Ministers recognise that supported housing is a vital service for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, and last year consulted on possible alternative funding options.

Having listened to views from providers, stakeholders and councils, the government has decided housing benefit will remain in place to fund this accommodation.

Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse MP, said:

Protection of the most vulnerable has always been our primary concern, and following our consultation, the case for keeping supported housing in the welfare system became clear.

The sector also recognised that our aim of improving the quality of homes must be addressed, and we look forward to now working with partners to make sure we have strong measures in place.

Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, said:

We are committed to ensuring that vulnerable people have access to the supported housing they need to live safely and independently.

We value the expertise of stakeholders and have listened carefully to their concerns during the consultation.

As a result we will continue to pay housing benefit for all supported housing –making sure safe homes are provided for those that need it most.

Alongside this, government has also today announced that it will work with providers, local authorities, membership bodies and resident representatives over the coming months to develop a robust oversight regime.

This work will ensure quality and value for money across the whole supported housing sector.

In addition, a review of housing related support will be undertaken to better understand how housing and support currently fit together.

Supported housing provides a home to some of the most vulnerable people across country. It gives people in crisis – such as those facing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence – a secure place to stay. It also provides a life-long home for those with learning and physical disabilities, mental ill-health and older people, providing independence.

Last year the government published proposals on new ways of funding supported housing. These models included grant funding for short-term provision, such as hostels and refuges, and a ‘Sheltered Rent’ for sheltered and extra care housing. Under the grant model, councils would have received funding and paid short-term supported housing rents at their discretion.

Now that government has opted to keep funding within housing benefit, this means residents will claim housing benefit as usual, with their rent normally being paid directly to their landlord.

MAIB’s report on a man overboard from the fishing vessel Illustris on 12 November 2017 with loss of 1 life, is now published.

The report contains details of what happened, the subsequent actions taken and recommendation made: read more.

A safety flyer to the fishing industry summarising the accident and detailing the safety lessons learned, has also been produced.

• First Civil Society Strategy in 15 years sets out a vision to create stronger communities
• The strategy proposes significant reforms across the public and private sectors to build a fairer society
• People, communities and charitable organisations will be at the centre of decision-making

The first Civil Society Strategy in 15 years will build stronger communities by bringing together businesses, charities and the public sector, the Government has vowed today.

Civil society refers to organisations and individuals working to create social value, enriching lives and building a fairer society for all.

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, unveiled the new vision today, which places communities at the centre of decision-making and focuses on five key foundations of social value: people, places and the public, private and social sectors.

The work follows the Government’s Industrial Strategy, published last year. The strategy complements plans to grow Britain’s economy and boost productivity by building a more connected society, where everyone can play their part in a fairer, healthier and more prosperous country.

It creates more opportunities for people to actively take part in community decisions, as well as highlighting ways to harness the power of digital and technology for public good.

As part of the Civil Society Strategy, the Government is:

• Unlocking £20 million from inactive charitable trusts (those which spend less than 30% of their annual income) to support community organisations over the next two years. The work will be carried out in conjunction with the Charity Commission and UK Community Foundations.

• Launching an ‘Innovation in Democracy’ pilot scheme in six regions across the country. This will trial creative ways for people to take a more direct role in decisions that affect their local area. This could include Citizens’ Juries or mass participation in decision-making on community issues via an online poll or app.

• Establishing an independent organisation that will distribute £90 million from dormant bank accounts to get disadvantaged young people into employment. This new organisation will harness the experience of grassroots youth workers, businesses, and other local services, to help young people achieve their full potential.

• Creating an independent organisation to use £55 million from dormant bank accounts to tackle financial exclusion and the problem of access to affordable credit.

• Supporting charities to make their voices heard on issues that matter to them and ensuring that charitable trustees reflect the diversity of the society they serve.

• Strengthening Britain’s values of corporate responsibility, through the launch of a major new Leadership Group, formed of senior figures from the business, investment and social sectors, to put social and environmental responsibility at the heart of company decisions.

• Using digital technology for good to improve the work charities can provide to support healthy ageing, bolster online safety and better connect people in an effort to tackle loneliness.

• Improving the use of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 to ensure that organisations can generate more social value for communities when spending public money on government contracts.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Wright, said:

Our plans stand side-by-side with the Industrial Strategy, supporting its drive to grow the economy, while creating an environment where people and communities are at the heart of decision-making.

These ambitious plans will harness the expertise of volunteers, charities and business to help people take a more active part in their local areas.

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, added:

Civil society is the bedrock of our communities. It is made up of the volunteers, youth workers, charities and innovative businesses that work to improve lives and make areas better for all.

Our strategy builds on this spirit of common good to help create a country that works for everyone. I want people, organisations and businesses to feel inspired to get involved and make a difference.

Through collaboration, we will unlock the huge potential of this incredible sector, help it grow, support the next generation and create a fairer society.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

Our modern Industrial Strategy has set out a long-term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK, building a Britain which is fit for the future.

Strengthening the UK’s business environment and growing thriving communities are mutually reinforcing, which is why the Civil Society Strategy is so important in helping to foster further partnerships between government, business, civil society and local communities – bringing improved prosperity across the UK.

The Government’s Civil Society Strategy was formed following an open consultation and has been developed across Government.

Funding of £90m to get disadvantaged young people into employment and £55m to tackle financial exclusion is to be taken from a total pot of up to £330 million from dormant bank and building society accounts, which will be used to help the homeless, disadvantaged young people, local charities and other good causes in the UK over the next four years.

Media enquiries: Hannah Thornley, DCMS Press Office: 0207 211 2210

The Chancellor, Philip Hammond progressed the UK’s shared agenda with Brazil on green finance, tax and infrastructure at the third UK-Brazil Economic and Financial Dialogue today (8 August 2018).

Welcoming Brazilian Finance Minister Eduardo Guardia to London, the Chancellor used the Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) to strengthen the UK’s partnership with Latin America’s biggest economy, Brazil.

Over 1,200 jobs were created last year through Brazilian investment in the UK, which represented almost £100 million of investment into the UK economy.

Through the EFD, the UK is deepening co-operation with Brazil on financial services, green finance and tax, to maximise future trade opportunities, as well as build collaboration on infrastructure and further support Brazil’s application to join the OECD.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond said:

Brazil is our top trading partner in Latin America, with our trade in goods and services worth £5.6 billion. The meetings today reinforced the strong ties that already exist between our two nations and I’m pleased that good progress was made towards our shared ambitions on taxation, green finance and infrastructure.

Britain is an outward facing nation and I want to build on the success of our relationship with Brazil and other nations as we prepare to leave the EU.

Finance Minister Eduardo Guardia said:

The UK is a key and natural partner for Brazil, and in the meetings today we had the chance to advance our cooperation in green finance and infrastructure, at a time when we are striving to make Brazil a more open economy.

I am pleased to have had the opportunity to strengthen this bilateral and multilateral partnership, one which will mutually benefit both countries.

Today’s EFD presented further opportunities for the UK and Brazil to work together. Outcomes from today’s dialogue include:

• reaffirming the UK’s support for Brazil’s potential OECD accession
• progressing discussions over a potential Double Taxation Agreement between the UK and Brazil that facilitates trade, investment and helps prevent tax avoidance and evasion, following further work on technical and policy issues
• continuing to pursue reforms that increase market access for the financial services sector. This includes further supporting UK companies to operate in Brazilian financial markets, including in reinsurance and asset management
• further enhancing our collaboration on infrastructure, including financing through both the G20 and the private sector, and through the UK-Brazil Infrastructure and Capital Markets Task Force
• confirming the UK’s commitment to identifying barriers to trade through the UK-Brazil Joint Economic and Trade Committee