Nine million people over 60 are set to get free swimming as Culture Secretary Andy Burnham today announced that more than 80 per cent of local authorities are to join a Government scheme. The initiative is part of a £140 million Government investment in the sport that also includes free swimming for those aged [...]

 More after-school patrols are to be introduced across England as part of a £56.5 million drive to reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has launched the crackdown as part of the Home Office’s Youth Crime Action Plan, which was revealed in July. Local authorities are to be offered £700,000 over the [...]

This OFSTED survey report evaluates aspects of adult and community learning and its impact on community renewal. The survey explores a range of delivery models, gives examples of good practice and makes recommendations for improvement. For Adult Learning and Community Renewal Report

More after-school patrols and street-based teams to prevent and tackle youth crime will be funded by a cash injection of almost £60 million into 69 local authority areas in every corner of England, the Government announced today. The funding is a major milestone in the delivery of the Youth Crime Action Plan, launched in July, [...]

A report produced by the Prince’s Trust is advocating one-to-one support for young offenders as a way of reducing youth crime. Young offenders would be introduced to positive role models they could build trustworthy relationships with, while mentors would benefit through the knowledge they are making a highly positive impact on young people’s lives. There [...]

Barnardo’s children’s charity and Deloitte have come together in releasing a report outlining three feasible options for halving child poverty by 2010. Current Government expenditure on the problem means that the target of 550,000 children is unlikely to be reached. The report ‘How to Halve Child Poverty by 2010: Options for Redirecting Resources to Reduce [...]

Harriet Harman launched a one-year investigation into inequality at the TUC annual conference. In response to union unrest over increasing inequalities in wealth, Harman emphasised that the inquiry would consider the root causes, especially the ‘overarching’ one of class. During her conference speech she also stated that, while policies such as Sure Start, the minimum [...]