The Backstop Journals » Today’s other headlines

Public sector managers under most strain at work

Backstop — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:15:12 +0000

Stressed, tired of conflict, and fed up with managers failing to lead your organisation through bad times? You’re not alone, according to this year’s Management Agenda 2010 report, says The Guardian. The annual survey of managers across both sectors suggests that public sector managers are more stressed and finding it harder to cope in the current climate. Seventy-three per cent of managers noted the external political context as one of their biggest issues and challenges.

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Poverty in Britain reaches nine-year high according to Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Backstop — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:51:02 +0000

A report issued by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the independent development and social research charity, has indicated that poverty in Britain is at its highest level since 2000. The report, cited in today’s Telegraph, found that 13.4 million people are living in low-income households, the highest it has been in nearly 10 years. The paper also reports that the Conservatives have have said the report is “an indictment of the Government’s failure to tackle low earnings”.

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The Marriage Debate

Backstop — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:46:03 +0000

Could Marriage and the Family be a key issue in the next election- with all the consequences to policy this could entail?

Today the Mail quotes David Cameron saying that “marriage is a good institution which helps people stay together, and commit to each other. A society that values marriage is a good and strong society” and claims that “Now it’s war” and that Cameron has made a ” savage attack on Labour’s ‘pathological’ refusal to accept marriage IS key to happy families”. Click here for link to Mail Online (featuring wedding picture of Ed Balls and Cabinet colleague Yvette Cooper!)

Meanwhile Michael White on the Guardian blog claims this to be “The phoney war on marriage” and discusses the reasons why marriage may become a political football. Click here for link to Guardian Online.

Nevres Kemal talks about her decision

Backstop — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:22:09 +0000

Michael Buerk talks to ex social worker Nevres Kemal, who blew the whistle on Haringey Council Child Protection.

Broadcast today, 09:00 on The Choice on BBC Radio 4 and available on BBC iPlayer. To access throught the BBC ” listen again” process follow the link : http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007vrr0

Children & Young People Now reports 21.6% drop in first-time young offenders in last year

Backstop — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:25:33 +0000

New government statistics show that there has been a 21.6% drop in first-time young offenders in the space of a year and that John Drew, CEO of the Youth Justice Board, has attributed this to the good work of YOTs, police forces and children’s trusts.

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The Independent’s political editor on the Conservatives’ plans for a payment-by-results scheme

Backstop — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:47:06 +0000

The Independent reports today that the Conservatives have pledged to introduce a system whereby public services would receive funding based on their performance if they were to win the next general election. This, they say, would stop funding being ‘wasted’ through inefficient use each year.

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Peter Herbert of the Guardian discusses how police are “failing” our young black men

Backstop — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:58:13 +0000

In today’s Guardian Online, reporter Peter Herbert discusses the implications of the news that most young black men are on the DNA database towards the police and prison agenda in the UK.

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Transition 2 Adulthood Alliance calls to abolish short sentences

Backstop — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:26:33 +0000

Community Care, 25th November 2009

The Transition 2 Adulthood (T2A) Alliance has said the current system of short sentences of less than six months, should be abolished for 18 to 24-year-old non-violent offenders. Shan Nicholas, deputy chair of the T2A Alliance, said the current system is failing young adults, many of whom enter prison with complex needs including mental health problems and substance misuse, and leave with little offer of support.

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Antisocial behaviour funding for youth projects

Backstop — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:17:42 +0000

Children & Young People Now, 25th November

Youth projects will be among a the list of schemes to benefit from a £10m package of extra funding to help councils combat antisocial behaviour, according to communities secretary John Denham. The funding will be spread out among 130 councils on a variety of schemes including projects that “engage young people.”

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Daily Mirror’s report: Schools to combat Domestic violence

Backstop — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:42:56 +0000

Daily Mirror, 25th November

The Daily Mirror reports today on a new Government campaign to tackle domestic violence which could be taught to children as young as five by way of “gender equality” lessons. These lessons are to be included in personal, social and health education and will be compulsory from 2011.

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