News

Swindon Advertiser Column - Supporting Young People Through Difficult Times

Apr 30, 2021

As we navigate our way back to normality, these are very different times for our younger residents. For those now seeking work, it was announced this week that an impressive 260 young people a day are taking up new jobs as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme. The scheme offers fully funded 6-month high quality placements to 16-24-year olds who are claiming Universal Credit and are at risk of long-term unemployment. Employers will receive funding for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wa...

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Landmark Domestic Abuse Bill Receives Royal Assent 

Apr 29, 2021

The Domestic Abuse Bill has passed both Houses of Parliament and been signed into law, providing protection to millions of people who experience domestic abuse and strengthening measures to tackle perpetrators. For the first time in history there will be a wide-ranging legal definition of domestic abuse which incorporates a range of abuses beyond physical violence, including emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, and economic abuse. The measures include important new protections and suppo...

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£1.8 Billion To Keep Schools In Top Condition

Apr 28, 2021

Every school in England will be able to access a share of almost £1.8 billion this year to help keep their buildings in the best possible condition. The annual allocations provided to maintain school buildings will increase by over 20% to £1.8 billion this financial year, helping deliver the government’s commitment to build back better from the pandemic. This comes on top of the one-off funding injection of £560 million announced by the Prime Minister last year, making sure the condition of scho...

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Government announces terms of reference for fan-led review of football

Apr 27, 2021

The review will be wide-ranging in nature and will examine the potential for changes to ownership models, governance, how finance flows through the game and how to give supporters a greater say in the running of the game. The launch of the fan-led review comes following a number of high profile collapses in recent years including Bury Football Club that went into administration last year after being expelled from the Football League in 2019. It also comes after six of the game’s leading clubs mo...

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£7 million Global Screen Fund Launched

Apr 26, 2021

- Independent companies to benefit from grants for business development, co-production, and international distribution - Funding welcomed by Jude Law, Gemma Arterton, David Parfitt and Barbara Broccoli More British film and screen content will reach an international stage thanks to a £7 million UK Global Screen Fund launched today by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden. Developed in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI), the fund will support the UK independent screen sector to export t...

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Swindon Advertiser Column - Football Super League Was A PR Disaster But Fans Won The Day

Apr 23, 2021

Proposals for a football European Super League shook the football world this week. Plans for Europe’s 12 self-declared elite clubs (though that itself is up for debate when you look at some of their sparse trophy cabinets!) planned a closed shop, multi-billion-pound football competition. In one crass PR launch (tellingly announced to meet US media deadlines, rather than where the clubs are based) they simply united everyone against these plans – leading to condemnation from fans, football author...

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Justin Welcomes Fan-Led Review Into Football Governance

Apr 22, 2021

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed the news of a fan-led review into how the Government can support football clubs across the country, following moves to create a European Super League. Justin joined many, including Secretary of State for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Oliver Dowden MP, in raising concerns regarding proposals for a breakaway league of European clubs – including 6 Premier League clubs. Writing in the Swindon Advertiser, Justin Tomlinson said: “Football provides e...

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UK enshrines new target in law to slash emissions by 78% by 2035

Apr 20, 2021

UK government to set in law world’s most ambitious climate change target, cutting emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels For the first time, UK’s sixth Carbon Budget will incorporate the UK’s share of international aviation and shipping emissions This would bring the UK more than three-quarters of the way to net zero by 2050 The UK government will set the world’s most ambitious climate change target into law to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, it was anno...

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Justin Celebrates More Community Champions

Apr 19, 2021

Justin has celebrated the contribution of more Community Champions to recognise their work to support their communities throughout the pandemic. The latest group of award recipients were nomination by Cllr Rahul Tarar for the work they have done to support people in Tadpole Garden Village. Coral van der Kamp Coral is a community champion here at Tadpole Garden Village (TGV), fundraising and organising TGV In Bloom's Open Plot Events. The money raised for TGV is used for flowers and bulbs for t...

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Swindon Advertiser Column - A Positive Week In The Fight Against Covid

Apr 16, 2021

This week felt like we had taken a significant step forward in our fight against COVID and a return to normality. On Monday, the second stage of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown began – this saw non-essential retail reopen, hairdressers and beauticians being able to see clients, and pubs serving customers outside. This has been an incredibly difficult time for these businesses, so it was great to see people getting excited about returning to pubs or getting their hair done! Now, more th...

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