A Full Soulbury Committee Meeting was held on 23rd March 2009 to resolve the outstanding issues of the 2008 Pay and Conditions of Service claim. The outcomes were: * New job descriptors agreed for Young People’s and Community Service officers to replace the outdated Youth and Community Service job roles * The employers agreed to [...]

Government must take radical action to hit child poverty targets, says TUC On the tenth anniversary today (Wednesday) of the Government’s pledge to end child poverty in a generation, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Ten years ago Tony Blair pledged to halve the number of children living in poverty in the UK by 2010. [...]

Are you considering applying for union recognition with a new employer?  Are you interested in fnding out more about how to use the statutory process to build union capacity?  Have you had to withdraw a previous application?  Then this course is for you. Delegates are invited to attend our 2 day Advanced Organising Course, the [...]

This consultation seeks views on draft guidance for agencies on safeguarding children and young people affected by gang activity. The guidance is intended to help agencies and professionals ensure that the safeguarding process responds effectively to the needs of children and young people who are at risk of gang-related violence and harm  

MPs last night voted to allow the UK Youth Parliament to hold its annual meeting in the House of Commons debating chamber afterhours of debate. During the debate MPs opposing the motion expressed concerns about the potential inappropriate behaviour of young people in the chamber and the precedent that the move would set for other [...]

Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and Young People, today announced a further £8 million, on top of the £8 million announced in 2006, to give thousands more disadvantaged young people the opportunity to produce creative media projects.   The Youth Media Fund initiative gives young people the chance to take part in ‘Mediabox’ projects where [...]

Lord Laming has condemned Child Protection arrangements. His report, commissioned by Children’s Secretary Ed Balls after the fallout from the death of 17-month-old Baby P in Haringey, today criticises poor inspection and calls on social workers to be better trained. His report said: “Inspection processes have not been as effective as scrutinising practices in safeguarding [...]

Lift-Off For New Fund A £300,000 scheme aiming to help change the lives of young people from disadvantaged communities has taken flight. The Learning Launchpad will offer investments up to £100,000 for groups looking to provide alternatives to formal education for 14 to 25-year-olds. Delivered by the Young Foundation in partnership with independent education foundation [...]

 Disabled parents and their children often receive fragmented and inadequate support, says a new study by CSCI, the social care watchdog for England.CSCI’s new study shows that few councils are achieving the right balance between supporting disabled parents and supporting children who help look after their disabled parents. Councils need to be clear about the roles [...]

The Local Government Association and the National Council of Voluntary Organisations have published a joint Voluntary Sector Report which suggests ways that local authorities and voluntary community organisations (VCOs) can work together during the recession. The report details the measures that councils can take to support VCOs and the ways that VCOs can promote their [...]