending took part in cookery demonstrations and talks on nutrition, and found out more about complementary therapies, advice on avoiding trips and falls, and skin scanning.
The event was attended by Deputy Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Alderman Darren Guy, who took the opportunity to remind people how important it was to regularly check for any signs or symptoms that could be of concern.
“I found the health and wellbeing event at Melvin extremely informative, with lots of experts on hand to advise and offer support in relation to a number of health areas,” he said afterwards.
“Sometimes going to a doctor can be intimidating and lots of people feel they don’t want to add to the pressures on the health service by asking advice about minor issues. But those smaller problems can be signs of more serious conditions and it’s vitally important that we get them checked out.
“By taking part in regular screenings we can keep on top of our health, and there is lots of support out there when it comes to fitness, nutrition and alternative therapies that have wide-ranging benefits. I want to thank everyone who took part in this week’s session, and encourage people to keep an eye out for future events in their area.”
Londoners are urged to nominate the young people making a difference in their city for the inaugural London Youth Achievement Awards.
The Awards are an opportunity for the London Assembly, in close collaboration with the London Youth Assembly (LYA), to recognise the valuable impact that young people make in the capital.
This awards programme will showcase and celebrate the breadth of inspirational activities and achievements accomplished by young people across London.
The categories are:
Innovative Initiative Award
Young Leader Award
Greener London Award
Young Carer or Care Leaver Award
Community Safety award
Youth Voice of London Award
Inclusion and Diversity Award
Outstanding Achievement Award
Best Youth Campaign Award
Young Media Champion Award
The deadline to nominate a young person for the award is 21 February.
The Awards will be presented at a City Hall ceremony in May.
Chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff AM, said:
“There are a huge number of young Londoners who make such a positive difference, but their achievements are not celebrated nearly as often as they should be.
“If you know a young person who is helping make your community and our city a better place to live, this is your chance to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.
“It only takes a few minutes to nominate someone and you can put them forward for as many categories as you wish. So please, don’t miss your chance to show a young Londoner some appreciation.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
In November 2024, a social media storm saw people posting videos of themselves pouring milk down their sinks citing food safety fears. The health scare went viral after an announcement by Arla that they were trialling a new animal feed additive called Bovaer, which is scientifically proven to reduce methane in farm animals. What should have been a good news story about how science and innovation can help agriculture to get to net zero very quickly turned into a health scare complete with conspiracy theories about Bill Gates trying to poison us.
In fact adding additives to animal feed is just one of a myriad of exciting new science and innovation ideas in the works exploring different approaches to reducing methane emissions from farm animals. This Background Briefing will bring in experts across the agricultural field to explain the science behind some of these techniques, which include genetic breeding approaches, vaccine candidates and ways to alter the ruminant microbiome as well as the feed additives. The FSA’s Chief Scientist will also be with us to answer any remaining questions around Bovaer and the systems in place to test for the safety of dairy products.
Irish and UK based journalists came to this SMC briefing to hear the science behind some of these approaches.
Speakers included:
Prof Robin May, Chief Scientific Advisor, Food Standards Agency (FSA)
Prof Chris Reynolds, Professor of Animal & Dairy Science, University of Reading
Prof Richard Dewhurst, Professor of Ruminant Nutrition & Production Systems and Head of the Dairy Research Centre, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
Prof John Hammond,Director of Research, The Pirbright Institute
Dr Sinead Waters,Senior Researcher in Host Microbiome Interactions, University of Galway
Is there a change you’d like to make in your life? Perhaps you’d finally like to write the novel you’ve been thinking about for years. Perhaps you think you should start saving for a holiday or a deposit on a house or flat. Maybe you would like to improve your fitness.
That’s great. But we all know it can be hard to stick to these kinds of changes. Gym membership figures suggest half of new members quit within six months, and many of us have the evidence of once-loved hobbies scattered around our homes.
To write that book, for instance, you’re going to have to find time to do it, and stick with it when the going gets tough and initial enthusiasm has worn off.
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My research looks at the psychology of making changes through the lens of what is known as self-determination theory, which proposes that there are different forms of motivation. These range from, for instance, being motivated to do something because someone is making you do it, to being motivated because you think it’s fun.
Looked at like this, big changes, such as training for a new career, and smaller ones, like joining a weekly fitness class, are all the same. What matters is the reason you have for doing it.
Find the right reason
You might have more than one reason for making a change. Perhaps you want to start something because it’s a TikTok trend and everyone else seems to be doing it, or maybe the suggestion is coming from someone in your life. These are external reasons to do something, and this type of motivation is less likely to lead to success.
Focus on the ones that are “internalised” – that come from within yourself. If you can find a reason why the change is important to you and you have your own motivation to make it, you’re much more likely to stick with it. It needs to be something that is aligned with your values – something you believe in.
So what you’re doing doesn’t even have to be something you enjoy, as long as it’s something you feel is important to you.
Think of deciding to save money, for example. This isn’t an activity that is inherently fun for most people, but the act of saving might be important because of what it represents or leads to – the holiday at the end of it, or the house you could buy with the money you put away. When you start to waver in your goal, thinking of that personal reason will help you keep going.
You don’t necessarily have to enjoy something to be motivated to keep doing it. New Africa/Shutterstock
There are two other important concepts from self-determination theory mixed up in the idea of an action being aligned with personal values. When you do something that comes from your values, you should be acting with autonomy – doing something you want to do, not something other people have made you do.
That’s a key construct in the theory, but it can be hard to align with things like work or study. Perhaps your goal is to apply yourself at work or to get a good grade in your studies. But most people have a boss, or a supervisor, and their role is to instruct you on what to do.
If you’re a teacher, you have to work to the school’s timetable, whether you like it or not. But in the jobs where you are most motivated, you will be able to make some choices for yourself. Teaching is an interesting example of when this doesn’t work, because in England this very structured job has become even more so in recent years, coinciding with a recruitment and retention problem in the profession.
Teacher autonomy is widely studied and considered important even outside of self-determination theory, and a perceived lack of autonomy is likely to be one of the reasons people might want to quit their job.
Eyes on the goal
The other really important thing is your goal in making the change. The best kind of goal is an autonomous one, relating to something that is intrinsically important to you. This might be competing at a high level in your sport, because it will give you joy and satisfaction to be the best you can be. This means you will put up with hardships and challenges, and you will keep going even after a bad day.
By contrast, if your goal is an external one, you might find things more difficult. This includes if you’re doing something for a reward, rather than because something is personally important to you. So if you want to write a bestselling novel to become famous or rich, you may find that as the going gets tough, your motivation slips and work grinds to a halt.
If you are doing something because other people want you to, even other people who care about you, you will struggle. This may mean that some changes are just not meant to be – or it might mean changing your mindset and how you look at the goals you are aiming for.
Try to get the support of people who care about you and who you care about, whether this be family and friends, or a new community at your sports club, for example. And finally, keep an eye on your goals. Any change which you are engaging in for yourself because you value it and can see the benefits, is likely to be a lasting one.
Abigail Parrish does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The British High Commission is calling for young Malaysian women to participate in its ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition where 2 Malaysians will have the unique opportunity to “head” a diplomatic mission, lead meetings, and get involved in a wide range of diplomatic engagements.
High Commissioner for a Day’
This competition is held in conjunction with International Women’s Day and Commonwealth Day on 8 and 11 March respectively.
Eligibility
Applicants must be Malaysian women residing in Malaysia, between the ages of 18 and 25.
How to enter competition
Submit a one-minute video answering the question, “If you were High Commissioner in a Commonwealth country, what issue would you champion and why?”.
Post the entry video on either X, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn with the hashtag #HCforADayMY and tag @UKinMalaysia. You can also email the video link to UKinMalaysia@fcdo.gov.uk.
The deadline for entries is 19 February 2025, and each individual is only permitted one entry.
Acting British High Commissioner to Malaysia, David Wallace said:
Our High Commissioner for a Day campaign is back after an overwhelming response last year. We started this programme last year to empower girls, engage young leaders and provide a money-can’t-buy experience to participate in the world of diplomacy. We want to give aspiring women leaders a platform to advocate for the cause of your choice.
One of last year’s winner, Devana Zamain said:
Winning the High Commissioner for A Day competition pushed me out of my comfort zone, broadened my horizons, and helped me break into the impact industry in Sabah as a fresh graduate.
It empowered me to empower others. If you’re doubting yourself, just remember that nobody is a nobody. Your passion and voice matter.
Take the chance because you never know where it might lead you.
Another winner, Aqila Alya said:
It has been a unique experience for me. From a parliamentary meeting with YB Hannah Yeoh, followed by networking lunch and fireside chat, and lastly the Royal Commonwealth Society reception, I learned a lot about diplomatic settings and making genuine connections.
This programme really acts as an eye-opener for youth that’s still exploring their career paths and those interested in diplomatic relations.
The Met Police Commissioner’s December report to the London Policing Board highlighted a series of “tough choices” which may have to be implemented to meet the expected budget gap of £450m in the Met’s 2025-26 budget.[1]
The report suggests some of these tough choices could include scaling back the ability to tackle serious violence and organised crime, making cuts to teams that track down wanted offenders and gather vital evidence, and reducing the ability to respond and proactively police incidents on our roads.
The Commissioner has said that the impact of these tough choices could result in a reduction of 2,300 officers along with 400 staff.[2]
Tomorrow, the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will question the Met Police Commissioner on the “tough choices”, whether they will save the amount of money required, and how the Met will secure further funding to minimise these cuts. The Committee will also explore grooming gangs and stop and search.
The guests are:
Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 12 February 2025 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
New scheme comes as part of the government’s drive to help people back into work and kickstart economic growth under its Plan for Change
New ‘Jobcentre on wheels’ service launched to drive up employment across Great Britain.
Any member of the public – as well as DWP customers – can access job support through the mobile Jobcentres being tested in Bolton and parts of Wales.
New mobile Jobcentres are pulling up to football matches and retail parks to deliver vital employment support directly to local communities.
The vans have been visiting family hubs, retail car parks and mosques in regions with particularly high levels of unemployment and inactivity as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) tests new and inclusive ways to help people back into work. This includes a van pitching up at Bolton Wanderers Football Club last weekend to provide job support to fans on match day.
In Bolton alone, nearly 1-in-3 of people are currently inactive, with unemployment significantly higher than the national average. This van and others like it are performing a vital service to areas like Bolton, breaking down barriers to opportunity and bringing the expertise and support of the DWP straight into the heart of the communities that need it most.
The mobile Jobcentres are staffed by experienced Work Coaches who offer expert support with job searching, training opportunities and can provide information to those with health conditions or disabilities and accessing childcare costs.
As well as existing customers, the service is open and accessible to all members of the public and forms part of the government’s wider plans to tackle inactivity, support people into jobs and make everyone better off under its Plan for Change.
With the vans in Bolton, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham already proving a success, a van in Scotland will launch later this month and cover Moray and the Highlands.
The Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern, saw the Bolton mobile Jobcentre in action today (Monday 10 February) as members of the local community received advice outside the Great Lever Family Hub, a Start Well Children’s Centre.
Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern, said:
For too long, people have been denied the opportunity of securing a good job and getting on in their career. Under our major employment reforms, we want to see everyone, in every corner of the country, become better off.
This mobile Jobcentre is a perfect example of an inclusive and accessible DWP solution that ensures no one misses out on the job support they deserve. Getting more people back into work is a key part of our Plan for Change to deliver economic growth, create better opportunities and put more money into the pockets of working people.
Sam Ashton, a Work Coach based on the Bolton mobile Jobcentre, added:
The new Bolton mobile Jobcentre hit the road in January and has already pulled up in various locations across the town including at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. We have been supporting customers with a whole host of needs, whether that is with their job search, or accessing childcare costs.
We’re really looking forward to helping even more people in harder to reach areas and make it much easier for them to access our services.
The government is delivering on the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation as set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper. Key measures include overhauling Jobcentres, introducing a Youth Guarantee to ensure all people aged 18 to 21 are earning or learning and connecting local work, health and skills plans.
The astronomical profits of BP and other oil and gas giants are destroying our planet and chaining us to a broken energy market, says the Scottish Greens’ climate spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP.
Mr Ruskell’s comments come as BP has published profits for Q4 2024.
Mr Ruskell said:
“Households and families across our country are suffering from eye-watering bills and a broken energy market, while BP and other fossil fuel giants are reporting astronomical profits.
“Our reliance on fossil fuels is hammering household budgets, and it is destroying our planet. Global temperatures are breaking records while extreme weather events are becoming the new normal.
“Yet, at the same time, as these companies have been raking in obscene profits, they have squandered the opportunity to invest in renewables. They have stuck to a broken system that is harmful for people and planet.
“It is time for Labour to close the loopholes in the windfall tax and ensure that these climate wreckers are paying their fair share so that we can support people who are being trapped in fuel poverty.”
Mr Ruskell added:
“Our best defence against global oil and gas prices is to make the investment that is needed in clean, green renewable energy so that we can have proper energy security and lower bills.
“Leaving fossil fuels in the ground and going green is the only way that we can ensure a liveable future for generations to come.”
Labour are normalising hatred and division through state sponsored scapegoating.
More in Equality
The Home Office’s decision to share footage of people being deported is “exploitative” and “obscene” says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman.
Ms Chapman has accused the UK government of using the cruel footage as clickbait as part of its hostile environment agenda.
Ms Chapman said:
“Even by the disgraceful standards of the Home Office this is obscene. Our migrant communities are not a prop to be dehumanised and exploited by Keir Starmer in these sickening videos.
“How did the Labour leader go from being a human rights lawyer to using exploitative footage of people being deported as clickbait?
“It is the oldest and most cynical trick in the book. Labour are pointing the finger at marginalised people at the same time as they are attacking pensioners by cutting winter fuel payments and hammering households with even greater energy costs.
“Nigel Farage will be rubbing his hands together. The last thing we need is more state sponsored scapegoating, racism and division, but that is all that Labour is offering.
“The policies and the practices of the Home Office are an affront to human rights and the values that Labour is supposed to stand for.
“It is impossible to defeat the far right by normalising their hatred and implementing all of their policies for them.”
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister said:
“The Ombudsman – having been slapped down on a number of occasions on the issue of her findings of collusion – should be resigning, not appealing this judgment.
“An appeal will see yet further waste of public money in what is increasingly appearing to be a mission to damage the reputation of a proud police force which stood between Northern Ireland and anarchy for 30 years and paid a shocking price for so doing.
“In light of this appeal, the Justice Minister needs to revisit her comments in the Assembly today and withdraw her support for the Ombudsman.”
Residents in St Albans District aged 70 or over can apply for a brand new Access Permit to make car parking easier.
St Albans City and District Council has introduced the permit to help people who have difficulty with digital payment methods such as a mobile phone app.
The decision to provide it, taken after feedback that car park permits had a wider purpose than just value for money, is aimed at ensuring that these residents do not feel digitally excluded.
Costing £190 a year, the permit is valid for one visit a day for up to three hours at 15 off-street car parks in St Albans and Harpenden.
That includes car parks at Drover’s Way, Russell Avenue, the Civic Centre, Westminster Lodge and Verulamium, in St Albans, and Amenbury Lane and Bowers Way East and West, in Harpenden.
To be eligible for the permit, you need to be aged 70 or above and be a resident of the District.
Councillor Helen Campbell, Lead for Car Parking, said:
There is no statutory duty placed on us to provide such a permit and I am not aware of any Councils that do, so this is quite an innovation.
We are an inclusive Council, responsive to the needs of all our community, and the permit is a demonstration of that.
Many of our older citizens are more than happy to pay by contactless cards or apps, but there are some who struggle with these modern methods.
The Access Permit will help by providing them with a more traditional way of paying. The price of £190 per year is designed to reflect a fair price for an average driver over a year’s use.
Those who have difficulty making an online application, or need further information and advice about applying, please contact the Council’s customer service team on 01727 866100.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A new state-of-the-art government office building in Manchester’s city centre has hit a key stage in its construction.
A new state-of-the-art government office building in Manchester’s city centre has hit a key stage in its construction.
The Government Property Agency (GPA) has confirmed it has accepted the handover of its new hub in First Street after the building reached practical completion of its Category A (Cat A) fit out and lease commencement. Works were completed by BAM Construct UK appointed by developer Ask Real Estate.
This latest milestone continues the countdown to ready for service, with the nine-storey circa 12,000 square metre building now ready for the internal fit-out to commence.
Once complete the hub will accommodate around 2,600 civil servants from departments including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), and the Department for Education (DfE). It is expected that more than 150 roles will be relocated to Manchester from across several different government departments and agencies once the hub is operational.
The building forms part of the Government Hubs Programme supporting economic growth across the UK. The programme is rationalising the government’s estate in towns and cities across the UK, playing a pivotal role in delivering modern, customer-focused and varied workspaces where civil servants can thrive. The design recognises that different types of work require different spaces to enable collaboration, creativity and community regardless of how people choose to work.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Georgia Gould, said:
It’s great to see the Manchester First Street Hub move onto this next stage of construction.
UK Government Hubs across the country help to consolidate our estate. Not only cutting waste by removing old inefficient buildings from our portfolio, but also giving people across the country the chance to work in the Civil Service, and driving economic growth in the local area.
Georgina Dunn, the GPA’s Interim Director of Capital Projects, said:
It’s very gratifying to reach this significant stage in the programme. This new state-of-the-art office will provide a home for civil servants from across the government in Manchester, making it one of the largest hubs for cross-departmental collaboration and operation outside London. The GPA remains immensely proud of the industry-leading sustainability, accessibility and workplace standards delivered by the Government Hubs Programme.
A competitive tender process for the subsequent fit-out works has completed with the GPA due to make an announcement in the next few weeks.
John Hughes, Managing Director at Ask Real Estate said:
Bringing the GPA hub to practical completion is a huge testament to our commitment to driving sustainability in the workplace sector. Achieving a NABERS 5.5 Design for Performance rating – the first building in Manchester City Centre to reach this milestone – supports the high ambitions set by HM Government.
First Street and its extended neighbourhood will be boosted significantly when the GPA takes occupation.
The £105m development was forward-funded by Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension funds, which will use the secure, long-dated and index-linked cashflows to pay the pensions of its policyholders over the coming decades.
James Agar, Head of Real Estate Origination at PIC, added:
We are delighted to have reached practical completion on such an important project for PIC. The First Street hub is a great example of what can be achieved through public private partnerships.
The sustainability and ESG focus of this best-in-class building are clear to see, these were a key element of our investment case for the asset which will help us to pay the pensions of our policy holders.
The building deepens our relationship with the GPA and will assist the UK Government in delivering the transition to Net Zero. We look forward to the GPA taking formal occupation of the building and welcoming more than 2,500 civil servants to the site.
The First Street Hub is in the heart of Manchester and a few minutes’ walk from Oxford Road and Deansgate rail stations. It has been designed to be class-leading, meeting inclusive and accessible design standards.
Lead developer Ask Real Estate and its joint venture partner, Richardson, secured a full pre-let of the Grade A BREEAM Excellent office building to the GPA which then signed a lease with building owners PIC in 2022.
For more information contact the GPA’s comms team: comms@gpa.gov.uk
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The UK-India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) 2025 ballot will open next week.
The UK-India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) 2025 ballot will open next week. This bespoke visa scheme offers Brits and Indians the unique opportunity to live, study, travel, and work in the other country for up to two years.
Indian nationals aged 18 to 30 must enter the ballot on gov.uk to be considered for one of the 3,000 spots available under the scheme. The ballot is scheduled to open on 18 February and close on 20 February. Applicants do not need to pay to enter the ballot, and successful entries will be picked at random.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old on the date they plan to travel to the UK. They must also have a qualification at UK bachelor’s degree level or above and have proof of £2,530 in savings to support themselves in the UK. Applicants should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements before entering the ballot.
Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said:
The Young Professionals Scheme is an excellent programme which helps build a modern understanding of our countries among Brits and Indians alike. I strongly encourage people from all corners of the country to apply – from Itanagar to Coimbatore, from Leh to Surat, and from Bhubaneshwar to Indore.
Further information
launched in February 2023, the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) is a bespoke, reciprocal scheme under which UK and Indian nationals who are aged 18 to 30 can live, study, travel and work in the other country for up two years. The opening of the ballot will be announced on GOV.UK. See eligibility conditions for entering the YPS ballot
the YPS ballot for Indian nationals wanting to travel to the UK is free to enter. Those selected from the ballot will be notified via email within two weeks of the ballot closing and will be invited to apply for the visa. They will then have 90 days from the date of the email informing them of their success in the ballot to make an application to the UK Home Office via the online application form, provide their biometrics and pay all associated fees, including the visa application fee and immigration health surcharge
selected applicants must mandatorily return to India after completing two years in the UK under this scheme
there were over 2,100 YPS visas issued to Indian nationals in the year ending December 2023
Large power grids are among the most complicated machines humans have ever devised. Different generators produce power at various times and at various costs. A generator might fail and another fills the gap. Demand soars in the evenings and on hot days. In Australia, eastern and southern states trade power across borders. Meanwhile, Western Australia has two grids and the Northern Territory has several.
But these complicated machines are undergoing major change, as we shift from large fossil fuel plants to cleaner forms of power. Wind and sun are now the cheapest way to produce electricity. These renewable sources will soon overtake coal and gas – they’re already averaging 40% of power flowing through the national grid.
Solar and wind are often called “variable” renewable energy sources. Variable, here, refers to the fact the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow. On sunny, windy days we get lots of cheap power. But on still nights, we might get little.
This is where “firming” comes in. To firm renewables is to convert this cheap but variable source of power into what we really want: a reliable supply of electricity, there when we need it. Big battery projects are one way to do it. But there are others.
Storage is the best known way to firm renewables. As floods of cheap power come in, you can store it for later use.
Storage can be performed by grid-scale batteries, where the power is stored directly. But it can also be done by pumped hydro, where water is pumped uphill when power is cheap and plentiful and run back downhill, through turbines, when power is harder to source.
Firming can also be done by virtual power plants – aggregated fleets of smaller batteries in homes and electric vehicles.
Gas peaking plants are another way of firming renewables. In the future, gas plants will go from being a mainstay to the equivalent of a backup generator, fired up only when needed.
Generally, energy storage facilities offer either short- or long-term firming. As more renewable power enters Australia’s grids, we will need both. This is because they offer different levels of storage and response times.
Short term can be as short as seconds to a few hours. Batteries are a common way to provide short-term firming, because they can ramp up very quickly to tackle sudden fluctuations in supply or demand. These fast-response systems help stabilise the grid by smoothing out spikes caused by changing weather.
Long-term firming can be for hours, days or even weeks. This includes large-scale battery storage or back-up generators such as gas plants. Long-term options are crucial to maintain power supply during extended periods of low renewable generation, such as still, cold days and nights in winter.
In recent years, large-scale battery announcements have ramped up. Almost 8 gigawatts of battery capacity is now in progress or anticipated to start construction shortly. But the pipeline of future projects is much larger: 75 gigawatts of firming will be required.
While renewable power is cheap, to make it useful and reliable in addition to storage, we need transmission lines to connect large renewable zones to cities and towns. All this adds extra costs.
As the level of renewables in our power grids inches higher, firming costs increase. This is especially true when a grid goes from 95% to 100% renewables, when there’s a sudden jump in cost.
This is why experts have argued for keeping a few gas peaking plants. While they are not emission-free, they are flexible and can start up much more rapidly than coal. They will likely play a key role in firming the grid during renewable droughts and extreme demand – an estimated 5% of the year. That sounds small, but they will be essential.
Eventually, gas peaking plants could switch to hydrogen, if the fuel becomes cost effective. This would cut emissions further.
Firming – at home?
Homes with batteries can also help firm the network by joining a virtual power plant. These networks of batteries can be digitally coordinated to function as a single power plant, helping stabilise the grid.
If a home owner signs up to a virtual power plant program, they hand over some control in return for income. Technologies such as this can support grid stability by charging or discharging in response to supply fluctuations.
These networks are a flexible energy resource. They can inject power to the grid instantly if there’s a sudden drop in solar or wind generation. They can also soak up surplus energy.
These aren’t hypothetical. Several are running or in development in Australia, such as the AGL virtual power plant in South Australia, SolarHub in New South Wales and the new ARENA-funded Project Jupiter in Western Australia, which will commence soon.
Is firming helping?
Firming technologies are already helping in high-renewable grids overseas. Big batteries now allow California’s grid to absorb more renewables, by soaking up daytime solar and releasing it at evening peak.
We’re seeing the benefits of firming locally, too.
On January 20 this year, a heatwave in Western Australia triggered a new record for peak electricity demand – 4.4 gigawatts – in the state’s main electricity network, the South West Interconnected System.
In response, recently built battery storage at Kwinana, Collie, and Cunderdin stored excess power and discharged it at peak times.
The next day, dense clouds swept in, slashing solar output and reducing peak demand. In response, gas generators increased output to firm the grid.
Firming technologies are already playing a vital role in keeping our electricity supply stable, reliable and resilient – and it’s just the start.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
