NHS waiting lists down |
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Since July 2024, the waiting list is down by more than 225,000 despite 28.4 million referrals, making a huge difference to people’s lives up and down the country. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said, “We said our elective reform plan would get waiting lists down, and one year on that’s exactly what it’s delivering. Along with record investment, we’re doing things differently to get patients seen quicker, back to work and living their lives. By sending crack teams into hospitals to supercharge care, opening more community diagnostic centres longer and later, and cutting wasteful spending, we’re turning the tanker round and patients are starting to feel the difference.” |
£200 million for SEND teacher training |
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Backed by £200 million, new courses available to all teaching staff will deepen knowledge of how to adapt their teaching to meet a wide range of needs in the classroom, including visual impairments and speech and language needs. Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, who visited Uplands Primary School and Nursery’s new provision for 2-year-olds with Bracknell MP Peter Swallow this week, said, “Every child, wherever they live and whatever their needs, should have the opportunity to go to a local school where they can achieve and thrive. That’s why we’re equipping staff across every stage of education with more training on SEND and inclusion than ever before – helping to deliver our vision of a truly inclusive education system.” |
Environment Secretary tackling ‘completely unacceptable’ water supply failure |
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Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds has spoken with the Chair of South East Water and visited Tunbridge Wells, following weeks of water supply disruption. She visited the town to see for herself the conditions local residents were facing, which – along with East Grinstead – has been heavily impacted for over a week. The government is making changes to ensure that water bosses are being held accountable for significant failures. We have more than doubled compensation rates for households and businesses when their water services fail and banned unfair bonuses for water bosses – with 10 bonuses blocked last year worth £4 million. The government will also create a new single water regulator with stronger oversight of the whole industry, building on wider efforts to fix crumbling water infrastructure and secure future supplies through £104 billion of ringfenced investment. |
First ever UK Town of Culture competition launched |
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With 11 weeks to apply, the competition is open to small, medium and large towns, with the winner delivering a vibrant cultural programme. Showcasing towns’ local visions and voices – through new arts venues, performances, workshops and more – this competition brings local investment, creates a lasting sense of pride in towns, and opens doors to the arts for everyone. Towns can submit their Expressions of Interest now until 31 March 2026. Sir Phil Redmond will lead an expert panel, judging towns on the way they’ll tell their unique story, how they’ll bring everyone in a community together, and how towns will deliver on their vision. The strongest bids will progress to a shortlist, with each shortlisted town receiving £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition. Three finalists – one small, one medium, one large town – will be chosen. The winner will be crowned UK Town of Culture 2028 and receive a £3 million prize. The two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their bid, from refreshed community infrastructure to electric music festivals. Get your application in! |
New national forest plans take root |
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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has opened an Expression of Interest process for parties demonstrating expertise in large-scale woodland creation, community engagement, and cross-sector partnerships. The new national forest in the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor will be the second of three new national forests pledged in the government’s manifesto, following the Western Forest in the West of England. These new national forests will help deliver national renewal for communities, driving economic growth while enhancing nature and bringing trees closer to where people live. Millions of trees are expected to be planted in the years ahead as part of a wider commitment to allocate over £1 billion this parliament to tree planting and support to the forestry sector. |