NCVYS STRATEGIC INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 423
23 January 2009
ISA consultation
The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is now considering a more flexible approach to the point at which a person would need to become ISA registered and allow for a period of supervised access. The ISA is suggesting a 30 day period before registration would be required to allow an organisation to assess a person's suitability for a role. This is a very welcome shift in the ISA position and one that many within the voluntary and community sector have been lobbying for. NCVYS invites member input on new ISA proposals to inform attendance at an ISA stakeholder meeting. Deadline for responses is 30 January 2009.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/blogs.php?act=view_topic&id=95
Before and after youth crime
As part of the Speaking Out project, NCVYS and Children England are hosting a London regional event, Before and after youth crime, 26 February 2009 at NCVYS's head office. We will be joined by Joe Murphy, Joint Youth Justice Unit, Department for Children, Schools and Families/Ministry of Justice and representatives from other key government bodies. The event will discuss issues around prevention, intervention, resettlement and transition. Projects that received funding from the Speaking Out Smalls Grants Programme will also be presenting.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/blogs.php?act=view_topic&id=96
Strategy for people with learning disabilities
The Department of Health has published Valuing People Now - A Three Year Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities - which presents a new vision for improving services for people with learning disabilities across health, housing, employment and community care services. The strategy includes improving training, commissioning of services and strengthening local structures to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=390074&NewsAreaID=2
Home Office Community Fund
The Home Office £4.5m Community Fund application details are now available online. The fund, delivered by Tribal, was announced in December 2008 in order to fund local community groups to run activities for young people in 13 priority areas, in an aim to tackle youth violence. This will fund intensive work with young people through mentoring and outreach work and voluntary and community organisations can apply for grant funding of up to £10,000 per annum for three years. The application deadline is 3 April 2009.
http://grantsadmin.co.uk/homeoffice_communityfund
Revised guidance on children missing education
The Government has published revised guidance on children missing education and launched a review of home education. This aim is to ensure that everything possible is being done to guarantee all children their right to a balanced education in a safe, healthy environment. The guidance makes clear that local authorities have a duty to make arrangements to enable them to establish that every school-age child is receiving a suitable education, and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of parents and local authorities to provide a suitable education for children.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0013
DMU Youth Affairs experts offer short courses
Social exclusion, active citizenship, emotional literacy and outcomes led evaluation are just some of the topics that can be studied on a new programme of short courses on offer from the Youth Affairs Unit at De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester. The aim of these courses is to help those working with children and young people access the latest knowledge and keep up to date with current legislation and topical issues.
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/partnerships/consultancy/innovation_centre/dmccc/short_courses/youth-affairs/index.jsp
Race equality report
A study commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission has revealed that one in 10 children in the UK now lives in a mixed-race family and that young people are six times more likely to be mixed-race as adults. The percentage of young people from ethnic minority backgrounds has also risen - 20% of young people under the age of 16 are from an ethnic minority background, compared to fifteen percent of the total population.
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publicationsandresources/Pages/Ethnicityandfamilyrelationships.aspx
Study on white working class
The Runnymede Trust has published a study on the white working class and ethnic diversity in Britain. In response to Hazel Blears' call for white working class voices and grievances to be heard, leading thinkers on race and class consider the relationship between social class and race equality. They conclude that the white working class is discriminated against on a range of different fronts, but they are not discriminated against because they are white.
http://www.runnymedetrust.org/news/62/30/The-white-working-class-Britain-s-forgotten-race-victims.html
Transition towards adolescence
According to research published by Action for Children, six to 13 year old children are struggling with a unique set of problems that are being overlooked or unsupported as they make the transition towards adolescence. The report - Stuck in the middle - is supported by a new nationwide survey from the charity which reveals that 60% of adults and over 40% of parents with children aged six to 13 are unaware that this age is a crucial turning point in a child's life which, if neglected, can lead to damaging and permanent effects in later life.
http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/news_detail.aspx?ID=213
Young people's views on financial crisis sought
With support from HM Revenue and Customs, YouthNet has launched a survey seeking views from 16-24 year olds on the credit crunch, money and tax issues. The survey asks for their views on the financial 'crisis', and how they're managing their money, taxes and benefits. The first 500 people to complete the survey will get a £5 HMV voucher.
http://survey.youthnet.org/mrIWeb/mrIWeb.dll?I.Project=TAX
Youth Action training
In celebrating its thirteenth birthday, the Youth Action Network is hosting a day dedicated to Youth Action, Shine 09, which will take place on Wednesday 18 February 2009 in East London. During the day, Youth Action Network is offering free training workshops on using the Reach quality framework to improve the quality of your Youth Action, a quick guide to setting up youth-led projects, and a session on the benefits of youth action.
http://shine09.eventbrite.com
Link Up: Invitation to Tender reminder
This is a reminder that NCVYS's invitation to tender for the Link Up project closes on Friday 30 January 2009. Through its diversity work and Factor in Faith programme, NCVYS has identified that many organisations working with young people from BME and faith backgrounds have found it difficult to access support and information available to other voluntary and community organisations. Therefore we are looking for three partners who will help to address this situation in different localities in England. These pilots will explore how strategic interventions can be made that will improve the context for organisations working with young people from BME and faith communities.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/blogs.php?act=view_topic&id=89
Talking Diversity Taster Days reminder
NCVYS has developed a new course tailored for the sector to look more closely at culture, faith and diversity, and how youth work can help. We would like to offer colleagues an opportunity to sample the training by attending one of two FREE Taster Days to be held on 4 and 17 February 2009 at the NCVYS office in London. These sessions will be aimed at those who: work with young people; run organisations that work with young people; or support organisations that work with young people and those who want to explore how diversity relates to their work.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/blogs.php?act=view_topic&id=88
Open4youngpeople
Clubs for Young People's Annual Conference, Open4youngpeople, will be held on 30/31 January 2009. The event will focus on issues around finding somewhere to go and something to do for young people and provides an opportunity and the time to share ideas and good practice and also celebrate success. The Friday is open for all and the Saturday programme has its own focus and is aimed at young volunteers already active and involved in Clubs for Young People's network of clubs and centres. For further information contact Mary Copleston on 020 7793 0787.
http://www.clubsforyoungpeople.org.uk/downloads/2008/cfyp_conference_programme.pdf
THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT
Youth Services
In response to a question by John Bercow (Con, Buckingham) on guidance around the co-location of services for children and young people, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Beverley Hughes stated that additional guidance on co-location would be issued in the first half of 2009. The guidance will help support local areas prepare applications to the fund set up to support the co-location of services, and to promote ongoing co-location of services through existing capital investment programmes.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090119/text/90119w0037.htm#09011942000034
Youth Custody
Following a question by John Bercow (Con, Buckingham), Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Beverley Hughes outlined the Government's work on safeguarding for children and young people in the secure estate. The Youth Justice Board is working to develop a national strategy and as part of this programme, it is undertaking reviews in specific areas highlighted by the Review published in December.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090119/text/90119w0037.htm#09011942000033
Policing and Crime Bill
Tim Loughton (Con, East Worthing and Shoreham) participates in a House of Commons debate on the Policing and Crime Bill (column 573) and raises issues around young people and mosquito devices.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090119/debtext/90119-0009.htm#09011923000001
Young people and crime
In response to a question by Dr Kumar (Lab, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland),Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Beverley Hughes describes what steps her Department is taking to discourage young people in deprived areas from becoming associated with criminal activity.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090121/text/90121w0027.htm#09012192000092
Sport participation
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Gerry Sutcliffe responded to a question asked by David Taylor (Lab, North West Leicestershire) about increasing sports participation for under 16 year olds.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090120/text/90120w0003.htm#09012045000049
Community sports clubs
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Andy Burnham responded to a House of Commons oral question by Andrew Selous (Con, South-West Bedfordshire) about what funding DCMS is providing to community sports clubs in 2008-09.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090119/debtext/90119-0001.htm#0901194000015 |
