Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh
We had a fantastic day at our third Tak£500+ event at South Lake Leisure Centre! A huge thank you to all the local groups who took part and shared their inspiring project ideas. Attendees had the opportunity to vote for their favourite projects, helping decide which ideas will receive funding up to £1,000.
Stay tuned, results will be announced this Wednesday – good luck to all the participants!
Source: City of Leeds
News that pensioners across Leeds have been helped to access over £1million in unclaimed Pension Credit has been welcomed by senior Councillor Mary Harland.
The council’s welfare and benefits team has been working hard to promote and encourage uptake of the additional support available, including proactively contacting pensioners who may be eligible but are not currently claiming.
As a result, the team has helped at least 249 households secure Pension Credit awards with the largest being over £400 per week, money that otherwise those residents would not have received.
Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council executive member for communities, customer services and community safety, said:
“I am delighted that our welfare and benefits team has been able to bring in an extra £1million for pensioners across the city and I’d like to thank them for the work they have undertaken. This is money that people were entitled to but were not receiving, and with the biggest award being over £400 per week it is easy to see just what a difference this additional income could have for some of our most vulnerable residents.
“There are a number of reasons people don’t claim – they may not be aware they are eligible, fear of stigma, difficulty applying or language barriers – but the work undertaken by the team has shown that a targeted approach has real impact. However, there are still a number of households who have been sent letters encouraging take-up who have not responded and I would encourage everyone who is contacted by the team to get in touch so that we can help them claim any money they are entitled to.”
Notes to editors
A Pension Credit claim can be made online, by phone or by requesting a paper claim form.
https://apply-for-pension-credit.service.gov.uk/start
Pension Credit claim phone line: 0800 991 234
For more information or to discuss any aspect of Pension Credit, a range of completely free, impartial, and confidential advice is available from the following:
Welfare Rights at Leeds City Council
Tel: 0113 376 0452
Email: Welfare.rights@leeds.gov.uk
Or:
Age UK Leeds
Tel: 0113 389 3000
Please note: It is important to make a claim as soon as possible, as it can only be backdated three months from the date the claim is made.
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact:
Leeds City Council communications and marketing,
Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk
Tel: 0113 378 6007
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Government announces a new amendment to the Employment Rights Bill which will expand rights to bereavement leave to those who experience pregnancy loss
Families suffering pregnancy loss to be given new rights to time off, as part of Employment Rights Bill.
Entitlements set to benefit the hundreds of thousands of employees affected by pregnancy loss per year.
Changes put dignity and security back at the heart of work, in line with the Government’s Plan for Change.
Families who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks are set to become entitled to protected bereavement leave, under new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill announced today (Monday 7 July).
These amendments form part of the biggest uplift to workers’ rights in a generation, set to benefit half of all UK workers. Hundreds of thousands of employees are impacted by pregnancy loss per year – one estimate for example suggests that there are around 250,000 pregnancy losses caused by miscarriages alone in the UK each year with a further 12,000 impacted by loss due to ectopic pregnancies.
The measures announced today will give those experiencing pregnancy loss at any stage the legal right to take time off work to grieve, giving them much needed support at a difficult time.
This announcement comes as a result of a hard-fought campaign by MP Sarah Owen as Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, with the Government agreeing to bring forward an amendment at in the Lords to make these changes a reality.
Until now, statutory Parental Bereavement Leave has only been available to parents who lose a child under 18 or experience stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. This compassionate change acknowledges that the grief following pregnancy loss can be just as profound regardless of when it happens.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
For many families including mine that have been affected by pregnancy loss, the decision around returning to work or taking sick leave to grieve properly can make an already painful experience even more difficult.
Grief doesn’t follow a timetable, and expanding rights to leave for pregnancy loss will ensure every family gets the time they need to heal without worrying about their job.
Our Plan for Change is making a difference for hardworking people across the UK. Today’s amendments are the next step in delivering the dignity and respect that they deserve.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:
No one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready.
I am proud that this Government is introducing a day one right to protected time off work after experiencing pregnancy loss, giving people time away from work to grieve and spend time with their families.
Today’s announcement follows the launch of the landmark Parental Leave and Pay Review last week, which will look at ways to fix the parental leave system for millions of parents so that it delivers a better start to life for all children.
These amendments will be designed to ensure they work for businesses, workers and trade unions alike, as part of the wider Plan to Make Work Pay. Government has been informed by engagement with more than 190 businesses and other crucial stakeholders over the past 12 months, in order to get this balance right.
Sarah Owen MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, said:
From my personal experience of miscarriage to the powerful testimony the Women & Equalities Select Committee heard, I know the difference that bereavement leave will make.
It is a bold and necessary move from this Government to see the UK become one of only a handful of countries in the world to recognise pregnancy loss as a bereavement and give workers the right to take time off to grieve.
Nothing will ever take away the pain of losing a pregnancy, but this law change will provide workers with the security of time to grieve and help end the stigma of miscarriage for good.
Vicki Robinson, CEO of the Miscarriage Association, said:
We welcome today’s announcement that, for the first time, miscarriage and other types of pregnancy loss will be formally recognised as bereavement and those affected will have the legal right to take time off work to start to grieve and heal. This is a hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss, not only for those experiencing the physical loss, but for their partners, too.
We’ve been pleased to contribute to the Government’s decision making on this issue and are encouraged that our views, and those of our community, have been heard loud and clear – that pregnancy loss can be experienced as a bereavement like any other.
This positive outcome reflects the strength of our Leave for Every Loss campaign, the dedication of Sarah Owen MP, and the efforts of our partner organisations and individuals who have worked tirelessly for change.
We remain committed to working with the Government as the legislation progresses, to help ensure the new provisions meet the needs of everyone affected by pregnancy loss and support employers in implementing these vital changes.
Dr Clea Harmer, Chief Executive of Sands, said:
We welcome amendments to the Employment Rights Bill to include leave for pregnancy loss before 24-weeks.
Families tell us how important it is to have the time they need after pregnancy and baby loss, and statutory leave for all employees, including partners, will help to provide this.
We now look forward to a thorough consultation involving families affected by losses before 24 weeks.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
UKEF supports Bristol-based technology leader Dynisma to enter European markets with a new multi-million pound export contract
UK Export Finance supports Bristol-based Dynisma secure new multi-million-pound-equivalent export contract
Pioneering simulation firm opens new 20,000 sq. ft campus and creates over 65 new jobs in the last 12 months, with further expansion planned to support global expansion and UK growth
Announcement follows publication of the Industrial and Trade Strategies as part of the government’s Plan for Change
Bristol-based technology leader, Dynisma, is now exporting to Europe with support from UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government’s export credit agency.
New government support is driving the company’s expansion, whose cutting-edge motion simulation systems are adopted by leading automotive manufacturers worldwide, including McLaren Automotive and Ferrari.
With a €3 million surety bond issued by NatWest and guaranteed by UKEF’s Bond Support Scheme, Dynisma secured a €10.7 million contract with a European client, accelerating the company’s international expansion and bolstering UK growth.
Over the past year, Dynisma has created over 65 high-skilled UK jobs and opened a new 20,000 sq. ft technology campus in Bristol to support its continued growth and expansion into adjacent sectors and new markets.
Founded by former Formula 1 engineer Ash Warne, Dynisma set out to close a critical gap in vehicle development by creating motion simulators with real-world correlation.
This marked a step change in Driver-in-the-Loop simulation, giving automotive manufacturers and race teams access to capabilities once limited to top-tier motorsport. Dynisma now supplies systems to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and teams across all major motorsport series, helping reduce physical testing, shorten development cycles, and improve overall efficiency.
Dynisma’s partnership with NatWest and UKEF also includes a General Export Facility (GEF) worth up to around £7.1 million. This will give Dynisma access to a range of trade finance facilities designed to support the growth of export volumes.
Dynisma is a fantastic example of a successful British business that has gone from strength-to-strength through exporting.
UKEF’s support enables Dynisma to unlock valuable new financing, which has opened up a new chapter for the company and helped to create new local skilled jobs.
This support from UKEF and NatWest has played an important part in helping us unlock new global opportunities. It reflects the strength of our technology, our culture, and our people.
As a team, we’re proud to be flying the flag for British innovation on a global stage and to be helping our customers rethink what’s possible in simulation, development, and performance. This is just the beginning – our platforms have huge potential in adjacent industries, and we’re excited for the road ahead.
At NatWest, we take pride in our support for innovative businesses as they look to expand and take their expertise to global markets.
Dynisma represents a fantastic example of British engineering excellence, delivering a major boost to the local economy and technology sector. We’re delighted that our partnership with UK Export Finance has assisted them to secure new opportunities for international growth.
Dynisma’s advanced motion simulators enable automotive manufacturers to virtually test and develop vehicles across the entire product lifecycle – from early concept through to final sign-off.
By delivering ultra-low latency and high-bandwidth feedback, they provide engineers and drivers with real-world correlation for handling, performance, and ride development. This reduces reliance on costly physical prototypes and enables earlier, faster decision-making, helping OEMs bring vehicles to market with greater speed and confidence.
Dynisma’s success story aligns with the government’s focus on driving economic growth across the UK, in partnership with businesses and by supporting innovation in key sectors like automotive and advanced manufacturing through the Industrial and Trade Strategies, where the UK enjoys competitive advantages globally.
Media enquiries:
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Report on Technical Cooperation in Colombia. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.
Thank you, Mr Vice-President.
We commend Colombia’s continued collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and welcome today’s update.
The human rights situation in Colombia remains challenging, as recognised by the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances on its visit last December, and the visit of the UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity in May.
We are concerned at the increase in children being recruited by criminal groups to participate in the armed conflict. Moreover, violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity remains widespread. Human rights defenders, journalists, social and community leaders, as well as LGBT+ communities remain some of the most vulnerable.
For the UK, the 2016 Peace Agreement is crucial to securing lasting peace in Colombia. Its implementation requires a whole of society approach. We continue to urge the Colombian government, civil society and UN agencies to work together on this important issue, particularly through technical cooperation and capacity-building.
We continue to call on the international community to strengthen its assistance to Colombian-led efforts to secure lasting peace, including through supporting an effective response to the recommendations of the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition.
Thank you.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
The council’s housing development team is leading on the project, with Morro Partnerships appointed to construct the homes using sustainable building methods.
It will deliver a mixture of detached and semi-detached houses, bungalows and a small number of flats, plus 52 parking spaces, on a cleared site at the rear of Old Fallings Crescent, previously occupied by the former Peach Tree adventure playground and disused garages.
The homes have been designed by BM3 Architects, with the houses being built to future adaptability standards and the bungalows to wheelchair standards. All will have a high energy efficiency rating, electric vehicle charging point and solar panels.
As well as 2-bedroom homes, 4 and 5-bedroom homes have also been included in the scheme to cater for larger families, with the first timber frames now being installed following ground works.
The 24 new homes form part of the latest phase of new council properties coming forward across the city, with development works completed, underway or set to start in the coming months on 81 properties across six sites.
The Low Hill development has been supported by a £1.74million grant from Homes England.
Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing, said: “This development helps address the local area’s housing needs by providing a variety of council homes that will enhance the surrounding neighbourhood and foster a vibrant and inclusive community.
“A lot of credit must go to our housing development project managers for working in consultation with existing residents to develop such a strong scheme.
“I’m delighted to see the first timber frames going up on these well-designed homes, near to open spaces and community facilities, further providing much needed opportunities for Wolverhampton residents.”
The carbon footprint of a timber frame is less than traditional structures, and this modern method of construction also helps to reduce energy consumption, helping to keep residents’ bills to a minimum.
Tom Broadway, Managing Director (West Midlands) at Morro Partnerships, said: “Building on our successful refurbishment of the Bushbury Triangle Centre and collaborative efforts with Wolverhampton Council, this scheme strengthens Morro’s continued investment in environmental care and social infrastructure.
“By embedding high-quality, energy-efficient council homes into the area, we’re helping reduce residents’ carbon footprints, support diverse family types, and regenerate previously underused land – delivering long-term benefit for Low Hill and beyond.”
Source: St Albans City and District
Publication date:
Hertfordshire’s 11 Councils have launched the first phase of engagement as part of a joint programme to shape proposals for the future of local government in the county.
In a co-ordinated approach, all councils will engage with key strategic partners – including the NHS, police, education leaders, major employers, town and parish councils and voluntary and community sector groups – at both county-wide and district and borough level
The engagement is underpinned by four core principles: transparency, consistency, inclusion, and accessibility. All 11 Councils in Hertfordshire are committed to working collaboratively and listening to a broad range of voices as they consider how local government in Hertfordshire could evolve. It aims to explore how future local government arrangements could better support shared priorities and improve services for residents.
This initial phase will focus on the principles and opportunities behind potential reorganisation options. It aims to build understanding of the process underway following the publication of the Government’s Devolution White Paper and invitation for all two-tier areas to submit proposals for creating a single tier of unitary councils. It will also explain the shared objectives of council leaders and gather input from strategic partners on how any future changes could support better local services and stronger accountability to ensure they are considered from the outset.
Engagement is also being undertaken with representative partners from Town, Parish, and Community Councils in Hertfordshire to research and formulate options for enhanced working with the new unitary councils when they are formed.
Councillor Paul De Kort, Leader of St Albans City and District Council, said:
Over the next few months there will be lots of opportunities for people and organisations to find out more about the proposals for local government reorganisation in Hertfordshire and to share their views.
It is vital that we develop our plans in collaboration with our communities, the people and organisations that we serve, and involve everyone in helping to shape the final proposals.
The second phase of engagement, which will be launched in the coming months, will provide residents and wider stakeholders with the opportunity to learn more about the potential options for the future of local government in Hertfordshire, ask questions, and share their views directly. Details of these engagement opportunities will be shared closer to the time.
Councils will also be organising significant engagement with their workforce during this period.
All 11 councils are working together to assess what local government structures would best serve Hertfordshire’s communities, services, and places. This is an opportunity to build a responsive and resilient system of local government – one that reflects local identity while unlocking long-term benefits for residents and communities.
Final proposals must be submitted to the government on 28 November 2025.
Source: City of Preston
Made possible with funding from Preston City Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK Government’s Towns Fund, Lancashire County Council and many other generous partners.
The Harris will officially reopen its doors to the public on Sunday, 28 September 2025 following a once-in-a-generation restoration as part of the Harris Your Place project. The transformation reimagines The Harris as a dynamic and inclusive cultural hub for the 21st century, blending art, history, community, and a refreshed library service to deliver an exciting new visitor experience.
Located in the heart of Preston, The Harris will relaunch with an impressive exhibition programme, learning spaces, family-friendly facilities, a new café and shop, and new heritage tours that celebrate its architectural and civic legacy. The reopening will mark a new chapter for one of the UK’s leading regional museums, libraries and galleries.
Councillor Anna Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said:
“The reopening of The Harris marks a proud and exciting moment for the city of Preston. This incredible transformation will not only safeguard our heritage but also create a vibrant, inclusive space that inspires creativity, learning and connection for generations to come. We’re immensely grateful to all our funding partners and can’t wait to welcome residents and visitors alike back through the doors of this much-loved building.
“The Harris Your Place project has been made possible thanks to the generous support of key partners. We gratefully acknowledge Preston City Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, UK Government’s Towns Fund, Lancashire County Council and Arts Council England. Their vital contributions have helped preserve The Harris for future generations while strengthening access, learning and community engagement.”
Helen Featherstone,Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“We are proud to be supporting the Harris Your Place project, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. Working with Preston City Council, this exciting initiative will provide a sustainable home for the Museum’s collections, which will ensure that they are accessible for local communities and visitors to learn more about the city’s rich heritage.
“We know that heritage can play a huge role furthering a sense of pride in local communities which in turn can boost the local economy, and this project is sure to be a wonderful example of that.”
County Councillor Matthew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Lancashire County Council, said:
“We’re excited to see the Preston Harris Library reopening and back in this iconic building, which is such an important part of the community.
“That’s why we have contributed £1.375m towards the project and our refreshed library.
“This revitalised space will continue to house Preston’s biggest library and serve as a hub for learning and education for all residents.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to this wonderful space.”
Closed since 2021, essential works have included the safe removal of asbestos from the roof, comprehensive repairs to preserve the building’s historic structure, and vital improvements to heating, lighting, and accessibility throughout the building. When it reopens, visitors can expect a fully reimagined experience, with new galleries, and community facilities.
Following the refurbishment of The Harris, annual visitors are expected to increase by approximately 100,000 on top of the existing 350,000 (in 2021).
Additionally, The Harris is unveiling a fresh new look including a redesigned logo, brand identity, and new website. The modernised branding aligns with the aims of the Harris Your Place project: inspired by community input and honouring the building’s heritage while looking confidently to the future.
More details about the reopening events, exhibitions and public programming will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information visit The Harris.
Opened in 1893, the Grade I listed building is owned and managed by Preston City Council. Based in Preston, Lancashire, The Harris is one of the leading museums, galleries and libraries in the region and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Host to art collections of national significance, exciting activities and events for all ages and an award-winning contemporary art programme, The Harris is Preston’s landmark cultural hub.
Currently delivering Harris Your Place project, made possible with National Lottery Heritage Fund; UK Government Towns Fund; Preston City Council; Lancashire County Council; the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal; DCMS; Arts Council England, public donations and a wide range of Trusts and Foundations including Garfield Weston Foundation, Wolfson Foundation, The Harris Charity, Harris Trust and Friends of the Harris.
The magnificent Grade I Listed building is poised to reopen on Sunday, 28 September 2025. To learn more about The Harris, please visit The Harris.
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder of the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery player to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
The City of Wolverhampton Council and substance misuse service Recovery Near You will be highlighting the harms associated with alcohol and the treatment and recovery support which is available in the city.
Representatives from Recovery Near You and SUIT, the Service User Improvement Team, will be available at locations throughout the week offering support, advice and, where appropriate, interventions. At some locations, a fibroscanner will also be available to identify the early signs of liver damage. Sessions will take place at:
Levels of alcohol harm in Wolverhampton are higher than in other parts of the country, with mortality rates and hospital admission rates for alcohol specific conditions both significantly above the national average. Furthermore, data suggests that, of those living in the city who require support with their drinking, only around a quarter are currently engaged with support services.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “Many people like to drink alcohol from time to time, but it is important to do so in moderation because the harm caused by alcohol affects millions of people every year – leading not just to health problems but also causing financial worries, relationship breakdown and family difficulties.
“Tackling the harms caused by alcohol are a crucial priority for the city, and we hope the activities which will be taking place to mark Alcohol Awareness Week will encourage people to consider the harmful impacts of drinking excessively, and to seek support if needed.
“If you are concerned about your drinking, or that of a family member or friend, please take this opportunity to find out about the help which is available from organisations in Wolverhampton.”
Anyone who is concerned about their, or someone else’s drinking, can get information, and support by contacting Recovery Near You. Visit the website or call 0300 200 2400 for adults and 0300 123 3360 for young people. Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To find out more about Alcohol Awareness Week, please visit Alcohol Change.
Source: University of Aberdeen
Lily will head to Washington DC to study at America University’s School of Public Affairs
A passion for politics will take Lily Macdonald from Aberdeen to Washington DC later this summer where the opportunity of a lifetime awaits.
Leaving with a first class MA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations to her name, graduation is just the start of the adventure for the 21-year-old who has secured a coveted Fulbright-American University Scholarship.
The only UK student offered a place at American University this year under the Fulbright award, Lily will be jetting off to the US capital in August to study at America University’s School of Public Affairs where she will learn from some of the best in the business, including a former speech writer for President Obama and a former Senate Chief of Staff.
“I still can’t really believe it. I’ve been interested in American politics for a long time so this is like a dream come true,” she said. “I think I was in shock for about two days after finding out because it didn’t feel real and then all of a sudden I thought, ‘oh wow, this is actually happening’ and just started crying.”
With a background in community development and volunteering, the scholarship blends Lily’s extracurricular activities with her academic interests. She has been actively involved in community integration projects for the past seven years, focusing on topics including intergenerational work with ACE Voices, youth empowerment as part of Aberdeen Youth Movement and inclusive networking for neurodiverse individuals and their families.
“My research proposal is about exploring the pipeline between American political infrastructure and community grassroots conflict. How disengagement and polarisation manifest into violence at a local level, what that conflict looks like, and what we can do to heal it.
“I feel quite passionately about it because I think political polarisation is almost exclusively explored at a national or international level, but actually if you can work to heal communities at a local level that’s when real change can be made.”
Not only is Lily leaving with a first, Lily is also the proud recipient of the 2025 Grant Jordan prize for the Best Politics Dissertation.
“Winning the prize is the icing on the cake,” she said. “It’s especially meaningful because two years ago I never would have thought any of this would be possible.”
After feeling she’d had to work extra hard to maintain good grades at secondary school, Lily was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia in her second year at university.
I’m very excited about what comes next but I’ve loved being at the University of Aberdeen so I’m also sad to leave” Lily McDonald
“I’d always put in the effort and was a straight A student but, after getting my diagnosis, a lot of things I’d found really difficult over the years suddenly made sense,” she said.
“The support the University gave me was fantastic. My lecturer, Dr Malcolm Harvey, in particular was brilliant, he really changed my life. Along with the Student Support team he helped me find alternative ways to absorb the information I needed, like sourcing audio versions of data science visuals which I find a challenge.
“Taking that pressure off gave me the space to be able to spend more time putting my thoughts to paper like everyone else, rather than working hard just trying to keep up.”
Dr Harvey was also instrumental in encouraging Lily to apply for the Fulbright award.
“Throughout my degree I’ve specialised in American domestic politics and foreign policy. I spoke to him about doing a Masters and he said, ‘go to America’. It never crossed my mind that would be possible but he told me about Fulbright and while it was an extremely tough process, he encouraged me and made me believe it could happen.
“I was over the moon the day I found out I’d got it. I’m very excited about what comes next but I’ve loved being at the University of Aberdeen so I’m also sad to leave.
“The idea of community is in my DNA. I’ve felt part of a community at the University and in a research capacity I want to see what community healing looks like in America and take that back to the projects that I’m already involved with here.
“I can see myself going into some sort of advisory role further down the line. It’s not an easy path, but neither was Fulbright so I’m optimistic about the future.”
Until then Lily, a keen musician, is looking forward to her two years in DC which will include exploring the local music scene.
Source: City of York
Fulford Parish Council has managed Fulford Cemetery and provided burial services for residents across the City of York for many years.
This has been an important service for bereaved York families, laying their loved ones to rest.
In recent years, there has been an increase in cremations and a trend away from bereaved families opting for burials, presenting significant financial challenges for the future of the service.
Fulford Parish Council said:
We welcome the constructive discussions we’ve had with City of York Council in recent months over the future of Fulford Cemetery. It has been a challenging time trying to establish a financially-sustainable service as people have increasingly opted for alternatives to burial at our site and other cemeteries across the country. A decision that provides immediate security for the future of the service is urgently needed as Fulford Parish Council is unable to financially support this city-wide service indefinitely.”
The operation of burial services by Fulford Parish Council is the result of a unique, historic agreement with City of York Council entered into in 1965 and, under an updated agreement between the Parish Council and City of York Council in 2006, Fulford Parish Council has had full responsibility for burials for the whole city, on behalf of the Council. Due to this agreement, any financial losses are a shared liability for both Councils.
Increasing burial costs, combined with the emerging popularity of low-cost no-service cremations, have resulted in increasing numbers of people opting for alternatives to burials.
Following detailed discussions between the two Councils, City of York Council is now providing assistance to secure the long-term future of Fulford Cemetery and burial services for York.
This involves the temporary management of Fulford Cemetery until August 2026, in order to stabilise the finances of the burials service for the city and determine future management arrangements for this vital service. This will be done once relevant legal processes have been completed and until an alternative long-term management solution and agreement is identified, considered and approved.
The two Councils encourage everyone with an interest in the future management arrangements of Fulford Cemetery, including those with loved ones buried there, to share their views on the longer-term future of managing the cemetery via email shapingneighbourhoods@york.gov.uk before 1 September 2025. These views will feed into a report to be discussed later this year.
Fulford Parish Council and City of York Council are acutely aware of the importance of this site to the families of loved ones buried there, a key reason why action is being taken now to secure the site for generations to come.
The Council is working with the Parish Council and a volunteer group to coordinate two action days at the Cemetery in July, which will include grass cutting and other jobs to benefit the site. Anyone interested in this, or other similar volunteering opportunities, are warmly invited to email environmentandcommunity@york.gov.uk.
Source: City of Leeds
People and businesses in Leeds are being asked to have their say on the future of development and land use in the district as Leeds City Council launches a consultation to update its Local Plan.
The Leeds Local Plan is a legal framework that will set out the council’s vision and strategy for sustainable growth up to 2042. The plan guides how land is used and developed across the district and influences planning decisions to ensure any developments meet the needs of the community and the environment.
By having this long-term plan, the council can better manage where new homes, businesses, and services are built and ensure the right development happens in the right places.
The consultation, which will provide vital feedback in shaping the future of Leeds, is open for 10 weeks from July 7, and is asking for opinions on:
Deputy Leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said: “As one of the fastest growing cities in Europe, we must ensure that the right developments and services happen in the right places, whilst also giving everyone across the entire Leeds district a voice in planning our city’s future.
“The opinions of people and businesses are hugely important in planning a sustainable future for our city, and this consultation is a real opportunity to have your say and tell us what you think Leeds and the surrounding district should be like by 2042.
“The consultation has been designed to be as easy as possible to complete online, or if you prefer, come and speak to us, ask any questions, and share your thoughts at one of the in-person events.
“Your feedback is vital to making Leeds the best city possible and I encourage everyone to get involved.”
The Leeds Local Plan consultation is open for a period of 10 weeks starting from Monday July 7 and runs until Monday September 15, 2025. By visiting the dedicated and accessible on-line portal, you can:
Alternatively, you can join us at one of the thirteen in-person events we are holding across the Leeds district to have your say in person.
The Leeds Local Plan on-line portal can be found by visiting: https://leedslocalplan.commonplace.is/
Source: Party of Wales
Plaid Cymru Leader pledges ‘a new contract of respect and understanding’ with a Plaid Cymru government next May.
Labour have turned their backs on the people who elected them, Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth has said.
Noting one year since the UK General Election which saw Labour win a substantial majority, Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth accused Labour of spending the year displaying a ‘reckless attitude’ towards their party’s values, while Plaid Cymru have been creating plans to improve public services.
Mr ap Iorwerth highlighted several examples of decisions made by UK Labour that shows them having ‘taken hope away’ from those who voted for them – including cutting the Winter Fuel Payment, changes to disability welfare and the introduction of inheritance tax on family farms.
The Plaid Cymru leader continued by listing policies Plaid Cymru had announced in the last year that offers respect and understanding to the people of Wales, while Labour has ‘failed’ to make the relationship between Wales and Westminster ‘less unjust’.
He said that a Plaid Cymru Government would ‘unlock Wales’ potential’.
Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, said:
“The message – foregrounded and front-loaded in Labour’s 2024 General Election Manifesto – was, superficially at least, a nod to better days ahead. Exactly one year on since that General Election, the reality could hardly be more different.
“The disabled fearful, pensioners paying the price and farmers furious. Seldom has an incoming government wasted so little time before taking hope away.
“The ‘Change’ placards have long been flung on the scrapheap, replaced by a trudging managerialism at best, a reckless attitude towards some of the party’s values at worst, and tired platitudes which can so often be painful to watch.
“Eluned Morgan has never appeared to fully believe in our nation’s ability to stand on its own two feet, she’s also failed to make our relationship with Westminster less unjust.
Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, added:
“I believe in Wales, its people and its possibilities. Next May, the people of Wales have the opportunity to elect a new government underpinned by a new contract of respect and understanding.
“With Plaid Cymru’s plans to cut waiting times, support small businesses, tackle the cost of living crisis and harness our natural wealth, we can do things differently in Wales.
“For anyone who refuses to believe that this is as good as it gets for our communities, and for everyone let down by Westminster’s broken promises, real change is possible with a Plaid Cymru government next May.
“Plaid Cymru are excited about what Wales’ future holds – we have real ambition for our nation. I know that the repeated disappointment from Labour in the Senedd and in Westminster is not the best that Wales can be. I know that with a Plaid Cymru Government in the Senedd in 2026, Wales’ potential can be unlocked.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Thousands of jobs could be created across Derbyshire, Staffordshire and the North West thanks to a £28.6 million National Wealth Fund investment in a major carbon capture project, the Chancellor has announced today, Monday 7 July.
This funding for the flagship Peak Cluster project is the first step towards the development of a leading carbon capture pipeline between cement and lime companies in the Peak District which will store emissions deep below the Irish Sea – accelerating Britain’s transformation into a clean energy superpower.
The Peak Cluster project is the world’s largest cement decarbonisation project – preventing over 3 million tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere every year and providing a secure domestic supply of cement and lime products the British construction and manufacturing sectors rely on.
Backed by £31 million from private partners including Holcim, Tarmac, Breedon, SigmaRoc, Summit Energy Evolution and Progressive Energy together with the Morecambe Net Zero project could create and secure 13,000 jobs in the Midlands and North West.
This investment is the Government’s Plan for Change in action – boosting economic growth that puts more money in people’s pockets. Not only could it secure and create thousands of new jobs, but it also supports British industry to decarbonise and expand, helping to rebuild the country and supporting Britain’s transition to a clean energy superpower.
The National Wealth Fund is a force for growth, investing £3 billion into the British economy and securing 12,500 jobs.
We’re modernising the cement and lime industry, delivering vital carbon capture infrastructure and creating jobs across Derbyshire, Staffordshire and the North West to put more money into working people’s pockets.
This landmark investment will catalyse our carbon capture sector to deliver thousands of highly skilled jobs and growth across our industrial heartlands, as part of our Plan for Change.
Workers in the North Sea and Britain’s manufacturing heartlands will drive forward the country’s industrial renewal, positioning them at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy transition.
This will be the National Wealth Fund’s first investment in carbon capture since the Chancellor highlighted it as a priority in her new strategic direction for the Government’s principal investor back in March.
Cement and lime are two of the hardest industrial sectors to decarbonise due to the high levels of CO2 emissions generated in the manufacturing process which cannot be reduced through transitioning to low carbon fuels.
By investing alongside industry, supporting early development risk reduction and providing the critical financing for Peak Cluster through its development process, the National Wealth Fund will remove some of the barriers for private investment to further develop and construct the project.
Through its support for Peak Cluster, it is also building the market and stimulating large scale future investments as the project progresses, and facilitating Spirit Energy’s development of the UK’s largest CO2 store for which a carbon capture pipeline is essential.
The National Wealth Fund will commit at least £5.8 billion by 2030 in hydrogen, carbon capture, ports and supply chains, gigafactories and EV supply chains, and steel. This will help industries decarbonise and to accelerate Britain’s transformation into a clean energy superpower.
Substantial private investment, deployed at risk, will be needed to develop and deliver carbon capture projects across the UK. Through its investments, the NWF is well placed to support this. Capital must be committed now, especially in hard to abate sectors such as cement and lime, to ensure a pipeline of projects is ready for deployment and the UK is able to meet its ambitious carbon capture targets.
The NWF has played a key role in structuring the transaction to crowd in private sector co-investment while taking early development risk to catalyse future investment. Our involvement demonstrates how we can use our risk capital to solve problems and manage investment uncertainty, amplifying government policy and ultimately removing the barriers for private investors to support this project post-FID.
Peak Cluster is focused on securing a sustainable future for the cement and lime industry. Together with MNZ, the UK’s biggest carbon store, we will capture, transport and store CO₂ to support industry to thrive in a low carbon future.
Through the National Wealth Fund, Government will support the development of essential infrastructure to secure good jobs with good wages, produce sought-after low carbon products here in Britain, grow the UK’s supply chain and skills base, secure private investment and lead the global low carbon technology sector. Peak Cluster, in partnership with MNZ, ticks every one of these boxes.
We will work closely with Government to ensure that Peak Cluster and MNZ together can help secure the future of this foundation industry, creating a backbone of industrial opportunity that benefits communities across the Midlands and North West of England – for the UK and beyond.
At SEEL, we have a considered focus on new energy and decarbonisation projects, leveraging Sumitomo Corporation’s interest across a broad spectrum of low carbon technologies, including hydrogen and CCS.
Peak Cluster, as the largest cement CCS project globally, is a hugely compelling opportunity to drive this sector towards sustainability. We are delighted to have the opportunity to invest in Peak Cluster alongside the National Wealth Fund.
Around 40% of all the UK’s vital cement and lime comes from the Peak District and more than 2,000 high-quality, well-paid jobs across the region are reliant on the industry. However, cement is responsible for 7.5% of all human-made CO₂ emissions globally and is not a sector which can be easily decarbonised. If our industry, and the jobs which rely on it, are to survive, and thrive into the future, we must implement carbon capture and storage without delay.
This landmark first investment in carbon capture by the National Wealth Fund is an important and exciting step forward for the UK’s net zero ambitions, and our plans for Morecambe specifically. By transforming the Morecambe gas fields into the UK’s largest carbon store, Spirit Energy will provide the critical infrastructure needed to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries like cement and lime.
The support of the National Wealth Fund, alongside private sector investment, demonstrates the strength of our collective commitment to a low-carbon future—securing jobs and growth, decarbonising industry, and delivering real progress on emissions reduction.
The National Wealth Fund’s significant equity investment of £28.6m in the Peak Cluster is fantastic news for the future of the cement and lime industry in the UK. It is further recognition of the vital role of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) in decarbonising and futureproofing our critical industries.
CCUS is essential for industries that produce products that enable us to build the homes, hospitals and schools we desperately need. Around 40% of the UK’s cement and lime industry is produced by companies in the Peak Cluster and so this critical project will make significant inroads into cutting CO2 emissions from our cement industry and permanently storing the emissions in the Spirit Energy’s offshore CO2 store – Morecambe Net Zero. Transitioning industries to low-carbon operations is vital for their long-term viability and competitiveness in the UK, and will protect many thousands of skilled jobs in the region, providing economic growth and security.
The NWF’s investment sends a crucially important and thoroughly positive message to those eyeing the UK for investment in the low carbon developments needed to power our economy and help deliver the government’s economic growth and decarbonisation.
Through our partnership with the Peak Cluster, Spirt Energy’s MNZ carbon store will decarbonise 40% of this country’s cement production, safeguard thousands of traditional jobs and livelihoods, breathe new life into the North West’s industrial heartlands and help create new, highly-skilled jobs for this and for future generations.
The NWF’s support demonstrates how industry and government can work together effectively to unlock the investment required to make the energy transition happen, and how the UK can show the rest of the world how to get it done.
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Innovation consultancy intandem specialises in helping clients to deliver meaningful change.
Founded in 2018 by Chloe Wolff and Daniel Mueller, innovation, strategy and new ventures consultancy intandem specialises in helping clients to harness innovation and emerging technology to deliver meaningful change. It focuses on a wide variety of sectors including defence, space, government, healthcare, mobility and net zero; as Wolff points out, “all of which are heavily regulated industries that are having to navigate huge disruptions from tech – this is very much our sweet spot”.
intandem’s government practice, intandem.gov – led by Oliver Spencer – brings this expertise and ambition to the public sector, helping it tackle some of the most complex, pressing challenges of our time – those that impact people, planet and nation. The company’s steps into the public sector were triggered when its founders were invited to be Government Innovation Fellows, sponsored by the Cabinet Office.
intandem has been part of the Vivace community since 2022 and has worked on 12 commissions for ACE, for clients including the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office. Commissions regularly investigate the impact of emerging technologies on public sector priorities.
Recent examples include exploring future use cases and opportunities to utilise synthetic data in law enforcement, delivering tooling to facilitate innovation within the Home Office and investigating how open-source data can be used to identify supply chain vulnerabilities that could impact on net zero targets.
”One of the things we love about ACE is working on big, impactful challenges that our clients are seeking to address. We enjoy and value collaboration – we’re called ‘intandem’ for a reason,” explains Wolff.
intandem.gov supports the public sector to respond to growing social, economic and environmental pressures, all in the context of fast-moving technology. The company’s approach draws on innovation and venturing expertise to help explore and shape practical solutions, often starting with discovery work.
“Discovery work plays to our strengths in bridging the gap between possibility and action, translating ideas into tangible and actionable outcomes. Being technology agnostic, we focus on engaging a wide variety of experts to bring problems and solutions to life – the outcome should be on addressing the customer need and evolving environment, not the technology,” says Spencer.
Key to intandem.gov’s approach is engagement with its extensive commercial, public sector and academic networks to inject lessons learnt and bring new perspectives and fresh thinking into the public sector.
Spencer adds: “We often help with making sense of complex environments, seeking input from a wide variety of targeted experts.
“One thing we love about working with ACE is working closely with partners as part of a rainbow team – it elevates what we do, we elevate what they do and the customer gets a better outcome.”
Inspired in part by ACE’s track record in driving innovation, intandem.gov sees huge opportunity in new models to unlock funding and drive sustainability whilst budgets are limited; it is bridging this gap for its commercial clients through venturing and external capital and is seeking to apply this model to the public sector.
Source: City of Canterbury
It is just not good enough.
That’s the message from Leader of the Council Cllr Alan Baldock in an open letter to South East Water Chief Executive David Hinton after days of no water for hundreds of people in parts of the district.
Cllr Alan Baldock tells Mr Hinton that the disruption has seriously disrupted the lives of hardworking families, put the vulnerable at serious risk of harm, sparked serious concerns for the health of animals and livestock and deeply damaged the businesses affected at a time when they need help not hindrance.
It asks the water company to outline how people can claim compensation and asks for it to pay for increased recycling collections caused by huge volumes of empty plastic water bottles.
The letter says:
David Hinton
Chief Executive Officer
South East Water
Rochford Road
Snodland
ME6 5AH
Dear Mr Hinton
Yet more disruption to water supplies in our district
For the third time this year, twice privately and this time openly, we have felt compelled to write to you to express our deep disgust and frustration at prolonged disruption to water supplies in our district.
The disruption does not seem be confined to one area or one season.
Canterbury and Herne Bay suffered in the freezing winter months. Herne Bay, Dargate, Yorkletts and Seasalter have suffered during the hottest days of the year.
At a time when water bills are going through the roof, we should not have to point out that having no water:
We have even been forced to close our public toilets in Faversham Road, Seasalter, because there is no water and keeping them open is a public health hazard.
Everyone is forced to pay extra – whether buying their own bottled water or using their own fuel and time to drive to and queue at bottled water stations.
We believe in protecting the planet. So we are committed to recycling all of the plastic bottles that will need to be disposed of because of South East Water’s failure.
But that will cost the council taxpayer for extra recycling crews and the hire of extra refuse collection vehicles.
We have also supplied residents with clear sacks to help them recycle.
We call on you to foot that bill – where should we send the invoice?
Yet again, despite previous promises, in the early days of this incident you did not pick up the phone to keep us updated on the latest situation.
You know, because we’ve made the point repeatedly in our previous correspondence, our officers and councillors are always on hand to advise you on the best locations for bottled water stations.
Your choice created jams at the Altira Park in Herne Bay.
Your choice caused queues and saw patients unable to access the Estuary View Medical Centre which includes an urgent treatment centre. Liaising with doctors there would have been a huge help.
Your choice of Sainsbury’s in Chestfield was a huge distance from Dargate, Yorkletts and Seasalter, especially if you do not drive.
A second bottled water station was needed. We are glad you, eventually, heeded our advice. But it should not have taken so long.
This is simply not good enough and your organisation needs to do much better.
Please let us know how you intend to do so and how you will adequately, and quickly, compensate residents and business owners for an extremely poor service. Along with an apology and an action plan, it is the very least they deserve.
I have to say, you made a number of promises in previous correspondence which, again, you have failed to live up to and I find that very disappointing.
We will be writing to the water regulator Ofwat and the Minister of State for Water and Flooding Emma Hardy calling on them to take all appropriate action against South East Water to make sure this does not happen again.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Cllr Alan Baldock
Leader
Canterbury City Council
Published: 7 July 2025
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xanthe Mallett, Criminologist, CQUniversity Australia
The “mushroom murder trial”, as it has popularly become known, has gripped Australia over the past 11 weeks. More than that, it’s prompted worldwide headlines, multiple daily podcasts, and even YouTube videos of self-proclaimed “body language experts” assessing defendant Erin Patterson’s every move.
There’s an ABC drama series in the works. Acclaimed Australian author Helen Garner has been in the courtroom.
But why did this tragedy, in which three people died and a fourth was lucky to survive, grip the public consciousness in way no other contemporary Australian case has?
Read more:
Erin Patterson has been found guilty in the mushroom murder trial. Legal experts explain why
On July 29 2023, in a sleepy town called Leongatha in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges in Victoria, a very normal woman called Erin Patterson made an ostensibly very normal lunch of beef wellington.
She was cooking for her in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, and Heather’s husband Ian. Erin’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, was also invited, but chose not to attend.
Simon and Erin had two children, a boy and a girl, who did not attend the lunch either.
Shortly after the lunch, all four guests were admitted to hospital with suspected gastroenteritis. Erin Patterson also presented to hospital, but refused to be admitted.
Within a few days, Gail, Don, and Heather all died as a result of what was later confirmed as poisoning with Amanita phalloides, better known as death cap mushrooms.
Ian survived, but he was lucky. He spent seven weeks in hospital and needed a liver transplant.
The questions became, how did the mushrooms get into the beef wellington? Was this an awful accident or something more sinister?
These questions became the focus of very significant public and media attention.
Erin Patterson spoke to the media in the days after the incident. She presented as your typical, average woman of 50.
That is, in my opinion, where the obsession with this case began.
This case had the feel of a Shakespearean drama: multiple deaths within one family, death by poison, and a female protagonist.
The juxtaposition between the normality of a family lunch (and the sheer vanilla-ness of the accused) and the seriousness of the situation sent the media into overdrive.
Then there were the lies. Patterson lied about foraging for mushrooms, and about having cancer to encourage the guests to attend.
The location also played a huge part. Leongatha is known for its staggering natural beauty and thriving food and wine scene. It’s hardly a place where the world expected a mass murderer to live.
However, the perception that rural areas are utopias of safety and social cohesion, and cities are dark and dangerous places, is a myth.
One study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare paints a different picture.
For serious assault cases that resulted in hospitalisation, for major cities the rates were 65 per 100,000 people. In rural areas, this rose to 1,244 people per 100,000. And for murder, in very remote areas the rate was five per 100,000 population, but fewer than one per 100,000 in urban areas.
Then there was Erin Patterson’s unusual behaviour. She disposed of the desiccator in which the mushrooms she had foraged were dehydrated. She used multiple phones, one of which underwent multiple factory resets on in the days following the lunch. One of these resets was done remotely after police seized her phone.
There are also the much-discussed plates. The court heard she prepared her meal on a different-coloured plate to those of her other guests so they were easily identifiable.
The public latched onto these details, each providing a new talking point around water coolers or spurring new Reddit threads dedicated to unpacking their significance.
Ultimately, after three months, Erin Patterson was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. She pleaded not guilty.
The trial lasted 40 days. The prosecution alleged Patterson intentionally poisoned her guests, whereas the defence suggested it was all an awful, tragic accident.
The jury took six and a half days to deliberate. During that time, various media outlets did everything they could to keep the story on the front page.
Bizarre pieces began appearing online from credible sources such as the ABC, profiling people who had attended court. They included stories of people turning down work to attend the court daily, cases of friendships blossoming during the trial between regular attendees, and the outfit choices of locals turning up every day to watch the drama unfold.
There were also articles profiling local cafe owners and how they felt about being at the centre of the legal theatrics. The daily podcasts continued even when news from the courtroom didn’t.
The vibe felt more appropriate for a royal visit than a triple murder trial.
It seemed everyone in Australia was gripped by one event, united in a way few other things could manage. We all waited with bated breath to see what the 12 men and women of the jury would decide.
Read more:
Justice on demand? The true crime podcasts serving up Erin Patterson’s mushroom murder trial
The end to this strange and unique criminal case came on Monday July 7.
The result? Guilty on all four counts. Erin Patterson is formally a mass murderer, though many in the court of public opinion had reached the same conviction months earlier.
Leongatha will always be known for being the setting of (arguably) the most infamous multiple murder case in Australian history. It will join Snowtown in South Australia (home of the “bodies in the barrell” murder case), Kendall in New South Wales (where William Tyrrell disappeared), and Claremont in Western Australia (the murder or disappearance of three women) as places forever linked to tragic crimes.
While the trial is over, there’s much more content still to come, the public’s appetite yet to be satiated.
But the final word should be saved for the Patterson and Wilkinson families. This is an awful tragedy, and there are no winners. Ian and Simon have lost loved ones. The Patterson children have lost grandparents and now have to come to terms with the fact their mother caused those deaths intentionally.
Amid the spectacle, it’s easy to lose sight of the humanity at the centre. As the media spotlight dims, may the families get the privacy and respect they deserve.
Xanthe Mallett 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.
– ref. A Shakespearean, small-town murder: why Australia became so obsessed with the Erin Patterson mushroom case – https://theconversation.com/a-shakespearean-small-town-murder-why-australia-became-so-obsessed-with-the-erin-patterson-mushroom-case-259982
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xanthe Mallett, Criminologist, CQUniversity Australia
The “mushroom murder trial”, as it has popularly become known, has gripped Australia over the past 11 weeks. More than that, it’s prompted worldwide headlines, multiple daily podcasts, and even YouTube videos of self-proclaimed “body language experts” assessing defendant Erin Patterson’s every move.
There’s an ABC drama series in the works. Acclaimed Australian author Helen Garner has been in the courtroom.
But why did this tragedy, in which three people died and a fourth was lucky to survive, grip the public consciousness in way no other contemporary Australian case has?
Read more:
Erin Patterson has been found guilty in the mushroom murder trial. Legal experts explain why
On July 29 2023, in a sleepy town called Leongatha in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges in Victoria, a very normal woman called Erin Patterson made an ostensibly very normal lunch of beef wellington.
She was cooking for her in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, and Heather’s husband Ian. Erin’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, was also invited, but chose not to attend.
Simon and Erin had two children, a boy and a girl, who did not attend the lunch either.
Shortly after the lunch, all four guests were admitted to hospital with suspected gastroenteritis. Erin Patterson also presented to hospital, but refused to be admitted.
Within a few days, Gail, Don, and Heather all died as a result of what was later confirmed as poisoning with Amanita phalloides, better known as death cap mushrooms.
Ian survived, but he was lucky. He spent seven weeks in hospital and needed a liver transplant.
The questions became, how did the mushrooms get into the beef wellington? Was this an awful accident or something more sinister?
These questions became the focus of very significant public and media attention.
Erin Patterson spoke to the media in the days after the incident. She presented as your typical, average woman of 50.
That is, in my opinion, where the obsession with this case began.
This case had the feel of a Shakespearean drama: multiple deaths within one family, death by poison, and a female protagonist.
The juxtaposition between the normality of a family lunch (and the sheer vanilla-ness of the accused) and the seriousness of the situation sent the media into overdrive.
Then there were the lies. Patterson lied about foraging for mushrooms, and about having cancer to encourage the guests to attend.
The location also played a huge part. Leongatha is known for its staggering natural beauty and thriving food and wine scene. It’s hardly a place where the world expected a mass murderer to live.
However, the perception that rural areas are utopias of safety and social cohesion, and cities are dark and dangerous places, is a myth.
One study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare paints a different picture.
For serious assault cases that resulted in hospitalisation, for major cities the rates were 65 per 100,000 people. In rural areas, this rose to 1,244 people per 100,000. And for murder, in very remote areas the rate was five per 100,000 population, but fewer than one per 100,000 in urban areas.
Then there was Erin Patterson’s unusual behaviour. She disposed of the desiccator in which the mushrooms she had foraged were dehydrated. She used multiple phones, one of which underwent multiple factory resets on in the days following the lunch. One of these resets was done remotely after police seized her phone.
There are also the much-discussed plates. The court heard she prepared her meal on a different-coloured plate to those of her other guests so they were easily identifiable.
The public latched onto these details, each providing a new talking point around water coolers or spurring new Reddit threads dedicated to unpacking their significance.
Ultimately, after three months, Erin Patterson was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. She pleaded not guilty.
The trial lasted 40 days. The prosecution alleged Patterson intentionally poisoned her guests, whereas the defence suggested it was all an awful, tragic accident.
The jury took six and a half days to deliberate. During that time, various media outlets did everything they could to keep the story on the front page.
Bizarre pieces began appearing online from credible sources such as the ABC, profiling people who had attended court. They included stories of people turning down work to attend the court daily, cases of friendships blossoming during the trial between regular attendees, and the outfit choices of locals turning up every day to watch the drama unfold.
There were also articles profiling local cafe owners and how they felt about being at the centre of the legal theatrics. The daily podcasts continued even when news from the courtroom didn’t.
The vibe felt more appropriate for a royal visit than a triple murder trial.
It seemed everyone in Australia was gripped by one event, united in a way few other things could manage. We all waited with bated breath to see what the 12 men and women of the jury would decide.
Read more:
Justice on demand? The true crime podcasts serving up Erin Patterson’s mushroom murder trial
The end to this strange and unique criminal case came on Monday July 7.
The result? Guilty on all four counts. Erin Patterson is formally a mass murderer, though many in the court of public opinion had reached the same conviction months earlier.
Leongatha will always be known for being the setting of (arguably) the most infamous multiple murder case in Australian history. It will join Snowtown in South Australia (home of the “bodies in the barrell” murder case), Kendall in New South Wales (where William Tyrrell disappeared), and Claremont in Western Australia (the murder or disappearance of three women) as places forever linked to tragic crimes.
While the trial is over, there’s much more content still to come, the public’s appetite yet to be satiated.
But the final word should be saved for the Patterson and Wilkinson families. This is an awful tragedy, and there are no winners. Ian and Simon have lost loved ones. The Patterson children have lost grandparents and now have to come to terms with the fact their mother caused those deaths intentionally.
Amid the spectacle, it’s easy to lose sight of the humanity at the centre. As the media spotlight dims, may the families get the privacy and respect they deserve.
Xanthe Mallett 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.
– ref. A Shakespearean, small-town murder: why Australia became so obsessed with the Erin Patterson mushroom case – https://theconversation.com/a-shakespearean-small-town-murder-why-australia-became-so-obsessed-with-the-erin-patterson-mushroom-case-259982
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The NDA has published its strategy for consultation, setting out the roadmap to decommission the UK’s earliest nuclear sites safely, securely and sustainably.
Image of strategy document under consultation
Today, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has published its revised strategy for public consultation, setting out a clear roadmap for one of the UK’s most complex long-term environmental challenges.
The strategy outlines how the NDA group will continue to deliver its mission to safely decommission the UK’s legacy nuclear sites, a programme of work spanning several decades which will protect people and the environment for generations to come.
Since the last strategy was published in 2021, much has been achieved including completing reprocessing operations at Sellafield, shaping a new national radioactive waste policy, supporting the government to finalise and publish the plutonium disposition policy and establishing the NDA group model.
In its draft strategy, the NDA reaffirms its highest strategic priority of hazard reduction at Sellafield, which is focused on the safe retrieval of waste from the site’s legacy ponds and silos, the most complex challenges in the UK’s nuclear clean-up mission.
By 2050, the NDA group aims to have made significant progress across its mission, including delicensing most of the former-Magnox reactor sites, repackaging a proportion of the UK’s plutonium stockpile and initiating its conversion into a disposable form, establishing new waste storage centres, identifying a suitable site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), and enabling land to be reused for future development opportunities.
NDA Group CEO David Peattie said:
This refreshed strategy sets a clear, ambitious, and credible path for the next phase of our important national mission.
Our strategic principles remain firm, we’ll always put the mission first, make decisions based on the best available waste treatment and disposal options, act proportionately and will make best use of our people and capabilities to maximise delivery.
We’re proud of the progress we’ve made over the past five years, and we remain committed to delivering a safer, cleaner future for generations to come.
This fifth strategy update is an evolution, building on the foundation of the 2021 strategy, maintaining focus on the four strategic themes that underpin the decommissioning mission:
Supporting the strategic themes are critical enablers, which establish the environment for successful mission delivery, for example research, development and innovation, people, transport and cyber security.
These have been reviewed and refined to better reflect what it takes to deliver the mission. Notably, sustainability is now embedded as a core principle running throughout, rather than a standalone critical enabler, reflecting its growing importance in shaping the strategy.
The draft strategy also marks a shift towards greater integration and collaboration across the NDA group to strengthen efforts to address the UK’s nuclear legacy. The new model enables closer strategic alignment and better sharing of knowledge and resources, which is delivering enhanced performance and increased value for money.
Beyond decommissioning, the strategy also highlights the broader role of the NDA group in the UK’s nuclear future as the sector’s enduring foundational organisation, sharing expertise, developing skills, shaping policy, and supporting clean energy and defence ambitions across Government and industry.
The public consultation is open for 12 weeks until 29 September 2025. Responses will be carefully considered in developing the final strategy which will be submitted for approval to UK and Scottish Government ahead of final publication in March 2026.
Have your say here: The NDA group Draft Strategy 2025 for public consultation.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Wimbledon fans will have eyes only for the tennis this week but for those who run the world’s oldest and most prestigious Grand Slam, the real high-stakes contest will unfold not on their grass, but in London’s Royal Courts of Justice.
On one side of the legal net is the campaign group Save Wimbledon Park, while facing them in a judicial review of their ambitious expansion plan on Tuesday and Wednesday will be the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC).
It is the latest stage of a long-running fight that has split the south-west London “village”, which has been home to the Championships since 1877.
Last September the AELTC secured planning permission from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to treble the size of the main site to include 39 new courts including an 8,000-seat show court by redeveloping a former golf course on parkland land it already owns.
The 200-million-pound ($272.92-million) expansion aims to increase daily capacity to 50,000 people from the current 42,000, upgrade facilities and move the qualifying rounds on site to mirror the Australian, French, and U.S. Opens.
The plans have the backing of several leading players, including Novak Djokovic, and 62% of 10,000 residents in Merton and Wandsworth, the London boroughs that share the new site, also support the scheme, according to the AELTC.
“Our confidence in the development and the proposals that we’ve been working on for many years is as strong as it ever has been,” Wimbledon tournament director Jamie Baker told Reuters.
“For the championships to continue to be in the position that it is and to deliver all the benefits to stakeholders including the local community it is vital that we are able to stage the tournament on one site and bring all the grounds together.”
However, this week’s judicial review will decide whether the GLA’s decision to grant planning permission was unlawful.
Opponents of the development, including Thelma Ruby, a 100-year-old former actress who lives in a flat overlooking the park, and West Hill Ward Councillor Malcolm Grimston, say the club’s plans will cause environmental damage and major disruption to the area.
“It’s terribly important that it does not go ahead not just for myself but for the whole planet and future generations,” Ruby told Reuters.
“I overlook this beautiful landscape and there are all sorts of covenants that say you mustn’t build on it, and yet the tennis people have this unnecessary plan they admit will cut down all these glorious trees, which will harm wildlife.
“They’re using concrete, building roads, they’re going to have lorries polluting and passing my window every 10 minutes. The whole area will be in chaos as they’re closing off roads,” she said.
Save Wimbledon Park says the GLA failed to consider covenants that were agreed by the AELTC, including restrictions on redeveloping the land, when it bought the Wimbledon Park golf course freehold from Merton council in 1993 for 5.2 million pounds.
The AELTC paid a reported 63.5 million pounds to buy the Golf Club’s lease, which was due to run until 2041.
The campaign group also believes the GLA failed to consider the land’s statutory Public Recreation Trust status which means it should be held as “public walks or pleasure grounds”.
“It is not antipathy towards the AELTC that’s driving this, as some of the benefits are real, such as the extension of lake,” councillor Grimston told Reuters.
“The problem is that it will treble the footprint of the current Championship and turn what currently has very much a feel of being rural England and a gentle pace of life into an industrial complex that would dominate the views of the lake.
“That’s why it’s classified as Metropolitan Open Land, which is the urban equivalent of the green belt that has been protected for many decades in planning law in the UK and rightly so,” he said.
The AELTC say the plans will improve the biodiversity of the park, as well as bringing parts of it back into public use.
“The London Wildlife trust have endorsed the plans, they’ve spent many hours scrutinising our analysis and our expert views,” the AELTC’s head of corporate affairs Dominic Foster said.
“We know that this expansion will deliver a very significant benefit to biodiversity, whereas golf courses are not good for biodiversity.”
(Reuters)
Source: City of Wolverhampton
The following vaccinations will be available:
Clinic will be held on Saturday (12 July) at Whitmore Reans Family Hub, Lansdowne Road, Wolverhampton WV1 4AL, from 9.30am to 2pm and on Monday 21 July at Biz Space, Room 2, Planetary Road WV13 3SW, from 9.30am to 1.30pm. Appointments must be booked in advance by contacting Vaccination UK on 01902 200077.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “These vaccines offer the best protection for teenagers as they start their journey into adulthood and start mixing more widely – whether that’s going to college, starting work, travelling or going to festivals.
“So, if your child has missed out on their vaccinations, maybe because they were off school or are home educated, please come along to one of the catch-up clinics being delivered by Vaccination UK over the next couple of weeks.”
Source: City of Wolverhampton
The council wants to hear from local residents, people affected by domestic abuse, and professionals from across Wolverhampton to help shape priorities and intentions for the new services to ensure they are effective, accessible and respond to local need.
Domestic abuse specialist support services provide victims of domestic abuse with practical help, advice, and guidance. In Wolverhampton, support is available to women, men, and children who are either living in the community or in accommodation such as a refuge.
The types of support that may be offered can include safe accommodation, support through the criminal justice system, financial, legal, or housing advice, counselling or therapy, and emotional and peer support.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “This is an important piece of work which will help to ensure that Wolverhampton continues to deliver high quality domestic abuse support services.
“By completing a short survey, you can help us develop services that respond to victims of domestic abuse sensitively and effectively and meet the needs of local residents.
“This is a public consultation, and we would welcome responses from as many people as possible, so please take a few moments to have your say.”
The consultation is available at The Future of Wolverhampton’s Specialist Domestic Abuse Services – Have Your Say until midnight Sunday 3 August, 2025.
Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent
A popular Stoke-on-Trent park has been given a new lease of life as part of the city’s ongoing Centenary celebrations.
A popular Stoke-on-Trent park has been given a new lease of life as part of the city’s ongoing Centenary celebrations.
Newstead Park has been revamped with freshly painted and cleaned play equipment, new safety pads under play equipment, new goal posts, upgraded bins, safety signage and planted new trees.
Local business, Goodwin International Ltd, approached Stoke-on-Trent City Council earlier this year to offer their support for the Centenary and to give back to the city that has been home to their headquarters since 1883.
The project focused on regenerating the park as a safe, welcoming space for local families and residents to enjoy for years to come. The team from Goodwin International Ltd also carried out a litter pick and a general clean up of the park.
Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability said: “This is a big year for Stoke-on-Trent and it’s been fantastic to see local people and businesses stepping up to play their part.
“We are a city proud of our award-winning parks, green spaces and over one million trees. Projects like this are a brilliant example of how we can work together to keep improving these vital green spaces – places that support families, boost mental and physical wellbeing and protect wildlife.
“A huge thank you to Goodwin International Ltd. for not only donating their time, but also the funding to bring this area back to life. What an amazing team effort to help rejuvenate the park and give back to the community.”
Paul Root, General Manager and Director at Goodwin International Ltd, said: “Goodwin International are proud to have worked closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to deliver significant improvements to outdoor space for the residents of the Newstead Estate to enjoy for years to come. Goodwin International and the Goodwin Group have entwined historic ties to Stoke-on-Trent dating back to 1883.
“Upon the occasion of the city Centenary, whilst we reflect with pride on what has gone before, we look forward to the next century with great ambition both for ourselves and for the City of Stoke-on-Trent.”
Hanford, Trentham and Newstead Ward Councillors, Maxine Clark and Daniel Jellyman said: “First and foremost, thank you to the team from Goodwin International Ltd for helping to rejuvenate Newstead Park. The much-loved park is a hive of activity for local residents and their families, and the new work has proved popular.
“The Centenary year is having a positive impact on all corners of the city, and it has been brilliant to see that impact be felt at ward level.”
The revamp of Newstead Park is one of many local initiatives taking place across Stoke-on-Trent as part of the city’s Centenary celebrations.
For more information on the city’s Centenary, visit sot100.org.uk
A popular Stoke-on-Trent park has been given a new lease of life as part of the city’s ongoing Centenary celebrations.
Newstead Park has been revamped with freshly painted and cleaned play equipment, new safety pads under play equipment, new goal posts, upgraded bins, safety signage and a planted new trees.
Local business, Goodwin International Ltd, approached Stoke-on-Trent City Council earlier this year to offer their support for the Centenary and to give back to the city that has been home to their headquarters since 1883.
The project focused on regenerating the park as a safe, welcoming space for local families and residents to enjoy for years to come. The team from Goodwin International Ltd also carried out a litter pick and a general clean up of the park.
Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability said: “This is a big year for Stoke-on-Trent and it’s been fantastic to see local people and businesses stepping up to play their part.
“We are a city proud of our award-winning parks, green spaces and over one million trees. Projects like this are a brilliant example of how we can work together to keep improving these vital green spaces – places that support families, boost mental and physical wellbeing and protect wildlife.
“A huge thank you to Goodwin International Ltd. for not only donating their time, but also the funding to bring this area back to life. What an amazing team effort to help rejuvenate the park and give back to the community.”
Paul Root, General Manager and Director at Goodwin International Ltd, said: “Goodwin International are proud to have worked closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to deliver significant improvements to outdoor space for the residents of the Newstead Estate to enjoy for years to come. Goodwin International and the Goodwin Group have entwined historic ties to Stoke-on-Trent dating back to 1883.
“Upon the occasion of the city Centenary, whilst we reflect with pride on what has gone before, we look forward to the next century with great ambition both for ourselves and for the City of Stoke-on-Trent.”
Hanford, Trentham and Newstead Ward Councillors, Maxine Clark and Daniel Jellyman said: “First and foremost, thank you to the team from Goodwin International Ltd for helping to rejuvenate Newstead Park. The much-loved park is a hive of activity for local residents and their families, and the new work has proved popular.
“The Centenary year is having a positive impact on all corners of the city, and it has been brilliant to see that impact be felt at ward level.”
The revamp of Newstead Park is one of many local initiatives taking place across Stoke-on-Trent as part of the city’s Centenary celebrations.
For more information on the city’s Centenary, visit sot100.org.uk
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erica Kuligowski, Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering, RMIT University
Harrowing stories are emerging in the wake of catastrophic and sudden flooding over the fourth of July weekend in Texas – where many people were camping, and children were at riverside summer camp.
More than 80 people are confirmed dead (28 of whom were children) and 12 people are still missing. Parents have described finding children’s bodies while picking through flood debris searching for their own missing kids.
In Texas, the floodwaters rose very rapidly and in the middle of the night. Authorities had issued flood warnings but many people were still caught off-guard.
Sudden floods can also happen in Australia, as seen recently in New South Wales around Taree and Lismore, in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred.
As climate change makes severe weather events more frequent, it’s worth asking: how ready is Australia for its next sudden flood? And what could help to encourage people to leave while there’s still time?
Decades of research shows disasters can emerge and change very quickly. Hazards at night are especially difficult, because much can change while people are sleeping.
Even when flood warnings are issued, authorities can struggle to convince people the problem will affect them.
People often base their risk assessments on what’s happened in the past. So, if they live in an area that has experienced minor flooding before, they may think the current flood will be similarly minor.
Research also shows people often wait for extra evidence to confirm the initial warnings from officials. They might look to see if people around them are preparing to leave, or look for cues from the environment such as a sudden burst of loud rain.
Unfortunately, waiting can mean you miss the opportunity to leave. A road may close, or services may be overwhelmed and evacuation may no longer be an option. Escape options can narrow incredibly quickly, especially when people are asleep.
The Albanese government announced in 2023 it would spend A$236 million over a decade to establish a national flood warning network. This will involve buying and upgrading flood gauges across Australia and trying to repair what the government has called “patchwork flood gauge network”.
That’s important, and it’s also positive to see other research on ways we can use existing technology infrastructure such as mobile phone towers to get early warnings on rising floodwaters.
But technology is only one part of the bigger picture. As growing body of research shows, many people do not evacuate even when warned about floods or fire.
Authorities must find ways to communicate disaster risk in a way that people will respond to.
Research shows getting the message out through as many channels as possible is crucial. People need to hear about the warnings on TV and on radio and online through various platforms and via local groups as well as national authorities.
The evidence also suggests people are more likely to trust messages coming from others in their community.
So, emergency agencies should work through community “champions” to help spread the word about an impending flood threat. It could be the principal of a school, a trusted source in a non-English speaking community, local emergency services volunteers or the manager of a local neighbourhood centre.
Emergency and government agencies need to identify trusted sources in communities, and build connections with them, before the crisis arrives to ensure information is disseminated smoothly in an emergency.
Many people hear warnings and believe a flood is coming, but may think the worst impacts won’t happen in their area. This is a very common misconception.
That’s why information should be tailored so people understand the risk at their particular location.
Helping people understand the consequences of not evacuating is also vital. This might mean messaging such as “if you don’t leave now, the floods will be over your roof and we may not be able to come and rescue you or your children or pet”.
Residents may not understand how fast floodwaters can move, that conditions may be very choppy and windy, or that large and dangerous debris will be coming at them and their children in a flood. This should also be communicated clearly.
Education prior to the crisis event can help people understand what flood waters can do at their location. This community awareness should be conducted in flood-prone areas at regular intervals.
Localised, tailored information can help people understand what will happen to them and their families if they don’t leave early enough – hopefully preventing devastating death tolls of the kind Texas is now grappling with.
Erica Kuligowski has received funding from the Australian Research Council and from Natural Hazards Research Australia.
– ref. In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods? – https://theconversation.com/in-texas-parents-search-flood-debris-for-missing-kids-are-australians-ready-for-our-own-sudden-floods-260581
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erica Kuligowski, Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering, RMIT University
Harrowing stories are emerging in the wake of catastrophic and sudden flooding over the fourth of July weekend in Texas – where many people were camping, and children were at riverside summer camp.
More than 80 people are confirmed dead (28 of whom were children) and 12 people are still missing. Parents have described finding children’s bodies while picking through flood debris searching for their own missing kids.
In Texas, the floodwaters rose very rapidly and in the middle of the night. Authorities had issued flood warnings but many people were still caught off-guard.
Sudden floods can also happen in Australia, as seen recently in New South Wales around Taree and Lismore, in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred.
As climate change makes severe weather events more frequent, it’s worth asking: how ready is Australia for its next sudden flood? And what could help to encourage people to leave while there’s still time?
Decades of research shows disasters can emerge and change very quickly. Hazards at night are especially difficult, because much can change while people are sleeping.
Even when flood warnings are issued, authorities can struggle to convince people the problem will affect them.
People often base their risk assessments on what’s happened in the past. So, if they live in an area that has experienced minor flooding before, they may think the current flood will be similarly minor.
Research also shows people often wait for extra evidence to confirm the initial warnings from officials. They might look to see if people around them are preparing to leave, or look for cues from the environment such as a sudden burst of loud rain.
Unfortunately, waiting can mean you miss the opportunity to leave. A road may close, or services may be overwhelmed and evacuation may no longer be an option. Escape options can narrow incredibly quickly, especially when people are asleep.
The Albanese government announced in 2023 it would spend A$236 million over a decade to establish a national flood warning network. This will involve buying and upgrading flood gauges across Australia and trying to repair what the government has called “patchwork flood gauge network”.
That’s important, and it’s also positive to see other research on ways we can use existing technology infrastructure such as mobile phone towers to get early warnings on rising floodwaters.
But technology is only one part of the bigger picture. As growing body of research shows, many people do not evacuate even when warned about floods or fire.
Authorities must find ways to communicate disaster risk in a way that people will respond to.
Research shows getting the message out through as many channels as possible is crucial. People need to hear about the warnings on TV and on radio and online through various platforms and via local groups as well as national authorities.
The evidence also suggests people are more likely to trust messages coming from others in their community.
So, emergency agencies should work through community “champions” to help spread the word about an impending flood threat. It could be the principal of a school, a trusted source in a non-English speaking community, local emergency services volunteers or the manager of a local neighbourhood centre.
Emergency and government agencies need to identify trusted sources in communities, and build connections with them, before the crisis arrives to ensure information is disseminated smoothly in an emergency.
Many people hear warnings and believe a flood is coming, but may think the worst impacts won’t happen in their area. This is a very common misconception.
That’s why information should be tailored so people understand the risk at their particular location.
Helping people understand the consequences of not evacuating is also vital. This might mean messaging such as “if you don’t leave now, the floods will be over your roof and we may not be able to come and rescue you or your children or pet”.
Residents may not understand how fast floodwaters can move, that conditions may be very choppy and windy, or that large and dangerous debris will be coming at them and their children in a flood. This should also be communicated clearly.
Education prior to the crisis event can help people understand what flood waters can do at their location. This community awareness should be conducted in flood-prone areas at regular intervals.
Localised, tailored information can help people understand what will happen to them and their families if they don’t leave early enough – hopefully preventing devastating death tolls of the kind Texas is now grappling with.
Erica Kuligowski has received funding from the Australian Research Council and from Natural Hazards Research Australia.
– ref. In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods? – https://theconversation.com/in-texas-parents-search-flood-debris-for-missing-kids-are-australians-ready-for-our-own-sudden-floods-260581
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erica Kuligowski, Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering, RMIT University
Harrowing stories are emerging in the wake of catastrophic and sudden flooding over the fourth of July weekend in Texas – where many people were camping, and children were at riverside summer camp.
More than 80 people are confirmed dead (28 of whom were children) and 12 people are still missing. Parents have described finding children’s bodies while picking through flood debris searching for their own missing kids.
In Texas, the floodwaters rose very rapidly and in the middle of the night. Authorities had issued flood warnings but many people were still caught off-guard.
Sudden floods can also happen in Australia, as seen recently in New South Wales around Taree and Lismore, in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred.
As climate change makes severe weather events more frequent, it’s worth asking: how ready is Australia for its next sudden flood? And what could help to encourage people to leave while there’s still time?
Decades of research shows disasters can emerge and change very quickly. Hazards at night are especially difficult, because much can change while people are sleeping.
Even when flood warnings are issued, authorities can struggle to convince people the problem will affect them.
People often base their risk assessments on what’s happened in the past. So, if they live in an area that has experienced minor flooding before, they may think the current flood will be similarly minor.
Research also shows people often wait for extra evidence to confirm the initial warnings from officials. They might look to see if people around them are preparing to leave, or look for cues from the environment such as a sudden burst of loud rain.
Unfortunately, waiting can mean you miss the opportunity to leave. A road may close, or services may be overwhelmed and evacuation may no longer be an option. Escape options can narrow incredibly quickly, especially when people are asleep.
The Albanese government announced in 2023 it would spend A$236 million over a decade to establish a national flood warning network. This will involve buying and upgrading flood gauges across Australia and trying to repair what the government has called “patchwork flood gauge network”.
That’s important, and it’s also positive to see other research on ways we can use existing technology infrastructure such as mobile phone towers to get early warnings on rising floodwaters.
But technology is only one part of the bigger picture. As growing body of research shows, many people do not evacuate even when warned about floods or fire.
Authorities must find ways to communicate disaster risk in a way that people will respond to.
Research shows getting the message out through as many channels as possible is crucial. People need to hear about the warnings on TV and on radio and online through various platforms and via local groups as well as national authorities.
The evidence also suggests people are more likely to trust messages coming from others in their community.
So, emergency agencies should work through community “champions” to help spread the word about an impending flood threat. It could be the principal of a school, a trusted source in a non-English speaking community, local emergency services volunteers or the manager of a local neighbourhood centre.
Emergency and government agencies need to identify trusted sources in communities, and build connections with them, before the crisis arrives to ensure information is disseminated smoothly in an emergency.
Many people hear warnings and believe a flood is coming, but may think the worst impacts won’t happen in their area. This is a very common misconception.
That’s why information should be tailored so people understand the risk at their particular location.
Helping people understand the consequences of not evacuating is also vital. This might mean messaging such as “if you don’t leave now, the floods will be over your roof and we may not be able to come and rescue you or your children or pet”.
Residents may not understand how fast floodwaters can move, that conditions may be very choppy and windy, or that large and dangerous debris will be coming at them and their children in a flood. This should also be communicated clearly.
Education prior to the crisis event can help people understand what flood waters can do at their location. This community awareness should be conducted in flood-prone areas at regular intervals.
Localised, tailored information can help people understand what will happen to them and their families if they don’t leave early enough – hopefully preventing devastating death tolls of the kind Texas is now grappling with.
Erica Kuligowski has received funding from the Australian Research Council and from Natural Hazards Research Australia.
– ref. In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods? – https://theconversation.com/in-texas-parents-search-flood-debris-for-missing-kids-are-australians-ready-for-our-own-sudden-floods-260581
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erica Kuligowski, Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering, RMIT University
Harrowing stories are emerging in the wake of catastrophic and sudden flooding over the fourth of July weekend in Texas – where many people were camping, and children were at riverside summer camp.
More than 80 people are confirmed dead (28 of whom were children) and 12 people are still missing. Parents have described finding children’s bodies while picking through flood debris searching for their own missing kids.
In Texas, the floodwaters rose very rapidly and in the middle of the night. Authorities had issued flood warnings but many people were still caught off-guard.
Sudden floods can also happen in Australia, as seen recently in New South Wales around Taree and Lismore, in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred.
As climate change makes severe weather events more frequent, it’s worth asking: how ready is Australia for its next sudden flood? And what could help to encourage people to leave while there’s still time?
Decades of research shows disasters can emerge and change very quickly. Hazards at night are especially difficult, because much can change while people are sleeping.
Even when flood warnings are issued, authorities can struggle to convince people the problem will affect them.
People often base their risk assessments on what’s happened in the past. So, if they live in an area that has experienced minor flooding before, they may think the current flood will be similarly minor.
Research also shows people often wait for extra evidence to confirm the initial warnings from officials. They might look to see if people around them are preparing to leave, or look for cues from the environment such as a sudden burst of loud rain.
Unfortunately, waiting can mean you miss the opportunity to leave. A road may close, or services may be overwhelmed and evacuation may no longer be an option. Escape options can narrow incredibly quickly, especially when people are asleep.
The Albanese government announced in 2023 it would spend A$236 million over a decade to establish a national flood warning network. This will involve buying and upgrading flood gauges across Australia and trying to repair what the government has called “patchwork flood gauge network”.
That’s important, and it’s also positive to see other research on ways we can use existing technology infrastructure such as mobile phone towers to get early warnings on rising floodwaters.
But technology is only one part of the bigger picture. As growing body of research shows, many people do not evacuate even when warned about floods or fire.
Authorities must find ways to communicate disaster risk in a way that people will respond to.
Research shows getting the message out through as many channels as possible is crucial. People need to hear about the warnings on TV and on radio and online through various platforms and via local groups as well as national authorities.
The evidence also suggests people are more likely to trust messages coming from others in their community.
So, emergency agencies should work through community “champions” to help spread the word about an impending flood threat. It could be the principal of a school, a trusted source in a non-English speaking community, local emergency services volunteers or the manager of a local neighbourhood centre.
Emergency and government agencies need to identify trusted sources in communities, and build connections with them, before the crisis arrives to ensure information is disseminated smoothly in an emergency.
Many people hear warnings and believe a flood is coming, but may think the worst impacts won’t happen in their area. This is a very common misconception.
That’s why information should be tailored so people understand the risk at their particular location.
Helping people understand the consequences of not evacuating is also vital. This might mean messaging such as “if you don’t leave now, the floods will be over your roof and we may not be able to come and rescue you or your children or pet”.
Residents may not understand how fast floodwaters can move, that conditions may be very choppy and windy, or that large and dangerous debris will be coming at them and their children in a flood. This should also be communicated clearly.
Education prior to the crisis event can help people understand what flood waters can do at their location. This community awareness should be conducted in flood-prone areas at regular intervals.
Localised, tailored information can help people understand what will happen to them and their families if they don’t leave early enough – hopefully preventing devastating death tolls of the kind Texas is now grappling with.
Erica Kuligowski has received funding from the Australian Research Council and from Natural Hazards Research Australia.
– ref. In Texas, parents search flood debris for missing kids. Are Australians ready for our own sudden floods? – https://theconversation.com/in-texas-parents-search-flood-debris-for-missing-kids-are-australians-ready-for-our-own-sudden-floods-260581
Source: Scottish Government
Up to £1.4 million in funding for continued pilot.
Scotland’s first dedicated complex needs college will receive up to £1.4 million to secure its future for the next two years.
Since launching in 2022, the Corseford College pilot has received over £1 million from the Scottish Government, which has helped to provide 35 students with complex and additional needs an opportunity for further learning beyond school.
An independent evaluation found the pilot provided valuable support to young people with complex needs. It also included key recommendations for the future model of provision in Scotland which the Government will be considering in the months ahead.
The College has now received additional funding to continue the pilot for two more years. A total of 41 young people will benefit from specialist support in the 2025-26 academic year starting in August.
Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said:
“Corseford College has delivered vital support to many young people with complex additional needs since its launch three years ago. This has been recognised in an independent evaluation of the model, which is why we are securing the College’s future for another two years to ensure that its students can continue to be supported.
“We are keen to explore a sustainable approach for specialist provision going forward, and the continued pilot at Corseford will help inform this. The evaluation provided a number of important insights and recommendations which we will be reflecting on and will allow us to evolve the best possible model for the future.
“We are determined to support Scotland’s young people with complex additional needs and disabilities. Last month, we published our first national strategy that ensures young disabled people can access the help they need as they transition to adulthood. Our continued funding for Corseford will support this work.”
Capability Scotland Chief Executive, Brian Logan, said:
“The Scottish Government’s funding decision following the independent evaluation is a vital endorsement of Corseford College’s pioneering approach to specialist post-school education.
“We would like to thank Minister Graeme Dey and his team for their cooperation and unwavering commitment in making this possible.
“This success reflects the dedication of the college’s staff, whose work is transforming the lives of young people with complex needs. The funding secures Corseford College’s future, but also marks a key step towards a national solution for those young people living with complex needs across the country.”
Background
The Scottish Government published its National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy for Young People in June 2025.
Source: University of Abertay
A world-renowned Scottish actor and a pioneering sound artist will be awarded Honorary Degrees at Abertay University’s summer graduation ceremony later this month.
Dundee-born Hollywood star Brian Cox CBE will be recognised for his contribution to the performing arts over the last 50 years, while Radek Rudnicki will be honoured for his innovative work in new media and spatial sound.
The ceremony will take place on Friday 11 July at Caird Hall in Dundee, where over 400 graduates from Abertay’s academic schools will gather to celebrate the culmination of their studies.
Photo credit: Jakub Hader
Graduates from Abertay’s academic faculties – the Faculty of Design and Informatics and Business, the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences, and the Graduate School – will be joined by friends, family, and members of the University leadership team, including Chancellor Professor Alice Brown and Vice-Chancellor Professor Liz Bacon, for a memorable day of celebration.
Professor Liz Bacon, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said:
Graduation is one of the most memorable days in the university calendar, and this summer we’re thrilled to celebrate not only our talented students but also two outstanding individuals whose careers represent the very best of creativity, innovation and dedication. We’re delighted to welcome Brian Cox and Radek Rudnicki to the Abertay community and to honour their extraordinary achievements.
Brian Cox began his acting career in 1961 at Dundee Repertory Theatre, going on to become a founding member of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. With a stage and screen career spanning more than six decades, his breakthrough Hollywood role came in 1986’s Manhunter and has since appeared in films such as Braveheart, Adaptation, The Bourne Identity, Troy, 25th Hour and X2: X-Men United, an iconic portrayal of the much-loved Dundee comedy character Bob Servant, and most recently in the award-winning HBO drama Succession. He has received two BAFTAs, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe, and remains deeply connected to his theatrical roots, including a forthcoming return to the Dundee Rep stage in Make It Happen.
Radek Rudnicki is a new media artist, composer, and sound designer whose work blends spatial audio and immersive storytelling. Currently the lead sound designer for the Precyzja Foundation and director of Wave Folder Records, Radek’s digital studio develops cutting-edge experiences showcased around the world. His career includes collaborations with NASA’s Goddard Institute and the Stockholm Environment Institute, and partnerships with hardware synthesizer manufacturers like Waldorf, Elektron and Cwejman. His accolades include the Emerging Excellence Award, the Provost Award for World-Class Excellence in Research.
Source: University of Abertay
Abertay University has announced the finalists for its flagship video game design competition, DARE Academy.
Six talented undergraduate teams will spend the summer developing and refining game prototypes, competing for the prestigious DARE trophy and a grand prize of £5,000.
A highlight of the university’s calendar, the competition offers students intensive support from academic staff and industry experts. Over the coming months, the teams will work in the university’s state-of-the-art Centre for Excellence in Computer Games, honing their concepts and creating playable prototypes in a professional studio environment.
This year’s finalists were selected by a panel of expert judges, who were impressed by the originality, polish and potential of the teams’ pitches.
The Dare Academy 2025 finalist teams are:
The teams will have the opportunity to showcase their games at two events in Dundee: “Drop in and Play” at DCA on Saturday 30 August, and the awards ceremony at the CoSTAR Realtime Lab at Water’s Edge on Thursday 11 September.
DARE has a strong track record of launching careers and start-ups, with former teams going on to form successful indie studios including Pocket Sized Hands and Bit Loom.
Dr Dayna Galloway, Head of the Department of Games and Arts, said:
We’ve been absolutely blown away by the standard of submissions for this year’s DARE Academy. The creativity, ambition and quality on display have been incredibly exciting to see. A huge thank you goes to our judging panel for their time and input, and we’re thrilled to be working with such brilliant industry mentors and sponsors again this year. Their support will be vital in helping our students grow – not just during DARE, but as they move forward into careers in the games industry.
Torin Pellegrini, team leader of Fishbowl Studio, said:
We’re absolutely thrilled to have made it to the DARE Academy finals – it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. As Abertay students, we know how much this competition can open doors in the industry, and we’re ready to make the most of it. This year’s line-up is packed with originality and fun, and we can’t wait to work with mentors to develop the best version of our game and contribute to DARE’S amazing legacy. Go Fishbowl!
Last year’s DARE Academy winners were Triple 7 Studios with their game “Left Upon Read”. They were crowned winners by a panel of top industry judges at the UK’s biggest video games expo, EGX in London.