Al fresco dining boost for businesses

News story

Temporary changes, brought in to help pubs, cafes and restaurants take advantage of the warm weather and operate outside, are extended and will be made permanent next year.

Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be able take advantage of the warm weather and keep serving customers al fresco, thanks to steps the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has taken.

Temporary changes brought in during COVID-19 which make it quicker, easier and cheaper for business to get a licence to serve food and drink on pavements and pedestrianised roads have been extended. The extension will continue until the changes are made permanent in the spring.

The change was first introduced to help businesses keep operating during the pandemic and was widely welcomed by the public, café owners and pub landlords.

The government will make these changes permanent in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

Today’s announcement will make sure that businesses can keep operating outside by extending the temporary provisions that were due to expire in September, before the permanent changes become law.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Greg Clark said:

We want to see bustling town centres across the country and that’s why the changes we made to licensing rules will become permanent.

Making al fresco dining a permanent fixture on our high streets is part of our plan to level up communities and create vibrant places people want to live and work.

More information on this legislation is available in The Business and Planning Act 2020 (Pavement Licences) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

Published 22 July 2022



Manila, call for bids for FY 2022/23: rights of human rights defenders

Objectives

The UK supports the right of human rights defenders to carry out their work and voice their opinions freely and safely. The British Embassy Manila is seeking a proposal which supports the following objectives:

  • promote a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders
  • increase access to justice and legal support of human rights defenders

All bids should be in pounds sterling (GBP). We are accepting bids from a minimum of £15,000 to a maximum of £40,000 to support projects in this area. Proposals covering more than one objective are welcome. Please keep bids within the limits set out above.

Approval process

Project bids will be shortlisted and approved by the British Embassy Manila’s programme Board. To apply for funding, interested organisations must submit a concept note to the Programme manager (details below). The concept note should provide the information required to enable he programme team to make an initial assessment of whether the bidder will be able to qualify for the second round of selection.

If the concept note is successful in the first stage, the implementer will be asked to submit a full proposal and an activity-based budget (ABB). There is likely to be a short turnaround time for this. The full proposal will then be submitted to the Embassy Programme board and the FCDO in London.

Managerial and financial aspects

  • any organisation can apply for funding. We do not accept project bids submitted by individuals
  • please note that payment will be made in arrears. We cannot make pre-payments; successful bidders should make payments and be reimbursed by the Embassy. The implementer must have an active bank account in the name of the organisation to which we can transfer reimbursements electronically
  • organisations must prove that they are able to manage the project sum in a satisfactory manner; the embassy may request reports by auditors

Exemptions

We regret that we are unable to fund:

  • academic courses
  • charitable activities
  • commercial activities
  • infrastructure or construction projects

Co-financing

A partnership framework to support the broader engagement of a project is welcome and can strengthen your bid. Please make sure to specify your other source(s) of funding in the concept note.

Evaluation of project bids

The aim of the project should be concise, feasible and sustainable. The expected outcomes should be measurable and the target group should be clearly defined and involved in project implementation.

The assessment criteria will include the following:

  • financial and operational capacity
  • relevance
  • methodology
  • sustainability
  • value for money
  • impact

Reporting

The embassy will require monthly financial reports and quarterly project progress reports (narrative and financial) from implementers. The first payment will be made upon the receipt of a monthly financial report. When the project has been completed the implementer shall prepare and send a final report to the Embassy within the period specified in the contract.

Timeline

Deadline for submission of concept note is 31 July 2022.

Successful applicants will implement their project until 28 February 2022. All payment requests and reporting should be finalised by 15 March 2022. You are advised to plan project activities accordingly.

Completed concept notes should be sent by email to Cara.SanPedro@fcdo.gov.uk. Please include reference number of the call in the subject line. If the project concept note is successful in the first stage, the applicant will then be asked to submit a full proposal and an activity-based budged (ABB).

Successful applicants will be informed of the result in the week commencing 8 August 2022.



Manila, call for bids for FY 2022/23: modern slavery

Objectives

The UK government is committed to the eradication of all forms of modern slavery by 2030, as unanimously adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. The British Embassy Manila is seeking a proposal which supports the following objectives:

  • prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficked Migrant Workers and/or victims of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and their families, with a focus on survivor engagement
  • increasing awareness and access to justice and legal support following instances of human trafficking and abuse

All bids should be in pounds sterling (GBP). We are accepting bids from a minimum of £20,000 to a maximum of £30,000 to support projects in each area. Proposals covering more than one objective are welcome. Please keep bids within the limits set out above.

Approval process

Project bids will be shortlisted and approved by the British Embassy Manila’s programme Board. To apply for funding, interested organisations must submit a concept note to the Programme manager (details below). The concept note should provide the information required to enable he programme team to make an initial assessment of whether the bidder will be able to qualify for the second round of selection.

If the concept note is successful in the first stage, the implementer will be asked to submit a full proposal and an activity-based budget (ABB). There is likely to be a short turnaround time for this. The full proposal will then be submitted to the Embassy Programme board and the FCDO in London.

Managerial and financial aspects

  • any organisation can apply for funding. We do not accept project bids submitted by individuals
  • please note that payment will be made in arrears. We cannot make pre-payments; successful bidders should make payments and be reimbursed by the Embassy. The implementer must have an active bank account in the name of the organisation to which we can transfer reimbursements electronically
  • organisations must prove that they are able to manage the project sum in a satisfactory manner; the embassy may request reports by auditors

Exemptions

We regret that we are unable to fund:

  • academic courses
  • charitable activities
  • commercial activities
  • infrastructure or construction projects

Co-financing

A partnership framework to support the broader engagement of a project is welcome and can strengthen your bid. Please make sure to specify your other source(s) of funding in the concept note.

Evaluation of project bids

The aim of the project should be concise, feasible and sustainable. The expected outcomes should be measurable and the target group should be clearly defined and involved in project implementation.

The assessment criteria will include the following:

  • financial and operational capacity
  • relevance
  • methodology
  • sustainability
  • value for money
  • impact

Reporting

The embassy will require monthly financial reports and quarterly project progress reports (narrative and financial) from implementers. The first payment will be made upon the receipt of a monthly financial report. When the project has been completed the implementer shall prepare and send a final report to the Embassy within the period specified in the contract.

Timeline

Deadline for submission of concept note is 31 July 2022.

Successful applicants will implement their project until 28 February 2022. All payment requests and reporting should be finalised by 15 March 2022. You are advised to plan project activities accordingly.

Completed concept notes should be sent by email to Cara.SanPedro@fcdo.gov.uk. Please include reference number of the call in the subject line. If the project concept note is successful in the first stage, the applicant will then be asked to submit a full proposal and an activity-based budged (ABB).

Successful applicants will be informed of the result in the week commencing 8 August 2022.



Commission appoints interim managers to South Gloucestershire charity

Press release

The Charity Commission has appointed two interim managers to Shire Way Community Association (283301), to the exclusion of its trustees.

The Shire Way Community Association aims to advance education and provide leisure and recreational facilities for the inhabitants of Sodbury, Yate and Westerleigh.

The regulator opened a statutory inquiry into the charity in January 2022, over concerns about the trustees’ management of the charity’s resources and financial affairs. All of the trustees have since resigned, leaving the charity unable to function. The Charity Commission has now appointed interim managers to the charity as part of its inquiry.

Charles Turner and Paul Barber of Begbies Traynor were appointed as interim managers on 18 July 2022. Their responsibilities include securing the charity’s assets and reviewing its financial viability. The outcome of the financial viability assessment will inform their next steps, either implementing new governance arrangements or, if it is found to no longer be viable, winding the charity up. This may include engaging with external third parties with regard to future arrangements for the charity’s key property assets.

The Commission’s inquiry into the charity continues. It is the Commission’s policy to publish an inquiry report upon its conclusion.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  1. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.
  2. The charity’s details can be found on the register of charities.
  3. Section 76(3)(g) of the Charities Act 2011 gives the Commission power to appoint an interim manager to a charity.
  4. Interim managers are appointed where the Commission has identified misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of a charity, and/or where there is a need to protect a charity’s property. It is a protective measure.

Published 22 July 2022



Manila, call for bids for FY 2022/23: media freedom

Objectives

The UK supports the global Media Freedom Coalition and aspires to support efforts in promoting media freedom locally as a global public good and be more proactive in defending and supporting journalists in the Philippines. The British Embassy Manila is seeking a proposal which supports the following objectives:

  • strengthen the legal and regulatory environment in which freedom of the press is protected and respected on a national and/or regional scale
  • empower and increase access to justice and legal support of journalists to ensure media safety and promote an inclusive media sphere

All bids should be in pounds sterling (GBP). We are accepting bids from a minimum of £15,000 to a maximum of £40,000 to support projects in this area. Proposals covering more than one objective are welcome. Please keep bids within the limits set out above.

Approval process

Project bids will be shortlisted and approved by the British Embassy Manila’s programme Board. To apply for funding, interested organisations must submit a concept note to the Programme manager (details below). The concept note should provide the information required to enable he programme team to make an initial assessment of whether the bidder will be able to qualify for the second round of selection.

If the concept note is successful in the first stage, the implementer will be asked to submit a full proposal and an activity-based budget (ABB). There is likely to be a short turnaround time for this. The full proposal will then be submitted to the Embassy Programme board and the FCDO in London.

Managerial and financial aspects

  • any organisation can apply for funding. We do not accept project bids submitted by individuals
  • please note that payment will be made in arrears. We cannot make pre-payments; successful bidders should make payments and be reimbursed by the Embassy. The implementer must have an active bank account in the name of the organisation to which we can transfer reimbursements electronically
  • organisations must prove that they are able to manage the project sum in a satisfactory manner; the embassy may request reports by auditors

Exemptions

We regret that we are unable to fund:

  • academic courses
  • charitable activities
  • commercial activities
  • infrastructure or construction projects

Co-financing

A partnership framework to support the broader engagement of a project is welcome and can strengthen your bid. Please make sure to specify your other source(s) of funding in the concept note.

Evaluation of project bids

The aim of the project should be concise, feasible and sustainable. The expected outcomes should be measurable and the target group should be clearly defined and involved in project implementation.

The assessment criteria will include the following:

  • financial and operational capacity
  • relevance
  • methodology
  • sustainability
  • value for money
  • impact

Reporting

The embassy will require monthly financial reports and quarterly project progress reports (narrative and financial) from implementers. The first payment will be made upon the receipt of a monthly financial report. When the project has been completed the implementer shall prepare and send a final report to the Embassy within the period specified in the contract.

Timeline

Deadline for submission of concept note is 31 July 2022.

Successful applicants will implement their project until 28 February 2022. All payment requests and reporting should be finalised by 15 March 2022. You are advised to plan project activities accordingly.

Completed concept notes should be sent by email to Cara.SanPedro@fcdo.gov.uk. Please include reference number of the call in the subject line. If the project concept note is successful in the first stage, the applicant will then be asked to submit a full proposal and an activity-based budged (ABB).

Successful applicants will be informed of the result in the week commencing 8 August 2022.