EVERY culture has its quirks when it comes to ringing in the new year.
In Spain, it’s 12 grapes at midnight – one for each stroke of the clock.
In Denmark, people leap off chairs to ‘jump’ into the year ahead and in parts of South America, the colour of your underwear is said to predict your fortunes.
These traditions may seem light-hearted, but they share a common thread: hope. Hope that the year to come will be better than the one we leave behind.
The past 12 months have not been without their challenges. No-one should pretend otherwise.
Yet, despite these challenges, I sense a shift. Progress may not have been as sudden or dramatic as we’d all have liked, but it has been real.
As we step into 2026, the question is how we build on that momentum. The answer, I believe, lies in something simple but profound: service.
Service is one of the most powerful and generous acts any of us can offer. Across Barnsley, I see this spirit every day – in the dedication of NHS staff at Barnsley Hospital, in the commitment of teachers guiding our young people, and in the tireless work of volunteers who give their time to help others.
These acts of kindness and perseverance are the threads that hold our community together and remind us that even in challenging times, compassion can light the way forward.
In my role as Security Minister, I’ve also witnessed this same spirit on a national scale.
The men and women in our security and law enforcement agencies work relentlessly to keep us safe, usually in ways that go unseen.
Their professionalism and courage are a reminder that service – quiet, steadfast and often unsung – is what keeps our country strong. It is this shared commitment to helping others that binds us together as a nation.
Of course, there will always be voices of doubt. Those who criticise from the sidelines without lifting a finger to help. To them, and to all of us, my message is simple: ignore the noise and keep moving forward.
Real progress demands effort, resilience, and a willingness to put others before ourselves. It’s through compassion and collective action that we will overcome the challenges ahead.
As we welcome 2026, let’s make a shared commitment: to support one another, to give where we can, and to serve in whatever way we’re able.
If we do that, I believe the year ahead can be one of renewal, unity, and hope.
Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous new year.
