Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Coronation weekend celebrations that will bring communities together announced [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 21 January 2023.

Millions of people across the country and the Commonwealth are invited to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort over a weekend of special events.
- The Nation and the Commonwealth will have the opportunity to join a weekend of celebrations to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort
- Coronation Big Lunches, thousands of street parties, and The Big Help Out will bring communities together over special Bank Holiday Coronation weekend
The Coronation will take place on the morning of Saturday May 6 at Westminster Abbey, London. Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the capital city to experience this unique and historic occasion, with millions more watching from home, across the UK and around the globe.

Coronation Big Lunches, thousands of street parties, and a day dedicated to good causes will bring communities together throughout the UK over the special Coronation Bank Holiday weekend.

On Sunday May 7 a spectacular Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle will showcase the country’s diverse cultural heritage in music, theatre and dance. One of the highlights of the concert will be “Lighting up the Nation”, in which iconic locations across the UK will be lit up with projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.

Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:

The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort is a huge milestone in the history of the UK and Commonwealth.

The weekend of events will bring people together to celebrate our Monarchy and the mixture of tradition and modernity, culture and community that makes our country great.

Everyone is invited to join in, on any day, whether that is by hosting a special street party, watching the Coronation ceremony or spectacular concert on TV, or stepping forward during The Big Help Out to help causes that matter to them.

Tens of thousands of Coronation Big Lunches and street parties will be held in the UK and Commonwealth on Sunday and across the weekend. Big Lunches take place across the UK annually and last year they raised more than £22 million for local charities.

The activities on Sunday will culminate in a fantastic evening of song and dance at the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, staged and broadcast by the BBC in front of an audience of several thousand members of the public, selected for free tickets via a public ballot.

The weekend of celebrations will end with the Big Help Out on Monday May 8 – a special Bank Holiday proclaimed by the Prime Minister in honour of the Coronation.

Created by Britain’s best loved charities and organised by The Together Coalition, it will highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation.

In tribute to His Majesty The King’s lifetime of public service, The Big Help Out will encourage people to come out and support the causes that matter to them.

Hundreds of activities are planned for the day by local community groups, organisations and charities including The Scouts, Royal Voluntary Service, National Trust and RNLI. Further details and ways to take part will be announced shortly.

Peter Stewart LVO, Chief Purpose Officer at the Eden Project (who are behind The Coronation Big Lunch) said:

We’re so excited about The Coronation Big Lunch on May 7, it is a fantastic opportunity to be part of the celebrations and something for us all to look forward to! The Big Lunch has always been about community – last year almost two thirds of people who took part said The Big Lunch had encouraged more people to get involved in voluntary work. Sharing friendship, food and fun together gives people more than just a good time – people feel less lonely, make friends and go on to get more involved with their community, all as a result of sharing a sarnie and a chat in their neighbourhood. The Coronation Big Lunch helps you bring the celebration right into your own street or back yard so that anyone and everyone, across the UK and beyond, can be part of this amazing moment in our history. Get yourself an organiser pack, knock next door and get planning – this is going to be an event to remember!

Jon Knight, Chief Executive of the Together Coalition, said:

The Big Help Out is going to be a festival of volunteering. A day when people up and down the country will roll up their sleeves and do their bit. In the run up to the day we’ll also be launching new ways of getting involved in volunteering in your community. The aim is to create a legacy of better-connected communities long beyond the Coronation itself.

If you’re a voluntary group who wants to be part of it, please reach out now so we can make this the start of the biggest volunteering effort in our country’s history.
January 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Youngsters to take up football, boxing and rugby in £5 million bid to cut crime [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 21 January 2023.
- Hundreds of organisations win cash to run projects for young people and cut crime
- Deputy Prime Minister and Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff see sporting success in action at ThruLife
Thousands of at-risk teens are set to pick up their racquets and lace up their football boots as part of a bid to keep them on the straight and narrow, the Deputy Prime Minister has announced today (21 January 2023).

More than 200 grassroots organisations across England and Wales have been awarded cash from the government’s £5 million Youth Justice Sports Fund to run local sports schemes – from climbing to kayaking – that will help keep vulnerable young people away from crime and antisocial behaviour.

The number of children caught up in crime is at a historical low – falling by 81 percent since 2010 but youth crime still costs the taxpayer £1.5 billion a year. Research shows 80 per cent of prolific adult offenders started on their path of crime when children, making the need to steer more young people away from lawbreaking all the more critical.

Announcing the news, the Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab visited ThruLife – one of the projects which have been awarded funding – at a local school in Tottenham, north London.

Joined by ThruLife founder Richard Allicock and Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff, the Deputy Prime Minister swapped into his trainers as he joined penalty practice with youngsters at their after-school football club.

Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Dominic Raab, said:

I know first-hand how powerful sport and mentoring can be in turning young lives around.

Sport has the power to boost confidence, build resilience and teach discipline, and evidence suggests sports can be effective in reducing offending among young people. That’s why we’re supporting over 200 organisations across England and Wales to encourage more young people to engage with sport and stay away from crime.

One of the surest ways to keep young people on the right path is to give them the skills to succeed in life – something sports schemes can provide, building young people’s resilience, self-confidence and discipline while engaging in a fun activity.

Emerging evidence suggests that sports-based intervention programmes – such as the Youth Sports Fund – can lead to improvements in offending. We know that early intervention done well reduces offending, for example, the

Supporting Families programme showed a 35 per cent reduction in youth prison sentences and a 15 per cent reduction in youth convictions.

Former Crystal Palace midfielder, Sky Sports commentator, and ThruLife ambassador Jobi McAnuff said:

Organisations like ThruLife do amazing work. I know how important activities and places like this are, and to have positive role models, particularly in areas like this where I grew up.

You can’t take shortcuts in life, whether that’s to be a professional footballer or whatever you want to achieve. There will be tough times in life, so if you have a passion for something like sport, it can help you to stay positive and committed.

Tom* who regularly attends ThruLife said:

ThruLife has helped me to grow in confidence through the sports sessions I attend teaching me and others different skills that would better place us on our journey through life, and to help us make positive choices.

Richard Allicock, the founder of Thru Life, said:

We are delighted to have been awarded this funding, which will help us to continue the positive work that we are doing in the community but also extend our offer to engage with more young people across the borough of Haringey utilising the powers of sport through our mentoring offer.

In November last year, the Deputy Prime Minister invited sports charities and organisations from across the country to bid for the £5 million fund, which saw hundreds of sports schemes apply.

Today, over 200 organisations across England and Wales have been awarded cash to run projects from climbing to boxing with vulnerable teens. Bidders were marked on whether they could show a track-record of helping young people at risk of falling into crime and antisocial behaviour to keep their noses clean.

The £5 million pot of money builds on the government’s existing support for local authorities’ Youth Offending Teams nationwide – which has seen over £730 million worth of funding provided in the last 5 years.

Minister for Sport, Civil Society & Youth Stuart Andrew said:

We believe every young person should get the best start in life. Doing sport is a brilliant way of building focus and discipline while also improving physical health and stopping people becoming involved in crime.

This funding will help make sure people are set on the right path from the outset.

The Sports Fund has been co-ordinated by StreetGames and the Alliance of Sport for Criminal Justice, with the support of the Sport for Development Coalition – an umbrella of more than 250 charities in the sports sector.

Stuart Felce, StreetGames Director of Sport and Community Safety, said:

At StreetGames we believe that community sport, delivered in the right way, can have a transformational impact on children’s lives and the communities they live in. We’re really excited to be partnering with the Sport for Development Coalition and the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice to deliver this ambitious new programme from the Ministry of Justice. This investment in sport will support voluntary and community sports organisations to carry out targeted work to enhance positive outcomes for vulnerable children, providing the practical and emotional support they need to grow and helping to keep them and their communities safe.

Hitesh Patel, Executive Director of the Coalition, added:

Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour is a core element of the Coalition’s #OpenGoal framework, which shows how the multiple returns on investment created by sport for development can help to generate significant public cost savings. We are delighted to be working alongside StreetGames and the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice to ensure this new funding supports and strengthens those organisations that can already demonstrate the positive social impact they are having on their local communities.

The funding also delivers on the commitment made in the Prisons Strategy White Paper – published in December 2022 – to cut youth crime and create safer streets.
January 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Community hub in Kinloch Rannoch awarded £250,000 [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

A project to create a multi-use hub in Kinloch Rannoch was awarded £250,000 from the Community Ownership Fund.

The building in Perthshire was originally a school. This project will let the community repurpose a building that was financially unworkable.

Community leads the project

Rannoch Community Trust is leading an initiative to create new sustainable facilities. This will allow community activities in Kinloch Rannoch to expand in the short, medium, and long term.

The centre will be commercially viable and will include:
- a community meeting room
- an outlet for local produce
- public outdoor spaces
- a bar and restaurant
It will also provide volunteering and paid employment opportunities for local people.
January 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £250,000 to support Thurnby’s new community hub [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

A Leicestershire village’s dream of a new community centre is being supported by £250,000 from the Community Ownership Fund.

Disused Pavilion to become community hub

Thurnby sits on the border between city and countryside and has few community spaces. The unused pavilion space will:
- be redeveloped and extended
- create a new community hub and café
The planned hub is located near St Luke’s Church and Manor Park.

New hub to offer community support

The hub will provide a space for people to connect. It will offer a range of support services including:
- bereavement support
- parenting classes
- financial advice
The investment will add to over £750,000 that has already been raised by the church and the local community.
January 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Jubilee Centre in Bradford gets £225,000 levelling up boost [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

Light Church in central Bradford has been able to buy the Jubilee Centre with £225,000 support from the Community Ownership Fund.

The Jubilee Centre is the location for the Bradford central foodbank.

A location for several community services

The Light Church runs several services out of the Jubilee centre.

These include:
- a school for excluded pupils
- a benefits advice centre
When the property went up for sale, church members vigorously fundraised. This included a sponsored 72 hour fast, which raised over £20,000 and collecting donations from church members worth £150,000.

The future of the Jubilee Centre assured

With the Community Ownership Fund, the future of the foodbank and other services that run out of the Jubilee Centre are assured.

The funding has:
- ensured that the church can continue to do their good work in the future
- helped preserve this important community asset
January 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Boosting Ramsgate’s economy with £19.8 million investment [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

Boosting Ramsgate’s economy with £19.8 million investment

The plans include several projects that will:
- support the economic growth of this coastal town
- bring in new investment
Investing in Ramsgate’s future

The regeneration will focus on three areas:
- a new Green Port and improved infrastructure
- refurbishing key assets in the Royal Harbour
- new food and hospitality spaces
Creating a new Green Port

The Green Port will become a centre of excellence for:
- zero carbon maritime logistics
- renewable energy
New opportunities in The Royal Harbour

This area will see a new hotel and restaurant in the Smack Boys’ building. It will provide training opportunities in hospitality. This will complement a new facility for the local fishing fleet to store and sell their catch.

New community spaces

There will be two new spaces for the community in key areas of Ramsgate. These spaces will help local people to access the new jobs being created through capital investment projects. This will help to address some of the inequalities and challenges faced by many local residents.

Benefiting local people in Ramsgate

The investment will bring a host of benefits to the area, including:
- improving connections between Ramsgate’s communities
- creating opportunities for local businesses to grow
- offering skills development for residents
- creating new employment opportunities
Councillor Ash Ashbee, Leader of Thanet District Council, said:

This is absolutely fantastic news for the district. This funding will make a huge difference to the communities, businesses, and stakeholders in Ramsgate. It will help to boost Thanet’s wider economy and provide new jobs and training opportunities for many local people.
January 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Regenerating St Columb’s Hall with £181,000 support [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

The Grade A listed former temperance hall sits in the heart of the walled City of Derry~Londonderry. The building was closed since the start of the pandemic, but now with £181,000 from the Community Ownership Fund, the hall is brought back to its former glory.

The hall has been closed since the start of the pandemic and cannot currently be reopened due to the deterioration of the building.

Preparing for the future

The hall will be future proofed by:
- working with conservation specialists to improve accessibility and plan for future adaptations
- completing urgent works to make the building safe and accessible for the public
This will enable St Columb’s Hall Trust to begin generating income to secure the Hall’s long-term future.

Preserving the past

The funding will help to:
- capture oral histories and generate awareness of heritage significance
- work with groups to research the heritage of the hall and its future
- reactivate community connection with the Hall
January 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Wales World Heritage Site awarded £13.3 million for visitor improvements [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

The Pontycysyllte Aqueduct, area of outstanding natural beauty, has been awarded £13.3 million from the Levelling Up Fund.

The Pontycysyllte Aqueduct is a masterpiece of engineering and a popular visitor destination. The aqueduct is a main focal point on the 11-mile stretch of the World Heritage Site. This area of outstanding natural beauty has been awarded £13.3 million from the Levelling Up Fund.

The funding will help:
- secure its future as a prime heritage asset
- maximise the potential of the site
Trevor Basin plan to expand tourism benefits

The initial phases of the Trevor Basin Technical Masterplan will deliver:
- refocusing of the site around the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
- a range of visitor improvements
This will include investment to:
- develop a new walking route in Dee Valley and the area around the aqueduct
- set up a woodland activity and education area
- rewild former industrial land
- create a new arrival area
Upgrading the visitor experience

The investment will improve connectivity, including:
- improving links between Llangollen and the Wenffrwd Nature Reserve
- an active travel route for walking and cycling along a disused railway line
- a new public space at Llangollen’s Castle Street and Abbey Road junction
- new visitor facilities at Horseshoe Falls
Improved access across the site will deliver health and well-being benefits for future visitors.

Improvements to Corwen Station

Station and car park upgrades include:
- an active travel route along the former railway line between Corwen and Cynwyd
- electric vehicle charging points
These improvements will:
- bring the area back to life as a global tourist attraction
- provide a major boost to the local economy
January 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Whithorn’s Old Town Hall gets a £300,000 boost [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

£300,000 was allocated from the Community Ownership Fund to transform the Old Town Hall in Whithorn, Galloway. The funding will help the town hall become more accessible, functional and support working towards Net-Zero.

Plans for the building

The Grade B listed Georgian town hall is set to turn into a new social enterprise that will offer training to young people in:
- traditional stonemasonry
- joinery skills
It will also showcase energy efficiency innovation for hard-to-treat Georgian buildings.
January 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £200,000 to transform listed building into community hub [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2023.

£200,000 from the Community Ownership Fund has been awarded to the Wharf Community Hub in Marple.

The project will regenerate the Grade II listed building to create a local community hub.

The Wharf Warehouse

The Warehouse building has been a key part of the community since the early 1800s but is now in a poor state of repair.

Plans for the funding include renovating the building and creating a:
- health and wellbeing studio
- heritage centre
- canal side café
Benefits to the local community

The hub will provide a place for the community to come together and a chance for people to learn about Marple’s canal transport heritage.
January 21, 2023