Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : UK and Morocco partnership thriving [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2023.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon has completed a fruitful visit to Morocco for the fourth Strategic Dialogue as UK-Morocco relations go from strength to strength.

Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and United Nations, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, visited Morocco from 8 to 9 May 2023. He attended the fourth UK-Morocco bilateral Strategic Dialogue, following and complementing the UK-Morocco Association Council held in Rabat on 16 February.

During his visit, Lord Ahmad visited and prayed at the iconic Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, as well as meeting British business representatives based there. On 9 May, Lord Ahmad co-chaired the ministerial session of the annual UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue with host, Morocco’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr Nasser Bourita. As reflected in their Joint Declaration, the ministers reviewed the deepening collaboration between the UK and Morocco and identified priorities for the next year, under the 4 pillars of cooperation: political, economic, security and defence, and education and culture.

This collaboration includes growing bilateral cooperation in the health and agricultural sectors, as well as on climate, energy and sustainable finance. The Ministers signed a ‘Strategic Cooperation Framework on Climate action, Clean energy and Green growth’. It also includes:

*ongoing exchanges of expertise, such as the joint defence exercises, ‘Jebel Sahara’ and ‘African Lion’, both held in 2022 * collaboration between law enforcement agencies on border security, hostage negotiations, and counter-terrorism efforts

The ministers also discussed regional and international issues of common interest. These included the situation in Sudan and in Libya, developments in Israel and the OPTs, the ongoing global implications of the Russia-Ukraine war, and food security in Africa.

On completing his visit, Lord Ahmad said:

This has been a fruitful visit which has built upon the strong relationship between our 2 countries. It follows on from our collaboration as Guest of Honour at the 15th edition of SIAM last week in Meknes, and we were honoured to have hosted HRH Princess Lalla Meryem at the Coronation of HM King Charles III last week. I am confident that this relationship will continue to thrive, going forward, as our 2 Kingdoms work in partnership on political, economic and security matters, and connect our people and cultures.

May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Nationals arriving from Sudan to have access to benefits [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 12 May 2023.

From Monday next week those arriving from Sudan, including UK nationals and those with a valid UK immigration status, will be exempt from residency tests to ensure they can access benefits, social housing, and homelessness assistance on arrival in the UK.

Emergency regulations, which come into force on Monday 15 May, will ensure UK nationals, Irish nationals and those with Home Office leave which provides recourse to public funds, who left Sudan as a result of the violence, will be exempt from the residency tests and therefore be able to access benefits and services faster on arrival in the UK.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said:

This has been a cross government effort, and we have responded at pace to the fast-changing circumstances so that those arriving from Sudan, including UK nationals, can receive the support they need.

As we turn to the next phase of our response, we stand ready to support those who need help as they arrive in the UK, and these regulations will enable us to provide access to benefits and services as soon as possible to those who are eligible.

Following the escalation of violence in Sudan, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have been working with other government departments to ensure a consistent approach in supporting those arriving in the UK, including UK nationals.

Some of these individuals may require access to welfare benefits and this urgent legislation exempting those arriving from residence tests will ensure that those who need it can access benefits and, where needed, homelessness assistance without delay.

Most arrivals will be able to move quickly on to their onwards destination, either their own home or that of family and friends. When arrivals do not have immediate accommodation available, the local authority may provide emergency overnight accommodation and then support people to move on. The changes made today will help people access the support they need to secure settled accommodation.

If individuals need to access benefits upon arrival they can apply through gov.uk.

Baroness Scott, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said:

I’ve seen first-hand our proud record of supporting refugees and stand by the UK’s commitment to supporting British nationals arriving from Sudan from day one.

Councils are well versed in supporting people fleeing conflict and have a duty to make sure no family is without a roof over their heads.

“We are working closely with local authorities to ensure that reasonable costs associated with the repatriation effort are met.

Jim Harra, HMRC’s Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, said:

We’re working across Government to ensure that people coming from Sudan are able to support their families as soon as they arrive. Introducing these measures will allow families to access the help they need, including Child Benefit.

Those currently still in Sudan and unable to return to the UK should check the guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

If currently in receipt of a benefit and unable to return to the UK, they should contact their Work Coach, the relevant disability benefit helpline, or the relevant Local Authority for housing benefit if it is safe to do so. DWP will look to take a flexible and understanding approach where individuals are currently unable to return to the UK from Sudan.

May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Investment to boost community tree cover across parts of England [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 May 2023.

£2 million has been awarded to projects investigating the best ways to boost tree numbers outside woodlands.
- £2 million has been awarded to projects investigating the best ways to boost tree numbers outside woodlands in areas including Chichester, Cornwall, Kent, Norfolk and Shropshire.
- Projects will test new ways to increase tree cover and strengthen biosecurity, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change and meet the government’s 2050 net zero ambitions.
Projects to learn ways to increase tree cover in communities across England and enhance biosecurity will receive a share of over £2 million in government funding, it is announced today (Friday 12 May).

The second phase of the Trees Outside Woodland Research and Development programme will fund projects testing the effectiveness of tree planting methods and approaches in non-woodland areas. This will help increase tree cover in non-woodland areas so that more, healthier trees can be planted in these areas in future, improving people’s health and wellbeing by giving them access to more nature and helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Non-woodland treescapes have been badly affected by tree pests and diseases and other issues, so finding ways to boost their numbers effectively will help to meet the aims of the England Trees Action Plan and Government ambitions to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament. Research from the first phase is already beginning to have an impact, as successful approaches piloted will be rolled out in an England-wide grant scheme later this year.

Research projects funded by the second phase will:
- test how to sustainably improve the capacity and biosecurity of locally grown tree planting stock, to ensure more trees can be planted closer to where people live.
- research the most cost-effective and biosecure ways to plant, establish, and promote trees outside woods, enabling increases in non-woodland tree canopy cover.
- focus on sharing this knowledge with Local Authorities to enable enhanced local delivery of healthy and thriving treescapes.
- In the long term, help to increase tree cover within our local communities and deliver on commitments set out within the Environmental Improvement Plan to level up people’s access to nature and improve our mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Forestry Minister Trudy Harrison, said:

“The Trees Outside Woodland programme has supported myriad pilot projects up and down the country that have bolstered the health and resilience of our non-woodland treescapes. From agroforestry schemes in Cornwall to experimental Miyawaki plots in Kent, the Trees Outside Woodland programme is providing a springboard for innovative research into tree planting.

“Further investment in the programme will build on previous successful work and help Government deliver on our ambitious tree planting targets.”

Director of Trees, Science & Research at The Tree Council, Jon Stokes, said:

“Historically undervalued, the 4.3% of England that is covered with non-woodland treescapes – such as hedges, scrub, trees on farms, parks, and in urban settings – is now recognised among our most important treescapes. This funding is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about growing and protecting these precious trees. These are the trees that people most often see in their daily lives, and they provide essential habitat connectivity and homes for wildlife all across the country. The Tree Council is delighted to help coordinate this amazing collaboration.”

Trees outside of woodlands are worth over £3.8 billion due to their multi-faceted role across the UK’s ecosystems. This includes storing carbon, regulating temperatures, strengthening flood resilience and reducing air pollution. Together, these help to mitigate against climate change, reduce impacts from floods and improve people’s health and wellbeing.

Pilot projects that have so far been funded by first phase of the Trees Outside Woodland Research and Development programme increased tree cover within communities through subsidised and free tree schemes, boosting community tree nurseries, planting trees on farmed landscapes, enhancing agroforestry schemes, boosting community orchards, and exploring experimental Miyawaki plots.

The Trees Outside Woodland Research and Development programme is delivered in partnership by The Tree Council, Natural England, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and five Local Authorities – Chichester District Council, Cornwall Council, Kent County Council, Norfolk County Council and Shropshire Council.

Today’s announcement comes during National Plant Health Week which aims to raise public awareness and engagement on how to keep our trees and plants healthy. By identifying threats such as pests and diseases, we protect the benefits plants and trees provide to the public, to wildlife, the environment and our economy. More information can be found on the Plant Health Action.org website.

The funding comes from HMT’s Shared Outcomes Fund – to find out more please visit GOV.UK.
May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Regulator investigates charity funding orphanage in Bangladesh [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Charity Commission on 12 May 2023.

The Charity Commission launches inquiry into Asia Pacific Childrens Fund over concerns about money spent overseas and sent to related parties.

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Asia Pacific Childrens Fund to examine concerns about the trustees’ administration and management of the charity, including around payments to connected parties and overseas expenditure.

The charity was established in 2008 to aid those in poverty, particularly in Asia. It is based in London but funds an orphanage in Bangladesh.

The Commission first engaged with the charity in 2021 on a proactive basis over concerns around international cash couriering. During compliance visits to the charity, the regulator identified a number of further concerns which represented breaches of the charity’s governing document and charity law.

The Commission used its powers to obtain and analyse the charity’s bank statements and found payments to private companies linked to some of the charity’s trustees, which the trustees have been unable to sufficiently explain.

As part of its purposes, the charity states that it funds an orphanage in Bangladesh, and this is where most of its money goes. However, the Commission is concerned that the trustees cannot fully account for all its expenditure to this end, or clearly explain how the orphanage and the funds it receives are managed.

These concerns, exacerbated by a lack of documentary evidence and the charity’s often late statutory annual returns, are evidence of misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity. Therefore, an inquiry was opened on 3 April 2023. It will examine the following regulatory issues:
- the administration, governance and management of the charity by the trustees
- conflicts of interest and or loyalty and related party payments
- financial controls and management of the charity and whether its funds have been properly expended solely for the exclusive charitable purposes and can be accounted for
- whether or not the trustees have complied with and fulfilled their duties and responsibilities as trustee under charity law
The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge.

It is the Commission’s policy to publish a report upon concluding an inquiry to detail its findings, conclusions, and any regulatory action taken.
May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK-Republic of Korea Senior Economic Dialogue 2023 – joint communiqué [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2023.

Ministers from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a Senior Economic Dialogue in Seoul on 12 May 2023.

The Vice Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lee Dohoon, and the UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, held the inaugural UK-ROK Senior Economic Dialogue in Seoul on 12 May 2023.

The two Ministers reviewed key areas of bilateral and international economic collaboration between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea noting their shared values and interests, and their desire for increased cooperation.

The UK and ROK reaffirmed their strong commitment to using their voices to uphold and promote the rules-based international economic system, including free and open trade, and to advance new global trade rules that are fit for the 21st century. Both countries agreed to cooperate to enhance economic security, strengthen the resilience of critical supply chains and to coordinate efforts to address future challenges and build prosperity.

The UK and ROK reiterated the importance of supporting climate-vulnerable and developing countries to obtain access to the funds they need to build climate resilience. They welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent for the Strategic Development Partnership, with the aim to deepen bilateral development cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two Ministers discussed the UK’s International Technology Strategy and ROK’s recent policy on critical and emerging technologies such as AI, quantum, and biotechnology. They shared the view that the two countries could coordinate more closely on critical and emerging technology policy.

The two Ministers agreed to provide their support for the conclusion of the UK-ROK Digital Partnership, which is currently under discussion. They also expressed their hope for the successful operation of intergovernmental channels, including the ROK-UK Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation, to further enhance bilateral cooperation in the future.

The ROK and the UK agreed to hold regular Senior Economic Dialogues with Ministers from the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. These dialogues will be preceded by inter-sessional meetings at director-general level, to explore substantive cooperation and review their implementations.

May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Security Minister travels to Kenya to agree new partnership [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 12 May 2023.

The UK and Kenya have signed a new security compact to keep our two countries, peoples and region safe, in a major agreement.

The agreement covers the full spectrum of security cooperation between the UK and Kenya, and represents a significant milestone in the security relationship between our 2 countries.

The Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat MP, signed the new agreement with Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for the Interior and National Administration, Professor Kithure Kindiki, in Nairobi this week.

The security compact includes £10 million a year of funding to support counter-terrorism programmes, as well as commitments on defence, international cooperation, community security, law enforcement and criminal justice, cyber security, and bilateral, multilateral and regional coordination.

The UK has also launched a major new stabilisation programme to support local communities in Somalia’s Borderlands in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia to tackle the causes of instability. Worth £10 million over the next 3 years, the Deris Wanaag, or Good Neighbourliness, programme will drive collaboration and collective progress, to improve regional security and counter the extremism of the Islamist terror group al-Shabaab.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat MP said:

Kenya matters to Britain. Seeing Kenyan troops march alongside other Commonwealth forces at HM The King’s Coronation was a reminder of our shared history and the promise of a strong future. By working with Kenya, our key security partner in East Africa, we are helping to keep both our peoples safe and strengthen global security.

Together, we’re countering al-Shabaab and tackling the growing threat from regional Daesh affiliates, fighting serious organised crime, and tackling the flow of dirty money. Our security partnership is growing ever stronger.

I’m delighted to be able to announce this comprehensive new agreement, as well as our new Somalia Borderlands programme, which will tackle the root causes of instability to help end the scourge of al-Shabaab.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Professor Kithure Kindiki, said:

The friendship between Kenya and the United Kingdom is longstanding, entrenched and long-term. We appreciate what the UK has done to support Kenya on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocity over the years.

We will make sure that we sustain this relationship so that the peoples of our 2 countries can enjoy shared prosperity as we look into the future.

The UK has remained a key partner for Kenya in the fight against corruption, and the fight against illicit financial flows.

The Borderlands area of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia shares communities challenged by drought, resource conflicts, arms proliferation and violent extremism. The UK will partner with these 3 nations to collectively focus on the root causes of instability and the shared opportunities offered by an open border, including through trade and revenue generation. By driving collaboration and collective progress and building resilience, the partnership aims to mitigate the drivers of instability and violent extremism to bring peace to the region.

During his time in Nairobi, Minister Tugendhat was also able to visit the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, which hosts Kenya’s Transnational Organised Crime Unit and Anti-human trafficking and Child Protection Unit.

Both units work closely with the UK’s National Crime Agency, an operational relationship which protects our 2 nations and the world against serious organised crime and terrorism, and supports Kenya in its role as regional leader in the fight against child sexual exploitation and online abuse.

Kenya is the UK’s key partner on security and peace in East Africa, from joint diplomatic efforts on Sudan to tackling al-Shabaab in Somalia and across the region. This continued close partnership will continue through the new Annual UK-Kenya High Level Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue, the first of which will be held in London in September 2023.

May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Thousands to benefit from low-cost heat in push to drive down energy bills [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 12 May 2023.

The UK’s first system drawing heat from deep underground to provide low-cost heating for nearly 4,000 homes is one of 7 innovative projects backed by government funding.
7 state-of-the-art heat network projects across England awarded government funding

UK’s first system drawing heat from deep underground will be built to warm nearly 4,000 homes, schools and a leisure centre

projects will help homes and businesses ditch oil and gas boilers – cutting costs and reducing carbon emissions

The UK’s first system drawing heat from deep underground to provide low-cost heating for nearly 4,000 homes is one of 7 innovative projects backed by government funding today (Friday 12 May 2023).

The Langarth Deep Geothermal Heat Network will involve drilling to a depth of 5,275 meters to extract the heat from granite rocks beneath the United Downs Industrial Site in Cornwall.

It is one of 7 state-of-the-art heating systems that will receive a share of £91 million from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund.

Heat networks take heat found underground or use excess heat generated through manufacturing or waste management, and supply heating and hot water to homes and businesses through a connected network.

This allows them to ditch fossil-fuel burning gas and oil boilers, which helps cut costs and reduce carbon emissions. The projects will boost the UK’s energy security and independence and help delivering on the government’s commitment to grow the economy – with the schemes expected to create hundreds of new, skilled jobs.

Among the 7 ground-breaking projects to benefit from the latest round of funding are:

the development of a heat network in Goole, using excess heat generated by a local manufacturing plant to supply heating to local homes and businesses, creating 40 jobs

the expansion of a heat network in East London to supply heating to 2 new developments in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, serving around 500 new homes and 250 non-domestic premises

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:

The UK is a world leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions – but we must continue to push the boundaries to reach our net zero goal.

These innovative projects will not only benefit the communities they serve, by reducing emissions and providing low-cost heating that helps to drive down energy bills, but also support the nation’s push for greater energy security and independence.

They form part of our energy revolution – creating hundreds of new jobs for our ever-expanding green economy.

The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is a £288 million scheme that opened in March 2022 to public, private and third sector applicants in England and is anticipated to run to 2025. It replaced the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) scheme which closed for applications in January 2022.

In contrast to the HNIP scheme, the GHNF scheme will only fund heat network projects where there is a low-carbon heat source.

The funding, announced by the government today, will pave the way for low-carbon technologies – like air source heat pumps, which extract heat from the air, solar and geothermal energy – to be delivered at scale and established as a central source of energy in this country.

Ken Hunnisett, Programme Director for Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management, delivery partner for the GHNF and HNIP, said:

Continuing the legacy of the first GHNF projects to be announced in December, over £91 million more targeted support has been announced from the fund today to deliver low carbon heating across the country.

From Cornwall to London, Reading to Rotherham, funding announced today will go far to help us reach our net zero ambitions and provide clean heating across residential and commercial buildings.

We are excited to work with the teams in each of these locations to deliver these new heating infrastructure projects to help them deliver on their green goals and make a real difference to how we heat our buildings.

Kieran Sinclair, Heat Network Policy Manager at the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE), said:

It is great to see more low-carbon heat network projects being funded through the Green Heat Network Fund.

They show the potential for heat networks across the UK to reduce both carbon emissions and customer heating bills, while providing clean energy to both public and private sector buildings.

By 2050 a much larger proportion of the country will get their heat from low-carbon heat networks as part of the UK’s net zero targets.

In February, the government also launched the £32 million Heat Network Efficiency Scheme to make vital upgrades to old and inefficient heat networks and provide thousands of homes in England and Wales with cheaper, greener energy.

The government is also taking action to regulate the heat networks market through the Energy Bill. The Bill will appoint Ofgem as heat networks regulator, with new powers to investigate and intervene where prices for consumers appear to be unfair. The legislation also provides the Department’s Secretary of State with powers to introduce a heat networks price cap should it be necessary to protect consumers.

The full list of projects to receive support today from the government’s Green Heat Networks Fund are:

Bradford Energy Limited – £20 million to build an air source heat pump heat network, to supply businesses and other buildings in the city centre

Cornwall Council – £22 million to develop the Langarth Deep Geothermal Heat Network – the first of its kind in the UK that will use geothermal energy from hot granite rocks beneath Cornwall to heat 3,800 local homes and public facilities in the region

East Riding of Yorkshire Council – £12 million to create the new Goole District Energy Network, that will use waste heat from a manufacturing plant to power local homes and businesses, cutting the town’s carbon emissions by 322,000 tonnes over 40 years and creating 40 new skilled jobs

Rotherham Energy Limited – £25 million to build a new Rotherham Energy Network to deliver a heating and hot water to 34 homes and businesses in the town centre

Kirklees Council – £8.2 million to create the Huddersfield District Energy Network, that will provide low-carbon heat and electricity to public and private sector buildings in and around the centre of the town, helping the council reach its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2038

East London Energy – £1.76 million to expand the heat network to supply more homes in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford

University of Reading – £2.1 million to help decarbonize its Whiteknights Campus, currently powered by a combined heat and power led district heating network
May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Funding boost to support young people into planning careers [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 12 May 2023.

Over 50 students will receive a £5,000 planning bursary, covering up to 50% of university fees, to support a career in planning.

More students across England will benefit from a £5,000 bursary to pursue careers as planners designing greener neighbourhoods and thriving towns, the Housing Minister announced today.

Over 50 young professionals with be offered a bursary through the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) to study a planning masters, attracting the next generation of students aspiring to train and work in the planning sector.

This funding from the Department for Levelling Up will back more careers in the planning sector, helping councils recruit staff and create better communities that people are proud to call home.

The new scheme, launched today, increases the size of the bursary from £2,000 to £5,000, covering up to 50% of the cost of the student’s university fees. It is aimed at disadvantaged students including those who struggled financially, with care responsibilities, or those with disabilities, helping to boost diversity in the planning sector.

Minister for Housing and Planning, Rachel Maclean said:

Planning is an incredibly rewarding career and planners across the country are helping us to level up by delivering more homes, better infrastructure and the communities of tomorrow.

This funding will attract fresh talent and ideas to the planning sector, including a more diverse range of students who will help deliver a modern and efficient planning system.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has already funded over 150 bursaries in the last three years.

Former students who have benefitted from the scheme include 36-year-old single parent Jennifer Campbell, who was able to pursue an Urban and Regional Planning Masters course with the government backed funding.

Jennifer is currently gaining work experience at TMC Planning Consultancy while completing her dissertation. The experience of a bursary has relieved her of financial stress and offered a platform to acquire valuable skills to be successful in the planning sector.

Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, Victoria Hills said:

Local authorities and planning consultancies alike are struggling to attract and retain talent. This matters not just to the future of planners, but to the communities we represent.

To deliver for communities, it’s essential that we continue to attract diverse talent onto accredited planning courses and support the development of a professional planning workforce that is open and inclusive. This important bursary scheme, delivered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, will help more students access an RTPI accredited Masters programme and inspire and prepare the next generation for a rewarding career in planning.

The Government recently announced £1 million to help councils recruit and train skilled planners and increase awareness about careers in local government.

Together with this funding, a new generation of trained planners will offer key expertise to support local planning authorities as we deliver vital infrastructure and tens of thousands of homes right across the country.

The Government is supporting local planning authorities to speed up the planning process and combat recruitment and retention challenges as we create a modern and efficient planning system through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : More cash to rescue community assets through expanded government fund [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 12 May 2023.

Even more community projects will be able to apply for funding through the government’s expanded £150 million Community Ownership Fund.

More community projects are set to benefit from funding to rescue prized local assets, such as sports clubs, music venues and historic buildings, as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities launches the third round of its £150 million Community Ownership Fund today (12 May 2023).

Changes to the fund will make it easier than ever for community groups to seize back control of prized local assets that are at risk of being lost forever – helping to strengthen and level up communities and restore optimism, hope, and pride in the UK.

The amount of funding all projects can bid for will be increasing from £250,000 to £1 million, meaning that groups can bid for more funding to help save bigger projects such as Gigg Lane, home of Bury FC, from being lost which are at the heart of local communities.

The requirement for match-funding is also being reduced to as low as 10%, making it easier for communities to acquire assets without raising additional private funding. For the first time, parish councils will also be able to apply to the Fund, which has previously only been available to charities and community groups.

The Fund is already supporting almost 100 projects across the UK including the UK’s most remote pub in Scotland, a boxing and development centre in Oldham, and a sports centre in Ballymacash, Northern Ireland.

Minister for Levelling Up, Dehenna Davison MP said:

From far-flung pubs to prized community centres, the Community Ownership Fund is putting vital assets back into the hands of communities, to be enjoyed for generations to come.

We want even more communities to benefit from the fund and that’s why we are making these changes so community groups can apply for even more money to save much loved local assets.

We will continue to grow this fund to empower local people, restoring their pride in the places where they live and levelling up communities across the United Kingdom.

Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker said:

The Community Ownership Fund is already supporting seven great projects across Northern Ireland with £1.5 million in funding, making a real difference to local communities.

It’s wonderful to see the launch of round three, which will save more local community assets by supporting proposals that enable communities here to thrive, boosting levelling up across Northern Ireland.

The fund is already helping communities across the country seize ownership of prized local assets that are at risk, including:
- Britain’s most remote pub, the Old Forge Pub, on the Knoydart Peninsula in Scotland. £200,000 investment from the Community Ownership Fund has helped the people of Inverie take full ownership.
- In Gateshead, a local community group, Fighting All Cancers Together, will renovate their local community centre with a £300,000 investment, creating a sustainable space to continue their invaluable work of supporting people diagnosed with cancer.
- Leigh Spinners Mill, the largest building in Leigh, in Greater Manchester, which has been vacant for many years. £250,000 of funding is transforming the space into a hot spot that offers support to community groups and creating more employment opportunities.
- Ballymacash Sports Academy in Northern Ireland which has received £300,000 for creating state-of-the-art sports facilities and improving the club with a brand new 3G sports pitch – a specialised pitch for football comprised of three different turfs.
- The Queen’s Ballroom in Tredegar, Wales, has been saved thanks to £90,000 in funding, The historic building was originally one of Wales’s first purpose built electric cinemas. Today it houses a fully funded programme which provides young people, aged 7-18, with the opportunity to learn fundamental skills for working in film.
- A community in rural Suffolk successfully bought their local pub, The Racehorse Inn, through a £96,000 grant from the Community Ownership Fund in March 2022. The pub will hopefully be transformed into a local hub with a post office and shop to serve the residents of Westhall and the surrounding area.
Joanne Smith, project lead, at FACT cancer support, says:

As a small charity, to receive a Levelling up Community Ownership Fund grant has been amazing. The fund will help us on our way to creating our FACT Family Community Centre invaluable to support people diagnosed with cancer in Gateshead.

The fund has helped re-engage with a community that has lost too many safe spaces, to come together. We’re excited to see what the third round of the Community Ownership Fund will bring for other, similar projects.

The Old Forge Community Benefit Society said:

We are grateful to the Community Ownership Fund whose support helped The Old Forge Community Benefit Society to achieve its goal of a community-owned pub on the Knoydart Peninsula.

Today’s announcement is part of the government’s drive to level up local communities and boost local businesses. This will also contribute to the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.

Cllr Keith Stevens, chair, National Association of Local Councils

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is delighted that England’s local (parish and town) councils will now for the first time be able to apply to the government’s Community Ownership Fund. This vital funding will help local councils, which are the first tier of local government in most areas, continue to work with their communities to protect, enhance and preserve their treasured community assets.

Tony Armstrong, CEO, Locality (Lead for development support provider)

We are delighted by the changes announced in the round 3 prospectus of the Community Ownership Fund meaning that more local people will have control over the buildings and spaces that have significance to them and ensure that these spaces are used in ways that meet the priorities and needs of the local community.

As the lead for the development support programme, we are pleased to be bringing together the knowledge and skills of 10 leading community support organisations, to help groups with the application process, through the advice and support service.”
May 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : ‘The ICC is important to deliver justice for Libya’ – UK statement at the Security Council [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 May 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

Thank you, President.

I would like to first thank the Prosecutor, Karim Khan, for his powerful briefing today and for his 25th report on the situation in Libya. The United Kingdom gives its full support to the Prosecutor’s ongoing investigations in line with resolution 1970 of this Council, and I welcome both the briefing and the report as a demonstration of his transparency. We also welcome the participation of the Representative of Libya in this meeting.

President, we are pleased to hear of the accelerated pace of the ICC’s investigation and progress in the delivery of the new strategy outlined in the Prosecutor’s 23rd Report to this council. We note the concrete outcomes of the investigation, including the issuance of new arrest warrants by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber during the reporting period. These are important steps for delivering justice for the Libyan people.

We are grateful to the Office of the Prosecutor for the renewed effort, and those who supported it for the renewed efforts in this period. We thank the Government of National Unity in Libya for facilitating the first official visit of an ICC Prosecutor to Libya in over ten years. For the continued successful delivery of the investigation, it is critical that further support is given to the investigation by the GNU and all other relevant Libyan authorities, including through the provision of documentation.

President, we welcome the increased engagement with witnesses and survivors, and the collection of testimonial evidence. I thank the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission for sharing their expertise and enhancing the Prosecutor’s work to record the experiences of Libyan people. Following the ending of the Fact-Finding Mission, I ask UNSMIL and OHCHR to continue this co-operation to help document and safeguard evidence of serious crimes.

This is a moment of opportunity in Libya. Transitional justice is vital to long-term security and stability and it should be embedded in the political process. The ICC is an important tool to deliver justice for Libya, through transparent and fair investigation. I urge all parties to work together to safeguard human rights and ensure that justice can be delivered when crimes occur, including through cooperation with the ICC and surrender of individuals subject to arrest warrants.

In conclusion, President, the UK remains committed to working with the Prosecutor’s Office and the Libyan authorities to build on this momentum and accelerate progress towards justice. And let me underline our full support to the work of the ICC in its pursuit of justice for victims of the most egregious crimes wherever they may occur.

Thank you.

May 17, 2023