The Know Daily - Thursday 2 July 2026

_{Read in 4m 17s ∙ Listening to Myles Smith ∙}

Homewards just hit its three-year anniversary this week. Founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, the programme works across six UK locations to try and shift homelessness from something that’s responded to after the fact, to something that can be prevented altogether – making it rare, brief and unrepeated. It brings together local councils, charities, businesses and people with lived experience to shape practical, place-based solutions. 

And there are so many incredible stories already. Chelsie, for example, is part of that picture. After losing her mum, she went through grief, trauma and homelessness, but with support she’s now rebuilding her life step by step. A talented opera singer, she’s even been accepted into the Glyndebourne Academy – what an inspiration 💖

💷 What are premium bonds?

We know you're keen to hear more about personal finance, so we're taking a closer look at one of Britain's best-known savings products: Premium Bonds. Backed by the UK government, they're a secure way to save while giving you the chance to win tax-free prizes each month, but how do they actually work?

A quick economics lesson.
Premium Bonds are a savings product run by National Savings & Investments (NS&I). Instead of earning interest, your money is entered into a monthly prize draw where you can win between £25 and £1 million tax-free. The prize fund rate (currently 3.8%) determines the total amount NS&I pays out in prizes each year. It isn’t the return most people receive – in practice, returns vary enormously, with some people winning several prizes and many winning nothing. It’s less “set-and-forget savings interest” and more “your money gets a lottery ticket every month”.

OK, so why do people like them?
The big draw is security. NS&I is supported by the UK government, so your money is protected in full – there’s no upper limit like the £85,000 cap on standard bank accounts under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Another plus is tax-free winnings, which can be useful for people who have already used up ISA or savings allowances. And there’s also the simple fact they’re flexible – you can take your money out whenever you want, without penalties. Plus, of course, there’s the appeal of the monthly prize draw, with the occasional life-changing win.

So what’s the catch?
The trade-off is certainty. There’s no guaranteed interest, so your returns depend entirely on whether your numbers come up. According to NS&I, the odds of winning any prize are roughly 22,000 to 1, and many savers won’t win anything in a given year. That means your balance is safe – but its value could be eroded over time if inflation rises and you don’t win. Compared with regular savings accounts (which currently offer fixed interest rates of around 4% or more in some cases), Premium Bonds may deliver lower returns over time.

The upshot.
Premium Bonds aren’t really about maximising returns – they’re more of a hybrid between saving and a prize draw. They tend to suit people who want full security and like the idea of a monthly “what if?” moment, rather than predictable interest. They sit somewhere between a savings account and a lottery… and which side of that balance you prefer really depends on what you want your money to do.

🩺 Women with irregular periods could be offered earlier checks for PMOS under new draft NHS guidance designed to improve diagnosis and support.

• The bigger story: The guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that people with symptoms such as irregular or absent periods are assessed for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), previously known as PCOS. The condition is thought to affect up to 4 million people in the UK but is often missed or diagnosed late. If confirmed, patients would be offered regular annual reviews to help manage symptoms and support their long-term health.

⚽ England beat DR Congo 2-1 to reach the last 16, where they'll next face co-hosts Mexico, keeping hopes of bringing it home alive.

🌌 The 29 shortlisted shots for the Astronomy Photographer of the Year have been unveiled by the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

🙊 Humans and apes giggle in a similar way, a new study has shown after researchers compared the rhythms and timings of chuckles. 

🚗 Residents of New Delhi are being offered over $1,000 to scrap old vehicles for an EV in a move aimed at reducing air pollution

🛂 The world’s most powerful passports have been revealed in the Global Passport Index’s fifth edition.

🎟️ Tickets to see the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum have gone on sale… and they’re hot property!

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Trivia answer: C) Netflix’s latest adaptation of one of Coben’s novels has had the biggest premiere week for any new Netflix series in 2026 (so far!).

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