10 million free breakfasts served |
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Ten million free breakfasts have been served to children across England through the government’s free breakfast club programme — unlocking 5 million hours of childcare and representing potential savings of up to £25 million in childcare costs for working families. Over 300,000 children across 1,250 clubs are already benefiting, including 110 clubs here in the South East. Families are saving up to £450 and 95 hours a year. That is real money, real time, and real relief for parents juggling work and family life at a time when every penny. |
Supercharging the Ox-Cam Corridor |
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The government’s ongoing work to unleash the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor continues with the announcement that Universal United Kingdom Resort will employ thousands of people, and entertain millions more. The development will create 28,000 jobs between construction and operation. Universal expects the site to generate nearly £50 billion of economic benefit by 2055. The government’s investment unlocks regional transport and infrastructure improvements that will maximise the benefits of the development and enable wider growth across the region. These include plans to upgrade the strategic road network on the A421, and funding to support a new Eastern entrance at Bletchley train station to maximise the opportunities of East-West Rail. |
Helping young people into work |
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Young people across the country will be helped onto the career ladder thanks to the creation of 300,000 new work experience and training placements in sectors including construction, health and social care and hospitality. The new placements, part of a £2.5 billion youth employment support package, will see young people gain hands-on experience, build real skills and move into sustained work. |
Cutting energy bills with community batteries |
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Community batteries store electricity when it is cheaper and more abundant – including from renewable sources – and release it when demand is higher. That can reduce reliance on expensive peak-time electricity while making the energy system more flexible. They allow multiple homes to access stored electricity, meaning more households can make better use of clean, cheap energy and cut bills. The government’s call for evidence launched yesterday will seek to unlock barriers so shared battery storage can be rolled out across the UK, helping working people, including renters or those living in flats, to save money. |
D-Day anniversary remembrance |
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Saturday 6th June 2026 marks the 82nd anniversary of the Normandy Landings. The Ministry of Defence are providing funding to the Royal British Legion to support Second World War veterans travelling to attend remembrance ceremonies in Europe, allowing them to return to sites of profound historical and personal importance. Defence Secretary John Healey MP said, “Standing at Utah Beach during previous D-Day commemorations, I was struck by the extraordinary courage of those who came ashore in 1944 – young men facing unimaginable danger to secure the freedoms we endure today. While we can never repay the depth of their service, I am determined to ensure we honour our Second World War veterans and their extraordinary contribution to our freedom.” |
