Over three days, The Lincoln Group Training Association, in partnership with The EBP and Construction Industry Board, gave around 1,500 local school children, ranging from year six to year 12, the chance to get involved with a number of construction challenges, from designing a lighthouse to building a bridge. Students from schools across the county participated in four activities each, and were guided through the events by professionals working in the industry. Allison Homes took part by setting up a series of construction-themed activities for students to enjoy, such as planting flowers and shrubs in specially-donated flower beds, helping them to learn about the different careers available in the housebuilding sector. One challenge focused on teamwork, and saw the developer commission for five of its Holly house types to be made of out LEGO. In groups, the children worked together to see who could build their home the fastest. Allison Homes also hosted a special session for students aged over 16, allowing them to speak one-on-one to members of the Allison team about their careers. Rob Crossland, Construction Director at Allison Homes, said: “We were thrilled to take part in this three-day event and teach Lincolnshire students all about our fantastic industry. “We put a lot of importance on encouraging young people to consider construction as a viable career option, and pride ourselves on our apprenticeship scheme and training opportunities. “We were delighted to offer our expertise and help students complete their construction challenges. Our hope is that we ignited a passion for housebuilding amongst the children and teenagers who took part, and we look forward to seeing some of them join the industry one day.”

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Orsted’s Hornsea Project Four offshore wind farm are teaming up to develop what could become the largest seagrass restoration project in the UK and Europe, aiming to restore up to 74 acres of lost meadow in the Humber Estuary. Seagrass is a valuable habitat for the marine food chain and able to sequester large amounts of carbon. This makes it one of our most important natural solutions to the climate crisis. The Humber Seagrass Restoration focuses on Spurn Point and is funded by Orsted’s Hornsea Four – a proposed new offshore wind farm. This large-scale restoration would be a resilience measure for the offshore wind farm, providing potential new and improved nursery habitat for prey species that seabirds, specifically kittiwake, guillemot and razorbill depend on. As part of an initial phase, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has been commissioned to collect and plant seagrass seed across a 9.8 acres pilot area which will be completed by early 2023. A second phase large-scale seagrass restoration of up to a further 74 acres has been designed and will be funded if Hornsea Project Four secures development consent early next year. If fully implemented the restoration programme could span the next seven years and would see specialists from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust sustainably collect seeds from areas of healthy seagrass, growing them in their seagrass nursery and replanting them in carefully selected restoration areas. The Trust will liaise closely with statutory agencies, eNGOs and local stakeholders during both project development and delivery, in addition to monitoring and evaluating the restoration project throughout, to assess and quantify a wide range of environmental benefits. The Humber Estuary once supported vast seagrass meadows across both banks, with records of dwarf seagrass covering over 500 hectares at Spurn Point, and vast swathes from Grimsby to Cleethorpes. Due to industrialisation of the estuary, and subsequent decline in water quality, disease and coastal squeeze, the expansive beds deteriorated, almost completely, between the 1930s and 1980s. The Humber Seagrass Restoration project provides the foundation for Orsted’s flagship Seascape Restoration Programme, which in collaboration with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is working on a wider programme to restore nature around the Humber Estuary, including native oysters, saltmarsh and seagrass. Orsted has set an industry-leading ambition that all new renewable energy projects it commissions from 2030, at the latest, should deliver a net-positive biodiversity impact. Dr Sarah Randall, Environment Manager at Orsted, said: “Hornsea Project Four will be one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, providing a significant source of low-carbon energy to UK homes and businesses. Throughout development of the offshore wind farm, we have been working alongside a range of stakeholders and the local community to ensure that the project is built sensitively and sustainably. We are delighted to be working with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust on this ambitious seagrass restoration project and hope that this will provide the foundation for future success and innovation.” Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has been leading on seagrass conservation in the Humber since 2007, introducing protections for the remaining fragments of seagrass meadow, piloting and developing restoration techniques and expertise. Dr James Wood, Fisheries and Research Manager for the North Sea Wildlife Trusts, said: “This pioneering project is a crucial step for seagrass in the Humber Estuary, and the wider marine environment, it’s an incredibly exciting partnership and could be the largest seagrass restoration project in the UK and Europe. Over time, we expect to see huge improvements to water quality, marine habitats, and related species within one of the most important conservation sites in the UK. Following a series of successful restoration trials, the time has come for bigger, bolder action on seagrass restoration.”

Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, has joined forces with a local charity to set up a new fund to provide support to the families of children attending primary schools in the city who are in most need this winter. Hull City Council is sponsoring Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University to establish the fund, which aims to reduce barriers to children in primary school engaging in education, by helping their families with some of the challenges that they will face over this period. Councillor Ross has kick-started the fund by allocating £10,000 towards the new Children’s University’s Hardship Fund called Helping Hands. Businesses from Hull, Sewell Construction, KCOM and Northern Gas Networks, have also made donations, along with a philanthropic donation and a grant from the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust. The leader of the council, Councillor Mike Ross, is now calling on other businesses to add to the fund to increase its impact. Leader of Hull City Council, Mike Ross said: “We know this winter is going to be particularly hard for a lot of families. The work of Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University is so important in supporting those most in need. “We also know that schools are often best placed to identify the families who most need support, and so we will be working with the Children’s University as part of our approach to alleviate the impact of the Cost of Living crisis. The fund will complement other activity within our approach to support people in need in the city.” Throughout November businesses and philanthropic organisations are asked to consider making donations, to raise the current funding of £60,000 to an initial target of £100,000. In December, schools will refer families most in need of support linked to access household devices that will help reduce their need for energy (such as energy-efficient light bulbs, electric blankets, hot water bottles, winter clothing) and provide warm clothing and supermarket vouchers. Support will be tailored to the needs of each family. The Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust has agreed to provide administrative support to assist the activity required to enable the Hardship Fund to be applied to help those most in need. Natasha Barley, of Hull & East Yorkshire Children’s University, said: “Many families were struggling to make ends meet before the cost of living crisis started. So we knew that it was imperative that we did something to support families this winter.” Jonathon Roe, CEO, Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust, said: “Schools know their families well and are keen to support those most in need through this difficult winter, when the cost of living is having such an impact. The support that will be given will help children with basic needs – food and warmth – and this will also impact positively on their education.” Businesses that are able to donate can contact Hull City Council on 01482 615071.

An £8.6 million funding package for South Yorkshire’s Supertram system has been given the green light by local leaders, to pay for urgent renewal work on the tracks and trams. A further £4.3m has been approved to make the case to Government for significant additional investment in Supertram, as parts of the system come to the end of their working life. Last month South Yorkshire’s leaders voted to take Supertram back into public ownership when its current contract with Stagecoach ends in 2024. South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “Supertram is a huge asset to South Yorkshire and is critical to the work we’re doing to fix our public transport system. This money will make big improvements for passengers with brand new trams and upgraded tracks. “Supertram is part of South Yorkshire’s heritage and this money will help keep it on track into the future, as it becomes a publicly owned, publicly operated venture. While significant work has already taken place to replace sections of track, parts of the system are coming to the end of their working life. So we’re also putting a case to Government for the investment we need to keep the system going for future generations. “Fixing our public transport system will not be quick, cheap or easy. But we have started the important journey that we need to take to build the system that our region deserves; one that meets the needs of our communities and delivers a faster, smarter, greener public transport network that South Yorkshire can be proud of.” The funding forms part of a £100 million Government grant to modernise the system, including track and infrastructure improvements and better facilities for passengers. Results of a 2018 consultation showed strong support from the public for a proposed investment scheme in the Supertram system.