NCVYS STRATEGIC INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 425
6 February 2009
A Good Childhood report
As part of its inquiry launched in 2006, the Children's Society has published its report A Good Childhood: Searching for Values in a Competitive Age, saying that children's lives have become more difficult than in the past due excessive individualism. The inquiry also found that increased exposure to TV and Internet increases materialistic desires and reduces mental health. The report's recommendations and summaries from the report are available online.
http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/all_about_us/how_we_do_it/the_good_childhood_inquiry/1818.html
Costs of Schooling report and updated guidance
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has publishing revised guidance for head teachers on charging policies, saying that schools needed to publicise financial support available for parents better and do everything they can to keep costs down in the current economic downturn. The Cost of Schooling 2007 report also published shows that costs have risen 4% since 2003 and that almost 40% of parents found it very or quite difficult to meet overall costs of schooling.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0023
Safe accommodation for those escaping gangs
The Government has announced that a new scheme to provide safe accommodation for people at serious risk of violence associated with gang or weapon crime will begin this month in Southwark. Funded jointly by Communities and Local Government and the Metropolitan police, Southwark Council's new initiative 'SERVE' - Southwark Rehousing Victims of Violence Enterprise - will provide properties across London and the South East through an innovative agreement between the Council and a number of registered social landlords.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1136847
Report on children's services
According to a new report on children's services Fitter for the Future: the new accountability framework, national targets and inspection regimes override local needs and demands. It highlights concerns among children's services directors about the implications of the new performance assessment framework on local priorities. The report was published jointly by the Local Government Information Unit's Children's Services Network and the children's services partnership PIRGE (Performance Information Reference Group in Education).
http://www.lgiu.gov.uk/publication-detail.jsp?&id=175&md=0§ion=publication
Statutory Guidance response
NCVYS has responded to the Department for Children, Schools and Families latest consultation Statutory Guidance: The Roles and Responsibilities of the Lead Member for Children's Services and the Director of Children's Services. Among its key recommendations, NCVYS advocates greater third sector involvement in local strategic decision-making and that commissioning arrangements and monitoring processes should be negotiated in advance of contracting organisations. The response has been endorsed by the Community Sector Partnership for Children and Young People.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=273
Updated Children and Young People's Plan Guidance
The DCSF has published new non-statutory guidance for local authorities which replaces previous guidance on the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) issued in 2005 and 2007. It brings together the 2005 and 2007 CYPP regulations in one place, reflects the new performance management arrangements including Local Area Agreements, and sets out the proposed legislative changes for 2011.
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategy/planningandcommissioning/cypp/
Change4Life launches children's health survey
As part of the Change4Life campaign, the Department of Health has launched a survey of children's health - 'How Are the Kids?'. Families in England are being asked to give information about their eating and activity habits. In return they will receive a specially tailored plan including healthy diet and activity tips.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=391426&NewsAreaID=2
Review of ChangeUp and Futurebuilders
The National Audit Office has published a report on building capacity in the third sector. It found that two government programmes - ChangeUp and Futurebuilders - have had an impact on frontline third sector organisations but have not demonstrated value for money.
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0809/building_the_capacity_of_the_t.aspx
Criticism over social work vacancies
The Conservative Party has warned of a recruitment crisis in social work, as they obtain figures showing that eight local authorities are missing at least a third of the required number of staff.
http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2009/02/Loughton_blames_Labour_for_social_services_recruitment_crisis.aspx
Lib Dems propose new education policies
The Liberal Democrats have published a paper Equity and Excellence: Policies for 5-19 Education in English Schools and Colleges containing a series of proposals to narrow the gap between the state and private sector, raising funding for the most disadvantaged pupils to private school levels and delivering extra money to cut infant class sizes to 15.
http://www.libdems.org.uk/home/nick-clegg-announces-plans-to-fix-%E2%80%98class-based-education-system%E2%80%99-150177523;show
Evidence for APPG youth crime inquiry
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Child and Youth Crime is gathering evidence for an inquiry on the carrying of knives and bladed weapons by young people - influencing factors and practical solutions. The APPG is inviting written evidence on what people perceive to be the scale and nature of the problem, its causes and suggestions for solutions. For further information contact Linda Lawrence, Founder and Director of Kidscount: linda@kidscount.org.uk. Deadline for submissions is 28 February 2009.
Long-term impact of overseas expeditions
NCVYS member Raleigh has commissioned ippr to examine the long-term impact of overseas expedition experiences on its participants. The ippr consulted more than 100 former Raleigh ‘venturers' from disadvantaged and working-class backgrounds who had been on expeditions between five and 20 years ago. The group included young people who had experienced unemployment, homelessness, drug and alcohol problems, mental illness and violence. 94% of respondents reported that their confidence in their own abilities increased as a result of Raleigh and 83% said that it increased their career aspirations.
http://www.ippr.org.uk/pressreleases/?id=3361
Speaking Out Small Grants Programme 2009
The Speaking Out project has opened a second round of the Small Grants Programme worth up to £30,000. Members of the NCVYS and Children England networks working with children and young people can now apply for small grants of up to £1000 to deliver activities. The funded projects will influence policy, raise awareness and promote debate in key areas affecting young people: health; community empowerment; youth justice; homelessness and housing; and employment, education and training. The deadline for applications is 2 March 2009. The review of last year's scheme is also available.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=597
Factor in Faith Small Grants Programme
NCVYS has also launched a separate small grants programme as part of our Factor in Faith campaign. This programme will enable successful organisations within the network to develop their diversity work to promote faith and culturally sensitive youth work practice. We will award grants to between 5 and 10 organisations or groups, of up to £1000. The deadline for applications is 13 March 2009.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=697
Boarding pathfinder evaluation and expansion
The Government has published an evaluation by the Thomas Coram Research Unit which followed the progress of the Boarding Pathfinder for Vulnerable Children launched in November 2006. The report considers the impact of boarding schools on vulnerable young people who are faced with family breakdown or being put into care. The Government will fund other local authorities across the country who wish to introduce the option.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0022
Local Authority Youth Services Annual Audit
The National Youth Agency has published its Annual Audit 2007-08, which collects information on expenditure, workforce and outcomes from local authority youth services. It focuses on youth services managed through local authorities. Responding authorities reported total mainstream spending on local authority youth services of £316million in 2007-08. This was an average of £2.22m per local authority area compared with £2.15m for the previous year.
http://www.nya.org.uk/information/100131/100608/youthservicesaudit/
Compact Voice National Network
Compact Voice is putting together a compendium of examples where the Compact has helped or supported organisations and examples of where it has been failing. They will be published thematically over the coming weeks and would welcome comments, ideas and most of all your experiences. For more information contact: mail@compact.ning.com
http://compact.ning.com
Think Big UK event to Celebrate Youth
In our work as part of the Celebrate Youth initiative, we are asking members to get involved in the Think Big UK event on 16 February for a one day creative session to explore ideas for this new, big and exciting campaign.
http://corporatethinkbig.eventbrite.com/
County sports partnerships looking for partners and participants
Sport Unlimited, which was launched last April as an important part of the Government's PE and Sport Strategy for Young People, is aimed at getting young people to take up 10-week courses in a range of sports, which have been driven and determined by young people themselves. The project is looking for more partners and participants to get involved in Sport Unlimited, so please contact your local county sports partnership for more details.
http://www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/county_sports_partnerships.htm
Behaviour review report - SEN children
The government's behaviour adviser Sir Alan Steer states that some schools are not identifying children with special educational needs at an early stage. Publishing his report on pupil behaviour, Sir Alan urged that teachers must be given more support to identify SEN children earlier.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/behaviourandattendance/about/Sir_AlanSteer_Behaviour_Review.cfm
NCVYS' BIG Lottery Fund member consultation event
As part of the Big Lottery's five year grant to facilitate the development of our national youth forum, ENVOY, NCVYS is organising a consultation event to obtain members' input into the project's business plan. Members are invited to attend the consultation event on 10 February 2009 from 11:00 to 15:00 at the NCVYS office in London. Lunch will be provided and we can reimburse travel expenses. For more information contact Yokeu Kusnama at yokeu@ncvys.org.uk. If you cannot make the event but would still like to input, please contact Jenny Willmott, Head of Membership at jenny@ncvys.org.uk.
Impact of recession
What are the biggest challenges for the voluntary youth sector considering the current economic climate from your perspective? How do you see this impacting on your work? NCVYS is collecting information on the voluntary youth sector's experiences of the recession and we would very much value your feedback. This will help us to influence policy development more effectively. Please follow the link to the online consultation.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/polls.php?act=view&id=31
Report on public services and users
The Social Market Foundation has published a report on 'new relationships in the public services'. Assertive Citizens: New Relationships in the Public Services says that the rising prosperity and greater social freedoms of the post-war period have led to the rise of the 'assertive citizen'. Public service users are now more aware of their rights, expect a better service, and defer less to established sources of advice such as professional opinion. This creates profound challenges for public services, particularly for the relationships between users and providers.
http://www.smf.co.uk/assertive-citizens.html
Young people interview Secretary of State for Cohesion
Two members of the Young Muslims' Advisory Group recently interviewed the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for cohesion, Sadiq Khan MP, about the situation in Gaza. The interview is available online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQG6pSlHXDc
New opportunities briefing and
NCVYS has published a briefing paper on HM Government's New Opportunities: Fair chances for all White Paper. The Paper builds on previous Government strategies, including The Children's Plan and the Youth Crime Action Plan, and recognises the importance of the work of the third sector and involving young people in volunteering.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=361
Children and young people's social mobility roundtable event
As part of the Speaking Out project, NCVYS is organising a free roundtable discussion on ‘Children and young people's social mobility' in Peterborough on 3 March 2009. The half-day debate will explore the different dimensions of social mobility and the recent trends. It will look at the role of the voluntary and community sector; how mobility impacts on children and young people with particular focus on social exclusion, life chances, health, educational attainment and aspirations. For more information and to reserve your space email: speakingout@ncvys.org.uk.
Free copies: Exchange Spring issue out now!
Featuring a stimulating mix of innovative and enlightening articles, the latest issue of Exchange (NCVYS's quarterly magazine) focuses on young people and faith. The magazine highlights the good work being conducted by the voluntary and community sector (VCS) around the topic of faith, religious identity and spirituality with young people through a range of thought-provoking case studies, fresh testimonials and informative articles. Subscriptions to Exchange are free to NCVYS members and we are currently offering copies FREE of charge for other interested organisations - for a limited period only! To order your free copy please contact Mariam Sheikh on 020 7278 1041 or email mariam@ncvys.org.uk.
THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill
The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill has been published and began its first reading in the House of Commons this week. The new legislation includes provisions about apprenticeships, education, training and children's services; extending powers of schools to search for alcohol, drugs and stolen items; and giving employees the right to request time away from their core duties for training.
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2008-09/apprenticeshipsskillschildrenandlearning.html
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0025
Violence against women and children debate
Baroness Gale led a debate in the House of Lords on measures to tackle violence against women and children.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90205-0008.htm#09020540000819
Debate on the current financial situation
Lord Eatwell led a debate in the House of Lords on the Government's plans to counter the social and economic impact of the current financial situation.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90205-0002.htm#09020540000817
Voice4Change EDM
Alun Michael has put down an Early Day Motion, highlighting the important work done by Voice4Change in supporting black and minority ethnic (BME) third sector organisations in delivering services to marginalised communities. It calls on the Government to recognise the important contribution made by BME third sector organisations in bonding communities and promoting equality by action at national and regional levels to ensure that BME third sector organisations are adequately and equitably resourced to deliver better outcomes for BME and other communities.
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=37666&SESSION=899 |
