July 2025

Nick Dunn, Lancaster University For billions of years, life has depended on Earth’s rhythm of day and night. DNA codifies body clocks in all animals and plants, which helps their cells act according to this cycle of light and dark.…

Everyone should have access to public parks and green spaces in their daily lives. Through its Nature Towns and Cities initiative, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded grants to 19 partnership projects – from Bradford to Belfast – to bring…

Following a local campaign, supported by CPRE London, Barnet Council voted against Barnet Football Club’s plans for a new stadium. The club proposed to build a new stadium on the nine-acre green space, which has long been used by the whole community.…

The Heritage Alliance, of which Civic Voice is a member, has launched a refreshed funding directory which is free to use. Whether you’re seeking grants for conservation projects, community heritage initiatives, or organisational development, this directory will prove very useful.…

Two years ago, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke about the importance of oracy and committed to embedding it in the national curriculum. Now, in the lead up to the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment review, a coalition…

Children play everywhere. Yet their right to play – protected by a UN convention – is constantly challenged by adults, writes Michael Martin, Lecturer in Urban Design and Planning, University of Sheffield. Play is crucial to support children’s holistic development in cognitive, emotional, physical…

Robert Osborne, co chair of trustees at Civic Voice, attended the annual reception for Historic England on 8th July. Amongst the speeches were CEO Duncan Wilson, who is standing down in September, Lord Mendoza (chair), and Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross.…

York Civic Trust has celebrated the 10th anniversary of its unique and award-winning heritage training initiative called ‘Planning Club’. In partnership with the University of York, it trains students to assess live planning applications and submit detailed recommendations to the local authority…

Ever keen to boost the Society’s profile within the local community – and hopeful of recruiting new members – the Committee at Wakefield Civic Society have decided to run an architectural photography competition, inviting members of the public to submit…

New research from the Charity Commission and Pro Bono Economics shows the vast majority of trustees are “immensely positive” about their experience, with 8 in 10 trustees likely to recommend the role to others. This comes at a time when…