Harry Stevens

Creating Tomorrow College will open a new Rugby campus in September for students aged 18 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities. Developed in partnership with data storage company Iron Mountain at Symmetry Park, the campus will expose students to careers including hospitality and retail while providing experience in a live working environment. Principal Gareth Ivett said fewer than 5% of young people with learning difficulties are employed nationally, despite about 86% wanting work, while all of the college’s current leavers go on to seek employment. The campus’s six places for the first intake have been filled, and a parent praised the college for understanding and supporting his daughter’s needs.

Record summer heat has made it increasingly difficult for children at Sunnyside Preschool Playgroup in Northamptonshire to stay cool, prompting manager Elaine Kilner to warn that overheating is harming concentration, comfort and engagement. Heat mitigation methods such as fans and shade are no longer sufficient, leading to a community fundraiser for air-conditioning. Kilner said climate change is intensifying conditions and emphasised the need for weather‑resilient school environments. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged that schools face challenges from extreme weather and highlighted £2.4bn allocated for improving school and college buildings.

A preschool manager in Northamptonshire reports that rising summer temperatures are making it increasingly difficult for young children to concentrate and stay safe, prompting a fundraiser for air-conditioning in the mobile classroom. She warns that heat-related issues such as fatigue and overheating are becoming more common and that current cooling measures are no longer sufficient. Citing climate change and its growing impact on education settings, she calls for long-term solutions. The Education Secretary acknowledges ongoing challenges and highlights government investment aimed at improving school buildings and resilience to extreme weather.

Leicester City Council will waive market traders' rents until the end of 2026 to offset disruptions from major construction work, including a new electricity sub-station and market redevelopment. Traders relocated to a temporary site have reported slow business, and the council expects the relief to support them through intensified works in the coming months. Mayor Peter Soulsby acknowledged the financial impact on the council but stressed the importance of helping struggling traders. Work on infrastructure and market improvements is ongoing, with further disruptions expected before completion.

Specialist equipment, stock and a vehicle were stolen from The Urban Dairy in Daventry, forcing the business to miss markets and lose more than a week of income. Director Gary Bradshaw said the £2,000 loss has halted operations while he seeks borrowed equipment. Northamptonshire Police confirmed details of the break‑in and appealed for information.

Domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in 999 control rooms in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire as part of the expanded Raneem's Law pilot, created in memory of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem. The scheme aims to improve risk identification and safeguarding by giving call handlers real-time expert support. Local police leaders and partnering charities expect the initiative to enhance victim protection, accelerate safeguarding measures and reduce the likelihood of harm. The expansion brings participation to 17 police forces, with a nationwide rollout planned by 2029.