£700 million Budget boost for UK’s sports and youth clubs

  • Chancellor expected to confirm £700 million to improve sports and youth clubs.
  • Up to 8,000 state-of-the-art sports pitches to be built or improved across the UK to ensure every young person has a chance to take up sport.
  • Hundreds of youth facilities to be built or refurbished across England and the National Citizen Service to continue helping young people to build confidence and leadership skills outside of school.

As part of the government’s drive to level up the country, local communities will benefit from a £700 million wave of investment in football pitches, tennis courts, and youth facilities to help build the next generation of young talent, the Chancellor is expected to announce next week.

Following on from England’s roaring success at the Euros (Eh? – Ed.) and Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory, Rishi Sunak is set to announce new funding to build or improve up to 8,000 state-of-the-art sports pitches in villages, towns, and cities across the UK, as well as supporting a range of projects, including new clubhouses and community buildings.

This sits alongside the government’s commitment to refurbish more than 4,500 tennis courts across Great Britain.   

Up to 300 youth facilities, which could include scout huts, youth centres and activity centres, will also be built or refurbished in the most deprived areas, and funding will be committed to continue the National Citizen Service until 2024/25 – which provides 16-17 years olds from all backgrounds the opportunity to mix with their peers outside of school.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said: “We’re backing the next generation of Ward-Prowses and Raducanus, not just sporting stars, but inspiring young leaders. Sports can be a fantastic way for young people to make friends and learn skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives – leadership, teamwork, and determination.

“This funding will level up access to sport and social clubs for youngsters ensuring they can get together and play the games they love most.”

Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: “I want every young person, no matter where they’re from, to have the chance to get the best start in life and achieve success.

“This £700 million investment is a downpayment on our commitment to open doors for those who have been shut out. It will give young people the pitches and clubhouses they deserve to reap the benefits of sport and youth groups and help level up the country for the next generation.”

Robert Sullivan, Football Foundation Chief Executive Officer, said: “This investment is welcome news for all those involved in grassroots football across the country.

“We know that playing on good quality facilities helps people get fitter, improves mental wellbeing, grows confidence and builds stronger relationships. This is all essential for individuals and communities as we emerge out of the Covid-19 crisis.

“With the government, Premier League and The FA’s investment, we have made plenty of progress in the last two decades, but there is still lots of work to do to ensure all communities across England get the standard of local sports facilities they need and deserve.

“This new funding will unlock the power of even more pitches to help transform people’s lives.”

Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive of The FA said: “This investment into grassroots football pitches and multi-sport facilities is fantastic news for communities throughout the country.

“It will help the nation get active as we emerge from the impact of Covid. This is an important part of the Government’s £550m commitment to transform our grassroots football infrastructure, which will have a massive social and economic impact”.

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England said: ‘We welcome the government’s decision to continue to invest in our young people and provide vital funding to support the facilities we need to enable sport in our communities.

‘There has never been a more important time to get the nation active and give people the opportunity to play sport, no matter their background.’

The government is investing £173 million to fund the continuation of the National Citizen Service in England; £368 million to fund up to 300 youth centres across England; and £155 million additional funding is being provided to invest in multi-use sports pitches and facilities throughout the UK.

DCMS will also receive a further £20 million to invest in youth services in England and the government will set out more detail in due course.

This builds on the government’s commitment to sport, having announced £50m of UK sports facility funding in July, as part of our ambition to ensure that you are never more than 15 minutes away from a high-quality pitch; and is in addition to the £30 million investment to refurbish more than 4,500 tennis courts across Great Britain; and the £25 million provided by the Chancellor for grassroots sports facilities throughout the UK at Spring Budget 2021.

The UK Government’s Plan for Jobs is also helping young people find new opportunities and better paid work; the government recently announced a £500 million extension of its supported schemes – targeted at young workers – including extensions to the Kickstart scheme, Job Entry Targeted Support Scheme, and the £3,000 incentive payment for businesses to hire apprentices.

Letters: Keeping Scotland’s babies safe from respiratory infections

Dear Editor

At Bliss we know this winter is likely to be a difficult one for parents in Scotland due to the risks caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections.

RSV is a common virus that causes cold like symptoms but can cause critical illnesses such as bronchiolitis in babies born premature or sick.

Like other seasonal coughs, colds and flu, RSV is usually most prevalent in Scotland between October and March each year. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions in social contact meant that cases of RSV were reduced. However, since people began mixing again, there has steadily been an increase in cases ahead of the usual winter seasonal trend, mainly in children aged under five.

Already hospitals across the UK are dealing with a highly unusual surge in illness among pre-school children, with thousands more under-fives than normal presenting with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections at A&E departments each week.

As part of a major new campaign Bliss will be working to provide information and support about RSV and respiratory infections directly to families of premature and sick babies at neonatal units across Scotland.

Through our new campaign we also want to make sure, especially, that we reach Black, Asian, Eastern European and other ethnic minority communities, as well as those who are socio-economically disadvantaged.

This is because they may be less likely to have access to accessible healthcare information, or to go to healthcare professionals for support. Information will be translated into a range of different languages including Punjabi, Bengali, Urdu, Gujarati and Polish. Parents will also be able to translate our online information into their language of choice.

If your baby was born prematurely, is prone to lung infections or was born with a congenital heart problem, they could be at greater risk of becoming seriously ill if infected with RSV.

We are urging all parents to know the warning signs of respiratory conditions and to contact their health care professional when they need to.

To find out more please visit bliss.org.uk/RSV

CAROLINE LEE-DAVEY

Caroline Lee-Davey is the Chief Executive of Bliss Scotland, Scotland’s leading charity for babies born premature or sick. 

UK Health Security Agency: New Delta Variant under investigation

The Delta variant sub-lineage known as Delta AY.4.2 was designated a Variant Under Investigation (VUI) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 20 October 2021 and has been given the official name VUI-21OCT-01.

The designation was made on the basis that this sub-lineage has become increasingly common in the UK in recent months, and there is some early evidence that it may have an increased growth rate in the UK compared to Delta. More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus’ behaviour or to epidemiological conditions.

The genome of VUI-21OCT-01 does not have many mutations compared to Delta. However, a small change may be enough to cause a difference in the virus properties in some circumstances. UKHSA is monitoring this closely.

The original Delta variant remains overwhelmingly dominant in the UK, making up approximately 99.8% of all cases. As of 20 October, there were 15,120 cases of VUI-21OCT-01 confirmed by whole genome sequences in England since it was first detected in July.

In the last week, VUI-21OCT-01 accounted for approximately 6% of all Delta cases. Cases have been confirmed through whole genome sequencing in all 9 regions of England.

While evidence is still emerging, so far it does not appear this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective. As is routine for any new variants under investigation, UKHSA is carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the properties of this variant.

Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Viruses mutate often and at random, and it is not unexpected that new variants will continue to arise as the pandemic goes on, particularly while the case rate remains high.

“It is testament to the diligence and scientific expertise of my colleagues at UKHSA, and the genomic sequencing capacity developed through the pandemic, that this new variant has been identified and analysed so quickly. However, it should serve as objective evidence that this pandemic is not over.

“The public health advice is the same for all current variants. Get vaccinated and, for those eligible, come forward for your third or booster dose as appropriate as soon as you are called. Continue to exercise caution. Wear a mask in crowded spaces and, when meeting people indoors, open windows and doors to ventilate the room.

“If you have symptoms take a PCR test and isolate at home until you receive a negative result.”

UKHSA continues to examine all available data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad. We constantly assess the genetic diversity within the known Variants of Concern (VOCs) to inform our ongoing public health response to the pandemic. New sub-lineages within Delta continue to be identified. This is to be expected and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely.

Events line-up to enrich climate conference

A 10 metre tall puppet, STORM, will make an appearance in Glasgow and many projects are already well underway in the run up to the climate conference, including the launch of Climate Beacon hubs in seven locations across Scotland.

STORM is a huge sea-goddess puppet made entirely out of recycled materials with oyster shells for eyes and kelp for hair and is created by Vision Mechanics. She is due to walk in Govan on 10 November.

Led by Creative Carbon Scotland, the Climate Beacons project is a collaboration between climate change, environmental, arts, heritage and cultural organisations to stimulate long-term public engagement in climate change. The hubs throughout Scotland, including Argyll, Caithness and East Sutherland, Fife and Inverclyde, will provide information about climate change in each local area.

The hubs will be run as sustainably as possible with many of the projects and activities using recycled materials.

For instance the Message in a Bottle project in the Outer Hebrides will send messages to people at COP26 in plastic bottles washed up on the beach and the Midlothian hub at the National Mining Museum Scotland will feature outdoor clay sculpture that will eventually degrade back into the earth.

Creative Carbon Scotland’s film, Climate Action Needs Culture, made in collaboration with national cultural and heritage organisations, will be shown to a variety of cultural leaders and policymakers on November 5 as a virtual event.

Scotland’s five national performing arts companies, each receiving regular support from the Scottish Government, are among the many cultural organisations across Scotland organising events around COP26.

On 31 October, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra will premiere Symbiosis, a new commission for strings in a 20 minute video. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra will give a pop-up performance at ScotRail’s Haymarket Station on 1 November to welcome delegates to COP26 while the RSNO Junior Chorus will perform a selection of specially commissioned Green Songs in the official COP26 Green Zone the following day.

Scottish Opera have launched an intergalactic view of climate change in The Last Aliens, an opera for primary children. Schools can access the production online now with live tours planned next year.

Schools and communities across Scotland and India have created 100 shoes for a digital shoe shop as part of Millipede, the National Theatre of Scotland’s collaboration with ThinkArts, a Kolkata-based children’s organisation. Launching on 1 November, the interactive art installation will explore personal responses to climate change and carbon footprints through a range of creative activities.

Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “With the world’s spotlight on Scotland, COP26 in Glasgow is a once in a lifetime event and our cultural organisations have risen to the occasion by programming an impressive line-up of live and online activities to engage audiences at home and abroad. 

“The Scottish Government is proud to support the cultural and heritage sectors as they have a major role to play in encouraging debate around environmental issues.

“Climate change affects us all and it’s heartening to see so many communities taking part in these projects to create a lasting legacy for future generations.”

A dedicated website, Culture at COP, for all cultural activities around COP26 has been set up by Museums and Galleries Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and the Climate Heritage Network.

Festival of Politics: Day Four

Everything that’s happening today at the Festival of Politics

SATURDAY 23rd OCTOBER

Use the links below to book your free tickets to these online discussions:

How will a just transition affect me? ️

10am – 11am

Fast Fashion 

11.30am – 12.30pm

Black History Month – Political Representation 

12pm – 1pm

Scottish Islands on the front line of climate emergency 

2pm – 3pm

This is not a drill 

6pm – 7pm

In Conversation with Professor Suzanne Simard 

6pm – 7pm

Explore the full programme:

festivalofpolitics.scot

Maximising incomes and increasing access to benefits

Ensuring social security benefits are accessible to all who are eligible will be vital in helping people on low incomes deal with the aftermath of the pandemic, Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison has said.

Scotland’s new benefit take-up strategy outlines plans to make sure that nobody misses out on financial support due to a lack of awareness or barriers to applying.

Actions from the strategy, which builds on learning from the first in 2019, include:

  • working with partners to improve targeting of information and advice
  • challenging myths and stigma around claiming benefits
  • continuing to remove barriers to accessing social security in Scotland

The Scottish Government will also explore the introduction of automatic payment for certain devolved social security benefits to make it as easy as possible for people to maximise their incomes.

Ms Robison said: “Social security is a collective investment in building a better and fairer society and part of that is ensuring people are aware of, and can access, the financial support to which they are entitled.

“The pandemic has made us even more aware of the importance of a strong social security safety net – alongside skills, employment and childcare support – and our new benefit take-up strategy sets out how we will ensure we reach those in need.

“We have seen good levels of take up of the Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Payments, which support families on low incomes, with initial estimates ranging between 77% and 84%. As part of our national mission to tackle poverty we are determined that everybody should be able to access payments they are due.

“We will invest £10 million over this Parliament to increase advice services with a focus on providing these in accessible settings and targeting families.

“This investment will support our ambition to maximise incomes, tackle poverty and improve wellbeing, and this will be more vital than ever as we continue our recovery from COVID-19.”

The 2021 Benefit Take Up Strategy builds on learning from the first strategy, published in 2019.

Pilgrimage for COP 26: A welcome from Edinburgh

Edinburgh InterFaith Association welcomes you to the Cop 26 Pilgrimage & Launch Event today.

Don’t forget to come along to our Pilgrimage Event for Cop26 as we welcome pilgrims for Climate Justice and join us as we visit different places of worship across Edinburgh.

There will be a silent rebellion mediation at 12 at the National Gallery. And the big launch welcome event will take place at New College at 1.30pm prompt with contributions from Religious Leaders and politicians including our patron the Lord Provost.

The pilgrimage concludes with langar and a short welcome event at the Leith Gurdwara.

Register for the langar facebook.com/events/1220756771753926… This is the first of many great events for Cop 26 – our full programme of events can be viewed at http://edinburghinterfaith.com

Seton Sands Holiday Village wins top tourism award

An East Lothian holiday park has been presented with a top regional tourism award by UK holiday giant Hoseasons.

Seton Sands Holiday Village was crowned Best Family Fun destination in Scotland at the staycation specialist’s 15th annual Awards – a celebration of the holiday parks, lodge resorts and boating locations in the company’s UK portfolio that have achieved the highest scores in independent customer satisfaction surveys and delighted guests through exceptional holiday experiences throughout the 2021 season.

Commenting after the awards were announced during an online ceremony Jamie Stirling, General Manager at Seton Sands Holiday Village said: “Winning awards is always nice, but being recognised by our guests for our efforts is particularly pleasing.

“It’s been the most challenging year any of us in the industry can ever remember, but throughout everything we’ve always tried to give our holidaymakers the best possible experience we can, so it’s great for our team to get the recognition they deserve.”

Simon Altham, Group Chief Commercial Officer at Awaze – the parent company of Hoseasons – said: “We all understand the importance customer reviews play in influencing holiday choices and it’s clear from the amazing scores Seton Sands Holiday Village have been receiving, that the team are doing a fantastic job of delighting guests and exceeding expectations.

“The future looks brighter than ever for UK holidays and we are sure this award will help further boost bookings for 2022 and beyond.”

For more information on Seton Sands Holiday Village or any other Hoseasons holiday, visit www.hoseasons.co.uk

Youth Arts Bursaries announced

Over 30 opportunities for early career artists and creative practitioners aged 18-24 are being supported across the country thanks to a new Youth Arts Bursaries scheme with funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland.

Twelve organisations across the country have been awarded over £270,000 to enable them to offer early career creatives the space, support, and platform to research, instigate, develop and share their creative projects.

The wide range of bursaries on offer includes opportunities in a diverse selection of sectors including visual arts, digital, crafts and traditional arts.

Among the range of opportunities, Eden Court will provide two six-month bursaries at £10,000 for a young artist to be embedded in the organisation’s engagement team with a dedicated mentor and support from creative producers. This opportunity will enable young artists to deliver a substantial project that will form part of Eden Court’s festive season offering.

The Work Room will collaborate with Barrowland Ballet in Glasgow to offer two early-career dance artists six-month bursaries, whereby financial support will enable the successful applicants to benefit from a supportive environment in which to instigate and develop their own creative projects.

In Orkney, Pier Arts (above) will offer a three-month opportunity with a two-week residency aimed at allowing an 18–24-year-old artist to engage with Pier Arts’ modernist art collection, network and meet with other professionals and experience Orkney’s unique environment.

Edinburgh organisation Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop receives £28,985.

Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government is pleased to provide further support to young artists and creative practitioners through Creative Scotland’s Youth Arts Bursaries. This funding will help talented young people across Scotland who have been significantly impacted by the challenges they’ve faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Supporting young people is central to our approach to COVID-19 recovery and it’s good to see that these bursaries have been shaped by the young people themselves to develop specific projects to advance their artistic careers.”

The National Youth Arts Advisory Group (NYAAG) have been closely involved in the development of the programme.

Youth Arts Bursary panellist member Laura Walker said: “It was a great experience as a young person to be a part of this decision-making-panel, knowing too that other young people had been involved in the assessment process before us.

“Not only does this allow us as assessors and decision-makers to build skills and be introduced to a professional process, but it means that we have crucial youth representation throughout.”

Colin Bradie, Interim Head of Creative Learning at Creative Scotland said: “This fund, developed in direct response to feedback from young people, recognises them as professional artists and creative practitioners, and provides an important progression route, especially for those who lack the accessible support to develop their creative careers.

“For organisations, The Youth Arts Bursaries represent a valuable opportunity to work with young artists and creative practitioners and gain the opportunity to explore new ideas and innovative ways of working.

“We would like to thank the Scottish Government for their continued investment in young people through this vital arts funding which helps ensure opportunities for artists and creative practitioners in Scotland remain strong as we continue to emerge from the pandemic.”