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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief [January 2026]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 27 January 2026.

    In 2026-27, all pubs and live music venues will benefit from a 15% business rates relief on top of the support announced at Budget 2025. Their bills will then be frozen in real terms for a further two years.

    Eligibility

    Pubs

    Relief will be awarded to pubs that meet all of the following characteristics:

    a. is open to the general public, 

    b. allows free entry other than when occasional entertainment is provided, 

    c. allows drinking without requiring food to be consumed, and 

    d. permits drinks to be purchased at a bar.

    For these purposes, the meaning of pub does not include:

    a. Restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, snack bars, 

    b. Hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses, 

    c. sporting venues,  

    d. festival sites, theatres, concert halls, cinemas, 

    e. museums, exhibition halls, and 

    f. casinos

    The proposed exclusions in the list in the paragraph above is not intended to be exhaustive and it will be for Local Authorities to determine those cases where eligibility is unclear. Local Authorities will already have a good understanding of the pubs in their areas and will be able to readily form a view on eligibility in the majority of cases.

    Where eligibility is unclear, Local Authorities should also consider broader factors in their considerations – i.e., in meeting the stated intent of policy that it demonstrates the characteristics that would lead it to be classified as a pub by the natural meaning of the word. For example, being owned and operated by a brewery.

    Live music venues

    Live music venues are properties that are:

    a. wholly or mainly used for the performance of live music for the purpose of entertaining an audience. 

    b. Can be used for other activities but only if those other activities are:

    i. ancillary or incidental to the performance of live music (e.g. the sale of food or drink to audience members).  

    ii. Do not affect the primary use of the premises for the performance of live music (e.g. because the activities are infrequent such as use of the venue as a polling station or fortnightly community event).

    Properties are not a live music venue for the purpose of this relief if the property is wholly or mainly used as a nightclub or a theatre, for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended).

    There may be circumstances where it is difficult to tell whether an activity is a performance of live music or, instead, the playing of recorded music. Although we would expect this to be clear in most circumstances, guidance on this may be found in Chapter 16 of the statutory guidance issued in April 2018 under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

    What you’ll get

    If you are a pub or live music venue that meets one of the above definitions, you will benefit from 15% business rates relief in 2026-27. This relief will apply on top of any Transitional Relief or Supporting Small Business Relief you are eligible for.

    Your business rates bill will then be frozen in real terms in 2027-28 and 2028-29, meaning it will only go up by inflation in those years.  

    To get an estimate of what your business rates bill will be next year, including this relief, click here.

    Example

    You are an independent pub with a rateable value going from £30,000 to £39,000 in April 2026. You are claiming 40% retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) relief in 2025-26.

    In 2025-26, before RHL relief, the pub’s business rates bill is £14,970 (£30,000 x 49.9p). The RHL relief would be worth 40% x £14,970 = £5,988, meaning the final 2025-26 bill is £14,970 – £5,988 = £8,982.

    In 2026-27, due to the 2026 revaluation, the rateable value of the pub has increased from £30,000 to £39,000. The pub is eligible for the new small business RHL multiplier of 38.2p in 2026-27, so before any reliefs, the pub’s bill would be £39,000 x 38.2p = £14,898.

    To help smooth the transition to the permanently lower RHL multipliers, the government is providing relief through the Supporting Small Business scheme for properties losing their RHL relief in 2026-27. This means that the pub’s bill increase in 2026-27 compared to 2025-26 is capped at the higher of £800 or the relevant Transitional Relief cap (in this case, 15%).

    15% of the 2025-26 bill of £8,982 would be £1,347, which is higher than the £800 cap. So, in this case, the 15% cap applies: £8,982 + £1,347 = £10,329.

    A 15% relief is then applied to the £10,329: £10,329 x 15% = £1,549. £10,329 – £1,549 = £8,780 final bill in 2026-27.

    In 2027-28, the pub’s £8,780 bill will only go up by inflation. Assuming the September 2026 CPI figure is 2%, the bill would go up to £8,956 (£8,780 x 1.02).

    Assuming the September 2027 CPI figure is 2%, the bill would go up to £9,135 (£8,956 x 1.02).

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government announces support package that backs British pubs [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government announces support package that backs British pubs [January 2026]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 27 January 2026.

    The Chancellor is backing British pubs with a major support package, as the government recognises the challenges facing the industry and the vital role they play in building strong local communities.

    • Government backs British pubs with a major package of support on business rates and licensing reform, recognising the challenges they face and important role they play in local communities.
    • Pubs will get a 15% cut to new business rates bills from April followed by a two-year real-terms freeze, as well as a review into the method used to value them for business rates. This is on top of support announced at Budget.
    • Government also announces a new High Street Strategy to help ensure retail, leisure and hospitality businesses can thrive, as the bedrock of strong communities.

    The Chancellor is backing British pubs with the announcement of a major support package, as the government recognises the challenges facing the industry and the vital role they play in building strong local communities.

    Pubs have faced significant pressure as their numbers have fallen by nearly 7,000 since 2010, a roughly 15% reduction and amongst the highest across hospitality overall. The sector has also raised concerns around the way they are valued for business rates purposes.

    Recognising the value they bring and the challenges they face, the government is introducing a support package to save the average pub an additional £1,650 in 2026/27. Around 75% of pubs will see their bills fall or stay flat over the same year with the pub sector as a whole paying 8% less in business rates in 2029 than they do currently.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    If we’re going to restore the pride in our communities, we need our pubs and our high streets to thrive. We’re backing British pubs with additional support, and our new High Streets Strategy will help tackle the long-term challenges that our much-loved retail, leisure and hospitality businesses have faced. Thriving local businesses, bustling high streets and pride restored in our communities – that’s what this government is delivering.

    Other sectors continue to benefit from the £4.3 billion support package and from permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties.

    The government is also launching a review into how they are valued. The review will be carried out by the government alongside businesses and their representatives as well as valuation experts, ensuring that any decisions that follow will be implemented for the 2029 revaluation.

    Over the last decade, changing consumer habits, increasingly working from home and shopping online, combined with the pandemic and the increase in energy costs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have had a significant impact on all high street business.

    Recognising this, the government is also announcing a High Streets Strategy to reinvigorate Britain’s communities. Working alongside businesses and representatives, this cross-government strategy will be published later this year and will look at what more the government can do to support our high streets.

    This government is committed to supporting pubs build sustainable business models over the long-term. In the spring, the government will consult on further loosening planning rules to benefit pubs, helping them add new guest rooms or expand their main room without local planning applications. We will continue to engage with the sector to ensure other retail, leisure, and hospitality premises also have sufficient planning flexibilities.

    The Chancellor also announced today £10 million of funding for the Hospitality Support Fund over three years – upped from £1.5 million for one year announced last April – to support pubs across the UK. The additional funding aims to help over 1,000 pubs provide extra services for local communities, including creating community cafes, village stores and play areas to help pubs bring locals and families together and boost their footfall. It will also support people who are furthest from the labour market to move into jobs in hospitality.       

    As part of further licencing reforms, pubs and other licensed venues will be able to open after midnight for Home Nations’ games in the later stages of this summer’s Men’s FIFA World Cup, meaning more time for fans at the pub while boosting takings behind the bar and supporting jobs in hospitality. The government is also bringing forward a consultation to allow them to open late for other big events such as Eurovision.

    The government will legislate later this year to increase the number of temporary events pubs and other hospitality venues can hold to help screen other World Cup games or host community and cultural events. 

    This support comes on top of the £4.3 billion package the Chancellor announced at Budget 2025. This includes capping business rate bill rises by 15% for most businesses from April, or £800 for the smallest, next year as pandemic-era reliefs end and new revaluations take effect.

    This government is committed to reforming the business rates system and has already begun the work. At Budget 2025, the Chancellor announced a permanent 5p cut in the business rates multiplier for over 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties, funded by a higher tax rate for the most expensive 1% of properties.

    Further information

    • As many grassroots live music venues serve as pubs and vice versa, while also playing a vital role restoring pride in local communities, they will also be included in the support package. This means their new business rates bills will be cut by 15% from April and frozen in real-terms for the following two years.
    • The government is also reviewing how hotels are valued for business rates following concerns expressed.  Hotels valuations are undertaken in a different way to some other sectors. The methodology used is well established, but, as with pubs, specific concerns have been raised by stakeholders and it is right to review how hotels are valued to ensure it accurately reflects the market for these sectors.
    • Pubs’ business rates valuations are, like most other sectors, based on analysis of rents in the open market.
    • But how these rents are analysed is different to some other sectors. While most shops, cafes and restaurants are valued by comparing the size of the property, pubs are valued by comparing their turnover potential.
    • Industry bodies have highlighted concerns with how costs are accounted for in this methodology– particularly during periods of high inflation —and the government wants to assess this more closely.
    • The World Cup extension will allow pubs in England and Wales to stay open late, without applying for a Temporary Event Notice, for home nation games:
      • Until 1am for any quarter final, semi-final or the final if the match starts at or before 9pm,
      • Until 2am for any quarter final if the match starts at 10pm,
    • Matches that begin after 10pm BST which will be out of scope for this policy.
    • Premises will therefore still have to apply for a Temporary Events Notice for any other games where they want to open late but we are exploring options to extend opening hours for other Home Nation games too.
    • Business rates is devolved, so this new relief applies to England only. However, it will generate Barnett consequentials, giving the Devolved Administrations additional funding to allocate according to their priorities. It’s for the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to decide whether to match this support for pubs and music venues.
  • NEWS STORY : Western Allies Urge Restraint in Syria to Prevent ISIS Resurgence

    NEWS STORY : Western Allies Urge Restraint in Syria to Prevent ISIS Resurgence

    STORY

    In a joint statement released on 27 January 2026, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States have called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in North East Syria to avoid a “security vacuum” that could be exploited by the Islamic State (ISIS). The diplomatic intervention followed high-level meetings between UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, German Minister of State Serap Güler and US Special Envoy Tom Barrack.

    The four nations welcomed the 15-day extension of the ceasefire between Syrian Government Forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on 24 January. International observers remain particularly concerned about the security of ISIS detention centres in the region, where thousands of detainees are currently held. To mitigate the risk of mass escapes during the volatility, the United States has begun an operation to transfer approximately 7,000 of the most “hardened” ISIS fighters from SDF-run prisons to detention facilities in Iraq.

    The joint statement emphasised that a unified and sovereign Syrian state that protects the rights of all citizens remains the most effective path to long-term stability. This diplomatic push aligns with a new 14-point integration plan, which seeks to disband the SDF and merge its individual members into the Syrian national army and police forces. While the current ceasefire has allowed the first UN aid convoys to reach besieged areas like Kobani, the humanitarian situation remains critical, with over 173,000 people displaced by the recent offensive.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Situation in North East Syria – Joint statement [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Situation in North East Syria – Joint statement [January 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2026.

    Joint statement by France, Germany, the UK and the USA, following a meeting with the French Foreign Minister, German Minister of State, UK Foreign Secretary and US Special Envoy.

    Joint statement by France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States following a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean Noël Barrot, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, German Minister of State Serap Güler, and US Special Envoy Tom Barrack:

    We welcome the 15-day extension of the ceasefire between the Syrian Government Forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces announced on 24 January. We call upon all parties to strictly adhere to the ceasefire and to exercise their utmost restraint. We urge all external parties to join us in pursuit of peace and de-escalation of violence.

    We reiterate the obligation of all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. We welcome the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance. We emphasise that these corridors must be maintained, and basic services resumed in the city of Kobane.

    We also welcome the vital role played by partners, including Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in addressing the challenges posed by ISIS.

    We urge all parties to swiftly agree to a permanent ceasefire, and to resume as soon as possible negotiations aiming at the peaceful and sustainable integration of North-East Syria into a unitary and sovereign state that effectively respects and protects the rights of all its citizens, based on the 18 January 2026 agreement, as the most effective path to stability in Syria.

    We reiterate the need to maintain and focus collective efforts on the fight against ISIS. We call upon all parties to avoid any security vacuum in and around ISIS detention centres. To address these concerns, we agreed to promptly convene a meeting of the International Coalition against ISIS.

    We reaffirm our support for an inclusive political transition in Syria, which protects the rights of all Syrians, and emphasise that the stabilisation of North-East Syria through peaceful means constitutes a central priority for preventing a resurgence of terrorism and for regional security. We underline readiness to support and monitor, together with regional and international partners, the implementation of agreements between the parties which aim at a peaceful and sustainable integration of North-East Syria into a unitary, inclusive and sovereign state, effectively protecting the rights of all its citizens.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Courts expansion to deliver speedier justice for victims [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Courts expansion to deliver speedier justice for victims [January 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 January 2026.

    Former court buildings in Fleetwood, Telford, Chichester and Cirencester – used as Nightingale Courts since the pandemic – will now become permanent fixtures.

    • Nightingale Court era over as four temporary courts become permanent fixtures
    • Next step in wider Government plans to end interminable delay for victims
    • Move comes as new landmark London court readies for opening

    Thousands of victims will be spared from interminable delays waiting to see justice done thanks to a significant expansion to the court’s estate. 

    Former court buildings in Fleetwood, Telford, Chichester and Cirencester – used as Nightingale Courts since the Covid-19 pandemic – will now become established parts of the court estate, ending their temporary status.  

    This move secures 11 additional courtrooms across the country where capacity is most needed, covering a mixture of criminal, family and civil cases – tackling the caseload and delivering swifter justice for victims. 

    Today’s news comes as the Courts Minister, Sarah Sackman, visited the site of the new London Law Courts – a state-of-the-art building which, when open next year, will act as the benchmark for delivering modern, transparent and speedy justice. 

    The building will provide 18 new state-of-the-art courtrooms which can hear Crown, magistrate and civil cases in the heart of London.  

    As part of the core estate, these former Nightingale Courts will now qualify for future modernisation and investment. This will allow HMCTS to put money into improving their infrastructure and ensure buildings are suitable for the latest technology – speeding up justice and providing a better experience for all court users. 

    Minister for Courts Sarah Sackman KC MP said: 

    This marks a new chapter for these courts. We’re ending the Nightingale era and making a lasting investment in justice. The permanent courtrooms, as part of our Plan for Change, will help deliver faster justice and give much-needed clarity to victims and the staff who serve them. 

    Investment matters, but it isn’t enough on its own. We must deliver bold reforms to put the broken system we inherited – on the brink of collapse – back on sustainable ground.

    The move marks the end of the Nightingale courts initiative, which at its peak in July 2021 saw 60 temporary courtrooms operating in hotels, conference centres and office buildings to keep justice moving during the pandemic.   

    This year alone, the Government is investing £148.5 million to repair and upgrade courts across England and Wales – tackling longstanding maintenance issues, reducing delays caused by ageing infrastructure, and improving conditions for those who rely on them. 

    Alongside investment in the estate, Ministers have also increased funding for Crown Courts to sit a record 111,250 days this financial year. More sitting days means more hearings and faster justice. 

    The Deputy Prime Minister has also announced a bold package of reforms to bring down the Crown Court caseload which will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Bishop of Ely [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Bishop of Ely [January 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 January 2026.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Sarah Clark, Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow in the Diocese of Durham, for election as Bishop of Ely, in succession to The Right Reverend Stephen Conway, following his translation to the See of Lincoln.

    Background

    Sarah was educated at Loughborough University and prior to ordination worked as a civil servant within the Department of Employment. She trained for ministry at St. John’s College, Nottingham.  She served her title at St. James Porchester, in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, and was ordained Priest in 1999.

    In 2002, Sarah was appointed Rector of the United Benefice of Carlton-in-Lindrick and Langold with Oldcotes and, from 2009, she served as Team Rector of the Clifton Team Ministry in Nottingham. In 2011 Sarah became an honorary Canon of Southwell Minster and took on the additional role of Dean of Women’s Ministry. From 2014 she served as Archdeacon of Nottingham.

    In 2019, Sarah took up her current role as Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow and, since 2024, she has additionally served as Acting Diocesan Bishop of Durham since The Right Reverend Paul Butler’s retirement from that See.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Top British AI expertise to help spark renewal of public services and bolster national security [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Top British AI expertise to help spark renewal of public services and bolster national security [January 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 27 January 2026.

    Government sets out key part of its digital transformation agenda, bringing world class talent into Whitehall to modernise essential services.

    • UK AI experts join government to improve everyday public services including in transport and national security with $1 million from Meta.
    • Anthropic will collaborate with the government to create AI assistants that support job seekers with career advice and finding employment.
    • This forms a key part of the government’s wider digital transformation agenda, bringing world‑class talent into Whitehall to modernise essential services and deliver quicker, safer and more efficient outcomes for the public.

    People across the UK could benefit from faster, safer and more reliable public services as leading British AI specialists join government to modernise critical systems used every day – from public safety to transport maintenance.

    Backed by a $1 million investment from Meta and delivered through the Alan Turing Institute, this new cohort of AI fellows will spend the next year developing open‑source tools that tackle some of the biggest challenges facing public services.

    In transport, fellows will harness AI to develop models which analyse images and videos, enabling councils to prioritise infrastructure repairs more effectively.

    Specialists will develop cutting-edge AI solutions which run offline or within secured networks to support national security and defence teams to make vital decisions while safeguarding sensitive data.

    Ensuring emerging technologies like AI can go further and faster to support people at all stages of their lives, a new partnership with Anthropic also launches today to help build and pilot a dedicated assistant tool for public services. The AI assistant will support people through crucial life moments, starting with job seekers, providing custom career advice and help to lock down a job.

    The technology, which will be entirely optional, is part of a cutting-edge plan to use AI agents for national government services, with a pilot expected to begin later this year.

    Today’s announcement comes as the government marks a week of focused action, showcasing how emerging technologies like AI are being put to work for the public good, benefitting hardworking people at the point of delivery.

    A bold new vision for how tech will be used to help re-wire Whitehall will drive a further boost to the government’s digital transformation agenda. Launched in January 2025, the roadmap capitalises on the AI Opportunities Action Plan as it prepares to celebrate its first birthday, bringing the benefits of AI to the frontline of public services.

    Minister for Data and Modern Digital Government, Ian Murray said:

    A digital world needs a modern, digital government. That is why we are enlisting the homegrown talent we already have to elevate our public services.

    Having met the fellows I know they will play a pivotal role in re-wiring our healthcare, police, transport systems and more, to make sure hardworking people benefit from the opportunities that only technologies like AI can deliver.

    Rob Sherman, VP, Deputy Chief Privacy Officer, Policy, at Meta said:

    Meta is proud to help bring top British AI talent into government, fast-tracking the transformation of public services. Advanced AI is already woven into daily life—powering the UK’s economy, driving innovation, and enhancing quality of life for citizens. By placing AI experts at the heart of government institutions, we’re accelerating meaningful change and ensuring these benefits reach everyone.

    Pip White, Head of UK, Ireland and Northern Europe at Anthropic:

    We’re excited to partner with the UK government to help deliver on the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

    This partnership with the UK government is central to our mission. It demonstrates how frontier AI can be deployed safely for the public benefit, setting the standard for how governments integrate AI into the services their citizens depend on.

    Professor Mark Girolami, Acting CEO and Chief Scientist at the Alan Turing Institute said:

    AI has huge potential to help us anticipate risks, improve decision making and boost productivity, strengthening the UK’s resilience and prosperity. The new fellows will play an important role in putting effective AI tools into the hands of our public servants in order to realise these benefits.

    The programme brings together some of the UK’s leading AI researchers and practitioners including:

    • Dr Armin Mustafa, University of Surrey – an expert in computer vision and AI‑driven modelling
    • Angus Williams, Senior Data Scientist at the Alan Turing Institute – specialist in real‑world machine‑learning applications for the public sector
    • Dr Shan Luo, Associate Professor of Computer Vision at King’s College London – known for robotics‑led approaches to imaging and automated decision‑making
    • Dr Frank Soboczenski, Assistant Professor in AI at the University of York – a leader in trustworthy AI and safety‑critical systems
    • Dr Mingfei Sun, Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the University of Manchester – an expert in large-scale reinforcement learning

    Earlier this month, the UK government announced CustomerFirst – a new team within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) focused on eliminating long wait times, repetitive form‑filling and outdated processes across a number of public services. To accelerate this work, government is bringing in additional private‑sector expertise and emerging technology to deliver tangible improvements on the frontline.

    Led by Tristan Thomas, formerly of Monzo and with Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy as its first co‑chair, CustomerFirst will put modern technology to work to cut out long phone queues, reduce paperwork and make it easier and faster for people to access the services they rely on.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Solicitor General announces expansion of Victim’s Right to Review scheme [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Solicitor General announces expansion of Victim’s Right to Review scheme [January 2026]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 27 January 2026.

    More rape and sexual assault survivors across England and Wales will have the right to ask for their cases to be reviewed before a final decision to offer no evidence is made after pilot scheme is significantly expanded into three more regions.

    Following positive feedback from an initial pilot in the West Midlands, which launched in June 2025, the Solicitor General has confirmed the scheme will now expand to three more CPS Areas.

    Beginning with CPS North West in January, followed by CPS Yorkshire and Humberside in early February, and CPS Cyrmu-Wales in April. 

    Under the current system, criminal cases can be stopped at any point if a prosecutor decides there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. While victims can ask for the decision to be reviewed under the Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) scheme, this will not change the outcome. 

    The pilot gives victims of rape or serious sexual abuse the right for their case to be reviewed by a different prosecutor before any final decisions are made, and the chance to continue proceedings remains.  

    If that prosecutor determines there is enough evidence, the case will continue. 

    The move will help to enhance confidence in the justice system by giving victims more control over their case, getting them the answers they deserve and putting perpetrators behind bars. 

    The pilot is an important part of the government’s VAWG strategy, which sets out its commitment to halving violence against women and girls within a decade. 

    Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said: 

    Rape and sexual assault are abhorrent, causing long-lasting physical and emotional trauma to victims.  Victims who come forward deserve to know that their experiences are being heard.   

    This government is committed to halving violence against women and girls and following a positive pilot in the West Midlands, I am working with CPS to roll out the victims right to review pilot to three more regions. 

    This will increase routes to justice and above all, it will ensure victims are given fairness, dignity and are truly heard. 

    Survivors eligible for the pilot in the West Midlands – including those who did not request a review – gave positive feedback, saying they valued having the opportunity for their case to be reconsidered before a final decision was reached. 

    The expansion will allow the Crown Prosecution Service to gather further evidence and data on the scheme’s effectiveness before any decision is made on a national rollout. 

    Siobhan Blake, National CPS Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, said:  

    For survivors of rape and sexual offences, the possibility that their abuser may never face justice can be deeply distressing.  

    Victims deserve absolute confidence that every decision is made with care and expertise. Our specialist prosecutors usually get it right first time, but when we don’t — and a case that could have continued is stopped — an apology alone can never feel like justice.  

    Victims who have taken part so far have told us that simply having this option makes a positive difference.   

    I’m pleased we are now expanding the pilot so we can gather the evidence we need to understand the full impact and how best to support victims.

     Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott, said: 

    It’s encouraging to see the VRR pilot expanding further. From lived experience, I know the difference an earlier opportunity for review can make, and the learning from the West Midlands shows this clearly – survivors have said that simply having this option makes a positive difference.

    Adding this right is an important step forward. It helps build confidence in the justice system by giving victims greater control at a critical moment in their case and the chance to get the answers they deserve. The phased, evidence-led approach reflects constructive engagement and a genuine willingness to learn from what’s working. I’m proud to see this steady progress and grateful for the openness to change.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New and upgraded grassroots sport facilities to get the UK active [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New and upgraded grassroots sport facilities to get the UK active [January 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 January 2026.

    Nearly 1000 community projects across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland benefitting from new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities.

    • Boost will improve accessibility and sustainability, through multisport, all-weather pitches, goalposts, floodlights and community hubs – with 50% going to 30% most deprived communities in the UK
    • Move supports drive to break down barriers to opportunity, give families affordable ways to stay healthy, and deliver an NHS fit for the future 
    • Applications for £85 million of funding to be distributed in 2026/27 across the UK to open

    Nearly 1000 community projects across the UK are benefitting from new all-weather pitches, extended playing hours through floodlighting, and modern changing facilities designed to welcome underserved groups like women and girls, in a new boost for grassroots sport facilities by the Government. 

    991 projects across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been awarded funding through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2025/26, with more beneficiaries to be announced soon. 

    These new or refurbished facilities will give families low-cost options to stay active on their doorstep, helping when many are facing cost-of-living pressures. It will also open up opportunities to underserved groups like women and girls. At least half of all funding will go directly to the 30% most deprived communities in the UK. 

    Sports clubs and organisations will also benefit from new goalposts, fencing and new changing pavilions – all of which help make sites more accessible and sustainable for local communities. To ensure broader participation beyond football, at least 40% of funded projects must have a multi-sport offer. This approach will give more people access to a wider variety of sports and activities, such as rugby, cricket, and basketball.

    Full details of all the 991 projects funded through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2025/26 at time of writing to date are attached and available on GOV.UK.

    Today, the Government has also announced the allocations for the next £85million investment for 2026/27 for grassroots sports facilities, part of a £400 million boost launched by the Government in June 2025.  Applications are now open in England, with Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to follow.

    The announcement was made as Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy visited East Kilbride United Community Sports Club, who received £310,000 across 2024-26 for a new artificial pitch and changing pavilion at Kirktonholme. The upgraded facility now hosts women’s and girls’ teams, school PE lessons, and a walking football programme supporting men’s mental health. 

    It follows the Government  launching the ‘Team Up’ campaign yesterday, which has brought some of the UK’s biggest sport stars, sport governing bodies and charities together to tackle male loneliness using the power of sport through a wide range of initiatives across the country. More details are available on the new Team Up website.  

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, said:

    This is sport delivering for the nation. Every pound we invest in grassroots facilities is a pound that takes pressure off our NHS, supports mental and physical health, and opens doors for new community members to benefit from sport – like women and girls who’ve been shut out for too long.

    We’re supporting communities that have made do with run-down pitches and crumbling changing rooms for years. This government is turning that around – building the facilities that get people active, bring communities together, and nurture the next generation of sporting talent.

    Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said: 

    High quality sports facilities are vital. This season we’ve been celebrating 25 years of game changing impact in the grassroots game thanks to £1.3bn of funding from our partners the Premier League, The FA and Government since we started work in 2000.

    The funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, announced today, alongside that of the Premier League and The FA, ensures the Football Foundation can continue to deliver the football and multi-sport facilities that inspire people to play, get healthy and come together.   

    Football in England is evolving and we need to ensure the facilities support its growth. Guided by our Local Plans we systematically deliver where need is greatest and impact is strongest, creating inclusive opportunities for generations to come.  

    The £68.4m will help us support the growth of the women’s and girls’ game, provide the facilities that grassroots organisations need, back our biggest and best clubs and ensure we know about every pitch and how we can best support them.  

    We are excited about the next year, and look forward to working with our funding partners to continue to provide very community with a great place to play.” 

    Sport England Chief Executive, Simon Hayes said:

    Community sport sits at the heart of our society. It brings people together across the UK, helping them to connect, have fun and live healthier lives. But none of that is possible if there aren’t enough pitches and facilities, designed in the right way and located in the right places. We therefore very much welcome today’s announcement and look forward to working with the Government and our partners to ensure as many people as possible from all over the country have the chance to participate.

    Through new local sports facilities or critical upgrades to outdated facilities, the funding will deliver: 

    • New 3G grass pitches enabling year-round play regardless of weather
    • Upgraded changing pavilions with more appropriate changing facilities for women and girls
    • Floodlighting to extend playing hours into evenings and car parking for better accessibility
    • New goalposts, fencing and storage facilities to improve safety and access
    • Priority use time slots for women and girls teams at funded sites
    • Facilities that can host PE and school activities alongside community use
    • Sites that support health initiatives and community outreach programmes

    The funding is designed to promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion, remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups (such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities), and support the Government’s Plan for Change by breaking down barriers to opportunity and delivering an NHS fit for the future.  

    Today’s announcement is the latest part of a £400 million boost for grassroots sport facilities announced by the Government in June 2025. £98 million was invested in 2025/26. The 2026/27 investment includes £85million and a recently announced £5 million boost for basketball facilities (matched by £5 million from the NBA). Further details on £10million funding for innovative facilities models is due to be set out in the coming months. 

    Following the Lionesses’ defence of their European title last summer, the Government announced plans to more than double the share of primetime slots dedicated to women’s and girls’ teams. This will happen at facilities that have been funded by the Government, Premier League and The FA’s charity the Football Foundation over the next five years, with a clear long-term target of reaching equal access as demand grows.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors:

    2026-27 funding:

    Funding breakdown by nation:

    • England: £68.35 million (delivered through the Football Foundation)
    • Scotland: £8.14 million (delivered through the Scottish Football Association)
    • Wales: £5.735 million (delivered through the Cymru Football Foundation)
    • Northern Ireland: £2.775 million (delivered through the Irish Football Association)
    • Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis in England via the Football Foundation.
    • Application windows will open soon in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and the relevant FA websites will be updated with more details.

    Funding in action for 2025-26: 

    Scotland – East Kilbride United Community Sports Club

    • East Kilbride United received a grant of £200,000 towards a new artificial grass pitch in 2024/25, followed by a grant of £110,000 towards a new changing pavilion in 2025/26 for their facilities at Kirktonholme. 
    • The addition of a changing pavilion has enabled greater use of the facility by women and girls teams. The facility is now used for PE school activities, and the club runs a range of health initiatives and community outreach programmes, including a walking football group supporting men’s mental health.

    England – Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation, Ben Scott’s Field

    • The project is receiving £990,248 towards the development of a new World Rugby 22 and FIFA Quality 3G pitch, new changing pavilion with office space, social/community room and kitchen, as well as new access and car parking.
    • The site offers crucial multi-sport availability, being designed to support rugby, with Guisborough Rugby Club using the site for training as well as hosting the RFU’s T1 Rugby programme, a fun and inclusive, non-contact version of rugby union designed for all ages and abilities.
    • The site will also boost access for women and girls, being supported by partner club Skelton United, who would have 13 women and girls teams on site by year five.
    • The Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation will also deliver Premier League Kicks and Wildcats provision to support recreational women and girls activity. 
    • A key aim of the project is to support under-represented groups with programmes to support Mental Health, Disability through team growth and the North Riding FA Ability Counts League, Warm Space (a cost-of-living programme), Match Fit and Team Talk (linked to public health).

    England – Academies Enterprise Trust, Lift Tendring School

    • The project is receiving £1,000,000 towards the development of a 3G pitch.
    • This project is aimed at improving access for under-represented groups and has a strong women and girls focus, with recreational programmes such as Wildcats and Squad Girls, in addition to the proposed growth of ten new women and girls teams in the next five years. 
    • Sessions are also proposed free of charge through Colchester United Community Trust, as well as mental health provision and walking football.
    • The new 3G pitch allows football to migrate out of the indoor sports hall providing an opportunity for greater collaboration and usage of other sports such as Pickleball, Badminton, Netball and Basketball which will be possible in the existing indoor space.

    Wales – Afan United Project

    • The project received £315,360 towards a full size artificial grass pitch upgrade and new changing pavilion.
    • It is a multi-sport flagship project, including rugby and rounders activity.
    • The site offers a percentage of priority use slots to women and girls.

    Northern Ireland – Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Foyle Arena 3G Development project 

    • This project received £200,842 towards a full size artificial grass pitch upgrade.
    • It is a multi sport flagship project, including Cricket, Rugby, Running, GAA and PE school activity
    • Derry City FC Women will use this facility as their home facility

    Team Up campaign: 

    • The campaign unites sport to tackle male loneliness, promote social connection, and highlight support for men’s mental health. 
    • During the week of 26 January – 1 February, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working with the Premier League, EFL, Rugby Football Union, England and Wales Cricket Board and Movember on the campaign, using sport’s collective voice to show young men that help is out there and where they can find it.
  • PRESS RELEASE : 450,000 disadvantaged pupils could benefit from AI tutoring tools [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : 450,000 disadvantaged pupils could benefit from AI tutoring tools [January 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 26 January 2026.

    Safe AI tutoring tools co-created with teachers to be available to schools by the end of 2027, helping to close the attainment gap.

    Up to 450,000 children from disadvantaged backgrounds could benefit from safe AI powered tutoring tools providing personalised, one-to-one learning support – levelling the playing field for those who cannot afford private tutors.

    The government’s mission is to break down barriers to opportunity so every child, regardless of background, can achieve and thrive. Currently, too many disadvantaged children are lagging behind their peers with just one in four achieving a pass in English and maths at GCSE at grade 5 or above, compared to over half of their peers.

    Evidence shows that one to one tutoring can accelerate a pupil’s learning by around five months, but access to tutoring is deeply unequal, with children from wealthier families far more likely to benefit. The government is running a tender for industry to co-create AI tutoring tools with teachers, with the goal of bringing these tools to a similar level of quality, so that we can offer, at scale, the kind of personalised one to one support often only available to a privileged few.

    By adapting to individual pupils’ needs, the tools could provide extra help when they get stuck and identify where they need more practice to master their lessons, with the potential to help them catch up with their peers.

    From Summer term this year, there will be teacher-led co-creation of AI tutoring tools with industry. The tools will then be available to schools by the end of 2027. From years 9 – 11 alone this means the tools could support up to 450,000 children a year on free school meals to access one to one tutoring.

    Under the plans the government will work alongside teachers, AI labs and leading tech companies to robustly test AI tutoring tools, so they are safe and work for pupils, including the most disadvantaged, and school staff. This includes ensuring they work in tandem with the National Curriculum to build on children’s learning in class.  

    The tools will help drive up standards by complementing high-quality face-to-face teaching – not replacing it – offering targeted support to students who need it most while also pushing the most able pupils to go further, so every child can achieve and thrive.

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:

    Our mission is to break the link between background and destiny, and we’re working hand-in-hand with teachers to make that a reality. AI tutoring tools have the potential to transform access to tailored support for young people, taking tutoring from a privilege of the lucky few, to every child who needs it – so all children can achieve and thrive.

    But AI tools are only helpful in education if they are safe and support learning – and that is a non-negotiable. We will ensure tutoring tools are designed with teachers and rigorously tested, so they enhance pupils’ learning and keep our children safe online, never replacing the human connection that only great teachers can provide.

    Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall, said:

    Every child should have an equal shot at success, no matter their background – but in reality, too many disadvantaged children are falling behind their peers in school.

    We’re determined to close that gap. That’s why we are going to work with teachers and tech experts to make safe, smart AI tutoring tools available to schools by the end of 2027 – providing extra help for kids who couldn’t otherwise afford it.

    Alongside the high quality, face-to-face teaching of our brilliant educators, this will help level the playing field for hundreds of thousands of children from disadvantaged backgrounds to make the most of their education by removing the barriers that get in the way.

    Trials of the AI tutoring tools will begin later this year with children in secondary schools across the country, drawing on first-hand experience from teachers. Their expertise and feedback will ensure the tools are at their most effective, with evidence gathered from trials then informing their wider use.

    Robust benchmarks will also be developed so parents and teachers can be confident that AI tools for use by pupils are high quality, reliable and most importantly safe.

    Teachers and school staff will be supported with clear, practical training developed with the education sector, so they have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to use AI safely and effectively.

    The announcement today builds on the measures announced last week to ensure opportunities to harness the benefits of AI and technology in education can be maximised and protect young people from online harms including:

    • Launching a consultation on children’s social media use and banning phones in schools to protect young people’s wellbeing and ensure safer online experiences.
    • Developing the first-ever guidance on screen use for under-fives to offer parents practical support on balancing screens with play, speaking and reading.
    • A £23 million investment to expand the government’s EdTech Testbeds pilot programme – enabling more than 1,000 schools and colleges to test AI tools and assistive technology, supporting teachers from primary school onwards by saving them time and reducing workloads.
    • Updated safety standards that will ensure tech companies meet the high bar the government expects when developing tools for use in education, with a focus on tackling emerging risks like AI affecting learning, emotional and social development.