The UK government is set to introduce a new scheme this month which will see thousands of homeowners in England become eligible to apply for £5,000 home improvement grants.
According to a statement published today via the gov.uk website, the new scheme will see the government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of home improvements of over 600,000 homes, and also support over 100,000 jobs in green construction.
Further details of the range of measures included and how consumers in England will be able to claim the new vouchers – which are worth up to £5,000 for homeowners – are being set out by government ministers today, and households on low income will also be eligible to receive vouchers covering 100% of the cost of the improvements, up to a maximum of £10,000.
Later this month, homeowners across England will be able to access advice and support on improving the energy efficiency of their homes from the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) service, and the SEA will then suggest appropriate home improvements that homeowners may be able to apply for support in funding.
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The Green Homes Grant will give homeowners – including owner occupiers and social/private landlords – vouchers to install one or more of the following:
Solid Wall, Under-Floor, Cavity Wall, or Roof Insulation
Air Source, or Ground Source Heat Pump
Solar Thermal
Additionally, households can use their voucher for further energy saving measures, and these include one or more of the following:
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Double or Triple Glazing/Secondary Glazing (when replacing single glazing)
Upgrading to Energy Efficient Doors
Hot Water Tank/Appliance Tank Thermostats/Heating Controls
Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, Mike Thornton, said: “The Green Homes Grant is a significant investment by the government in energy efficiency which will provide long term benefits to householders and the environment by cutting fuel bills and reducing carbon emissions.
“It will particularly help low-income households access much-needed funds to make their homes warmer [and] I would really encourage homeowners to apply for the scheme.”
Tradespeople are also being urged by the government to register their participation for the scheme today.
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In order to be eligible to take part in the scheme, tradespeople must register for TrustMark or Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditations, which will then cover the above green home improvement measures that are said to potentially help families save up to £600 a year on their energy bills.
Speaking on the launch of the scheme, Business and Energy Secretary, Alok Sharma, said: “Green home improvements will save people money on their energy bills, help to cut carbon emissions, and create new work for many thousands of builders, plumbers and other tradespeople [and] Our TrustMark scheme will guarantee that building work is completed to a high standard by accredited tradespeople, ensuring consumers are fully protected.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak added: “The Green Homes Grant is a vital part of our plan for jobs as we secure the UK’s economic recovery from coronavirus [and] this is going to be a green recovery with concern for our environment at its heart.”
“It will help to protect and create jobs, while also saving people money and cutting carbon.”
For further information on applying for the Green Homes Grant, visit the gov.uk website here.
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FA issues statement after reports of ‘tragedy chanting’ during Man United’s FA Cup win over Liverpool
Emily Sergeant
The FA has issued a statement following reports of “tragedy chanting” during the Manchester United and Liverpool’s match yesterday.
In what football fans, pundits, and neutrals alike are calling one of the most “thrilling” games to have happened in recent memory, Manchester United clinched a last-minute 4-3 win over fierce local rivals Liverpool in the quarter finals of the FA Cup yesterday afternoon (17 March) – with surprise match-winner Amad Diallo scoring a late goal in the 120th minute.
The Reds’ defender Scott McTominay opened the scoring in the 10th minute, with Liverpool goals then following from Alexis Mac Allister and superstar striker Mo Salah just before half-time.
In the second half, another goal came for United after Antony found the back of the net in the 87th minute to take the match to extra time, and then the next 30-minutes saw Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott and Manchester‘s-own Marcus Rashford get themselves on the score sheet in pretty quick succession to take the tie to 3-3.
With the time on the clock ticking down, and a place in the semi FA Cup semi finals within touching distance for both clubs, Reds’ winger Diallo fired the ball into the bottom right-hand corner to claim not only a win for his team, but also what was only his second goal in a United shirt.
United fans were, understandably, elated with the win over the team that has historically, and arguably continues to be, their biggest rivals.
But sadly, it appears that some fans took this excitement a little too far.
It has been widely-reported on by numerous media outlets that, during the second half of United’s extra time win, a significant number of fans in the Stretford End of Old Trafford were heard chanting ‘murderers’, quickly followed by ‘always the victims’, both in reference to the Hillsborough Disaster – with the singing said to be “audible” to the live television audience.
Other chants of ‘The Sun were right’ were also reported, and this has subsequently led to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launching an investigation, making an arrest in connection with “tragedy chanting”, and issuing a statement condemning the incident.
The FA has also since released a statement following the reports, and has pledged to support GMP with ongoing investigations in whichever ways they can.
GMP’s statement provided by a spokesperson reads: “Incidents of tragedy chanting will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.
“We are all familiar with fans taunting their opponents at football matches, but this is generally done in good humour and without offence. The incidents today crossed the line of what is acceptable, and we will work closely with both clubs to identify anyone responsible for committing offences during the event.”
The FA’s statement, which was shared to social media yesterday evening, also reads in full: “We are aware of the reported tragedy chanting during today’s FA Cup fixture between Manchester United and Liverpool, and we will be liaising with and supporting Greater Manchester Police.
“We strongly condemn any offensive, abusive and discriminatory chants in football stadiums, and we are determined to stamp this behaviour out.
“It is entirely unacceptable and can have a lasting and damaging impact on people and communities within our game.
Two arrested after man is murdered in broad daylight in ‘quiet’ East Manchester residential area
Emily Sergeant
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was killed in the middle of a “quiet residential area” of East Manchester over the weekend.
The arrested suspects, two males, are currently being questioned by police detectives.
It comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was called out to reports of an unresponsive male on Olympic Street, in the Beswick area of East Manchester, shortly before 11am this past Saturday (16 March) – and, despite the best efforts of emergency services and “selfless members of public” at the scene, he was sadly pronounced dead.
A team of specialist detectives have “worked throughout the night” to apprehend those believed to be involved in this murder, GMP has revealed, and with a police investigation having now been opened, “extensive work” is ongoing to understand the circumstances around the distressing incident.
According to GMP, initial enquiries have indicated that the victim was killed whilst he was trying to stop his car from being stolen.
Two people have been arrested after a man was murdered in broad daylight in a ‘quiet’ East Manchester residential area / Credit: GMP
Following the incident, GMP has confirmed that a 35-year-old man has now been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a 43-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
They both remain in police custody at this time.
With the two arrests made, and enquiries currently ongoing and “moving at pace”, GMP has issued an appeal to the public for information, witnesses, and footage – with Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Smith, from GMP’s Major Incident Team, explaining: “At the centre of this investigation is a grieving family, who we will do all we can to get answers for.
“Our investigation is moving at pace, and I have a team of detectives who continue to work relentlessly to capture a picture of what happened in the events leading up to this incident.
#ARREST | Two men arrested in connection with Beswick murder.
Two men, aged 35 & 43, are in custody. They will be questioned by detectives tonight.
“Additional officers remain in the area to offer reassurance to the local community, so if you have any questions, or want to share any information, please speak to them.
“They are there for you and any detail, no matter how small it may seem, could help us.”
Anyone with any details that could assist police with their investigation is asked to report them via the LiveChat function on gmp.police.uk, or by calling 101 quoting incident number 1172 of 16/3/24.