WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s strategy against Cuba is looking a lot like the playbook for Venezuela: An oil blockade, a growing U.S. military presence, federal charges and repeated threats of intervention.
But similar pressure campaigns do not equal similar results, experts say, even if President Donald Trump has often warned that “Cuba is next.”
“President Trump viewed the Venezuelan intervention as a fantastic success,” said Brian Finucane, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and a former State Department lawyer. “And he’s sought to replicate the Venezuela model elsewhere, including in Iran. But obviously, Cuba, like Iran, is a very different country than Venezuela.”
If the U.S. were to depose Cuba’s leadership, there is no obvious successor who would work with the Trump administration, Finucane said. That is unlike Venezuela, where the U.S. captured leader Nicolás Maduro in January and his second in command, Delcy Rodríguez, stepped in with U.S. approval and remains in power.
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Cuban officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, say “there is no Delcy in Cuba.”
The number of American forces in the Caribbean Sea now is also smaller and far less foreboding than the massive military buildup off Venezuela’s coast in the months ahead of Maduro’s ouster, Finucane said. Plus, an indictment against a 94-year-old former Cuban leader — Raúl Castro — is less impactful than charging Venezuela’s sitting president with drug trafficking and using that to justify his capture.
Like other conflicts, Trump began to lay the groundwork for U.S. intervention in Venezuela — and the possibility for Cuba — with escalating threats months before military action took place.
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He has warned the leaders of the Caribbean countries to either get in line or face American might. Weeks before the audacious military operation that plucked Maduro from power, Trump stood with his top national security advisers in Florida and made what would be one of his last public threats to the autocratic leader.
“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump said in December. Just after Maduro was whisked to the U.S. to face trial, Trump shifted his focus to other countries in the region, namely Cuba, as being next on his list.
“Cuba is ready to fall. Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall. I don’t know if they’re going to hold out,” he told reporters on Jan. 5.
He went on to threaten tariffs on any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba and said the U.S. might have “the honor of taking Cuba” following military operations in Venezuela and Iran.
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On Thursday, he repeated his threats, calling Cuba “a failed country.”
“Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years, doing something,” Trump said. “And, it looks like I’ll be the one that does it.”
US squeezes countries with oil embargoes
U.S. oil embargoes on Cuba and Venezuela have been designed to have the same impact: Putting intense pressure on ruling elites — but push diametrically opposite means to achieve those goals.
With Venezuela, the Trump administration was targeting the country’s oil exports, aiming to starve the Maduro government of revenue. After Maduro’s ouster, the focus shifted to denying Venezuela the ability to export oil to certain countries — primarily Cuba, from which it did not receive cash payments — and forcing it to agree to U.S. conditions for such shipments.
With Cuba, the embargo is aimed at starving the energy-strapped country of oil imports, although the U.S. has allowed some limited shipments to arrive on the island, which recently declared it had run out of reserves. The oil embargo, an extension of the broader U.S. blockade on Cuba in place for decades, has made it far more difficult for the government to provide electricity and gasoline to its citizens.
The measures could go too far, Finucane said, and prompt many Cubans to head 90 miles north for Florida in makeshift boats as many did in the 1990s.
“President Trump especially cares about immigration. And if they push too hard on Cuba and destabilize the island, there’s the possibility of some kind of a refugee crisis,” he said.
The case was used to justify capturing Maduro, who is now in New York awaiting trial and has pleaded not guilty. The move changed Venezuela’s relationship with the United States, which has allowed the sale of previously sanctioned Venezuelan oil to U.S. companies and on global markets, a massive shift after largely blocking dealings with Venezuela’s government and its oil sector for years.
The immediate aim of the indictment against Castro over the 1996 shootdown of civilian planes flown by Miami-based exiles is to take another step up the ladder of escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure campaign, said William LeoGrande, a professor specializing in Latin American politics at American University in Washington.
But he said that capturing Castro following charges that include murder and destruction of an airplane would not change the operations of the Cuban government.
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Castro “still has influence and the leadership seeks his opinion on major decisions, but he is not running the government on a day-to-day basis,” LeoGrande said.
Building up a US military footprint in the region
In the months before Maduro was captured, the U.S. dispatched a fleet of warships to the waters near Venezuela in what became its largest military buildup in Latin America in generations.
U.S. forces spent months attacking small boats accused of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean — and still are carrying out those strikes — while fighter jets flew over the Gulf of Venezuela.
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The actual mission to capture Maduro involved more than 150 aircraft launched across the Western Hemisphere.
The U.S. military now has a smaller force in the Caribbean Sea, which still includes two amphibious assault ships with Marines onboard. It touted the arrival of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and accompanying warships on the same day the charges against Castro were announced this week.
But the Nimitz is on its last ever tour, taking part in maritime exercises in the region, before being decommissioned.
“They’re very different situations, and it’s very difficult to see similar outcomes,” Finucane said. “A snatch-and-grab raid against Raúl Castro or someone who’s actually in a leadership position doesn’t seem like it’s going to have the same outcome in Cuba as in Venezuela.”
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Associated Press writer Andrea Rodríguez in Havana contributed to this report.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled a new “Great British Summer Savings” package as experts warn household energy bills could rocket by another £209 a year within weeks.
Under the plans, children aged five to 15 will get free bus travel across England throughout August – while shoppers could also see lower prices on everyday treats including chocolate, biscuits, dried fruit and nuts.
The move comes as millions brace for another painful rise in household costs linked to the escalating Iran conflict.
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Energy analysts at Cornwall Insight now predict the energy price cap could jump from £1,641 to around £1,850 from July after global oil and gas prices surged.
And experts are already warning the real crunch could come later this year when colder weather returns and households start using more energy again.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We know many hard-working families are still feeling the squeeze.”
He added that free bus travel and cheaper food imports would help put “money back into people’s pockets”.
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The Government is cutting tariffs on more than 100 imported products in a bid to lower prices in supermarkets.
Officials believe the changes could save consumers more than £150 million a year.
But while families may welcome cheaper shopping and summer travel help, ministers stopped short of announcing direct support for rising energy bills – despite growing concern over what could happen this autumn.
Reeves said: “My number one priority is protecting households from rising costs.”
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She added: “As the war in Iran pushes prices up at home, my economic plan is the right one.”
The Chancellor is also expected to abandon plans for a fuel duty rise later this year as ministers try to prevent further pressure on motorists.
Recommended reading:
The latest intervention comes after inflation unexpectedly fell to 2.8% in April, helped by lower energy prices earlier this spring.
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But economists warn that relief may only be temporary.
The next energy price cap announcement from Ofgem is due on May 27 – and millions of households are anxiously waiting to see how much more they may have to pay.
There is also the argument that Ulster are victims of their own success.
As a reward for an upturn in form, the province were heavily represented in Ireland’s Six Nations squad.
A proud moment for those associated with the club, but it did deprive key players of the mid-season breather they normally would have had.
For the final, Ulster were missing their four longest-serving players. Captain Iain Henderson was suspended, while Stuart McCloskey – so influential for both Ulster and Ireland – was injured along with Jacob Stockdale and Rob Herring.
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Of the team that started in Bilbao, Timoney was the oldest player at 30.
“There were eight players in Ireland camp and only two last year,” observed Murphy.
“The rugby we’ve played, and reaching a European final, albeit not with the result we wanted, all of those things have had an impact on us making the top eight.
“We have had to move our resources around and at this time our squad probably isn’t strong enough to compete in two competitions.”
The Netflix series followed the lives of Paris, Tyson and their seven children
Paris Fury has issued a plea to her fans over her family’s popular Netflix series At Home With The Furys.
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Paris and her husband Tyson Fury were proud parents on Saturday (May 16) as their eldest of seven children Venezuela tied the knot. The 16-year-old married her fiancé, Noah Price, who proposed at her birthday party last year.
Among those in attendance for the ceremony at the Royal Chapel of St John the Baptist on the Isle of Man was Molly-Mae Hague, who is in a relationship with Venezuela’s uncle Tommy Fury. Snaps from the big day shared so far included one of Tyson getting out of a vintage wedding car with his daughter.
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Due to the Fury’s recent move from Morecambe, Lancashire, the family didn’t have far to travel for the big day. The entrance to the church had a long blue carpet rolled out to the entrance and was decorated with an archway of blue hydrangeas and yellow roses.
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Once Venezuela and Noah said ‘I do’, the wedding reception took place at the nearby four-star Comis Hotel and Golf Club. During the reception, wedding guests were treated to a string of nostalgic pop hits from Peter Andre.
The event marked another big moment in what’s proving to be a hectic year for the family, last month saw fans delighted at the release of the second series of their reality documentary At Home With The Furys.
Viewers saw how Tyson was doing at home after retiring from the ring following his loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. However, it soon became clear that he wasn’t going to stay out of the ring for long.
The synopsis for the second season of At Home With The Furys teases: “At Home with the Furys returns for a second season, following heavyweight champion Tyson Fury as he attempts to give retirement another shot and embrace life beyond boxing in Morecambe Bay.
“Surrounded by wife Paris Fury, their seven children and his ever-opinionated dad John Fury, Tyson channels the competitive drive that made him a world champion into new ventures – from a family road trip to Monaco to investing in a racehorse and finding creative ways to stay busy.
“Meanwhile, Paris is determined not to be left out of the mayhem. As she explores new business opportunities, she’s also juggling life at the heart of the Fury household while planning two major family milestones: a spectacular sweet sixteenth celebration for their daughter and an elaborate renewal of her wedding vows with Tyson.”
Taking to Instagram on Thursday (May 21), Paris sent a message to her fans about the documentary being nominated for a National Television award this week. She emphasised her desire to win the award after the last series went home empty handed.
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“So I’ve just been told that At Home With The Furys Season 2 on Netflix has been nominated for an award and it’d be great if everyone could check it out, click on the link and vote because last series I don’t think we won any awards, so you know this time let’s try and bump the numbers, let’s try and get some credit for one of the most-loved docuseries that’s come out this year,” she said.
Nominated in the new Reality Docuseries category’s longlist, the series faces stiff competition from Netflix’s Being Gordon Ramsay, Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm, Disney+’s Raising Chelsea, the BBC’s Stacey & Joe, Sky’s The Dyers’ Caravan Park, and Prime Video’s Vinnie Jones In The Country.
Lord Eliott made the comments after it was revealed that less than a quarter applying for jobs at the council were from a Protestant background
A Sinn Féin councillor has rejected claims from former Ulster Unionist Party leader Lord Tom Elliott that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council must not become a “cold house for Protestants.”
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Lord Elliott made the comments in The Impartial Reporter in response to figures released by the council, which showed that 24 per cent of applicants for jobs at the council in 2025 came from a Protestant background, compared to 61 per cent from a Catholic background.
57 per cent of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council employees are from a Catholic background, compared to 35 per cent from a Protestant background.
The figures also showed that, among successful candidates for promotions within the council, 73 per cent were from a Catholic background and 18 per cent from a Protestant background.
Cllr Dermot Browne said: “I categorically reject the assertion from Tom Elliott that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is a ‘cold house for protestants’.
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“Equality and fair representation are embedded within the Council’s Employment policies.
“This type of rhetoric is divisive and does little to address the real issues facing people across Fermanagh and Omagh.
“The people of Fermanagh and Omagh want to see their elected representatives working together to improve local services, support communities and deliver positive outcomes instead of engaging in political point-scoring.
“Our focus should remain firmly on the issues that matter most to local people every day.”
Here’s what the stars have in store for your day (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The Moon in practical Virgo gives everything a serious vibe today. It’s time to make important decisions and take meaningful paths.
Pisces, Aquarius and Sagittarius, partnerships (whether romantic or otherwise) are in the spotlight. Fight the avoidant urge today.
Focus, determination and purpose are the key themes of the day ahead. Use this energy to make progress with something close to your heart.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Saturday May 23, 2026.
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Aries
March 21 to April 20
You can feel motivated today to convert your recent ideas into firm, productive action, and you can get a lot done. However, with it being the weekend, you may give yourself a to-do list that may too ambitious and end up feeling resentful and stressed out. Instead, look to prioritise what is really essential, and tackle it in a step-by-step and thorough manner.
A more impulsive mode could grip you today, Taurus, which is fine, it’s lovely to live in the moment and splash out now and then on things that we desire. The trick is not spending money on items that on reflection, don’t have the same quality, value or practical worth that you had hoped. So be mindful of this, or you may end up with a case of buyer’s remorse.
Just as the Sun is making his presence felt in your sign, bringing a sense of anticipation and spark, so the Moon glides into the practical, precise Virgo, which may mean that your attention on what grips and inspires you, can be deflected by home or family demands. Today’s Quarter Moon cautions you not to be too impulsive – it may work against your own needs.
Whilst the gathering of planets in your 12th House of gentle reflection nudges you to enjoy some restful downtime this week, you may find some thoughts intrusive, with the Moon in a livelier position. Try to observe what exactly is difficult to stop churning over in your mind and look to consider this afresh. The quiet awareness this can bring can prove healing, Cancer.
The last few days may have seen you reconsidering your long-term hopes. This weekend you can appraise your options from a financial or practical perspective, as the Moon in the thorough, detail-orientated Virgo asks you to consider what can work, not what you’d like to work. This added earthy realism can impact on your social plans for the weekend too.
Each month there are two Quarter Moon’s and they can be powerful. Today’s is in your sign Virgo and squares off to the Sun in the most public of signs, for you, Gemini. As much as exciting new prospects have been showing up to raise your profile and gain more success, you can find yourself musing about how comfortable, personally, you feel with this.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
Although a rational air sign, when it comes to making big decisions, your scales need to be finely balanced for you to make binding choices. And as much as an energy of freshness and expansion has been gripping you, today’s Quarter Moon in the most reflective part of your chart, could mean that some uncertainties come up. Try not to overthink these for now.
If you have a lively social circle or a particularly close group of friends, today’s Virgo lunation can see you become more aware of how the energy works within these. Trustful connections see you at your best, but if there are undercurrents, it can make you more wary. The key to feeling more comfortable is to clarify their expectations and be mindful of yours.
Whilst your sector of partnerships is particularly auspicious now, this can also see surprises sprung. This can be true of work ties as much as personal ones. So, if you feel torn about what to prioritise – and this could come up with today’s Moon phase – don’t hold back from setting your boundaries. Even with bosses or colleagues, be firm where needed.
There’s a push-pull dynamic today, with the most conscientious side of your nature needing to be aware of another need to be freer and less obligated. Whilst the Sun and Uranus are asking you to stay detailed orientated, ironically, the Moon in Virgo pushes you to stay abreast of wider possibilities. Your gift of being super organised can, though, bridge the gap.
A playful, flirtatious vibe competes with a heavier, more compulsive one. For example, if you are enjoying dating new people, you may resist anyone’s desire for it to get deeper, too quickly. Or if you are enjoying the company of one special person, you may start to wonder what the true meaning is. If you can, look to stay in the moment and simply enjoy having fun.
Family relationships and emotional dynamics have taken on a more potent dimension over the last month, and although some changes at home could be making your abode roomier and more functional, restlessness may be gripping you or those close to you. Use this weekend to try to talk things through. It will help things to seem more inclusive, which can be powerful.
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
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A 20-year-old white British man has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs
23:15, 22 May 2026Updated 23:32, 22 May 2026
It was a busy scene in Whitefield on Friday afternoon. Swarms of armed police, a massive road closure and queues of traffic engulfed Bury New Road.
Earlier that afternoon, a man had been shot by an armed police officer after ‘failing to stop and driving directly at police.
At around 3pm on Friday, May 22, police attempted to stop the vehicle on Bury New Road. The car failed to stop and ‘drove directly’ at officers in an attempt to get away, the force said.
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In response, a shot was fired by a GMP firearms officer, a spokesperson for GMP has said.
The driver of the car was taken to hospital for an injury to his arm, which has been described as neither life-threatening nor life changing. No police officers were injured in the incident.
The force said that a 20-year-old white British man has since been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
The incident is not being treated as terror related and has ‘no relevance’ to the Manchester Arena bombing anniversary. It is understood the reason for initial attempts to stop the vehicle were ‘unrelated to the local area’. GMP has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as per standard procedure.
At the scene, one neighbour said they heard two gunshots moments before an air ambulance land at the nearby Victoria Park.
Images and videos from the scene show Tactical Aid Units and Crime Scene Investigators assessing the scene. Within a cordon, a car appeared to have a smashed back window, with glass covering the floor.
As of 11pm on Friday, the road remained closed between Barn Street and junction 17 of the M60, according to Inrix, a traffic monitoring website.
Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop from GMP’s Serious Crime Division said: “We know people in the area will be concerned by what has happened and the visible increase in police officers in the local area as our investigations continue.
“Thankfully no members of the wider public, or officers were harmed in the incident this afternoon and we thank people for their patience while we remain at the scene.
“Should anyone have any concerns, please speak with our officers who are out in the local area, they are there to listen and assist where possible.”
Joyce said through word of mouth, she expects the group to gradually grow.
She explained that the coffee lounge welcomes supported people (such as those with additional needs), who grow in confidence through the warm environment.
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This falls into perfect alignment with Talkin’ Tables’ vision of bringing people together in a judgment-free space.
At the launch, we caught up with founder Marjorie Hayward, who set up the project in July 2021.
Before moving to Bolton, Marjorie previously lived in Chorley, where she launched Friends For You, a successful befriending charity.
Retired NHS ward sister, teacher, and philanthropist Marjorie has devoted her life to caring for others.
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Talkin’ Tables (Image: NQ)
She told The Bolton News: “The progress we’ve made is just amazing.
“This is the twenty-sixth table in Bolton with the twenty-seventh opening on June 4 at Café Italia on the Doffcocker roundabout.”
The loneliness initiative has even stretched to India, Kenya and Hungary, as well as to more than 100 locations across the country.
Marjorie added: “We’re absolutely spreading because everyone who hears about Talkin’ Tables wants one for their community because they can see the difference it makes to people’s lives.”
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Marjorie explained the challenges and vulnerability that come with feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Each venue hosts a session for one hour each week, at the same time.
This encourages people to get to know one another and helps to build a sociable routine.
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Marjorie continued: “If you’re out there on your own and feeling a bit desperate and left out, come and join a Talkin’ Table.”
A one-hour session to sit and have a chat (Image: NQ)
There are four tables alone in the town centre, and co-ordinator Lynne is on a mission to have one in every corner of the Borough.
It isn’t just the participants who benefit from the sessions; we spoke with Table Leader Kath Foster, who leads at Beechville Care Home on Chorley New Road and Retreat.
Kath said she finds it “so worthwhile” and that she gets “far more back from it” in her view
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“I thoroughly enjoy it and I’m always gutted if I have to miss a session for any reason,” she said.
Coordinator Lynne is keen to set tables up in Breightmet, Little Lever and Great Lever. To become a Table Leader, email lynneccroston@gmail.com.
To find out more and to see all of the Bolton locations to join a table, visit: www.talkintables.co.uk
To some, having children in residental rehab may appear controversial, but those familiar with the concept say the benefits are clear (Picture: Getty Images/Image Source)
In a large house in Scotland, children, their parents and household staff take part in sports days, talent contests and trips to the beach.
Eight-year-old Rosie*, who lived there for seven months, says that one of her favourite days was when she watched her mum and staff member Lisa falling over the finish line doing the three-legged race.
But this isn’t just any shared home. This is a residential rehab for parents struggling with drug or alcohol problems – and their children.
Managed by the charity Phoenix Futures, Harper House in Scotland is one of two national family services the organisation operates (the other being Sheffield’s National Specialist Family Service) that enable parents to remain living with their children as they recover.
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To some, this may appear controversial, but to those familiar with the concept, the potential benefits are clear.
In the Government’s last reporting year, there were almost 82,000 children in care in England (2024/25), while during the previous year, local authorities in England spent £13.3 billion on children’s social care.
Meanwhile,2022/23 research from the NSPCC revealed an 8% increase of children in care across the whole of the UK over the last five years. The charity, unsurprisingly, also reported that being in care can be detrimental for children.
From traumatic separation from family members to unsuitable placements, care can negatively affect health, wellbeing and educational outcomes for many looked-after children.
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In the Government’s last reporting year, there were almost 82,000 children in care in England alone (Picture: Getty Images)
However, Rachael Clegg, Head of Residentials (Women and Families) for Phoenix Futures, says that the consequences for children who remain with their parents during recovery are generally positive.
‘Using Scotland’s eight wellbeing indicators, we’ve seen some fantastic outcomes for the children who come through Harper House,’ she says, adding that this includes over a third of children feeling significantly more secure and protected, as well as enjoying better health.
‘With these gains, children’s mental health is greatly improved, alongside their parents’ wellbeing and parenting skills, combining to create sustainable recovery for the family and breaking the cycle of trauma to create lasting change across generations.’
How does family rehab work?
Phoenix Futures’ family services aren’t simply houses where children are able to stay while their parents receive drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation. They work closely with social services, incorporating registered on-site nurseries, have close links with local schools, as well as access to local activities to build structure and meet other families.
They also provide parenting skills development programmes, therapeutic treatments for drug and alcohol problems, and tailored support depending on the family’s need.
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For example, many women who access drug and alcohol services have a history of experiencing domestic abuse, so the relevant support is provided there too in the form of the You & Me Mum programme, which helps families in processing the impact of domestic violence.
The rehab centres work closely with social service and provide parenting skills development programmes (Picture: Getty Images)
Each family has their own kitchen on site, and are supported to budget, meal prep and cook, alongside being given nutritional advice to help build healthy habits. Money management programmes can also be delivered and all families are supported to build a comprehensive move-on plan that includes attending groups in their local areas at home.
And then, of course, there’s the fun stuff like three-legged races and movie nights.
But perhaps most importantly, parent-child bonds remain and potentially grow, while parents are able to hold onto daily family routines, such as getting the children up, giving them breakfast and taking them to school.
‘I worried constantly about what it might mean for Rosie going into residential rehab,’ says her mother Carrie*. ‘But deep down, I also knew that if I didn’t make a change, I could lose everything anyway. So, I took the step. I was so scared, but I was determined to change.’
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Carrie admits that at first she found it a struggle being around other families as she wasn’t used to people and felt reluctant to open up.
Carrie* says she knew that if she didn’t make a change she would lose everything (Picture: Posed by model, Getty Images)
She explains: ‘When I arrived, I was angry, mistrusting, and difficult. I pushed people away because it felt safer that way. But the staff never reacted with frustration or judgement. They were patient, calm, and consistent in a way I had never experienced.’
Carrie slowly started to let her guard down and became part of a community of women who understood each other in a way nobody else could.
Breaking the stigma
There is, sadly, a reluctance for mothers experiencing drug or alcohol problems to speak out and ask for help as their biggest fear is having their children removed.
A report by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance states that mothers experiencing drug or alcohol problems are often the most judged group of women in society, and many feel unable to access the support they so desperately need.
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However, there are local authority commissioners who are proactively looking at ways to address this stigma – and to fund services that help some of the most vulnerable (and often demonised) members of society: mothers facing addiction issues.
‘Family-focused rehab isn’t readily available, which makes it even more important that we fund and protect it.’ says Paul Bell (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Cllr Paul Bell, the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, has made referrals into Phoenix Futures’ National Specialist Family Service from his constinstuency in Lewisham. He tells Metro: ‘At Lewisham Council, we recognise how vital family rehabilitation services are for our residents.
‘These services keep families together, offering parents support rather than penalisation, and creating safe, nurturing, and empowering environments where healthy relationships can flourish.
‘Family-focused rehab isn’t readily available, which makes it even more important that we fund and protect it.’
‘I’ve remained drug and alcohol free’
In a study following 41 parents and 42 children, 70% of those who stayed at the Sheffield Family Service – which first opened its doors in 1996 – are still together in a healthy family environment up to four years later.
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And it seems that the parents who complete the rehab programme are also far more likely to remain well thanks to ongoing support for positive reintegration into their local community.
Sarah*, who self-referred for help via the organisation CGL (Change, Grow, Live), was subsequently referred to Phoenix Futures’ Sheffield Family Service.
Sarah said that having her daughter with her through treatment ‘meant the world’ (Picture: Getty Images/Cavan Images RF)
As a survivor of domestic abuse who has previously had children removed from her care in the past and was struggling with her mental health, the service allowed Sarah to maintain her sobriety and, importantly, learn to bond with her baby.
“I had just had my daughter and it meant the world to have her with me while I was undergoing treatment,’ she tells Metro. ‘We took part in baby massage, playgroup, craft activities, memory box making and so much more.
‘Importantly,when I was leaving to go into my own accommodation, the Service team helped me put together a timetable to keep me well. We planned regular swimming sessions, welfare checks and regular catch ups with my mum.’
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Today, Sarah feels like she’s had a second chance. ‘I’ve never had this before. Staying with my daughter this time has been a wakeup call,’ she admits. ‘I’ve remained drug and alcohol free and the future feels much more hopeful. If this service was offered to me in the past things would have been very different for me.’
Rachel Clegg from Phoenix Futures says that if we are serious about breaking cycles of trauma and reducing the number of children entering care, these services must be protected (Picture: Getty Images)
Following Carrie’s time in Harper House with daughter Rosie, she says being kept together as a family has also changed everything. ‘We went from a home with no structure to one full of warmth, routine and love. We rebuilt our bond from the ground up,’ she says. ‘It didn’t just change my life, it gave me confidence, hope, and the tools to build a safe, loving home for Rosie.’
Meanwhile, Phoenix Futures is keen to similar services expand across the UK, but acknowledge that this requires sustained commissioning, long‑term funding commitments, and the political will to challenge stigma around addiction and parenting.
‘Despite their proven impact, Shefield Family Service faced the risk of closure as recently as last year,’ says Rachael. ‘At a time when record numbers of children are entering care and local authorities face mounting financial pressure, it would be devastating if family‑focused residential rehab was allowed to disappear.
‘If we are serious about breaking cycles of trauma, reducing the number of children entering care, and supporting recovery in a meaningful, lasting way, these services must be protected – and replicated.
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‘The question is no longer whether family rehab works, but whether we are prepared to invest in solutions that keep families together and change lives for the long term.’
An RAF spokesperson said: “The Red Arrows are the pride of the nation, known globally for their world-class precision, speed, and teamwork.“The Red Arrows will fly in a nine-aircraft formation for HM The King’s Birthday Flypast and the 4th of July 250 Commemorations in the USA this year.
The school said the introduction of VAT on school fees and other financial changes meant running the school was no longer viable
A private school in north Wales is set to shut its doors due to “a period of sustained financial pressure”. St Gerard’s School in Bangor has been teaching pupils for more than a century.
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However, on Thursday evening, May 21, they sent a letter to parents notifying them the school would close at the end of term.
A statement has been issued on behalf of FRP Advisory and the school. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.
The statement said: “St Gerard’s School, the independent school in Bangor, North Wales, is set to close at the end of the current academic year following a period of sustained financial pressure.
“The school, which was founded in 1917 – has faced increasing financial pressure. Recent changes, including the introduction of VAT on school fees, loss of charitable status, rise in national insurance alongside other rising costs and the ongoing challenge of maintaining pupil numbers, mean that the school is unfortunately no longer viable,” reports North Wales Live.
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St Gerard’s currently has 107 pupils from reception through to Year 13, and employs 30 staff members. The school has maintained a long-established relationship with military families stationed at nearby RAF Valley.
The statement continued: “The school will continue to operate as normal until the end of term on 3rd July 2026, with all public examinations taking place as scheduled. Trustees and management are working closely with families to support pupils in finding suitable alternative provision for September.
“Regrettably, the majority of staff will be made redundant at the end of term. The school is committed to supporting those affected in finding new roles.”
A spokesperson for St Gerard’s School Trust said: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision, and one we have not taken lightly. St Gerard’s has been part of the Bangor community for well over a century, and the school’s caring ethos and strong values have shaped the lives of generations of pupils.
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“Like many independent schools, we have faced sustained financial pressures in recent years. Despite significant efforts to secure the school’s future – including initiatives to strengthen pupil recruitment and exploring options for external investment – it has not been possible to achieve a viable way forward.
“Our focus now is on supporting our pupils and their families through this transition, ensuring examinations proceed as planned, and helping our dedicated staff find new opportunities. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of the St Gerard’s community over the years.”
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