Tag: support

Prepayment meter customers to pay less for energy from today

Prepayment meter households will no longer pay more on average for their energy than direct debit customers, as the UK Government scraps unfair charge

  • Unfair charge on prepayment meter customers scrapped
  • change will help around three million households and save on average £21 a year
  • together with the new energy price cap taking effect today, households will save hundreds of pounds on their bills

Fairness will be delivered for households today as the government scraps the unfair charge on prepayment meter customers.

The change, taking effect from today, will help around three million households using prepayment meters across Great Britain – bringing their bills in line with those who pay by direct debit, with the government stepping in to cover the difference.

Currently, households on the pay-as-you-go meters pay more on average than direct debit customers, as it costs suppliers more to service their homes – such as collecting payments or giving out vouchers – with the charges passed onto consumers.

Removing the prepayment meter premium means these households will save around £21 a year on their bills, making sure the system is fair and providing extra support to consumers who are typically on low incomes.

Scrapping the prepayment meter premium comes as Ofgem’s latest price cap takes effect today – which thanks to improvements in the wholesale market, will bring the typical annual energy bill down from £2,500 under the Energy Price Guarantee to around £2,074. This will help lower inflation – one of the Prime Minister’s five promises – as high energy prices drive up prices across the economy.

The fall in energy bills will save the average household around £426, or 17%, and means for every £100 previously spent on energy bills, consumers will now pay £83.

Energy Consumers and Affordability Minister Amanda Solloway said: “No one should be charged more for having a prepayment meter – today, we’re putting an end to this historic injustice.

“With households on prepayment meters typically on some of the lowest incomes, this is a vital change.

“Alongside the hundreds of pounds coming off energy bills from today, thanks to the fall in the price cap – this will offer extra help to ensure families stop being unfairly penalised.”

To ensure the prepayment premium comes to an end as quickly as possible, the Government will be funding the change up to April 2024. Ofgem as the energy regulator will be devising a plan that will eradicate it permanently after that date.

Earlier this year the government took steps to crack down on the abuse of prepayment meters by energy suppliers. The Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps demanded action from Ofgem and suppliers to put an end to wrongful prepayment meter installations in vulnerable households.

The government is clear moving customers to prepayment meters must always be the very last resort and has asked for regular updates from Ofgem and consumer groups to make sure all suppliers adhere to the regulator’s new Code of Practice – which puts measures in place to protect against them being installed in homes where they shouldn’t be.

Recent figures showed nearly £40 billion was spent by government between October 2022 and March 2023 to help keep household and business energy bills down, the most ever provided to subsidise household bills in UK history.

Over winter, the government covered nearly half a typical household’s energy bill and saved the average home roughly £1,500 by the end of June. That included providing £650 million to households on traditional prepayment meters through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

The scheme saw vouchers totalling £400 issued over six months from October with latest figures showing 85% had been redeemed by the end of May.

While the deadline for applications has passed, that number is expected to rise with the last applications and reflected in figures due over the Summer.

Johnston Carmichael funds new netball development post in Edinburgh

Firm’s sponsorship deal will boost access to the sport  

An Edinburgh sports graduate has won her dream job as a netball development officer thanks to leading independent accountancy and business advisory firm, Johnston Carmichael. 

Correen Davies, 27, will be responsible for training new coaches and umpires, increasing the volunteer network, and being a visible point of contact in Edinburgh for the sport.  

Originally from Orkney, Correen moved to the city to study Sports Development and Coaching at Edinburgh College before gaining a degree from Edinburgh Napier University. A longstanding netball fan and player, she had always hoped to secure a job in netball after graduating. 

She said: “When asked by a lecturer on our first week, ‘what job do you hope to get after this qualification’ my answer was, ‘the job doesn’t exist yet, but other sports have development officers, and I’d love to do that for netball’. Four years later and now I am in a full-time position where I can help to realise the potential of the sport in my local authority. 

“I’d like to thank Johnston Carmichael for its generous contribution towards funding my dream job. I am lucky to work with some wonderful partner organisations where I hope to progress netball across its full pathway. From grassroots to high performance, there are opportunities for everyone regardless of your route.” 

Correen’s appointment is part of Johnston Carmichael’s new partnership with Netball Scotland.

The firm provided a funding package worth more than £30,000 to help grow the sport after COVID-19 restrictions and school closures curbed young people’s ability to take up the game. 

The deal, which will additionally support new development officer posts in Glasgow and Dundee, is also being used to fund ‘Road to Region’ camps and pay for emergency grants to junior clubs with critical needs linked to participation, accessibility, training and competition.  

Martin Osler, Chief People Officer, Johnston Carmichael, said: “It is extremely rewarding for Johnston Carmichael to be involved in such an exciting partnership with Netball Scotland. 

“Supporting the appointment of development officers is crucial to improving access to netball. Their work will help to engage the new players, coaches and umpires required to grow the sport and enable new generations to participate.  

“Sports such as netball play a vital role in enhancing the health and wellbeing of future generations, building their confidence, and providing them with experience in working within a team, as well as other vital skills needed to thrive both personally and professionally. 

“As a firm, we are committed to leaving a legacy in the communities we serve, and we hope to make a tangible difference to the aspirations and achievements of young people across Scotland with this partnership.” 

Chancellor agrees new support measures for mortgage holders

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt met the UK’s principal mortgage lenders and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) yesterday to agree support for people struggling with mortgage repayments.

The latest market indicators (FCA; UK Finance) show that mortgage arrears and defaults remain below pre-pandemic levels, which were themselves extremely low. The FCA reported 0.86% of total residential mortgage balances in arrears in the first quarter of 2023 which is significantly lower than the 3.32% rate in 2009.

The proportion of disposable income spent on mortgage payments is currently at 5.4%, compared to around 10% in the 1990s and prior to the financial crisis.

The average homeowner re-mortgaging over the last twelve months had around a 50% loan-to-value ratio. This indicates homeowners have considerable equity in their homes, which makes it easier to manage repayments.

Lenders have less than 10% ‘owner-occupier mortgages’ on their books with loan-to-value rates greater than 75%, compared to around 25% before the 2008 financial crisis. Taken together, this puts the market in a significantly stronger position than before.

The lenders – which cover over 75% of the market – agreed to a new mortgage charter providing support residential mortgage customers. These are:

  • Anyone worried about their mortgage repayments can call their lender for information and support, without any impact on their credit score and we would encourage you to contact your bank who are there to help.
  • Customers won’t be forced to have their homes repossessed within 12 months from their first missed payment.
  • Customers approaching the end of a fixed rate deal will be offered the chance to lock in a deal up to six months ahead. They will also be able to apply for a better deal right up until their new term starts, if one is available.
  • A new agreement between lenders, the FCA and the Government permitting customers to switch to an interest-only mortgage for six months, or extend their mortgage term to reduce their monthly payments and switch back to their original term within the first six months, if they choose to.
  • Both options can be taken without a new affordability check or affecting their credit score.
  • Support for customers who are up-to-date with payments to switch to a new mortgage deal at the end of their existing fixed rate deal without another affordability check.
  • Providing well-timed information to help customers plan ahead should their current rate be due to end.
  • Offer tailored support for anyone struggling and deploy highly trained staff to help customers. This could mean extending their term to reduce their payments, offering a switch to interest only payments, but also a range of other options like a temporary payment deferral or part interest-part repayment. The right option will depend on the customer’s circumstances.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said: ““There are two groups of people that we are particularly worried about. The first are people who are at real risk of losing their homes because they fall behind in their mortgage payments. And the second are people who are having to change their mortgage because their fixed rate comes to an end, and they’re worried about the impact on their family finances of higher mortgage rates.

“So today I agreed with the banks and the principal mortgage lenders and the Financial Conduct Authority three very important things.

“The first is that absolutely anyone can talk to their bank or their mortgage lender and it will have no impact whatsoever on their credit score.

“The second is that if you are anxious about the impact on your family finances and you change your mortgage to interest only or you extend the term of your mortgage and you want to go back to your original mortgage deal, within six months, you can do so, no questions asked and no impact on your credit score. That gives people a powerful new tool for managing their monthly budgets – and it will begin taking effect within the next two weeks.

“And finally for people who are at risk of losing their home in that extreme situation, the banks and mortgage lenders have a number of things in place. The last thing that they want to do to repossess a home, but in that extreme situation they have agreed there will be a minimum 12 month period before there’s a repossession without consent.

“These measures should offer comfort to those who are anxious about high interest rates and support for those who do get into difficulty.

“Tackling high inflation is the Prime Minister and my number one priority. We are absolutely committed to supporting the Bank of England to do what it takes. We know the pressure that families are feeling. That’s why we’ve introduced big support packages around £3,000 for the average household this year and last.

“But we will do what it takes, and we won’t flinch in our resolve because we know that getting rid of high inflation from our economy is the only way that we can ultimately relieve pressure on family finances and on businesses.”

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com said: “The unprecedented steep rise in mortgage rates is causing a nightmare for many with variable mortgages and those coming off fixes.

“Therefore, the most important thing we can focus on right now is appropriate, flexible forbearance measures. While the Bank of England’s aim is intended to squeeze people’s disposable incomes, no one wants people’s lives to be ruined by arrears and repossessions – and that is the urgent protection we need to focus on.

“I met the Chancellor on Wednesday and reiterated that the minimum we needed was to ensure that when people asked for help from lenders, they knew that if things changed, it wouldn’t be detrimental to their financial situation and their credit scores would be protected as much as possible.

“I’m pleased to see it looks like the Chancellor has listened and those measures are going to be put in practice by the banks. We need to make sure everybody knows their rights if they are in trouble with their mortgage, so they can feel comfortable speaking with their lender and understand the measures that they can request for help.”

Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, said: “Today’s productive meeting builds on the work we’ve done over the last year to ensure those who get into difficulty receive the tailored support they need.

“We’ll move quickly to make any changes needed to support today’s commitments.”

Ian Stuart. Chief Executive Officer, said HSBC UK said: “We’re firmly focused on supporting our customers in this challenging economic environment, so we welcome the meeting with the Chancellor today, and with the support of the regulators, the concerted efforts across our industry to help customers through these measures.

“It’s important that customers feel comfortable contacting us if they feel they are getting into financial difficulty because whilst every customer’s situation is different we have a range of options that we can use to help them find their way through. We stand ready and remain committed to our customers.”

David Duffy, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Money said: “Today’s commitments are an important next step in ensuring that customers feel supported as they navigate rising rates and high inflation.

“At Virgin Money, we are committed to supporting customers in the current economic environment and will continue to work with Government, regulators and industry to help those facing financial difficulty.”

Dame Alison Rose, Group Chief Executive, NatWest said: “Our priority is to help the people, families and businesses we serve to navigate this ongoing economic uncertainty.

“Today’s announcements, following very productive discussions between mortgage lenders, government and regulators, will provide further flexibility and reassurance to customers who may be anxious about their household finances.

“We stand ready to support those worried about the future, and encourage anyone experiencing financial difficulty to get in touch.”

Edinburgh to show support for Armed Forces Day

West Princes Street Gardens will welcome a parade of serving personnel, veterans and their supporters today as special events are held to celebrate Armed Forces Day.

Celebrations in Edinburgh will start from 10.30am on Saturday 24 June as the annual parade of up of 300 – 500 serving personnel and veterans takes place along George Street and round to Castle Street. Then they will reassemble in West Princes Street Gardens where they will be welcomed by Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, and there will be live music until 3pm.

Highlights will include: The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Amy Hawthorn, Stuart Mclean, Maria Townsley and Angus Munro. The event will be hosted by BFBS Broadcaster Mark McKenzie.

On Monday (19 June), the Armed Forces Day flag was presented to the Depute Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron and Council Leader Cammy Day and raised above the City Chambers to honour Armed Forces personnel past, present and future.

‘Raise the Flag Day’ is when hundreds of civic and government buildings throughout the United Kingdom will fly the Armed Forces Day flag until just after the weekend.

The Armed Forces Day events in Edinburgh are open to all to show their support for the Armed Forces and veterans.

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, said: “This city has a long and proud tradition of supporting the Armed Forces and our veterans. Holding a day of celebration in their honour is just one of the ways the people of Edinburgh can show their support.

“This is the city’s way of saying thank you and allows us to show our gratitude and appreciation for the enormous sacrifices being made every day on our behalf by so many courageous men and women.”

Brian Ward at Legion Scotland, said: “Legion Scotland is proud to play a part in the Edinburgh Armed Forces Day parade to honour Armed Forces personnel and show our gratitude and support for our veterans.

“We stand together to pay tribute to so many brave members of our Armed Forces who made enormous sacrifices to help protect our freedom.”

Similar events will take place across the UK, enabling people to come out and show their support, and giving a much-valued morale boost for Armed Forces personnel and their families.

Clubbing together to support Ukraine’s journey to Homeless World Cup

Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts, Hibernian and Rangers, five of Scotland’s biggest and most successful football clubs have joined together to support and aid Homeless World Cup Member Country Ukraine’s journey to the Sacramento 2023 Homeless World Cup.

Working alongside the Homeless World Cup Foundation, a recent donation from the five clubs has meant that Ukraine can send a team to this year’s tournament under difficult and challenging circumstances.

The donation will cover travel for Ukraine to compete in the 18th edition of the Homeless World Cup, being held in the US for the first time in its 20-year history.

‘The Way home’ has been a partner and worked alongside the Homeless World Cup for many years and have been an inaugural part of the tournament since 2004 and were winners of the Homeless World Cup in Milan 2009.

The Sacramento 2023 Homeless World Cup will take place from Saturday 8th July – Saturday 15th July 2023 at California State University, Sacramento. As well as the venue for the games, being played at the Hornet Stadium, the university will also accommodate the visiting countries from across the globe and their players on campus.

From Paris to Cardiff, Glasgow to Milan, Edinburgh to Mexico City and Melbourne to Cape Town, this world class tournament has been played in some exceptional cities and venues to bring awareness and understanding to this global issue – homelessness.

The Homeless World Cup is an annual, world-class, international football tournament. Every year, teams of men and women who are homeless or have experienced homelessness get the chance to represent their country during the tournament.

Mel Young, co-founder, and Homeless World Cup President, said: “It’s fantastic news that the five Scottish clubs have come together to ensure Ukraine, one of our key partners can get to and compete in Sacramento, The Way Home has continued to work in extremely difficult conditions in Odessa.

“The Homeless World Cup always look to support our Member Countries however we can, and we look forward to welcoming Ukraine, who have fielded a team every year at the tournament since 2004 to Sacramento and the US for the 18th edition of the Homeless World Cup.

“All five clubs didn’t hesitate when asked to help our Ukrainian partner with their journey and we are incredibly grateful for their support in making this dream a reality to those players who will represent Ukraine on the international stage in Sacramento this July.

“I’m proud of the five Scottish clubs and the generosity they have shown by coming together to support Ukraine. This demonstrates how impactful football and sport can be in making a difference to the lives of so many.”

Aberdeen’s Chief Executive, Alan Burrows. said: “Football is a game for all and as a club we were delighted to play our part in supporting Ukraine’s journey to Sacramento to participate in the 2023 Homeless World Cup.

“The ongoing conflict in Ukraine shouldn’t be a barrier for those looking to participate in sport and the Homeless World Cup is the perfect example of how football can inspire and change lives for the better.

“We wish them all the best in the tournament.” 

Chief Executive of Hearts, Andrew McKinlay, said: “We’re delighted to have supported the Ukrainian team at this year’s Homeless World Cup. Everyone connected with Hearts knows well the power of football and how it can be a truly positive force in our lives.

“The conflict in Ukraine, and the widespread homelessness seen across the planet, affects us all. Initiatives like the Homeless World Cup are vital in raising awareness and supporting this global issue. 

“Everyone at Heart of Midlothian wishes the teams, organisers and all participants the very best when the tournament begins in California next month.”

Hibernian FC’s Non-Executive Chairman Malcolm McPherson, said: “The relationship that our club and supporters have with Ukraine is quite unique.

“Whether that’s through the work done by the Hibernian Community Foundation or through Dnipro Kids, we have all been committed to helping Ukrainian people through this incredible difficult time.

“We’re proud to be able to continue that support by backing the Ukrainian team at this year’s Homeless World Cup, which shines a light on two great issues that affect everyone worldwide; the conflict in Ukraine and global homelessness.

“Football is an incredibly powerful sport, and initiatives like the Homeless World Cup can inspire, enforce change, and raise awareness of these global issues.

“Everyone at Hibernian FC wishes everyone taking part in the tournament great success.”

Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton, said: “Working with the homeless community is a regular feature of what we do here, and we are delighted that we can assist with this in some small way. 

“Football is universal and the Homeless World Cup is everything good about the game that we all love. I hope this year’s event in the USA is a great success for everyone involved.”

Connal Cochrane, Rangers Charity Foundation Chief Executive, said: “What a wonderful way to come together for a common cause. I hope the Ukrainian team create powerful memories and many new friendships in Sacramento.”

Douglas Ross visits Sight Scotland’s Hawkhead Centre

The Scottish Conservative Party leader, Douglas Ross MP MSP, has praised Sight Scotland Veterans for all the outstanding help and support it provides to veterans living with sight loss across the country.

Douglas Ross, MP for Moray and MSP for Highlands and Islands, recently visited Sight Scotland Veterans’ Hawkhead Centre in Paisley to see first-hand the great help and support the charity provides.

He was joined on the visit by local Scottish Conservative MSP for West Scotland Russell Findlay. Sight Scotland Veterans provides free support to armed forces veterans affected by sight loss throughout Scotland to help them regain confidence, restore independence, and make new connections.

During his visit, Douglas Ross was given a tour of the Hawkhead Centre and met many of the staff and volunteers who work there. He also spent time and chatted with some of the veterans the charity helps, discussing the issues they have and what support they require.

Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “I was delighted to visit Hawkhead Centre in Paisley and learn more about the fantastic work they are doing to support veterans.

“It was truly inspiring to meet many of veterans and hear directly from them about how Sight Scotland is helping them cope with feelings of isolation and loneliness. Many of those being supported at the Hawkhead Centre have overcome many challenges thanks to Sight Scotland and I applaud them for bettering the lives of many.”

Scottish Conservative West Scotland MSP Russell Findlay said: “We must always go the extra mile to support our veterans and those at the Hawkhead Centre in Paisley doing exactly that by empowering veterans to live as independently as possible.

“The spirit of comradeship is uplifting and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of activities. It was great to join Douglas Ross at the centre and I hope to return soon for another chat with the incredible veterans.”

Davina Shiell, Director of Communications at Sight Scotland, comments: “We were delighted to welcome Douglas Ross MSP to our Hawkhead Centre in Paisley.

“As a society we need to look after our vulnerable veterans and Sight Scotland Veterans plays such an important role in combatting social isolation, seclusion, and loneliness.

“We are hoping that having such a high-profile visitor to one of our centres can shine a brighter spotlight on the charity and all great things it does, plus provide a platform to discuss many of the issues facing the vision impaired community, such as increased ophthalmology waiting times, public transport cuts and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

“In simple terms, people living with sight loss across Scotland need more help.”

Sight Scotland Veterans provides support to all veterans in Scotland who are experiencing changes to their sight.

The Hawkhead Centre in Renfrewshire is an activity hub for ex-servicemen and women with sight loss. It’s a warm, welcoming place that brings veterans together. With a variety of activities and outings, the activity hub offers the means and support to adapt to life with sight loss and try new things.

Many veterans who attend the centre say the things they do there and the connections they have made have transformed their lives.

For more information on Sight Scotland Veterans please visit 

sightscotlandveterans.org.uk 

or call our support line on 0800 035 6409.

UK to give Ukraine major boost to mount counteroffensive

  • Up to £25 million expansion to harden Ukraine’s cyber defences as Russia continues its callous attacks
  • Funding will protect critical national infrastructure and vital services through bolstered cyber defence capabilities to Ukraine, enabling them to detect, respond and prevent Russian cyber-attacks.
  • Cyber defence funding comes as the Prime Minister prepares to make the case for the private sector to join the fight to push back Russia by investing in Ukraine

The UK will roll out a major expansion to its cyber defence programme in Ukraine, protecting the country’s critical national infrastructure from crippling Russian attacks.

The programme, which supports Ukraine’s Government to rapidly respond to and defend vital government services against debilitating cyber-attacks, will be boosted by an injection of up to £25 million and a two-year expansion.

The package will include £16 million in UK funding and potential for a further £9 million contribution from international allies.

It is the latest tranche of UK support to Ukraine as the country mounts its counteroffensive against Russian forces that have brutally invaded the country, using all domains to sow instability and attempt to destroy Ukraine’s rightful sovereignty.

The Prime Minister, who will this week make the case for the private sector to join the counteroffensive against Russia by supporting Ukraine through investment, will say that it is vital the international community hardens Ukraine’s defences to enable it to protect and grow investment into the country.

Ukraine has successfully fought back a number of cyber-attacks by Russian forces, including destructive wiper-ware attacks and covert espionage-ware attacks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Russia’s appalling attacks on Ukraine are not limited to their barbaric land invasion, but also involve sickening attempts to attack their cyber infrastructure that provides vital services, from banking to energy supplies, to innocent Ukrainian people.

“This funding is critical to stopping those onslaughts, hardening Ukraine’s cyber defences and increasing the country’s ability to detect and disable the malware targeted at them.”

The UK-funded Ukraine Cyber Programme (UCP) uses world-leading expertise, from both the private and public sector, to protect Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure and vital public services.

The support, which builds on the Foreign Secretary’s announcement of £6.35 million for the programme last year, will also fund and provide forensic capabilities to enable Ukrainian cyber experts to analyse system compromises, attribute attackers and build better evidence to prosecute these indiscriminate attacks.

In addition to boosting cyber defences, the UK has also stepped up its military support to Ukraine.

This week, the UK contributed a further £250 million to the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), which announced it would provide a major package of air defence, including radars, guns and ammunition to Kyiv to protect Ukrainian cities from indiscriminate Russian attacks.

That announcement followed the delivery of the UK’s long-range missile strike capability Storm Shadow last month, which has provided Ukraine with game-changing capability to defend itself from Russian attacks and degrade the capability of invading Russian forces.

International charity Street Child launches ‘Education is Her Right’

International charity Street Child has launched a campaign called ‘Education Is Her Right’ which aims to fund primary school education for girls in Afghanistan.

The country faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and the gains made over the past two decades, particularly in advancing women’s rights, are now in jeopardy.

The children’s charity Street Child’s has made an unwavering commitment to continue working with local organisations in Afghanistan despite the monumental challenges.

The charity’s campaign will highlight that just £100 will fund a girl’s primary education for a whole year – that’s just 27p per day!

The reduction of international development assistance, which once played a pivotal role in maintaining public health and education systems, has dealt a severe blow to the ability to implement vital programmes. T

he economic downturn, skyrocketing hunger, malnutrition, and inflation triggered by global commodity shocks have further compounded the challenges faced by the Afghan people.

In July, as part of Street Child’s ‘Education is Her Right’ campaign, Street Child is delighted to announce they have an appeal on BBC Radio 4 in which will highlight the need for funding to support the charity’s work in girls’ primary education in Afghanistan. 

The appeal will be presented by Christina Lamb OBE, a British journalist and bestselling author of books such as ‘I am Malala’, ‘Farewell Kabul’, and ‘Our Bodies, Their Battlefield; What War Does to Women’. The funds raised will be channelled to our local Afghan partners who are on the ground and working hard to use every pound as effectively as possible to deliver education for young boys and girls. 

Outside of the radio appeal, Street Child’s campaign showcases its wider mission to operate in the hardest to reach areas of the world, educating girls across 25 countries. The charity’s dedicated local partners in Afghanistan are striving relentlessly to improve the lives of vulnerable communities – driven by a shared mission to provide education, protection, and livelihood support to children, women, and families caught in the grips of the longstanding conflict and recurrent natural disasters. 

Tom Dannatt, CEO and Founder of Street Child, said: “Our view, is that if you can read, write, add up and take away you have a chance in this world. If you can’t do those things, then you really don’t.

However, feeding minds is tough to think about if you haven’t put food in your mouth and you’re hungry, so every dimension of an Afghan child is under threat.

“We’re really calling on the international community, in all its manifestations to play its part in dramatically increasing quantities of aid, and for members of the public to consider how they can help. Charities like Street Child are on the ground in Afghanistan with Afghan staff and donations can and do make a difference.

“Keeping children and their families safe is the centre pillar of Street Child’s work: all children have a right to be safe and safeguarded from risks, especially those which impact their ability to attend school.”

For further information: https://street-child.org/

UK to provide £16 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine

  • In recognition of growing needs FCDO to provide £16 million to enable aid partners to help civilians, including 32,000 people directly affected by flooding, as well as at the frontlines and displaced communities.
  • UK funding will assist aid organisations with their response and includes £10 million to the Red Cross Movement, £5 million to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and £1m to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
  • To bolster rescue efforts and manage impact of ongoing flooding the FCDO is sending boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to Ukraine.

The UK has today (10 June) set out an additional £16m in humanitarian support as Ukraine deals with the aftermath of flooding caused by the destruction of Nova Kakhova dam, which has affected 42,000 people in the Kherson area, and continuing Russian attacks.

This builds on our existing humanitarian support of £220 million which is allowing partners, such as the Ukraine Red Cross, to help evacuate civilians affected by the flooding.

Alongside this the UK-led Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine has already delivered two specialist rescue boats, search and rescue equipment, and trauma medicine to Kherson to assist the ongoing rescue operations by the State Emergency Services.

The additional £16 million is given in recognition of mounting needs across Ukraine, including in the areas affected by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam.

Funding will support aid organisations in the area who are currently assisting people affected by the flooding with rapid response equipment, shelter and essential supplies, as well as in areas affected by fighting and communities who have been displaced.

Beyond the immediate rescue efforts, this funding will help to respond to the ongoing impacts from flooding, including waterborne infectious diseases, loss of livelihoods and risks from landmines.

The funding will consist of £10 million of support to the Red Cross Movement, £5 million to OCHA and £1m to IOM.

The UK is also providing a package of rescue boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to help State Emergency Services of Ukraine responders deal with the ongoing impact of the flooding. Equipment is expected to start arriving in Ukraine by next week.

Today’s announcement comes as water levels in Kherson continue to rise, with flooding spreading to other towns along the Dnipro River. The UK has moved quickly to bolster its support to Ukraine as it deals with severe flooding from the dam, which is expected to last for weeks and leave many in need of food, water and basic supplies.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary James Cleverly said: Flooding from the destruction of Kakhovka dam is having an untold impact on over 32,000 people living in Kherson, and thousands more in the surrounding area.

“The UK is leading the way in providing support to those desperately in need. Our funding is playing a vital role in helping Ukrainian services and aid organisations evacuate people and get help to those in need.

“We will continue to stand by Ukraine in dealing with this terrible incident.”

This aid package is part of the UK’s total support for Ukraine which so far totals £1.5billion in economic and humanitarian support, which has paid for the delivery of more than 11 million medical items as well as food supplies, ambulances and shelter kits.

Earlier this week the Foreign Secretary visited Ukraine to highlight the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine and its recovery. During his time there he met President Zelenskyy in Kyiv and discussed how best the UK will continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.

The UK is also set to host the Ukraine Recovery Conference later this month, which will bring together governments and industry leaders to develop a concerted multi-sector plan to help Ukraine to recover from Russia’s illegal invasion.