The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2026

Dr Tony Talburt

(Senior Lecturer and author in African Diaspora Politics and History)

Circle and Sasai Circle and Sasai Fintech Fintech

collaborate to collaborate to expand access expand access to USDC in Africa to USDC in Africa

Dean winsbigas MOBOAwards

2026winners shinein Manchester

Olivia

first time buyers first time buyers

Theaveragefirsttimebuyer in the UK is now around 32 to 34-years-old, with over half relying on help from family, commonly known as the bank of Mum and Dad. They are no longer just lookingatsmallerproperties asKendrickHomeshasseen an increase in first time buyersintheir40s,choosing to finally purchase a home after renting for a long periodoftime.

Kendrick Homes has a host of two-bed properties available across its live sites, including three at Crickley Fields in Brockworth and six more at Cygnets Rest in Drakes Broughton. Its Seven Meadows developmentinUptononSevern willhavethebiggestselectionyet, with 26 first homes and Discounted Open Market Value plotssettobereleasedshortly.

Low-paid school support staff across the UK lost more than £2.2 billion in wages last year thanks to ‘cruel’ term time only contracts, GMBresearchshows.

Teaching assistants, catering staff, caretakers, administration staff and others are only paid 44 weeks a year – and can’t claim benefits during the school holidays – while teachers are paid a salary for the entire year. Other council workers – who negotiate for pay alongside school support staff as part of the NJC agreement – are also paid for 12monthsoftheyear

GMB - the second biggest union for school support staff with more than 100,000 members - analysis shows if school support staff were paid for the full 52 weeks of the year, their wages would increase by up to £4,094 every year [1].

With around 800,000 school support staff in the UK on term time only contracts, the workforce asawholewasdowntothetuneof £2.2billionlastyear.