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James Hilton, a personal trainer from the Cotswolds, who is a specialist in biomechanics and injury recovery, will be opening the virtual doors to Jim’s Gym, an online ‘space’ supporting people over 55 to lead a more active life.
Launched on National Fitness Day, Jim’s Gym will offer subscribers the opportunity to train with James, following his short fitness videos uploaded weekly/ monthly, to either become more active or to help maintain an active lifestyle.
This year’s theme for National Fitness Day is “Your Health is for Life”, which aims to encourage people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to engage in the physical and mental benefits of being active.
“We are tirelessly told the mental and physical benefits of exercise but the challenge is in how we keep people engaged in being active. If an older adult is told by a health professional to be ‘more active’ they are often given little help and support in how to do that. My view is that if you do a little bit more than you were before, that’s a great start!
“I have trained extensively with a brilliant company called Faster Function where I have honed my skills in programming and exercise design and now focus on working with people to get the most out of everyday life.
“My journey has led me to almost exclusively work with older adults which I love. I find this age group wonderful to work with, especially people getting
started with a new fitness regime as this is when they will see the most difference. Seeing people do things they never thought possible is just wonderful. I also pride myself on making exercise accessible and enjoyable.”
James’ path to finding his career as a qualified personal trainer was not a sim-
ple one. Throughout his education, he never considered his passion for sport and exercise could be his profession. He had a career in sales and marketing based in London and travelled the world. However, he then experienced a long period of unhappiness which led him to abandon all exercise in order to meet the
demands of his job. The impact of that period eroded his confidence and took a toll on his mental health as well as impacting his partner and first child. Eventually he left his role and went travelling with his family to New Zealand and Bali.
James calls this his ‘Eat Pray Love’ moment.
“While away, I started to go running and get back to exercising for fun, and I remembered how much my fitness had meant to me and I’d lost sight of that. As my family and I began to heal from this bitter time, I asked myself if I could help others through fitness?”
Supported by his family, James moved back to the South Cotswolds where he grew up and qualified as a personal trainer and started rapidly building his own business.
That was four years ago and his next adventure is the opening of Jim’s Gym – an online fitness subscription service with a focus on inspiring older adults to be more active to remain healthy and independent for longer.
James will help his new community easily achieve the fitness levels to be able to continue doing the things in life which are important to them such as mobility for day to day tasks, renewed energy, fitness for gardening or playing with grandchildren!
“Most importantly I’m keeping the workouts easy, effective, and enjoyable so that my clients won’t even realise they are exercising,” James said. There are two levels of support and the cost starts at £10.80 a month (including VAT).
Record high energy bills are taking a negative toll on the wellbeing of West Midlands billpayers, with six in 10 (61%) admitting to being worried about fuel poverty, and those the most concerned falling within the 2534 age category.
According to new research commissioned by heating expert Alpha, nearly a quarter (24%) of the region’s billpayers have experienced stress or anxiety as a direct result of rising energy bills, 26% have spent less on leisure activities and more than one in 10 (11%) have had the dilemma of choosing between heating and eating.
The recent study polled some 2,000 adults across the UK who pay household bills to understand to what extent the energy and cost of living crises continue to impact the British population, as well as how many have attempted to regain control of their financial situation by exploring alternative energy solutions.
In the West Midlands, 49% worry about fuel security (i.e. having a consistent energy supply without any power cuts or shortages). This is hardly surprising when 45% of households have experienced two power cuts in the last 12 months, including nearly a third (29%) of which were for a period longer than four hours (the point at which a fridge can stay cold without power). As a result, 31% agree that it is important to be-
come energy self-sufficient but only 9% have achieved this. Yet despite the worries around energy supply, just 15% have explored alternative means of heating or powering their home and only 9% have installed a new energy source in the past three years; figures which both align with the national average. The research delved further by exploring the barriers to upgrading to low or zero carbon energy on the home front. Cost of installation remains the biggest barrier, with over three quarters (77%) of West Midlands households citing this. A lack of knowledge and understanding of the technology (41%) and the suitability or practicality for their property (37%) complete the top three reasons.
Andrea Carmeli, managing director for Alpha, said: “Respondents from the West Midlands region remain on a par with the national consensus apart from those who have installed a new energy source in the last three years, where the percentage of homes with a power bank is the highest across the UK. While this is a step in the right direction, the majority (91%) are still reliant on energy providers where the cost for homeowners remains high.”
Carried out through OnePoll, the study also discovered that having a greener home is firmly on the region’s radar, with almost three quarters (72%) stating they care about the
carbon footprint of their home. However, when it comes to installing a home heating appliance, decision-making among West Midlands households is dominated by cost. While some 34% cite energy efficiency as a key factor in their purchasing decision, this is preceded by the cost of purchase (64%), cost of installation (57%) and ongoing running cost (49%).
Andrea continues: “The ideal outcome would be for everyone to be self-sufficient – but we know this is a long way off. What we need is for more people to take that first, crucial step into renewables by adopting the more cost-effective solutions available for their type of property.”
Alpha’s E-Tec Hybrid Heat Pump is one such solution. Costing far less than a full heat pump, it retains the reliability offered by the tried-andtested gas boiler, much in the same way a hybrid car combines an electric motor with petrol power. Homeowners can explore options with the help and expertise of a heating engineer. Andrea adds: “It would be far better for our planet for the masses to go hybrid, than for only a very small minority to go 100% renewable. By doing so, we can together work towards net zero whilst also helping to tackle and alleviate the nation’s issues and worries surrounding fuel poverty and energy security.”
The American comedy legend Preacher Moss returns to the UK to headline the Super Muslim Comedy Tour 2023, which celebrates the comedic powers of superheroes and their side-splitting performances. This year sees Fathiya Saleh, Abdullah Afzal, Omar Badawy, Jeff Mirza, Muhsin Yesilada, Farhan Solo , Salman Malik and Prince Abdi take the stage around 10 cities in the UK, from Friday 20th to Saturday 29th October 2023.
The tour is now in its 8th year and organised by Penny Appeal, an international humanitarian charity who work in over 60 countries worldwide. This year’s comedy tour is supporting the earthquake that happened in Morocco and the floods in Libya. Donations to ensure that the people of these countries that have been affected are provided with essentials such as food, clothes, medical care and shelter.
The line-up of comedy styles and unique voices is guaranteed to bring laughter all night, ranging from the headline act, Preacher Moss who
celebrates over 20 years in the comedy business but as the mastermind behind the world famous Allah Made Me Funny trio, also in the line-up is Fathiya Saleh a Londoner with Yemeni-Somali roots who once was once nearly fired for being to work but her humour saved her from being sacked! Also on the tours will be Jeff Mirza, who has starred in several UK hit films as well as tv series which have been featured on the BBC as well as being one of the most wellknown comedy stand ups to come out of the British Asian scene!
“Through the power of laughter, the Super Muslim Comedy Tour 2023 not only showcases the incredible comedic talents of these artists but also reflects the resilience and unity of humanity. Penny Appeal is proud to support this event, and as we continue our mission to make a positive impact across the globe, we stand alongside those affected by the Morocco earthquake and Libya Floods, turning laughter into meaningful change to help those in need.”
Penny Appeal’s superheroes of stand-
up are performing nationwide in October 20st –29th, Seize the day and see them live on stage in a city near you, while early bird offer lasts. The
MUFPP is an international agreement on urban food policies signed by over 200 cities from all over the world. Birmingham City Council has been serving as an MUFPP Steering Committee member for the past two years.
The GFJP was developed in response to the lessons learned on food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pledge aims to encourage collaboration and collective working, empowering the voices of cities nationally and internationally. It emphasises the need for cross-cutting policies to create and support an affordable, nutritious and sustainable food system for all citizens, irrespective of social or economic resource. This year, several resources have been created by Birmingham City Council, in collaboration with the Food Foundation, to support signatories of the GFJP improve food justice in their local areas:
GFJP intervention database – comprises of examples of strategies, policies and interventions that have been implemented worldwide to tackle issues of food injustice. These can be used as examples of best practice for local policy makers who may want to implement interventions locally.
Food justice pledge self-assessment tool – designed to assist local policymakers in understanding their current
efforts in addressing food insecurity and identifying potential areas for action.
Platform to share case studies – submission of case studies of interventions designed to improve food injustice by signatory cities to share best practice.
These resources are designed around
five key themes of food justice: governance, social and economic equity, food production, food supply and distribution and food waste and recycling.
Councillor Sharon Thompson, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, said “We, as a city, had the honour of signing the Global Food
Justice Pledge with other cities from across the world at the Food Futures 2022 Conference that took place in Birmingham during the Commonwealth Games. We committed by signing the pledge, to addressing food injustice in our respective cities, acknowledging that all our citizens, irrespective of status, are en-
titled to nutritious and suitable food at all times. The Global Food Justice Toolkit will support signatory cities to act on this pledge, enabling a collaborative food justice revolution for a brighter, healthier, and fairer future for our global citizens.”
Dr Justin Varney, Director of Public Health, said: “Food can both support healthier lives and cause health problems. It is how we celebrate and reflect our heritage and culture and is a fundamental part of daily life. Being unable to feed those we love and care for is hugely damaging and food insecurity is a growing public health issue. This is especially in cities who lack growing space as housing density increase and often support some of the most vulnerable and economically precarious populations. This pledge and the tools and resources that support it will allow us to work together as cities to address food justice and tackle food insecurity in our urban settings.”
The GFJP resources will be launched at the Eurocities Working Group on Food on September 28th and at Birmingham’s Food System Strategy Launch Conference on October 13th. To learn more about how to get involved with strategy delivery please visit Food Revolution.
Birmingham charity workers have described the dignity and resilience shown by survivors of the Morocco earthquake as they look to rebuild their lives.More than 2,800 people were killed and entire villages reduced to rubble in the 6.8 magnitude earthquake, the largest to hit the north African nation, earlier this month.
Less than 48 hours after the catastrophe struck, a team from Islamic Help flew to Morocco to begin emergency aid operations which it is still continuing.The charity, which has its headquarters in Balsall Heath, has been distributing emergency provisions to stricken villagers. It is now preparing to set up a ‘tent village’ to help hundreds of displaced families whose homes were destroyed in the disaster.
Nazim Tasadiq, the charity’s director of International Programmes and Partnerships said: “As a lot of the people we’re seeing have been left homeless, we’re doing all we can to distribute food, hygiene kits, blankets, clothing to help them during this extremely difficult period. “Our work has been in rural areas where entire villages have been destroyed. We’re now preparing to set up a ‘tent city’ so families have shelter with cooking and other facilities as they wait to have their homes rebuilt.”
Donor care manager Yaseen Sheikh said that the scenes of devastation were heartbreaking. “We were helping people who had nothing but the clothes they were wearing, who had lost their entire families and whose homes were nothing but rubble. “What was astounding was their resilience and the dignity they displayed in the face of such a calamity.
“Despite having nothing except the clothes they were wearing, some of them were even apologising to us, saying ‘we’re sorry you’ve had to come here’. “Some of the families still had bits of their homes standing but the buildings were severely damaged. So, they had this dilemma of whether to move back in or sleep outside, and most of them chose to sleep in the open because of the risks of the buildings collapsing on them.”
The charity is rotating its staff presence, with other staff members flying out to Morocco this week. Yaseen added: “What has been really uplifting is the way everyone has come together to help the people of Morocco, especially donors in Birmingham and the UK who have been supporting the emergency relief efforts. We cannot thank them enough.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the emergency appeal can do so at www.islamichelp.org.uk
A new qualification for 16-19 year olds will put technical and academic education on an equal footing and ensure that all young people leave school knowing the basics in maths and English, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced.
The new Advanced British Standard will bring together the best of A Levels and T Levels into a single new qualification. Students will take a larger number of subjects at both ‘major’ and ‘minor’level, with most studying a minimum of five subjects at different levels – for example, three majors alongside two minors. Importantly, students will have the freedom to take a mix of technical and academic subjects, giving them more flexibility over their future career options.
Currently, most A Level students study only three subjects between the ages of 16 and 19 compared to the OECD average of seven. This is despite evidence showing that employers increasingly value students with a wider knowledge base. The Government has already made huge progress since 2010 to raise standards in schools and support high-quality teaching. Our 9 and 10-year-olds are now the best in the West at reading, ahead of other major developed economies like France, Germany and Spain. Over 88% of schools are good or outstanding, up from just 68% when this government came into office. This is all underpinned by record investment – the highest ever by any government in real terms – funding more teachers than at any other point in our history. Today’s announcement will ensure that we build on this success and address the challenges in post-16 education which have persisted for generations. Under the new plans, every student will for the first time be required to study some form of maths and English to age 18. This will help reverse the long-term trend whereby too many students – particularly the most disadvantaged – leave school without achieving the minimum standard in literacy and numeracy. This change will bring England into line with other major western economies such as France, Germany, Japan and the USA. Students will also spend more time in the classroom, increasing taught hours to a minimum of 1,475 hours over two years. Currently, a typical A Level student in England studying three subjects is taught for 1,280 hours over two years, and a typical technical student for 1,000 hours. This is significantly lower than Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, all of whom deliver over 1,600 hours. Children in Italy are taught for over 1,700 hours, and in France and many US states they get over 2,000 hours in the classroom.
The Prime Minister has been clear that the Advanced British Standard is a long-term reform that will take time to get right and extra funding to deliver effectively. The change will be introduced in close consultation with parents, pupils and teachers. Pupils starting primary school this term are expected to be the first cohort to take the new qualification. Once fully rolled out, the Advanced British Standard will replace A Levels and T Levels but retain their rigorous content and quality.
The Prime Minister has today announced an initial investment of £600 million over two years to lay the groundwork for delivering the Advanced British Standard. This will include funding for a tax-free bonus of up to £30,000 over the first five years of their career for teachers in key
Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:
Education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet – it is the best economic policy, the best social policy and the best moral policy. That is why I am proud this government has made huge progress raising standards in our schools and supporting highquality teaching. We now need to build on this record by transforming post-16 education. The plan we have set out today –backed by an initial £600 million of new support – represents real, meaningful reform that will put technical and academic education on an equal footing and ensure that all young people leave school or college knowing the basics in maths and English.
The new Advanced British Standard will help spread opportunity and benefit students for generations to come, demonstrating our clear commitment to make the right decisions for the long-term future of our country.
shortage subjects, with FE colleges set to the benefit the most, and new investment to promote the highly successful teaching for mastery in maths methods.
As part of this funding boost and reflecting the fact that one in four students do not get the minimum standard in both English and maths GCSE by 19 – a figure which rises to two in five for disadvantaged pupils – we are also significantly increasing funding for 16-19 year olds who haven’t yet met the standard. To support all pupils in maths, pioneering Maths Hubs and the digital platform for tutoring in Core Maths will also be extended.
A consultation will open this autumn and it will seek to determine how best to design and implement the Advanced British Standard. The Government is committed to working closely with stakeholders across the sector to deliver this important reform in the most effective way possible.
Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, said:
The Advanced British Standard will transform post-16 education so that every child, wherever they live, wherever they come from, receives an education that sets them up for success.
I know from my own experience how important it is to break down the barriers between academic and technical routes.
is supported to achieve the basics in English and maths.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon, said:
This Government has championed technical education and driven up standards in schools. We have delivered 5.5 million apprenticeships, are rolling out the Lifelong Learning Entitlement and have pioneered our high-quality T Levels.
Now we must take the next step to deliver the long-term reform that is needed in our 16-19 system.
Our new Advanced British Standard will raise the floor and extend the ladder of opportunity for everyone, backed up by an initial £600 million, providing more breadth, more technical education, and more teaching time so that all our children are given the brighter future they deserve.
Sir Michael Barber, Chancellor of Exeter University and Education Expert, said: This sets us on a path to match the best in the world on technical and vocational education over the next decade. The emphasis on English and Maths and the substantial down payment are welcome steps forward.
These reforms will provide pupils with a broad and world class education, drawing on the best of our existing qualifications. Today’s investment will bring more teachers in to key subjects and I now want to work closely with teachers, parents and the profession to deliver change in the best way possible. The prize on offer is too great to miss out on; a country where every young person is equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to reach their potential and live a happy and fulfilling life.
Minister of State for Schools, Nick Gibb, said: Driving up standards in our schools has been this Government’s long-term priority. From phonics to free schools, we have followed the evidence and challenged the progressive teaching methods that were failing too many children. Now we are seeing the results: we have the best primary-age readers in the Western world and performance in science, maths and writing is improving.
The Advanced British Standard will build on our successful reforms by harnessing the best of our knowledge-rich A Levels and skills-based T Levels to create our new, rigorous post-16 system. It will offer increased breadth while maintaining depth and rigour and ensuring everyone
Sir Peter Lampl, Founder and Chairman of the Sutton Trust and Chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation, said: The proposed English baccalaureate is a major step which will significantly improve social mobility. Under the current A Levels system, young people are forced to specialise far too early. This impacts disadvantaged youngsters the most, as they are less likely to have access to good careers guidance or advice from family members.
They are also much less likely to gain knowledge outside of their A level courses. For those who aspire to university, it means they are making choices that can limit their options at age 15, and many also leave school lacking functional maths and English skills. While there is much still to be worked out, the English baccalaureate is a very positive step for improving social mobility.
Professor Becky Francis CBE, Chief Executive of the EEF, said: We know that post-16 education is our ‘last chance’ to minimise socio-economic attainment gaps before most young people leave the education system. We also know how important it is for future life chances to achieve a good level of Maths and English.
For us, finding better ways to support teaching and learning in the post-16 space is a crucial part of this.
So it’s great the government has recognised this by investing £40m to grow the evidence base. Through this funding, we’ll be able to build our work in this area by finding new evidence of effective practice, and putting that to work in the sector.
On the anniversary of their relative’s unsolved murder almost twenty years ago, the family of a man who was shot dead on a doorstep made a plea for “justice and closure.” On Wednesday, September 28, 2005, Mohammed Yasin was brutally murdered in Whitehall Road, Bordesley Green.
His family made an urgent appeal for anyone with new information to come forward. Police stated they were confident someone knew the whole story behind the killing of the 50-year-old man, and they claimed they were still looking for answers and justice.
Mohammed Yasin’s family said in a fresh statement provided by West Midlands Police: “Mohammed Yasin was a kind and loving person to family and friends. He is dearly missed by us all. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think about him. We as a family need justice and closure.”
Detectives are reaching out to any individual with information, regardless of how minor, to contact them because the investigation is still ongoing. Det Supt Shaun Edwards of the force homicide squad stated, “Our thoughts remain with Mohammed’s family who deserve justice and closure after enduring this pain 18 years on”
“In these circumstances no case is ever closed and will always look at new information that comes to light, no matter how small it is how much time has passed. Someone out there knows something. It
might be small to you, but it could make the difference to our investigation and Mohammed’s family. I would encourage anyone who knows what happened that
day to examine their conscience and do the right thing – call us.” Crimestoppers allows you to contact them anonymously if you don’t feel
comfortable approaching the police with your information. The review team can be contacted on 101 or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555
111 for information. Inform them of your knowledge, not your identity.
Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are more likely to suffer with a personality disorder than people without the condition, a new study reveals.
Researchers also discovered that, whilst NAFLD patients know that they need to watch their diet and exercise to keep the disease in check, they frequently exhibit uncontrolled eating behaviours.
NAFLD has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease in wealthy societies – responsible for a significant rise in liver-related deaths.
Up to one in three people in the UK has fatty liver disease. Whilst in its early stages there may be few symptoms, the disease can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure in at risk individuals such as diabetics.
Non-alcohol steatohepatitis – a more serious form of NAFLD, where the liver has become inflamed – is the most common cause of cirrhosis in industrialised countries where deaths from liver disease have increased fourfold over the last 50 years.
Publishing their findings in BMC Gastroenterology, researchers from the University of Birmingham reveal that NAFLD patients are around three times more likely to have a personality disorder than those people without the disease.
The scientists call for NAFLD patients
to be screened for personality disorders – if identified, these mental health disorders should be treated before the patients begin trying to control their diet and exercise more.
Co-author Dr Jonathan Catling, from the University of Birmingham, commented:
“Finding an increased prevalence of personality disorders in NAFLD patients is particularly striking – signifying that it’s not an issue associated with all liver disease, but just those with NAFLD.
“Importantly, it appears not to be a general mental health issue, as neither anxiety nor depression were found to be significantly different between the groups – despite both psychiatric disorders often being associated with chronic liver disease.”
The scientists note that, although simple measures such as changes in diet and increased exercise are proven to prevent disease progression in NAFLD, it is often difficult to persuade patients to follow dietary and exercise programmes. This may reflect the fact that such patients are often encouraged to boost their protein and calorie intake to reverse nutritional declines commonly seen in chronic liver disease.
NAFLD patients are aware of the beneficial effects of lifestyle modifications, yet frequently cannot make the necessary changes to an improved lifestyle is poor.
Even amongst patients transplanted for NAFLD two-fifths of patients showed signs of the disease recurring within five years of transplantation.
Dr Catling added: “Our findings suggest an urgent need to examine attitudes towards diet and exercise so that we can better understand how to motivate NAFLD patients and deliver more effective treatment – preventing disease recurrence after liver transplantation.”
One factor determining a patient’s attitudes towards weight loss is their internal and external ‘locus of control’ (LoC) – or how much control they believe they have over their life events. Patients with
a high internal LoC perceive life events to be a result of their own actions and are more likely to be successful in losing weight.
NAFLD sufferers, rather like individuals with substance abuse disorders, may have increased external LoC – seeing life events as out of their control and struggling to make and maintain the necessary changes to their diet and exercise regime that prevent disease progression into the more serious, irreversible stages of the disease.
In 2011, NAFLD was reported as prevalent in up to 25% of the global adult population. The disease is a metabolic
disorder characterised by the presence of lipid droplets in the liver with the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. NAFLD is a global health problem and multi-faceted disease, with the main risk factors being obesity and insulin resistance. Because of the close relationship with obesity, NAFLD’s prevalence continues to be a major public health challenge as western societies battle with rising rates of obesity-related disease.
“
Finding an increased prevalence of personality disorders in NAFLD patients is particularly striking –signifying that it’s not an issue associated with all liver disease, but just those with NAFLD.
Dr Jonathan Catling – University of BirminghamImage Credit: WMP
Mobile phone use should be banned in schools across England to improve behaviour, the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan announced.
• Graduate Suraj Sudera created an AI powered grill to cook the perfect steak.
• His love of engineering led him to create the device called Perfecta™
• He founded Birmingham based startup SEERGRILLS which applies AI and advanced technologies to improve cooking.
• An Aston University engineering graduate has created the world’s first AI powered grill.
Suraj Sudera has created a cooking device called Perfecta™ which cooks the perfect steak in 90 seconds.
Suraj graduated from Aston University in 2015 with a BEng in Mechanical Engineering and again in 2018 with an MSc Ophthalmic Engineering. He initially worked for Aston University spinout, EYOTO, which develops medical devices. He worked his way up to vice president of engineering, before setting up, and then selling, another company.
However, it was his love of engineering and product development that sparked his ‘light bulb’ moment which led him to create an AI powered grill which can cook food to an individual’s exact preference.
He founded SEERGRILLS, a Birmingham based start-up, which applies AI and advanced technologies to improve cooking.
Suraj said: “We noticed there is often difficulty and inconsistency in cooking food; it’s mostly always overcooked and dry, taking a long time.
“So, we decided to use our skills and knowledge to apply AI to cook the perfect steak and set up SEERGRILLS.
“We developed our first product called Perfecta™ which is the world’s first AI powered grill, the world’s fastest grill, the world’s most intelligent grill and the world’s most efficient grill.” The device is powered by NeuralFire™ technology, which is AI combined with a proprietary cooking system which can cook more than 50 types of food in under three minutes.
AI calculates the time needed to cook the food based on size, surface area and fat content, and the burners adapt as needed.
Suraj’s Birmingham-based company now employs 48 people, many of whom are Aston University alumni, and his product is available to pre-order in the US.
Suraj said as well as providing him with an education his time at Aston University helped grow his technical
skillset and demonstrated to him the importance of networking.
He said: “Creating a company or a product is a bit like putting a man on the moon. One has to visualise the future, and then work backwards, breaking down the journey into its most fundamental components and organise these in a pragmatic way which balances priority, cost and resource.
“Think of a five-dimensional moving jigsaw puzzle in your head – It gets very difficult very quickly, therefore planning, focus, hard work and grit are essential.
“Equally, serendipity and networking are powerful, so exploring, constantly learning and putting yourself in new situations can be pivotal. Entrepreneurship is a very rewarding process – to do what nobody else has, you must do what nobody else does.”
New guidance from the Department for Education will back head teachers in banning mobile phone use throughout the school day, including at break times, to tackle disruptive behaviour and online bullying while boosting attention during lessons. It aims to support the wider work the government is doing to raise standards in schools by increasing students’ focus and reducing distractions.
This ban supports the hard work of teachers and education staff – and continues to build on government’s reforms backed up by the highest level of funding for schools in history, in real terms, of nearly £60 billion by 2024-25.
The move will bring England in line with other countries that have already implemented a ban, including France, Italy and Portugal. It follows warnings from the United Nations on the risks of smartphones in schools and government data that found around a third (29%) of secondary school pupils reported mobile phones being used when they were not supposed to in most, or all,
lessons.
If schools fail to implement the new guidance, the government will consider legislating in the future to make the guidance statutory.
Tom Bennett, school behaviour advisor said:
This is a fantastic move forward for ensuring that students are able to work, learn and grow in a place free from the distracting influence of mobile phones. Schools that have already banned them report that students are safer, happier and able to focus far more than they were before- and it’s popular with them too. And heads should now be reassured
that their efforts to keep schools mobile-free will be backed by the DfE.
This is a positive and progressive step forward.
The guidance will set out limited exemptions where necessary – for example, where children require their phones for medical reasons.
The ban builds on a £10 million investment in behaviour hubs which support up to 700 schools to improve behaviour alongside the appointment of a new behavioural taskforce led by DfE’s behaviour tsar Tom Bennett.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, has unveiled measures to tackle aortic dissection, a life-threatening heart condition that kills 2,000 people every year.
Speaking at a research event to mark Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, the Health Secretary announced the formation of an NHS working group that will bring together clinical experts and charities, to improve diagnosis and treatment of the condition.
The group will review the whole patient experience when it comes to aortic dissections, and pinpoint opportunities for future improvement, including the potential benefits of genetic testing.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay said: Aortic dissection can be a devastating condition and every year it takes the lives of more people than die on our roads, yet awareness is low. Changing that will save lives.
Developing a holistic approach, from identifying those potentially at risk to providing first class follow-up care, will be life-changing for patients and I’m delighted to be able to build on the good work we’re already doing in this area.
I also want to pay tribute to the tireless work of my colleague Pauline Latham
whose campaigning to improve aortic dissection care has kept this issue on the agenda.
The Health Secretary has asked for the working group to report back with options within six months, and aortic dissection charities will input into the work.
Pauline Latham MP, who tragically lost her son to an undiagnosed aortic dissection in 2018, has been a leading voice in campaigning to improve the lives of sufferers and their families, and met with the Secretary of State earlier this year to discuss ways to im-
prove aortic dissection care.
Pauline Latham MP said:
In the wake of losing my son Ben to a missed diagnosis of aortic dissection, I couldn’t sit back and let other families suffer the way we have. That’s why Graham Cooper, Catherine Fowler and I started The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust.
We’ve been pushing hard – asking tough questions in Parliament, meeting with health ministers, and I’m thrilled to say, we have NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care on board.
This will bring in standardised care, genetic screening, and specialised nurses to not only save lives but improve quality of life for everyone affected by this condition. It’s our heartfelt mission to turn tragedy into a safer future for all.
The announcement builds on the progress made on aortic dissection in recent years. NHS England adjusted 111 and 999’s triage systems to better recognise chest pains caused by aortic dissections and is rolling out the Aortic Dissection Acute Toolkit across the regions to speed up diagnosis and improve patient outcomes, while The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has also published a best-practice guide to improve diagnosis in emergency departments.
The Department of Health and Social Care is also funding dedicated research into aortic dissection through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, as part of an annual £50 million investment in cardiovascular disease research.
Researchers are developing a tool to help people at genetic risk of aortic dissection decide if they want screening and, if necessary, preventative treatment and this is just one of the many exciting research projects under way across the country.
Award-winning businesswoman Julianne Ponan has been officially presented with her MBE for Services to Business, Exports, and to People with Allergies.
Julianne received her MBE from The Princess Royal, Princess Anne at Windsor Castle. Of those who received an Honour in 2023, only 2.3 per cent were women of colour and of mixed ethnicity. This is the first Honours list to receive their honours in the reign of King Charles the Third.
Julianne was among the brilliant people who were honoured with a Member of the Order of the British Empire, of
A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the Dolphin Centre in Ward End following a major refurbishment.
The £2m project, delivered for Birmingham City Council by Building Services Now Limited, has brought a wide range of improvements to the facility, including:
• The extension and retrofitting of the main building in Ward End Park with green energy and carbon reducing technologies;
• The provision and equipping of space within the building for a Youth Hub where a Jobcentre Plus Youth Employability Coach will provide intensive support to young people from the local community;
• The installation of a lift to provide disabled access to the middle and lower floors of the building;
• The creation of a café, which will provide opportunities for local unemployed women to gain work experience;
• The installation of upgraded digital connectivity including secure closed Wi-Fi for the Youth Employability Coach and a free public hotspot for the use of the community.
The scheme was funded by a range of organisations.
The European Regional Development Fund has contributed £510,576 for the building fabric extension and green energy retrofit, with £315,000 supplied by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) from its Growing Places Fund to create this inclusive youth hub with enhanced disabled access at the Dolphin Centre. These enhancements will help provide an inclusive community space that will address all four key themes of the GBSLEP You(th) Matters Strategy.
The East Birmingham Programme, established to deliver the East Birmingham Inclusive Growth Strategy, has provided £280,000, HS2 Community & Environment Fund a further £75,000 and the National Lottery Community Fund has contributed £48,000 through a grant to Norton Hall Family and Children Centre who lease the Dolphin Centre.
The remainder of £793,285 is being supplied by the council from Community Infrastructure Levy funds.
Works were carried out following extensive consultation on the development of the Dolphin Centre and Ward End Park, which was conducted by Norton Hall Children and Family Centre over the past five years. Responses from the local community helped shape a vision for the venue and the services the charity delivers.
The work to the Dolphin Centre is an integral part of the wider Ward End Park Lakeside Renewal Project, which has and will also see improvements to the lake, the Wash Brook, the woodland area, increased and enhanced public access and the creation of a 1.8ha new heathland to encourage a greater diversity of plants and pollinator insects for people to see and enjoy as they walk around the park. Since the creation of the heathland in September 2022, there is evidence of at least three different ladybirds, a variety of bees and an abundance of sheep’s sorrel. Through the East Birmingham Programme, the project will also be tied in with wider regeneration activities including working with the community to find a new role for the historic Ward End Park House, as well as wider plans for the improvement of housing, transport and local centres across the east of the city.
A special site ribbon cutting ceremony and tour took place on 28 September for project stakeholders to see the finished project, which began in August 2022.
Cllr Majid Mahmood, Cabinet Member for Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “The Dolphin Centre is an asset which is highly regarded by the community in Ward End and surrounding areas, so it’s fantastic to see the result of all the collaborative work done by so many organisations to improve the facilities and services it offers.
“As well as providing more opportunities for local women and young people in particular, it will also make Ward End Park a more attractive place for people to visit.
“I am delighted to see these improvements to the Dolphin Centre, now the work is complete, and the community is able to benefit from all the work that goes on here.”
Liam Byrne MP, who represents Birmingham Hodge Hill Constituency and is Chair of the East Birmingham Board, said: “The team behind the new Dolphin Centre have done a simply incredible job turning the dream of an amazing new community hub into a reality – and it’s been an absolute privilege to help support them!
“This project is a key part of our East Birmingham Regeneration Plan which will see hundreds of millions of pounds of new investment come into Ward End and Hodge Hill over the decade ahead.
This includes new investment in parks and a new business park with thousands
which only 19.4 per cent of the MBEs awarded were received by people who identified as having non-white ethnicities.
“Being considered for an MBE is an extraordinary achievement that transcends my wildest dreams,” Julianne said.
“From the isolation of the allergy table at school, where I yearned for an allergy-free existence, to now knowing that our efforts are genuinely transforming the lives of allergy sufferers, this prestigious accolade feels almost surreal.
“This momentous honour would have remained out of reach without the unwavering support of my husband Matt, who has been my number one supporter. This day marks a point of reflection and celebration of how my life has led me to this amazing place. I consider that if I didn’t have allergies I may have never had the drive to help others. It was a great privilege to be able to receive recognition for my work and something I deeply care about.”
of jobs opposite Ward End Park. We couldn’t turn this vision into reality without incredible social entrepreneurs like Suzanne, Maxine and their team.”
Wendy Kerr, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Norton Hall Children & Family Centre, said: “The Dolphin Women’s Centre is part of Norton Hall Children and Families Centre (NHCFC), linking support for children with educational opportunities for women.
“The provision of education and employment programmes has grown by 36% over the last two years. These community services have grown from needs identified by a dedicated team lead by Suzanne Knipe. The refurbishment of the Dolphin building in Ward End Park ensures that a varied programme of education can continue to expand, improving life chances for local women.”
Darren Perry, Construction Director, BSN Group, said: “The extension and refurbishment was an exceptionally difficult project, however at BSN Group we relish such challenges (it’s in our DNA).
“Knowing how important the facility would be for women of the local community, we pulled out all the stops to deliver high quality and to maximise the budget. Now complete, our work has been transformational, and we are really proud of our contribution.”
Julianne was notified of her MBE at the end of 2022 and had to keep this outstanding achievement quiet until the list was announced publicly. When it comes to the New Year’s Honour List for 2023, the statistics emphasise how momentous Julianne’s recognition is because only 16.4 per cent of the full honours list are people who do not identify as white, and 45.1 per cent on the list are women with only 2.3 per cent being women of colour and mixed ethnicity. For Julianne to be awarded such a coveted achievement breaks barriers for herself and other women of colour to be acknowledged for their work across society.
“The day felt like it was over in a flash and I couldn’t believe how much Princess Anne The Princess Royal knew about myself and Creative Nature, it made me feel like she genuinely cared about the rise in allergies. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.”
Julianne has broken barriers by carving her path in the food industry with her allergy-safe business, Creative Nature. But now, she has also broken barriers in accepting her MBE and has done so surrounded by her proud loved ones. We can only wait and see what Julianne Ponan MBE’s future has in store, but it is guaranteed to continue her work of bringing awareness and food to those who are left adrift because of their allergies.
The UK will immediately deploy emergency response teams to Morocco to assist with Moroccan led rescue efforts.
The government of Morocco accepted the UK offer for assistance following the 6.8 magnitude earthquake. The UK is deploying a team of search and rescue specialists, including 60 people, 4 search dogs and rescue equipment, as well as a medical assessment team.
The team is deploying today via 2 Royal air Force A400M aircraft provided by the Ministry of Defence.
Foreign Secretary
James Cleverly said:
The UK is sending immediate support to Morocco including a team of 60 search and rescue specialists and 4 rescue dogs to assist with the rescue effort.
I remain in contact with Foreign Minister Bourita and offer my deepest sympathies to the people of Morocco after this tragic event.
Defence Secretary
Grant Shapps said:
This is a devastating time for the people of Morocco, particularly those with loved ones they have lost or are missing.
The UK has taken a leading
The UK and Indonesia are set to extend collaboration on low carbon development until 2027, as Minister Trevelyan announces the second phase of UK support to the Low Carbon Development Initiative (LCDI) on a visit to Indonesia. The Minister will announce new funding alongside Indonesian Minister for National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa. The commitment affirms the UK’s record of support for climate action and sustainable growth in the Indo-Pacific.
Ahead of the visit, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:
Indonesia’s thriving economy and capacity for innovation bring ever greater opportunities for our two countries to work together, from trade and investment to science and tech cooperation.
The LCDI will ensure Indonesia’s economic growth is sustainable and resilient against the impacts of climate change, delivering benefits for people in the UK, Indonesia and across the Indo-Pacific.
The Low Carbon Development Initiative (LCDI) is a flagship Indonesian government policy aiming to reduce emissions and promote sustainable growth and development. The first phase of UK support, launched in 2017,
saw the inclusion of climate targets within the country’s development planning for the first time. Now, new funding will enable further training and capability building to develop sciencebased policy and provide grants to pilot innovative low-carbon technologies.
The visit by Minister Trevelyan follows sustained UK engagement with Indonesia during its ASEAN Presidency year, includ-
ing visits by Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham
Stuart in August and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in July.
During the visit, the minister will meet Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pahala Mansury for discussions on global and regional security, and Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs
Luhut to discuss economic cooperation and progress under the JETP. She will also meet ASEAN
Secretary General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, to reaffirm the UK’s respect for ASEAN centrality and commitment to its role as a Dialogue Partner. Finally, the minister will visit sports charity Inspire Indonesia to learn about their work educating teenagers on the importance of gender equality and the harms of sexual and gender-based violence.
role in the international effort to enhance search and rescue operations – moving quickly to deploy our unique strategic airlift capabilities, expert personnel and aid. We stand firmly by Morocco as they get through this terrible event.
The UK International Search and Rescue team (UKISAR) respond to disasters on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. They have specialist search equipment including seismic listening devices, concrete cutting and breaking equipment, propping and shoring tools. The specialist kit gives the team the capacity to lift, cut and remove concrete and rubble to reach people under collapsed buildings.
The UK Emergency Medical Team (EMT) is deploying a 4-person British medical assessment team to assess the situation on the ground and coordinate with Moroccan authorities. Following a large-scale natural disaster, it is crucial to assess existing healthcare capacity and the extent of damage to manage healthcare needs and provide support appropriately.
65 people met online to hear about experiences and lessons learnt from gender equality work in higher education
Speakers from Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Pakistan, India, Nigeria and the UK brought international perspectives Despite cultural and religious differences, there are common barriers to women’s representation and leadership.
Aston University has held its second online Gender Equality in Higher Education Symposium, following a successful first event in 2022.
The event, on 13 September 2023, was hosted by Professor Hannah Bartlett, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Diversity & Inclusion, and Claire Richards, Aston University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner. Aston University holds the Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising good practice towards advancing gender equality. The university has a number of international projects relating to gender equality, and the symposium brought together representatives from partner institutions in Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Pakistan, India, Nigeria and the UK, who joined 65 attendees online to discuss the lessons that can be learnt regarding ensuring gender equality. Many of the speakers reported similar challenges, including male harassment and exploitation, a lack of awareness of opportunities, a lack of training, and societal and cultural pressures. Encouragingly, many also reported support for improving the situation, often all the way to government level.
The keynote speech was given by Professor Zoe Radnor, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for the College of Business and Social Sciences, and Ex-
ecutive Sponsor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Aston University. She discussed Aston University’s success in the Athena SWAN scheme and the plan to apply for the institutional level gold award. She reported that 26% of its professors and 38% of the executive team are now female, female students achieved 56% of all research degrees in 2023 and the University is now using its experiences to mentor other universities.
The first speaker was Professor Dr Wening Udasmoro, a professor of literature and gender studies, from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Indonesia. In 2020, UGM set a historic precedent in Indonesia by becoming the first university to set regulations addressing sexual violence. Wening explained that at UGM, they have identified patterns of toxic masculinity, including male students exploiting the intellectual abilities of female students, taking advantage of sexually inexperienced female students and using control tactics such as threatening to share explicit photos or videos.
Dr Thi Thanh Ha Tran’s talk, ‘Women Leadership in Vietnamese Higher Education Institutions: An Exploratory Study on Female University Students’ Awareness and Practices’, looked at the findings and conclusions of a recent study at VNU-University of Education in Vietnam. It found a number of common issues, including lack of self-confidence, lack of support, lack of knowledge and gender bias. Some of the study’s recommendations include specialised training programmes, creating more opportunities for female students to take leadership roles and the use of role models and mentors.
Dewanti Cahyaningsih, a lecturer at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) in Indonesia, then discussed how gender equality in the light of cultural challenges. Universities like UNS have a responsibility to tackle gender inequality despite challenges with the patriarchal society, she said. UNS has increased the number of women in middle management positions, opened a research centre for gender, and developed initiatives for working mothers, such as a breastfeeding area and a childcare centre.
At Myeik University in Myanmar, they have introduced training courses for those in teaching positions to increase awareness of gender equality, diversity and inclusion, remove implicit bias and create a safe learning environment. Prof Dr Win Win Than explained that most of the local population live in very traditional, labour-based households, with many cultural and religious restrictions
on women. A campus survey, however, showed broad support for an inclusive campus, regardless of culture, gender or religion.
Dr Nisha Mendiratta is an advisor at the Women In Science and Engineering (WISE) – KIRAN Division, at India’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
India has a real problem with a ‘leaky pipeline’ – while 43% of STEM graduates are female, when it comes to leadership roles, just 24% of those hired are female. Some of this can be explained by societal expectations of marriage and a family, and the difficulties encountered trying to re-enter the workforce. To counter this, the WISE-KIRAN scheme has introduced new government policies and policy frameworks for gender equality, development and financial support programmes for women, conferences and activities.
One such policy framework is Gender Advancement Through Transformation of Institutions (GATI), in which Aston University has been involved, and Dr Shivasubramanian Gopalakrishnan spoke about learnings from GATI at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
IIT Bombay has carried out detailed gender ratio studies at all levels, showing that female participation is much lower.
IIT Bombay has introduced affirmative action to reserve places for females and early indications are that it is improving the situation.
Madiha Sajid from Imperial College London and Dr Hazir Ullah from Quaid-iAzam University in Islamabad, Pakistan, both discussed their studies and listening exercises about safety on university campuses in Pakistan. Madiha organised
listening exercises in Islamabad and Peshawar, designed to create a safe space for staff and students attending. Matters such as bullying, harassment and safety are culturally sensitive. Hazir’s studies in Islamabad, like Madiha’s found that lived experience can be very different for different groups, and many students felt vulnerable and nervous of reporting for fear of a lack of confidentiality. Madiha and Nazir are working with Aston University to create a policy document for safety for women on campus.
The final session of the conference was presented by Dr Olawunmi OniBuraimoh, a senior lecturer at Lagos State University in Nigeria. She has been leading a large project studying gender equality on Nigerian university campuses. In her talk, she focused on stereotypes which disempower women. This includes stereotypes relating to respect for elders, stereotypes relating to beliefs, and stereotypes relating to proximity with the opposite sex.
Hannah said:
“We were delighted to welcome so many of our international gender equality partners to this symposium. It provided the opportunity for researchers and equality, diversity and inclusion practitioners to come together in an international forum to share experiences and best practice.
In line with the Aston 2030 Strategy, we are creating a community of practice that embraces the challenges of inequality and seeks innovative solutions. The international dimension of our network promotes a truly intersectional and global approach.”
The team plan to host a third symposium in 2024.
Kemi Badenoch MP said:
This partnership marks a significant milestone in the UK’s trading relationship with Europe and shows how an independent UK can benefit from striking ambitious trade deals with the world, while also reinforcing our already strong and prosperous trading relationship with EU members such as Italy. This partnership will boost trade and investment between British and Italian businesses, ease the path for valuable investment, and will crucially grow UK exports as we aim for our target of selling £1 trillion of goods and services a year to the world by the end of the decade.
The UK and Italy have agreed a momentous trade partnership to boost UK exports, help create jobs, increase wages and grow the economy.
On her first overseas visit as the Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch MP and Italy’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani met in Rome today to sign the UK-Italy Export and Investment Promotion Dialogue – the first agreed between the UK and any EU country.
The partnership aims to strengthen exports in high-performing and growth sectors of the future, such as Life Sciences and Digital and Tech, as well as promoting inward investment, including low-carbon industries such as Offshore Wind and Carbon Capture Storage.
The agreement reinforces the UK’s position as a vital trade partner within Europe and the G7. It demonstrates how we can use our position as an independent trading nation to agree comprehensive trade deals with new markets, while also strengthening partnerships with EU members.
Both the UK and Italy are in the top 10 global economies.
Trade between the UK and Italy is worth more than £43 billion, making it the UK’s 11th largest trading partner. The most popular UK exports to Italy include cars, worth £932.5 million and equivalent to 10.1% of all UK goods exported to Italy, and £507.7 million worth of mechanical power generators. In 2020-21, Italy was also the 6th largest source of UK Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects globally.
During her visit, the Business and Trade Secretary will cochair the first UK and Italy CEO Forum, alongside the Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso. The meeting is the first of its kind and she will discuss her top trade priorities which include breaking down trade barriers, making the UK the undisputed top investment destination in Europe and attracting new investment helping to level-up the country.
She will also meet with the heads of major Italian investors in the UK including innovative wind turbine business ACT Blade, and Eni, world leading energy company. Badenoch will also make the opening remarks at the 30th anniversary of the Pontignano Forum where she will discuss the importance of economic security and trade in turbulent times
The partnership with the UK will enhance coordination across the UN and NGOs in Bangladesh, and as a result strengthen support to the government of Bangladesh, and most importantly to the people most affected by natural disasters. The impact of climate change and the resulting intensity of disasters means this work is more important than ever. Our efforts are focused on better early warning systems, anticipatory action and a quick and timely response to emergencies and disasters.
This money will aid in the coordination of humanitarian assistance provided by the Government of Bangladesh, donors, the UN, and NGOs prior to, during, and after disaster events. It will also ensure that this help reaches the most vulnerable people with the most essential relief supplies.
Furthermore, it will assist the Government of Bangladesh in developing a new risk assessment and contingency plan for earthquakes, as well as expand its work on anticipatory actions and early warning systems to assist people in taking precautions to protect their lives before disasters strike.
UK Development Director and Deputy High Commissioner in Bangladesh, Matt Cannell, said “The devastating flooding in Sylhet last year and Chittagong Division
this year demonstrate Bangladesh’s vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change.
“The UK is proud to partner with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office to support greater disaster preparedness, response, and recovery in Bangladesh. I am pleased to announce this during the Government of Bangladesh and UNDP’s Disaster Resilience Week.
“This will help guarantee that disaster responses are coordinated and well-informed, and that more preparations are made ahead of disasters, limiting their impact and saving lives.
“This builds on the UK’s historic support for humanitarian response in Bangladesh and complements the Government of Bangladesh’s remarkable work on disaster resilience and response to date.”
BMW has added five more awards to its impressive tally for 2023, including the coveted Fleet Manufacturer of the Year for a second consecutive year at the Business Car Awards. Further to the headline award, the BMW X1, 3 Series, i4 and 5 Series were each recognised as best in their respective classes. Martyn Collins, Editor, Business Car Magazine presented BMW with Fleet Manufacturer of the Year, and commented, “We continue to be impressed by BMW’s choice of models, that continue to build on their strong fleet record – particularly with the choice of EVs that continues to grow at pace. Then there’s support for company car drivers, with innovations for the ‘Inside Edge’ rewards programme, and the launch of ‘Corporate Certified’ this year, which is all about improving the retailer experience.”
Launched in 2022, the third generation of BMW X1 offers fully electric models for the first time and features the latest in connectivity. Walking away with the Best Premium Medium
The Public Sector Fraud Authority saved taxpayers £311 million in its first year of operation, according to figures revealed by Baroness NevilleRolfe, Minister for the Cabinet Office, at a meeting of the International Public Sector Fraud Forum this week. The figure far exceeds the original savings target of £180 million set when the authority launched last year.
which is an exercise that works with more than 1000 public bodies to compare sets of data against other records to identify discrepancies that may be evidence of fraud; and counter fraud flags, which refers to instances when we share intelligence with lenders to help them recover stolen money.
the UK Government this week at venues across London. The figure will be officially published shortly in the Public Sector Fraud Authority’s first annual report.
SUV, judges stated “The latest X1 impresses with its extra practicality, its performance, plus the electric range for EV and plug-in hybrid models. On top of the added space, all X1’s are well-equipped and good to drive.”
The BMW i4 claims its sixth award for 2023, taking the win for the Best Electric Car over £40,000 for the second year running at the Business Car Awards. Judges said that “despite the choice of models in this class growing massively over the last year, we felt none of them could match the i4’s reliable electric range, driver appeal and practical hatchback design.” Collins also added that the lower entry price of the eDrive35 model will allow more drivers to experience the BMW i4 moving forward. The BMW 3 Series continues to impress with the model retaining its Best Premium Car title for the fifth consecutive year. Business Car said, “the BMW 3 Series remains head and shoulders above the competition in the premium class.”
For the fourth consecutive year, the BMW 5 Series has also been named Best Executive Car by Business Car, with judges believing the current model “is still the best car in its class.”
Matt Collins, General Manager, Corporate Sales BMW UK, commented, “We’re thrilled to be recognised as Fleet Manufacturer of the Year for a second time running at the Business Car Awards. It’s a real feather in the cap for everyone in the Corporate Sales team. We continue to bolster our fleet offering and with the further strengthening of our ‘Corporate Certified’ programme, we hope to make further strides in improving the service that we offer to our fleet customers. Alongside the top award, we’re also pleased to be taking home another three wins for some of our latest models. This includes the BMW i4, which continues to be a compelling offering for our corporate customers and with the introduction of the eDrive35, we hope to see its popularity increase further still.”
The £311 million figure is made up of a variety of projects led by the Public Sector Fraud Authority that help public sector organisations prevent, identify, and recover public money lost to fraud, including: the use of advanced artificial intelligence and data analytics through partnerships with leading private sector businesses, such as the tech unicorn Quantexa; the National Fraud Initiative,
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the creation of the Public Sector Fraud Authority while serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer in March 2022. Following intensive joint working between the Cabinet Office and the Treasury, the authority launched just five months later in August 2022.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe revealed how much the new authority had saved during its first year at a meeting of the International Public Sector Fraud Forum, which was hosted by
The International Public Sector Fraud Forum was first convened by the UK Government in 2018. It aims to share best practice to help combat public sector fraud in the Five Eyes – Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The UK Government has hosted an in person meeting of the International Public Sector Fraud Forum four times. This week marked the first meeting since the pandemic and was attended by delegates from government agencies and law enforcement across the Five Eyes.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said:
The Public Sector Fraud Authority was created to take action on fraud, and our results in our first year show our commitment to that. The close relationship we have with our international partners has been integral to this. Together we can have a bigger impact on those who attack our public services for their own gain.selling to overseas markets.
The £311 million saving is a big win for taxpayers. It shows the Public Sector Fraud Authority is delivering its mission to transform the way we fight fraud. Every pound stolen by fraudsters is one pound less spent on schools, hospitals, and other vital public services. It was fitting to reveal the achievement at a meeting of the International Public Sector Fraud Forum. The Five Eyes has a proud history of working together to tackle big challenges and fraud is no exception. Led by the UK Government and the Public Sector Fraud Authority, our allies are setting the gold standard in the field of counter fraud.
£311 MILLION IN ITS FIRST YEAR, BEATING TARGET BY MORE THAN £100 MILLIONCheeseman Approximately 70 delegates, made up of international experts and domestic counter fraud professionals from across the public sector, attended a keynote address by Baroness Neville-Rolfe at the Imperial War Museum on Thursday.
The Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY), is pleased to announce that Aseel Al Hamad, Saudi Arabia Representative at the FIA Women in Motorsports Commission and Board Member at the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation, has joined its international jury. WWCOTY is the only car awards in the world composed exclusively of women motoring journalists, and with Aseel’s appointment, now features 74 judges from 50 countries.
The addition of Aseel Al Hamad is particularly important because she is the first female Board Member on the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF). She regularly speaks and mentors the Saudi workforce and is often featured in the media as a figurehead for female empowerment, and an inspirational representative of the Saudi 2030 vision for leadership and positive change.
Aseel is a motorsports advocate, having taught herself to drive in Dubai, years before women were allowed to drive in KSA. She started racing from an early age, in 2000, testing her skills in amateur tournaments and building her profile as a female automotive figurehead. In June 2018, Aseel took part in a milestone moment in regional history, completing a victory lap at Paul Ricard in Le Casetellet in France, at the guest of Renault, to mark the lifting of the Saudi female driving ban.
Most recently, Aseel co-founded STEER a Saudi licensed travel company that specializes in supercar automotive tours that explore the beauty of Saudi Arabia. The mission is to promote domestic tourism in the Kingdom through immersive automotive experiences.
Aseel comments, “I am incredibly proud of my new role supporting Women’s World Car of the Year, as we are aligned in our mission to enhance female empowerment in the automotive and motorsport industry. This has traditionally been perceived as a male dominant world, and through our work, we are dedicated to correcting the balance”.
Aseel is the first Saudi Arabian women to import and own a Ferrari since 2012, years before women were allowed to drive in KSA. She has participated in many amateur tournaments with her tal-
ent and commitment to her path leading her to becoming a member of the International Automobile Federation.
Her appointment to the WWCOTY jury highlights the new role that women have begun to play in this Arab country, especially in the sports and entertainment industry. Since the introduction of the Vision 2030’s plans, it opened up many business and investment opportunities.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in attracting high-profile sporting and automotive events in recent years as part of its Vision 2030 agenda. The country hosted mega global events for the first time in its history, such as the Dakar Rally, the Formula E, the Formula One, and others. It also built a new racing track to hosted Formula drivers since 2021. The Kingdom signed agreements to host the MotoGP, and the World Rally Championship round. There are plans for developing the racing industry and the country introduced Formula 4 academies for young drivers, and is constructing a permanent circuit where the Grand Prix will take place in 2026.
Sports and entertainment will play a crucial role to attract tourists.
The Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region, where Aseel Al Hamad works and lives, is growing at an estimated 36% with Saudi Arabia as the leading market.
Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 35% in the MENA region in 2020.
The majority of households in Saudi Arabia own or drive a car. Medium and big cars are more common than smaller cars.
In 2021, Saudi Arabia imported $12.1B worth of cars, becoming the 13th largest importer in the world. At the same year, automobiles were the most imported product in Saudi Arabia primarily from Japan, China, United States, South Korea and Germany.
Saudi Arabia also moves towards building local content. According with the country’s Vision 2030 goals, the National Industrial Development Center aims to attract 3-4 Original Equipment Manufacturers. The goal is to produce 300,000 vehicles annually with 40% local content by 2030. NIDC provides incentives to enable industrialization through loans, tax incentives and tariff exemptions.
Bramble Energy, one of the UK’s fastest growing hydrogen innovators, welcomed key members of the European Parliament to explore its breakthrough fuel cell technology at IAA Mobility in Munich.
Andreas Glück and Andrey Kovatchev, Members of the European Parliament, representing the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), were welcomed to Bramble Energy’s stand to discover how its innovative hydrogen technology can play a pivotal role in Europe’s clean energy future. With the European Commission having set the goal for a climateneutral Europe by 2050, as well as the Fit for 55 challenging target of reducing gas emissions in the EU by 55% by 2030, policymakers have identified low carbon hydrogen as an essential energy for this to become a reality.
Bramble Energy CCO, Vidal Bharath, and Business Development Director, Carsten Pohlmann, hosted the two MEPs across two days, showcasing Bramble’s patented Printed Circuit Board Fuel Cell (PCBFC™), the first of its kind to be produced, highlighting how it offers a breakthrough in the hy-
drogen sector with huge scalability, significantly lower cost than traditional fuel cells, and much quicker route to market.
With limited supply chain, long turnaround and high cost of manufacture often cited as barriers to hydrogen uptake, Bramble’s PCBX™ platform technology leverages an existing printed circuit board manufacturing supply chain to remove these barriers and offer a superior solution to hydrogen mobility.
Bramble’s technology has been designed to revolutionise the hydrogen mobility industry, which Andreas Glück and Andrey Kovatchev both were able to gain valuable insight and explore PCBX™’s vast flexibility and potential.
As well as hosting Members of the European Parliament to its stand Carsten Pohlmann delivered a presentation on Bramble Energy, providing insight into the growth of the business and how the team has developed its cutting-edge technology.
Throughout the event, Bramble showcased its technology from IAA Munich’s Startup Zone, presenting the versatility of the PCB-X™
and its applicability to a breadth of mobility sectors, ranging from automotive and energy storage, through to marine and rail.
Vidal Bharath, Bramble Energy Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “We are delighted to have hosted two Members of the European Parliament at our stand at IAA Mobility Munich. The hydrogen agenda has never been such a hot topic, and this was a great opportunity to showcase our cutting-edge technology to some of Europe’s key decision makers, who are taking considerable interest in hydrogen solutions as a viable means of sustainable mobility.”
At the forefront of the UK’s hydrogen sector, Bramble Energy has recently opened its new multi-million-pound, state-of-the-art headquarters, featuring a leading Hydrogen Innovation Hub to support the development of fuel cell technology and continuous growth of the business as it provides a lower-cost and higher speed route to the hydrogen economy.
“VE
Elephant Atta collaborates with British Rapper, Raxstar, to create Ode to South Asian Family Life and Home
A cherished and iconic name that can be found in South Asian households up and down the country, Elephant Atta has launched a heart-warming campaign entitled Home Is Where The Elephant Atta Is to captivate audiences by celebrating the vital role of flour as the key staple in South Asian family life. The new advert is an ode to the domestic ritual of chapatti-making that unites generations in the beating heart of the home – the kitchen.
The realism of the campaign is conveyed through four families, their households, and their daily chapatti-making – from the first-time paratha makers to the expert grandmothers; from the flawlessly rounded culinary masterpieces to the debut attempts charred at the edges –
each offering made with love and perfect in its own way.
To elevate the campaign’s emotional resonance, Elephant Atta has collaborated with international Asian music artist, Raxstar. His heartfelt poem perfectly encapsulates the sentiment that Elephant Atta evokes in every South Asian home and household. Raxstar’s lyricism adds an authentic layer of connection, serving as a love letter to the brand and the memories it invokes.
Home Is Where The Elephant Atta Is beautifully captures the everyday moments that make South Asian family life so uniquely special. It features real families from diverse backgrounds, welcoming viewers into their homes and the beating hearts of their kitchens as they prepare cherished meals together. This authentic portrayal pays homage to the cultural and unifying signifi-
cance of food and the bonds it nurtures, emotionally resonating with viewers and connecting them with household memories old and moments new.
Elephant Atta’s iconic pink bag has been a trusted companion in kitchens for generations, embodying the true essence of home-cooked comfort and food for the soul. It is synonymous with the comfort and spirit of home life and community. To honour these invaluable connections and pan-generational familial ties, the campaign highlights the role of chapatti-making in the heart of real South Asian families. It celebrates those moments in chapatti-making and home cooking, from buying, transporting, and decanting the iconic bags of chapatti flour to the communal rituals of preparing and savouring the joy and comfort of home-cooked, South Asian family meals.
About his brand collaboration for the campaign, Raxstar says, “I was honoured and privileged to be a part of this emotional campaign that all South Asians will be able to connect with. We all have our tales and memories from the kitchen and dining table and the age-old ritual of chapatti-making across the generations. Nothing quite matches the comfort of South Asian home-cooked food for the soul, with the chapatti being at its core. “Teaming up with such a renowned chapatti brand as Elephant Atta for this beautiful campaign has been emotional and I have no doubt that South Asian audiences of all ages will relate to and connect with it with love and fondness.”
Speaking about the campaign, Anne Adshead, Senior Brand Manager, Elephant Atta says, “There’s nothing better than eating chapattis, parathas or rotis at home and Elephant Atta is the iconic pink bag that’s been doing it for generations, synonymous with South Asian comfort food for the soul. The Home Is Where The Elephant Atta Is campaign celebrates the heart and soul of South Asian families, their traditions and the cherished moments they share around food.
“We had a lot of fun developing this campaign, working with real families, and getting to know how food brings them together in their unique and personal ways. With the lyricism of Raxstar, we were able to fully encapsulate what family mealtimes mean to many in the South Asian community, that will hopefully resonate with crossgenerational South Asians across the country.”
This autumn the Royal Shakespeare Company brings their acclaimed play The Empress by Lyric Hammersmith Theatre Artistic Associate Tanika Gupta to the Lyric for four weeks onlyfrom 4 October. Transferring directly from the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and directed by Pooja Ghai, Artistic Director ofTamasha, this new production of The Empress takes youfrom the rugged gangways ofTilbury docks to the grandeur of Queen Victoria’s Palace, whilst unveiling the long and embedded culture of British Asian history.
The Empress was written by Tanika Gupta. The production is directed by Pooja Ghai with Design by Rosa Maggiora. Lighting is by Matt Haskins, Music and Sound by Ben and Max Ringham, Movement by Wayne Parsons, Dramaturgy by Pippa Hill, Fights and Intimacy by Rachel Bown- Williams and Ruth CooperBrown, and Casting by Matthew Dewsbury CDG and Martin Poile.
Rachel O’Riordan, Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre said: “We’re so excited to be welcoming the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of The Empress by our very own Artistic Associate, Tanika Gupta and directed by Pooja Ghai. This is an exciting time for West London, we are so pleased to host the RSC here in Hammersmith for this sweeping story through British Indian history.”
The Empress is another impressive play in Tanika Gupta’s ever-growing canon of work.
Tanika’s acclaimed adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House opened my first season here at the Lyric in 2019. We are honoured to be the London home of this epic production that unveils the long and embedded culture of British Asian history in nineteenth century Britain, and we cannot wait for audiences to see this story come to life in our beautiful Victorian Frank MatchamTheatre.”
Spanning 13 years over the ‘Golden Era’ of Empire, this story blends the experiences of Indian ayahs (nursemaids) and lascars (sailors) who worked on the ships carrying trade goods, alongside the first Indian politician to be elected as a Member of Parliament. It is 1887, the year Queen Victoria celebrates her Golden Jubilee. Sixteen year old Rani Das, ayah (nursemaid) to an English family arrives at Tilbury docksafter aa long voyage from India, to start a new life in Britain. On the boat, Rani befriends a lascar (sailor), Dadabhai Naoroji, an Indian politician, and Abdul Karim, a royal servant destined to serve the Queen. Full of hopes and dreams of what lies ahead, they eachembark on an extraordinary journey. Will theirexpectations come true or will they have to forge a different path in their new country?
Tanya Katyal plays Rani Das. Her theatre credits include When Mountains Meet at CottiersTheatre, Glasgow. Television credits include Netflix’s Eternally Confused and Eager for Love. Raj Bajaj plays Abdul Karim. Raj’s previous RSC credits include Tamburlaine, Tartuffe andMuch Ado About Nothing. Other recent theatre credits include Wildfire Road (Sheffield Crucible), Tartuffe (Birmingham Rep), Hobson’s Choice (Royal Exchange Manchester), Rapunzel (Stratford East),
The National Theatre today released images for its critically acclaimed production of The Father and the Assassin. Written by Anupama Chandrasekhar, one of India’s most exciting playwrights and directed by the Kiln Theatre’s Artistic-Director, Indhu Rubasingham, this gripping production plays in the Olivier Theatre until 14 October.
Theatre of Scotland), Sid Sagar (Cabaret, ATG/Underbelly) and Akshay Shah (Kabul Goes Pop, Hope Mill Theatre).
Lions & Tigers, The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe),East is East (Northern Stage/Nottingham Playhouse) and Bend It Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre).
Alexandra Gilbreath plays Queen Victoria. She is an Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where her credits include; The Provoked Wife, The Rover, Shakespeare Live!, A Midsummer Night’s Dreaming, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Twelfth Night for which she received an Olivier award nomination-for Best Supporting Actress, Merry Wives –The Musical,The Taming of the Shrew, The Tamer Tamed, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, The Winter’sTale, Cyrano de Bergerac, Ghosts, The Country Wife, Love’s Labour’s Lost. Other theatre includes; The Sugar Syndrome at the Orange Tree; The Fever Syndrome, Mother Christmas at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs; The Lie at Menier Chocolate Factory; Dessert at Southwark Playhouse; The Wars of the Roses, Hayfever at the Rose Kingston; The Invisibles at the Bush; AMidsummer Night’s Dream for Hong Kong Philharmonic; The Village Bike, Disappeared at the Royal Court; Shallow Slumber, God’s Dice at Soho Theatre; Othello at Sheffield Crucible; and Playhouse Creatures at Chichester Festival Theatre.
Screen credits include; Becoming Elizabeth, EastEnders, Father Brown, Casualty, WPC56, In Search of Shakespeare, Rites of Passage, Inspector George Gently, The Commander, The Waltz King, Happiness, The Project, Trial and Retribution, Midsomer Murders, Absolute Power,Life Begins, The Bill, Monarch of the Glen, Out of Hours, A Wing and a Prayer, The Art of Love,Lair, Warhol, Dead Babies, The All Together, A Hundred Streets and Tulip Fever.
Completing the company are: Francesca Faridany (Lady Sarah), Aaron Gill (Hari), Anyebe Godwin (Serang/Lascar), Miriam Grace Edwards (Charlotte/ Susan), OliverHembrough (LordJohn Oakham/William/Painter), Avita Jay (Firoza), Tom Milligan(Freddie/Ensemble), Sarah Moyle (Mary/Susan Matthews), Chris Nayak (Jinnah/Singh),Lauren Patel (Ruby/Asha), Simon Rivers (Dadabhai Naoroji), Anish Roy (Gandhi/Lascar), Nicola Stephenson (Lascar Sally), Premi Tamang (Lascar/Ayah), and Joe Usher (Lascar).
Tanika Gupta has written over 25 stage plays that have been produced in major theatres across the UK. Her critically acclaimed adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House set in colonial Calcutta launched Rachel O’Riordan’s first season as Artistic Director of the Lyric in 2019.She was awarded an MBE for Services to Drama and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She is an Artistic Associate at the Lyric and was recently announced as one of twonew Writers in Residence at the Bush Theatre in 2023.
Pooja Ghai is Artistic Director of Tamasha, and artistic associate at Kali. Prior to this she was Associate Director at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Her most recent directing credits include Hakawatis and Lions and Tigers at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse; Lotus Beauty at Hampstead Theatre; Seriously Annoying by Mark Thomas for Tin Cat Productions, 2020 at Tara Theatre, Approaching Empty at the Kiln (Tamasha/Kiln/Live Theatre) and Rapunzel, Counting Stars and House of in Between at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Awards include Best Director for Lions and Tigers at the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTA) in 2017. Pooja is a Dramaturg for Voxed, Meeting, Out Late, Vestige and It’s Not Me.
The play-text was recently added to the GCSE drama syllabus following a campaign aided by participation from the RSC’s Youth Advisory Board and is now one of four new plays by writers of the global majority to better reflect the diversity of playwriting in the UK. The text was introduced by AQA in 2022, the largest examination board in England. Tanika’s 2019 production of A Doll’s House was previously added to the national curriculum by Pearson in 2021 alongside works by Bola Agbaje, In-Sook Chappell and Roy Williams.
YOUNG LYRIC
In response to The Empress, Young Lyric will create a series of teacher CPD sessions for secondary schools across West London which examines Gupta’s text and curriculum links.Theproduction will be accompanied with a complimentary teacher’s guide exploring The Empress as a set text on the AQA Drama curriculum, this guide will be created in collaboration with RSC Education.
Mahatma Gandhi: lawyer, champion of non-violence, beloved leader. Nathuram Godse: journalist, nationalist – and the man who murdered Gandhi. The Father and the Assassin traces Godse’s life over 30 years during India’s fight for independence: from a devout follower of Gandhi, through to his radicalisation and their tragic final encounter in Delhi in 1948.
2022 Olivier Award-winner Hiran
Abeysekera (Life of Pi, Sheffield Theatres/Simon Friend Entertainment)) plays the role of Nathuram Godse with Paul Bazely (Cruella, Disney) reprising his role as Mahatma Gandhi. The cast also includes Azan Ahmed (The Tempest, Shakespeare Globe), Ravi Aujla (The Lehman Trilogy, National Theatre/Neal Street Productions), Ayesha Dharker (Chasing Hares, Young Vic), Marc Elliott (She Loves Me, Sheffield Theatres), Ravin
J Ganatra (When Winston went to War with the Wireless, Donmar Warehouse), Raj Ghatak (The Kite Runner, UK Productions/Flying Entertainment), Sasha Ghoshal (Bend it Like Beckham the Musical, Starvox Ents), Halema Hussain (Does My Bomb Look Big In This?, Tamasha Theatre), Nadeem Islam (Antigone, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Tony Jayawardena (East is East, Birmingham REP/National Theatre), Aysha Kala (The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre), Nicholas Khan (Life of Pai, Simon Friend Entertainment), Raj Khera, Hari Mackinnon (The Cherry Orchard, Yard Theatre/ETT/HOME), Johndeep More (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Perth Theatre), Aryana Ramkhalawon (Exodus, National
Anupama Chandrasekhar is an Indian playwright and screenwriter based in Chennai. The Father and the Assassin, was nominated for the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for Best Play (2022) and was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (2023). Her work has been produced in India, Europe and North America. In 2016–17, she became the first International Playwright-in-Residence at the National Theatre Studio. Plays include When the Crows Visit (Kiln Theatre); The Snow Queen (Unicorn Theatre/ Trestle Theatre); Disconnect (Royal Court Theatre/internationally); Free Outgoing (Royal Court Theatre/Traverse Theatre).
Director Indhu Rubasingham reunites with writer Anupama Chandrasekhar for this essential exploration of oppression and extremism. She has also directed Chandrasekhar’s When the Crows Visit (Kiln Theatre), Disconnect and Free Outgoing (Royal Court Theatre). Rubasingham is the Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre. Other directing work for the Kiln Theatre includes The Wife of Willesden, The Invisible Hand, Pass Over (South Bank Sky Arts Award Nomination), Wife, White Teeth, Holy Sh!t, Red Velvet (also in New York and in the West End as part of the Kenneth Branagh Season) and Handbagged (Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre Olivier Award winner – also West End, UK tour, Washington DC and New York). Rubasingham is joined by set and costume designer, Rajha Shakiry; lighting designer, Oliver Fenwick; movement director, Lucy Cullingford; composer, Siddhartha Khosla; additional music by David Shrubsole; sound designer, Alexander Caplen; fight director, Kate Waters; casting director Alastair Coomer CDG, associate set and costume designer, Khadija Raza and staff director, John Young.
Viram Jasani, a distinguished figure in the introduction and development of Indian classical music to the UK, is proud to announce the release of his memoir, titled “Independence to Freedom.” This captivating book chronicles the remarkable journey of migration, cultural fusion, and personal transformation that has shaped his extraordinary life.
Born in Kenya in 1945, Viram Jasani’s family embarked on a poignant migration from rural Gujarat to Nairobi, Kenya, amidst the backdrop of the struggles for independence from British rule. The book vividly illustrates the impact of these historic events on a traditional Hindu Gujarati family, and how they eventually found themselves in the bustling city of London in 1949. Growing up in London, Viram grappled with the challenges of living between two distinct cultures. However, he discovered solace and resolution through his deep passion for Indian classical music and Vedantic philosophy. This powerful combination of influences allowed him to maintain and imbibe the best of both worlds.
Viram’s parents played a significant role in shaping his worldview. His mother, Hemkunver, lived a life devoted to bhakti, or spiritual devotion,
while his father, Manilal, engaged with the world while remaining spiritually grounded in his love for Indian classical music and philosophy. These profound characteristics were passed down to Viram, who fell in love with Indian classical music from a very young age.
Viram’s musical abilities and interests
were diverse. During his student days, he fearlessly explored collaborations, including playing his sitar with jazz musicians and even sharing the stage with legendary guitarist Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Despite these exciting ventures, his unwavering passion for traditional Indian classical music remained at the core of his artistic pur-
suits. One of Viram’s central missions in life was to create awareness in the UK for one of the most sophisticated music systems in the world. He dedicated himself to becoming an authority as a performer, advocate, and producer of Indian music throughout the UK and Europe. Over the course of three dec-
ades, he orchestrated approximately one hundred iconic musical events each year, contributing significantly to the enrichment of cultural diversity in these regions.
Viram Jasani’s path to success was not without its challenges. He faced racism and prejudice, both from the British arts elite and fellow Indians. However, these obstacles only fuelled his determination to overcome them. He embarked on a profound journey into Vedantic philosophy, which ultimately led him to find his own path to freedom, embracing his cultural heritage and artistic pursuits with unwavering passion.
Viram Jasani’s memoir, “Independence to Freedom,” is a poignant and inspirational tale of resilience, cultural fusion, and the pursuit of artistic excellence. Through his captivating storytelling, readers will gain insight into the transformative power of music, philosophy, and the human spirit.
Viram Jasani graduated from St. Andrews University in 1967 and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London in 1969. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (FRSA) in 1993 and received an Honorary doctorate from the University of York in 2005.
The cheerful and upbeat song “Ve Fukrey” from the movie Fukrey 3 is out now. The actors from the film, including Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Manjot Singh and Pankaj Tripathi, are featured in the song, sung by Dev Negi and Asees Kaur and choreographed by Bosco Martis. Tanishk Bagchi has composed the soundtrack of the film with lyrics of “Ve Fukrey” by Shabbir Ahmed.
Fukrey 3 has an ensemble cast, where Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Manjot Singh, Richa Chadha, and Pankaj Tripathi return in their previous roles, as is the third instalment of the renowned Fukrey series. The previous Fukrey soundtrack had Sona Mohapatra’s rendition of the song Ambarsariya, which became an instant smash.
Excel Entertainment production presents Fukrey 3, produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, co-produced by Kassim Jagmagia and will hit the silver screen on 28th September, 2023.
Thousands of disadvantaged young people are to get access to outdoor learning opportunities away from home so they can develop vital life skills, build confidence and resilience.
The Adventures Away From Home Fund, worth £1.5 million, will allow more children and teenagers to enjoy activities they otherwise would not be able to take part in. The fund will see disadvantaged young people take part in activities to give them new experiences and expand their horizons.
Participants such as young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and young carers will be given the opportunity to try exciting new activities such as zip-lining, kayaking and cooking, supporting the development of skills like teamwork and problem solving. Outdoor learning has also been shown to increase young people’s attainment in schools and their attitudes towards learning.
This builds on last year’s scheme where over 3,500 young people had the opportunity to take part in this programme from across the country. Young people said the experiences helped them overcome their fears and prepare them for real world experiences, with one young person saying “It was only [their] second time away from home” and that “the trip was an adventure from start to finish… we loved every minute of it.”
The move to more than double this programme this year builds on Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer’s aim to give young people ‘someone to talk to, something to do and somewhere to go’, outlined in a recent keynote speech at the Onward Think Tank.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: I want every young person to have the very best start in life, and that includes access to exciting opportunities that take them out of their comfort zone and expands their horizons.
The Adventures Away from Home Programme will support 7,500 young people to take part in activities not usually available to them. It will help them develop new skills, build confidence and resilience.
We will support one million more hours of activity for young people in youth centres and clubs to give them somewhere to go when the school day ends where they can enjoy positive activities
The Government is today also announcing the next phase of the Million Hours Fund is open for applications, in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund.
Designed to create more than one million additional hours of youth centre provision in areas with high numbers of antisocial behaviour incidents, the £19 million fund will pay for additional youth workers, volunteers, venue hire and activity resources for youth clubs.
The first £3 million of the Million Hours Fund was allocated earlier this year. It helped 400 youth organisations to deliver extra provision over the summer holidays – meaning more young people could enjoy positive activities during the break. In the South West, 34 projects were supported by over £261,000 fund-
ing. In Swindon, Central Swindon North Parish Council received £6,500 to deliver a range of sport, dance and forestry sessions and day trips for young people aged 11-18 during the summer holidays. The project aimed to provide positive and engaging activities for young people and reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour.
David Knott, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:
We’re proud to be working alongside DCMS to jointly fund the Million Hours Fund to bring much-needed additional youth provision and activities to young people living in England. Thanks to National Lottery players, this investment will improve young people’s prospects and support them to thrive – a key part of our strategic mission.
The Government is also committed to giving young adults something productive to do via its partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund on the #iwill Fund, which creates opportunities for taking part in high quality social action projects. The Government is today confirming more than 60,000 new volunteering opportunities, supported by £12 million of investment, specifically supporting those from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Projects include Clarion Futures, which has been allocated over £630,000 to scale up their Intergenerational Social Action programme, providing opportunities to 2,000 young people. The projects will bring older and younger residents together to tackle local issues and explore ways to create more connected communities across generations.
Similarly, funding of over £600,000 to the Diana Award Mentoring Programme will create 1,200 opportunities over two years. Young people aged 14-18 at risk of not being in education, employment or training (NEET) will take part in a twelve-week mentoring and careers skills development intervention, helping them to improve employability skills and general wellbeing.
Since its launch in 2016, a total of 700,000 new youth social action oppor-
tunities have been created, supported by £33 million investment in the #iwill
Fund by the Government. Young people who reported taking part in social action in the 2019 Youth Social Action Survey stated that it improved their communication skills, their ability to work in a team and their self-confidence.
Giving children and teenagers something engaging to do is a key component of the Government’s ‘National Youth Guarantee’, announced in 2022. This makes clear that every young person aged between 11 and 18 in England will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home, and volunteering opportunities by 2025, backed by an investment of more than £500 million.
This includes the Government’s Youth Investment Fund of more than £300 million that will support up to 300 youth centres across the country to be rebuilt or redeveloped, and help 45,000 more young people access regular, positive activities every year.
Throughout the week the Government is due to announce vital support for the youth worker sector, in addition to mentoring opportunities for the most vulnerable young people.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that cases of TB in England increased by 7% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same timeframe in 2022, with 2,408 notifications compared to 2,251 in the first 2 quarters of 2022.
While England remains a low-incidence country for tuberculosis, progress towards elimination has stalled in recent years. Ahead of the United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on tuberculosis, UKHSA is reminding people that TB is not just a problem for other countries – it is impacting increasing numbers of people at home.
TB notification rates in England remain highest in people who are originally from parts of the world where TB is more common and those in large urban areas in England which are associated with higher levels of deprivation, and in inclusion health groups – a term used to describe people who are socially excluded and typically experience multiple overlapping risk factors for poor health. This includes those experiencing homelessness or contact with the criminal justice system.
TB disproportionately impacts certain people, in part, due to the barriers they may face in accessing the interventions designed to identify clinical onset of TB; access to diag-
nostic and treatment services; ability to self-administer treatment and attendance at follow-ups.
Dr Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, said:
• TB is curable and preventable, but despite significant progress towards elimination in recent years, the disease remains a serious public health issue in the UK.
• With treatment, most people will make a full recovery. It is very important that those with relevant symptoms are tested for TB and appropriate treatment is started promptly, both for the individual and for the prevention of onward transmission.
• As we head into winter, it is important to remember that not
every persistent cough, along with a fever, is caused by flu or COVID-19. A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB.
• Tuberculosis develops slowly, and it may take several weeks, months or even years after you were infected before you notice you’re unwell. Contact your GP if you think you could be at risk so you can get tested and treated.
Multi-drug resistance remains a major concern for TB treatment, but the latest data indicates that the proportion of people with a multi-drug resistant form of the TB bacteria has remained relatively stable in recent years.
From September 9-10, India hosted the G20 summit. Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union attended the G20 summit, which was held at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam. For the First Ladies who attended the G20 summit, Chef Kunal Kapur cooked a millet-based meal on this particu-
lar occasion. Chef Kunal Kapur, a well-known chef in India, demonstrated his abilities by creating a nutritious dish with just one simple ingredient: Millets. Millets, which have been a staple of human diet for generations, were designated the international year of millets by the UN in 2023. Millets, prepared by Chef Kunal, were thus chosen to give the visitors a wholesome and delicious meal.
“Jowar & Mushroom Khichda” was the name of the dish made by Chef Kunal. According to Chef Kunal,
traditionally, Khichda is a dish composed with meat, broken wheat, and spices that is slowly cooked. This recipe has roots in Harees, who are mentioned in the earliest cookbook, “Kitaab Al Tabikh,” which was published in the tenth century. Chef Kunal gave this dish a vegetarian touch by adding vegetarian flavours. He modified the recipe by including various kinds of mushrooms, which
helped it keep its meaty flavour and texture. Additionally, he used chanterelles, pink oysters, shiitake, enoki, portobello, and button mushrooms.
Chef Kunal said, “He has been honoured to cook for the First Ladies attended G20 conference honouring international year of millets with authentic Indian flavour. This is a moment of pride for all Indians – Let’s celebrate Indian flavours.”
The majority of our cuisines were created by vaids and hakims, according to our history. Indian cuisine is incredibly scientific because we know exactly what to put to each dish to make it nutritious and delicious. India has much to offer the world about nutrition, including what foods to eat and when to
eat them as well as which foods are best for different body types. He claimed millets are a good source of iron and nutrients. It is the foundation of Indian culture and cuisine, especially in rural areas.
All of the guests praised and enjoyed the food that Chef Kunal prepared. In addition, Chef Kunal took the time to explain to the guests the benefits of millet by describing how nutritious and beneficial it is.
Cooking for First Ladies who visited the G20 conference was both an exciting and a proud event for Chef Kunal.
For a tonne of delectable dishes, visit Chef Kunal’s website www. chefkunalkapur.com or follow him on Instagram: chefkunal .
The World Halal Food Festival are delighted to announce that Great British Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain is to participate at this year’s festival for the first time this month. Nadiya, whose brand new book ‘Nadiya’s Simple Spices’ is out now, will be cooking up a treat at the Cookery Theatre, showcasing some of her favourite recipes from the new book as well as taking part in a book signing.
Now in its eighth year, the biggest and longest running halal food festival in the world returns to the epic London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, on the 23rd-24th September 2023.
Discover culinary secrets from worldrenowned celebrity chefs for live cookery demonstrations at the Cookery Theatre, live performances by talented artists and captivating acts at the main stage and don’t miss out on the fiery Halal Eat-Off competitions! There’s something for everyone with an expanded Kids Zone, Dessert Zone, VIP Lounge and so much more, this family day out is set to be one for the ages. The World Halal Food Festival is an inclusive event for absolutely everyone – for those that only eat halal and for those that eat only great food! Ahead of the event, Nadiya says: “I
am delighted to be a part of this year’s World Halal Food Festival and can’t wait to share recipes from my new book ‘Nadiya’s Simple Spices’ with
everyone. This book is all about flavoursome family dishes and features my favourite spices that have been used in my family for three generations
and I’m so excited to share the love that we cook up everyday.”
World Halal Food Festival organisers add: “We’re excited to be hosting
Nadiya for the first time at the iconic London Stadium, right in the heart of the community for the world’s biggest halal food event of the year. The World Halal Food Festival is an opportunity for members of all communities to come and experience the flavours of the world all under one roof with family and friends. We are really looking forward to Nadiya cooking up treats as part of our Cookery Theatre with recipes from her brand new book.” When it comes to spice, Nadiya’s family cooking is never complicated and always delicious. Nadiya wants to share with her readers the 8 readily available spices she uses every day at home to cook her most-loved meals, the same spices that her Mum uses and her Nani used before her. Cardamom, fennel, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, chilli, bay leaves and curry powder are all the spices needed to create any recipe in this book.
From beautiful breakfasts, midday lunches and staple recipes, to tips for the perfect saucepan of rice, our favourite middle of the table curries, vegetables, side dishes and sweets, readers will be confident in cooking extraordinary family food, filled to the brim with easy-to-achieve flavour.
Proposed measures could mean varying the levels of grants that are made available, depending on the customer’s property type or existing fuel source. This would make heat pump installations more affordable for even more households and small businesses, enabling them to benefit from low-cost and lowcarbon heating.
Households could also save time and money through a simplified approach to qualifying for a heat pump grant by removing the need to install loft or cavity wall insulation first.
These changes will help more homes and businesses move away from costly foreign fossil fuels and onto cleaner, cheaper homegrown energy – forming part of the government’s drive to decarbonise the nation’s heating, with more than £81 million in vouchers already issued to customers under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Today’s new proposals also provide an additional option to help consumers install new biomass boilers that also work as an oven, helping more households access the latest in cutting-edge, green technology.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:
Heat pumps are a vital tool in cutting the carbon emissions from people heating their homes, while also helping to drive down costs and boosting our energy security.
While a heat pump can be in-
Our work provides the first comprehensive evaluation of the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, an internationally significant policy to improve urban air quality in the UK’s second city. As predicted, Birmingham’s CAZ reduced NO2 pollution, but it has no detectable impact in the concentrations of fine particles, PM2.5 – the air pollutant with greatest health effects.
stalled for a similar price to installing a gas boiler, the support we’ve put in place means it is an option for more and more households.
Today’s changes go even further and will mean even more people could benefit from making the switch, offering them the option for a low-emission, low-cost form of heating their homes.
A heat pump takes heat at a low temperature from the air or ground, increases it to a higher temperature, before transferring the heat into homes for heating and hot water. This technology is significantly more efficient than
traditional boilers and uses cleaner electricity rather than fossil fuels – helping to reduce the carbon footprint of a home.
The government’s £450 million Boiler Upgrade Scheme was recently extended until 2028 and offers grants of £5,000 towards the installation of an air source heat pump; £6,000 off a ground source heat pump; and £5,000 off a biomass boiler. Consumers can also receive a zero VAT rate on installations.
Consumer satisfaction is also high, with 92% of surveyed heat
One of Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited most recent ventures, which is part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and promotion of the “Fly Net Zero 2050″ campaign, is the upcycling of products created from used staff uniforms. According to estimates, the project will help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) by about 307.44 kilograms while also saving about 1,826 kilowatts/hour of power.
One of the most recent airlines to use clothing and uniforms to lessen their carbon footprint is Bangkok Airways. Bangkok Airways introduced “Drop Box” to entice customers to participate in its sustainability journey. Passengers can deposit recyclables or old bottles at the Drop Box station. These stations can be found in the domestic and international Bangkok Airways’ Boutique Lounges at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Mrs. Arya Prasarttong Osoth , Executive Committee Member & Chairperson of Corporate Social Responsibility Bangkok Airways PCL said, “ So as to lessen the negative
effects of our operations on the environment and to fulfil our promise of 2050 net zero carbon emissions. We introduced the upcycling project, inviting our staff to contribute their old uniforms so that we might repurpose them for new projects. This project not only highlights our “Love Earth Save Earth” campaign, which focuses on trash management and climate change management, but it also promotes the concept of circular economy, where we take something that has already been produced and transform it into a new product to utilize in our business.
The sustainability tagline of Bangkok Airways, “Connect Your Happiness,” which calls for synchronized efforts across the whole value chain, is also highlighted. In order to reduce the negative environmental effects of bleaching, 150 kg of used uniforms were color-sorted and put through the process of being turned into new materials in a partnership between Bangkok Airways and Circular Industry Company Limited. A few of the 300 items from
our upcycling project include aprons, cloth bags, and water cup bags.
At the same time, we want to educate our passengers about the value of waste separation and how to accomplish it effectively using our Drop Box. All plastic bottles collected at our Drop Box locations will be delivered to Circular Industry Company Limited for processing into plastic fibers. In addition to utilizing the use of recyclable materials, this also adds value to what was once considered trash.
The “Waste Segregation for Wonderful Benefits” project, which Bangkok Airways is working on, will install waste sorting bins inside the boutique passenger lounges (domestic and international) at Suvarnabhumi Airport in September of this year and then implement the same practice at other airports.”
Through these projects, Bangkok Airways will connect with passengers who will support the airline’s environmental initiatives.
fer. It couldn’t be easier for customers buying a new Nissan EV to claim their free 10,000 miles, which might well be enough to keep them on the road for a whole year.
‘‘Nissan has been in the vanguard of electric motoring for well over a decade
now and the three EVs we have in our range are all award-winners and make excellent choices for families and businesses.’’
Visit nissan.co.uk/edf10kmiles to find out more
EV drivers could enjoy a year’s free motoring when they purchase a new car from a Nissan dealership!
The manufacturer has teamed up with Pod Point, a leading provider of electric vehicle charging, and EDF – Britain’s biggest generator of zero-carbon electricity – to launch the exciting new offer. Customers can claim 10,000 free miles by following a simple five-step process – and 10,000 miles is more than many people travel in a year!
Anyone taking advantage of this limitedtime offer will firstly need to purchase a new Nissan electric vehicle from a Nissan dealership.
The two electric cars in Nissan’s range are the iconic LEAF hatchback, the world’s first mass-market EV with a range of up to 168 miles; and the stunning coupe crossover ARIYA, which has taken the automotive world by storm since its arrival in UK dealerships last year. ARIYA can travel up to 329 miles
on a single charge. For anyone in the market for a compact van, the clever and capable Townstar EV could be the perfect choice.
After selecting their new vehicle, it will be time for customers to order their award-winning Pod Point 7kW Solo 3 home charger from a Nissan dealership.
In order to access the brilliant deal, participants will need to be an EDF customer, or be willing to switch their energy supply to them by completing an online application form, which will be sent once their charger has been ordered. Pod Point will then carry out the consultation, delivery, expert installation and activation of the charger. With Pod Point’s smart home charging, EV drivers can charge up to three times faster than a three-pin plug while benefiting from the charger’s in-built safety features and an upgraded five-year warranty.
The cost of the charger and installation can be tied in with Nissan monthly vehi-
cle payments, making it easy and affordable to carry out EV charging at home. Finally, enough credit to cover the cost of driving 10,000 EV miles will be added to the customer’s EDF account for free. As well as supplying state-of-the-art home chargers, Pod Point’s extensive public network connects drivers with more than 9,200 charging bays. Pod Point was also recently endorsed by Which? for its end-to-end installation service – a first for any EV charging company.
EDF’s GoElectric Overnight tariff is tailor-made for home EV charging. With fixed pricing for a year, at an off-peak rate of just 8p per kWh, customers have five hours of off-peak electricity every night for use on EVs and home appliances. The tariff is also backed by 100 per cent zerocarbon electricity, allowing customers to save both cash and carbon.
A Nissan spokesperson said: ‘‘We are delighted to have teamed up with Pod Point and EDF to introduce this great new of-
Guild of Motoring Writers members working in motorsport have only until the end of the week to enter this year’s Prodrive Motorsport Award. Sponsored by Banbury-based but globally renowned motorsport and technology specialist Prodrive, the Award recognises an outstanding achievement by a Guild member in the world of motorsport either writing about or competing in motorsport at any level.
The award winner will receive a £500 cash prize as well as a trophy, presented at the Guild’s annual Dinner at the RAC Club, Pall Mall on 7th December.
In 2022 the Award was won for a second successive year by James Taylor,
who was presented with his award at the Guild dinner by Prodrive Marketing & PR manager Jamie Stanton.
The Prodrive Award is one of 14 categories available to enter in this year’s Guild Awards, with cash prizes and trophies on offer.
The period for submitting entries will last until midnight on Saturday 30th September and, following judging, finalists will be announced in November. Guild judges will select from up to three submissions per entry, with the best single piece of work from three entrants selected to make up the finalists of each category.
Lioness legend Jill Scott MBE, Olympic gold medalist Daley Thompson CBE, and former No10 Delivery Unit chief Sir Michael Barber are joining the Government’s National Physical Activity Taskforce to help get millions more people involved in sport and physical activity by 2030.
Scott, Thompson and Barber join rugby union legend Ugo Monye as part of the taskforce, which was established as part of the Government’s national sport strategy.
The taskforce will feature industry body representatives from UK Sport, Sport England, Active Travel England, alongside members from the sports world and the Government. They have been brought together to champion the physical and mental health benefits of sport and physical activity, and drive up participation across all demographics.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:
I am delighted that Jill, Daley and Michael are joining this taskforce which is bringing together the best of Government and sport so we can deliver on our ambition of having 3.5 million more people active by 2030. Their expert knowledge and experience will help us access hard-to-reach communities who remain stubbornly inactive, to ensure that we reach our ambitious targets and see millions of people enjoy a happier and healthier life.
Ugo Monye, National Physical Activity Taskforce co-Chair said: We have seen so many inspirational
sporting moments this year, particularly from our women’s teams, and I am passionate about cementing that legacy and making sure more people get involved in sport and physical activity.
The taskforce brings together the key players from sport and Government and I am confident that we can really make a difference and achieve our ambitious aim to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030.
The taskforce is tasked with driving up participation levels across the country, and helping the Government achieve its ambition of getting one million more adults and 2.5 million more young people meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance of 150 minutes per week for adults, and 60 minutes per day for young people by 2030.
Double Olympic Decathlon Champion and independent member of the National Physical Activity Taskforce
Daley Thompson CBE said: Since I retired from professional athletics back in 1992, I’ve made promoting the importance of fitness a key part of my life.
From training professional football clubs, to running free online workout sessions during the pandemic and opening my own fitness club, I want exercise to be available to everyone.
I’m delighted to be a part of this taskforce. By working together, I believe we can make a positive difference to the nation’s health and wellbeing.
Sir Michael Barber said:
I am honoured to be joining the Secretary of State and some true legends of
Former Lioness Jill Scott MBE and independent member of the National Physical Activity Taskforce said
What the Lionesses have achieved over the past year has been amazing, but as we’ve always said, success is not only determined by on the pitch results. It is equally about securing a legacy where more people are inspired to get into football and sport more broadly.
The current investment in grassroots facilities will play a massive part in that. Millions of people will be offered safe and welcoming places to play, right on their doorsteps. Sport can provide a real sense of togetherness, an opportunity to make friends, get fit, and be healthy. I’m proud to play my part in encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to join this national activity drive, which can only benefit us all.
sport on this important taskforce. Regular physical activity is vital for everyone, whoever they are, whatever their background and whatever their age.
The achievement of the ambitious goals the government has set will require a systematic and consistent drive for delivery right across the country and I hope to be able to help with that.
As part of today’s announcement the Government has also committed funding to the initial stages of a national advertising campaign to support the work of the taskforce. The national advertising campaign, set to launch next year, will be overseen by the taskforce and will be used to raise awareness of the Government’s physical activity drive for children.
The taskforce will continue to meet regularly to track progress against targets and bring national governing bodies and sector partners around the table to advise and plan how best to tackle high levels of inactivity.
To support the delivery of the Government’s strategy almost £400 million is being invested in grassroots facilities, including in multi-sport facilities, swimming pools and tennis courts. More than £600 million will also be invested over the next two years for school sport and PE. It will focus on making it clear girls have the same access as boys – building on the success of the Lionesses at UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 last year, and their recent FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 campaign.
