MIL Pubishing Engine 2

Source: City of Plymouth

Families across Plymouth can enjoy a summer of affordable days out as children aged 5 to 15 travel free throughout August on Plymouth Citybus and Stagecoach South West services starting in Plymouth.  

The offer is part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings campaign and is designed to help families make the most of the school holidays while keeping travel costs down. 

Whether it’s a trip to the coast, a day exploring the city’s parks and attractions, or visiting friends and family, the free travel offer gives families more opportunities to get out and about and discover everything Plymouth and the surrounding area have to offer. 

Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for families to enjoy more of what Plymouth and the wider area has to offer this summer without worrying about the cost of travel. We know that the school holidays can put extra pressure on household budgets, so this free bus travel offer will help families go further, explore more and make lasting memories together. 

“Whether you’re heading into the city centre, visiting one of our beautiful parks, enjoying the waterfront or travelling further afield, Plymouth Citybus and Stagecoach services can help you get there. I would encourage families to make the most of this offer and enjoy a summer of affordable adventures.” 

The free travel offer is available on all registered Plymouth Citybus and Stagecoach South West local bus services starting in Plymouth throughout August.  

For full details, visit: www.plymouth.gov.uk/summer-bus-fare-offer  

Source: City of Coventry

Coventry City Council is looking to hear from communities ahead of the launch of a new grants programme to support community events.

Source: City of Derby

A new strategy to transform Derby city centre’s streets and public spaces into greener, safer, and more welcoming places will be considered at the next Cabinet meeting.

The Public Realm Strategy sets out a long-term vision for how the spaces between buildings, including squares, green spaces and streets should look and feel. It aims to create a vibrant, attractive and accessible city centre environment which people can enjoy whether they live work or visit the city centre. It will also support Derby’s ambitions for a greener city centre, increasing urban greening and connecting locations across the city centre with safe, attractive and walkable routes.  

Following online and in-person consultations at the beginning of the year, led by consultants PlanIt and the University of Derby, the strategy has been shaped by residents, businesses, and visitors who shared their feedback on what areas the strategy should prioritise. 

If approved, £1.5m from the Government’s Pride in Place Impact fund for Derby will be used to contribute towards a first phase of projects in the city centre, including: 

• Improvements to St James Street, Sadler Gate, Riverside, and the area around the Church of St Werburgh’s
• A wayfinding strategy and implementation
• Improvements to gateway buildings on key streets in the Cathedral Quarter

In delivering the improvements, CCTV upgrades with Hostile Vehicle Mitigation measures will also be considered to improve safety across the city centre.

The strategy also identifies seven priority locations where improvements can act as catalysts for wider regeneration and investment. These include the arrival from the railway station, the Market Place and riverfront, key cultural and heritage areas, and important pedestrian routes into and through the city centre.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, said:

High quality public realm plays a vital role in shaping the character and success of a city centre. By working with partners and consulting with residents and visitors, we have taken their feedback on board to create a shared vision towards a greener, safer, and more attractive city centre.

By improving the way that our spaces are designed and managed, the strategy will encourage people to spend more time in the city centre, support local businesses, and showcase our city’s heritage. 

The strategy gives us a long-term framework to ensure that our city attracts investment and remains a welcoming place for everyone for years to come.

The Public Realm Strategy will support the new emerging local plan which outlines a vision for delivering new homes and commercial developments on brownfield sites in the city centre. The strategy will support long-term investment and will create an environment where people want to live, work, and spend time. It is being done in collaboration with the MP for Derby North, Catherine Atkinson, and the MP for Derby South, Baggy Shanker.  

The full strategy can be viewed on the Democracy Portal on the Derby City Council website. 

Source: City of Derby

Derby City Council’s Further Education Service is celebrating a positive new inspection report that highlights its inclusive culture, strong leadership, and the outstanding progress made by adult learners across the city.

Inspectors praised the service for its trauma‑informed approach, small class sizes, targeted interventions, and rapid delivery of specialist support, all of which enable learners to thrive, build confidence, and achieve their goals.

Learners studying English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), mathematics, digital skills, and vocational programmes were recognised for making strong progress, developing practical skills, and gaining the confidence needed for their next steps.

The service’s supported internship pathway stood out for providing high‑quality, personalised career guidance and building strong partnerships with local employers, with interns praised for displaying independence, resilience, and professional workplace behaviours.

Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said: 

This report confirms what our learners and partners already know – that our Further Education Service is a place where adults feel welcome, supported, and inspired.

I’m delighted that inspectors recognised the hard work of our staff, the strength of our leadership, and most importantly, the life-changing progress our learners make every day. We remain committed to building on these strengths and continuing to provide high-quality learning opportunities across Derby.”

Inspectors also commended the service’s clear strategic vision, accurate self‑assessment, and decisive leadership, while highlighting a supportive workplace culture that prioritises staff wellbeing, flexible working, and access to specialist support.

The report noted that a small number of areas require focus within the Council’s newly expanded high-needs provision, aligning with the service’s own internal evaluations. Plans to address these are already well underway.

For more information on adult learning courses, supported internships, and training opportunities, visit the Derby City Council website.

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story
Appointment made to the Marine Management Organisation Board

Marsha Ramroop confirmed as new member

A new member has been appointed to the Marine Management Organisation’s Board.

Marsha Ramroop will commence a three-year appointment on 1 November 2026, following the end of Peter Judge’s second term on 31 October 2026.

 
The appointment has been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.


Biography
Marsha Ramroop
Marsha Ramroop is an organisational inclusion strategist, author and speaker, and founder of the consultancy Unheard Voice.

She was the inaugural Director of Inclusion and Diversity at the Royal Institute of British Architects and previously spent 30 years in broadcasting, including 20 years at the BBC as a journalist.

She is a Non-Executive Director of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Marsha brings extensive experience of organisational change, stakeholder engagement and inclusive leadership across the built and natural environment sectors.


Further information
The Marine Management Organisation:

Driven by government’s aim for clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas, the Marine Management Organisation’s purpose is to protect and enhance our precious marine environment, and support UK economic growth by enabling sustainable marine activities and development.

It is responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and has a wide range of responsibilities, which include implementing plan-led marine management, licensing marine works and managing UK fishing fleet capacity and UK fisheries quotas.

Source: Scottish Government

A charity support line providing a one-step gateway to cost of living and whole family support will be expanded by Scottish Government funding to help up to 7,500 families.

Children First’s service offers practical, emotional and financial help and advice to families across Scotland 365 days a year by phone, webchat, text, email, video and face to face. Scottish Government investment will allow the charity to more than double the support it provides, including:

• immediate cash grants and practical tips on budgeting and debt management
• emotional support to help families manage stress and anxiety
• practical advice to navigate public services, helping to access things like childcare and housing
• connections for families to specialised support to help people get into and stay in work.

A total of £2 million from the Scottish Government in 2026-27 will equip the charity to bolster its offer across the country as a key part of work under the child poverty delivery plan “Bringing Hope, Building Futures”.

Visiting the charity in Glasgow, First Minister John Swinney said:

“During the cost of living crisis, there are families struggling to make ends meet and accessing help can often be overwhelming.

“We want to provide a better future for every parent and every child, and to do that we need to make support as simple, accessible and effective as possible.  

“That’s why we are pleased to be supporting Children First to develop a national front door for support, so that help is in the right place, at the right time.  Organisations like Children First play such an important role and I am pleased that we are supporting them to double the support they provide to families across Scotland.”

In 2025-26, the Children First support line has supported over 5,000 families nationally. This investment will enable the charity to expand staffing, enhance specialist expertise and increase Money Advice capacity, including helping people with their energy bills, ensuring more families can easily access support which is sustained for as long as they need it.

Linda Jardine, Director of Children and Family Services, Children First said:

“This funding is fantastic news for Scotland’s children and families, who often tell us that they don’t know where to turn for support.  Parents and carers, who are often stressed and exhausted trying to find the right help when they need it, will welcome this with open arms.

“By connecting families to joined-up practical, emotional and financial help through our support line, we will reduce the impact of poverty, strengthen families and make sure thousands more of Scotland’s children enjoy the safe and secure childhood, which is every child’s right.

“Children First’s support line is open seven days a week, 365 days a year. If your family is in need of help, our friendly and understanding support line team are here to help. Call us on 08000 28 22 33 or start a webchat at childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline.”

Jasmine, a young Mum who has been supported by Children First said:

“Things are so expensive nowadays and with my baby I was feeling the pressure before I met Children First. I also felt quite lonely and alienated because I didn’t know other young people who had babies. It wasn’t good for my mental health.

“The help from Children First has been outstanding. The emotional and financial help they’ve given has had a positive impact on us – I can get fresh fruit and vegetables for the baby and I feel less isolated because I’ve met other young mums. Without the support from Children First, I don’t think our lives would be anywhere near as good.”

Background

Children First support line

There is no need for referrals as families can reach out directly whenever they need support. The service is designed to provide immediate help at the point of contact, with follow-up support offered where necessary to ensure issues are resolved and families feel supported over time.

The funding comes from the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Fund and the intention is for funding to continue on an annual basis.

Bringing Hope, Building Futures: Tackling child poverty delivery plan 2026-2031 – gov.scot

The expansion of the Children First support line is one element of the Scottish Government’s work with partners to change the way support is offered to families, so that services are more preventative, holistic and people-centred. Other key initiatives include the Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund, announcements on which are expected over the summer, and an integrated Whole Family Support programme that will be delivered with local partners from April 2027 to enable public services to provide more community-based, holistic family support that better meets the needs of communities.

Source: Scotland – Highland Council

Around 100 children, young people, and family members came together at Inverness’s Northern Meeting Park on 28 July for the first ‘Home, Heart and Hoolie’ event.

Source: Scotland – Highland Council

Highland Council’s Environmental Health team have identified raised levels of naturally occurring bivalve shellfish biotoxins following routine monitoring at Loch Moidart.

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

News story
July 2026 newsletter now available

Our newsletter is published quarterly, and all stakeholders are welcome to sign up to receive the latest edition straight to their inbox.

The July 2026 edition of the Immigration Advice Authority’s (IAA) stakeholder newsletter is now available.

 
In this issue, you’ll find the latest updates on our regulatory work, sector developments and key initiatives, including: 

a message from the Immigration Services Commissioner highlighting resources developed to support advisers in their professional practice 

an update on the IAA’s ongoing awareness campaign 

upcoming changes to competence assessments 

a new guidance resource for advisers and prospective advisers 

a new training video series designed to support advisers in their work 

Our quarterly newsletter helps stakeholders stay up to date with the latest developments at the IAA and across the immigration advice sector.

 
Download the July newsletter today and subscribe to our mailing list to receive future editions straight to your inbox.

Source: City of Wolverhampton

The development off Oakley Road, named Waveney Gardens, offers a mix of property types to meet a range of housing needs, including 2, 1 bedroom bungalows, 2, 2 bedroom bungalows, 4, 2 bedroom houses and 9, 3 bedroom houses.

The council’s housing development team led on the project, with the first residents moving into their new homes.

They have been constructed by developer Morro Partnerships Limited using modern timber frame techniques and sustainable building methods.

Each of the new homes has a high energy efficiency rating and come equipped with air source heat pumps and solar panels with battery storage, helping residents to reduce energy costs.

The scheme has been supported by a contribution of just over £1 million from Homes England, enabling the delivery of more high quality council housing in the city.

Lucy Whetton, new Waveney Gardens resident, said: “I’ve got 2 children, a son, who is 19, and a daughter, and I desperately needed a 3 bedroom home as I was in a 2 bedroom flat.

“The children love it and I now have my own space and my daughter’s not in with me anymore. It’s very safe around here and the kids like playing outside.”

Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing and Assets, said: “It is fantastic to see these new homes completed and being handed over to local residents.

“This development provides a range of high quality, energy efficient homes for affordable rent, helping to meet local demand and ensure people have access to safe and sustainable housing.

“By working with partners and utilising modern construction methods, we are continuing to deliver new council homes that support our communities and improve the lives of residents across Wolverhampton.”

Gavin Ward, Morro Partnerships West Midlands Operations Director, said: “Delivering sustainable homes and helping communities thrive is our core focus at Morro.

“Choosing timber frame construction for this scheme not only accelerated delivery but also ensured the homes are more energy efficient and cost effective for future residents.

“Building with the future in mind is a responsibility we take seriously, and we are excited to be working with the council to deliver much needed homes in the area.”

The Penn development forms part of the council’s ongoing housebuilding programme, which is increasing the number of modern, affordable homes available across Wolverhampton.