Church leaders are being encouraged to help make 2009 ‘a year to remember’ for young people and the Church with the launch of an interdenominational Year of the Child, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the United Nations’ International Year of the Child. A group of Children’s Advisers from across the Church of England’s dioceses, alongside representatives from the Methodist Church and other denominations and agencies, identified widespread interest in making a distinctive Christian contribution to this anniversary. In light of this enthusiasm, the network plans to promote 2009 as an opportunity for local churches to review the work they do with and for children and young people, and to do more to recognise and celebrate their contribution in the life of the church and society.

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18 November 2008
© Church of England

A charity has received an award for saving schools thousands of pounds with its anti-bullying campaign Click, Create and Print. Bullying UK used to print posters for Anti-Bullying Week and charge £3.50 for them, however it now allows children to create posters online and print them at school. The charity received an Innovation In The Community Award at the House of Lords last week and a £2,000 grant to help develop the scheme. John Carnell, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bullying UK, said the charity is proud to be recognised as one of the UK’s most innovative organisations. “Some 18 months ago we identified Quick Response codes as being key to the uptake of the mobile web and the filling in of another bit of the digital divide,” he added. The poster project was funded by friends and family of Ben Vodden, who killed himself after he was bullied on the school bus in 2006. Anti-Bullying Week takes place from November 17th to 21st this year.

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17 November 2008
© CAF

A surfboard featuring Pudsey Bear, which has been created by staff and students at Falmouth Marine School, will be auctioned to raise money. The white board, standing at seven foot six inches high, is the perfect size for both beginners and advanced surfers, the students say. It was designed and built at the school, which is part of Cornwall College, where courses to build your own surfboard regularly take place. John Latham, Cornwall College principal, said the “fabulous” effort has combined showcasing the skills of the students with raising money for charity. “I would like to urge everyone to get on the Bid4it site and place their bid, it is in a good cause and you may bag a bargain,” he added. All proceeds from the sale of the surfboard, which is valued at £300, will be donated to Children in Need. The event will take place on November 14th this year and will include fundraising bids for Daniel Craig’s watch and signed items from soaps Casualty and Holby City.

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13 November 2008
© CAF

How realistic is the government’s pledge to end child poverty by 2020? The strategy is hugely ambitious and progress has stalled. This Round-up draws on the findings of seven reports about how to take forward different aspects of a child poverty strategy; examines the impact of current policy; and suggests what is needed to ensure the target is met.

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10 November 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Deborah Scaife, equalities officer for early years, childcare and play, department of services to children and young people, Bradford Council – took part in Q & A session on the EqIA Support Network Community of Practice (CoP). The session looked at: barriers to EqIAs, such as the process being made too complicated; pragmatic, practical approaches; how to make plans clear and workable; Key issues in children and young people’s services; EqIAs and Every Child Matters; EqIAs and the Children’s Plan; Equality Impact assessment Plans. A full set of resources can be downloaded from the site as PDFs: Key issues in children and young people’s services, EqIAs and Every Child Matters, EqIAs and the Children’s Plan, Equality Impact assessment Plans.

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10 November 2008
© I&DeA

An overview and analysis of current policy approaches that support incomes of parents who are unable to work, focusing on maternity, short-term sickness and unemployment and on issues surrounding disability and caring. The report describes the current strengths and weaknesses in policy provision to combat child poverty when parental employment is constrained and is a timely analysis given the approaching 2010 deadline for halving child poverty from 1999 levels. The analysis uses original and unique tax-benefit modelling of current provision across a range of low-paid and out-of-work family profiles. The main contents of the report are: An introductory overview of the policy trade-offs involved in determining ability and inability to work; Analysis of current provisions for maternity and how far it protects families against child poverty; Analysis of the current provisions for short-term sickness and periods ‘between jobs’ that are relevant to most low-paid parents, particularly those with constrained employment from ill health/ disability; Analysis of current provisions for those parents with limitations of their capacity to work, on those with disabilities and parents who care for disabled partners/ children. The report concludes with a series of policy recommendations and options:http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2270-unemployment-poverty-parents.pdf

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7 November 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

The Voluntary Development Agency has been supported through a Lottery Business Support Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to develop best practice child protection guidelines for arts sector organisations to support the development and implementation of policies. The guidelines, which formed the basis of free child protection training, are for use by organisations within the local arts sector. To download the Guidelines (PDF): http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/news/2008/files/ChildProtection.pdf

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10 October 2008
© Arts Council NI

The voluntary sector feels it is the least influential and valued member of children’s trusts, the arrangements designed to oversee local planning of children’s services. A review of the effectiveness of children’s trusts by the Audit Commission found 97 per cent of trusts had voluntary organisation representatives. But a survey of third sector representatives by the local government spending watchdog found they believed they are the least valued and influential of all the agencies.

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30 October 2008
© Third Sector

£13m will be shared between 20 areas to help them to set up Intensive Intervention Projects that will challenge and support youngsters in trouble, Beverley Hughes Children and Young People’s Minister announced today on a visit to Haringey, one of the successful areas. Evidence has shown that these types of projects are effective in turning around the lives of young people and their families through a highly targeted package that will both challenge young people – and their parents if necessary – to do better, as well as support them in overcoming their problems. The projects will be set up in 20 areas across the country between 2008/09 – 2010/11 meaning that up to 3000 young people are expected to benefit in total by the end of this period. Beverley Hughes, Children and Young People’s Minister, said: “These projects aim to help parents who often don’t know where to go or who to turn to next to help them tackle the problem behaviour of their child. They are sometimes unable to get the support and help they need from local services.”
 
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28 October 2008
© DCFS

The extra cost to public services of the existence of child poverty. This report estimates the costs of child poverty to the Exchequer, focusing on public service costs. It includes: services provided to individuals or families on a basis of need or demographic eligibility, including education, most health services, subsidised housing and social care services; services which provide local ‘public goods’ such as policing and the criminal justice system; area-based regeneration initiatives and more general supplementary expenditure targeted on deprived neighbourhoods. Free download: www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2303-poverty-services-costs.pdf

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24 October 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation