This week 65 previously unfunded local areas across England have received their share of a £12 million development grant to begin building their Best Start Family Hub offer. This includes 10 areas sharing nearly £2 million in the South East.

The grant comes on top of an over £500 million investment to create up to 1,000 hubs across the country, rolling out from April 2026

Congratulations to everyone in Oxfordshire and beyond who has campaigned to secure a new home for Oxford United FC.

This week the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed they have taken the next step to approve planning. Bring on the new stadium!

A record £10.5 billion investment in flood defences will defend nearly 900,000 properties in England, with new rules to get defences built more quickly.

Floods minister Emma Hardy said, “For too long, deprived towns and cities struggled to secure the vital money needed for flood defences due to a complicated and outdated process.

Our reforms will rip this up and help communities get back on their feet after floods – by unlocking economic growth, building new homes and creating new jobs.”

Nearly 2 million veterans can now benefit from a digital version of the Veteran Card, which will make it easier and quicker to access key services and discounts via their smartphones.

From today, Friday 17 October, it will give veterans a seamless way to confirm their status in person and will include information already featured on their physical card

A new government campaign and collaboration with Peppa Pig will help parents get the right advice on things like nutrition, sleep and development for their children.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said, “In between sleepless nights, potty training and weaning their children, it’s no wonder so many knackered parents feel they need to turn to unverified social media posts for advice about their child’s health and development. But it’s vital they get reliable information – and that’s why this Best Start in Life campaign is so important, and the health benefits are so clear.”