NCVYS STRATEGIC INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 429
6 March 2009
Participation event with young refugees and asylum seekers
The Speaking Out project is supporting a regional event in Manchester organised by Children England and the Children's Society on raising awareness around difficulties faced by young asylum seekers and refugees. The event on 26 March at City of Manchester Stadium is for practitioners and decision makers to hear directly from young people on their views and experiences around accessing services.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/event_calendar.php?act=newedit_event&id=226
Recruitment drive launched to tighten child protection safety net
The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched a national campaign to respect, recruit and retain child social workers with a drive to recruit 5,000 professionals who have recently left to tighten the child protection safety net. A new report launched by the LGA - Respect and Protect, shows that one in ten child social worker posts are vacant at any one time. Of those councils who experience recruitment difficulties, 89% had trouble recruiting experienced children social workers.
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=1663174
Tackling commercial incentives for child sex abuse offenders
Financial, internet and technology corporations have joined forces with international policing agencies, the European Commission and specialist child protection NGOs to track and disrupt child sex offenders. Led by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre and funded by the European Commission, the new European Financial Coalition (EFC) will bring together an increasing number of organisations from across all key sectors to send out a warning to criminals who seek to profit from the distribution of child sex abuse images.
https://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=394232&NewsAreaID=2&HUserID=878,793,889,855,779,868,870,845,786,674,677,767,684,762,718,674,708,683,706,718,674
41 successful myplace projects announced
Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and Young People, has announced the 41 successful myplace projects to be awarded £180 million altogether. The projects offer a range of activities through facilities such as sports halls, music recording studios, performance arts theatres, fashion studios, dance studios, youth social enterprise spaces, and climbing walls.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0046
Call to allow more offenders to volunteer
Baroness Julia Neuberger, the Government's volunteering Champion, has called for more offenders to be able to volunteer as part of their rehabilitation. Her newly published report recommendations include a permanent Volunteering Champion to co-ordinate good volunteering practice across the Criminal Justice System (CJS) agencies; a Joint Guidance, by the trade union movement and Volunteering England, on the use of volunteers within the public services; and that all CJS agencies should have a strategy to engage the skills of ex-offenders in volunteering.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=394210&NewsAreaID=2
Justice Minister appointed as first Champion for volunteering
Following Baroness Neuberger's report, Justice Minister, Shahid Malik was appointed as the volunteering champion within the CJS. The Government will shortly be bringing forward proposals to increase the visibility and take-up of volunteering opportunities in the CJS.
http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease030309a.htm
Grassroots Grants programme for community groups
Early statistics for the first six months of the government's three year Grassroots Grants programme show that 5000 grants of between £250 and £5000 have been awarded to small volunteer-led community groups across the country, totalling £16 million. Of those groups, 38% have never received a grant before.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/090305_grassroots.aspx
Alcohol and Young People
Drinkaware and the Guardian are calling on those who work with young people and children in a professional capacity to take part in a short survey on alcohol and young people.
http://survey.confirmit.com/wix3/p821721319.aspx
Young people's views on alcohol consultation
NCVYS is calling on young people (11-25 years old) to respond to its survey on the recent alcohol guidance by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Please pass this onto the young people you work with. We're asking for responses by 20 March 2009 to catch the consultation deadline.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/polls.php?act=view&id=32
Guide to assist journalists in promoting children's rights
The Children's Rights Alliance for England has published Another perspective, a guide to assist journalists in promoting children's human rights and equality. Endorsed by the National Union of Journalists and funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Another perspective looks at the powerful and far-reaching role journalists and editors can play in promoting children's human rights, and in ensuring that children's voices and experiences are fully reflected in the media.
http://www.crae.org.uk/
Survey on Quality Badge for self-employed individuals
The DCSF has charged Cape UK with the task of canvassing views on the value of establishing a Quality Badge for self employed individuals working with young people in learning outside the classroom activities. They are keen to hear from the sector and anyone for whom this is important. The survey will take only 15-20 minutes of your time and is open until 16 March.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5aMNO3OAY_2bZxYKHJ2_2b5xbg_3d_3d
Kids Count Inspiration Awards 2009 nominations close on 12 March
Kids Count are still accepting nominations for the Inspiration Awards 2009, which recognise those individuals and organisations that have inspired young people in their communities. Addressing issues that affect their lives by creating initiatives that are grounded in practicality and realism and make a positive difference, whilst giving a voice to young people to determine and influence their own futures.
The awards ceremony will be held at the House of Commons on 21 April 2009.
http://www.kidscount.org.uk/
Commission for Youth Social Enterprise survey on social ambitions
The Commission for Youth Social Enterprise (CYSE) are conducting a survey to get input from young people (16-25 years old) on their social ambitions. The first 100 young people to complete the survey will receive a £10 gift certificate to iTunes Store. The deadline is Sunday 15th March 2009. The CYSE helps organisations run genuinely youth-led programmes and equip young people to make a lasting positive impact on their world.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Gb9RS3waxrWOCzG6IPH1Iw_3d_3d
Guidance and good practice on commissioning event
The LGA, the National Youth Agency and the DCSF are jointly hosting a conference on Positive activities for young people in our communities: guidance and good practice on commissioning for the most challenging young people. The event will take place on 28 April 2009 in London and is aimed a practitioners and leaders working with and for young people from all sectors.
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/events/display-event.do?id=1624276
UNICEF Junior 8 Summit competition
The Junior 8 Summit is offering four young people aged 14 -17 an opportunity to explore world issues, develop proposals and solutions and to present their views and recommendations to world leaders at the G8 summit. To attend the summit, interested teams must submit their proposed solutions on three key issues to the J8 competition by 8 April 2009.
http://www.unicef.org.uk/youthvoice/junior8.asp
Demands on social cohesion and the fight against poverty for the EP
The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) has released 10 demands for the next European Parliament. With 78 million people in the EU facing poverty, the demands set out an agenda for the EU to seriously commit to the fight against poverty and to the achievement of greater social cohesion.
http://www.eapn.eu/content/view/781/30/lang,en/
THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT
Sport - Young People
Following a question by Jim Cunningham (Lab, Coventry, South) the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe led a debate on the Government's work to encourage young people to participate in sport outside school activities.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090302/debtext/90302-0002.htm#0903027000022
Lord Laming's report
Children's Minister, Beverley Hughes announced that Lord Laming's progress report on safeguarding will be published on 12 March.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090305/text/90305w0023.htm#column_1826W
Children's Workforce Development Council: Finance
The Children's Minister also gave information on the budget of the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) in each year since it was established but could not give information about CWDC's budget in each of the next three years as it's currently being discussed.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090305/text/90305w0023.htm#column_1826W
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls led a discussion in the House of Commons on the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090223/debtext/90223-0004.htm#0902232000001
Support for Women During the Economic Downturn
The Minister for Women and Equality, Harriet Harman led a debate in the House of Commons on support for women during the economic downturn in the run up to International Women's Day on 8 March.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090305/debtext/90305-0006.htm#09030539000001
Work and Pensions Committee recommendations
In a new report the Work and Pensions Committee welcomes the Flexible New Deal (FND) but calls for increased funding to cope with the economic downturn. According to the report, the FND heralds a move towards greater flexibility in both of these areas through the use of longer contracts with private and voluntary sector providers to deliver employment support for the long-term unemployed. However, the Committee is concerned that the current funding arrangements are inadequate and believes that the budget must be increased to reflect the predicted rise in claimants accessing the service.
http://news.parliament.uk/2009/03/committee-report-looks-at-unemployment-support/ |
