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Homes England’s 23 Strategic Partners will be able to bid for grant funding which, if successful, will extend their existing deals from March 2024 to March 2029 – demonstrating how long-term funding certainty enables the delivery of more homes.
The bidding process requires existing strategic partners to demonstrate how they can achieve ambitious plans to build affordable housing and contribute to the wider new build supply this country needs.
Addressing Homes England’s strategic priorities, including the use of brownfield sites for development, engagement with local SME contractors, working with smaller housing associations and the use of Modern Methods of Construction will be the key to a successful bid.
Chairman of Homes England Sir Edward Lister said:
“The £1bn in additional grant funding will give our strategic partners more flexibility and longer term funding certainty so that they can build the affordable homes their communities need over the next 10 years. I welcome today’s news and urge our housing association partners across England to get involved.”
Since July 2018, Homes England has agreed 23 Strategic Partnership deals with 28 housing associations, giving them the investment, flexibility and resources they need to deliver a range of affordable housing including social rent, supported living and shared ownership homes.
The funding is part of a £2 billion affordable housing package announced by the Prime Minister in September 2018, which is being awarded equally to Homes England and the Greater London Authority.
ENDS
For more information please contact Patsy Cusworth, PR and Media Manager, on 020 7393 2261 Email: patsy.cusworth@homesengland.gov.uk
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The main findings of the report Foods and drinks aimed at infants and young children: evidence and opportunities for action show clear inconsistencies between national infant feeding advice and how some commercial baby food and drink products are presented:
Snacking foods account for more than one third (34.5%) of the total market, and the highest sugar content is found in processed dried fruit snacks which shouldn’t be marketed as suitable for children to eat between meals. Growth in the finger food/snacking market, by 11% in 2017 to 2018, indicates that these foods are increasingly considered an expected and appropriate part of an infant’s diet. However, some sweet snacks, can contain as much sugar as confectionery. The highest sugar levels are seen in fruit and vegetable-based (47.5g), and sweet finger foods (17.0g) per 100g.
Of the 1,120 baby food and drink products reviewed for the report, more than 1 in 4 (28.1%) are targeted at 4 month olds despite advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) that introducing solid foods should not happen until around 6 months of age.
To push change in the products, the review recommends that the food industry and government:
It also recommends:
Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at PHE, said:
This shows the food industry could do more to support parents in making the best food choices for their children. Snacking and sweet foods are being promoted while parents are being encouraged to introduce solids earlier than recommended.
Early years feeding is crucial in shaping future taste preferences and healthy habits. With children of all ages consuming too much sugar action is needed to address these practices. The baby and toddler food industry must be careful not to break the trust of parents.
PHE’s review ‘Food and drinks aimed at infants and young children: evidence and opportunities for action’ includes:
The available evidence demonstrates there is a need for action, showing that infants and young children are eating too much sugar and salt, and energy intakes are exceeding requirements. Around 1 in 5 children aged 2 to 4 years are overweight or obese, and 12% of 3 year olds have visible tooth decay.
Support is available to parents and carers looking for trusted advice through the Start4Life website and the ‘weaning hub’, with PHE set to launch a new campaign in 2020 helping people throughout pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
Official guidance recommends that parents introduce single fruit and vegetables as first foods at around 6 months to help babies accept a wide range of different tastes. Currently, sweeter products consisting of mixed fruit, mixed vegetables or mixed fruit and vegetables, make up 85% of fruit and vegetable first foods.
Evidence shows that 75% of children (aged 4 to 18 months) were exceeding UK energy requirements, and this continued following the introduction of solid foods.
We need your help to ensure all the necessary information is being submitted when notifying us that a single counsel family case is high cost.
A lot of information is being missed out when notifications are submitted in the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS).
The Very High Cost Case team is having to make enquiries to fill in the missing information. This inevitably causes delays.
When making your notification in CCMS that a case is high cost you should check that you have confirmed:
case is still ongoing
actual or projected costs calculated at prescribed rates will exceed £25k
current costs
whether the case falls under the Care Case Fee Scheme (CCFS) or relates to other proceedings
if the case falls outside CCFS, whether application is being made for it to be considered under the scheme
in a single counsel case, whether application is being made for the case to be treated on an exceptional basis
You should note that only cases subject to CCFS can access the immediate cost increase to £32,500 upon presentation of the signed contract documentation.
Training and detailed guidance is available on GOV.UK if you need to check you are following the notification process correctly.
Family high cost cases – to find out more about the notification process and view training modules