ST JAMES QUARTER ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF EDINBURGH SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
Ahoy seafood lovers! The Edinburgh Seafood Festival, in association with The Scotsman, is set to make a splash as it returns to St James Quarter, bringing delicious culinary delights from the Quarter and beyond from Friday 31st March – Sunday 2nd April.
The festival will showcase a selection of the highest quality, locally sourced seafood as well as the impressive talents of the gastronomic geniuses behind some of St James Quarter’s most exciting dining destinations.
Guests looking to brush up on their culinary skills can enjoy a range of workshops and demonstrations, hosted by the experts on the Seafood Stage, located on Level 1, on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April.
Scotland’s National Chef, Chef Gary Maclean will take centre stage on Saturday, from 11am sharing his top tips for cooking fish at home and showcasing his skills in the live demonstration space.
Maki & Ramen’s Founder and Managing Director, Teddy Lee, will also share his culinary secrets and bring a taste of traditional Japanese cuisine to Edinburgh with sushi making masterclasses.
Also part the Seafood Stage line-up, guests can enjoy a fun-filled cooking demo from Jimmy Lee of Bonnie & Wild favourite, Salt and Chilli Oriental. Expert duo Chef Brian Grigor and Sommelier Glen Montgomery, the team behind restaurant eòrna, opening in Stockbridge this Spring, will also host an interactive workshop.
The ever-popular Oysterman will return to this year’s festival, joined by Miss Caviar, offering guests the chance to indulge in seafood delicacies while they explore the Festival.
For serious foodies and seafood lovers, Miele, on Level 2, will play host to two unique and unmissable events. On Saturday, 1st April, Chef Gary Maclean will host an intimate cooking demonstration and book signing, with all guests enjoying fizz on arrival, the chance to learn from the expert up close, and take home a signed copy of his book, Gary Maclean’s Scottish Kitchen.
On Sunday, 2nd April, Chef Paul Wedgwood will host an exclusive nine course seafood dinner and tasting menu, in Miele’s state-of-the-art, stylish kitchen. Twelve guests will have the exciting opportunity to see Paul, who was just named Chef of the Year at the Scottish Excellence Awards, at work and enjoy his creative and exquisite dishes that will highlight the very best of Scottish produce.
New to this year’s line-up, The Seafood and Street Food Market will make its debut on Register Square from Friday, 31 March – Sunday, 2 April, giving foodies the chance to dive into a world of flavour and try some tasty street food. Whether you’re looking for a poke bowl, seafood pizza or fish and chips, there will be a vast selection on offer from vendors across Scotland including Spanish Moskito Bites, Mana Poke and Lemon Squeezy.
Those who are inspired to cook with fish at home can pick up fresh Scottish fish and seafood from the Quarter’s very own fishmonger. Guests can also experience a taste of the Outer Hebrides by visiting the Isle of Harris Gin pop up shop to sample or buy the brand’s award-winning gin, made with locally harvested Sugar Kelp seaweed. There will be a pop-up Prosecco and Sangria bar too – the perfect accompaniment to the seafood delights on offer.
There are also opportunities to sample delicious dishes and seafood specials throughout the Quarter. If you’re looking for a reel treat, then enjoy the luxury experience of Bonnie & Wild’s Champagne and Oyster Bar – open from 12pm on April 1st only.
From 4-6pm, Duck and Waffle will host a Shucking Awesome Oyster Happy Hour, with £1.50 oysters and perfectly paired drinks. Ka Pao is ready to make waves with its seafood specials menu, inspired by the team’s recent trip to Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Guests can also enjoy a Greek take on the classic fish and chips at The Real Greek, and a limited-edition fish and chips bagel from the team at Bross Bagels.
As if that wasn’t enough, there will be an educational RNLI pop-up, live entertainment from local talent on Level 4, a fin-tastic play area in LEGO and under the sea glitter face painting for the kids (and adults too!).
If you’re in the market for a little retail therapy, then look no further. As consumers become increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases, many retailers are recognising the importance of sustainability.
From recycling stations in H&M, John Lewis and The Perfume Shop to refillable cosmetics in newly opened Space NK and The Body Shop, brands across the Quarter will be spotlighting their sustainable collections and product ranges or initiatives throughout the Seafood Festival.
Nick Peel, Managing Director St James Quarter,said: “It’s great to be bringing back Edinburgh Seafood Festival to St James Quarter. This year’s festival is set to be bigger and better than ever and will offer an amazing range of seafood options from dining destinations around the Quarter and beyond.
“From a jam-packed schedule of events including live cooking demonstrations and workshops with some of the country’s top chefs, as well as the new addition of the Seafood Market in Register Square, there’s lots of exciting activities and entertainment planned to keep the whole family entertained.
“Guest experience is front and centre of everything we do, so we’re really excited to be bringing another unique and memorable experience to the city. We look forward to welcoming as many people as possible to St James Quarter to enjoy this year’s Edinburgh Seafood Festival – be sure to catch it while you can!”
A new government-backed national day of action will be marked today (Monday 27 March) to boost the number of people with a learning disability or autism spectrum condition in employment.
Led by the charity DFN Project SEARCH, the first-ever National Supported Internship Day showcases the tremendous contribution young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) can make to the workforce.
In Edinburgh, the City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian and Virgin Hotels will hold a series of events throughout the week, including a celebration for newly graduated interns. Young people will take over the city’s Project SEARCH social media channel on Monday to share what they are getting up to on their supported internships.
Employers in all sectors are also being called upon to redouble efforts to employ young adults with SEND and come together to challenge the everyday misconceptions that all too often unfairly shape their life opportunities.
Councillor Mandy Watt, Depute Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Training and employment chances were pulled from under young people’s feet because of Covid. So, one of our biggest priorities in the aftermath of the pandemic has been to improve opportunities and outcomes for our young people, including those with complex needs.
“I’m proud of the inspiring and talented group of graduates we’ve nurtured. Many have held internships with us while others have been supported by NHS Lothian and Virgin Hotels.
“This day of action, I want to call on other Edinburgh-based employers to follow suit. We require a variety of placements every year to ensure we’re able to provide a full range of experiences to our young people and interested organisations should get in touch with Edinburgh Project Search.
“These are ten-week work placements beginning in September and the benefits are life-changing. They give special young people the same opportunities as their peers and space to shine.
“The placements can unlock confidence, build CV skills and be the difference between someone choosing to enter the workforce or feeling unable to. Plus, employers may well find their intern is exactly the type of person they’ve been looking for to expand their talent pool.”
Luke Baillie has been taking part in the programme and has a placement at Edinburgh’s bus station. He said: “Project SEARCH gives us the chance to get real work experience, build our CV and prepare for employment.
“It allows us to build our confidence and learn skills we otherwise wouldn’t be able to access. It changes our lives.
Adam Gray, Regional Director of People, Scotland at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, said: “At Virgin Hotels, our teammates are fundamental to our success. It is important to us that our teammates reflect the guests that we welcome to our hotels, inclusive of everyone.
“Being a host business with DFN Project Search Edinburgh is something we are incredibly passionate about and proud to be the first privately owned organisation to do so.
“National Supported Internship Day is a great way to shine a light on the incredible talents of the interns of the 2022/2023 Cohort, and showcase the positive impact that supported internships have on business, organisations and also the local community.”
Most recent figures show that just 4.1% of young adults with a learning disability and/or autism in Scotland enter secure paid employment following education, compared to 80% of their peers.
Supported internships – work-based study programmes for 16 to 29-year-olds with SEND – dramatically change the employment outcomes for those who take part. DFN Project SEARCH figures show that 70% of people who complete their supported internships achieve this and successfully remain in employment.
Having meaningful paid employment is known to improve health and wellbeing and is central to individual identity and social status. If given the correct support and opportunities, young adults with SEND can thrive in a wide variety of jobs.
Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho said: “Supported Internships provide brilliant support to young people with EHC plans, equipping them with the skills they need to have fulfilling and successful careers.
“This is why we are boosting investment for the internships by doubling their numbers, and through the extra £3m the Chancellor announced last week we’ll explore ways to extend this programme to young people with SEND and without an EHC plan.
“Ensuring successful transitions into adulthood is a central part of our SEND and AP Improvement Plan, through which we will make sure all children and young people have the support they needed, no matter where they live or what school they go to.”
David Forbes Nixon, Founder and Executive Chair of DFN Project SEARCH, said: “We created National Supported Internships Day to give every young adult with a learning disability the same opportunities as anyone else to transition from education to employment.
“There is often a fear factor among employers of getting it wrong in hiring young adults with a learning disability, but it doesn’t need to be like that. It makes good business sense to explore the wealth of untapped potential among this group of enthusiastic and capable young people.
“They are keen, ambitious, and have an array of talent to offer employers.”
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is partnering with BBC Radio 2 by handing out 3,000 free packets of seeds across little dobbies’ Stockbridge and the garden centres in Edinburgh and Livingston from today (Monday 27 March) to encourage residents to brighten up their green spaces this spring. There will be a total of 75,000 seed packets given out across the UK.
It’s part of the BBC’s Let It Grow initiative, to inspire new growers, both young and old, to discover the joy of planting and growing, and encourage them to turn grey spaces into wild and colourful places to help support British wildlife.
Dobbies is proud to support the initiative, while also educating on sustainable gardening methods and championing pollinator-friendly seeds.
Designed for all ages and gardening abilities, Dobbies invites novice gardeners and experts alike to head along to their nearest store and collect a free packet of seeds to sow this spring.
Spring is a great time in the horticultural diary to get into gardening and a good opportunity to plant beautiful bright blooms for the season ahead. Customers can pick up either Calendula, Borage or Nasturtium seeds at their local store which are perfect for a seasonal garden refresh.
Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting this fantastic initiative by the BBC. Spring is a great time of year to get gardening and we’re excited to see the nation’s gardens bloom and the wildlife flourish with our free seeds.
Marcus also shares his top tips for sowing these seeds: “Calendula, Borage and Nasturtium are fuss-free plants that are easy to sow and care for and great for injecting some colour to your garden. As we approach the warmer months and the sun heats the ground, it couldn’t be a better time to sow these seeds.
“At Dobbies, we recommend sowing your seeds inside, under a cover or in a greenhouse to maximise the success of germination. Once the seeds have grown to be bushy young plants, and the frosts have finished, then they are ready to be planted into your outdoor pots or borders.”
Thompson & Morgan are supplying the seeds in partnership with Dobbies and customers are encouraged to visit little dobbies’ Stockbridge concept store and garden centres in Edinburgh and Livingston to collect a free packet.
Seeds will be available on a first come, first served basis, from Monday 27 March to Sunday 28 May, while stocks last, from the customer services desk (Dobbies) or till point (little dobbies).
Swing into spring! We are pleased to launch our spring health campaign ‘Healthy Know How.’
Featuring the character Billy, his son, cat and neighbour Mollie, Healthy Know How provides advice to ensure you are prepared for any illnesses or mishaps over the Easter holidays.
Tips include:
Check your repeat prescription, order only what you need, in plenty of time
Keep some medicines to treat common illnesses at home
If you become unwell, NHS inform has useful symptom checkers to help you decide what to do next
Be aware that your GP practice and local pharmacy may have amended opening hours over the Easter weekend
Over 94,000 prepayment meters were forcibly installed in homes under warrant last year without customer consent – on average over 7,500 meters a month.
After calling on suppliers to stop forcibly installing prepayment meters, the Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps has now revealed the most overzealous suppliers, as part of a crackdown on mistreatment of vulnerable customers in the use of these meters.
Leading the charge with the highest number of prepayment meters force-fitted last year are British Gas, Scottish Power and OVO Energy, making up 70% of all forced installations with a total of 66,187 devices fitted under warrant.
Of these, Scottish Power tops the list as the worst offender when taking into account their customer base – force fitting over 24,300 in their customer’s homes in 2022.
Mr Shapps has today doubled down on his call for any mistreatment of customers to be rectified, while again urging suppliers to help the households on traditional prepayment metres access the 2.1 million vouchers yet to be claimed under the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme.
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Today’s figures give a clear and horrifying picture of just how widespread the forced installation of prepayment meters had become, with last year seeing an average of over 7,500 force-fitted a month.
“Prepayment meters are right for some people, so I do not want to ban them outright, but I do have concerns that companies have not been treating their customers fairly, over an already difficult winter during which the government has tried to help families by paying around half the energy bill of the average household.
After my calls for change, I’m pleased that suppliers have made their actions public and agreed to put a stop to forcing prepayment onto vulnerable customers for good – but this cannot happen again.
“I will be watching Ofgem’s ongoing review closely so customers get the support they need – and those vulnerable consumers who have wrongly suffered forced installations get the justice they deserve in the form of redress.”
Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability Amanda Solloway said: “Another increase in the number of energy bill support vouchers redeemed by customers is great news, but I urge those that haven’t done so to use them as soon as possible – and suppliers must continue to do everything they can to make sure this happens.
“We will not stand for the mistreatment of vulnerable customers who have been forced onto prepayment meters. I welcome the move from Ofgem to make it easier for customers to report cases but this can’t be a one off, and suppliers must now offer redress to those they have wronged.”
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.
However, an intervention from the Energy Security Secretary last month brought the practise to a firm halt, after evidence came to light of suppliers in forcing these meters on vulnerable households.
Mr Shapps demanded transparency from the sector over the number of forced installation warrants they had used, following a huge spike in applications as households grappled with high energy costs.
Lord Justice Edis issued directions for magistrates’ courts to stop all warrants that allow companies to force-fit these meters, alongside the government’s crackdown unacceptable behaviour from suppliers.
This move follows the government’s unprecedented support to help families with their bills this winter, including households on prepayment meters.
Latest figures published today show 7.6 million Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers have now been redeemed by households that use prepayment meters across Great Britain, as of February – saving them up to £400 on their energy costs.
Since the scheme launched the number of households redeeming their vouchers has steadily climbed with 78% used so far – up from 76% in January. Suppliers with the highest redemption levels include Shell Energy, E and Octopus Energy. However, those with the most vouchers still outstanding, with nearly 400,000 yet to be redeemed include Scottish Power, OVO Electricity and British Gas.
Customers will also benefit from new protections, announced in last week’s Budget, that will see households on prepayment meters pay no more than other customers for their energy.
The recent action from the government led the regulator, Ofgem, to launch a review into the use of prepayment meters in the sector. Companies have been instructed to revisit their past cases and offer redress, such as compensation, to customers where these meters were wrongly installed and regulations have not been followed.
Just last week, Ofgem also extended the ban on forced installations of prepayment meters until a new code of practice is agreed by energy companies, after British Gas was found to have broken into homes to fit the devices.
The government continues to work with the sector, as well as consumer groups, charities and local leaders to reach eligible customers with unused vouchers that have not yet benefitted from the Energy Bill Support Scheme.
This includes ongoing information campaigns across community radio, social media, national magazine titles and roaming advert vans that have been popping up in towns and cities across the country.
Are you interested in learning healthy eating habits for you and your family? Whether you live alone, have small children, or are caring for an elderly person, this course offers something for everyone!
This informative and useful course is packed with clearly delivered information that aims to cut through all the mixed messages around nutrition. It is designed for anyone with an interest in food, health and wellbeing, for those who currently work or volunteer with food in any capacity, and also useful for those interested in a career within the food industry.
Get up-to-date nutritional advice and learn from Jo Howie, a qualified nutritionist from Edinburgh Community Food. This course will run over two days; Tuesday the 18th of April and Wednesday the 19th of April 9.30am – 1pm.
Spaces are limited so please book your spot in advance via the link below or by scanning the QR code.
Link: REHIS Food and Health | Edinburgh Community Food Ltd
Any questions, please feel free to get in touch with either myself (Jules) or Jo – both our contact details are on the attached poster. Look forward to seeing you there!
The nationwide campaign run by the Soil Association’s Food for Life Get Togethers programme will be bringing people together again for its third year between 22nd April – 20th May.
Plant and Share Month is a celebration of growing and community, rooted in the experience of sowing, planting and sharing. The event continues to grow each year: in 2022 over 500 registered activities took place, and bespoke resources were downloaded over 23,000 times.
Kicking off on Earth Day – Saturday 22nd April and concluding on World Bee Day – Saturday 20th May, it is completely free to register and includes access to a vast selection of free resources, toolkits and event planning tips.
Adam Carter, Senior Programme Manager, Food for Life Get Togethers says: “We couldn’t be more inspired seeing just how many people have come together over the last three years of Plant and Share.
“Whether it’s community groups building urban gardens, schools planting vegetables to incorporate in healthy school meals or people growing something for the first time, it’s been a real joy to help get boots on the ground.
“Launching in 2021 mid-pandemic was challenging, but seeing it evolve from neighbours sharing seedlings over garden walls to entire communities meeting up in the gardens they’ve grown together has been heart-warming – we can’t wait to see what participants get up to this year.”
For additional inspiration, Plant and Share month will have themed weeks to help inspire everyone with the sheer variety of reasons it’s good to grow. The themes are: Growing for All, Growing to Eat, Growing for Joy and Growing for Nature.
Free resources will be released via the newsletter and available on the Food for Life Get Together’s website from 22nd March and will cover activities such as growing fresh herbs to attract pollinators, companion planting beautiful flowers, ‘grow your own soup’, and learning about which plants can attract bug life to the garden. With Plant and Share Month’s fun, engaging and free resources, all of this and more is possible to help people get rooted in nature.
There are plenty of other reasons to celebrate throughout the month too, including the return of Food for Life’s Grandparent Gardening Week, intergenerational activities and the Coronation which will include campaign partner the Eden Project’s Big Lunch, both great opportunities to start growing and sharing skills with friends, family and the whole community.
How can people take part?
People can take part by starting an event either with friends, family or within their local community and registering it on our website, or by joining an existing event in their local area. Reach out to local community groups to see if there’s an event happening nearby, or help to arrange one with them.
If you’re interested in covering an event local to you, please let us know and we can help with finding out event details.
UK GOVT’sANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ACTION PLAN LAUNCHED TODAY
Perpetrators of anti-social behaviour will face swift and visible justice, increased fines and enhanced drug testing as part of a new crackdown launched by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today (Monday 27 March).
Delivering on the Prime Minister’s pledge earlier this year to clamp down on these crimes, the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan will make sure this issue is treated with the urgency it deserves, establish a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour, and give the police and local authorities the tools they need to tackle the problem.
Under the plan, 16 areas in England and Wales will be funded to support either new ‘hotspot’ police and enforcement patrols in areas with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour, or trial a new ‘Immediate Justice’ scheme to deliver swift and visible punishments. A select few areas will trial both interventions, and following these initial trailblazers, both schemes will be rolled out across England and Wales from 2024.
Hotspot trailblazer areas will see an increase in police presence alongside other uniformed authority figures, such as wardens, in problem areas for anti-social behaviour, including public transport, high streets or parks. The increased presence will help deter anti-social behaviour, step up enforcement action against offenders, make sure crimes are punished more quickly and drive deterrence efforts, helping to stop anti-social behaviour spiralling into more serious criminality.
Under the new Immediate Justice scheme, those found committing anti-social behaviour will be made to repair the damage they inflicted on victims and communities, with an ambition for them to start work as soon as 48 hours after their offence so victims know anti-social behaviour is treated seriously and with urgency.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Anti-social behaviour undermines the basic right of people to feel safe in the place they call home.The public have rightly had enough – which is why I am determined to restore people’s confidence that those responsible will be quickly and visibly punished.
“This action plan maps out how we will tackle this issue with the urgency it deserves and stamp out these crimes once and for all – so that wherever you live, you can feel safe in, and proud of your community.”
Offenders, who will be made to wear high-vis vests or jumpsuits and work under supervision, could be made to pick up litter, remove graffiti and wash police cars as punishment for their actions, and victims of anti-social behaviour from the local community will be given a say in offenders’ punishments to ensure justice is visible and fits the crime. The trailblazers will be launched as soon as possible and follow research that shows anti-social behaviour is the main reason people do not feel safe in their local area.
Under the zero-tolerance approach, Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” will also be banned to send a clear message to intimidating gangs, that hang around high streets and children’s parks and litter them with empty canisters, they will not get away with this behaviour. The drug is now the third most used among 16 to 24-year-olds in England and both the police and public have repeatedly reported links between use of the drug and nuisance or anti-social behaviour.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “The British public are fed up with crime and nuisance behaviour in their neighbourhoods inflicting misery on people.
“There is no such thing as petty crime – not only does anti-social behaviour leave people feeling unsafe, it can also be a gateway into serious criminality.
“It has always been my priority to give police the powers they need to deliver a common-sense approach to cutting crime, which puts the law-abiding majority first, and that’s what this action plan delivers.”
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said: “Anti-social behaviour erodes local pride, blights our high streets and parks and is a stain on too many communities across the country.
“We know that it is more likely to flourish in areas that have, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.
“This government was elected on a mandate to deliver change for those communities, and that is why the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan is critical. So we will intervene directly to prevent high street dereliction. We will deliver tougher, quicker and more visible justice to prevent thuggish behaviour in town centres and we will ensure young people have the opportunities and activities available to them to succeed – all backed by new investment.
“This is about acting on the people’s priorities, delivering safer streets so we can level up across the country.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “I want every young person to have the opportunity to access the kinds of life-changing activities which expand their horizons and allow them to develop vital life skills.
“The National Youth Guarantee will provide these opportunities and support young people with access to regular club activities, adventures away from home and volunteering opportunities.
“We are supporting this today with an investment to create or renovate spaces for youth clubs and activities to support opportunities for thousands of young people across the country who would otherwise miss out.”
Police will also be given new powers to crack down on illegal drug use, often a catalyst for other crimes, including expanding powers for drug testing on arrest so more suspected criminals can be tested, and more drugs tested for, including ecstasy and methamphetamine.
Currently, only suspected criminals who have committed certain offences can be tested in police detention without additional requirements, but we will expand the range of trigger offences to include crimes linked to violence against women and girls, serious violence and anti-social behaviour.
A new reporting tool will also be developed over the next twelve months to act as a digital one-stop shop where people can quickly and easily report incidents of anti-social behaviour when these occur. The tool will help address problems people have faced when trying to report these sorts of crimes because of a lack of clarity around how to raise an issue or who to speak to, or a lack of confidence that these crimes will be dealt with seriously.
As well as being able to report any type of anti-social behaviour, people will have access through the tool to advice and guidance on what to do next in their cases and receive updates on what action is being taken by local police and councils following a report being logged. As well as giving the public confidence that action is being taken, the tool will help support local agencies to share information on perpetrators within their local area more effectively, so they can more quickly identify repeat offenders and take the necessary action to prevent future crimes from happening in the first place
Other measures announced today include:
Increasing the punishment for those who graffiti, litter or fly tip with fines of up to £500 and £1,000– council league tables will be published for fly tipping, and we will work with the Office for Local Government to increase transparency and improve accountability on anti-social behaviour outcomes
Giving landlords and housing associations more powers to evict unruly tenants who ruin their neighbours’ lives through persistent noise or by being drunk and disorderly
Reopening empty shops by giving councils new powers to quickly take control and sell off empty buildings
An anti-social behaviour Taskforce jointly led by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up will bring together national and local partners, with a sole focus of addressing anti-social behaviour and restoring pride in place in communities. This will bring together Police and Crime Commissioners, police and local partners and agencies
An extra one million hours of youth services in areas with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour to put people on the right track and prevent them from offending in the first place
Tackling the awful practice of ‘cuckooing’ or home invasion by engaging with stakeholders on the scope of a potential new criminal offence
Parks and green spaces will also be restored with up to £5 million to make them safer with new CCTV and repairing equipment and playgrounds, and to plant more trees and flowers
Nobody should be criminalised simply for having nowhere to live which is why government committed to repealing the antiquated Vagrancy Act, passed in 1824. This comes alongside last year’s unprecedented £2 billion commitment over three years to accelerate efforts to end rough sleeping for good.
It will be made an offence for criminal gangs to organise begging networks for extra cash, which is often used to facilitate illegal activities. To ensure police and local councils can address activity which is intimidating or causes the public distress, they will have the tools to direct people causing nuisance on the street, including obstructing shop doorways and begging by cash points, towards the support they need, such as accommodation, mental health or substance misuse services. The debris and paraphernalia which causes blight will then be cleared.
The UK Government has also today announced that an additional 43 youth centres are to benefit from the next £90 million investment from the Youth Investment Fund, distributed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
As a result, 45,000 more young people a year will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and regular, out-of-school activities, as part of an overall £300 million to be distributed through 2025.
From Lincolnshire to Liverpool, Peterborough to Portsmouth, the Government’s National Youth Guarantee will support the wellbeing of young people in some of the country’s most underserved areas, giving them opportunities to develop vital skills for life, and empowering them to be active members of their community.
The new cross-government action plan builds on the Government’s focus to deliver common sense policing, backed by an unprecedented recruitment drive of 20,000 additional officers by the end of March, which we are on track to achieve. It works in tandem with our priorities to drive down murder rates, tackle serious violence – including against women and girls – and solve and prevent more burglaries.
Neighbourhood crimes like burglary, robbery and theft have dropped by 24% since December 2019 but government wants this driven down further and to see more burglaries solved, which is why the Home Secretary called for police forces in England and Wales to send an officer to attend every domestic burglary.
The Government has also funded 216 projects via rounds one and two of the Levelling Up Fund, totally £3.8 billion, which is driving the regeneration of town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport and investing cultural and heritage assets.
The 16 pilot Police and Crime Commissioner areas are:
Northumbria (Immediate Justice and Hotspot policing)
Cleveland (Immediate Justice and Hotspot policing)
Derbyshire (Immediate Justice and Hotspot policing)
Durham (Immediate Justice and Hotspot policing)
Nottinghamshire (Immediate Justice)
Merseyside (Immediate Justice)
Sussex (Immediate Justice)
Dorset (Immediate Justice)
Northamptonshire (Immediate Justice)
West Yorkshire (Immediate Justice)
West Midlands (Hotspot policing)
South Yorkshire (Hotspot policing)
Essex (Hotspot policing)
Lancashire (Hotspot policing)
South Wales (Hotspot policing)
Staffordshire (Hotspot policing)
Michael Kill, CEO Night Time Industry Association, said: “We welcome the announcement by the Government today that Nitrous oxide is set to be banned under new government plans to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.
“The industry has faced a long standing battle with the sale and use of this drug, exposing staff and customers to anti social behaviour and petty crime, with the current legislation leaving licensees and authorities powerless to tackle the problem.
“Businesses have been put under immense pressure by Police, local authorities and residents as a result of streets being littered with silver canisters, increased petty crime, anti social behaviour and links to organized crime gangs.
“This intervention by the Government has come at a critical time, as businesses across the UK have seen the challenges around nitrous oxide escalate dramatically in the last 6-12 months.”
John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said: “Neighbourhood Watch welcomes the clear, strong focus on tackling antisocial behaviour. We believe everyone should be and feel safe in their communities and not worry about being a victim of harassment or antisocial behaviour.
“Reducing antisocial behaviour requires organisations and community members to work together, and the wide-ranging plan being launched champions that. It enables the public who take pride in their community to be included.
“Neighbourhood Watch volunteers are local residents who work with neighbours and others to make their area a better place to live, and this plan supports them in achieving this.”
Ellen Daniels, CEO of the British Compressed Gases Association, said: “We welcome the government’s new measures around the misuse of Nitrous Oxide. As a trade body, and experts in the sector, we have been campaigning for almost three years for a change in the law that would drive down Nitrous Oxide abuse and protect the public from the dangers of its misuse.
“It’s now the third most commonly used substance among 16 to 24-year-olds and misusing Nitrous Oxide can cause permanent damage to the central nervous system including loss of peripheral feeling, loss of motor control and paralysis. In some cases, it can be fatal.”
We can expect a response from Scotland’s new First Minister – whoever that may be – later this week.
Residents in care homes for older adults are receiving their spring COVID-19 booster from today (Monday) as the latest stage of the national vaccination programme gets underway.
Following recent advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a spring booster dose will also be offered to those aged 75 and over from 11 April and individuals aged five and over with a weakened immune system from 24 April. These groups will either receive appointment details through their preferred means of contact or will be sent details of how to book.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We know that people in high-priority groups are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 so I welcome the start of the spring rollout which will offer an additional dose to those who are most vulnerable, boosting their protection.
“Prioritising those most at risk has been our approach from the outset and vaccination has been our most effective tool against COVID-19. However, the degree of protection offered does fade over time, which is why booster vaccination is needed.
“I continue to encourage everyone to receive the doses they are eligible for as and when they become available.”
We are pleased to launch our spring health campaign ‘Healthy Know How.’
Check your repeat prescription, order only what you need, in plenty of time
Blackhall Library Easter School Holiday Programme
