Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Funding boost for specialist victim support services [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 25 July 2023.

Up to £8.3 million of funding has been granted to 55 organisations providing support to victims of abuse, including counselling, training and community outreach.

More victims of crimes including domestic abuse, rape and other sexual offences will benefit from support designed to best meet their individual needs, the government has announced.

Up to £8.3 million will be provided to organisations across England and Wales to fund frontline and specialist support projects for victims and survivors over two years, including counselling, training and community outreach. This is part of the government’s commitment to quadruple funding for victim support services by 2025 compared to 2010.

Many of the organisations being funded are led, designed, and delivered by and for the communities they aim to serve, with organisations providing tailored support to victims such as those from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled, LGBT and elderly victims. There is also funding for specialist organisations working with male victims specifically.

A £1.2 million training programme has also launched for Independent Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Advisors who provide emotional and practical support to victims. The government is funding 1,000 of these posts and the training to make sure these vulnerable victims get better help and stay engaged with the criminal justice system.

Minister for Safeguarding at the Home Office, Sarah Dines said:

I have heard first-hand heart-breaking stories of trauma endured by survivors of abuse and I know how important bespoke support which meets victims’ individual needs and circumstances is.

We are proud that this funding will go to such a diverse range of organisations who really make a difference to the communities they serve.

Minister for Victims at the Ministry of Justice, Ed Argar said:

Victims and survivors have a range of different experiences and needs, so it’s vital we have a broad range of support services in place which can provide bespoke care.

By and for services are a vital part of the support available to victims and survivors of crime, and this additional government investment in these services will have a real impact.

In total, 55 organisations will benefit from the funding, enabling them to continue their vital work with victims of abuse.

Preston based Sahara will receive up to £250,000 in grant funding to provide a bilingual, comprehensive face-to-face support service for women from black and minority ethnic backgrounds who are victims of domestic abuse.

This will include one-to-one counselling, training designed to build confidence and develop self-esteem, and self-help groups where they can meet other women and build support networks.

SignHealth, a deaf health charity which has been granted more than £1.7 million in funding, provides specialist support to deaf survivors of domestic abuse. The funding will help them to deliver accessible educational materials, encouraging them to know their rights and seek support.

The charity will also translate key materials, such as the landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021, into British Sign Language, and train experts in the deaf sector on issues relating to domestic abuse.

Many organisations have been able to bid as consortium groups, enabling charities with small footprints at the heart of diverse communities to access vital funding.

The Mankind UK consortium, made up of 5 organisations, have been awarded upwards of £500,000 to enable them to deliver specialist counselling for male victims of sexual violence. This aims to help survivors overcome the unique challenges faced by male victims and address and reduce symptoms of trauma and mental health issues.

There is also funding for organisations who tackle specific harms, such as so-called ‘honour-based’ abuse. The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire is working with Savera UK to increase reporting of what can sometimes be hidden crimes such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). This is in addition to enhancing the ability of front-line professionals to identify and support victims of these crimes.

Zafar Coupland, Manager of Sahara Women’s Centre said:

Sahara is very grateful to the Ministry of Justice and Home Office for agreeing fund our Project over the next 2 years. This will enable us to assist BME women who are the victims of domestic violence in all its forms. The grant will fund a comprehensive support service which will include, advocacy, counselling, confidence building and self-help groups and will be delivered with kindness, dedication and passion so that we make a difference to women whose lives have been blighted by abuse.

Marie Vickers, Head of Domestic Abuse Service at SignHealth said:

Our experience shows that it is essential that deaf survivors of domestic abuse receive local specialist support in their home area in addition to mainstream provision. It is vital that deaf BSL users have the option to communicate in their first language with specialist staff who have lived experience. We are grateful that the Home Office has awarded us this incredible opportunity to create greater impact for the deaf community.

Lucy Hughes, CEO at Mankind UK and 1in6.uk said:

Our sector previously came together to help male survivors online via www.1in6.uk. With this funding, we can take that collaboration further by offering male-centred counselling services across England and Wales and begin to address the geographical inequality in what is on offer for men.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs said:

My office’s report ‘A Patchwork of Provision’ highlighted the significant gaps in provision of specialist ‘by and for’ domestic abuse services which support Black and minoritised, deaf and disabled, and LGBT+ survivors.

This fund will make some progress towards responding to these gaps and I look forward to working with the government on the Victims & Prisoners Bill to close this gap further.

This builds on government victim funding commitments set out in the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan, including over £10 million awarded under the Children Affected by Domestic Abuse Fund, over £7 million awarded under the What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls Fund and the recent Flexible Fund delivering emergency support to victims of domestic abuse.

As part of the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan, the government has committed a total of over £230 million from 2022-2025, including the Ministry of Justice quadrupling funding for victim and witness support services by 2024/25.

The new funding is just one part of the extensive work across government to improve outcomes for victims of abuse.

Earlier this month, all 43 police forces across England and Wales, and all rape prosecutors across the country, began implementing a new approach to dealing with rape and other serious sexual offences, ensuring forces conduct thorough investigations which put the focus on the suspect and centre the rights and needs of victims.

Known as Operation Soteria and previously piloted in 19 police forces and 9 Crown Prosecution Areas, the programme brings together police forces with academics, using evidence and new insight to enable forces and prosecutors to transform their response to rape and serious sexual offences.

Total funding amounts allocated through the VAWG Specialist and Support Services Fund

Lead Organisation	Indicative Funding (FY 23-24 and 24-25)	Service Summary
Blackpool Teaching Hospital	£207,562	Ensuring victims of sexual violence who present at hospital and wish to make a disclosure are offered timely and appropriate trauma-informed support. Empowers hospital staff to identify possible victims, building on the success of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) programme. Also aims to reduce the number of patients presenting to emergency departments repeatedly, as sexual violence is known to be the underlying cause of a significant number of mental health admissions.
Diversity Matters North West	£316,234	Addresses current gaps in domestic abuse support services which make them inaccessible to women from ethnic minority communities. Creates a forum for awareness through community engagements and national campaigns, establishes an advisory group to evaluate service provision.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority	£682,600	Provides a hub for services for ethnic minority women and girls across Greater Manchester, including migrant women with no recourse to public funds. The objective is to provide an all-encompassing hub where women can have their complex needs met by one team, including provision of advice, and access and signposting to specialist services.
Hourglass	£793,230	Strengthens and maintains telephone and text helplines and online services, to support older people and those concerned about domestic abuse of older people. Also enables provision of information and advice around abuse, ensuring people are informed of the indicators of domestic abuse and the support options available. Will also increase casework support and volunteer capacity, including specialist training.
London Community Foundation	£1,200,000	Capacity building for 22 organisations addressing VAWG among ethnic minority communities in London. Provides support to smaller specialist organisations, invests in training and organisational development, improves local network response and invests in partnerships.
Mankind UK	£552,184	Provides victims with access to specialist online male-centred sexual violence counselling. This will improve outcomes for more adult victims of sexual violence, reducing their trauma symptoms (including anxiety, depression and risk of suicide and self harm). Additionally, it will deliver high quality service user-created content and advice through www.1in6.uk and build the capacity of three smaller partner charities.
New Pathways	£298,508	Supporting people from the LGBTQ+ community who have been affected by sexual violence. Effecting changes within sexual violence organisations for LGBTQ+ victims through research informed service design to allow all aspects of client engagement: awareness raising, communications, initial engagement and assessment, service delivery and after-service needs.
Peterborough Women’s Aid	£284,740	Extends specialist services to support victims of VAWG from the Asian community in Peterborough. Increases professional awareness and improved response to this community.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire	£321,588	Enables effective support for victims of ‘honour’-based abuse/harmful practices, including forced marriage and female genital mutilation, across Cheshire. Supports expansion of victim support services, increasing the volume of reports made to front-line professionals and enhancing the ability of professionals to identify and provide support to victims, and reducing the scale of offending behaviour through educational and community awareness activity.
Rape Crisis England & Wales	£358,801	Building on Rape Crisis’s National Service Standards model, ensuring that victim-survivor voices are central, relevant services are accountable to victims, and they have access to the services they want and need. Delivers bespoke training across member centres based on emerging trends. Using service design methods to: better understand and map victim-survivors’ help-seeking journeys and needs; co-design/prototype/test potential new services to meet the needs of people on waiting lists.
Refuge	£550,569	Refuge work collaboratively with specialist by-and-for organisations to support them in responding effectively to the risks of technology facilitated abuse through training. The project will also support survivors representing disabled survivors, LGBTQI+ survivors, and those at risk of so-called honour-based violence, to understand how technology facilitated abuse impacts their service users and develop bespoke training.
RSVP (West Midlands) Ltd	£206,368	Delivery of pre-therapy support across the region, licensed to other providers and with training provided to the facilitators. The programme consists of a 5-week closed psycho-educational group, standalone workshops for specific trauma-related issues and individual sessions.
Sahara in Preston	£250,000	Provides a bilingual comprehensive support service to women from ethnic minorities who are the victims of domestic violence in all its forms. The project will provide counselling, advocacy support, confidence building training and facilitated self-help groups.
SignHealth	£1,720,564	Provides online support to Deaf survivors across England and supports education about healthy relationships (via social media and digital content). Also includes translation of new legislation into British Sign Language and supports engagement with professionals to design future services. Will deliver workshops, deaf awareness training for Deaf communities, domestic abuse professionals and other support services.
The Survivors Trust	£150,000	The Survivors Trust work with employers to raise awareness of domestic abuse and train their employees on how to identify domestic abuse, better understand the impact that domestic abuse has on victims and equip their staff with the right tools to respond appropriately, ensuring that victims receive the support they need.
Trevi Women	£378,811	Through existing women’s centres, providing trauma-informed support to women wishing to exit on-street prostitution and survivors of VAWG crimes; reducing the barriers for women seeking to exit sex working and helping ensure long-term support. Aims to reduce the likelihood of clients returning to sex work and reduce the prevalence of harm.

26/07/2023

PRESS RELEASE : The Wagner group has not and cannot deliver long-term security in West Africa – UK statement at the Security Council [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 July 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on West Africa and the Sahel.

Let me start by congratulating SRSG Simão on his appointment and thank him and ECOWAS Commission President Touray for their briefing. I will make three points focusing on democracy, security and humanitarian issues.

First, while welcoming the democratic progress in parts of the region, the United Kingdom is concerned by democratic uncertainty and shrinkage of civic space in some countries.

Progress towards the restoration of constitutional governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea has been too slow.

We need to redouble our collective efforts to hold transitional administrations to account on election timetables. We urge UNOWAS to continue supporting countries to conduct free and fair elections and note with concern the recent election discrepancies in Sierra Leone.

Second, we remain concerned about the Sahel region’s deteriorating security situation and instability, including the risk of its spreading to the coastal states.

We look forward to the SG’s forthcoming transition plan for MINUSMA, including how UNOWAS can support Mali’s transition and peace agreement.

The United Kingdom remains committed to protecting civilian rights. That is why we are concerned by the damage being done by the Russian mercenary group Wagner across the region.

Their track record proves Wagner has not and cannot deliver long-term security. From Mali to Ukraine, and even Russia, all Wagner offers is chaos and destruction – and it is civilians who suffer most.

Now, that President Putin has acknowledged Wagner is funded by the Russian state after years of denial, we call on Russia to hold accountable those responsible for its human rights abuses, rapes and killings.

We welcome increased regional security coordination, including the Accra Initiative.

We encourage efforts that provide coordinated and targeted support, including those that are complementary to wider regional initiatives.

The UK is also reinforcing African security through our contributions to multilateral peacekeeping and conflict prevention. And our bilateral security partnerships, including with Ghana and Nigeria and bilateral humanitarian and development funding.

Third, the humanitarian situation in the Sahel remains dire, including pockets of famine in Burkina Faso.

It is essential humanitarian actors are allowed safe and unimpeded access. And as we’ve heard today, the humanitarian and security challenges are exacerbated by climate change.

In closing, we look forward to continuing working in partnership with UNOWAS and ECOWAS to help address these complex regional challenges and build regional peace and security.

We join those members in calling for adoption of a PRST [Presidential Statement] to underpin our support for the mission of UNOWAS.

26/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary travels to Middle East to build mutually beneficial ties [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 July 2023.

James Cleverly is on a 3-day visit to Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, which will emphasise the UK’s growing partnership with the region.
- James Cleverly to begin 3-day visit to Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan today (July 25)
- Foreign Secretary will emphasise the UK’s growing partnership with the region – with Gulf countries and Jordan set to benefit from the UK’s new visa travel scheme
- he will also announce funding to support women and girls and to help the most vulnerable refugees in Jordan
The Foreign Secretary will travel to the Middle East today (Tuesday 25 July) on a 3-day tour to emphasise the UK’s growing, mutually-beneficial partnerships with the region.

The visit, which will include Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, comes after the government recently announced that citizens from Gulf countries and Jordan will benefit from the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation visa scheme, which will make travel to the UK cheaper and easier for visitors.

All 3 countries are also important energy, defence and security partners for the UK, and trade and investment with the Gulf is vital to support the Prime Minister’s priorities to grow the economy. UK trade with Qatar and Kuwait was worth £18.1 billion last year alone.

In Jordan, the Foreign Secretary will announce up to £1.5 million to support initiatives for women and girls. The funding will go towards civil society organisations.

He will also meet with representatives from UNHCR (the UN’s refugee agency) and the World Food Programme where he will announce funding of £30 million over 3 years to provide cash assistance and support to the poorest refugees. This will cover their basic food and living needs – reaching an estimated 70,000 refugees per year in the camps and host communities.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

I am delighted to be back in the Middle East. The UK’s mutually beneficial relationships with the Gulf and Jordan continue to thrive. We have a bright future together.

From working together on shared goals like developing stronger trade ties and security, I am proud of how we are collaborating for the benefit of us all.

The UK also remains committed to supporting refugees and host communities, collaborating with our partners to help the most vulnerable in the region.

In Qatar today, the Foreign Secretary will meet with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

He will then travel to Kuwait to meet His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and explore opportunities to strengthen cooperation.

In Jordan on Thursday, he will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Safadi.
26/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s attacks on Odesa are abhorrent – UK Statement to the OSCE [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 July 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland says that Russia’s attacks on Odesa’s cathedral, city centre, and grain facilities are inexcusable and must cease.

Thank you, Mr Chair. At last week’s Permanent Council, I spoke of the depressing predictability of attacks on Ukraine’s grain infrastructure almost the moment Russia had withdrawn from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI). Since then, the Russian Federation has added an appalling list of civilian, cultural and religious sites to the list targeted by days of sustained missile attacks in Odesa. On Sunday, Russia struck Odesa’s Transfiguration Cathedral, as well as the surrounding UNESCO-listed town centre. This is in violation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The cathedral offered its congregation a place to worship, pray, and come together. By attacking it, Russia has attacked the heart of a civilian community. This is an act of cultural and religious vandalism.

Russia’s attacks on Odesa are part of its systematic efforts to deliberately prevent Ukrainian grain exports and threaten the world’s food supply. The people of Odesa are killed, wounded, and traumatised by Russian aggression. Grain and shipping facilities are destroyed. Exports cannot leave port. The world’s most vulnerable are directly harmed by Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. By unilaterally forcing the collapse of the BSGI and then attacking grain infrastructure, Russia has used food as a weapon. It is knowingly preventing grain reaching those in Africa and Asia who need it most.

There are reports that Russia is now offering to supply grain to vulnerable countries in Africa. We should be under no illusion that this is somehow a generous or humanitarian gesture by Russia. If that were the case, Russia would not be ruining Ukraine’s ability to export grain. Grain which accounts for much of the World Food Programme’s global wheat supply, and which is sent to countries around the world who are in great need of it, particularly in Africa. By withdrawing from the BSGI, up to 24 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs from Ukraine’s upcoming harvest may now not reach global markets. If Russia was truly serious about global food security, it would withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end its illegal war.

Mr Chair, history teaches us that these inhumane attacks on Odesa will not succeed in breaking the spirit of the Ukrainian people. In 1936, the Transfiguration Cathedral was destroyed on Stalin’s orders. But it was rebuilt by Ukraine and stood again. Despite the damage and terror caused by Russia’s latest missile strikes, the people of Odesa are already uniting in the recovery effort. A neighbouring congregation has helped to clear the wreckage inside the cathedral. Others cleared the shattered glass from the grass and flowers around the cathedral. This selfless bravery and unity have characterised how the Ukrainian people have stood firm in the face of Russia’s destruction. Ukraine will win this war, and we will stand by it for as long as it takes. Thank you.

26/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government launches review of DVLA to strengthen agency for the future [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 25 July 2023.

Independent review will ensure that DVLA can continue to provide a licensing service to motorists and the public.
- the independent review will ensure that DVLA can continue to provide a licensing service to motorists and the public
- the review is part of a wider government programme looking into the effectiveness and efficiency of public bodies
- DVLA will be assessed on efficiency, efficacy, accountability and governance – the 4 pillars set by Cabinet Office
The government has today (25 July 2023) launched an independent review of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) so that it can continue to provide excellent customer-focused digital services to keep drivers and vehicles on the road simply, safely and efficiently.

With over 50 million driver records and more than 40 million vehicle records, the DVLA maintains the correct registration and licensing of millions of drivers while protecting data and tackling vehicle tax evasion.

DVLA also collects £7 billion in vehicle excise duty (VED) annually on behalf of HM Treasury and is a net contributor to government finances, raising more than £260 million in 2022-23 for HM Treasury and the Department for Transport (DfT) through the sale and processing of personalised registrations and transfers.

The review will assess DVLA based on the 4 pillars set by the Cabinet Office of efficiency, efficacy, accountability and governance. Further detail on areas the review will cover can be found in the terms of reference.

Janette Beinart, non-executive director of the Cabinet Office and National Highways and previously Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer at Shell International, has been appointed to lead the review with support from DfT officials. The review is expected to conclude this winter.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said:

DVLA plays a crucial role in making sure drivers and vehicles can get around legally, safely and with confidence, giving drivers peace of mind by storing their records safely and tackling vehicle tax evasion.

With over 80% of all transactions now being carried out online, this review will help us understand how the DVLA can continue to grow from strength to strength and how we can support it to become more digital to efficiently serve the increasingly digitally savvy driver.

The review will also assess how DVLA works with its wide range of stakeholders within and outside of government to help keep Britain’s roads safe.

DVLA Non-Executive Chair, Lesley Cowley OBE, said:

Our customers remain at the heart of everything we do at DVLA and we welcome this review as an opportunity to highlight our commitment to delivering world-class services, our role in keeping Britain’s roads safe, and the continued hard work and dedication of our over 6,000 staff.

It comes at an important time for DVLA, as we continue to launch new digital services and set ambitious targets for the future, as a forward thinking, dynamic organisation.

We look forward to working closely with the government in support of this review over the coming weeks and months.
26/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with the President of Ukraine [July 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 July 2023.

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy today.

The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenskyy this morning.

The leaders discussed recent developments on the battlefield and the continued progress by Ukrainian forces despite the challenging conditions. The Prime Minister added that he was appalled by the devastation caused by recent Russian attacks on Odesa.

Discussing the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring grain was able to be exported from Ukraine to reach international markets. The Prime Minister said the UK was working closely with Turkey on restoring the grain deal, and we would continue to use our role as chair of the UN Security Council to further condemn Russia’s behaviour.

Russia was increasingly looking to target merchant vessels in the Black Sea area and the UK was carefully monitoring the situation alongside our partners, the Prime Minister added.

The UK continued to support Ukraine’s air defence and artillery needs with more ammunition and missiles being delivered, the Prime Minister said.

Reflecting on long-term security assurances, the leaders agreed the number of countries who had put themselves forward to sign up to the multilateral Joint Declaration was a testament to the international support for Ukraine.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

26/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Thousands to be trained to boost energy efficiency in homes across the country [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 25 July 2023.

Training providers across England can bid for a share of £8.85 million government funding to offer courses in retrofitting and installing insulation.
Up to 8,000 people will be trained to retrofit and install insulation with courses set to be free or heavily discounted

training providers across England can now bid for a share of £8.85 million government funding to offer the courses

scheme will help homes stay warmer for longer in the colder months, keeping households’ energy bills down and supporting families with the cost of living

Thousands of people will be equipped with the right skills to make homes more energy efficient, thanks to new government funding which will see training courses rolled out across the country.

From today (Tuesday 25 July) training providers, such as colleges and accreditation providers, will be able to bid for a share of £8.85 million to help up to 8,000 people – whether current installers or those new to the industry – develop the skills and expertise needed to retrofit homes with energy saving measures.

The courses will be free or provided at low cost, and will cover a range of key energy efficiency measures, from putting in loft insulation to draft proofing measures. This will not only help drive household energy bills down and reduce emissions, but represents key employment opportunities for people to stay in and progress in work.

Training providers will have until 25 August 2023 to apply for the funding to deliver the courses, with training places expected to open later this year.

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

We’re investing billions of pounds to improve energy efficiency across the country – saving households hundreds on their bills while making sure Britain’s homes are fit for the future.

We’ve already helped millions of people to do this, but we need an army of skilled professionals able to install insulation and other energy-saving measures in homes across the country.

Today’s funding will give training providers the opportunity to put on the courses needed to help create the skilled workforce ready to join this rapidly-growing market, with people able to benefit from these courses at low or no cost.

Nearly half of homes in England now have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C or above, saving them hundreds on their energy bills. However, today’s funding will help deliver on the government’s ambitions to go further and faster, creating a new wave of skilled tradespeople while boosting opportunity in local communities and growing the economy.

Through the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition, accredited energy efficiency training will either be free or heavily subsidised saving trainees hundreds of pounds as they develop their skills and gain qualifications.

Successful organisations will provide training and support to installers to help build the capacity of the supply chain and upskill individuals which will support organisations to gain PAS 2030 certification, the industry specification which all energy efficiency installers must be certified to and compliant with to participate in government funded schemes. This will include installer training that leads to a recognised qualification NVQ or equivalent, and short courses.

Training, which will be delivered until 31 March 2024, will be focused on 2 packages:

retrofit assessor and retrofit coordinator: provision and delivery of training to PAS 2035 standards

insulation: provision and delivery of training to National Occupation Standards or higher in the installation of domestic insulation measures

Derek Horrocks, chairman of the National Insulation Association (NIA) and the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) said:

I am delighted to see the government is committing further funding towards retrofit skills and training through the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition.

Achievement of energy efficiency targets is vital to ensure that millions of people across the country can enjoy a warmer, healthier home. A fundamental requirement for achieving this ambition is building a workforce of sufficient size and skill to deliver.

Our members look forward to collaborating with all those working to develop green skills and make this competition a success.

David Pierpoint, CEO of The Retrofit Academy, a leading training provider in retrofit courses, said:

The Home Decarbonisation Skills Competition is an essential vehicle for increasing capacity while maintaining high standards and we welcome the government’s £8.85 million funding allocation.

It is essential we use this funding to unlock more talent, upskill workforces and drive the infrastructure required to decarbonise the UK housing stock and we intend to continue our partnerships with the government and industry to build on the 5,000 learners we have already enrolled onto our range of retrofit training courses.

The scheme builds on the £15 million provided since 2020 on skills training, which has delivered at least 16,000 opportunities in the energy efficiency, retrofit and low carbon heating sector.

The competition will run alongside the £5 million Heat Training Grant, which officially opened last month and aims to train more than 10,000 low-carbon heating installers to work on heat pumps and heat networks by April 2025.

These grants of £500 towards an individual’s training, which usually costs around £600 to complete – meaning the vast majority will be covered by the government.

Energy efficiency remains the best approach to reducing fuel poverty in the long-term, contributing to warmer homes and reduced energy bills as well reducing carbon emissions.

The government is helping to make homes across the country more energy efficient through the Home Upgrade Grant, and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and will extend support further through ECO4 and The Great British Insulation Scheme.

These schemes are part of the £6.6 billion government is investing over this Parliament on clean heat and improving energy efficiency in buildings, reducing our reliance on fossil fuel heating. In addition, £6 billion of new government funding will be made available from 2025 to 2028.

Find out more about the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training competition.
26/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : FCDO Statement – Israel Judicial Reforms [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 July 2023.

FCDO statement on Israel Judicial Reforms.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

As the Prime Minister discussed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this year, the UK’s strong relationship with Israel has always been underpinned by our shared democratic values.

While Israel’s exact constitutional arrangements are a matter for Israelis, we urge the Israeli government to build consensus and avoid division, ensuring that a robust system of checks and balances and the independence of Israel’s judiciary are preserved.

26/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : New justice reforms to free up vital court capacity [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 25 July 2023.

Tens of thousands of people will be able to access free mediation to resolve disputes away from court following major reforms to the civil justice system announced today (Tuesday 25 July).
- free mediation to be part of the litigation journey for thousands of civil claims
- proposals expected to spare thousands of families from court and free up nearly 5,000 sitting days per year
- court capacity boosted to help reduce waiting times for the most complex cases
Following a consultation launched last year, the government has committed to fully integrate mediation as a key step in the court process for small civil claims valued up to £10,000, starting with specified money claims which make up 80% of small claims. This could include claims such as a homeowner suing their builder for failure to deliver a service as promised or businesses recovering debts from a customer.

Over 180,000 parties will be referred automatically to a free hour-long telephone session with a professional mediator provided by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) before their case can be progressed to a hearing.

It is estimated that greater use of mediation could positively impact up to 92,000 cases per year. This could free up to 5,000 sitting days a year, providing a substantial boost to court capacity and helping the government to reduce waiting time for the most complex cases.

Changes will also provide parties with the opportunity to resolve disputes out of court, reducing costs and removing some of the unnecessary stress court cases can bring.

Today’s news is the first step in the government’s journey towards simplifying processes for civil cases, a commitment that will see a reduction in lengthy, stressful, and often unnecessary, county court cases.

Justice Minister Lord Bellamy KC said:

A vast number of cases that go through the civil courts each year could be settled far more swiftly and with less stress through mediation.

By integrating mediation for small civil claims we will create valuable court capacity, freeing up time for judges and reducing pressures on the courts.

To support these changes coming into effect, HMCTS will be expanding the Small Claims Mediation Service (SCMS) by recruiting and training additional mediators and updating necessary technology. The SCMS has been providing voluntary mediation since 2007, settling over half of claims referred to it each year within weeks of starting the case.

By integrating mediation for civil claims up to £10,000, the government is going further than the Civil Justice Council’s recommendation for claims up to £500, supporting even more people to reach a resolution away from court.

James South, Chief Executive of CEDR, said:

The success and satisfaction rates of the current small claims mediation service has shown how mediation can bring those benefits to parties involved in small claims.

It is for this reason, CEDR has always been very supportive of automatic referral of civil disputes valued up to £10,000 to mediation, as this will provide more disputants with access to the benefits that we know mediation can bring them.

Today’s reforms are part of wider government action to make broader changes in the culture around dispute resolution in England and Wales.

In March of this year, the government announced plans to mandate mediation for separating families to protect children from witnessing disputes in the family courts, with an ambition to help 2,000 separating families. The scheme has now distributed almost 20,000 mediation vouchers – ten times the original goal. Analysis of the first 7,200 scheme users shows 69% reach a full or partial agreement without needing to go on to court.

Mia Forbes Pirie, a Director of the Civil Mediation Council (CMC), said:

Mediation is key to resolving disputes of all sizes efficiently and cost-effectively. Mediation can be adapted to suit most types of claim and has high success rates both for small and large matters. It saves the parties and the courts time and money and we are delighted that the Ministry of Justice has decided automatically to refer claims of up to £10,000 to mediation.

Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said:

An accessible, fair and affordable dispute resolution system is vital to small firms. Introducing an automatic referral to free mediation for civil disputes up to £10,000 is a welcome step and will help speed up access to justice, and avoid expensive litigation for small civil claims. We would also like to see the small claims limit raised, so more parties can benefit from cheaper dispute resolution.
26/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : New rules crack down on illegal ads and protect children online [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 25 July 2023.

New rules to crack down on illegal ads, influencer scams and protect children online.
Crack down on fake celebrity endorsements and illegal weapons adverts as new Government rules safeguard consumers and protect children

Ministers will convene a new taskforce to drive industry-led action

Proposed rules will strike a balance between internet safety and supporting innovation

Social media platforms, websites and services like advertising display networks will have to take tougher action to stop children seeing age-restricted adverts for products like alcohol or gambling.

Fake celebrity scams and pop-up malware from hackers will also be clamped down on as part of new rules to make advertising regulation fit for the digital age.

The plans are published today by the government in response to its Online Advertising Programme.

Online advertising includes the banners or displays which appear around the content of a website, results prioritised at the top of search engines, and pop-ups on a user’s screen. It helps businesses grow by reaching targeted audiences and can be cheaper and quicker than traditional advertising formats. Last year it accounted for three quarters (£26.1 billion) of the £34.8 billion spent on advertising in the UK.

Its rapid development, combined with changes in technology and complex supply chains between marketers and platforms, make it difficult to stop illegal ads appearing.

People frequently encounter fraudulent celebrity endorsements for financial scams, legitimate-looking pop-ups containing hidden malware, and promotions for products prohibited under UK law – such as weapons, drugs, counterfeit fashion and fake ticketing.

Children can be exposed to ads for age-restricted products such as alcohol, gambling and adult-rated films and games.

Creative Industries Minister Sir John Whittingdale said:

Advertising is a huge industry in which Britain is a world leader. However, as online advertising has taken a steadily bigger share, the rules governing it have not kept pace and so we intend to strengthen them to ensure consumers are properly protected.

Our plans will shut down the scammers using online adverts to con people out of their cash and will stop damaging and inappropriate products being targeted at children.

We will make sure that our proposed regulation helps keep people safe while supporting and enhancing the legitimate advertising industry so it can maximise its innovation and potential.

There is currently a self-regulatory system for the content and placement of online adverts in the UK, overseen by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA has a strong record of delivering consistent, effective results and holding legitimate advertisers accountable. However regulators are not empowered to act to address illegal harms in the same way as harmful advertising by legitimate businesses.

The government intends to introduce new rules to tackle illegal paid-for online adverts and increase protections for children. A range of targeted legislative and non-legislative measures will address the most serious risks linked to online advertising. This approach complements the Online Safety Bill, which is targeted at user generated content, and will build on measures tackling fraudulent advertising in that legislation.

The new statutory regulation will put more responsibilities on major players across the online advertising supply chain. As well as online publishers, apps and websites serving ads, ‘adtech’ intermediary services which facilitate the placement and distribution of online adverts will be in scope. Promotional posts by social media influencers where they receive payment or free products will also be covered.

Social media firms, search engines and other websites will be required by law to have proportionate systems and processes to stop people being served illegal adverts, and prevent under-18s seeing adverts for products and services illegal to be sold to them. This will improve safety, transparency and consumer trust by introducing more effective action while supporting industry growth.

In due course, the government will launch a further consultation on the details of potential legislation – including its preferred choice for a regulator to oversee the new illegal paid-for advertising rules. New legislation would not affect the ASA’s remit for the content and placement of legitimate paid-for advertising online.

Ministers will this week convene a new taskforce to gather more evidence around illegal advertising and build on industry initiatives to tackle harms and increase protections for children before the legislation is introduced.

The taskforce will be chaired by Creative Industries Minister John Whittingdale and Mark Lund, the chair of the Advertising Standards Board of Finance and former president of McCann UK and Europe. The group will include representatives from across the advertising industry, including the ASA, as well as tech trade bodies, consumer groups and the government’s Anti-Fraud Champion, Anthony Browne.

Mark Lund, chair of The Advertising Standards Board of Finance and deputy chair of the Online Advertising Taskforce, said:

UK advertising is a dynamic engine for the UK economy because it’s creative and trusted.

So, I’m delighted to be helping lead in the task force’s role in strengthening industry’s response to illegal harms advertising and the protection of children online, building on the long-term success of the ASA and the self-regulation system in keeping both trust and creativity at world leading levels.

Anti-Fraud Champion Anthony Browne said:

We remain absolutely committed to fighting fraud and this is another example of the government delivering on a pledge from its pioneering Fraud Strategy.

Eighty percent of fraud is cyber enabled and it often starts with fraudulent posts and adverts on social media. I am therefore pleased to see new measures being introduced to tackle these.

The government will continue to work with industry, and law enforcement, to prevent fraud from happening and ensure better support is given to the public.

Notes to editors

The Online Advertising Programme is a review of the current regulatory framework of paid-for online advertising to tackle the lack of transparency and accountability in the supply chain.

In 2020, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ran a call for evidence focusing on existing standards for the content and placement of online adverts. A public consultation on the Online Advertising Programme launched in March 2022. The government’s response to the Online Advertising Programme consultation is here.

Further consultation will provide the opportunity for the advertising industry to give feedback on the proposals and ensure they are effective against illegal ads without impacting innovation in the sector. The government will then bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

The Government has introduced tough measures to prevent fraudulent ads being published on social media and search engines through the Online Safety Bill. The Online Advertising Programme goes further by attempting to address the wide range of harms caused by paid-for internet adverts in the whole supply chain.
26/07/2023