Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Business Secretary warns energy suppliers to end mistreatment of customers [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 23 January 2023.

The Business and Energy Secretary is today calling on suppliers to do more to protect vulnerable energy users.
- Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps backs consumers as offensive launched to crack down on rogue energy suppliers
- Energy suppliers told they must stop the practice of forced fitting prepayment meters as the answer to families struggling to pay bills, following a huge surge in cases
- The Business Secretary asks suppliers to share data on the number of warrants they have requested for this purpose to name and shame worst offenders
Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has today (22 January 2023) pledged to crack down on the mistreatment of energy users by suppliers, following reports showing some are doing nowhere near enough to support vulnerable customers.

He has written to energy suppliers calling on them to stop the harmful and anxiety inducing practice of forcibly moving consumers over to prepayment meters without taking every step to support consumers in difficulty.

The Business Secretary is asking suppliers to voluntarily commit to stopping this practice and holding their feet to the fire by demanding they share the number of warrants they’ve applied for in recent months.

He wants to see much greater efforts from suppliers to help consumers in payment difficulties before leaping to the extreme of forced prepayment switching, such as offers of additional credit, debt forgiveness or tools such as debt advice. In his letter, he has asked suppliers to discuss possible further action they can take to support customers and avoid forced fitting.

This action is part of a drive to increase transparency around prepayment meter installations, to track down the worst culprits and find out which energy companies are trigger happy in applying for them.

Courts are being overwhelmed with applications for warrants as they continue to mount, with reports that huge batches are being approved in a matter of minutes. The Business Secretary is working with Ofgem and the Secretary of State for Justice to ensure that the process by which suppliers bring these cases to court is fair, transparent and supports vulnerable customers.

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Grant Shapps, said:

“Suppliers are clearly jumping the gun and moving at risk customers onto prepayment meters before offering them the support they are entitled to – I simply cannot believe that every possible alternative has been exhausted in all these cases.

“I am deeply concerned to see reports of customers being switched to prepayment meters against their will, with some disconnected from supply – and quite literally left in the dark.

“Rather than immediately reaching for a new way to extract money out of customers, I want suppliers to stop this practice and lend a more sympathetic ear, offering the kind of forbearance and support that a vulnerable customer struggling to pay should be able to expect.”

This follows reports that the number of customers switched to prepayment meters has soared in recent months, and in many cases unwillingly and without the offer of support. In some instances, this has led to vulnerable customers having their gas and electricity supplies cut off with little or no notice.

Prepayment meters allow customers to pay for gas and electricity on a pay-as-you-go basis and serve an important function by helping the avoidance of debt and court action. A moratorium on forced prepayment switching could lead to an increase in bailiff action and so the Government wishes to avoid going down this route.

Under Ofgem rules forced switching to prepayment must only ever be a last resort but, with the nation battling with energy prices, more have struggled to pay their bills and been forced installations and self-disconnection. In recognition of this, some energy suppliers are already taking steps to support consumers such as by pausing remote switching of smart meters to prepayment mode or providing additional credit to customers struggling to pay. The Business Secretary wants all suppliers to step up this kind of support to avoid resorting to forced fitting.

Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart said:

“Switching users onto a prepayment plan should only ever be a very last resort and suppliers have a duty to exhaust all other avenues. It cannot be right that, at a time when consumers need compassionate treatment more than ever, so many are being let down in this way.

“The Government will continue to do all we can to ensure families and households stay warm this winter and we’re taking urgent action to bring about greater transparency when it comes to bad energy supplier practice.”

Concerns were also raised around the low number of vouchers being redeemed under the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme – meaning many vulnerable households had not had cash knocked off their energy bills. Suppliers are urged to make every attempt to make sure this happens, with the Government to publish a list of supplier redemption rates – showing who is meeting their responsibilities and who needs to do more.

The Business Secretary is worried about the low uptake of customers on traditional meters in prepayment mode and has demanded more transparent reporting of voucher redemption rates. He has encouraged traditional meter replacement with smart meters as they are able to receive government support payments automatically and detect self-disconnection.

Mr Shapps has written to Ofgem to ask that they do more to make sure suppliers protect vulnerable consumers. This includes revisiting their approach to enforcing supplier compliance, as well as the urgent publication of recent investigations outcomes into vulnerable customers. The Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart has asked energy suppliers, Ofgem, Energy UK and Citizens Advice to meet with him at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to discuss matters further next week.

The five-point plan to tackle bad behaviour by energy suppliers comprises the following actions:
1. A call for suppliers to voluntarily stop the practice of forced prepayment switching as the answer to households struggling to pay bills and make greater effort to help the most vulnerable.
2. Request of the release of supplier data on the number of warrant applications they have made to forcibly enter homes to install meters.
3. Urgent publication of a list of supplier redemption rates for the Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers – showing who is meeting their responsibilities and who needs to do more.
4. The launch of a Government public information campaign reminding and informing eligible consumers to redeem their Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers and how to do so. This will be through both advertising and direct communication channels, targeting the most vulnerable and those most likely not to have redeemed vouchers.
5. Coordination with Ofgem ensure they take a more robust approach to the protection of vulnerable customers and conduct a review to make sure suppliers are complying with rules.
The five-point plan forms part of a wider effort to ensure that energy users are protected at this challenging time and the Government is exploring longer term measures to address this.
January 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Northern Ireland Secretary to drum up investment opportunities in Northern Ireland in first official US trip [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 22 January 2023.

The Secretary of State will use his first visit to the US to build on the already strong US-NI partnership and to drum up investment opportunities in Northern Ireland.

The Secretary of State will also meet with range of key political, business and civic organisation including the State Department, the National Security Council, members of congress, business and trade organisations and councils and the Ad Hoc Committee to Protect the Good Friday Agreement – as part of routine US-UK engagement on Northern Ireland issues.

While there, he will also highlight his efforts in securing functioning devolved institutions to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland, and separately, this year’s 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, which will be marked by celebrations on both sides of the Atlantic.

During his five day visit, the Secretary of State will meet with Joe Kennedy III for their first in-person meeting since his appointment as US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs. They will discuss the upcoming Trade and Investment event in NI, announced in the Autumn Statement, and further opportunities to showcase NI’s creative high-tech business environment and the unique trade and investment opportunities it offers.

Before departing for Washington, Heaton-Harris said:

I am excited to meet US stakeholders in person for the first time as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The US has been pivotal in supporting Northern Ireland. I greatly value our partnership and look forward to deepening our collaboration, especially in areas of trade and investment.

Through a busy agenda of meetings with business and government representatives I will raise awareness of Northern Ireland’s offering as a great place to live, work and do business and encourage continued trade and investment opportunities from the US.

As the 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement approaches, I look forward to discussing with US stakeholders the UK Government’s plans to mark this significant milestone. The US and UK share a commitment to upholding the Agreement and continuing to transform Northern Ireland for the better.

January 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Coronation weekend celebrations that will bring communities together announced [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 21 January 2023.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tom* who regularly attends ThruLife said:

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

Richard Allicock, the founder of Thru Life, said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hitesh Patel, Executive Director of the Coalition, added:

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

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

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

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

Community leads the project

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

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

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

Disused Pavilion to become community hub

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

New hub to offer community support

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

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

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

A location for several community services

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

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

The future of the Jubilee Centre assured

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

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

Boosting Ramsgate’s economy with £19.8 million investment

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

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

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

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

New community spaces

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

Benefiting local people in Ramsgate

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

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

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

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

Preparing for the future

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

Preserving the past

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

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

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

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

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

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

Improvements to Corwen Station

Station and car park upgrades include:
- an active travel route along the former railway line between Corwen and Cynwyd
- electric vehicle charging points
These improvements will:
- bring the area back to life as a global tourist attraction
- provide a major boost to the local economy
January 21, 2023