Latest news with #LawrenceWeston
The Guardian
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
‘It's very personal to me': Darren Jones on his £500m plan to fight child poverty
Darren Jones has spent much of the past few months doing the traditional, hard-nosed job of a Treasury chief secretary – fighting line-by-line budget battles with ministers. But with last month's fraught spending review over, he has turned his attention to an issue closer to his heart for his latest policy. 'The council estate I grew up on was one of the neighbourhoods that was picked by the New Labour government because it was so deprived, essentially, in terms of income and educational outcomes,' he says. The 38-year-old MP for Bristol North West grew up in a flat on the Lawrence Weston estate. His mother was a hospital administrator and his father a security guard, and he has previously spoken about how money was sometimes tight at home. In his maiden speech in the House of Commons, he proudly mentioned being the first Darren to be an MP. Jones cites Labour support for local community group Ambition Lawrence Weston – still thriving today – as well as a taxpayer-funded 'gifted and talented' scheme, as crucial in helping to signpost him towards university, as the first in his family to go. He went on to qualify as a solicitor, and was an in-house lawyer for BT before being elected in 2017. With projects like these in mind, he is now announcing that the Treasury will invest £500m over a decade, alongside private backers, in a new 'social outcome partnership' to fund grassroots projects tackling child poverty. He says he made it a personal mission since arriving in the Treasury last summer to dramatically expand this form of 'social impact investment'. Pioneered by Gordon Brown's Treasury, it is an approach that involves private investors matching taxpayer funding for neighbourhood-level anti-poverty projects. These backers earn a modest return, but only if the scheme meets specific targets – which might be, Jones says, getting a certain number of children into college, or university, or parents into secure jobs, for example. The fund is expected to be the largest such vehicle in the world. 'It's really trying to just unlock those opportunities, like it did for me,' he said. 'I've now had a great career and I get to do this job. And a lot of that stems from what the New Labour government did. So essentially this type of funding mechanism, this investment into tackling the root causes of poverty is something that's very personal to me.' The detailed proposal emerged from a social impact investment advisory group, set up by Jones last year. It was due to wind down this summer, but will now continue at his request, to draw up plans for a more general template for social impact projects, that could be applicable across Whitehall. The approach is of a piece with Jones's relentless optimism that, despite governing in a time of straitened fiscal circumstances, this Labour government can find innovative ways to do more with less. 'The public really want things to change and get better and we agree with that, but because we've inherited these really challenging economic circumstances, we can only do so much with the traditional mechanisms. So we're open to trying to find other ways of getting stuff done for the country and improving people's lives,' he says. That includes considering launching a new generation of public private partnerships, which the government hopes could be used to fund the new neighbourhood health centres, that are at the heart of Wes Streeting's 10-year plan for the NHS. Jones insists these will be narrower and less complex than the controversial projects launched through the private finance initiative (PFI) under New Labour, some of which have saddled operators with hefty bills. 'We are not doing PFI. We're not doing that, these very complicated contracts. We're not talking about hospitals or schools or prisons or anything like that.' But he added: 'If there's an innovative way of delivering a key objective for us, that's what we're trying to make happen.' For the same reason, he is a keen advocate of the wider use of AI in government, though he insists it must be 'an enabling tool, not a replacement' for civil servants. While he is upbeat by temperament, Jones acknowledges the fearsome squeeze the government faces, in the week the Office for Budget Responsibility warned that the UK's public finances are on an unsustainable course, and after his boss Rachel Reeves's tearful outing in parliament sent bond markets reeling. 'Debt is nearly 100% of GDP: it's expensive, it costs a lot of money. We've had poor productivity growth and wage growth in the economy for the last 10 years. And so what the government, what Rachel's trying to do is walk that tightrope out of that kind of fiscal headache,' he says. The ambitious Jones was touted by bookmaker Coral earlier this month as the second most likely successor to Reeves, after the Cabinet Office minister, Pat McFadden. But he is fiercely loyal to his boss, repeatedly underscoring the importance of her fiscal framework. 'Fiscal rules are not self-constraining tools to just flagellate yourself with. They're there for a reason,' he says. He refuses to be drawn on the prospect of tax rises in Reeves's autumn budget, which are widely expected, in the light of the U-turns over welfare cuts and the winter fuel allowance, and continued weakness in the economy. But he does repeat the chancellor's promise that after the welfare cuts, 'we'll make sure that's fully funded in a proper way at the budget' – but without jeopardising Labour's manifesto promises not to touch the major revenue raisers of income tax, employee national insurance or VAT. 'We're going to honour our promises.' Challenged as to when voters will start to feel the benefits of Labour's investments in infrastructure, housing and industry, Jones says the government will make no apology for taking a long-term view. But he also points to more immediate plans, set out in the spending review, to repair public buildings. 'It's not very sexy, but we put loads of extra money into maintenance,' he said. He then goes on an enthusiastic digression about how Labour's long-term funding for pothole maintenance, in contrast to annual budgets under the Tories, will allow local authorities to 'actually dig out the bit of the road that's broken and relay it properly,' rather than just, 'get the guys to come out and put tarmac in the hole'. Posing before the vast oil painting of Queen Victoria that dominates his airy Treasury office overlooking St James's Park, Jones gives a final demonstration of his caution with public money. The imposing work was chosen from the government art collection by Jones's predecessor, Laura Trott. He is not a big fan, he says. 'I thought it would cost a fortune to get it out, which is the reason I left it.'
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Graduate overcomes life-changing injuries to fulfil dream of becoming a doctor
A mature student has graduated from university as a doctor a decade after a motorbike accident as a teenager left him with catastrophic injuries. Paul Edwards was 17 and studying for his A-levels when he was knocked off his motorbike, suffering multiple fractures. He had to put his studies on hold and delayed his university ambitions for a decade while he recovered. Fast-forward 16 years and, despite living with debilitating pain, Mr Edwards, now aged 32, has graduated in front of his proud parents Charlie and Denise, girlfriend Aesha, close friends and tutors. It was not just his injuries he needed to overcome, as Mr Edwards grew up in Lawrence Weston where only around 15% of students at his secondary achieved five GCSEs. Encouraged by his parents and supportive teachers, he set his sights on studying medicine at the University of Bristol. Prior to his accident he was accepted on to the now obsolete Government-run gifted and talented programme, which sought to help talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds. But in October 2009 a car overran a junction and Mr Edwards collided with the car at 30mph. He suffered catastrophic injuries, including two fractured thighs, multiple fractures to his neck and back, a lacerated liver and head trauma. Mr Edwards spent years in recovery, undergoing multiple surgeries and battling constant pain. In 2014, he had what he calls his 'sink or swim' moment, and with the help of his GP weaned himself off opioid medication. 'I remember my GP saying: 'You can either stay on these drugs and be stuck here, or come off them and find out what life might still offer you',' he said. He enrolled in an access to higher education course and completed the equivalent of three A-levels in nine months. In 2017, Mr Edwards was offered a place to study neuroscience at Bristol, but switched to medicine during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'My sister is a paramedic, and my GP and consultants were so amazingly supportive during my recovery from my accident. I realised I wanted to help. I wanted to give back,' he said. He studied while managing with 'endless and debilitating' pain as a consequence of his injuries. 'I use over-the counter painkillers to treat the pain and I do lots of activity including endurance running and triathlons,' he said. 'I know I'll be in pain anyway, but I would rather be active and in pain, than sedentary and still in pain.' He has recently completed his elective period of study in anaesthetics and will soon begin his foundation doctor training at an NHS hospital on the Isle of Wight. 'I owe the university a lot regarding my success,' Mr Edwards said. 'I have been incredibly well supported, and I really appreciate everything the staff have done for me. 'They really help you achieve the absolute best you can be. I count myself lucky to have met so many wonderful people along the way, who are now absolute friends for life. 'Who knows, maybe the accident was part of a bigger plan – directing me to a path of becoming a doctor> 'I want to let people know that anything is possible if you are determined enough. It's never too late, and Bristol is a great place to be.'
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New £15m Bristol regional cycling hub plans submitted
New images have been released of a proposed £15m regional cycling Bristol Regional Cycling Hub will be built on Henacre Open Space, a former landfill site in Lawrence plans include a 1km competition track, an area for new cyclists to learn how to ride, a car park, a main building and new connections to nearby cycling City Council, which has submitted the planning application for the hub, said the new facility will replace the Bristol Family Cycling Centre at the Old Whitchurch Athletics Track, which opened in 2010. In planning documents, the council says the new cycling centre will be funded by the government's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, which is administered by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). A previous bid for money from the Levelling Up fund was rejected, the Local Democracy Reporting Service was for the planning application said the competition-grade track was designed in collaboration with British Cycling for local competitions and regional championships, while the 250m training area for children and adults would be a traffic-free space for developing cycling skills and planning permission is granted, it is expected the new cycling hub will open in 2027.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bristol child sex abuser 'smiled and laughed throughout trial'
A 76-year-old man who sexually abused children "showed no remorse" and smiled and laughed throughout his trial, his victims Lazarides, from Lawrence Weston, Bristol, has been jailed for 10 years after being found guilty of multiple child sex trial at Bristol Crown Court heard he sexually assaulted children, made them watch porn and encouraged them to commit sexual acts on him between 2017 and 2020."I've lost all trust in humans and that will follow me for the rest of my life," said one of his victims, who explained Lazarides also "shouted verbal abuse" at them as he was sentenced. The victim said: "The last few years of my life have been on hold, justice has been served but my life will never be the same. "The defendant showed no remorse and smiled throughout the whole trial, even shouting verbal abuse at me as he was being sentenced."Lazarides was found guilty and sentenced on 22 May for 16 charges against four offences included causing a child to watch a sexual act, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexually assaulting a child and exposure. Another victim said they were "so proud" of themselves and other victims for speaking up in court."This has affected my home and work life massively and I will never forgive Peter for making it tough to keep relationships alive with people I care about so much," they said."He showed no remorse in court by smirking and laughing at us as well as making remarks at us at the sentencing."That will live with me forever, seeing him not seeming to care at all. I wish he could just admit all the disgusting things he did, but I know he never will." 'Scared and nervous' A third victim explained they felt uncomfortable if someone touched them in a certain way following the abuse."It makes me overthink, it makes me not trust anyone, it makes me more aggressive to new people."The fourth victim added: "I feel scared and nervous when I'm around people, mainly men, who I don't know, especially when I'm not with anyone I don't fully trust. "I overthink everything when it comes to going out when it's dark."Officers in the case, Det Con Lucy Jeffery and Det Con Laura Britton, praised the "strength of character" of the young victims."The crimes [Lazarides] committed against these children are disgusting and he has shown absolutely no remorse or regret for his actions. "He has had a lasting and negative impact on their lives and, as some of our victims' describe, he has cast a shadow over their childhood," they added."I am glad we were able to seek justice for the victims and we hope this result will allow them to move forward."
