The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Portugal is helping at risk UK nationals and their family members to complete their residency applications in Portugal. Being legally resident is necessary for UK nationals living in Portugal to secure their rights under the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU.

The project is funded by the UK Government as part of the UK National Support Fund (UKNSF), that has made available a total of GBP 3 million for charities and organisations to provide practical support to UK nationals living in the EU. The project is coordinated by IOM UK and is being implemented in Portugal, France, Spain, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, and Germany.

Marta Bronzin, IOM Head of Office in Portugal, said:

We are very glad to be part of this project and be able to support UK nationals in Portugal to secure their rights and pursue their life projects in the country safely, reaching out to those most in need.

Working alongside the British Embassy and in partnership with the High Commissioner for Migrations (ACM), IOM will raise awareness among UK nationals living in Portugal, share accessible information on residency requirements, and provide direct practical support in completing applications for those in situations where access to information and application processes is difficult. IOM will also assist UK nationals who face specific challenges, such as people living with disabilities or chronic illness, those facing language and literacy barriers, or barriers in accessing relevant technology.

British Ambassador Chris Sainty welcomed this initiative:

Supporting UK nationals is one of our highest priorities at the British Embassy. We are delighted to support IOM with this project to help vulnerable UK nationals secure their rights so they can continue to live safely here in Portugal.

The project official launch will take place on 7 July at 5 pm, via Webex. If you would like to join, please register here.

For more information on the project, visit the IOM website or contact IOM at UKNationalsPT@iom.int.

It is the first catchment in the East Anglia area to move to this status, since being in drought recovery following the large amount of rainfall over the 2019 winter.

The drought team in East Anglia have been monitoring the situation and reviewing the range of dry weather indicators, including groundwater levels, river flows and soil conditions.

Following one of the driest springs on record, river flows and some groundwater levels are ‘below normal’ in locations along the rivers Cam and Ely Ouse. In addition, the soil condition means it is soaking up water faster.

Abstraction licence holders in the most affected areas are likely to receive notice to restrict the amount of water they take as described in their licence conditions.

This may include taking reduced quantities or only abstracting at particular times, depending on local circumstances.

Helen Smith, a drought manager for Environment Agency in East Anglia, said:

“We continue to monitor our key river, groundwater and reservoir sites using telemetry, in line with government guidance, and are liaising with water companies to understand any emerging concerns.

“We are also working with farmers, businesses and other abstractors to manage water availability and ensure that as far as possible they get the water they need to be resilient while maintaining our protection of the environment.

“We are closely monitoring the developing incident and produce regular reports on the water situation, available on www.gov.uk.

“We can all do our part to use water wisely and manage this precious resource. If you are using water in the garden, take some simple steps such as fitting a trigger to your hose or using a bucket to wash the car or water plants.

“While we ask people to use water wisely, they should follow current NHS advice on stopping the spread of coronavirus by washing hands with soap and water often.”

If people see any environmental impacts due to dry weather, such as fish in distress, please report it to the Environment Agency 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60.

For more water saving tips visit Waterwise.

• Guidance on heritage buildings and attractions will help get the nation’s much loved heritage sector back up and running

• Timed tickets, cashless payments and social distancing will be in use at attractions and museums


New guidance, published today, will outline how museums, galleries, heritage attractions and historic buildings can begin to reopen to the public, paving the way for an economic boost to the sectors.

Guidance for the heritage sector has been published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in collaboration with Historic England and guidance for museums has been published by the National Museum Directors’ Council with DCMS support. Both will outline the processes and facilities that businesses and organisations must put in place before reopening so that staff and visitors can be kept safe.

The guidance is specifically for heritage attractions, those running businesses from historic and listed buildings, and those working to conserve and protect heritage assets.

The sector-specific guidance for museums and galleries enhances existing guidance, including advice for working in labs and research facilities, reopening gift shops and cafes and managing visitors.

Providing the conditions of the guidance are met, the wider sector is currently expected to open from 4 July 2020.

The guidance makes clear that the following measures should be considered to allow for safe reopening:

At museums: 

• Timed tickets may need to be pre-booked to reduce the number of people entering an exhibition or site at one time.
• Clearly communicated one way routes and spaced queuing systems may be introduced to manage the flow of visitors.

• Regular cleaning regimes should be intensified during the day and beyond opening hours.
• Access to audio guides may need to be reviewed, with museums considering new formats for the content such as apps that can be accessed on personal devices or quarantine periods for public handsets.

• Specialist training may need to be provided for roles impacted by the new guidance, for example Front of House staff managing new operating conditions or for roles where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

• Shops and cafes will need to reopen in line with guidance for food businesses and retail spaces and should encourage visitors to pay via contactless methods where possible.


At heritage sites:

• One way systems, clear floor markings and a queue management system should be in place where needed to maintain social distancing measures at all attractions and help to limit contact between both staff and visitors.
• Organisations will also encourage contactless payments throughout.
• Booking procedures should be reviewed and pre-booking could be introduced at heritage attractions to reduce the number of visitors in locations at the same time.


All sites will be instructed to produce risk assessments and review their cleaning regimes, however deep cleaning and social distancing systems, including floor markings are all required to be completed in a way that does not damage the historic fabric of the buildings. 

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

Our museums, galleries and heritage attractions are world-class and this guidance will help get these sectors back up and running. It will not only pave the way for beloved institutions to welcome back visitors but also support important preservation to protect our historic buildings and ancient artefacts.

The reopening of these sectors will help to boost local economies all over the country and ensure our national heritage is safe and open for all.

National Museum Directors Council Chair Sir Ian Blatchford said:

We welcome the guidance from DCMS to allow for the safe reopening of our galleries to the public and the collaborative spirit in which the museum guidelines were developed, drawing on expertise from colleagues across our sector. All museums are keen to resume their vital role at the heart of communities but, as our guidelines recognise, the timing of re-opening will depend on local context, conversations with partners and a careful assessment of each museum’s ability to open its doors in a safe and financially sustainable manner.

Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive, said:

This guidance aims to help businesses in the heritage sector get back up and running in a way that is safe for workers, volunteers and visitors. As is the case for many others, the heritage sector and people’s livelihoods have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope that this guidance will help businesses in the heritage sector find new ways of working during these difficult times.

This guidance will be for organisations in England. Organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should adhere to the advice of the devolved administrations at all times.

The guidance is part of the government’s clear, phased approach to recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, as outlined in the Prime Minister’s roadmap.

Read the guidance in full

Guidance for people who work or volunteer in heritage locations

NMDC Good Practice Guidelines on Opening Museums After July 4th

On 11 March, the Chancellor set out a series of recommendations to the Financial Policy Committee (FPC) under sections 9E(1) and 9E(2) of the Bank of England Act 1998 (as amended by the Financial Services Act 2012).

This document sets out the committee’s response, in accordance with section 9E(3) of the act.

Decision letter and Inspector’s Report for a recovered appeal for residential development of up to 203 dwellings, a doctor’s surgery, open space and landscaping, together with pedestrian, cycle and vehicular access from Newport Road and Cranfield Road and supporting infrastructure.