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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : Resilience through Comprehensive Security: UK statement to the OSCE [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Resilience through Comprehensive Security: UK statement to the OSCE [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 October 2025.

    At the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, the UK outlines that our approach to resilience is rooted in our whole-of-society model, as outlined in the UK Resilience Action Plan published in July 2025.

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The UK welcomes Finland’s initiative to convene this timely Security Dialogue on resilience through comprehensive security. We fully support the emphasis on civil-military cooperation as a strategic pillar of national defence.

    The UK’s approach to resilience is rooted in our whole-of-society model, as outlined in the UK Resilience Action Plan, published in July. We see resilience not merely as a response mechanism, but as a proactive, integrated system that spans government, business, civil society, and individuals. Our strategy prioritises prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery — ensuring that vital societal functions endure even under stress.

    This model is reflected in our Strategic Defence Review 2025, which underscores the importance of civilian-military integration in safeguarding national security. Chapter 6 of the Review outlines how the UK Armed Forces work alongside local authorities, emergency services, and community organisations to build resilience at every level — from cyber defence and infrastructure protection to public health and crisis communications. Associated actions are being delivered through the UK’s new Home Defence Programme.

    In today’s threat landscape — shaped by hybrid tactics, disinformation, and coercive diplomacy — resilience is a strategic imperative. The UK commends the OSCE’s multidimensional approach and the Code of Conduct’s emphasis on democratic control of armed forces. We see civil-military cooperation not only as a defence asset, but as a democratic strength.

    We also draw inspiration from Ukraine’s extraordinary resilience in the face of aggression. Their ability to sustain societal functions under extreme pressure exemplifies the power of unity and preparedness.

    Thank you, Mr. Chair.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Honduras Launches National Strategy to Combat Organized Crime with Support from UNODC and the UK [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Honduras Launches National Strategy to Combat Organized Crime with Support from UNODC and the UK [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 October 2025.

    Honduras officially launched a new national strategy to tackle organized crime, developed with technical assistance from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and partial funding from the United Kingdom.

    The strategy was created using UNODC’s “Organised Crime Strategy Toolkit,” supported by the UK Home Office’s Integrated Security Fund. This toolkit helps countries build comprehensive frameworks to prevent and combat organized crime, emphasizing principles of prevention, protection, prosecution, and institutional strengthening. 

    Collaboration began after a regional meeting in Bangkok in February 2022, where Honduras requested UNODC’s support. Since then, the country has worked closely with UNODC to develop a strategy that integrates gender, human rights, and a holistic approach to crime prevention. 

    This initiative reflects Honduras’s commitment to coordinated, sustainable action against organized crime and aligns with the UK’s support for the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Statement on UK military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Statement on UK military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 October 2025.

    Update to Statement on UK military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean.

    Since the terrorist attacks against Israel of 7 October 2023, the UK government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals, who were kidnapped.   

    In support of these efforts the Ministry of Defence conducted surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza from December 2023. The surveillance aircraft were always unarmed, did not have a combat role, and were tasked solely to locate hostages. 

    The UK government strictly controlled what information was passed on and only information relating to hostage rescue was passed to the relevant Israeli authorities.  

    Following the agreement of the Gaza peace plan between Israel and Hamas, and the release of remaining hostages, the Ministry of Defence has ceased surveillance flights over Gaza. The last flight took place on the 10 October 2025. 

    We thank our UK personnel for their dedication and professionalism.  

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP: 

    This ceasefire is a moment of profound relief, for the civilian population of Gaza, for the Israeli hostages and their families, who have all endured unimaginable suffering.

    I am proud of the UK’s efforts to support the safe return of the hostages, and the professionalism of our service personnel involved. 

    The safe return of all hostages, along with the immediate restoration of aid are critical first steps in efforts to securing a lasting peace.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £80 million support for children’s hospices over 3 years [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : £80 million support for children’s hospices over 3 years [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 October 2025.

    Settlement provides £26 million annually offering crucial financial certainty for services supporting seriously ill children and families.

    • Children’s and young people’s hospices will receive £80 million over 3 years
    • Multi-year settlement provides certainty for vital services providing support for seriously ill children and families
    • Funding will ensure thousands of children can continue to receive compassionate care and support

    Children’s and young people’s hospices in England will receive almost £80 million in funding over 3 years, ensuring these services can continue supporting families during the most challenging times.

    The multi-year revenue funding builds on the government’s £100 million investment in hospices – the largest in a generation – and will allow compassionate care to continue to be provided for thousands of children and their loved ones across the country.

    This funding will be adjusted for inflation and distributed through local integrated care boards (ICBs), on behalf of NHS England.

    Around 99,000 children across the UK are living with life-limiting conditions – such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, brain or spinal injuries – a number that has tripled in the last 20 years. Hospices provide care, support and wraparound services for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

    This commitment for the remainder of this Parliament gives children’s hospices certainty so they can plan ahead and continue to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families during some of the most challenging times in their lives.

    As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, the government will shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive more personalised care in the most appropriate setting. The palliative and end-of-life care sector, including hospices, will have a big role to play in that shift.

    Minister Kinnock yesterday (15 October 2025) visited Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet, London where he met children, families and staff. Noah’s Ark has received £882,000 from this year’s (2025 to 2026) £26 million allocation for children’s and young people’s hospices. Individual hospice allocations for the next 3 years will be published in due course.

    Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said:

    Children’s hospices provide invaluable support to children, families and loved ones facing unimaginable challenges.

    Through this funding, we are making sure hospices can continue delivering invaluable, compassionate and high-quality care to children and their families – and ending the cliff edge of short-sighted, annual funding cycles – providing certainty for children’s hospices, but crucially for those they care for.

    Having witnessed first hand the extraordinary impact of Noah’s Ark, I am determined that children receive the excellent, wraparound care they deserve.

    The revenue funding will be adjusted for inflation and distributed via ICBs, on behalf of NHS England. It is intended to be spent by hospices to provide high-quality care and support for the children and families they care for, either in the hospice or in the community, including in children’s homes.

    They could use this funding to provide respite care for children who have high health needs, physiotherapy or occupational therapy, or 24/7 nursing support for a child at the end of their life.

    Distributing funding through ICBs will help ensure there is a more consistent national approach, helping to end the postcode lottery of funding for palliative care services and meeting the needs of local populations across the country.

    Nick Carroll, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives, said:

    I warmly welcome this news and thank ministers for listening to families of seriously ill children and those who provide them with the children’s hospice services they rely on.

    Children’s hospices are amazing and create precious moments of joy for seriously ill children and their families. As demand for this lifeline care grows in both volume and complexity, children’s hospices are providing more support than ever before.

    Maintaining and increasing this funding over 3 years will help to bring some clarity and reassurance to children’s hospices, helping them to plan and deliver care over a longer period. Above all, it will help ensure seriously ill children and their families can continue to access vital hospice care beyond 2025 to 2026.

    I look forward to continuing to work with ministers to make sure children’s hospices are in a position to play a full role in realising the shifts in healthcare set out in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. Together, it’s vital that we shape a palliative care delivery plan which means seriously ill children can access high-quality, sustainable support in hospital, in the community and in children’s hospices.

    Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said:

    This is a welcome and significant first step to placing the children’s hospice sector on a sustainable footing. The stability provided by a multi-year settlement will have a real impact on the care children’s hospices provide and the families they support.

    We look forward to working with the government on long-term reforms which are essential to safeguarding all hospice services and ensuring they can play their role in the shift towards more care delivered in the community.

    Sophie Andrews OBE, CEO of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, said:

    We were delighted to welcome Minister Kinnock to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and meet a family who receive our support and those who provide it. We welcome this announcement as a real step forward for children’s palliative care funding.

    This funding will allow us to support more children and families in our catchment area, providing not only moments of normality but of magic and joy.

    Background information

    £26 million will be provided to children’s and young people’s hospices for financial years 2026 to 2027, 2027 to 2028, and 2028 to 2029. This will be adjusted for inflation.

    The allocation of funding for individual hospices over these 3 years will be published in due course based on new prevalence data received by NHS England.

    £26 million was also provided to children’s and young people’s hospices for financial year 2025 to 2026, of which £882,000 was allocated to Noah’s Ark hospice.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Young people given stark warning on deadly risks of taking drugs [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Young people given stark warning on deadly risks of taking drugs [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 October 2025.

    The government has launched a new campaign to alert young people to the dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines and adulterated THC vapes.

    • New campaign to alert young people to the dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines and adulterated THC vapes
    • Ketamine use and drug poisonings highest on record with 8 times more people seeking treatment since 2015
    • Government investing £310 million into drug treatment services alongside awareness campaign

    Young people are being warned that they risk irreparable bladder damage, poisoning and even death if they take ketamine, synthetic opioids or deliberately contaminated THC vapes, as part of a new anti-drugs campaign.

    Launching today (16 October 2025), the campaign, which includes online films, will target 16 to 24 years olds and social media users, following a worrying rise in the number of young people being harmed by drugs. There has been an eight-fold increase in the number of people requiring treatment for ketamine since 2015.

    Supported by £310 million investment in drug treatment services, this initiative directly supports the government’s Plan for Change mission to create safer streets by reducing serious harm and protecting communities from emerging drug threats.

    Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

    Young people don’t always realise the decision to take drugs such as ketamine can have profound effects. It can destroy your bladder and even end your life.

    We’ve seen a worrying rise in people coming to harm from ketamine as well as deliberately contaminated THC vapes and synthetic opioids hidden in fake medicines bought online.

    Prevention is at the heart of this government’s approach to tackling drugs and this campaign will ensure young people have the facts they need to make informed decisions about their health and safety, so they think twice about putting themselves in danger.

    As part of the campaign, experts will highlight particular risks, including the:

    • potentially irreparable damage ketamine can cause to your bladder
    • dangers of counterfeit medicines containing deadly synthetic opioids purchased online
    • risks from so-called ‘THC vapes’ that often contain dangerous synthetic cannabinoids like spice rather than THC

    Resources will be available for schools, universities and local public health teams with content available on FRANK, the drug information website.

    There are growing concerns about novel synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes, which are increasingly appearing in counterfeit medicines sold through illegitimate online sources. Users purchasing these products are typically younger and more drug-naïve.

    Reports of harms from THC vapes have also increased, with many products containing synthetic cannabinoids (commonly known as ‘spice’) that have higher potency and unpredictable effects.

    Katy Porter, CEO, The Loop, said:

    The Loop welcomes the further investment in evidence-based approaches and support to reduce drug-related harm.

    Providing accurate, non-judgemental information equips and empowers people to make safer choices and can help reduce preventable harms.

    Drug poisoning deaths reached 5,448 in England and Wales in 2023, the highest number since records began in 1993. The campaign emphasises that while complete safety requires avoiding drug use altogether, those who may still use substances should be aware of the risks and know how to access help and support.

    The campaign underlines that ketamine’s medical applications do not make illicit use safe, with urologists increasingly concerned about young people presenting with severe bladder problems from recreational ketamine use.

    Resources will be distributed to local public health teams, drug and alcohol treatment services, youth services, schools and universities. The campaign provides clear information on accessing help and support for those experiencing drug-related problems or mental health issues.

    This year the Department of Health and Social Care is also providing £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support in England, including specialist services for children and young people.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Mental health support and peer support networks to get people back into work as local areas get £80 million funding boost [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Mental health support and peer support networks to get people back into work as local areas get £80 million funding boost [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 16 October 2025.

    Across the country, thousands more people will be helped back towards employment through support ranging from peer-to-peer support groups to mental health support thanks to an £80 million funding package announced today (Thursday).

    • Transformative inactivity trailblazer scheme extended as Government targets economic inactivity hotspots through joined up localised support. 
    • Confidence building, social support groups and mental health support are just some of the ways local areas will be able to help local people currently out of work.   
    • Major funding boost forms part of wider government effort to unlock opportunity, improve living standards and drive growth as part of the Plan for Change.

    The extra money for nine inactivity trailblazers across England and Wales will be targeted at areas of the country with the highest levels of economic inactivity, enabling local leaders to give those furthest from employment the tools to get into work. 

    Unlike traditional employment support, inactivity trailblazers empower local areas to design tailored solutions that tackle the root causes of economic inactivity – such as poor mental health, low skills, and barriers like social isolation – rather than just treating the symptoms. 

    New support that areas can offer will include work readiness skills, employer engagement to change hiring practices and support Local Growth Plans, mental health support, confidence-building social groups and skills training to move thousands more people closer to the labour market.  

    These groundbreaking schemes are helping to break the vicious cycle between poor mental health and unemployment by trialling initiatives that combine job support with health and skills support.  

    Those who benefit from the trailblazer support face complex, often deeply personal barriers to work, and the scheme is part of the Government’s wider plan to deliver national renewal focused on opportunity and respect, ensuring everyone is seen and valued. 

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden said: 

    For too long too many people have been locked out of the job market, which fails them and fails our economy.

    That is why we are doing things differently – putting local leaders in the driving seat so the right support goes to their community. 

    By further investing in our trailblazers we’re helping people who were previously underserved or overlooked to build the confidence and skills they need to thrive.

    By taking a holistic approach, the programme is already delivering results through early intervention, flexible training and working directly with employers to create supportive environments, rather than treating health and employment as separate issues. 

    Aaron is a young autistic individual who experienced crippling social isolation and anxiety due to past bullying. With support from the trailblazer, Aaron has been able to build confidence and develop job-readiness skills including CV preparation and employer engagement for employment opportunities. The trailblazer has also allowed him to co-create a safe, interest-based social group since existing local options didn’t meet his specific needs. 

    Following early successes, the government has chosen to extend this support, which has seen the introduction of innovative pilots such as community link worker projects, which connect local residents to support services, as well as developing a new digital self-referral platform to signpost people to access local health and employment support services. 

    The funding builds on recently announced investment in youth employment support, including a £25 million boost for Youth Hubs and a £45 million extension to the Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme. 

    The funding comes after this week’s ONS figures showed 9.1 million people remain economically inactive across the UK. To mark the announcement, the Work and Pensions Secretary will visit Wales to launch the expanded Trailblazer programme in Neath Port Talbot, where he will see firsthand how targeted, community-led support is breaking down barriers that have trapped some people for years. 

    This builds on the early successes of the Trailblazers in Denbighshire and Blaenau Gwent which have seen the creation of wellbeing and resilience support alongside the provision of essential skills including self-confidence building, motivation, problem solving and teamwork. 

    This investment is central to the Government’s Plan for Change mission to break down barriers to opportunity and kickstart economic growth by getting Britain working again.  

    This approach recognises that behind every unemployment or inactive statistic is a real person with real potential – and that with the right support, everyone deserves the chance to build a better future through meaningful work. 

    Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: 

    The UK Government is working with the Welsh Government and others to help people into employment. We know that work benefits people, giving them financial independence and improving their wellbeing.

    It is fantastic news that our Trailblazer scheme is being extended and backed with significant funding so it unlocks many more opportunities for people across Wales, setting them up for success.

    Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnerships for Wales, Jack Sargeant said:   

    This vital funding boost will make a real difference to communities in Wales, where we’re seeing innovative approaches tailored to local needs already making an impact.  

    Welsh trailblazers are proving that when we combine employment support with health services and skills training, we can help people overcome the complex barriers they face. This investment reinforces our commitment to ensuring people in Wales receive the right support at the right time tailored to their circumstances.

    South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said:   

    South Yorkshire has a proud industrial heritage that shaped our communities and powered progress far beyond our borders. But the legacy of industrial decline left behind deep-rooted challenges.  For too long, poor health, low skills, and limited opportunity have held too many people back. That’s not good enough, and we’re changing it.

    I’m proud that we’ve secured another year of funding for the Economic Trailblazer. It’s a vital part of our nationally recognised Pathways to Work programme, which is helping thousands of people across South Yorkshire into good, secure jobs.

    We’re building a South Yorkshire where everyone can stay near and go far, putting people and employers at the heart of everything we do – creating opportunity, transforming lives, and strengthening communities. Together, we’re making change happen.

    Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

    This support really matters for people here in West Yorkshire, helping us to break down barriers to work and put more money in people’s pockets.

    Through our Healthy Working Life programme, we’re helping those who’ve been out of work to rebuild their confidence, get the right support, and take that next step towards a good job.

    Everyone deserves a fair chance to flourish, and this vital investment is giving people the skills and the support that they need to contribute to a stronger, brighter economy.

    Additional Information

    • The funding to extend the inactivity trailblazers for a second year will provide, a further £10m each to:  
    • York and North Yorkshire 
    • South Yorkshire  
    • West Yorkshire  
    • The North East 
    • Greater Manchester  
    • Wales  

    as well as: 

    A further £20m to the Greater London Authority to deliver three Trailblazers in London. 

    • This additional funding will support the Government’s 80% employment rate ambition, through:    
    • Integration of local services to bring together fragmented work, health and skills support environment   
    • Identification and engagement of hard to reach economically inactive groups  
    • Personalisation of support  
    • Testing innovative new ways to support people   
    • Increased collaboration and engagement with employers  
    • Comprehensive evaluation to learn what works locally to support people to move people towards or into work 
  • PRESS RELEASE : Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge Museums saved for the nation [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge Museums saved for the nation [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 16 October 2025.

    Government announces £9 million grant, enabling National Trust to secure future of museums within UNESCO World Heritage Site that attract 330,000 visitors annually.

    • Move is latest part of government’s Plan for Change to help boost the local economy, safeguard jobs and create opportunity in the Shropshire area

    The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution is to be saved and kept open for future generations, following a £9 million government grant announced today.

    The funding will enable the transfer of the Ironbridge Gorge museums to the National Trust, securing the future of this internationally significant heritage site and ensuring continued access to Britain’s industrial heritage for hundreds of thousands of annual visitors.  

    The Ironbridge Gorge was designated as one of Britain’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites, recognising its pivotal role as the epicentre of 18th century world industrialisation. The site encompasses 10 museums and 35 listed heritage buildings and Scheduled Monuments, and showcases the engineering prowess of our ancestors. It attracts 330,000 visitors annually from the West Midlands, across the UK and beyond.

    Attractions include Blists Hill Victorian Town, the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, and the Old Furnace. The museums on site serve as a valuable educational resource for schoolchildren whilst offering families an engaging historical experience. The tourism generated also supports local businesses including pubs, restaurants, hotels and shops, providing employment throughout the area. 

    The transfer of the sites to the National Trust will mean that the museums on site benefit from the strength of the National Trust’s brand and its large membership base. Combined with government investment, this transition aims to enhance the museums’ success and draw even greater numbers of visitors to discover Shropshire’s contribution to the Industrial Revolution.

    This intervention is the latest step of the government’s Plan for Change, ensuring that the site continues to boost the local economy through increased tourism and employment, as well as opening up valuable opportunities for the local community to connect with their heritage.  

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 

    As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, it is absolutely vital that the museums in the Ironbridge Gorge are protected as a key heritage asset in this country and a significant contributor to jobs and the economy in the Shropshire area. The Gorge is rich with the history of ingenious Britons who designed and constructed so many iconic pieces of engineering – from steam engines to iron boats. 

    I have every confidence that this government support will help the National Trust take this area from strength to strength. It will mean it can be enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors for generations, whilst providing children with opportunities to connect with their local heritage as we embark on our plan of national renewal.

    This £9 million grant represents a contribution towards the total sum required by the National Trust to ensure the museum’s long-term security and maintain its status as a unique visitor attraction. 

    Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust, said:

    The Ironbridge Gorge is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, which paved the way for the scientific and technological innovation that defines our world today. The site is an example of British ingenuity, a source of immense national and community pride and a distinct and much-loved icon of our shared heritage. I cannot think of something more at home in the National Trust’s care – an institution built to protect and preserve the things our nation loves on behalf of everyone, everywhere.

    It’s a privilege to be able to work with DCMS and with the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, which has looked after the site and its collection with care and dedication for many decades, on this next chapter in the Ironbridge Gorge’s amazing history. Finally, I’d like to say thank you to Arts Council England, Historic England, and National Lottery Heritage Fund for their support in helping secure a sustainable long-term future for the buildings, monuments and collection within Ironbridge Gorge.

    Mark Pemberton, Chairman to the Board of Trustees of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust said: 

    We are incredibly pleased to have secured the long-term future of the Museum by its transfer to the National Trust. The £9 million investment by DCMS is recognition of the global significance and national importance of Ironbridge.

    Ironbridge was important as the birthplace of industry and now as a major tourist destination it plays a part in the success of the local economy.

    Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: 

    On behalf of Historic England I am delighted that the National Trust is stepping up, with support from DCMS, to take on Ironbridge, the cradle of the industrial revolution with many remarkable survivals from the late eighteenth century onwards. It is such an important part of this country’s heritage, and contributes significantly to the local and regional economy. We are very grateful to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust for all the work and care they have put into keeping the site safe for the nation over the years, and look forward to helping play our part in helping it to thrive in the future.

    Liz Johnson, Midlands Area Director, Arts Council England said: 

    The Ironbridge Gorge Museums holds a special place in our nation’s history – a place where innovation and creativity changed the world.

    The National Trust’s acquisition, made possible with investment from DCMS, is a great step in securing its future.  Arts Council England has worked collaboratively with DCMS, National Trust, IGMT, NLHF and Historic England to support this transition process, which will offer future generations the opportunity to visit, learn and be inspired by the museums’ rich history and world-class collections, for many years to come.

    This announcement follows a series of government interventions to support the heritage and museum sectors through the Arts Everywhere Fund, which includes the £15 million Heritage at Risk Capital Fund supporting 37 at-risk heritage sites, and the £20 million Museum Renewal Fund supporting 75 cherished local museums to remain open to the public and continue providing learning opportunities for children nationwide. 

    Notes to editors: 

    The National Trust

    The National Trust is an independent conservation charity founded in 1895 by three people: Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley, who saw the importance of the nation’s heritage and open spaces and wanted to preserve them for everyone to enjoy. Today, across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we continue to look after places so people and nature can thrive.

    We care for more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 890 miles of coastline, 1 million collection items and 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves. In 2023/24 we received 25 million visitors to our pay for entry sites. The National Trust is for everyone – we were founded for the benefit of the whole nation, and our 5.4 million members, funders and donors, and tens of thousands of volunteers support our work to care for nature, beauty, history for everyone, for ever.

    Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust 

    The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust is an education and heritage conservation charity that cares for 10 museums and 35 listed buildings and Scheduled Monuments in the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to one of the most significant industrial heritage collections in the UK. Its Nationally Designated collection includes more than 400,000 objects, representing a rich and unique record of Britain’s industrial past.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Focus on reading in secondary years to drive up standards [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Focus on reading in secondary years to drive up standards [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 15 October 2025.

    Education Secretary confirms all pupils will sit a mandatory reading test at age 13 to drive up reading standards.

    A national focus on reading at the start of secondary school will drive up standards to ensure every young person can achieve and thrive, as the government announces a mandatory reading test for all children at age 13.  

    The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will tell a major schools conference today that for millions of young people, reading is “the passport to the rest of their lives,” with too many currently held back from the rest of their education – and the wider world – by an inability to read. 

    All pupils will take the test in year 8 – marking a significant step forward in driving up standards in core literacy skills which will help young people to unlock everything else school has to offer.

    This new measure will set clear expectations to support parents, teachers and pupils alike – identifying gaps early and targeting help for those who need it, while enabling the most able to go further.

    Speaking at the Confederation of School Trusts conference today, the Education Secretary will set out the core tenets of the government’s forthcoming schools white paper, which will lay the path for national renewal to take schools into the 2030s.

     Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: 

    There is one barrier in particular I worry is locking young people out. Because before a child can even begin to engage in everything their school has to offer, they must first be able to read.

    When they can’t, the sense of dejection sets in. Engagement seeps away. Attendance follows.

    Reading holds the key to so much. There is no foundation more important.

    So we will introduce a statutory assessment in year 8 to assess reading fluency and comprehension. 

    We’ll test progress at this key point when too many children either spin their wheels or fall further behind. 

    Invaluable data for schools to make sure no child’s need for more, for a helping hand, can slip through the cracks.

    Children’s reading journey begins in the earliest years, and the government will build on the success of the phonics programme, setting a new ambition for 90% of children to be meeting the expected standard in the Phonics Screening Check. 

    The government is expanding its support in reception year through the English Hubs programme, putting a laser-focus on the children that struggle the most, alongside reforms to boost the quality of education in the early years, and wider family support through Best Start Family Hubs.  

    Chief Executive, Lift Schools, Rebecca Boomer-Clark, said:

    Reading is the key that unlocks everything, both learning and engagement.  Having a national ambition for 90% of children passing the phonics check and the introduction of reading tests at Year 8 are both very positive steps forward. 

    We set ourselves a network 90% goal for primary phonics in 2021 and have been testing reading ability across our mainstream schools from Year 2 – Year 10 for the last few years. This has provided us with invaluable information and insight on how to get children back on track – it has driven significant leaps forward in how our children and young people read and as a result how they can engage fully in their learning. This work is critically important for all children, but especially so for those from more disadvantaged backgrounds.

    Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, Jonathan Douglas, said:

    The National Year of Reading 2026 will be a pivotal moment to make reading feel relevant, exciting and rewarding. In collaboration with the Department for Education and multi-sector partners, we are excited to spark a movement that puts reading back at the heart of our culture.

    Our research shows that twice as many children and young people who enjoy reading in their free time have above average reading skills than children who don’t enjoy it. This finding is important at a time when children and young people’s reading skills are cause for concern, particularly for those from disadvantaged communities. Reading for enjoyment is one of the most powerful drivers of a child’s academic success and wellbeing, but it’s also about so much more than attainment. The joy of getting lost in a story, of discovering new ideas, or seeing yourself reflected in a book, should be an everyday part of school life. Embedding that joy into education enriches childhood and builds the foundation for lifelong learning,

    Data from the new statutory assessment will be made available to Ofsted and government, but individual schools’ results will not be published – as with the phonics check. Schools will make children’s results available to parents. 

    The test will provide a snapshot in time and the government’s expectation is that it is not an assessment children need to revise for.

    The plans build on the Government’s National Year of Reading, which will unite parents, schools, libraries and businesses to get people reading and help reverse the decline in reading for pleasure among young people. 

    The government is already supporting an improvement in reading and writing skills, including through new training for teachers in secondary school to support young people to read, and a £1million fund to support schools with the greatest need to purchase reading programmes and other resources to support struggling readers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Man, Abiola Adenmosun, who groomed 14-year-old girl has jail sentence increased [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Man, Abiola Adenmosun, who groomed 14-year-old girl has jail sentence increased [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 15 October 2025.

    A man who groomed and repeatedly sexually abused a 14-year-old girl had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP intervened.

    The court heard that Abiola Adenmosun, from Chatham, Kent, approached the teenager when he was 22 and despite learning she was 14 years old, began a relationship with her.  

    Between 2012 and 2013, Adenmosun gave the teenager drugs, alcohol and sexually abused her several times, typically in his car.  

    During this period, Adenmosun damaged the teenager’s phone and assaulted the victim’s sister. 

    In a victim impact statement, the victim said she struggles with anxiety every day and also suffers physical pain.  

    Solicitor General Ellie Reeves said:

    This was a deeply troubling case of sustained sexual abuse by a grown man against a vulnerable child.  

    I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase Adenmosun’s sentence and I would like to express my deepest sympathies to his victim who has been so brave in coming forward.

    On 18 July 2025 at Maidstone Crown Couty, Abiola Adenmosun was sentenced to four years and three months at Maidstone Crown Court. He also received an Indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and an Indefinite Restraining Order.  

    Following a referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, the Court of Appeal increased the sentence to six years and nine months imprisonment.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Dad and son (Henry Thomas Allen and Lee Allen) get suspended sentence for illegal scrapyard [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dad and son (Henry Thomas Allen and Lee Allen) get suspended sentence for illegal scrapyard [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 15 October 2025.

    The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a father and son for running an illegal scrap metal site in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire.

    • Environment Agency investigation ends in successful prosecution
    • Defendants ignored advice and became uncooperative

    At Northampton Crown Court on Friday 10 October 2025, Henry Thomas Allen, 73, and his son Lee Allen, 37, both of Station Road, Irthlingborough, both received prison sentences of six months suspended for 18 months.

    This was on condition that they each undertake 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days. They were also ordered to pay £5,000 each in costs plus a victim surcharge of £128.

    The guilty pleas, at a previous hearing, were for operating without an environmental permit and handling waste in a manner likely to cause pollution.

    Site of concern

    The court was told that the Environment Agency had designated a scrap metal business in Station Road as a site of concern for a number of years.

    Located in the River Nene flood plain and without the correct sealed, foul drainage system the site contained large quantities of motor vehicle waste.

    This included batteries, tyres, gas cannisters, fridges, freezers and motor vehicle fluids such as fuel, oil and battery acid. This was stored on bare ground without the correct, sealed, drainage system with a working interceptor.

    The company was instructed to remove the unpermitted scrap metal on the land.

    But the Environment Agency continued to receive complaints that new waste was being treated and stored.

    Officers visited the site and on several occasions provided advice, guidance and support.

    Environmental law

    Sarah Dunne, the Environment Agency’s Solicitor Advocate, told the court that officers had made every effort to work with the Allens to bring the site into compliance with environmental law. This included guidance regarding the storage and treatment of motor vehicle waste.

    However, in spite of this advice, the company continued to accept, deposit and store large quantities of waste metals including end-of-life vehicles. They also became uncooperative with Environment Agency officials.

    After a court warrant was gained, Henry Allen was arrested with support from Northamptonshire Police. Drone images showed the scale of the waste on site.

    Non-cooperation

    The court was told that the father had a long history of non-cooperation with the Environment Agency. He had been served with a warning letter.

    Though his son was made sole director of the company, the court was told this was nothing more than a paper exercise.

    Sentencing both Allens, His Honour Judge Mayo said that their offending had crossed the custody threshold, that the risk of harm had been high and that they had undermined lawful waste operators. “If you breach the orders, it’s simple, there is a custodial sentence,” the judge said.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

    We hope this case will send a clear message that we do not hesitate to take action to protect the environment and bring perpetrators to justice.   

    These people operated the site without the required permit which, as well as undermining the regulatory regime, also had an impact on lawful waste operators.   

    We are actively targeting illegal waste activities across Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire and the country.

    Anyone who suspects a company is operating illegally can call the Environment Agency 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    Background

    Businesses and householders should carry out checks to ensure that they are using legitimate companies to deal with their waste. 

    To check if a waste carrier is genuine visit: Public Registers Online   

    Environmental permits exist to ensure waste is handled safely and does not harm local residents or damage the natural environment

    Charges

    Henry Thomas Allen

    1. Between 24 January 2021-24 February 2023 at Station Road, Irthlingborough, A6 Scrap Metals Ltd did keep controlled waste, namely end of life vehicles, scrap metals and mixed waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health. And the offence was committed with the consent or connivance or attributable to neglect on the part of Henry Thomas Allen contrary to sections 33 (1) (c), 33 (6) and 157 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as amended.
    2. Between 24 January 2021-24 February 2023 at Station Road, Irthlingborough, A6 Scrap Metals Ltd operated a regulated facility, namely a waste operation for the deposit, treatment and storage of end of life vehicles, scrap metals and mixed waste, except under and to the extent authorised by environmental permit and the offence was committed with the consent or connivance or attributable to neglect on the part of Henry Thomas Allen contrary to sections 33 (1) (c), 33 (6) and 157 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as amended.

    Lee Allen

    1. Between 24 January 2021-24 February 2023 at Station Road, Irthlingborough, A6 Scrap Metals Ltd did keep controlled waste, namely end of life vehicles, scrap metals and mixed waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health. And the offence was committed with the consent or connivance or attributable to neglect on the part of Lee Allen contrary to sections 33 (1) (c), 33 (6) and 157 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as amended.
    2. Between 24 January 2021-24 February 2023 at Station Road, Irthlingborough, A6 Scrap Metals Ltd operated a regulated facility, namely a waste operation for the deposit, treatment and storage of end of life vehicles, scrap metals and mixed waste, except under and to the extent authorised by environmental permit and the offence was committed with the consent or connivance or attributable to neglect on the part of Lee Allen contrary to sections 33 (1) (c), 33 (6) and 157 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as amended.