Working with United Utilities and Cumbria Community Foundation, Sellafield Ltd are funding the Together We community interest company to provide one-to-one counselling, group counselling and family support services.

Mental health is a key focus of the company’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme.

Sellafield Ltd is providing £30,000 to the project which will help replace the services which stopped being available when Mind in West Cumbria closed.

The funding, which was distributed via Cumbria Community Foundation, has come at a critical time when demand for support in this area continues to grow as statutory mental health services are affected by cuts and are stretched to capacity.

Jamie Reed, Head of Corporate Affairs at Sellafield Ltd, said:

This project is essential. It is clear that people up and down the country are struggling with mental health problems, and that the services of the third sector are required to support those of the NHS.

We know that these services will provide a literal lifeline to many people across West Cumbria who have been unable to access this support previously. This includes our own employees, who we know are not immune to these problems.

More people are willing to talk about their mental health and wellbeing, but it is important they can do so with trained workers. These are the people best able to help in times of difficulty. It’s only thanks to the funding that Sellafield Ltd, United Utilities and Cumbria Community Foundation have provided that this can be a reality.

Mental health is not the taboo subject it once was, but the number of people diagnosed with a mental health condition continues to rise.

One in 4 people will be affected by a mental health problem in their lifetime, with 1 in 6 adults being diagnosed with a mental health problem each year. West Cumbria also has a higher number of people admitted to hospital following intentional self-harm than the national average.

The problems are particularly acute in Copeland, which has the highest suicide rate and the second highest number of A&E admissions for mental health conditions in the county.

Janine Ward, Director of Together We, said:

We pride ourselves on delivering evidence-based interventions with qualified, insured and supervised staff. We have good connections across the region and will have a base in both Workington and Whitehaven. Our aim is to empower people to take control over their mental and physical health and wellbeing.

The team will be made up of counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, mental health practitioners and support workers to enable a full service with a range of interventions available.

Access to our service can be via self or professional referral by emailing referral@togetherwe.co.uk or by telephone 01900 66375.

A referral form with more information about Together We services is available at www.togetherwe.co.uk.

The £30,000 investment comes from the company’s Social Impact budget, which is designed to support resilient, sustainable communities closest to the site, recognising the impact we play in the areas we operate.

Mental health and wellbeing is one of the 5 strands of the Sellafield Ltd Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme. The company supports a number of national initiatives and programmes to help their employees with mental health and wellbeing issues.

These include Time to Talk and This is Me. They have trained and introduced 180 mental health champions across their business and facilities to help signpost people to services such as those provided by Together We.

Over 500,000 fish, including species such as barbel, roach and chub, were released into England’s rivers by the Environment Agency last year as part of a multi-million pound restoration programme funded by rod licence sales.

The revenue generated by nearly one million fishing licences also contributed to the cost of building more than 100 fish passes, which allow fish to move up rivers more freely. Other works covered by the licence fee included nearly 2,000 fish stock surveys and improvements of over 1,000 kilometers of river habitat and 87 hectares of stillwater fisheries.

While a range of factors, including competition with other forms of entertainment, are contributing to a reduced participation in angling, the Environment Agency is working with partners to get more people fishing. Around 37,000 people tried fishing for the first time last year through taster sessions funded by licence sales and organised by the Angling Trust.

In total, the Environment Agency Annual Report on Fisheries (2018-2019) shows that £33.5 million has been invested in providing a fisheries service and funding fisheries projects overall. In addition to the £21 million generated by rod licence holders, a further £1.1 million grant-in-aid came from central government with the remainder of the funding the result of successful partnership working with a range of conservation organisations.

Kevin Austin, Environment Agency Deputy Director for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, said:

Income from fishing licence sales is vital to fund our work to protect and improve fisheries and support the sport of angling. This includes improving habitats for fish, facilities for anglers and tackling illegal fishing.

It’s no secret that fishing is having to compete with high-tech entertainment and social change, including an ageing population, to attract people down to the riverbank. But being outdoors is good for our health, interacting with nature teaches us a lot about our environment and, through rod licence sales, anglers are really at the heart of protecting and improving the very things they care about – a great return for £30, the cost of an annual fishing licence.

Overall, with the licence income, the latest Annual Report on Fisheries shows that in the financial year 2018-2019, the Environment Agency was able to:

• invest over £33.5 million in providing a fisheries service and projects including partners’ contributions and additional government funding
• supply and stock 520,819 coarse fish
• carry out 1,992 fish stock surveys
• work with almost 1,700 different partners. These include the Angling Trust, Wild Trout Trust, Institute of Fisheries Management, Riverfly Partnership, as well as local river trusts, angling clubs, charities, among others. Effects of the licence fee fall were offset by efficiency savings and extensive partnership work.
• open up or improve 1,058 kilometres of river habitats for fish
• enhance 87 hectares of stillwater fisheries
• complete 104 fish passes
• check 64,074 fishing licences
• make 1,692 successful prosecutions
• complete 950 fish rescues
• introduce 37,000 people to fishing for the first time thanks to more than 1,000 ‘Get Fishing’ participation events organised with the Angling Trust.

Environment Agency’s Kevin Austin added:

As our Annual Report shows, people who don’t buy a licence are cheating other anglers and the future of the sport. Of course, they also run the risk of a criminal conviction and a fine. But the good news is buying a rod licence couldn’t be easier – to get yours and ensure you can enjoy fishing legally, visit GOV.UK – Get a fishing license.

The Voluntary Bailiff Service partnership between the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust proved its value after a recent trial for unlicensed fishing and public order offences.

Nigel Hilden (50) of Rigden Road, Ashford, Kent had pleaded not guilty to charges of unlicensed fishing and using threatening, abusive and insulting words towards an Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officer at Hawkhurst Fishery, Kent on 13th June 2019.

However, following evidence given in court by a member of the Voluntary Bailiff Service and an Environment Agency officer, Hilden was convicted at Hastings Magistrates Court of the offences on 28th January 2020. Magistrates imposed a total penalty of £1723.11.

The court heard how Hilden had been using 4 rods and was seen to reel in one of these by the Environment Agency officer. Hilden did not have a licence for the fourth rod and became abusive and threatening as the officer issued an offence report form. At this point, the Volunteer Bailiff joined the officer and his presence decreased Hilden’s initial aggression.

In announcing their verdict, Magistrates commented on the clear and credible evidence given by both the Environment Agency’s Volunteer Bailiff and Fisheries Enforcement Officer.

Magistrates heard of Hilden’s previous 72 convictions, including a prosecution for unlicensed fishing in April 2019.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

Abusive and threatening behaviour towards Environment Agency Officers and volunteers working with us will not be tolerated.

We will not hesitate to take enforcement action against anyone who attempts to intimidate officers or volunteers in this way. Anyone wishing to use 4 rods, where allowed, should ensure all are licensed.

Angling Trust National Enforcement Manager, Dilip Sarkar MBE, said:

We are extremely proud of our Phase 2 Volunteer Bailiff, whose conduct in supporting the Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officer was exemplary, as was his performance in the witness box, which was recognised by the Justices.

This is firm evidence of the value and success of Phase 2, which we are pleased to see being extended into East Anglia, whilst further recruits will be trained for this work in the south-east.

My report concerning failed Right of Abode applications and referral for consideration for enforcement action was sent to the Home Secretary on 23 October 2019.

A Certificate of Entitlement to Right of Abode, obtained by making an application to the Home Office, confirms that a person is “free to live in, and come and go into and from, the United Kingdom without let or hindrance”.

When I looked at this in 2016, at the request of the then Home Secretary, I found that though the numbers were small a significant percentage of refused applications were from individuals who had no right to remain in the UK at the time of applying and there was no consistency about referring these individuals for enforcement action, including where they had been identified as having used deception when applying.

The 2016 inspection report made three recommendations, all accepted by the Home Office, that aimed at ensuring that, where appropriate, failed applicants were referred for enforcement action and that this was done in a consistent fashion and in line with guidance.

The 2019 reinspection found that improvements had been made, but some elements of the original recommendations still remained “Open”, despite previous assurances, and there were further areas where improvements were needed.

According to the evidence provided for this reinspection, the trend in applications received each year is downwards; the refusal rate is low, 10-12% in the last two business years; guidance and Standard Operating Procedures are up-to-date; and, caseworkers are experienced and appear genuinely committed to providing good customer service. With these advantages, the process should be efficient and effective. However, the Home Office needed to improve its record keeping and quality assurance in order to prove that this was indeed the case and to demonstrate that right of abode work fully supports other BICS functions.

The Home Office has accepted my six recommendations, indicating in most cases that it has already taken the necessary actions. Where I asked it to consider alternative approaches I am satisfied that it has done so and accept its conclusions.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has today (Wednesday, 12 February) announced an inquiry to investigate the circumstances of the death of Jermaine Baker during a Metropolitan Police operation on 11 December 2015.

The inquiry will be chaired by His Honour Clement Goldstone QC, who was appointed last year to conduct the inquest into Mr Baker’s death.

HH Goldstone wrote to the Home Secretary requesting that a judge-led, statutory inquiry be established under the Inquiries Act 2005.

The Home Secretary agreed that an inquiry should take place and confirmed this to Parliament in a Written Ministerial Statement this morning.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

Establishing an inquiry is important to ensure that all of the relevant evidence can be properly considered as part of an effective investigation into Mr Baker’s death.

HH Clement Goldstone QC is an experienced retired judge who has the expertise necessary to deliver the inquiry.

The inquiry will have the same scope as the current inquest which will be suspended after the establishment of the inquiry.

Arrangements for the inquiry will now be a matter for the Chair. The Home Office will provide support and ensure that the Inquiry has the resources that it needs.