7372posts
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Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Try the mouse challenge this Global Accessibility Awareness Day to understand the importance of inclusivity in digital spaces.
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Applying user ecosystem thinking in the Funding Service
In this post, a policy lead and a user researcher discuss the concept of user ecosystem thinking and how it can be applied by designers in their day-to-day work. This concept and the practical activities we discuss in this post are derived from the book ‘Rethinking Users: A Design Guide to User Ecosystem Thinking’.
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Accessibility tools we use every day
To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’re sharing some of our content design team at Defra's go-to accessibility tools and guides. We're all responsible for making sure our content and services are accessible, these are some of the resources we use to help with that.
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Task force Fukushima – building trust to protect people and the environment.
By Jo Nettleton, Chief Regulator for the Environment Agency. ‘Recently I was delighted to be appointed in the newly created role of Chief Regulator at the Environment Agency. My role is to make sure that the EA is a future-focussed, …
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Celebrating childminders and welcoming change
It’s Childminding Week, and we want to recognise the excellent work of childminders like you. Thank you for all that you do to give families much-needed flexibility, and children the best start in life. Almost all of you do this …
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Securing off-site biodiversity net gain: insights from local planning authorities
In this post, aimed at local planning authorities, 3 guests tell us how they are securing off-site biodiversity net gain habitats.
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New RSHE guidance: What it means for sex education lessons in schools
Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is a subject taught at both primary and secondary school. In 2020, Relationships and Sex Education was made compulsory for all secondary school pupils in England and Health Education compulsory for all pupils …
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Renters (Reform) Bill
This morning there has been reporting on the impact of the Renters (Reform) Bill on the rental market. The Bill will ensure a fairer private rented sector for all and there is no evidence to suggest these changes will lead …
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Further funding to tackle endemic diseases
By reducing the levels of endemic disease in livestock, we can increase productivity, support businesses and unlock wider benefits too — from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slowing antimicrobial resistance. The very nature of endemic disease means it is an ongoing concern. Managing it requires the sustained effort of livestock keepers, the support of vets and money. In recognition of this, we are offering additional financial support.
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Introducing Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare grants
Next month, a new grant for hen housing will be available to laying hen and pullet farmers in England with flocks of 1,000 birds or more. We've just published the guidance for the grant on GOV.UK. In this post we’ll share an overview of the grant and a link to the guidance.
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Coverage of the Farm to Fork Summit at Downing Street
Following a package of new measures announced by the Prime Minister at the Farm to Fork summit, there has been widespread coverage across broadcast, national and trade media.
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DIO supports behind the scenes at the Ten Tors in Dartmoor
As the Training Safety Officer for Dartmoor I cover the Dartmoor Training Area from our office in Okehampton Camp. We've just finished supporting the Ten Tors; one of the busiest weekends in the Dartmoor Training Area's calendar. The teams and …
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Inaccurate coverage of Environment Agency investigation at Lake Windermere
Today we are looking at inaccurate coverage of the Environment Agency’s involvement in a pollution incident at Bowness-on-Windermere.
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Nature Returns - Interim Report
By Mike Morecroft, Deputy Director, Climate Change Science We’ve just published an interim report on the Nature Returns programme today (15 May 2024), our flagship £17m programme to build the evidence for nature-based solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss. …
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How the Environment Agency monitors and tests bathing water quality
Today (15 May) marks the start of this year’s bathing water season. Between now and the end of September, millions of people will head to bathing waters to relax and swim. Following Defra’s recent announcement of 27 new bathing waters, …
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Wet weather and temporary adjustments to agri-environment agreements
Heavy rainfall has a devastating and long-term impact on farming. This disruption not only affects livelihoods but also has wider implications for food security and the economy too. We're introducing temporary adjustments and easements within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), the SFI Pilot, Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmental Stewardship (ES) to support farmers and land managers dealing with the impacts of severe weather in England.
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Funding available for nutrient management solutions
Through the £15 million Nutrient Management competition, we’re offering funding to develop solutions which address the challenges related to nutrient management in soils and water associated with agricultural livestock and crop production. In this post, I'll share links to the guidance so you can prepare for the competition opening on 29 May.
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Where we are now with FMPs?
Wondering what stage each of the Defra led FMPs are at? Here's an update.
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An exercise with the Portuguese Navy? Algarve it a go!
One of the two Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron (RNGS) patrol vessels has completed her maiden over the horizon deployment to Portugal to take part in Exercise ALLGARVEX-24. After a slightly bumpy transit through the Strait of Gibraltar, HMS CUTLASS (CTLS) …
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Homeward Bound Part 2
It rained in Antarctica, and ice that is thousands of years old is melting – my journey to Antarctica In this blog we check back in with Harriet Teare, a GSE member from MHRA, who embarked upon the Homeward Bound …
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A new interactive website for our National Character Area profiles
By Sally Marshall, Principal Landscape Adviser, Natural England Today (14 May 2024) we are excited to be launching a new interactive website for England’s National Character Areas (NCAs). This latest chapter in the long history of NCAs makes the valued …
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Anne’s ethical principles forged in tandem careers
UK NSC's clinical ethicist members has tandem passions in work and leisure.
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Understanding the new Digital and Technology Spend controls
The new get approval to spend service has launched, find out more about how we’ve made the spend controls process easier and more effective for government organisations.
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We Are Strategic Command with Jason A'Court
Learn about the crucial role that the Risk and Performance Team in Strategic Command ensure informed decisions are made. Interviewer: Can you tell us about the work that you and your team deliver? Jason: My team and I analyse …
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What are FMPs and how are they prepared
This post gives a background on where FMPs have come from, what they are and how they are developed.
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A whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing: Part 1
Two mental health leads talk about how they work alongside the senior leadership team to develop a whole school approach, to supporting mental health and wellbeing at school.
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Welcome to the Fisheries Management Plans blog!
Hello, and welcome to the Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) blog! The blog is run by the FMP team and is the place you can find all news and updates about FMPs. We’ve been busy over the last couple of years …
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Should we be worried about the new COVID-19 variant?
With the emergence of the ‘XEC’ COVID-19 variant, some people are asking how this new lineage compares to other variants
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Secretary of State interview on Long Term Plan for Housing
Housing Secretary Michael Gove was interviewed by Martha Kearney as part of a BBC Radio 4 Today Programme series on housing which aired on Saturday, 11 May, where he set out how the Long Term Plan for Housing will deliver …
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Into the Woods: Spring Bluebells
Introducing "Into the woods" our new blog series where staff members share their adventures in England's woodlands. Join us this month to look at spring bluebells at Marbury Country Park.
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Improving Data in the Criminal Justice System
Data plays a crucial role in enhancing decision-making within the Criminal Justice System (CJS). The CJS Data Improvement Programme, led by the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office, addresses the challenges of fragmented data across various organisations by fostering a unified approach to data management. By leveraging innovative tools like Splink for data linking, the programme aims to improve policy formulation, operational performance, and system efficiency. This initiative not only promises to refine data-driven strategies across the CJS but also actively seeks participation from skilled data professionals to join and enrich this transformative journey.
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Coverage of the 27 new bathing water designations across England
There has been widespread coverage of the government’s announcement that 27 new bathing water sites will be designated across England. Coverage includes BBC, ITV, The Guardian, The Telegraph, iNews, The Times and Daily Mail.
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Maintaining quality early years provision in the face of workforce challenges
We know that many of you in the early years sector continue to face significant challenges, especially around recruiting and keeping well-qualified staff. In this blog, we will highlight: some of the ways these workforce challenges are evident when we …
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Launching the Deepfake Detection Challenge: a collaborative effort against digital deception
The Deepfake Detection Challenge Briefing, marking the official launch of the Challenge Statements outlining the current critical issues which need resolving, featured real-life case studies illustrating the challenges deepfakes pose across government sectors and insights from industry experts.
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Social care nursing at the heart of International Nurses Day 2024
Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy: "I’ve been in this profession for decades, but only in recent years has the wider world begun to realise the full range, experience and contribution social care nursing colleagues bring to the health and wellbeing of our communities."
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How NWS is making sure the right waste, is in the right place with safe, sustainable and cost effective solutions
Chris Macey, Service Lead for Treatment and Conditioning Services at Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), speaks about how his team is safely diverting huge quantities of nuclear waste away from permanent disposal at the UK’s Low Level Waste (LLW) Repository in …
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We Are Strategic Command with Sarah Hudson
To celebrate International Nurses Day, CPONN Sarah shares how her role as Lessons and Clinical Data Manager brings the best possible care to the frontlines. Interviewer: Can you tell us about your current role and responsibilities within the military? Sarah: …
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We Are Strategic Command with Jules Després
To celebrate International Nurses Day, Captain Jules Després reflects on his nursing career and the most rewarding part of being the Chief Nursing Officer for Defence. Interviewer: Could you introduce yourself and explain a little about your role? Captain Jules …
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Coverage of successful government legal challenge against freeholder Grey GR
There has been coverage in BBC News Online, Inside Housing, Essex Live, Property Week and The Comet following the news that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has won a landmark legal challenge against freeholder Grey GR - …
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Whooping cough: One mother's story of love, loss and action
Whooping cough cases (also known as the '100 day cough') are rising sharply across England. Between January and March 2024 there have sadly been 5 infant deaths. Vaccination is the best protection.
In this blog post, Catherine Hughes, Founding Director at The Immunisation Foundation of Australia, shares the story of her son Riley Hughes and how their family lost Riley to Whooping cough (pertussis)