Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 17 March 2023.

• Mayor awards an additional £2 million to end rough sleeping for up to 500 people in London
• Extra support to help people sleeping on London’s transport network
• Latest CHAIN figures reveal that the number of people sleeping rough in the capital has increased by 21 per cent in the same period last year
• Announcement comes as Mayor visits pan-London Youth Hub in Islington

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has committed to helping a further 500 people off the streets by pledging an extra £2m to support charities and support services for rough sleeping Londoners.

Sadiq has made tackling rough sleeping a personal priority for his Mayoralty and since 2016, more than 13,500 people have been helped off the streets by City Hall commissioned services.

However, the latest figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) show that rough sleeping in London has increased by a staggering 21 per cent year on year [1]. Charities and campaigners have attributed much of this rise to the current cost of living crisis, London’s housing crisis and a lack of Government support. Therefore, the Mayor is once again stepping up to increase the level of support available to those sleeping rough.

Charity partners, including St Mungo’s and Thames Reach will receive funding to deliver a range of support including:

• Ending rough sleeping for up to 500 people through the provision of urgent accommodation and dedicated support to find long-term routes out of homelessness.
• Expanding the Mayor’s efforts to support those sleeping rough on London’s transport network, with increased outreach on London’s night buses and the night tube.
• Extra funding for the StreetLink and Clearing House services to support their vital work identifying people sleeping rough and bringing them in to support services.

The announcement comes as the Mayor visits the pan-London Youth Homelessness Accommodation Hub in Islington, after securing up to three years of further funding for the service from the Department for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities (DLUHC).

The Hub accommodates up to 26 young people aged 18-24 in short-stay accommodation, during which time they will receive personalised, holistic support from charity partners Depaul and New Horizon Youth Centre to prepare them for independent living and to re-establish their lives away from homelessness.

The Mayor is doing all that he can to protect Londoners from the threat of homelessness, including spending more than £80m this year to help those struggling with the cost of living and using money raised through his 2022 Winter rough sleeping campaign to fund London youth rough sleeping services.

However, without urgent action from Government to address the root causes of homelessness, the huge progress City Hall has so far made helping people off the streets could be reversed.

The Mayor continues to call on Ministers to get a grip on the spiralling cost of living, restore the social security safety net which stops people becoming trapped in a cycle of homelessness, end no fault evictions for private renters and invest in new council and genuinely affordable homes to help prevent more Londoners from becoming homeless in the first place.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Whilst I’m extremely proud of the huge progress City Hall has made so far helping people sleeping rough off our streets, there is still a long way to go to end homelessness in the capital for good.

“This is a cause I strongly believe in, which is why I’m awarding a further £2m to continue the important and transformative work that St Mungo’s and Thames Reach provide on a daily basis.

“It’s imperative the Government does more to end the root causes of homelessness and I will continue to call for greater accountability from our leaders on this issue as I work to build a better, safer, more prosperous London for everyone.”

Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, says: “This funding will help us to continue our vital work, ensuring that people sleeping rough spend as little time as possible on the streets. We will be able to continue providing emergency accommodation as well as support, so that people in London don’t return to the streets. This funding from the London Mayor means that we can help more people on that journey into a place they can call home.”

Bill Tidnam, Chief Executive of Thames Reach, said: “This increase in funding for homelessness services is welcomed, as it will enable our services to continue our work to support people away from rough sleeping in London. At a time of significant financial pressure, the need for our services is greater than ever and this funding will enable us to ensure that people are located and supported into realistic and suitable routes out of street homelessness.”

Dan Dumoulin, Director of Rough Sleeping at Depaul UK, said: “I am delighted to hear that this additional funding will be directed to services supporting rough sleepers in the capital. We have seen a 12% increase in people using our specialist service for young rough sleepers in London over the past two years. This funding will help us move a step closer to ending youth homelessness.”

Phil Kerry, Chief Executive of New Horizon Youth Centre, said: “As we see by the huge number of young people coming through our doors every day, the cost-of-living crisis continues to push more Londoners into homelessness and onto the streets. We are pleased to see this additional funding from the Mayor and we’re joining his calls to general government to invest in proven solutions. The Youth Hub is a great example that can be rolled out further to make sure no young person faces a night on the streets.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 10 March 2023.

• Deputy Mayor for Business Rajesh Agrawal joined by 10 London businesses on four day mission
• London attracts more investment projects from India over last decade than any other European or American city

London’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Rajesh Agrawal will visit New Delhi and Bengaluru next week (March 13^th – 16^th) as he leads a trade mission to promote stronger trade and investment links with India.

Rajesh will be joined by 10 London tech companies including Electric Miles, Guider, OneID and Softools (full list below). The trade mission will provide opportunities for these companies to create business partnerships and explore investment and growth opportunities in India. Delegates will meet with representatives from Indian tech companies including Wipro and HCLTech, as well as Indian industrial giant Tata. The Deputy Mayor will also meet Indian venture capitalists and investors with an interest in expanding to London. This is the first in-person trade mission run by the Mayor’s International Business Programme to India since 2019.

Indian companies continue to choose London as a top destination to expand their operations outside of India, with new data showing that London is the number one European city for Indian foreign direct investment. According to figures published by London’s business growth agency, London & Partners¹, the UK capital also ranked as the number two city globally for Indian companies looking to grow their footprint internationally.

The research revealed that in the past 10 years London has attracted 174 investment projects from India – significantly more than any other European city and the likes of Singapore (150) and New York (53). ²

Over the past 10 years, investment from Indian companies has provided a major boost to London’s economy, with the data showing that Indian foreign direct investment has led to the creation of 7,853 additional jobs in the UK capital.

A number of well-known Indian companies have expanded their operation in London in recent years, including Indian IT giants Wipro and Infosys, as well as Indian unicorns upGrad, Ola and Oyo. Between 2012-2022, Mumbai and Bengaluru were the top cities for business investment from India into London.

Rajesh Agrawal, London’s Deputy Mayor for Business said: “London and India have longstanding cultural and economic links and these latest figures offer further proof that business ties between our two regions continue to grow from strength-to-strength.

“Indian cities rightly look to London as the perfect launchpad to grow their business internationally. London and cities such as Mumbai and Bengaluru share mutual strengths in sectors such as finance, life sciences and technology – creating huge opportunities for business partnerships.

“As one of the world’s fastest growing economies, India is also a major market for ambitious London companies. I am delighted to be joined on my visit to India by some of London’s fastest growing businesses.

“Our trade mission will continue our work in helping London companies to maximise business and investment opportunities in India.”

Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners added: “India is an important trade and investment market for London. It’s no surprise to see that London is one of the top global cities for Indian companies looking to expand outside of their home market.

“We continue to receive lots of enquiries from Indian companies looking to setup and expand in London. As India’s digital economy continues to grow, there is particularly strong interest in London from high growth Indian companies in sectors such as fintech, ecommerce and climate tech.

“This trade mission will further strengthen economic ties between London, New Delhi and Bengaluru. We look forward to continuing our support to help companies do business across both regions.”

Vipul Lakhani, Director of Softools, a London company joining the trade mission added: “I am excited that Softools has been chosen to be one of the participants of the Mayor’s International Business Programme trade mission to India.

“We see India as a thriving and exciting market with rich talent, amazing innovation and enormous potential. With the help and support of London & Partners we look forward to forging partnerships to help Indian companies benefit from the speed and simplicity of our zero code application platform.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 10 March 2023.

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 9 March 2023.

• Just under half of Londoners are now ‘financially struggling’ or ‘just about managing’
• 43 per cent are using less water, energy or fuel to help manage living costs 

• Mayor highlights package of measures Londoners need from Chancellor next week

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is today demanding more help for those most in need in next week’s Spring Budget, as polling reveals that more than 40 per cent of Londoners are using less water, energy or fuel as a result of the cost of living crisis.

Sadiq argues that this is further evidence that next Wednesday’s Budget must be used by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, to tackle the cost of living crisis and address the issues holding Londoners back from reaching their full potential.

The Mayor has today published a new YouGov poll commissioned by City Hall that reveals that 47 per cent of Londoners are now either ‘financially struggling’ or ‘just about managing’.*

A huge 43 per cent are using less water, energy or fuel to help manage living costs. Half of those polled are currently spending less on non-essential items (50%).

Sadiq is doing all he can to support Londoners through the worst cost of living crisis in decades. Just last month he announced an historic £130m emergency scheme to provide every primary schoolchild in London with free school meals in the next academic year and will continue to call on the Government to provide this support permanently.

Sadiq has also highlighted findings that show that the total number of children living in poverty in just four of London’s boroughs: Newham, Tower Hamlets, Croydon and Brent (126,256) is similar to the total number in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds combined (129,090).**

Now the Mayor is calling for the Chancellor to include the following measures in his Spring Budget:

• A delay to the planned April increase in the Energy Price Guarantee and an ‘energy lifeline tariff’ to provide the most vulnerable households including disabled Londoners with a basic amount of energy before charges begin.
• Following London’s lead and extending free school meals to all primary school children in the UK.
• A substantial increase in central government support for affordable housing supply in London, and granting the Mayor power to freeze rents in the capital , like has happened in Scotland
• An increase in the local housing allowance to support Londoners on housing benefit.
• Significant support for reducing the cost of childcare.
• Funding for scrappage schemes – While the Mayor is providing funding to help Londoners retrofit or replace highly polluting vehicles that are not compliant with the Ultra Low Emission Zone, ahead of the zone’s expansion in August, the scheme is not available for those outside London. The Government supported similar scrappage schemes in Bristol, Birmingham and Bradford, but has not extended the same support to Londoners or those in the Home Counties.

Sadiq has also repeated his call for the Government to reinstate tax-free shopping for overseas visitors to support the return of international tourists back to London as well as boost the retail and hospitality sectors, which have both been hard hit by both the pandemic and the rising cost of living. This would also raise an additional £350m for the Treasury each year.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The cost of living crisis continues to bite and millions of Londoners are crying out for more support from the Government in the Spring Budget.

“The fact remains that the capital is home to some of the most deprived communities in the country, and it is deeply worrying that 47 per cent of Londoners are now either financially struggling or just about managing to make ends meet.

“The Chancellor needs to recognise the dreadful impact of the cost of living crisis next week, particularly those most in need.

“London is the engine of the UK economy, and when the capital succeeds, so does the rest of the country. So if the Government can deliver a package of support that properly helps Londoners with the cost of living crisis it would benefit the whole country.

“I am doing everything I can to help Londoners during these difficult times – but we need Government to step up to the mark too.”

As well as investing £3.46bn into building the genuinely affordable homes Londoners need, the Mayor is currently spending more than £80m to help those struggling with the rising cost of living, including more than £50m to tackle fuel poverty through the Mayor’s Warmer Homes programme and energy advice services, more than £20m to improve security for private renters and house Londoners who are rough sleeping or homeless, more than £5m to connect Londoners with welfare advice, and £400,000 to tackle food insecurity. He is spending £400m on skills and employment programmes to support Londoners to find more secure work.

The Mayor also wants the Chancellor to boost the capital’s infrastructure by ensuring widespread gigabit data capacity and further transport investment to enable new homes to support the growing economy, both in the capital and the wider South-East.

He also urges the Chancellor to support development work by Transport for London and partners on the DLR extension to Thamesmead and West London Orbital railway, and to re-start it’s joint work on the Bakerloo line extension and Crossrail 2. These were stopped at the onset of the pandemic, and the Mayor believes it would be a vote of confidence in London and Britain to re-start these critical projects that enable hundreds of thousands of new homes and substantial economic opportunity.

Given reports of delays and budget cuts to HS2, the Mayor also calls on Ministers to reassure Londoners that they will see the full benefits of this once-in-a-generation opportunity. Hundreds of millions of pounds has been spent regenerating the Euston area and many affordable family homes have been demolished to make way for HS2, and this work must not be vain.

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 7 March 2023.

• The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is activated when temperatures fall below 0°C and ensures councils open additional emergency accommodation for people sleeping rough
• It comes as the UK Health Security Agency yesterday issued a level three cold alert, which will remain in place until Thursday night
• SWEP was activated for the first time this winter in December and remained in place for 12 days, the longest continuous period since 2017

• Mayor’s rough sleeping services are helping more people than ever before, with more than 13,500 rough sleepers supported off the streets since 2016.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today activated the pan-London Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to protect homeless people as temperatures are forecast to fall below 0°C tonight.

It comes as the UK Health Security Agency yesterday issued a level three cold alert which will remain in place until Thursday night, with freezing weather set to continue throughout the week.

The activation of SWEP ensures that councils across London, alongside homelessness charities, open additional emergency accommodation for people who are sleeping rough during weather conditions that could pose a threat to life. All boroughs in London have committed to the Mayor’s ‘In for Good’ principle, which means no one will be asked to leave accommodation until a support plan is in place to end their rough sleeping, regardless of an increase in temperature.

The Mayor activated SWEP for the first time this winter on December 7, when overnight temperatures in the capital dipped below freezing. As London was blasted by snow and endured icy conditions, SWEP was in action for 12 days – the longest continuous period since 2017.

During this 12-day period, councils and charities helped more than 600 Londoners off the streets and into emergency accommodation. This is almost five times the number of people accommodated during any of the periods of SWEP last year. It’s also more than three quarters of the total accommodated across all the SWEP periods in the whole of last winter.

In total, SWEP was active for 26 days this winter.

Sadiq is warning that rising bills and housing costs are forcing growing numbers of people to sleep rough on London’s streets. Recently released Government figures showed rough sleeping has increased in every region of England year-on-year, with the biggest rise in London (34 per cent). There were 858 people in 2022 estimated to be sleeping rough in the capital on a single night compared with 640 people in 2021, an increase of 218 people. The Mayor’s rough sleeping services are helping more people than ever before, with more than 13,500 rough sleepers supported off the streets since 2016.

In response to the housing crisis and the soaring cost of living the Mayor has repeatedly called on Ministers to immediately freeze private sector rents and reinstate the social security net which prevents people becoming homeless. This would include lifting the benefit cap and unfreezing Local Housing Allowance. He’s also calling on Government to deliver the promised reforms to the Private Rented Sector, including ending Section 21 evictions and to suspend the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition, which puts many people with NRPF status at serious risk of destitution and homelessness.

In December, the Mayor launched his annual winter rough sleeping fundraising campaign, working with charity partner TAP London to raise money for four charities that work with young homeless Londoners: akt, Centrepoint, Depaul UK, and New Horizon Youth Centre. The donations help to support the Youth Homelessness Hub, which recently reopened at a new location in north London.

Londoners can donate to the campaign in a number of ways, including at one of the TAP points or using this link. There are 35 TAP points across London, including at Waterloo, Victoria, London Bridge and Liverpool Street stations. Londoners can also use the StreetLink app or website to connect people they see sleeping rough with local support services.

Sadiq’s winter rough sleeping campaign has raised more than £600,000 since 2017.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:  “With freezing conditions expected in London through this week, I’ve activated my severe weather emergency protocol which will ensure anyone seen sleeping rough across the capital is offered a place in emergency accommodation. I am also encouraging Londoners to download the Streetlink app or use the Streetlink website to connect people they see sleeping rough with local support services.

“Since 2016, we’ve quadrupled funding and support to tackle homelessness, helping over 13,500 rough sleepers off the streets, but there’s much more to do. Too many people are facing freezing temperatures on the streets of the capital without the safe, secure accommodation they need.

“London’s councils and charities will be working even harder this week to support some of the most vulnerable people in our city. On behalf of all Londoners I thank them for their tireless efforts.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 3 March 2023.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:  “My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Sarah Everard today and all those impacted by her death. Sarah was a brilliant and talented woman who had her whole life ahead of her and was loved deeply by her family and friends.

“Sarah’s murder at the hands of a serving police officer shocked the nation and brought into sharp focus a culture in the police which had fallen far below the high standards expected by decent police officers and the public.

“I’m determined to ensure that something like this is never allowed to happen again and am supporting the new Commissioner in his commitment to identify and rid the Met of those individuals within the force who are not fit to serve the people of our city. I am also holding the Commissioner to account to bring about the urgent step-change in culture, systems, standards and performance that’s so desperately needed to rebuild public confidence and trust in the police and help to build a safer London for everyone.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 3 March 2023.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has frozen funding to three social housing providers in London in a crackdown on poor performing landlords in the capital.

Following a review by the Mayor’s Housing and Land team, ChristianActionEnfield, Industrial Dwellings Society and Swan will receive no funding for additional Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) projects and City Hall has restricted their formal ‘Investment Partner’ (IP) status until further notice.

The Mayor has led the way on taking tough action to raise standards in social housing to ensure that all Londoners have good quality homes and an acceptable level of service provided by their landlord.

In September, Sadiq’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, wrote to investment partners to set out the actions City Hall will take if the Regulator of Social Housing issues either a non-compliant grade or a Regulatory Notice against a housing provider. Both notices indicate that a provider has breached a consumer or economic regulatory standard.

This action was subsequently echoed nationally, with the Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove, introducing similar measures in the rest of the country following the tragic death of toddler, Awaab Ishak. Awaab died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould at his home in Rochdale.

If providers are not compliant with regulatory standards (including non-compliant grades for governance and viability) or have an active Regulatory Notice, the new City Hall rules mean that the Mayor can withdraw or restrict Investment Partner status. This will then restrict the amount of capital that the provider can access.

ChristianActionEnfield was downgraded for weaknesses in financial governance, including inadequate financial monitoring and board reporting and a lack of effective board oversight and scrutiny. Industrial Dwellings Society self-referred to the Regulator and were downgraded because of mould and damp issues at Evelyn House. Swan breached the Home Standard which sets expectations for registered providers of social housing to provide tenants with quality accommodation and a cost-effective repairs and maintenance service.

Although most of the Mayor’s devolved housing funding is used for new-build homes, he is determined to use his powers to drive up standards in existing housing stock – whether or not it was funded by City Hall – and to champion tenants’ concerns over poor standards and services.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am doing everything in my power to drive up the quality of housing in the London, which is why I’ve put in place these funding restrictions for three social housing providers who have failed to meet both the standards that City Hall expects and that Londoners deserve.

“London is building some of the most impressive new affordable homes in the country, but it is vital that existing residents experience high standards too.

“The tragic death of the toddler, Awaab Ishak, shined a light on the appalling conditions many people are living in and I simply will not tolerate any more needless deaths because of poor housing. That’s why I will not only continue to take action in London, but put pressure on the Government to also take responsibility for pushing for higher standards and to provide additional funding.

“We owe it to all Londoners to provide better, safer and fairer housing in the capital.”

Darren Hartley, Chief Executive of TAROE Trust, said: “The freezing of grant for Investment Partners sends a clear message to landlords that the Mayor is taking seriously the needs to drive up minimum housing standards for tenants across the sector. Poor housing conditions can no longer be tolerated. It seems wrong to be funding landlords to develop new properties when they need to get their existing homes in order. We are also reassured that funding will be diverted to ensure there is no reduction in supply, so the position should be positive all round for tenants.

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 24 February 2023.

Mayor announces funding for up to 600 new homes for Ukrainian and Afghan refugees on anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine 

• City Hall, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye and other London landmarks will be lit up to join international moment of solidarity with Ukraine
• Mayor to attend commemorative service at the Ukrainian Catholic Church, alongside Ukrainian ambassador, faith leaders and Ukrainian refugees
• New £126m funding from Government will help to deliver homes for refugees who have fled conflict
• Refugee Housing Programme (RHP) programme will run until March 2024
• These homes will become social or affordable housing available for Londoners on the housing waiting list in the longer term

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced funding for up to 600 new homes in London for Ukrainians and Afghans who have fled conflict and are homeless, at risk of homelessness or living in unsuitable temporary accommodation.

The announcement comes as the capital is set to join others around the world in marking the first anniversary of the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Tonight, City Hall, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye and other London landmarks will be lit up to join an international moment of solidarity with Ukrainians in London and abroad.

The National Theatre, Oxo Tower and Southbank Centre will also be lit up in Ukrainian colours, and the capital’s world-famous screens at both Piccadilly Circus and Outernet will send a message of solidarity to all those impacted by the invasion of Ukraine.

They will join other cities around the world lighting up landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Torre Monumental in Buenos Aires and others across Warsaw, Madrid, Brussels, Prague, Budapest and more.

This morning Sadiq will also attend a commemorative service at the Ukrainian Catholic Church, which will be attended by the Ukrainian Ambassador, faith leaders and Ukrainian refugees.

London has a proud history of providing sanctuary to those fleeing conflict, with 16,000 Ukrainian refugees currently living in London under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and hundreds of Afghans accommodated in Home Office bridging accommodation sites in the capital.

However, many of the bridging accommodation sites are due to close in the coming months and the initial six-month accommodation commitment by hosts through the Homes for Ukraine scheme will, in the vast majority of cases, be ending soon or have already ended. This will put further pressure on already stretched council accommodation programmes.

To ease this pressure, the Mayor has been allocated £126m from the Government’s £500m Local Authority Housing Fund to enable boroughs and housing associations to deliver 600 affordable homes for Ukrainians and Afghans fleeing conflict. In London the programme will be known as the Refugee Housing Programme (RHP), and will run until 31 March 2024.

Housing associations and local authorities who have an ambition to develop RHP homes will be able to bid for funding from early spring. The programme will fund new home acquisitions, including refurbishing existing or newly acquired homes, purchasing new-build properties or developing new homes. Individual funding allocations will be approved and administered by City Hall.

The programme will also make funding available for local authorities and housing associations to provide better quality and more sustainable accommodation for households currently in Home Office bridging accommodation. This will often be for larger homes, given the average family size of those in bridging accommodation.

In the longer term, the homes delivered through the RHP will be returned to councils and housing associations to become social or affordable rented homes available for Londoners on the housing waiting list or who require temporary accommodation.

Rents charged to refugees will be affordable. All Ukrainian and Afghan scheme arrivals have the right to work, receive benefits and access public services.

Since becoming Mayor, Sadiq has shown his strong support for migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum. He has helped councils house refugees through his existing Right to Buy-back fund. In March last year he announced more than £1.1m in funding to expand access to immigration advice, develop the Migrant Londoners Hub, and improve support for the capital’s migrant workers. He has also invested in a series of measures to support refugees from Ukraine, evacuees from Afghanistan, and new arrivals under the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “On this tragic milestone – the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – our city stands in solidarity with millions around the world in support of the innocent people of Ukraine. Our landmarks have been lit in Ukrainian colours and our world-famous billboards are posting messages in honour and solidarity with all those impacted by the ongoing war, which tragically continues to cause so much suffering.

“I’m committed to supporting refugees who have come here to rebuild their lives and do everything I can to help them thrive in their local community. That’s why I’ve announced a new programme which will see City Hall deliver up to 600 affordable homes for Ukrainians and Afghans fleeing conflict, giving those who have been through such harrowing upheaval the stability they deserve.

“I’m doing all I can to build a better and fairer London for everyone by helping councils house refugees through my existing Right to Buy-back fund, and I’m helping migrants and refugees navigate the complex immigration system by funding advice services to provide new arrivals with key information about their rights. However, there are still too many refugees living in unsuitable accommodation. We need the Government to urgently step up and provide the right funding to local authorities, the voluntary sector and immigration advice services so that every refugee in need has the home and support they need.”

Cllr Georgia Gould, Chair of London Councils, said: “Boroughs are proud to play a pivotal role in welcoming Ukrainian and Afghan refugees to the capital and ensuring they receive the support they need from local services.

“However, London’s severe shortage of affordable housing makes it extremely hard to find suitable accommodation for everyone who requires it. This funding will boost the vital work taking place across the capital to secure much-needed housing. We’ll continue to work with our partners, including in government, to make sure enough resources are available for tackling this on-going challenge.”

Tamsin Baxter, Executive Director of External Affairs at the Refugee Council: “Our country has a long and proud history of providing protection to people fleeing war, persecution and violence. When the war in Ukraine began a year ago, thousands of British people opened their homes, giving Ukrainians a warm welcome in their hour of need. This is who we are – we provide protection and a place to call home to those who have lost everything.

“At a time when we’re seeing the number of refugees facing homelessness in the UK rising, the Refugee Housing Programme provides a very welcome solution for sustainable housing for people who have lost everything.  A place to call home, in a welcoming community, are key elements of helping refugees rebuild their lives in safety here in the capital.”

 Sra Doggett, Head of Corporate Affairs at Landsec said: “Piccadilly Lights is a key piece of the London landscape, and as such, plays an important role sitting at the heart of London’s multicultural community. It was therefore an easy decision for us to support this message of solidarity and hope for the people of Ukraine, particularly those who have made their homes in the capital. We’re grateful to have been given the opportunity to be involved in this important moment.”

Imran Tauqir, General Manager of the lastminute.com London Eye, said: “We are proud to join with landmarks around the world in this international moment of solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

By lighting the London Eye in the colours of the Ukrainian flag we send out a clear and strong message of our continued support for the people of Ukraine and all those impacted by the invasion.

The London Eye will also join in the national moment of silence to allow our teams and guests to pay tribute to the courage of the Ukrainians.

Our thoughts remain with the Ukrainian people as we continue to stand with them.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 23 February 2023.

• Mayor’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm awards £500,000 to support  community-led projects across 17 boroughs
• A new memorial for victims of the New Cross Fire in 1981, a mural in Lambeth celebrating female activists and mural painters and a trail describing the history of Jewish and interfaith communities in Willesden and Brondesbury Park
• This funding is the second round of the Mayor’s £1m Untold Stories programme, delivering on his commitment to make public spaces more reflective of the capital’s diversity

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today awarded nearly £500,000 to support 28 projects across the capital to improve diversity in our public spaces.

New statues, artworks and walking tours across 17 boroughs will receive funding as part of a £1m programme from the Mayor’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.

The grants offer communities the opportunity to develop ideas and share their stories in the public realm. Organisations applied for grants of up to £5,000 to develop a concept or idea, or up to £25,000 if the project is further developed.

The Commission was created by the Mayor to help tell the full story of the capital, as the majority of London’s statues, street names and memorials largely reflect Victorian Britain. The £1m Untold Stories programme aims to help community organisations celebrate those who have contributed to the success of our city and, in some cases, pay tribute to Londoners who have lost their lives.

This second round of funding brings the total number of projects funded to 70, across 24 London boroughs. It includes:

• A statue of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah in Mountsfield Park, Lewisham. It will be a permanent memorial to the nine-year old who tragically died 10 years ago due to toxic air pollution. Named First Breath for Our Future Ancestor. The project will incorporate a pollution-absorbing statue, wildflower meadow and an air quality sensor to help local residents monitor the air they breathe.
• A new memorial in Thamesmead to commemorate 15 year old Rolan Adams, whose murder in 1991 sparked a huge anti-racism movement and changed the face of a borough.
• A trail describing the history of Jewish and interfaith communities in Willesden and Brondesbury Park will be created.
• A walk and audio tour which will feature local stories, music and poetry celebrating the communities of Latimer and Westway in Kensington and Chelsea. The tour will represent the complex and layered histories of these local communities.
• The installation of a landmark opposite 47 Tulse Hill, a listed building in Lambeth, where Princess Diana opened one of London’s first HIV / AIDS clinics. This project will help to tell the story of those affected and who attended the clinic.

·      A plaque, panel, memorial bench and 15 tree guards in Down Park Hackney will tell the story of the devastating New Cross Fire in 1981 in which 13 people lost their lives. It will also celebrate local activist Charles Collins who has not only fought for a permanent place for 13 memorial trees commemorating those who died, but for more to be done to remember the victims of that terrible tragedy.

• A mural in Lambeth celebrating female activists and mural painters in the 1970s and 1980s whose work is disappearing.
• A mobile space and café designed by D/deaf artists to celebrate and share stories from the community in Lambeth.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “It is vital that London’s public spaces are able to reflect the many different communities that make up our great city.

“I am proud that through the Untold Stories programme we are able to support projects that will tell many more stories of the people who have helped to build and shape our capital.

“I want everyone to be able to take pride in our city’s public spaces and I know that by raising awareness about more of our heritage and history we are creating a better and fairer London for everyone.”

Lynette Nabbosa, Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm member and the founder of Elimu, said: “Untold Stories received a huge number of applications, of brilliant breadth and creativity, showing the passion and drive of Londoners to see themselves reflected in our public spaces. Projects from the first round of funding are already making an impact, I can’t wait to experience what communities across London develop from this second round.”

Charlotte Bill, Director and Project manager for Clapham Film Unit said: “Clapham Film Unit is very excited to be working with a young mural artist to transform Clapham Deep Shelter and to tell the story of two Women’s street art collectives. The local community and London’s network of Mural Artists are in support of the project. Funding from the Mayor of London is making this dream a reality, increasing diverse representation in the public realm and telling the Untold Story of Women street artists”.

Chris French, Chair and Founder Lambeth Links said: “We are thrilled to receive this funding to recognise a truly trailblazing welcoming safe space, that was a sanctuary for many communities affected by HIV. This will be a true community led project and we can’t wait to begin!”

Nurull Islam, Creative producer, Mile End Community Project said: “We are overjoyed to receive this funding which will allow us to shed light on the untold stories of migrants through the power of arts. This support will Make a difference in bringing a voice to those who have been marginalised.”

Gbemisola Isimi, Culture Tree said: “We are very happy and honoured to have been awarded this funding. It will help us in our efforts to celebrate Yoruba culture and raise awareness of Yoruba heritage and contributions to Southwark borough.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 23 February 2023.

• Government have previously funded scrappage schemes in Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham but not in London and south-east
• Mayor asks Rishi Sunak to help double the size of his unprecedented £110m London scrappage scheme

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has urged the Prime Minister to join him in his mission to clean up London’s toxic air. In a letter to Rishi Sunak the Mayor calls for a new targeted scrappage scheme to help people in the Home Counties to retrofit or replace vehicles that are not compliant with the Ultra Low Emission Zone, ahead of the zone’s expansion to the Greater London boundary in August.

The Mayor has already established the largest scrappage fund ever offered in the UK, totalling £110m for Londoners, without a single penny of Government support. Sadiq is therefore also asking the Prime Minister to replicate the funding offered by Government when other cities established their clean air zones and double the size of his scrappage fund for Londoners, allowing thousands more polluting vehicles to be taken off the roads. The Mayor points out that Greater Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Bradford all received funding from Government for their own scrappage schemes, whilst London and the Home Counties have received nothing despite being net contributors to the Treasury every year and Londoners paying £500 million of vehicle excise yearly, which is then spent on maintaining roads in other parts of the country.

The request comes as it is reported the Chancellor has received a £30bn windfall in the public finances ahead of the Spring Budget next month. The Mayor believes there is no better use for a small percentage of this money than to help clean up the capital’s air.

Toxic air caused by traffic is still leading to children growing up with stunted lungs and nearly 4,000 premature deaths a year – with the greatest number of deaths attributable to air pollution in London’s outer boroughs. Earlier this month a major new report showed that harmful pollution emissions have reduced by 26 per cent within the current ULEZ area – compared with what they would have been without the 2021 expansion coming into force.

Letter to Prime Minister on Scrappage Scheme / Air Quality targets

Dear Prime Minister,

As you will no doubt be aware, London is in the grip of a deadly public health crisis. Toxic air pollution is causing the premature deaths of an estimated 4,000 Londoners every year, while children in our city are growing up with stunted lungs because the air they breathe is poisoning them. It is no exaggeration to say this is one of the greatest scandals of our time and an injustice we must act urgently to address.

As Mayor, I’ve taken swift and decisive action to protect the health of Londoners – bringing forward the implementation of our Ultra Low Emission Zone and then expanding it to cover inner London. The impact of this has been nothing short of transformative, with levels of one of the most dangerous pollutants in our air cut by almost a half in central London and by more than a fifth in inner London, ensuring that more than four million Londoners are now able to benefit from cleaner air.

However, there is still a long way to go to protect our communities from this invisible killer. If no additional action is taken, it is estimated that around 550,000 more Londoners would develop diseases attributable to air pollution over the next 30 years – ruining lives, condemning a generation of children to ill-health and costing the NHS and social care system in the region of £10.4 billion.

It is abundantly clear then that the cost of inaction is far too high and that further action is needed to safeguard public health and spare people unnecessary suffering. I’m simply not prepared to stand idly by while toxic fumes from highly polluting vehicles choke our communities and leave our children reaching for inhalers and gasping for air. That’s why I’ve chosen to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide. We know it will deliver cleaner air for five million more Londoners and save lives, particularly in the outer boroughs of London, where the greatest number of deaths attributable to air pollution currently occur.

The ULEZ is a highly targeted scheme, designed to get only the most polluting vehicles off the road – with 85 per cent of vehicles seen driving in outer London already meeting the required emissions standards and not liable for the new charge. And I’ve announced the biggest scrappage scheme yet – £110 million – to support Londoners on lower incomes, disabled Londoners, micro businesses and charities to scrap or retrofit their non-compliant vehicles.

However, there is more to be done, which must include proper national action to tackle air pollution and the climate crisis.  So I urge you to use some of the unexpected £30bn windfall in the public finances to not only match the funding allocated for scrappage in London, but to introduce a targeted scrappage scheme that provides help to those based in the home counties who drive into London with the most polluting vehicles.  I also hope my approach on eligibility for scrappage and exemptions can be followed nationally.

Following an order by the Supreme Court to tackle the illegal levels of air pollution across the country, the Government has been working with other cities and regions to introduce clean air zones. This has included some national support for local scrappage schemes, including in Greater Manchester (£120m), Bristol (£42m), Birmingham (£38m) and Bradford (£30m).  But London and the home counties, including Surrey and Kent, have not received even a penny of support from central government. London, the South East and the East of England make net contributions to the Treasury every year and Londoners pay £500 million of vehicle excise yearly, which is then spent on maintaining roads in other parts of the country. For our regions to pay in so much and not be helped to reduce carbon emissions and make our air safer to breathe is unfair and doesn’t make sense.

I truly believe the polluted state of our air – and its consequences for the health of our citizens and the next generation – is one of the greatest scandals of our time. It’s a travesty on a par with the harm done to our children’s health by second hand cigarette smoke. It took decades before action was taken to address that menace and, as political leaders with the power to make a difference, we can’t be responsible for a similar delay that damages our young people’s health and slows our efforts to avert a climate crisis.

So I urge you to become a doer, rather than a delayer, when it comes to climate action and reducing air pollution, and to bring an end to the failure of leadership we have seen at the top of national government on these vital issues for far too long.

Yours sincerely,

Sadiq Khan