The difference in retirement has to do with changes to the state pension age for women, which has resulted in 27,000 more women in the workforce since the pension age was raised in April 2010.

The IFS’s research has shows that employment among husbands has also increased because of the measure.

“Increasing the age at which women can first receive their state pension has led to significant numbers of women deferring their retirement, with over half of women aged 60 now in paid work for the first time ever. We also find that some husbands are responding by remaining in work for longer,” said Jonathan Cribb, a researcher at IFS and the report’s co-author.

The chief executive of the National Association of Pension Funds, Joanne Segars, said,  “The age profile of the average workplace is changing. Rising state pension ages will mean that more and more over 60s carry on working. We are all living longer, and to pay for that we are going to have to work longer too.”

Segars said retirement may be delayed because both men and women either want to keep working or they need money.

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Hugh Porter was replaced in favour of a younger colleague.

The BBC says he left on to “pastures new.” Porter denies the claim, saying he was let go.

“I haven’t stepped down and I haven’t gone to pastures new,” he told the Telegraph. “It was their decision. I’m 73 years of age [and] I hoped I would probably go to Rio.”

He added: “I love the sport. I’m not an old wreck or anything like that, my voice is still as strong as ever. If I in any way thought to myself I’m too old for this now, I would be the first to put my hand up.”

The BBC has in the past faced controversy over releasing older presenters, including Miriam O’Reilly, who won a discrimination case against the corporation in 2011.

Porter had been a cycling commentator since 1984.

“They’ve emphasised that I’ve stepped down,” he said. “I haven’t stepped down. This is the thing that’s really annoyed me. It’s been made out ‘well done Hugh, he’s been a faithful servant, and now he’s retired’, but it’s been their decision, not mine.”

He added: “In all the years that I’ve worked enthusiastically, probably 90 per cent of the work I’ve done has never made the air.

“Now because they’ve finally realised how big this sport is, and they are giving it big coverage, 90 per cent of my commentaries were making the air. That’s the irritating part about it.”

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In an interview with the US news program 60 minutes, Tony Abbott, who is poised to become Australia’s next Prime Minister according to polls, said he regrets saying what he did four years, but made the comments because he felt the “cohesion of my family was threatened at that time.”

The politician’s sister, Christine Forster, came out after leaving her husband of 19 years and falling in love with a woman.

During the interview, Abbott was asked when he decided gay people were ok, he said “when I started to get to know them.”

Gay rights activists are not pleased with Abbott’s comments, saying that he can’t truly accept gay people until he accepts gay marriage.

“You can’t draw lines around other people’s humanity by accepting who they are but rejecting their fundamental human rights,” Rodney Croome from the Australian Marriage Equality said.

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The support is in sharp contrast from the same poll in 2004, when a mere 32 percent of Americans supported gay marriage.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of Evangelicals continues to oppose gay marriage, while 59 percent of Catholics back the right of gays and lesbians to wed. Only 31 percent of Evangelicals say they support gay marriage. Much of the opposition in America to gay marriage has come from Evangelicals.

Recently, Hillary Clinton has come out in favor of gay marriage, and last May President Barack Obama said he supports gay marriage – as long as the issue is left for individual states to decide.

Seventy-two percent of Democrats support gay marriage, compared to 34 percent of Republicans.

Although nine states and the District of Columbia support gay marriage, the majority of states continue to ban it, leaving the US as one of the worst human rights abusers in the developed world when it comes to LGBT rights.

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Scotland for Marriage, a vehemently homophobic group, says that if gay marriage equality were introduced in Scotland, teachers would need protection.

Teachers, the group says, should have the ‘freedom’ to tell students that gay marriage is ‘damaging,’ and wants educational material to stress that gay relationships are ‘harmful, risky and dangerous’ and lead to ‘premature death.’

The group’s spokesperson, Peter Kearney, said the organization would like the following demands placed on the government:

• Give teachers a right to tell children that same-sex relationships are wrong
• Discourage schools from using materials that include LGBT people
• Give teachers a right to refuse to use materials that include LGBT people
• Give parents a new right to opt their children out of any lessons that mention same-sex relationships
• Ban primary schools from mentioning same-sex marriage
• Force other schools to treat same-sex marriage as a ‘controversial’ issue

Tom French, of Scottish Equality Network, said, “We are deeply concerned that opponents of same-sex marriage are attempting to reintroduce Section 28 style discrimination back into Scotland’s schools,” said Tom French of the Scottish Equality Network.

“This would roll back equality and have a damaging effect on young people and the wider education system.

“We firmly believe that school should be a welcoming environment for all young people, regardless of their sexual orientation or family situation.

“Schools have a duty of care to their pupils and it would be wrong to allow discrimination against LGBT people in the education system.”

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Catholics continue to lead the way in supporting gay marriage in the country – as they have for many years. A poll by Quinnipiac University found that 54% of Catholic Americans support gay marriage, and 62% want priests to be allowed to marry.

The poll showed differences in race and age regarding gay rights among Catholics.

“Among all voters, there is almost no gender gap, but a big age gap,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Young are more in favor of gay marriage than older generations. Sixty-two percent of those under the age of 34 support gay marriage. Half of those over 55 do not.

Hispanics lead the way in support with 63 percent, compared to 32 percent of blacks and 48 percent of whites.

“Catholic voters are leading American voters toward support for same-sex marriage,” said Brown.

Overall, 47 percent of Americans were in support of gay marriage this year. That compares to 55 percent who were opposed in a July 2008 poll.

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Loughton – MP for East Worthing and Shoreham – raised the issue in the House of Commons on March 13 regarding freedom of speech and the investigation against him regarding racist emails sent to Kieran Francis, a constituent.

Loughton said that in the email he merely confirmed the constituent as “unkempt.”

That confirmation sparked a claim of racism from Francis, who alleges to be of Romany Gipsy background.

Loughton denies that he even knew Francis’ background, and slammed the Sussex police for the six-month investigation, which began in August and ended in February, at a cost of £100,000.

The MP raised the issue in the House of Commons, saying that political correctness is out of control and costs taxpayers more money than it should.

Describing the investigation and his time in police custody, Loughton said, “I had to weave through a group of drug dealers who had just been busted. It was humiliating. Because of who I was, I was told the interview would be done very discreetly.

“A rather embarrassed custody sergeant came in and went through the formalities, including asking me whether I was able to read or write, or had any mental health problems, or if I was on any medication.

“It was a surreal experience. I was being accused of racism simply because I had defended the local council’s description of Mr Francis as unkempt.

“I told them everything I knew about Mr Francis. Yet at the end, rather than thanking me for coming in and clearing up any misunderstanding, I was told the investigation would be ongoing. Common sense went out of the window.”

Image by Department for Education; http://www.education.gov.uk/help/legalinformation/a005237/use-of-crown-copyright-material

The sessions began in early March and will run six weeks.

The sessions begin at 11 am and are open to those between 16 and 25. Activities involve running, jumping and throwing, and will take place at Bristol Academy of Sport’s WISE Campus in Stoke Gifford.

“It’s great that we are able to re-launch the Adult Disability Athletics which we used to run a few years ago alongside our juniors,” said organizer Andrea Lock.

“It will now run alongside our other disability sports on Sunday mornings.

“I hope that those inspired by the Paralympics will take the opportunity to come along and give it a go.”

Anyone interested can contact Andrea at andrea.lock@sgscol.ac.uk.

Oh, and he raised over £1million for Comic Relief in doing so.

During his charity chat show marathon on March 7, Norton asked celebrities a variety of questions – 175 of them during the six-hour telethon.

“Well done me! That isn’t the reason we’re here,” he said when he found out about the record.

“But it’s very nice that I’ve got a world record though. You know when you look through the book when you’re younger, and you think “What can I do?” Turns out it’s this.”

Louis Smith and gay actor Russell Tovey were among the celebrities on the show. Others included Jimmy Carr, Kirstie Alsopp, Kimberley Wyatt, Warwick David and Terry Wogan.

Paloma Faith, among other musicians, performed during the show.

There was even a Celebrity Kissing Booth with a chance for audience members to kiss David Gandy and Abbey Clancy.

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The British Association for Adoption and Fostering tracked down 72 people who were adopted from Hong Kong 50 years ago by white UK parents. The babies were largely abandoned by their parents in the former British colony and left in overcrowded orphanages.

While the results they found regarding upbringing and present-day sense of self were mixed, many said life growing up with racially different parents was difficult.

Sue Jardine, 50, was one of those adopted from Hong Kong several decades ago.

“My obvious difference to my family attracted unwanted attention and racist comments that I felt my parents did not understand or want to acknowledge,” she said.

Jardine said she felt neither British nor Chinese during her upbringing, according to the Guardian.

Researchers say their study is unique in that it illustrates how race and cultural identity impact the lives of transracial adoptees.

Claire Martin, 52, also adopted from Hong Kong, had a largely positive experience growing up with a Chinese British-born father and white British mother, saying her parents were prepared to deal with issues of race regarding her adoption.

But Martin says the government should not downplay race when it comes to transracial adoption.

“I would not like the government to say that love is the most important thing. I just don’t believe that’s the case. There are enough of the women who have had really bad experiences even where people have genuinely loved them,” she said.

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The research by lead author Magdalena Formanowicz, of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw, found that titles like chairwoman and police woman actually devalue the work women do. Women as a result as seen as less capable than either men or women with male job titles.

The study is published in the European Journal of Social Psychology.

“Feminising language helps make women more visible and more salient, but apparently this is not always an advantage,” said Formanowicz.

“Emphasising femaleness with a feminine title may lower the evaluation of women in a professional context.”

The research adds that “Women using the masculine labels may profit because they sustain the cultural status quo.”

Neil Ashton of the The Ashton Partnership, a Knightsbridge-based headhunting firm told the Telegraph that job titles have become an obsession and are “irrelevant.”

“If a woman wants to have a job title that reflects her femininity she should but there is also space for women to have more masculine job titles if it empowers them,” he said.

“What’s crucial is that the world wakes up to the importance of women in boardrooms. They are honest, loyal and can multi-task in a way men never can.”

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The board was expected to vote to allow local groups to set their own policies on the whether to allow LGBT to become scouts.

In a statement the board said, “After careful consideration and extensive dialogue within the Scouting family, along with comments from those outside the organization, the volunteer officers of the Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Board concluded that due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy.”

Roughly 1,400 members of the organization’s council will vote in May on the ban. A 2000 Supreme Court ruling allowed the group to maintain its discriminatory policy.

LGBT human rights groups were naturally disappointed in the delay.

“Every day that the Boy Scouts of America delay action is another day that discrimination prevails,” said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin. “Now is the time for action. Young Americans, gay and straight, are hurt by the inaction associated with today’s news. The BSA leadership should end this awful policy once and for all, and open the proud tradition of Scouting to all.”

Jennifer Tyrrell, a leader based in Ohio, was dismissed by her local group for being lesbian. She gathered 1.4 million signatures supporting a lift on the ban.

“If this ban is lifted, it’s a great first step,” she said on the CNN program “Starting Point.” “But it’s still going to lead to kids being rejected. Families are still going to be turned away.”

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The findings come from the Nottingham University Business School and are part of government-funded research regarding religion in public life.

The study involved Malaysian people of various religious backgrounds passing money along to other participants, which included Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and the non-religious.

The point in short was to test levels of generosity when sharing money.

The research team found a difference in generosity between those of different faiths and those of the same faith.

When told the other person was of the same faith, money was more generously shared compared to those of a different faith.

“One would imagine the charity inherent in many well-known articles of faith might have some impact on everyday behavior,” Dr Robert Hoffmann, an Associate Professor of Economics at Nottingham University Business School and co-author of the report.

“But we discovered no evidence of that when we examined what happens when people who are religious knowingly interact with those of a different or no faith.

“When we looked at how religious people knowingly interact with those of the same faith, on the other hand, suddenly their religion started to explain their actions.

“This leads us to the sobering conclusion that religion doesn’t affect people’s behaviour in general terms. Rather, it affects how they relate to different individuals.”

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Not according to some MPs who have widely criticized the measure.

According to the Public Accounts Committee, the Work Capability Assessment has resulted in too many wrong decisions that were subsequently overturned on appeal. The test, they say, harms society’s “most vulnerable.”

The Work Capability Assessment was introduced in 2008 to examine whether those who are fit to work should receive benefits. The new system was created following claims the previous system wasn’t working.

In 2011/12, a company – Atos – was paid £112.4m to carry out over 700,000 assessments.

The Public Accounts Committee found that 38 percent of cases that were appealed against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) were successful after the DWP removed claimants’ benefits.

The Public Accounts Committee Chair Margaret Hodge slammed the current assessment scheme.

“The work capability assessment process hits the most vulnerable claimants hardest.

“The one-size-fits-all approach fails to account adequately for mental health conditions or those which are rare or fluctuating.”

Hodge also criticized the DWP for being too complacent in the assessment process.

“A key problem is that the department has been unable to create a competitive market for medical assessment providers, leaving Atos in the position of being a near monopoly supplier,” she said.

“The department is too often just accepting what Atos tells it. It seems reluctant to challenge the contractor. It has failed to withhold payment for poor performance and rarely checked that it is being correctly charged.”

The service users have all trained as peer support workers as part of a project, which helps mental health services focus every aspect of their work on supporting people to recover.

The project, known as ImROC – Implementing Recovery through Organisational Change – aims to help mental health providers change the way they work with service users and families, making them partners in care. The objective is to go further than ‘just’ involvement, creating a culture of working together in partnership in every aspect of the organisation’s work.

Mr Lamb, whose ministerial portfolio includes mental health policy and services, will meet the new peer support workers at the launch of the second phase of the ImROC project. They will tell him how recovery-oriented services can help people get the support they need to live their lives on their own terms.

Launching phase two of the project, Mr Lamb said: “Recovery and recognising that people with even the most severe mental health problems can recover is a crucial part of modern mental health services, which is why it forms one of the six priorities of the government’s mental health strategy.

“Through ImROC, mental health service providers are recognising that people with direct experience of mental ill health can offer just as valuable expertise as medics and clinicians. Combined, they can gently revolutionise mental health care in this country, and ensure people with mental health problems can live the lives they want to, with strong relationships, a sense of purpose and independence.”

The first phase of ImROC, which was launched in 2011, involved 29 NHS and independent mental health organisations, including six ‘demonstrator’ sites which were already advanced in delivering recovery-focused services and six pilot sites, which received support, training and consultancy.

Launched today (Thu 14 Feb), the second phase of the project is open to all mental health providers that want to become recovery-focused. It will continue to be run through a partnership between the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network (MHN) and Centre for Mental Health.

One of the central features of a recovery-focused organisation is establishing a local ‘Recovery College’ which offers courses on living with mental health problems designed jointly by people with lived experience of mental illness and mental health professionals. A recent survey of participants at the South West London Recovery College showed very high levels of satisfaction with the College and a significant reduction in the use of community mental health services. Similar results have been achieved in Nottingham and Central and Northwest London. Using educational approaches rather than just diagnosis and treatment, recovery-focused mental health services help people with mental illness make use of their own experiences and talents to build fulfilling lives for themselves, rather than trying to ‘fix’ them.

A second key element is the introduction of peer support workers into clinical teams, including inpatient wards and community settings. Preliminary data from these kinds of projects suggest that they are not only highly effective in terms of improving quality, but they can also result in significant cost savings.

Chief executive of the Mental Health Network Stephen Dalton said: “Mental ill health affects a huge number of people, but the biggest challenge for many is the assumption that they can – or should – be ‘treated’. Users of mental health services have told us that the best treatment is being able to maintain control over their lives and symptoms, and having the opportunity to build a life beyond their illness. Recovery-focused organisations make sure that every contact with service users contributes to this.”

Sean Duggan, chief executive of Centre for Mental Health, added: “The government’s mental health strategy No health without mental health, sets a clear objective, that ‘more people with mental health problems will recover’. ImROC can support organisations to reshape their services to give more people the chance to recover and to fulfil their potential. With professionals ‘on tap’ not ‘on top’, and hope, control and opportunity as the core principles of mental health services, we can achieve lasting change in people’s lives and life chances.”

IMROC programme director Geoff Shepherd said: “The concept of recovery is really coming into its own now. This second phase of ImROC will see expertise developed by the early adopters shared between organisations, which can benefit from the successes as well as the lessons learned. Although we are still at a relatively early stage, it’s already clear that even with modest resources, recovery colleges and peer support workers can help deliver a really different kind of mental health service much more tailored to the needs and priorities of the people who use them.”

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The Bill will now go to the Queen to be signed, with the bill being enacted on the official royal assent.

This change in law in represented huge strides in breaking down the prejudice and discrimination people with mental health problems face on a day to day basis.

Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sean Duggan said : “We are delighted that this important bill has been passed. People with mental health conditions still face a huge amount of discrimination and the Discrimination Bill marks a historic moment in the fight to ensure that people with mental illnesses are treated fairly. Mental illness accounts for 26 per cent of ill health yet until now we have faced antiquated and out of touch laws that bar people from serving on juries, on boards and in Parliament.”

“By putting an end to laws which prevent people with mental health problems exercising their rights to play a role in public life, Parliament has made it clear that attitudes towards mental health are changing. We hope that in the future we will all be able talk about mental health openly and honestly, that mental and physical health will have a ‘parity of esteem’ in the NHS, and that people who have a mental health condition enjoy the same opportunities in life as everyone else.”

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Government is proposing a change whereby a childcare worker will have to care for up to six children up to the age of 2, or four children under the age of one, with the aim to boost the finances of early year institutions.

The survey conducted by the NDNA however found that eight in ten oppose the proposed changes, with around the same number failing to see how the changes will boost the finances of the early year settings.

Purnima Tanuku, NDNA’s chief executive said: “Our snapshot survey has revealed widespread opposition to the proposed ratio changes from the nursery sector and doubt that the changes will have any impact on fees.

“NDNA believes that changes to the number of children individual nursery workers can look after should only be considered if backed by strong evidence from the UK that there will not be a negative impact on the quality of care children receive.

“Pay makes up around 70 per cent of nursery fees and better qualified staff cost more to employ, so it seems likely savings made by employing fewer staff would be eclipsed by higher wages.”

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This will mean Coalition tax and benefit policies are set to increase child poverty by a million children by 2020 on the relative income measure.

The answer also reveals major downward revisions to the poverty-reducing impacts that had previously been claimed by Ministers for Universal Credit.

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: “The government’s child poverty strategy is in utter disarray now that Minsters have admitted the poverty-producing Welfare Benefits Uprating Bill will push 200,000 more children into poverty. This means in total Coalition policies are set to push a million more children into poverty by 2020. The figures showing the impact on absolute poverty have not been published.

“Ministers seem to be in denial that, under current policies, their legacy threatens to be the worst poverty record of any government for a generation, despite their duties under the Child Poverty Act to reduce child poverty across a basket of measures including absolute, relative and persistent poverty as well as for deprivation levels which show how well families are able to meet basic costs.

“The bad news is compounded by new government figures showing the Universal Credit would not result in nearly as much poverty reduction as Minsters had previously claimed. It will now lift 150,000 children out of poverty not 350,000 as originally claimed.

“Short term spending cuts that create poverty will end up costing taxpayers billions in the future and inflict huge damage on children and our economy.”

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Despite the total number of fostering households going up to over 50,000 during the last year, thousands more are still needed as the number of children in care has increased for a sixth year in a row, and is continuing to rise.

On any one day, there is now a record 61,700 children living with foster families, with thousands more coming in and out of care throughout the year.

More foster families are needed to replace the 13 per cent of the workforce who retire or leave every year. These figures show the scale of the challenge facing fostering services as they struggle to provide the right foster homes for all the children who need them.

The charity is warning that without these new families, too many children will fail to get the care they need. Some will live in children’s homes when a foster family would be the best option for them. Others will end up living with a foster carer a long way from the child’s home, school and family, or a carer who has space but may not have the experience and skills to meet the child’s specific needs.

This can put such a strain on relationships that they break down, meaning children are moved around time and time again, suffering even more disruption to their often already traumatic lives.

Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: “Despite fostering services attracting more people to become foster carers, the continuing rise of children coming into care means thousands more are still needed this year alone. In particular we know that fostering services are looking for foster carers to offer homes to teenagers, children with disabilities and sibling groups.

“These children need a stable family life to help them grow and achieve their potential. By becoming a foster carer people can help them have the best possible opportunity for a positive future, to do well at school and be successful in later life.

“Fostering services are looking for people from all walks of life to become foster carers, of all ages, and from single people to large families. What matters is that they have a desire to work with children and the right skills.”

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Foreign Affairs minister John Baird said “whatever the circumstances, Canada will continue to speak out, and take principled positions” against those who are persecuted because of their religion.

“We will not just go along to get along,” Baird said in a text of his speech. “We will stand for what is principled and just, regardless of whether it is popular, convenient or expedient.”

The United States had once created a similar office, but it largely failed to fulfill its mandate.

Baird said the Coptic Christians in Egypt are one example of a group in better need of protection, saying that “respect for religious pluralism is inextricably linked to democratic development.” He added that Canada would respond when religious communities “suffer merely because of their faith.”

Little is known about the office, however, and how exactly it will carry out its duties. The Office of Foreign Affairs has largely kept mum on the specifics.

Canada’s two major atheist and humanist organizations criticized the government for failing to include atheists as a persecuted group. Baird said in the past that atheists are not persecuted and do not need protection.

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The new regulations fall under the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission and further expand rights for disabled workers in America’s largest state.

The regulations call for employers to make room for “assistive animals” in the workplace, which include service dogs for the visually and hearing impaired, and also other animals that provide “emotional or other support to a person with a disability, including, but not limited to, traumatic brain injuries or mental disabilities, such as major depression.”

Employers are able to set restrictions to assistive animals. The restrictions require the animals

• To be free from offensive odors and displays habits appropriate to the work environment, for example, the elimination of urine and feces;
• To not engage in behavior that endangers the health or safety of the individual with a disability or others in the workplace; and
• To be trained to provide assistance for the employee’s disability.

If an employee wishes to bring as assistive animal to work, an employer can request to see a medical certificate from the employee’s health care provider.

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“We are committed to enacting legislation to protect all Americans,” the senators wrote in a letter to the president. “In the meantime, you are in a position to protect millions of American workers immediately by including sexual orientation and gender identity alongside long-standing anti-discrimination protections.”

After promising to sign an order in 2008 as a presidential candidate, President Obama has since backed away from the issue.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has been expanded over the years and includes protections on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex and national origin.

“It’s outrageous that in the year 2013, it is still legal to fire someone based on who they love,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a lead sponsor of ENDA. “The President can protect millions of workers from unfair discrimination with the stroke of a pen. I’m pleased that 36 of my colleagues have joined together to push for more equality in the workplace.”

A major LGBT human rights group says it’s about time Obama signs the order.

“An executive order from President Obama would ensure that hundreds of thousands of LGBT federal contract employees could go to work every day without fear of being fired for who they are or who they love,” added Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin in a statement.

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People with a mental disability were three times more likely to be a victim of violence, and those with a physical disability were twice as likely to encounter violence, the research found.

“Among people aged 16 to 59, the crude prevalence of being a victim of any violence in the past year was 9.6 per cent, 11.9 per cent and 20.1 per cent for people with no disability, physical disability and mental-illness related disability respectively,” says Dr Hind Khalifeh, the leader researcher.

“Compared to those without disability, the odds of being a victim of violence in the past year were two-fold higher for those with physical disability and three-fold higher for those with mental illness-related disability, after taking into account socio-demographic differences between the groups.”

The study did not look at those with disabilities who reside in institutions. For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the 2009-2010 British Crime Survey.

Because of the violence, those with disabilities were more prone to experience emotional difficulties compared to non-disabled victims.

“Our research shows the risks and consequences of domestic and non-domestic violence are raised in people with disability,” says Dr Khalifeh. “This is most pronounced for people with mental illness, with one in five experiencing violence in the past year.”

Roughly 224,000 people with disabilities in 2009 have been victims of violence in England and Wales.

“We estimate that if the risk for people with disability could be brought down to the same level as for those without disability (from a similar social and demographic profile), there would be around 116,000 fewer disabled victims annually,” continues Dr Khalifeh. “This would result in an estimated annual saving of £1.51 billion.”

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Jayce Carberry said the advisor told him that he would have to seek legal advice regarding the type of contact Carberry could have with other present staff.

“His [the advisor’s] reply was I’ll have to speak to my legal team to see if we have to disclose your HIV status to any members of the staff you come into contact with in this building,” he told the BBC.

“Obviously I was a bit speechless.

“For somebody to make a comment like that, it just takes you all the way back to the beginning and your self-esteem is shattered, you go back to feeling ashamed.

“You’re subjected to that stigma and it’s really upsetting.”

The advisor even insisted he write Carberry’s HIV status in his notes.

Carberry said he was told he would have to reveal his HIV status on a medical history form.

Helen Grant, Carberry’s member of parliament, says she has written to the job center and to the Work and Pensions Secretary on the issue.

“It’s absolutely right that if people like Jayce do what they’ve done – go out, try to get work – that they should be given all the help and support that they need and deserve and at the same time, they must be treated with absolute dignity and respect,” said Grant.

The job center has since apologized to Carberry and said it will review how it handles similar matters.

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Asra and Sarah married through a ‘nikah’ – a traditional marriage contract that doesn’t require an Imam to oversee the service but an individual who is highly knowledgeable of the Koran.

“We met about three years ago, at an iftar – a breaking of fast during Ramadan,” says Asra.

“I think a lot of Muslims find that time of year very spiritual and very enlightening, and so I think that’s why our relationship developed, because we spoke about our faith.”

“Eventually we went on a date.”

The couple is among a trend of Muslim gay couples getting married within the confines of Islam – or at least finding a way to do so. Nikahs are reserved for heterosexual Muslims, but the couple say they know other gay couples who have married this way.

“A few friends said you don’t really have to have an official Imam, but you need someone who is knowledgeable enough about the Qur’an to do it. Fortunately, one of our friends was, and she offered to do it. She’s a lesbian herself, and she said we could do it in her home,” says Asra.

But Asra says she still has not come out to her family.

“It’s still very difficult for me to tell my family about my life being a lesbian. They know I am a believer, they know I am religious, but going as far as saying I am a lesbian is quite hard.

“I remember thinking this is the only time I am going to get married, and my family weren’t there.

“That was constantly going through my mind – I am having an Islamic nikah, doing as much as I can through my faith, but my family weren’t there.”

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The Pflugerville, Tex. school district recently announced that it would offer domestic partner benefits to teachers and staff. That didn’t sit well with Republican state representative Drew Springer, who drafted legislation that would cut 7.5 per cent of the district’s healthcare funding if the policy went ahead.

“Our tax-dollars are for educating kids, not for enacting policies that attempt to get the state to recognize homosexual relationships,” Springer wrote in a press release. “To think Pflugerville has sued the state for more funding, while at the same time bankrolling a lifestyle most Texans do not agree with is quite disturbing to me.”

Matt Krause, another Texas Republican, wants to cut funding for public universities that prohibit religious groups to discriminate against gay members, saying that forcing religious groups to accept LGBT violates the organizations rights to freedom of religion and freedom of association.

The United States is a nation of contrasts when it comes to LGBT rights. While a number of states – mostly in progressive regions – allow gay marriage, large swathes of the country have poor LGBT human rights records.

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David Cecil was jailed back in September before being released on bail. Authorities had told him to cancel the play, which was making the rounds in the capital, and he was allegedly arresting for not doing so.

A court in January dropped the charges due to a lack of proof.

“We have confirmation of deportation,” High Commission spokesman Chris Ward told AFP in February.

“We are quite concerned that he has not had the opportunity for due process under the Ugandan system,” he added.

“He called me from the airport, he didn’t sound OK,” said his partner Florence Kebirungi. She said that Cecil was being deported because he was deemed an “undesirable” person.

“It is a big surprise as we did not have a chance to make a legal challenge,” she told AFP.

Cecil produced the play “The River and The Mountain” about a man who comes out as gay amid a vehement anti-gay lobby in the country. British playwright Beau Hopkins wrote the play, which was performed around the capital Kampala in August. The cast was entirely Ugandan.

The government issued a temporary ban on the play, saying it wanted to review the script.

Homosexuality is illegal in the hotly homophobic African country. Current legislation would strengthen anti-gay laws and some gay-sex acts would be punishable with death.

Uganda’s anti-gay bill has been condemned by western countries and has frequently made headlines in the international news circuit.

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Hodgson is the manager of the English national football team and has managed Intern Milan and Switzerland during the course of his career.

“I’ve been lucky enough to manage clubs and countries across the globe,” said Hodgson.

“I can say from experience that football is a game that transcends different cultures and religions and it’s a sport that lends itself to things like diversity and inclusion because of the worldwide appeal.”

He said that verbal abuse has no place in the game.

“I’d never want to see someone excluded from playing or watching the game because they’re fearful of what might be said to them. That’s why it’s important that we’re all supportive of Football v Homophobia.

“Like anything, education is the key to progression and creating an atmosphere that allows everyone to enjoy the game we’re all passionate about.”

Football v Homophobia is an initiative created to tackle homophobia in the sport. Liverpool, Arsenal and West Ham are other football clubs that have backed the campaign.

“In order to effectively challenge homophobia and transphobia in football, it is imperative that clubs and their players support the message of Football v Homophobia,” says Megan Worthing-Davies, director of Football v Homophobia.

“We are delighted to see Roy Hodgson and West Ham leading the way in standing up against discrimination and congratulate them for their high profile and clear stance on the issue.”

Research by Nottingham Trent and Bedfordshire universities found that while most primary school male teachers felt secure in their jobs, men are nonetheless turned off by the profession for fear of being stigmatized as feminine or even as paedophiles.

Of the 4,500 primary schools in England, roughly a quarter are staffed by women, who are stereotypically seen as more nurturing then men when it comes to children.

Statistics also show that only three per cent of teachers in nurseries are male.

“Good leadership and support through mentoring and explicit role clarity by head teachers and staff are good starting points to encourage more males into early years teaching,” said Dr Krishan Sood, senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent.

“Stereotypes, perceived or real, of gender inequality, homophobia or identity need to be challenged and addressed.”

Different perceptions of men and women abound. One male student training to become a teacher for six and seven-year-olds said, “Early years teaching is viewed as a woman’s profession and as a nurturing stage, and females are viewed as more nurturing than males.”

Another trainee said that the societal view of men causes them to feel like “outsiders.”

“Men are perceived as intimidating [or] threatening to some early years children,” he said.

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The guidance follows the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgements, in which one found a employee suffered a breach of her right to religious freedom when she was not allowed to wear a cross.

The case is currently being appealed, with a possibility existing that the case be overturned.  The initial verdict and the potential of a different verdict in the latest ECtHR cases could lead employers and employees in a legal ‘no mans land.’

The EHRC, in response to this murky legal situation, published the guidance to clarify the law and how employers can use it to manage and protect religion and belief rights in the workplace.

Mark Hammond, CEO of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “The right of people to express their religious belief is a vital freedom, guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.

“However, following these cases there is a lot of scope for confusion on this issue. A lot of the confusion and confrontation on this issue can be avoided if we can work together to come up with common sense approaches to managing beliefs in the workplace.

“Our guidance provides clarification and practical advice to employers and employees to help them avoid costly and divisive legal action.

“In addition to publishing this guidance, the Commission is also working with the government to bring together people from different faiths, from secular and humanist groups and employers to develop ideas for how these issues can be resolved.”

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The bizarre decision emanated after a 9-year-old boy, Yunus, was taken from his parents at the age of 6 months, and placed with a Dutch lesbian couple.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ has contacted all foreign Turkish representatives to make contact with the various governments around the world, to bring back children as well as conduct searches of adopted Turkish children.  This includes the Netherlands, where Yunus is currently residing.

Turkish Parliament’s Human Rights Commission head Ayhan Sefer Üstün justified the government’s right to ‘recall’ the children, as adoption should be more in line with a child’s culture, and should not be determined through administrative services.

Üstün said: “It requires for a judicial process. We don’t condemn that culture, but the child has been given to a foreign culture, to a lesbian family. Even if a child is taken from the family for the right reasons, he or she should be placed with a family closer to his or her culture.”

The biological mother of the child, it has been reported, previously attempted to have Yunus returned to her, but without success.

Ironically enough, the Turkish authorities are making use of administrative processes by applying to the courts to have Yunus returned, citing his adoption has violated his human rights and has caused him psychological damage.  No evidence of the claims were presented.

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The TUC analysis of the pay and jobs of women over the age of 50 shows that despite a dramatic rise in the number of women working past 50, low pay and pensioner poverty remain major concerns for them as they approach retirement.

A woman in her 50s working full-time currently earns £11.99 per hour – 18 per cent less hour than a man of a similar age (£14.69). This compares to a 10 per cent gender pay gap across the workforce as a whole. Women in their 50s also earn less than women in their 30s (£14.17) and 40s (£12.93).

But the TUC analysis shows that full-time earnings only tell half the story, with half all women over 50 employed in part-time work. The average hourly part-time wage for a woman in her 50s is just £8.53 – a third less than the average full-time wage across the UK workforce (£12.76). The majority of women over 50 in part-time work earn less than £10,000 a year.

The TUC analysis shows that older women have seen the fastest jobs growth in the last two decades. In 1992, the majority of women over 50 were not active in the labour market. Today, just 37 per cent of females over 50 are economically inactive, while three in five are in work.

But while rising employment rates for older women is good news, the TUC is concerned that a lack of good quality, part-time work means that many working women are still struggling to save enough for their retirement, despite working for longer than ever.

The analysis is the first in a series of reports for Age Immaterial, a TUC project looking at issues facing women aged over 50 in work, including pay, caring responsibilities, age and sex discrimination, and health issues.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: ‘The rising number of women over 50 in work has been the great success story of the last two decades.

‘But while more women are working for longer, low pay remains a big problem, particularly for the millions who have been badly let down by the pension system and who are approaching retirement with little or no savings.

‘Women over 50 earn nearly a fifth less than men of the same age and the pay divide for the 1.6m older women with part-time jobs is even starker.

‘Part-time work is the only option available for many older women who also have to look after loved ones, either their grandchildren or their own parents, or who may no longer be able to work long hours. Most of these women earn less than £10,000 a year, barely enough to live on, let alone save for their retirement.

‘As the workforce ages, it’s essential that people are able to work part-time hours without having to give up decent pay. Most of us will have caring responsibilities at some point in our lives and it’s not right that looking after loved ones still has such as a damaging affect on women’s pay and career prospects.’

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The ad was by Core Issues Trust, an anti-gay Christian group. The ad implied that homosexuality and sexual orientation could be altered through therapy, a belief – although widely discredited – that is nonetheless strong among some Christian homophobic activists.

The ad read, “Not Gay! Ex-Gay, Post-Gay and Proud. Get over it!”

The Anglican Mainstream group also paid for the ad.

Core Issues Trust’s co-director Dr. Michael Davidson is asking the High Court to review the decision by TfL to prohibit the adverts.

TfL says it has received 37 complaints about the ad. One TfL official said the adverts received “a phenomenal negative response.”

Davidson, however, called the ban unlawful.

Controversy is circulating as to whether the ads were taken down due to political pressure from London Mayor Boris Johnson in the run-up to the municipal election.

Johnson denies pressuring the TfL, although the TfL official said that the mayor understood there was “a lot of political noise and media noise.”

The mayoral elections are set for May 3, and the advert was scheduled to run from April 16 to 29.

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The Royal College of Midwives calls the shortage a “crucial tipping point,” with hospital resources under strain to cope.

The RCM says that in England alone 5,000 midwives are needed. Parts of the UK are experiencing a 50 percent rise in the number of births.

The RCM says it is demanding the government not cut funding to midwives’ training.

In the last decade, there has been a 22 percent rise in the number of births in England, 17 percent in Wales and 15% in Northern Ireland.

“What I’m seeing is that women are, on the whole, particularly in labour, still getting very good care,” Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the RCM, told Sky News.

“But that’s at the expense of the health and welfare of the midwives who say that they’re very tired, they’re exhausted, and in a sense they’re having trouble keeping the smile on their face.”

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter says that the government is prioritizing maternity care.

“It is because of the historical shortage in the number of midwives, that from day one, investing in maternity care has been a top priority for the government,” he says.

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On January 27, a ‘Marriage for All’ protest took place, drawing a quarter of a million protestors.

The same sex debate in France is currently underway after French President Francois Hollande made it a campaign pledge to bring marriage equality to the country.

“We’re both straight, we’re both married with children. But today with the kiss of solidarity, it meant we, as parliamentary members who start fighting for same-sex marriage legislation in two days, we stand in solidarity with homosexuals.

“We stand in solidarity with their demands.”

Right-wing MP Philippe Gosselin called the kiss “ridiculous and needlessly provocative.” MP Karine Berger, a left-wing member, called the two “heroes.”

The most recent poll out of France shows that close to two-thirds of the population supports gay marriage.

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In 2011, the UNHATE campaign featured advertisements of world leaders lip locked to expound its message against hate.

The ads included US President Barack Obama kissing China’s leader Hu Jintao and the Pope and Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb also in a lip lock.

The ad campaign is for the Spring/Summer 2013 collection. UNHATE was created to “help with the creation of a new culture against hate.”

The new campaign features nine faces, including Charlie Chaplin’s daughter, Rihanna, a Michelin chef and an Arab female model. Many of the personalities run their own charities to tackle global issues.

The campaign is dedicated to tackling hate, which according to Benetton is “one of the causes of the lack of social and economic development of new generations.”

UNHATE projects are present in Brazil, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and the Middle East to foster dialogue and economic development.

For more information on the UNHATE campaign, visit the United Colors of Benetton website.

Ontario Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne was not elected by the people but was chosen by Liberal party delegates after Premier Dalton McGuinty stepped down.

With Wynne at the helm in Ontario, Canada now has six female premiers.

“We’ve wondered about why we haven’t had a higher percentage of women in legislatures and in Parliament,” Wynne said Sunday. “Well, maybe now we’re reaching a critical mass.”

Wynne, married to Jane Rounthwaite and has three children and two grandchildren, was confronted with the issue of her sexuality when a Toronto newspaper asked if the province was ready for a gay premier.

Wynne says sexual orientation isn’t a factor for Ontarians in choosing a leader.

“It is important to me that young people and people who are frightened see the possibilities,” she said. “And if I can help people to be less frightened, then that’s a wonderful, wonderful thing.”

Canada’s top LGBT rights organization said Wynne is a role model for young people.

“It sends a strong message to those young kids who are cautious and nervous about their own journey with respect to their sexual orientation and gender identity, that you can do it if you’re true to yourself,” said Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada.

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A new study by researchers at University de Montreal and McGill University have found that coming out is beneficial to your health and even found that gay men who do so are even healthier than their heterosexual male counterparts.

“There’s a lot of research suggesting that sexual minorities – lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals – are more likely to experience chronic stress. So we wanted to see if this was the case,” lead author Robert-Paul Juster from the Universite de Montreal told the CBC.

The researchers took saliva, urine and blood samples to test for stress hormone levels from 87 heterosexuals and gay people in Montreal over a two-week period.

“We found that, contrary to our expectations, gay and bisexual men actually had lower depression and lower physiological health problems than heterosexual men,” he said.

“We think that this might be related to the fact that gay and bisexual men are more likely to go to the gym and pay attention to their diet but we also suspect that there might be some sort of resilience going on.”

Comparing those who had come out of the closet compared to those who hadn’t was a key.

“If you had actually come out of the closet completely to your family and friends, you had less depression, less anxiety, less burnout and less stress hormones than if you were still in the closet,” he said.

Montreal, one of North America’s gay capitals and home to a large gay district, could also explain the results.

“I have to add the caveat that this might not necessarily apply in other conservative locations,” Juster said. “This might be something very unique to Montreal and to Quebec’s progressive policies.”

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This is the first year that a mutual retailer has entered the top 10 and Gentoo has reached the highest ever position for a housing employer. There was also strong performance from MI5, who climbed into the Top 30 having debuted on the list at 62 in 2012. And London Ambulance NHS Trust climbs over 70 positions to 22.

Goldman Sachs wins the award for Employee Network Group of the Year and Nationwide is named Most Improved Employer. Chief Constable Alex Marshall from Hampshire Constabulary is named Individual Champion of the Year.

Full results of the 2013 Stonewall Top Employers was announced at a ceremony held in London hosted by Aviva, with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Home Office, Ernst & Young, Barclays, IBM, Simmons & Simmons and Metropolitan completing the top 10.

Other noteworthy employers include Core Assets Group, which improved 6 positions from last year’s list.

Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive said. ‘Every employer in the Top 100 has performed impressively. These results are significant as it’s just ten years since we won vital legal protections for gay people in the workplace. Britain’s 1.7 million gay staff and 150,000 gay university students can now confidently use the Index to select a welcoming employer, or look further, safe in the knowledge that they are protected from discrimination.’

Olly Benzecry, senior managing director of Accenture in the UK and Ireland said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to receive this recognition from Stonewall. It is a huge credit to our LGBT network. One reason Accenture is a successful business is because of the individuals and groups who make it a great place for people to work and perform at their best.’

The Index is based on a range of key indicators, which include a confidential survey of lesbian, gay and bisexual employees, with nearly 9,000 participants. This consistently revealed that the satisfaction levels of gay staff were highest at the top-ranking organisations in the Index.

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Making Up Our Minds is the collection of 8 essays by MPs on personal trials and tribulations with mental health issues and what needs to be done to change to accommodate those with mental health issues.

James Morris, MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis together with Charles Walker, Andrea Leadsom, John Glen and Olivier Coleville took on various aspects of mental health so shed light on mental health.

James Morris, MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis said: “For too long mental health had been seen as a Cinderella service in the NHS – underfunded and not given the same priority as other health conditions. Yet there is evidence that this might be changing. There is recognition amongst policy-makers that more must be done to address the way we approach mental health.

“During the past 12 months there has been extensive debate and discussion about mental health in Parliament. Speeches by Charles Walker and Kevan Jones about their own experience of mental illness changed the terms of political debate. These essays aim to make a positive contribution to this debate. All of the contributors are Conservative MPs who have taken an active interest in mental health whether due to their own personal experience or engagement with the issue in their constituency.”

Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health said: “The importance of mental health has rarely been so well acknowledged by policymakers. The needs of people living with mental illness have seldom been so keenly debated, for example in relation to health reforms, welfare, employment and education.

“For the first time last year, sitting MPs spoke openly, frankly and movingly about their own experiences of mental distress in the House of Commons. In so doing they have helped to battle the myths and misperceptions that for too long have held back people’s aspirations and hidden their abilities.

“The essays James Morris has collected convey a sense of hope and optimism for what can be achieved but also give us stark reminders of how far we have to go to improve the life chances of people with mental health problems.”

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The aim of the guidance is to assist public authorities in encouraging good relations, promote equality and eliminate discrimination in the workplace and in delivering public services.

The guidance gives a straightforward but comprehensive explanation of how public authorities – both as employers and service providers – should comply with the duty, as well as practical advice on how to do so.

While this guidance is not a statutory Code of Practice, it can be used as evidence in legal proceedings.

Ian Acheson, Chief Operating Officer at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “This guidance will play a valuable role in raising awareness of the public sector equality duty and clarifying what compliance looks like. It will help policy makers understand the requirement to have due regard to achieving fair outcomes for different groups when drawing up policies – rather than simply filling in forms at the end of the process.

“Intelligent use of the equality duty at all stages of the policy making process leads to better targeted resources, potentially avoiding costly legal challenges and changes of policy at a later stage.”

The Commission is continuing to develop a range of guidance materials on rights, responsibilities and good practice under the Equality Act 2010, including on the public sector equality duty. Technical Guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duty and the full range of guidance available for individuals, the public sector, private businesses, service providers and employers can be found at: Equality Act Codes of Practice and Technical Guidance.

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During parliamentary questions, childcare minister, Elizabeth Truss, said that government is still committed to implementing European models of care, with is expected to lower costs, despite Department of Education research suggesting the higher ratios will not have the predicted impact.

Shadow minister for children and families, Sharon Hodgson, however questioned Truss and the governments point of view, urging them to ‘go back to the drawing board.”

Hodgson said: “Parents and providers will be extremely concerned at Liz Truss’s refusal to admit that the expert advice commissioned by her department flies in the face of her dogmatic approach.

“So much of a child’s educational and social development is determined before they start school, so it is crucial that any reforms to childcare provision in the UK – while needing to address affordability for parents – don’t compromise the quality of provision.”

Helen Penn, co author of the Department of Education commissioned research, when contacted, refused to divulge any details of the report, which is still set for release.

Penn however did say: “In general, there is no evidence that our ratios are out of line with those in many other OECD countries, or indeed Europe.

“There is no evidence that ratios are primarily responsible for high childcare costs or that relaxing ratios would drive those costs down.

“But the evidence of which we are aware, but do not discuss in the report, does suggest that there may be risks to early childhood service quality in lowering ratios.”

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The scheme will save employers up to £160 million a year in statutory sick pay and increase economic output by up to £900 million a year.

Currently, only 10 per cent of employees of small firms have access to an occupational health service, compared with more than half of staff in larger firms. The new service will enable employers of all sizes to access expert advice to help them manage sickness absence in the workplace.

This new initiative will ensure employers receive bespoke, independent advice for cases of sickness absence lasting more than four weeks. Experts agree this approach will help to stop thousands of people falling out of work and onto long-term sickness benefits.

The Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud said: ”Long-term sickness absence is a burden to business, to the taxpayer and to the thousands of people who get trapped on benefits when they could actually work.

“So for the first time, all employers, big or small, will have access to a service that offers the early support they need to keep people in work and fulfil their aspirations.

“It’s further proof that this Government is confronting all the challenges facing Britain and making sure we compete and thrive in the global race.”

The new service is part of a series of measures announced today by the Government to help employers support their staff and prevent employees needlessly going onto sickness benefits, and it is part of the Government’s response to the recommendations of health and business experts Dame Carol Black and David Frost.

Dame Carol Black said: ”I very much welcome the Government’s decision to press ahead with the new independent assessment and advisory service which David and I recommended in our Review.

“A new independent assessment and advice service will address the sicknote culture and offer people the best possible support to get back to work quickly.

“What David and I found in our Review is that far too many people with potentially manageable conditions – like stress or back pain – are effectively being signed off work for life, sliding from a short spell of sickness absence to a life of long-term benefit dependency.

“The changes being made by the government today will begin to change that. They will ensure that employers and employees get the best possible access to occupational health advice and support. And the new service will also provide much-needed support for GPs too, so they can spend more time helping their patients and less time having to police the benefit system.”

David Frost said: ”Employers consistently report that the current system does not provide their employees with enough support to enable a smooth and planned return to work.

“The proposed advisory and assessment service will give clear advice on which a business can make a judgement about when and on what circumstances their employee will return after a period of absence.

“Overall, the measures proposed will reduce costs to business and prevent people needlessly going onto sickness benefits.”

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) welcomed the Government’s proposal. Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the CIPD, said: “Research shows that the longer people are off sick, the less likely they are to make a successful return to work; after six months’ absence from work, there is only a 50% chance of someone making a successful return.  Evidence also suggests that occupational health services are the most effective means of helping people with health problems back to work, yet only a minority of small firms provide access to these. The new service will therefore fill a gap in the market by providing free, independent, objective assessment and advice to help people make quicker and lasting returns to work.

“Given that almost half of employers* do already operate an Employee Assistance Programme, it is also positive news that the Government is to retain tax relief on such programmes. The CIPD would also encourage Ministers to follow the recommendation of the sickness absence review team and extend tax relief to occupational health and vocational rehabilitation services in the 2013 budget.”

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The survey conducted by e-learning solution provider, Skillsoft, questioned more than 500 UK CEOs and 250 employees over issues relating to workers who stay on in employment past the age of 65.

The survey shockingly revealed that more than 9 in 10 managers openly admitted to not investing in training for workers over the age of 60.

Kevin Young, general manager, Skillsoft, said: “Two billion people will be over 60 by 2050, many of whom will remain in employment for longer, so organisations need to re-think their training plans to accommodate this growing ageing workforce.

“The older generation can add so much value to an organisation with their experience, and failing to complement this with the latest key training, could potentially damage the future development of any business.

“With nearly 85% of British bosses not considering training the over 60s as a priority, the problem appears more deep rooted than just a short-term cost-cutting exercise.

“Changes to the retirement age and uncertainty over pensions means that many over 60s want to work longer and remain an integral part of a company for years to come.”

However, the research found that there was little difference in mental disorder or treatment between those with a religious faith and those with none, although the religious were less likely to have problems with drugs or alcohol.

Researchers analysed the findings of interviews with a random selection of a nationally representative sample of 7,403 people in England. They examined the links between a spiritual or religious understanding of life and psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses.

Among the participants in the study, published in the January British Journal of Psychiatry:
•    35% defined themselves as ‘religious’, meaning they actually practised a faith, such as attending a church, mosque, synagogue or temple (86% of this group were Christian)
•    19% had ‘spiritual’ beliefs or experiences, without following a specific religion
•    46% were neither religious nor spiritual

More than nine out of ten of the participants were white British, with an average age of 46. Just over half of the sample was female, and each participant was interviewed for about 90 minutes as part of the third National Psychiatric Morbidity Study.

The study found that people with a spiritual understanding were more likely to:
•    have abnormal eating disorders
•    take medication for mental health problems
•    use, or be dependent upon, recreational drugs
•    have a generalised anxiety disorder, phobia or any neurotic disorder

Unlike some American studies, the research found no clear relationship between religiosity and happiness, nor that a religious understanding of life provides protection against mental disorders.

However, it did find that those with a religious understanding of life were about half as likely to have ever taken drugs, or be drug dependent or hazardous drinkers, compared with the ‘spiritual’ group or those with no religious or spiritual beliefs.

The researchers state: “Our main finding is that people who had a spiritual understanding of life had worse mental health than those with an understanding that was neither religious nor spiritual.”

They say that a possible explanation for the findings is that people with a spiritual life view “…are caught up in an existential search that is driven by their emotional distress”.

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According to “Rise of the part time dads”, close to six in 10 dads want to reduce the amount of time spent at work in order to spend more time with their family.

The motivation behind the decisions includes shared household responsibility, quality time with children and an improved work/life balance.

For fathers actually wanting to make the change the perception and stigma connected to being a part time working dad weighs heavily on their minds.  Seven in ten saw societal stigma as the main concern, with six in ten being worried about being seen as the weaker partner, with one in ten being concerned about work colleagues’ perceptions.

Angela Smith, Operations Director, Office Angels said: “Office Angels conducted the research against a backdrop of changing legislation to allow parents to share their 50 week maternity leave entitlement by 2015, the recession and its impact on men, and evolving attitudes towards gender equality.
It’s no longer unusual for the woman to be the highest earning partner in a relationship, and against this backdrop, a new trend has emerged: that of the part-time dads, who take a greater role in the upbringing of their children. We found that it is not just financial matters alone that steer these life choices. Work-life balance is increasing a subject that weighs heavy on dad’s minds”.

Ian Gallagher, Branch Manager, Office Angels, Middlesbrough said: “The whole issue of spending time with the family does play on all men’s minds. I have two children (aged one and two) and I only spend 45 minutes a day with them. I’ve missed their first steps, I’ve missed their first words. I don’t know any dads who would say that they are happy with the amount of time they spend at home with their family”.

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Big announcements expected by Age UK is the government pledge to ‘provide dignity in old age’, with information about an improved state pension and details about the cost of long-term care.

Mr. Cameron and Mr. Clegg wrote in a foreword to the review: “We are dealing with the deficit, rebuilding the economy, reforming welfare and education and supporting hard-working families through tough times. And on all of these key aims, our parties, after 32 months of coalition, remain steadfast and united.”


Based on reports, they are expected to say they will “provide dignity in old age”.

The PM and Deputy PM wrote: “We will set out two big reforms to provide dignity in old age: an improved state pension that rewards saving, and more help with the costs of long-term care.”



Age UK pointed out that The Dilnot Commission – appointed by the Government – recommended in 2011 a cap of £35,000 on the cost of social care, with the potential now existing to announce the figure the coalition government is not familiar with.

In addition, Cameron and Clegg are likely to provide fresh plans for a flat-rate state pension worth at least £140 a week – currently the most you can get is £107.45.

Celestina Mba’s case started unfolding in 2010, when she took the Merton Council to an employment tribunal for ignoring her request to not work on Sundays.

While Mba’s initial request to not work on Sundays were agreed to, later managers took issue.  Mba was then put in a position to either take the Sunday shits or face disciplinary steps, despite colleagues offering to cover the shits.

The council’s argument to placing Mba on Sundays was that the council had a duty of care to families and children and that placing Mba on the Sundays were out of necessity.

In February 2012, and employment tribunal found in favour or Merton Council, basing its judgement on the argument that Sundays off were not ‘an essential core component of the Christian faith.’

Mba then decided to take her case further to the High Court, who upheld the tribunal hearing.

Andrea Minichiello Williams, director of Christian Legal Centre, told the This is London website: “The court in this case created an unrealistic test which means that people like Celestina who wish to respect the Sabbath will be forced out of the workplace.



“In the past year we have seen mandatory tests of faith in relation to the wearing of crosses by Christians, belief about marriage between a man and a woman and now observing the Sabbath when in all cases reasonable accommodation could have been made.



“Such tests do not appear to be similarly applied to Muslims who are permitted to wear the hijab and observe prayers and Sikhs with the kara bracelet.”

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The process will start in March this year, which will see unpaid parental leave increased to 15 weeks, with the leave increasing to 18 weeks in 2015.

As of 2015, parents will, under law, be able to share a maximum of 50 weeks parental leave.

The current law however provides 52 weeks maternity leave, and this will stay as the default position for employed women.  Women who are currently eligible for maternity pay and leave, will be able to do so for the current stated period.

Parental leave will be however be able to be shared between the mother and her partner, if she chooses to stop the leave immediately or in the future.  The partner can take the balance of the outstanding maternity leave.

Lynda Spiby, head of employment at solicitors, Boote Edgar Esterkin in a contribution to hrmagazine.co.uk said: “I believe that giving parents the opportunity to ‘mix and match’ their leave will give them greater flexibility with regards to child care arrangements and managing competing work and domestic responsibilities. Having greater flexibility could also benefit employers, by enabling them to make the most of their entire talent pool, help them attract and retain women and prevent women leaving work following childbirth.

“However, calculating how much remaining leave and pay can be shared is likely to cause problems for employers, in addition to other issues that may arise such as how parents are going to verify what leave has been taken, how employers are going to monitor the leave and prevent fraudulent claims.

“We shall therefore have to wait to see what, if any, solutions the Government puts forward to minimise such problems when it launches a consultation early next year to consider the detail of how the new system is going to work.”

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The research, conducted by the University of Cork, found a correlation between heart attacks and unstable anginas and high work stress.

The research, which specifically looked into the correlation of the factors among older men found a distinct difference between younger and older men with high and lower work stress and low control at work.

This clear correlation has lead the Society of Occupational Medicine to call for employers to address the issues in the workplace in a constructive manner to keep individuals economically active and healthy.

Lead author Vera McCarthy said: “This study is important as it provides information on older workers necessary to inform policy-makers, clinicians, OH physicians and employers.”

Society president Dr Richard Heron added: “Employers need to ensure that they are looking after the health of their older employees, making the necessary adjustments and being flexible about the jobs they do and their working practices.”

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Data from the latest census in 2011 showed there were 754,800 people aged 64 in England and Wales, and almost 6.5 million people are turning 65 over the next decade compared with 5.2 million in the previous decade. The spike is due to the post-war birth rate soaring when the armed forces returned from the Second World War, with the new-born generation dubbed the ‘baby boomers’.
 


Allied with improved health care, more people are remaining active as they approach retirement age, and the latest Aviva report shows how they are pushing back the boundaries at work and in their leisure time.  One in four (23%) 65 to 74 year olds were still wage earners in December 2012, compared with 18% when the report first launched almost three years ago in February 2010.

With 55% of 55 to 64 year olds doing the same, compared with 41% in February 2010, this trend looks set to continue as more baby boomers pass the age of 65. It has already fuelled the rise of income and savings among over-55s during the last three years.  The typical over-55 now has an income of £1,444 each month along with £14,544 in savings (December 2012), compared with a monthly income of £1,239 and savings of £11,590 in February 2010.

Despite 80% being concerned by rising living costs over the next six months (December 2012), the UK’s over-55s are determined to enjoy the benefits of extending their working lives.  Nearly half (44%) plan to use their extra time in retirement to travel more, while 42% are focused on spending more time in their gardens.
 


Socialising is high on the agenda for many over-55s in retirement, with 37% planning to invest extra time in their families and 33% keen to socialise more with friends.
 


They also have philanthropic intent: two-thirds (66%) of over-55s would be interested in carrying out charity work or volunteering once they have retired.  The most common motivation is to give something back to the community (49%) and to stay active by getting out of the house (48%).
 


Clive Bolton, Managing Director of Aviva’s At Retirement business, commented: “What we are seeing is the first baby boomers setting out a new model for later life, and getting the most out of their improved physical health and the freedom to continue working for longer.  Many people find that staying active in a job helps to keep them young at heart – with the bonus being that it boosts their earning and savings potential in the process.
 


“The key to making the most of this opportunity is for people to start planning for their 60s and beyond well in advance. This way, rather than accepting the old retirement stereotypes, you can have the freedom of choice about whether you continue to work or not, rather than feeling forced to carry on out of the demand to meet financial commitments.”

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This is the message of a special supplement published with the January 2013 edition of the British Journal of Psychiatry (BJPsych). The supplement’s editors make the case for a transformation of mental health care for young people based on early intervention and a priority focus on emerging adulthood.

The supplement’s two editorials, two papers and five special articles have been authored by 21 specialists, who examine how services might be set up to best meet the mental health needs of young people in the 21st century.

Research suggests that one in ten children and young people aged 5 to 16 have a diagnosable mental disorder, with prospective studies suggesting that by the age of 21, more than half of young people will have experienced a mental health problem of some kind. The consequences of poor mental health care and prevention include premature death, lost earnings and wasted social, educational and economic opportunities.

Royal College of Psychiatrists President, Professor Sue Bailey, herself a forensic child and adolescent psychiatrist, said: “The early years of life and maturity into adulthood are absolutely crucial for future wellbeing.

“While the circumstances of a young person’s life may be out of their control, there are things that can be done to build resilience, prevent mental ill health and treat mental disorders.

“The way services are organised is crucial and this special supplement makes the case for a fundamental review of how they are delivered. While of course we must not ignore the importance of early childhood experiences, the supplement highlights the important transition from adolescence into adulthood for future mental wellbeing.”

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According to the report by the Economic and Social Research Institute, those of black ethnicity say that experienced most while looking for work but also in many service settings, reports the BBC.

In 2010, 12% of adults surveyed said they were victims of discrimination in the two years prior.

The ESRI report was based on data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Quarterly National Household Survey: Equality Module 2010.

According to the BBC, other findings include:

• Women are more likely to experience discrimination than men, particularly in the workplace
• Adults in the 45-64 year old group are more likely to report work-related discrimination, specifically when seeking employment
• People with a disability are more likely to report discrimination in services, particularly in health and transport
• Only one in ten of those experiencing discrimination took formal or legal action in response

“Discrimination remains an enormous challenge to Irish society,” said Renee Dempsey, chief executive of the Equality Authority.

“We need to strengthen our commitment to equality in Ireland as a key element of our strategy for economic recovery.”

She adds, “It remains the case that those most at risk of discrimination are least likely to know their rights.

“This research shows that knowing your rights makes a real difference and addressing this issue will be a particular challenge to the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.”

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Chairman David Bernstein said the FA is making strides in tackling homophobia in the game, which he hopes will translate into players coming out.
 
Clubs in the UK that fail to tackle homophobia whether emanating from players, coaches or fans face disciplinary action.

“Ensuring the game is inclusive and combats discrimination has been – and remains – at the top of my agenda,” Bernstein said, reports The Daily Mail.

He added: “Equally, no football player should fear coming out as gay at the risk of suffering discrimination and we continue to strengthen our support programmes to ensure the game is open to all regardless of their sexuality.

“The over-riding message remains that there is simply no place for any form of discrimination in football.”

That was a message supported by the UK Professional Footballer’s Association, saying the union would support a player who came out.

The Chicago Teachers Union is suing the country’s third largest school district, having filed a federal lawsuit in early January. The move comes on the heels of a weeklong strike in September by teachers, which resulted in a pay hike.

The suit seeks an immediate halt to any more school closings in the Northern District of Illinois.

“We have an obligation to expand high quality school options to all families and children in every neighborhood and turnarounds is just one tool that allows us to provide those options,” said the school district, according to Reuters.

Chicago’s mayor Rahm Emanuel, one of President Barack Obama’s former advisors and a man who helped Obama win the election in 2008, says under-performing schools have until March to close.

The call for the closings comes amid declining enrollments. The district says that roughly 140 of its schools are empty and that the student population is 100,000 short.

The union is concerned that while schools are shutting in poor neighborhoods, new nonunion charter schools elsewhere in the city are gaining approval.

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A poll by Macmillan Cancer Support found that specialist cancer medics believe that age discrimination is preventing cancer patients from access to the best treatment.

Forty-five percent of oncologists and cancer nurses in the survey said their cancer patients were refused treatment because of their old age.

Macmillan suggests that a patient’s overall condition should be addressed, not simply a patient’s age. The UK has some of the worst cancer survival rates in Europe.

“Health professionals’ concerns about the prevalence of age discrimination in cancer care mustn’t be ignored,” said Ciaran Devane, chief executive at Macmillan Cancer Support.

“Unless staff are given the time and training to carry out a proper assessment of a patient’s overall physical and mental wellbeing, some patients will be unfairly written-off as ‘too old’ for treatment.

“The right practical support, whether it’s transport or help with caring responsibilities must also be put in place so older people needing treatment can actually take it up.

“The number of older people (aged 65 and over) living with cancer in the UK is set to rocket in the next 20 years from 1.3 million to 4.1 million. Unless the barriers to timely treatment are tackled now, many older people could die unnecessarily from cancer and services will become unaffordable.”

Image of Pacific Yew Tree, the bark of which is an source of Taxol used  in cancer treatement.

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The Church already allows those who enter a civil partnership to become clergy as long as they too remain celibate. The latest ruling allows those clergy in a civil partnership to become bishops, again, provided they remain celibate.

Conservative factions within the Church say they will fight the new stance adopted at the general synod.

Clergy should not be prohibited from becoming a bishop as long as they “live fully in conformity with the Church’s teaching on sexual ethics or other areas of personal life and discipline,” said the Rt Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich

“All candidates for the episcopate undergo a searching examination of personal and family circumstances, given the level of public scrutiny associated with being a bishop in the Church of England.

“But these, along with the candidate’s suitability for any particular role for which he is being considered, are for those responsible for the selection process to consider in each case.”

Conservatives say promoting clergy to bishops under the circumstances has not been fully debated in the general synod.

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The charity wants to hear from anyone willing to give up a few hours a week to work in its shops. Volunteers play a key role in supporting The Children’s Society’s work with young runaways, child refugees, disabled children and young carers.  

The charity’s Retail Operations Manager, Tina Fellstrom, said: ‘Our volunteers are the cornerstone of our work.  Without their selfless dedication, our work to create a better life for the most disadvantaged children would be impossible.

‘Whether it’s a few hours a day or a couple of days a week, their contribution is invaluable.  There’s no better New Year’s resolution than to do something positive with your time, and no better time than now to do it!’

The Children’s Society’s retail shops are a vital source of funds. Money raised helps the charity campaign on many issues and supports its 34 programmes of work with children facing poverty, abuse and neglect.  

Volunteering for The Children’s Society is also a great way to contribute to the local community, gain work experience and make new friends. No experience is needed – just a willingness to give up a few hours of week to join a team of around 2,000 volunteers who generously give their time each week at one of the charity’s 82 shops.

If you want to help The Children’s Society reach out to marginalised children, click here or call  0300 303 7000.

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The scheme for those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) is part of the Government’s Youth Contract, which was launched in July 2012. It originally targeted funding to the most disengaged group of teenagers – those with no GCSEs at A*-C – through a payment-by-results system.

The Department for Education saved £20 million during this competitive procurement process, meaning the scheme can now be extended to a wider range of 16- and 17-year-olds who are NEET, including:

•    Young people who are or were in care.
•    Young people who have one GCSE at A*-C.
•    Young offenders released from custody.

Schools Minister David Laws said: “Helping these young people to get on in life is crucial if we want to build a strong economy and a fair society.  We want every young person, regardless of their circumstances, to be able to fulfil their potential.

“I am delighted we can now support many more of the hardest-to-help young people get back into education or get a job with training.

Young people in the scheme will be given tailored programmes to suit their needs, getting a wide range of support and taking part in projects. This may include:
•    Being assisted to apply for education and training courses and jobs, such as through practice interviews and application-writing.
•    Getting involved in projects focusing on a range of activities, such as skills training and improving literacy and numeracy.
•    Mentoring on issues such as personal finance, health and wellbeing.

Youth Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said: “Education and training are key to getting young people who have offended back on the right path. We are improving access to education for those leaving youth custody by creating better links between the secure estate, youth offending teams and local colleges and are conducting a review of the youth custodial estate with the intention of developing a much stronger focus on education.

“The extension of the Youth Contract to young people leaving custody is a welcome and important step in the Government’s commitment to reduce reoffending.”

Rosemary Watt-Wyness, director of strategy and policy at The Prince’s Trust, said: “At The Prince’s Trust, we are especially concerned about young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who find themselves furthest from the jobs market.

“Young offenders and those who have been in care often face the greatest struggle to get into work, so we welcome the widening of the Youth Contract to help these young people get their lives on track.”

Seven providers successfully bid for contracts when the scheme launched. These providers will work with local authorities and other local agencies and organisations to identify the young people newly eligible for the Youth Contract. The young people will be able to start their tailored package of support from February.

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The Freedom of Information request, done by the Labour party, comes in anticipation of further cutbacks.  The highly anticipated Childcare Commission results has been predicted to include a reduction in staff to child ration the early year setting.

Denise Burke, director of United for All Ages and the Good Care Guide, said: “This is something childminders and nurseries are going to have to bear in mind now. They need adequately trained staff and if they’re not going to get any help from the local authority to help them with staff training then they are going to have to find that themselves.”

Stephen Twigg MP, Labour’s shadow education secretary, claimed that any reduction in ratios could compromise standards and safeguards. 



Twigg said: “Parents will be extremely concerned that the government’s plans could reduce the quality of childcare and could put child safety at risk,” he said. “In some parts of the country, there is now no money available to train nursery staff.

“Now the Tories want to go further and reduce the numbers of nursery staff and increase the numbers of toddlers they can look after.”

Childcare minister Elizabeth Truss however countered the Labour attack by blaming the current state of affairs on what she called a “system where parents faced the highest costs of any major country besides Switzerland and staff were paid barely more than the minimum wage.”

Mark Hammond, CEO of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “Stuart Lawrence’s account of his treatment sadly reflects the experience of too many black and ethnic minority people who are subject to disproportionate numbers of stops and searches by the police. The most recent figures show that across England and Wales, black people are still at least six times as likely to be stopped and searched compared to white people.

“The Commission has worked with various police forces, including the Met, to address this issue, and we have seen some success in bringing down disproportionality in some areas with no adverse impact on crime prevention nor detection. There is no reason why all police forces cannot adopt the same best practice.

“We hope to work with the Mayor’s team and the new police and crime commissioners to achieve this progress across the board.”

The EHRC’s latest response come after the brother of Stephen Lawrence launched a complaint against the Metropolitan police for harassment after being stopped by officers 25 times.

Stuart Lawrence, felt that he was being targeted by police because of the colour of his skin. The teacher, in an interview with the Daily Mail said that he had been stopped for “no apparent reason and without any justification”.

The last incident, on 16 November 2012 was the breaking point for Lawrence, when he was arrested in Peckham, south London, when two officers pulled him over while he was driving in his VW Scirocco.

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Work and personal life have the ability to spill over into one another and either positive or negatively affect one another.  But can a company really cross the boundary and assist an employee in their personal life? Would it be deemed appropriate?

Professor Bevan wrote: “The demands on our time, attention and psychological resilience from our lives outside work have changed markedly in the past 30 years. For example, more than 20% of UK workers nowadays are mothers; men with children under five years old work the longest hours; and up to eight million adults in the UK care for elderly or disabled relatives. At The Work Foundation we, together with colleagues at wellbeing company Robertson Cooper, have carried out research among hundreds of UK bank workers to examine what work and non-work pressures they are under and what impact they have at work and home.

“The most prominent sources of work-related stress in our sample were a lack of control over their job, little influence over performance targets, growing job insecurity (and a presenteeism rate of 64%), lack of clarity over what their boss expects and – even worse – anxiety that their boss is forever finding fault. The non-work factors causing most anxiety are the impact of poor quality of sleep, the health of a family member, problems with ageing parents, financial insecurity and debt, rising prices of common goods, troubling thoughts about the future and concerns about their weight.

“Previous researchers have struggled to unpick exactly how the work and non-work pressures interact with each other and what the cumulative impact of stress in the job and stress at home means for job performance, attendance and resilience. Some studies suggest a downward spiral of pressure and ill-health, especially if people feel they have little control over important aspects of work or their lives outside work. A Swedish survey showed work pressures often reinforced or caused low levels of physical activity outside work, which led to poorer physical health.

“This must be baffling for HR professionals and line managers, who have to manage the difficulties faced by their staff as compassionately and constructively as possible. Raising awareness of employee assistance programmes (EAP) and establishing new ones that more closely match employee needs is probably a baseline requirement, especially if there is a counselling element.

“The corporate culture has to be open and supportive enough for employees to feel they can safely ask for help or even disclose that they have a problem. In our survey of bank workers, fewer than one in 10 said they felt confident enough to talk about non-work problems with co-workers or their manager. “This is a concern, especially if people are finding the toxic aspects of both work and home leave them with nowhere to turn.”

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The Government has made sorting out and speeding up adoption a priority, overhauling the system to make it swifter, more effective and robust. We have made good progress and some encouraging signs of improvement have emerged. For example, the number of children available for adoption has risen from 3000 in 2010 to more than 4000 in 2012. Court processes have moved more swiftly too. But we need hundreds more people to come forward to adopt.

So measures outlined today go even further to ensure potential adopters are welcomed with open arms, given a much more active role, including in the matching process, and greater support with this life-changing decision.

They will also ensure that once people have gone through the adoption process, they will get more ongoing support.

The Government is:

•    looking at ways to give adopters a more active role in the adoption process, with the chance to make a connection with a child in advance and play a greater role in finding the right match. This will be done by:

- encouraging Adoption Activity Days, as pioneered by the British Association of Adoption and Fostering, where prospective parents can meet children waiting for adoption and have the chance to make a real connection with a child. Pilot Activity Days have proved very successful, finding families for almost one in five children and evidence suggests they could be particularly successful in matching harder to place children; and

- looking at options for opening up the Adoption Register to
approved prospective adopters.

•    ensuring more paid leave for people adopting a child – bringing adoption pay and leave in line with that of biological parents when it comes to maternity and paternity leave, giving parents and children more time to bond in those early days;
•    giving adoptive parents the right to take time off work to meet the children they are set to adopt before they move in with family, helping to make the transition to a new family be as smooth as possible;
•    trialling the idea of personal budgets, where adoptive parents can have more choice and control over the type and provider of adoption support, that would otherwise be allocated by councils;
•    extending the free early education for two year-olds to adopted children from 2014 and giving them priority school access from 2013;
•    launching a new helpline in the New Year, with the phone lines manned by adopters, with first-hand experience; and
•    looking to next year, we will be launching a National Gateway for Adoption, a new ‘one-stop-shop’ online service, for the first stages of the adoption process, making it easy for those thinking about adoption to find out more.

Edward Timpson, Children and Families Minister, said: “This support will also provide more help to those who are already adopting children who have been in care. I urge everyone this Christmas to think seriously about opening up their home to a child awaiting adoption.

“This new support builds on a range of measures Government has already taken to speed up the process for children, overhaul the service for prospective adopters and to strengthen local accountability for the timeliness of adoption services.”

Martin Narey, the Government’s Adoption Adviser, said: “Immense and well intentioned social work effort goes into matching children to adopters. But there is in the US and now UK evidence that effective matches can be achieved by allowing adopters to take the initiative.

“Of course, that does not mean that adopters can simply choose their child, they still need professional advice on such a vital decision. But it is clear – and indeed I have observed – that there is a chemistry between adopters and children which can provide a foundation for a very successful adoption.

David Holmes, Chief Executive of the British Association of Adoption and Fostering, said: “The British Association for Adoption and Fostering warmly welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcements today about enhanced adoption support. Adoption support is so important in ensuring that adoptions are given the very best chance of succeeding.

“We also welcome the support for our Adoption Activity Days pilots which have resulted in a number of children being linked with their new forever families. Now, more than ever, we need more people to consider if adoption could be right for them – we must find families for the thousands of children who are waiting whilst ensuring that adoption support is available to meet the needs of all.

Adoption UK’s Chief Executive, Hugh Thornbery said: “We welcome the Government’s announcement of the trial of personal budgets to allow adopters more choice over the type and provider of adoption support. Adoption UK knows from its membership that appropriate support packages are vital not to just to encourage new adopters but also to ensure adoptive families are fully equipped to provide a permanent, stable and loving home to some of the most vulnerable and traumatised children in our society.

We know that local authorities have been tightening their budgets for some time but it should be remembered that in the long run, the cost of providing appropriate, timely support is less than keeping a child in care. To adoptive families, this announcement is hopeful but we would welcome the government’s reassurance that the funding will be in place to fully implement these plans.”

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Atkin, in an interview with HR magazine said: “With the ongoing problems of retaining talent, having an organisation with high retention rates is increasingly important and we believe retention rates will remain extremely high among our apprentices.

“However, in order to reach the most disadvantaged young people, these schemes must be made simpler in the application process and more accessible.

“I’ve always been conscious of youth unemployment problems in the UK and I wanted to help tackle this issue. I think other large companies should be responsible as well.”

Earlier in January, it closed down.

The trust in the will of Doris Callow was set up in 1992 to support the disabled, but now the money has run out. Funds from elsewhere could not be secured.

One of the people who received help from the charity was Patrick Barrett, 50, from Keston, a tetraplegic who received parts from his wheelchair and an E-book reader from the charity.

“A lot of charities are very restricting.

“Some will only help people of a certain age, some will only help people of a certain disability.

“They helped everyone and they are going to be really missed – it made a real difference to know they were there to help.”

Another, Laura Mitchell, 27, from Chislehurst, who has Down Syndrome, won two Special Olympics gold medals. She received grants from the Bromley Disability Trust to help her compete in the games.

Her mother, Ruth Mitchell, 61, said: “It’s very sad that they have to close,” said Ruth Mitchell, Laura’s mother.

“It’s very expensive to go to these events and Laura doesn’t have any income of her own.

“With their help we were able to pay for her to go and for family members to go to support her.

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McCririck, 72, was sacked last year and replaced by the much younger Clare Balding, 41.

The racing pundit announced on January 9 that he would pursue legal action against Channel 4 and IMG Sports Media.

In a statement McCririck said, “Channel 4 and production company IMG Sports Media were yesterday each served a letter before action for age discrimination.

“After 29 years with Channel 4 Racing, on a rolling annual contract, I have been sacked without any consultation or cogent explanation. I am 72.

“For loss of future earnings, unfair career damaging, public humiliation, stress and mental anguish, I will be seeking £500,000.

“Ageism is illegal. For tens of thousands of employees it has become the feared scourge of our society. This litigation should prove to be a watershed.

“There’s no upper limit to the amount of damages employment tribunals can award under the Equality Act 2010.

“I am seeking a further exemplary, punitive £2.5m, part of which will be donated to charitable organisations helping to prevent negative prejudice in the workplace.”

According to the Telegraph, Stephen Beverley will represent McCririck. Beverley is an expert on employment and sports law.

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The court ruled that BA failed to protect Nadia Eweida’s religious beliefs when they asked her to remove her cross back in 2006. The court felt that Eweida’s choice to wear her cross had no impact on her ability to carry out her work.

The court ruled that the British government must pay Eweida 2,000 euros (£1,600) in damages and 30,000 euros (£25,000) costs.

Prime Minister David Cameron was pleased with the ruling, saying the “principle of wearing religious symbols at work has been upheld”, adding that people “shouldn’t suffer discrimination due to religious beliefs.”

However, the ECHR also ruled that religious convictions had an adverse impact on work in three other similar cases brought on by Christians.

In one case, a sex therapist refused to provide services to gay couples, arguing doing so violated her religious rights.

The Secular Society agreed with the court’s rulings regarding the three other Christians.

“If they had won these cases, it would have driven a coach and horses through the equality laws. The rights of gay people to fair and equal treatment would have been kicked back by decades,” said the Society.

“It is always better if employers can reach some kind of accommodation with their staff on these issues, and in the vast majority of cases, they do. But when employees refuse to carry out all the duties that their job entails, it is reasonable for employers to discipline them.

“Religious people who feel elements of their job go against their conscience can always find employment that better matches their needs. That is true religious freedom.”

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Data by the Institut français d’opinion publique has found that discrimination in the workplace is up 4 percent in 2012 compared to the previous year.

In the private sector, 30 percent of workers say they were victims of discrimination, along with 29 percent in the public sector.

The vast majority of those polled – 81 percent – feel Europe’s economic crisis has exacerbated discrimination in the workplace.

Ageism in the private sector was experienced by 32 percent of adults, along with 20 percent in the public sector. Regarding gender, 22 percent experienced gender prejudice in the private sector and 26 in the public.

Maternity was another point of discrimination in both sectors, with 21 percent and 24 percent of workers respectively saying they were discriminated against on that particular aspect.

Forty percent of those who were victimized say they chose to keep silent and not take action, fearing doing so would only makes things worse.

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“Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well,” Obama added.

Later this year, the Supreme Court will consider whether same-sex couples will be permitted to marry.

“It was beautiful,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said of Obama’s speech. “It was a beautiful tying together of the American tradition of making real our founders’ words.”

Mentioned Stonewall was a “testament to the valiant contributions of LGBT Americans past and present who seek nothing more than to be treated equally by the country they love,” said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin.

“As the merits of marriage equality come up for debate from state houses to the halls of the U.S. Supreme Court, and a broad majority of Americans are standing up for liberty and fairness, the President’s unequivocal support for equality is a clarion call that all Americans should receive with celebration,” Griffin said.

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New numbers show that the majority – 70 per cent – of claimants claim benefits without proper checks into their ability to work.

By 2015, 330,000 – or nearly 60 per cent – of claimants may be cut off from the system or have their benefits reduced, according to the Daily Mail.

Those claiming disability allowance amount to 3.2 million adults a year at a cost of £13.2billion.

The number of claimants has risen significantly since the benefit was created in 1992.

If nothing is done to cut back on claimants one in 17 adults could claim DLA by 2018, says disability minister Esther McVey.

McVey’s says that many on disability benefits have had a change in their status that goes unnoticed or unreported to the government.

Over 500,000 files will be reviewed by 2015.

“It has been considered a static benefit, not a dynamic one. But there will be people getting better thanks to medical advances or who overcome an impairment. So we need new and more regular assessments,” McVey said.

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics found that 18.8 per cent of women with a child under two years of age faced workplace discrimination while 29.3 per cent left while pregnant or soon after giving birth.

The survey looked at 357,000 working women with a child.

Twenty-nine per cent of women returned to work within three months of having a child. Thirty-three per cent returned within a year.

A quarter of the women say they returned so has to not upset their employers.

The research found that 31,200 women felt hostility from their employers and 22,900 believe they missed out on a promotion as a result.

“There has not been a lot of improvement since 2005 (when the last survey was completed),” said Helen Conway, Director of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency.

“We need to change corporate culture.”

The gender gap is an example of how rampant sexism is in the Australian workplace, says Conway. 

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A YouGov survey found that 55% of Britons are in favor of same-sex marriage. The results were released on December 11.

Conservative party members, however, were split on the issue with 46% in favor and 48% against. Sixty percent of Liberal voters support gay marriage, as do 77% of Liberal Democrats.

Mark Pawsey, a Tory MP, criticized the government’s plans to introduce gay marriage legislation, saying less heterosexual couples would marry as a result.

“The secretary of state herself referred to the institution of marriage as a building block of our society and yet last year nearly half of all babies were born to couples who were not married,” Pawsey said in the House of Commons.

Citing the presence of equal marriage in other countries, Pawsey said, “Given that marriage rates in Spain and Holland collapsed after same-sex marriage was introduced there, is she not concerned that even fewer couples intending to have children will choose to get married?”

Joe Twyman, YouGov director of political and social research, said the fact that a majority of the population supports equal marriage illustrates the necessity to move ahead with such legislation.

“All of the recent polling we have done on this issue has found that a majority of the British public support the right of same-sex couples to have full equal marriage,” said Twyman.

“However, dig a little deeper and we can see that Conservative voters remain more divided on this issue, with a slightly higher proportion who are opposed.

“Ukip has already pledged to seek the votes of those who abandon the Conservatives over the issue, and so the government’s decision to plough ahead with same-sex marriage legislation could very well intensify divisions within the party over the coming weeks.”

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The report contends that doctors are basing decisions on whether to proceed with life-saving treatment based on age and found that those in their 50s are more likely to be offered treatment for heart attacks that those in their 80s.

The report by Dr Foster Intelligence Unit also notes that some hospitals won’t provide treatment to anyone over 75.

The UK government has introduced laws allowing patients to sue the NHS on the grounds of ageism.

The procedure to treat a heart attack, called a percutaneous coronary intervention, was offered to 52 per cent of patients in their 50s while only 18 per cent to those in their 80s.

“It is unacceptable to use someone’s age as a shortcut to deciding whether they are suitable for treatment,” said Michelle Mitchell, of Age UK.”

“Everyone must be given the most effective, suitable treatment for their individual circumstances and chronological age must not be used as a cut-off date.”

Regarding reconstructive breast surgery, less than 5 per cent of women in their 80s are offered the procedure while nearly 100 per cent of women in their 50s receive it.

“We need to ensure that inaccurate assumptions are not being made about patients solely due to their age,” said Dr Rachel Greig, senior policy officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

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“It is an outrage that in our modern world, so many countries continue to criminalize people simply for loving another human being of the same sex,” said Moon in December at UN headquarters in New York.

Moon also reminded the audience that many anti-gay laws were inherited during colonial times and are not grassroots products.

“[I]n most cases, these laws are not home-grown. They were inherited from former colonial powers… These laws must go.”

Moon said, “discrimination against staff on the basis of sexual orientation will not be tolerated” at the UN, adding that he reminded all senior managers to show tolerance and respect.

The UN’s top diplomat also derided laws that prohibit the public discussion of homosexuality, like in the Ukraine.

“I deplore these kinds of measures wherever they are introduced. They threaten basic rights, feed stigma and lead to more abuse.”

Moon also called for more leadership, saying laws to protect LGBT must be enacted despite public opinion.

“I understand it can be difficult to stand up to public opinion,’ said the Secretary-General. ‘But, just because a majority might disapprove of certain individuals does not entitle the State to withhold their basic rights.

“Democracy is more than majority rule. It requires defending vulnerable minorities from hostile majorities. It thrives on diversity. Governments have a duty to fight prejudice, not fuel it.”

At the meeting, Moon was joined by international pop sensation Ricky Martin.

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The school becomes the first public university to include such a question on its admissions application, although answering the question will be optional.

The school says it’s doing so in order to better retain its LGBT population and provide them support.

“LGBTQ students are important members of our campus community,” says University of Iowa Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President Georgina Dodge,” and we want to provide them with an opportunity to identify themselves in order to be connected to resources and to build networking structures.”

The specific question on the application is: “Do you identify with the LGBTQ Community?” ‘Transgender’ is included under gender.

“For the first time, a major, public and national research university has taken efforts to identify their LGBT students from the very first moment those students have official contact with them,” says Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride, an national umbrella organization working to create a safer university environment for LGBT students. “This is definite progress in the right direction — and deserves praise.”

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The bill – ‘Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill’ – was introduced on December 12.

The bill allows religious bodies the right to perform same-sex marriage should they choose to, but it would not oblige any religious group to perform the ceremonies.

After a 14-week consultation process, the bill is expected to begin its run through parliament in May or June with support from all major parties.

From there, it would take roughly six months for the bill to pass. Scotland could see its first same-sex ceremony by early 2014.

“Today Scotland has taken a huge step forward towards full equality for LGBT people,” said Tom French, policy coordinator for the Equality Network charity.

“Equally religious bodies should have the freedom to choose for themselves whether to conduct same-sex marriages, currently all religious bodies are wrongly banned from doing so regardless of their beliefs.

“These proposals are fair and progressive, and as a result we expect the final legislation to get the backing of a clear majority in parliament.”

“We are introducing same sex marriage in Scotland because it is the right thing to do,” said Alex Neil Member, a member of parliament and Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.

“We are striving to create a Scotland that is free, tolerant and fair and I am pleased to say there is support across the chamber for this significant step.

“I am absolutely clear that this should not impact on religious freedom and no religious body will be compelled to solemnise same-sex marriages.”

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Janee Harteau took her oath of office at the beginning of December last year, becoming the first openly-gay police chief in the Minnesota city.

Her partner Holly Keegel was a few feet away during the oath.

Harteau’s promotion may not have been possible without Sharon Lubinski, a former Minneapolis police officer who came out in 1993 and once served as assistant chief.

“I just felt like, if I came forward that there might be a change in how people view gays and lesbians in both Minneapolis police as well as in the community,” Lubinski said. “I think it helped making some changes along those lines.”

Lubinski said that her coming out did in fact change attitudes, saying that police officers tend to be more socially conservative than the general population.

“If you’re pulling your weight; if you’re doing your job, a lot of the cops are just extremely supportive,” Lubinski said.

Lt. Rob Allen was another trailblazer when he came out in 1994, becoming one of the first openly gay male officers to do so.

When he joined the force in the 1980s, he said police officers would often raid adult bookstores, places where gay men often met.

“They used to brag about the fact that men who were arrested in those raids on adult bookstores had committed suicide,” Allen said. “That seemed to be one of the goals they tried to achieve with these arrests.”

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One demand at a forum held in Stockholm includes limiting the ability of physicians to determine sex and ‘normalize’ the genitals of newborns.

Doctors often determine the sex of a newborn based on the length of the penis, if there is one present, and may perform surgery to remove the penis if it is deemed too small.

Decisions are often based arbitrarily in the case of intersexed babies in an attempt to ‘normalize’ the child into the chosen sex.

The second International Intersex Forum took place in the Swedish capital from December 9-11 and saw 37 activists from 33 organizations come together.

The forum was part of an International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) conference.

The activists also called on the UN to include the rights of intersex people in the overall framework of human rights, citing the example of Indian gold-medal winner Pink Pramanik, who was accused of being a man, and the furor raised over his human rights violations.

The forum also called for more visibility by encouraging intersexed people to come together to make their voices heard.

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After trying unsuccessfully to start a family, a husband and wife applied for IVF funding in June only to be told that the wife was too old at 37 to meet the criteria.

Funding is only available for women between 30 and 34.

It is believed to be the first time a health secretary is being sued because of an NHS rule and the first time a case of fertility treatment has involved age discrimination.

Local PCTs devise their own rules regarding age, although national guidelines say women up to the age of 39 can be funded for treatment.

Age discrimination legislation that came into effect in October now leaves the NHS open to legal action if a patient can prove he or she was denied any medical treatment because of age.

Health minister Norman Lamb said the changes to age discrimination could lead to a rise in claims for those denied medical treatment, including IVF treatment.

“If an older woman sought to argue she should have access to treatment on the NHS she can challenge it, but she would have to show that the upper age limit was not objectively justified.

“What I’d say generally is that if people in any condition feel that a judgment can’t be justified, and feels arbitrary, then they should challenge it because we should always be making our judgment in the health service on clinical need.”

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The study, Freedom of Thought 2012, by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) was released on December 10 states that Islamic countries mete out the harshest punishment for “unbelievers” whether by the state or by non-state actors, according to Reuters.

The report also criticized Europe and the United States, a deeply religious nation, for denigrating humanists and atheists.

“[T]here are laws that deny atheists’ right to exist, curtail their freedom of belief and expression, revoke their right to citizenship, restrict their right to marry,” stated the report, which adds that laws exist to “obstruct their access to public education, prohibit them from holding public office, prevent them from working for the state, criminalise their criticism of religion, and execute them for leaving the religion of their parents.”

The IHEU said it issued the report to mark the United Nations’ Human Rights Day, also on December 10. The umbrella group links humanist organizations from more than 40 countries.

Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan punish atheism with death.

The advert – Marriage Equality – What It’s All About – was commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality and was produced by Momo films.

“We are very proud to have been involved in such an important issue, and to have our work recognized in this way,” said Spencer McLaren, Momo director.

“The award raises the profile of the Australian marriage equality debate, as well as our ongoing efforts to challenge the myths and misinformation that encumber that debate,” said Rodney Croome, the Australian Marriage Equality national convener.

What It’s All About isn’t the only advert out of Australia to win international praise. “It’s Time” by the advocacy group Get Up! also received wide recognition and was remade for broadcast in the United States.

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TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: ‘Many of the disabled workers who will lose their job as a result of these factory closures have little or no chance of finding alternative employment. Of the first 1,000 employees to be made redundant during recent factory closures, just 35 have subsequently found work.

‘This is a heartless decision by a government that has shown very little interest in protecting the livelihoods of severely disabled people who need support both in and out of work.

‘The TUC will continue to support the work of Remploy unions in opposing any more closure and redundancies.’

Labour MP Ian Lucas, after a meeting with Disability Minister Esther McVey over the Remploy factory closures said: “The meeting was not very productive for the workers I’m afraid.

“I did establish that the capital receipt from the sale of the site will be an additional receipt for the government.

“They don’t seem to be offering any real support to Remploy workers at this time.

A DWP spokesperson however in reaction said: “The accusation by Mr Lucas that government is looking to fill its own pockets is simply not true.

“Our priority throughout this entire process has been to safeguard jobs, which is why we are offering a wage subsidy of up to £6,400 per disabled employee to encourage interested parties to come forward with bids to keep the Remploy businesses going.

“Decisions to accept or reject proposals to take over the running of businesses are for the Remploy board to make, and they have been working with independent experts to look into the viability of each bid.”

Iamge of Ester McVey MP by Rcjewsbury at en.wikipedia

Inward migration to the UK stood at 536,000 people in the year ending March 2012, which is lower than the 578,000 who immigrated the previous year and the lowest immigration figure since 2004.

353,000 people emigrated from the UK in the year ending March 2012, which is higher than the 336,000 who emigrated the previous year.

The fall in net migration has been caused by fewer immigrants and higher numbers of emigrants who have British or non-EU citizenship. Estimated numbers of non-EU immigrants to the UK fell to 296,000 from 317,000 the previous year. 73,000 immigrants were British, compared with 92,000 the previous year.

This reduction in immigration was largely due to fewer people arriving to study, although study continues to be the most common reason stated for immigration to the UK. Despite this reduction, final figures for 2011 show that there have been significant increases in immigrants from China and Pakistan who arrive to the UK to study. China became the second most common country of last residence for all immigrants to the UK (India remains as the most common country of last residence).

The increase in emigration is largely due to higher numbers leaving the UK for a definite job. 127,000 people emigrated for a definite job in the year ending March 2012, which is significantly higher than 108,000 people who emigrated for a definite job the previous year. Approximately half of those emigrating for a definite job are British.

Called Compassion in Practice, the vision is based around six values – care, compassion, courage, communication, competence and commitment. The vision aims to embed these values, known as the Six C’s, in all nursing, midwifery and care-giving settings throughout the NHS and social care to improve care for patients.

Actions include:
▪    recruiting, appraising and training staff according to values as well as technical skill
▪    regularly reviewing organisational culture and evidence for staffing levels
▪    doing more to assess patients’ experience
▪    helping staff make every contact count for improving health and wellbeing

Around 9,000 nurses, midwives, care staff and patients were involved in the consultation process for the vision. It was drawn up by Jane Cummings, the Chief Nursing Officer for England (CNO), based with the NHS Commissioning Board, and Viv Bennett, Director of Nursing at the Department of Health.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Ensuring that patients get the best possible care is a priority for this Government. Nurses play an important role in this which is why this announcement by nurse leaders is so important.

“We want to do all we can to support those who care for patients – and this new vision will help us do that. Nurses, midwives and care staff have one of the most demanding and sensitive roles in the NHS and social care, and they command our respect and support.”

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The TUC-commissioned research – carried out by Howard Reed of Landman Economics – models the impact of cutting working age benefits by £10bn, a figure suggested by the Chancellor in his 2012 Budget.

It finds that these cuts would come at a huge cost to many families, including those in work, with some households set to lose over £2,000 a year.

Poor families would lose most from a £10bn cut in the welfare budget, with low income households losing over £700 a year – eight times more than the richest ten per cent of households who would lose than £100.

And while out-of-work families look likely to be the main target in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement the TUC research shows that working families will lose out too. Working lone parents would lose over £300 a year if the Chancellor’s £10bn cuts go ahead.

In this scenario, households with children would lose around £500 on average, £70 more than those without children. Many key benefits are based on family circumstances, as well as on income levels, so it is impossible for the Chancellor to target welfare cuts at people out of work without also hitting households with children, says the TUC.

The research examines seven key working age benefits and how families and households would be affected by freezing or cutting them all by the same amount.

The Chancellor has already frozen child benefit and cut working tax credits in previous Budgets, which have left some working families thousands of pounds worse off.

A fresh raid on the welfare budget will not help a single person into work, warns the TUC, but it will make millions of people already struggling to pay the bills even poorer.

The call for more welfare cuts, made in the 2012 Budget, came about because a deteriorating economy has made it harder for the Chancellor to meet his debt target. Instead of making the worst off even poorer the Chancellor should focus on growth, says the TUC.

Rather than add to people’s misery with fresh cuts, the TUC is calling on the Chancellor to start again with a fresh plan for growth.

The TUC wants a new growth plan to include:

• a new well-capitalised State Investment Bank
• a beefed up Green Investment Bank with powers to borrow
• new infrastructure spending to improve our transport network and improve the UK’s energy supply
• an industrial strategy that supports high-growth industries and improves skills across the workforce
• a proper jobs programme that gets people – particularly unemployed young adults – into sustained employment.

Unless the Chancellor changes course and implements a bold new programme for jobs and growth, the TUC fears the UK could face a lost decade of economic stagnation, low wages and poor employment prospects.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: ‘Two years of economic stagnation have left the Chancellor’s austerity plan well off-track.

‘Deep spending cuts have killed off the recovery and risk causing permanent economic damage.

‘Faced with this bleak economic outlook, it would completely wrong for the Chancellor to lash out at families by slashing vital benefits even more.

‘Families are already reeling from reductions in working tax credits and child benefit, and a fresh welfare raid will put an ever greater strain on their finances. Making poor people and their children even worse off won’t get a single person back into work.

‘Instead, the Chancellor should start a new plan for growth. A proper State Investment Bank, fresh infrastructure spending and a proper jobs programme may cost more now but they will pay off in the future by providing the growing economy we so desperately need.

‘Unless the Chancellor starts to deliver a proper plan for growth the UK could face a decade of low wages, poor job prospects and economic stagnation.’

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The survey found that 55 per cent of people – the equivalent of 25 million people across the land – say at least one of their local communities is plagued by broken families, crime and poor schools.

Some 60 per cent say that over the last few decades, marriage has become less important to society and that is having a damaging effect on the country.

And with 89 per cent agreement, the public identifies better parenting and stronger families as the key to mending the broken society.

But while the poll implies that the Government has plenty of work to do to resolve deep-seated social problems, it does find overwhelming support for its welfare reforms.

Some 85 per cent say that work is the only reliable route out of poverty and a similar number say that a life on benefits should not be an option.

Support for these propositions comes from across the social classes.

The YouGov survey was commissioned by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a leading independent think-tank, which is preparing to launch Breakthrough Britain II, a new forensic examination of the social fabric of the nation which will report back ahead of the next general election.

The new study, which will run until 2014, will explore the fundamental causes of poverty and social breakdown, which the CSJ has identified as welfare dependency, family breakdown, educational failure, drug and alcohol addiction and serious personal debt. The CSJ, a great champion of small grassroots charities, will also press for a bigger role for the voluntary sector in tackling disadvantage.

Christian Guy, Managing Director of the CSJ, said: “The original Breakthrough Britain report was a turning point in our understanding of the causes of deprivation. We travelled the length and breadth of the UK, took evidence from over 2,000 organisations in 3,000 hours of public hearings and visited other countries to ensure this study was the most comprehensive ever done.

“It challenged the tired arguments that poverty was about income alone and provided a host of robust solutions to improve communities and allow people to fulfil their potential.

“It has influenced cross-party thinking and the CSJ looks forward to building a new policy consensus that will enable us to make further inroads on poverty in the years to come.

“As we have discovered to our cost as a nation, simply throwing more money at social problems is not enough and can even be counter-productive.

“We have to give people every chance to change their lives and acquire the

tools that will enable them to support themselves, their families and the wider community.

“As before, we have brought together a genuine team of experts with frontline poverty-fighting experience to help us draw up a new social policy blueprint to tackle the challenges of the 21st Century.”

Breakthrough Britain, which was commissioned by David Cameron, was published in July 2007 and had a profound impact on the Conservative manifesto at the election of 2010.

It has since helped to shape Coalition social policy, most notably in the area of welfare reform, where its call for a benefits system that incentivises work has been at the heart of the changes made by Iain Duncan Smith, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with the introduction of universal credit from next April.

Many of the radical reforms Education Secretary Michael Gove is implementing – including the expansion of academies and giving more powers to head teachers – can be traced back to Breakthrough Britain.

The recognition of marriage in the tax system through the introduction of transferrable tax allowances between husband and wife was another key recommendation of the original CSJ report.

This is in the Coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats but has yet to be implemented – a measure that the CSJ is continuing to advocate strongly.

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According to the report: “unemployment rates of Black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage women have remained consistently higher than those of white women since the early 1980s”

The report further found that ‘the overall unemployment rate of ethnic minority women is actually higher, 14.3% compared to 13.2%. When looking at the groups which are the focus of this inquiry – Black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women – these women are far more likely to be unemployed than both white men and white women. Pakistani and Bangladeshi women are particularly affected, with 20.5% being unemployed compared to 6.8% of white women, with 17.7% of Black women also being unemployed.’

The report also ‘uncovered a number of barriers to Black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi employment Discrimination was found to be present at every stage of the recruitment process – when assessing applications, during interviews, at recruitment agencies and also in the workplace itself. Strikingly, it was estimated by Professors Anthony Heath and Yaojun Li that 25% of the ethnic minority unemployment rate for both men and women could be explained by prejudice and racial discrimination. Discrimination based on name and accent was also uncovered both in data received and from personal testimony.

‘In addition, it was found that discrimination based on both gender and ethnicity is taking place in job interviews. Muslim women who wear the hijab reported discrimination and women of all three ethnic groups reported questions asked about intentions regarding marriage and children. This was often tied to assumptions based on ethnicity – for example it was assumed that Muslim women would want to stop work after having children. Other issues identified as barriers to employment include language issues, cultural attitudes towards women, qualifications and lack of social capital. In particular, childcare was identified as a problem, with Pakistani and Bangladeshi women being less likely to take up free childcare places. There was also evidence of demand for more culturally sensitive services.’

Labour MP David Lammy, the committee’s chairman, says the situation is “deeply worrying”.

“There have been a lot of cuts to the public sector. Black and minority ethnic women have been traditionally employed in the public sector and are losing their jobs in droves at this time.

“They complain of struggling with no support around child care and around helping them to stay in work. Many are doing just casual employment, so the picture is bleak and depressing.”

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A recent poll conducted for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung found:
· 83% of them think that Islam is associated with impairing women’s rights
· 77% thought Islam was a literalist religion
· 70% said Islam is associated with religious fanaticism and radicalism.

The poll further found that Germans view the religion as:
· ready for violence (64%)
· full of hatred (60%)
· active missionary activity (56%)
· striving for political influence (56%).

Only 13% of respondents associate Islam with love for neighbours; 12% – with charity; 7% – with openness and tolerance.

On whether individuals believed conflicts will appear between the Western Christian culture and the Arab Muslim culture in the future, 44 per cent of respondents answered yes, compared to the same question in 2006.

On whether Islam as a religion in general or radical groups pose the biggest threat to Germans, close to three quarters of the respondents pinpointed radical groups, with close to a fifth feeling Islam in general is a threat.

It does however seem that people are however more exposed to Islam. In 2004 only 24% of Germans had Muslim friends; today 38% of Germans have friends among Muslim people. Germany has the largest Muslim community in Europe, followed by France and the UK.

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The protestors say they are demanding their rights be protected and are calling on the government to maintain social welfare rates. The gathering came ahead of Budget 2013, which was unveiled on December 5.

“Everybody talks about the big announcements on budget day, but for people with disabilities it is a gradual drip feed, spokeswoman for the protestors Siobhan Kane said.

“Day by day and week by week, they are told a support or service is being taken away. James Reilly (health minister) doesn’t stand up in the Dail and say people have to organise their own transport or start paying for respite.

“People feel they have no control over any of it and it’s causing huge stress and worries for disabled people and their families.”

Ireland’s government released its budget for 2013, which calls for €3.5 billion (£2.8 billion, $4.5 billion) in new taxes and spending cuts.

The country is plagued in debt and the current budget is the sixth straight austerity budget.

Kane says the disability community has seen their budgets slashed 13.7 percent since 2008. There are 600,000 people with disabilities in the country. That represents 13 percent of the population. Kane says the actual number is higher.

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Upper House member Lynn MacLaren introduced the bill to the state parliament. That means six states and territories in the country have advanced the issue.

“The Bill will also allow Western Australian couples to have a certificate to prove their relationship rights if and when they are challenged,” said Rodney Croome, the Australian Marriage Equality national convener.

“The introduction of Ms MacLaren’s Bill means there are six states and territories with marriage equality legislation on the table – Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and now Western Australia.

“The movement for allowing same-sex marriages at a state level is gathering momentum and I have no doubt we will see same-sex couples marrying somewhere in Australia in the next few months.”

The bill was introduced on November 29, but debate isn’t expected until next year when the parliament resumes after the holidays.

“Someday soon I hope we will look back on this same-sex marriage debate and wonder what all the fuss was about, and wonder how such inequitable and prejudicial laws could prevent someone from marrying the person they love and how we could have allowed them to persist for so long,” MacLaren said.

The Northern Territory is now the outlier, having made no progress is advancing the issue of marriage equality.

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Three women – Helena White, Kathy Humpherson and Karen Cauvin – from the Alexandra Hospital are working to establish a maternity link with the Lumley Government Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, by sending midwives to the hospital to provide the latest training in obstetrics. Plans are in the works to bring maternity workers from the African country to Redditch.

Karen Lumley, MP for Redditch, called the women’s work “inspirational,” according to the Redditch Standard.

“It was fantastic to meet with the [women] and hear first hand the experiences they have had in dealing with maternity care in one of the poorest countries in the world,” she said.

“The work they have done up to now has been truly inspirational. At the moment they are attempting to fund-raise for another trip to share their skills and help save lives. I encourage anyone who may like to help them in this life saving work to do so.”

But finding is needed. It costs £1,200 and £1,500 to send a midwife to Sierra Leone. The women are calling on businesses and social groups to help fund their visits.

White said they plan on sending two midwives to the country in January through money raised by the community.

“I’m really hoping we can get back to Freetown,” she said.

“I understand these are very difficult times financially but hopefully people will see how much we can achieve with very little.”

Those interested in donating to the midwives’ cause can do so by emailing theafricanmaternityhealthlink@hotmail.co.uk or by calling White at 07719 093341.

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The study, by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA), found that women made up only 9.2 percent of executives in the country’s top 500 firms and a mere 12 had a female CEO.

The report comes on the heels of Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s speech in Parliament in which she accused a conservative opposition member of sexism and misogyny.

“[I]t will take decades before women achieve any meaningful representation” unless a quota systems is enforced, said Helen Conway, EOWA director.

Australia ranks ahead of New Zealand and Britain but is behind South Africa, the United States and Canada.

“Frankly you’d expect to see more progress,” said Conway.

“Companies have failed to develop and maintain a strong pipeline of female talent, and you can see this in the negligible growth in female executive management.”

Gillard’s sexism speech directed at Tony Abbott went viral online and was a massive international sensation.

“I’ve had enough, Australian women have had enough. When I see sexism and misogyny I’m going to call them for what they are,” she said.

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The resolution was passed by a vote of 108 to 1 on November 23. Sixty-five countries abstained and 18 were absent. Iran was the sole country to vote against the resolution.

The resolution was introduced by Sweden and co-sponsored by 34 states and calls on all states to investigate the extrajudicial killings of those targeted for their sexual orientation, gender identity and other reasons.

This year marks the first time that “gender identity” is included in the resolution.

The term sexual orientation was removed from a resolution two years ago after African states complained. At the last minute, it was added back after a push by the United States, a country with its own poor human rights record regarding LGBT.

Susan Rice, the US’s UN ambassador, supported the current resolution to ensure that “human rights protections continue to be extended to all, regardless of who they are or whom they love.”

“It is fitting, on National Transgender Day of Remembrance, that the Third Committee agreed to acknowledge protections from extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions on the basis of gender identity for the very first time,” she said in a statement.

“Two years ago, the General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to reinsert language on sexual orientation to this very resolution, and, since that time, the U.N. Human Rights Council has affirmed that all human rights apply to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” added Rice.

“The United States will fight to ensure that the remarkable progress the U.N. has made on LGBT issues in the last four years is not rolled back. Today’s vote on gender identity is evidence that we are, in fact, expanding international support and moving forward.”

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Youth offending teams are to not cover young people till they reach 18, but to extend the scope to cover young adults into their twenties.

Khan said: “If we can prevent people offending by the time they are 24 we have won it. The basic multi-agency approach appears to be working for under 18s. Not only has youth crime reduced, but youth custody as well.




“Why not consider it for those who are a bit older? My forebears chose 20-years-old. I’m even more ambitious. Maybe we could go a bit older.

“I believe that was a sensible thing to do because nowhere in the world had a record of payment-by-results in justice.

“Chris Grayling [the Justice Secretary] has decided it works, has cancelled pilots and is not waiting for the evaluation of other pilots. I believe he is taking a gamble and a risk with public safety.

“Committing to providing rehabilitation support to every single prisoner risks over-stretching programmes and undermining effectiveness.

“I intend to develop policies that reflect the values of myself and the party and are rooted in evidence. I don’t want to over-promise and under-deliver. That is a recipe for disaster in the criminal justice world.”

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When we asked children why they ran away they told us they did so for a variety of reasons. These included problems with relationships, wanting to change placements, or wanting to escape from stress and take time out to think things through and calm down.

Children’s Rights Director for England, Roger Morgan said: ’There has been a lot of concern lately in the media, in government and local councils about the risks children face if they run away and I am reporting children’s own views and experiences to councils and the Government.

‘The answers to many of our questions often produced the same answer – that for some children running away was the only solution to escape something they couldn’t cope with.

‘Some children realised the dangers of running but others did not. Realising the dangers put some children off running away but for many the pressure overrides the worry of danger.

‘While some children said that if they knew about all the risks of running away they might not run, the experience of others was that it can be so important to get away that you didn’t think about the risk. One child in care said: “To some people, knowing the risks would not matter because they need to get away.’

‘Children identified many dangers from running away. Every group we met told us about the dangers of getting raped, being sexually exploited, being stabbed, being kidnapped, being taken and trafficked for sex, being murdered, getting involved in drugs or being made pregnant.

‘If children are not coping with things in their care placement, and this was not dealt with and children and young adults were not listened to, we heard that children can run away and keep running until this problem was solved.

‘The best way to prevent children and young people from running away from a placement where they couldn’t cope with problems was for staff to ask and listen to their problems and try to solve them. Even if this meant a change of placement, it was better to talk through problems before the child felt the need to run away. If they had run away, it was vital that the child could discuss any problems after coming back – with a person they trusted and when they felt ready to do so.’

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The NHS is using volunteers at maternity wards at the Royal Gwent Hospital in South Wales to help ease the workload burden of midwives.

While not responsible for clinical work, these twenty volunteers cover a range of duties from handling a baby while mum showers or sleeps, chatting with the parents and helping with meals, according to Sky News.

The pilot project ran for six months and due to its success has gone live.

“The midwives are so busy that sometimes the new mums are anxious about buzzing and asking for help,” said Linda Hall, a volunteer at the hospital.

“So we just come along and get them some milk or some drinks – all the things the midwives struggle to fit into their busy days.”

The project allows midwives to focus on medical care while the volunteers focus on other tasks.

The Royal College of Midwives says roughly 5,000 midwives in England and Wales are needed, although the Aneurin Bevan Health Board in Gwent stresses that the volunteers aren’t there to fill in gaps.

“We’re not short-staffed,” said Suzanna Hardacre, the senior midwifery manager at the Royal Gwent Hospital, according to Sky News. “We don’t have any shortages of health care support workers or with midwives. There are sufficient clinical staff to be able to give that care.

“Our volunteers are purely there to enhance the patient and the woman’s experience while she is in hospital with us.”

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In other words, British LGBT couples won’t be able to look to European human rights laws to expand protections.

“To make sure there is no element of doubt, we would be legislating to protect the rights of religious institutions to continue to have freedom on this matter,” said Miller as reported by The Sunday Times.

“We would achieve that through some very clear and absolute locks on that freedom within primary legislation.”

It’s widely believed that same-sex marriage will be allowed in England and Wales by 2015 but that such ceremonies will be prohibited in religious buildings, even by those churches and synagogues that want them.

The Coalition for Marriage, a vehemently anti-gay group, said Miller’s move would likely be overturned.

“The government’s solution of primary legislation, a lock, as the minister describes it, is a cheque that will bounce,” said the group.

“No minister can make this pledge because of European legislation and the European courts, unless the minister is planning to come out of the [convention].”

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The John C. Anderson Senior Residences is set to open in 2013 in the city’s traditionally gay neighborhood.

The idea for the facility dates back eight years – and for some even longer.

“I started this experience as an outlaw, a social outlaw, a sexual outlaw” in the 1960s, said Donald Carter, a gay African American told the The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Some of those fighters are now entering their golden years,” Mayor Michael Nutter said, according to the newspaper. “This center will support people of that generation and others in securing their most basic needs for a good place to call home.”

The center is named after a politician well known for his LGBT activism.

The complex will be six stories and have 2,000 square feet of retail space and a 5,000 square-foot courtyard.

“I, right now, am the happiest I probably ever will be in my life,” said Mark Segal, publisher of Philadelphia Gay News, to The Inquirer. “I’m sure there’s going to be another milestone, but today made me feel like a proud Philadelphian.”

One possible resident is Donald Carter who lives alone and survives on a Social Security disability check of $740 a month. He welcomed the news.

“It’s enough for me to pay the bill and have a handful of dollars left over to splurge on dinner or a movie every now and then. I’ve just looked at my life as a reflection of being black and gay in America,” said the local and longtime LGBT activist.

“This project is a timely godsend for me – number one, because there will be an elevator.”

According to the Associated Press, the California state Health Commission, in consultations with transgender advocacy groups, voted to cover the cost of the surgeries.

“The community felt the exclusion …was discriminatory and we wanted to change that as the first step,” said Public Health Director Barbara Garcia.

Under the plan, the city will cover the cost of mastectomies, genital reconstructions and other procedures associated with sex-change operations.

Garcia said the program should be up and running by late next year but cautioned that more information is needed to find out who needs the surgery most.

“Sex reassignment surgery is not the end all,” said Garcia. “It’s one service that some transgender people want and some don’t. We can’t manage this over the next three years without much of a budget increase because we already have these (other) services covered.”

Trans advocates welcomed the city’s move.

‘I am filled with hope and gratitude that we are achieving this level of support for the well-being of the transgender community,’ said Kathryn Steuerman, a transgender health activist in San Francisco.

Disability activist Adam Lotun ran in the byelection on rights for the disabled. He opposes welfare reform and has the support of Montrose-based former police officer Calum McLean and Edinburgh-based Phil Lockwood.  

The two men asked Lotun to run and raised funds for his campaign.

“This is the way forward,” said Lockwood before the election. “We knew that the eyes of the country would be on this by-election. This was going to be a key political moment.”

Tory MP Louise Mensch resigned her Corby seat to spend more time with her family. The town, known for its high Scottish population, was once home to a toxic waste scandal.

Lotun’s campaign centered on disability rights, he said, because “everything that is being done, particularly in terms of welfare reform, is hitting disabled people disproportionately.”

He adds that there is “no strong voice in parliament for disabled people – We don’t seem to have the representation that should be there, and the really good voice that we did have, Labour MP Anne Begg [who represents Aberdeen South], was ill for some time.”

But Lotun’s bid fell short. The Labour win – by a margin of 7,791 over its main Tory rival — provides a boost for Ed Miliband’s leadership.

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In Leicestershire alone, hate crimes against the disabled have risen by 200 year on year.

A report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission published in early November says police have failed to combat hate crimes against the disabled.

Titled “Out in the Open: a manifesto for change,” the report says that based on its research “actions taken to prevent and tackle harassment are patchy with some authorities doing nothing or very little at all.”

One disabled person, Michael Bailey, who suffers from a disease of the muscles, says that he has contacted police more than 20 times to report on youths in the neighborhood who continually harass him, but to no avail.

“They make you feel as if you are just a thing sitting in a chair,” he told Channel 4 News, adding that he has contemplated suicide.

Michael Smith of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said that the rise in hate crimes against the disabled illustrates police inaction.

“[I]t must mean that some areas are not responding effectively to disability hate crime, that must mean it is a postcode lottery,” he said, reports the Telegraph.

“The public’s response to the London 2012 Paralympic Games will go some way to creating more positive attitudes towards disabled people,” he said.

“But there is still a discrepancy between this and the day-to-day reality for many disabled people who report abuse and often suffer from a ‘postcode lottery’ in the way their allegations are dealt with.

“The issue of disability-related harassment might be “out in the open” but it is, most certainly, not yet sorted.”

He added: “It is incumbent upon us all, especially in times of austerity, to work to overcome this blight on our society.”

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Peter Herbert, the barrister facilitating the process, has confirmed that players from various levels of the game pitched for discussions, to see how such a association might work and benefit players.

Herbert said: “People appear to have decided they have to do something more vigorously.

“What we are seeking to do for the individuals is to have that protection so they are not on their own or faced with a barrage of pressure from the media, from their clubs or the FA, but have the support of the whole community of the UK – and that includes the legal community.”

The Professional Footballer’s Association (PFA) chairman, Clarke Carlisle has however spoken out against the formation of a new association, which he said could divide the efforts of the PFA.

He said: (A new association) has the potential to be divisive because when you establish a black players’ union it would instantly define ‘us and them’ and that’s something we really need to work against,” the York City defender said.

“We don’t need to separate the players when the whole focus and goal of anti-racism is to campaign for unity.”

The current FA Kick It Out anti-racism campaign has come under a barrage of criticism, with Rio Ferdinand refusing to wear the prematch shirt supporting the campaign.

It is felt that the campaign can be seen as a toothless dog, due to its ineffectiveness in dealing with racism on the pitch, with the racist remarks of Luis Suarez, and John Terry, adding insult to injury with their denials of blatant racism.

Herbert has however declined to mention which players attended the sensitive meeting, but the outcome over the foreseeable future is now being closely watched.

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“I thought I was the only one. The only one in the world”, the report of the first year’s findings of a two year Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups, publishes the most comprehensive investigation to date of the scale, scope and prevalence of child sexual exploitation in these contexts in England. The conclusions are drawn from extensive evidence submitted by the Government, police, local authorities, health services, voluntary sector agencies and children and young people themselves.

Young people quoted in the report describe experiences of rape and violence of a relentless nature, often lasting years. They live in well-founded fear of those who violate and control them.  Many suffer long-term physical, psychological and emotional harm as a result of their experiences.

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner is calling for urgent action to protect vulnerable children from all forms of sexual exploitation. All agencies working with children should immediately ensure their operational staff are made aware of the list of warning signs of sexual exploitation which are published in this report.

These warning signs include: missing from home, care or school, repeated sexually transmitted infections, patterns of offending, misuse of drugs or alcohol, self harm and other physical injuries.

As part of the Inquiry, the University of Bedfordshire was commissioned to examine sexual violence in gangs. The emerging findings from this study are also published today.

Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England, said: “This report is a wake-up call. Each and every one of us owes it to all victims to be vigilant, to listen and to act to stop the sexual exploitation of children. Identifying the warning signs listed in the report is the first step to identifying and protecting children.

“We welcome the increase in awareness of child sexual exploitation and the progress agencies have made in their approaches to tackling the issue. However, much still needs to be done to prevent exploitation and rescue child victims.”

Sue Berelowitz, Deputy Children’s Commissioner, who leads the Inquiry said: “The reality is that each year thousands of children in England are raped and abused by people seeking to humiliate, violate and control them. The impact on their lives is devastating. These children have been abducted, trafficked, beaten and threatened after being drawn into a web of sexual violence sometimes by promises of love and sometimes simply because they know there is no alternative. This abuse and violence can be relentless and take place anywhere – as they go home from school, as they walk to the shops, in the their local park.

“The vast majority of the perpetrators are male and in both gang and group contexts, different models of exploitation have been identified. Perpetrators range in age from young adolescents to older men. The evidence is clear that they come from all ethnic groups and so do their victims – contrary to what some may wish to believe. This report does not shy away from the shocking realities of what is happening up and down the country.

“It is vital agencies improve the information they share about the victims and those at risk of sexual exploitation, so that children can be better protected.”

Professor Jenny Pearce, University of Bedfordshire said: “Our interviews with children living in gang affected neighbourhoods across England leave us shocked by the extreme levels of sexual violence that are assumed to be inevitable in the everyday lives of the children concerned. Evidence shows routine serious sexual assault of girls for whom saying ‘no’ is not an option because they are threatened and forced into sex.  Although boys needed prompting to talk, they spoke about sex being used as both intimidation and humiliation between boys who are in conflict with each other.

“Our findings show there are few clear boundaries between child victims and child perpetrators: children often both being abused, and abusing others themselves.  Reporting of sexual violence is poor, with children feeling that nothing can be done to stop it, other than moving away from the area. This means we have some important questions to answer about the need for child protection and law enforcement strategies to work closely together to protect children.”

The final report for the two-year Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups will be published in autumn 2013. Year two of the Inquiry will focus on how to tackle the sexual exploitation of children. The Inquiry will be investigating examples of good practice so that these lessons can be shared nationally.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said: ‘This report is a sobering reminder that child sexual exploitation tragically remains a widespread problem that can happen to any child, in any community. It shows that this is clearly not an historic problem, confined to the culture and attitudes of the past.

‘The numbers in this report are shocking, yet they may only represent the tip of the iceberg. Way too many victims are still going undetected.

‘Let down by the professionals that are there to protect them’

‘We work with hundreds of child victims of sexual exploitation up and down the country every year. Far too often they tell us that they have been let down by the very professionals and systems that are supposed to be protecting them. Sadly, our evidence points to this being a particularly big problem for teenage girls.

‘On the front line we still see some professionals label teenage girls as ‘promiscuous’ or ‘streetwise’, instead of treating them as very vulnerable victims of sexual abuse. This has been graphically highlighted by recent cases like those in Rochdale and Rotherham.

‘Particularly worrying is that more than a third of children at high risk of child sexual exploitation are in the care system. This report also reveals the high prevalence of sexual exploitation victims running away from home or care.

‘Urgent action is needed to challenge outdated attitudes that allow child sexual exploitation to continue undetected – and unpunished – across the country.’

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The gender pay gap – which is the difference between men’s and women’s median hourly pay excluding overtime for full-time employees – stood at 10.5% in 2011. This year’s fall continues a general downward trend in the pay gap in recent years. For part-timers, the pay gap remains negative, meaning women are better paid than men. Here the gap widened slightly, at -5.2% in 2012 compared with -5.1% in 2011. Looking at all employees, the gender pay gap is bigger than for full-timers but has again fallen between 2011 and 2012 (19.7% in 2012, down from 20.2% in 2011). This is affected by the higher proportion of women than men who work part-time, as part-timers tend to have lower hourly rates.

Other data in ASHE show that median gross weekly earnings for full-timers, at £506, were up by 1.5% on the 2011 figure of £498. Public sector workers saw a rise of 1.6% (from £556 in 2011 to £565 this year) while in the private sector the increase was 1.5% (£472 a week in 2011, £479 in 2012).

There was a narrowing in the gap between the highest and lowest paid employees: between 2011 and 2012, the hourly earnings excluding overtime of full-timers at the top decile point fell by 0.2%, whereas those at the bottom decile point saw an increase of 2.3%.

The region where employees had the highest median gross weekly earnings was London, at £653, and the region with the lowest earnings was Wales at £453. The district with the highest-paying jobs was the City of London (a median of £917 a week full-time) and the district with the lowest-paid jobs was Torridge (£348 a week full-time).

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In light of the limited information available with regards to people with disabilities who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual and/or transgender (LGB&T) in Northern Ireland, Disability Action and The Rainbow Network set upon research to bridge the gap.

This lead to the publishing of the report Multiple Identity: Multiple Exclusions And Human Rights; The Experiences of People With Disabilities Who Identify As Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender In Northern Ireland.

The purpose of this research was to explore the everyday experiences of disabled individuals who indentify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, to offer practical information and suggest best practice to groups and organisations engaging with them, to raise awareness of the issues involved, highlight areas for further work and to explore aspects of this complex multiple identity. Equally important was the need to offer people with disabilities who identified as LGB and/or T a platform through which to have their voices heard by all of us.

The Northern Ireland Equalities Commission welcomed the new research report and said: “The Commission has responsibility for six different grounds protected by the anti-discrimination law and nine equality categories under the public sector equality duties. We know that many people experience discrimination or exclusion relating  to more than one aspect of their identity and that this can be difficult to address”, said Evelyn Collins, Chief Executive of the Equality Commission.

“The report identifies many areas where there are issues which need careful consideration – issues of law, of attitude, and of public policy and practice.” she continued. “I commend the organisations on their cooperation in producing the report which recognises that people have many different aspects to their lives”.

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The seminar, held at Lambeth Palace, engaged attendees, which included Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faith groups. They addressed the role religious institutions play in supporting people with a mental illness to feel able to talk openly about their experiences.



The Archbishop was joined for a panel discussion by Imam Abdul Qaiyum from the East London Mosque and Bhai Shahib Mohinder Singh from the Sikh organisation Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha. Time to Change Director Sue Baker, Bryony Bratchell from Time to Change’s Young People Panel and the Minister of State for Care Services Norman Lamb, further added to the discussions.

Group workshops followed the discussion, which were designed to get people thinking about the practicalities of how they might go about tackling the taboo around mental illness.

The impact of mental health issues were highlighted by the speech by Bhai Shahib Mohinder Singh who talked about his personal experiences of depression, panic attacks and anxiety at a young age.  He said: “No one should be stigmatised, we are all god’s children”. Iman Abdul Qaiyum went on to say “We have a duty to help and support people with mental health problems. We need to continue this good work of Time to Change.”



Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, said: “We know that one in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year and it will affect many areas of our lives. Given that faith and places of worship have important roles to play in many communities, the Time to Change programme wants to work directly with these groups to tackle stigma and discrimination, and encourage more open conversation about mental health.”



Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, added: “The fact is that people within our communities face the challenges of mental illness just as much as others do, and we as people of faith have the profoundest possible obligation to show our faith in all those who are part of our communities – not stigmatising, not excluding, not suspecting – and by showing our faith in people who are part of our communities of faith, showing faith in human beings generally and pushing that vision outwards towards our whole society.”

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Dr Nigel Fancourt of Oxford University said that lessons on Christianity lack “intellectual development” with their focus on faith and moral development, he told the BBC.

Fancourt is spearheading a project to improve the teaching of Christianity in schools.

Widespread support exists for teaching the subject in the nation’s schools, according to polls.

Sixty-four percent of adults agreed that understanding English history meant possessing knowledge about Christianity, according to a survey by Oxford University.

“The UK is overwhelmingly Christian and young people need to have a clear understanding of what are the central Christian beliefs, values and practices,” said Paul Bate of the European Educator’s Christian Association to the BBC. “They should always be given opportunities to evaluate and reflect upon what they have learnt which according to the report has been sadly lacking in many lessons.”

Experts say that the current curriculum isn’t challenging and doesn’t teach students to think critically about Christianity and how some topics could be applied to a modern day England.

But one leading secular association said teaching should also encompass non-religious thought and worldviews such as Humanism.

“Christianity should be taught about and taught about well but not, as at present, to the exclusion of other approaches to life and not in any pretence that it is relevant to the developing beliefs, values and life stances of most young people, over two-thirds of whom have non-religious worldviews,” said Andrew Copson of the British Humanist Association.

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Gold’s strong words follow a game in Tottenham on Sunday in which anti-Semitic chants were heard throughout the match. Tottenham is home to a large Jewish community.

“We have a clear stance towards any kind of discriminatory behaviour – it will not be tolerated,” said Gold.

Police arrested two fans that allegedly made Nazi-like salutes during the match.

Midfielder Yossi Benayoun, who is from Israel, said he was “embarrassed” by the chants.

Police will meet with a complainant before deciding whether to hold a criminal investigation, according to the BBC.

Gold’s great grandfather committed suicide after being subjected to abusive taunts. 

Gold said that he is “leading an investigation from the top of the club to establish exactly what happened at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

“If we can identify any individuals that have acted inappropriately they will be sought out and banned by the club as part of our zero tolerance policy.

“At the same time we must remember that West Ham United has some of the best fans in the land and we must not let the tens of thousands of supporters that follow our club over land and sea in exactly the right way be overlooked.”

According to the BBC, some away supporters sang songs referencing Adolf Hitler.

“Like many of the people around me in the directors’ box at White Hart Lane I didn’t hear or see any of the reported inappropriate behaviour during Sunday’s game with Tottenham. If I had, then I’m sure I would have been mortified,” said Gold.

“As a board we genuinely believe we have some of the best supporters in the country and we will not let a minority of fans, no matter how small, affect the reputation of our great club.

“We are a club that promotes tolerance and inclusion of people from all backgrounds, race and religion. Just a quick look around our boardroom table would tell you that.”

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The immigrant rights group NASC carried out the study, Stop The Silence: A Snapshot of Racism in Cork, which found that 45 percent of respondents say they experienced discrimination in one area of their daily lives while 38.5 percent say they were victims of racism while trying to access utilities and services in areas like housing and employment.

In addition, two thirds of those of African origin said racism is a major problem in Cork.

An earlier report on racism found that those of African descent were more likely to be victims of verbal or physical attacks motivated by the color of their skin.

Nearly half of the respondents in the latest survey believed nothing would be done if they went to the police.

More community services and initiatives are needed to raise awareness regarding issues of discrimination and to encourage reporting, said NASC CEO Fiona Finn.

Nasc interviewed 171 people in October.

The event is apart of hate crime awareness week to be held from January 21-27 next year.

Manchester city council is urging its residents and groups to organise events dealing with the subject and can apply for grants up to £200. Suggested ideas include posters raising awareness, short films and other ways to discuss the issue of hate crimes.

The effort is part of the city’s hate crime strategy in conjunction with the Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, among others.

Anyone who wishes to organise an event can do so online.

According to the Manchester City Council website, hate crimes include any prejudice based on disability, race or ethnicity, age, gender (including transgender), religion or belief, sexual orientation and subcultures. 

“We are determined to make sure that hate crime will not be tolerated in Manchester, but for the City Council and police to crack down on this problem, it’s vital we work closely with residents to make sure they understand what hate crime is and know what they can do to report it,” said councillor Bernard Priest, Manchester City Council’s executive member for neighbourhood services.

“Manchester rightly has a reputation for celebrating its diversity, and our residents regularly hold events to improve their neighbourhoods and enable people to get together. We organised similar grants earlier in the year to help people celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee and now we are tapping into the city’s famous community spirit to make sure residents join us in the fight against hate crime.”

The draft laws were introduced by Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Finance Minister Penny Wong and come more than two years following a Labour 2010 election promise.

No such law exists nationally, although laws at the state level have already been implemented.

Faith-based providers in some cases would be permitted to continue to discriminate against the LGBT community, although faith-based seniors care facilities would not be.
“Making protections and obligations clearer for individuals and organisations will help everyone understand what behaviour is expected and will provide certainty for all users of the system,” Roxon said in a statement shortly after the draft laws were unveiled.

The draft laws would also allow complainants who are discriminated against on two grounds to make a single complaint. 

“It’s ridiculous that at the moment an African woman, for example, who has been discriminated against needs to separately make complaints of sex and race discrimination – now she can make a single complaint recognising the discrimination was because she was both a woman and African.”

The Australian Greens said they hoped the new draft laws would lead the government to ends its discrimination against same-sex marriage.

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Celebrating its 30^th anniversary, the two princes sent a message of support to the charity.

“The fight against HIV started 30 years ago. Our generation must pick up the sword and continue the fight. There is still no cure or vaccine. However we know it is possible to prevent HIV from spreading further.

“Terrence Higgins Trust will be will be to the fore in this, and for that reason, and because our mother believed so passionately in the work of the trust, we wholeheartedly congratulate you on 30 years of selfless service to others.” 

Diana’s public affection toward those with HIV helped changed public attitudes toward the disease.

“Our generation has never known a world without HIV,” the letter continues. “We have grown up knowing of the devastating impact this virus has on lives, on families, on communities.

“We know, too, that HIV can be treated and the lives of sufferers extended by many years. However there is still a stigma which blights sufferers of the disease, even today.”

Nick Partridge, chief executive of THT, was thrilled to receive the princes’ acknowledgment of the charity.

“We are incredibly honored to have this message of support.

“In the 30 years since Terry Higgins’ friends founded our charity we’ve achieved so much but the fight against HIV is far from over. It’s wonderful to see the princes inspiring their generation to take up the cause the way their mother inspired mine.” 

Princes William and Harry have sent a note of support to the HIV charity, Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), following in the footsteps of their late mother, Princess Diana, who was one of its first high profile supporters.

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary, the two princes sent a message of support to the charity.

“The fight against HIV started 30 years ago. Our generation must pick up the sword and continue the fight. There is still no cure or vaccine. However we know it is possible to prevent HIV from spreading further.

“Terrence Higgins Trust will be will be to the fore in this, and for that reason, and because our mother believed so passionately in the work of the trust, we wholeheartedly congratulate you on 30 years of selfless service to others.”

Diana’s public affection toward those with HIV helped changed public attitudes toward the disease.

“Our generation has never known a world without HIV,” the letter continues. “We have grown up knowing of the devastating impact this virus has on lives, on families, on communities.

“We know, too, that HIV can be treated and the lives of sufferers extended by many years. However there is still a stigma which blights sufferers of the disease, even today.”

Nick Partridge, chief executive of THT, was thrilled to receive the princes’ acknowledgment of the charity.

“We are incredibly honored to have this message of support.

“In the 30 years since Terry Higgins’ friends founded our charity we’ve achieved so much but the fight against HIV is far from over. It’s wonderful to see the princes inspiring their generation to take up the cause the way their mother inspired mine.”

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Mann, who spearheaded a taskforce to tackle racial discrimination for the Football Association, told 5 Live Investigates that he receives complaints routinely from Jewish, Asian and black players.

That leaves in doubt Prime Minister David Cameron’s claims that the UK is a world leader to tackling racism in the game, he said.

During the 2011-2012 season, 144 acts of racism were reported, but players and coaches who spoke to 5 Live Investigates say the figure is actually much higher.

One member of the Black and Asian Coaches Association says members report at least three cases of racism a week.

Players are called everything from “things like ‘Paki’, to the ‘N-word,’” says Colin King. “We’ve still got the monkey-shouting that takes place from parents and other managers as well. I do park football every week and I see racial abuse consistently.”

One anti-racism campaigner says the complaints system is weak and so few bother taking action.

“Our job is made a little bit harder by the culture of grassroots football that seems to be ‘get your head down, get on with it,’” said Danny Lynch from the group Kick It Out. “The abuse is sometimes seen as part and parcel of the game. It can be a bit like the Wild West, playing grassroots football in certain areas.”

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Reverend Rowan Williams told the general synod that the Church “lost a measure of credibility” when it secured enough votes to block the appointment of women on Tuesday, November 20.

The majority of synod members – or 324 – voted in favor of women bishops, but a minority 122 votes against were enough to block it.

Williams addressed the synod the following day, saying “The temptation to run around saying, ‘What do we do? Who do we blame?’ today is going to be strong. I hope that we will try and hold back from simple recrimination in all this.

“The work to do internally is considerable – but, it’s tempting to say, that is as nothing compared with the work we have to do externally. We have, to put it very bluntly, a lot of explaining to do.”

Prime Minister David Cameron said through a Downing Street spokesman that he was disappointed with the vote result, but that it was an issue for the Church to handle.

“Whatever the motivation for voting … the fact remains that a great deal of this discussion is not intelligible to our wider society,” said Williams.

“Worse than that, it seems as if we are wilfully blind to some of the trends and priorities of that wider society.

The vote is the biggest one in the Church since it voted to allow female priests twenty-years ago.

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James Spencer, 16, was told to use the facilities at a fast food restaurant in the neighborhood, although school officials at the Clarke High School deny the claim.

Spencer says that the school gave him permission to use a bathroom reserved for “janitor staff, kitchen staff and students with medical disabilities.” The room is under lock and key.

“I felt like they were saying that to be transgender there’s something wrong and that transgender people need to be segregated,” James told Toronto’s Global News.

Spencer began his transition from female to male in the 10^th grade. He faced a barrage of bullying and was forced to change high schools, where difficulties persisted.

When the school proposed he use the private washroom, he told the Toronto Star, “I thought, ‘They’re figuring it out, it’s temporary.’”

“But as time went on they’re portraying the message that transgender people are wrong and they need to be segregated. And I don’t sit well with that.”

Martin Twiss, the superintendent of education of the school board under which Clarke High School falls, said, “I think we have to be careful that we accommodate students as best we can, but we also have to be conscious that not everyone might feel comfortable with that at this point.

“I think we have to do some education and some preparatory work to make sure that it’s managed in a way that everybody understands the situation and it’s managed safely.”

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Tama Fasavalu was banned from soccer after punching a referee in the face and breaking his jaw in three places and was sentenced to home detention for nine months.

The 36-year-old claims he was unfairly targeting by the referees during the game and points the figure at racism for his behavior.

“I do regret my actions that day, but it would never have prevailed if I was treated fair like every other player,” said Fasavalu, according to Stuff.co.nz.

Fasavalu said during a match between Tauranga City and Anzac Day, he was unfairly penalized, which provoked his anger.

But the referee, Len Gattsche, has forgiven Fasavalu for the assault, although he dismissed Fasavalu’s claim of racism.

“It was only one hit, spur of the moment,” adding, “There certainly was no racism during the game.”

Another incident earlier this year also raised the issue of racism in rugby.

During the Rugby World Cup, Samoan rugby international Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, used Twitter to claim that racism was widespread in the sport.

Image has ‘Free Art License’.

Judge William Thomas on November 14 was nominated by Obama to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Obama said that all his nominations “have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system and represent my continued commitment to ensure that the judiciary resembles the nation it serves. These individuals have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system.”

Obama’s Thomas nomination still has to be approved by the Senate.

An out lesbian black federal judge, Deborah Battas, was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, and became the first out judge to serve the federal bench.

According to a statement provided to the Advocate, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund said, “We’re delighted in the president’s appointment of Judge Thomas, who we recommend as a patient and hard-working man of incredible character,” said president and CEO Chuck Wolfe. “We believe he’s made an excellent jurist in Florida and will make an excellent federal jurist.”

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Seniors in Canada are treated poorly – and many Canadians confess to holding negative attitudes toward the elderly – according to a widespread survey on ageism.

According to the Revera Report on Ageism, 63 per cent of seniors 66 and over say they have been treated poorly because of their age.

Canadians who treat seniors poorly are also away of their discriminatory actions.

The report found that 51 per cent of all Canadians believe that ageism is more tolerated than other forms of discrimination.

A full 80 per cent of Canadians say those over the age of 75 are less important. Thirty-five percent of Canadians admit to treating someone different because of their old age.

Canada’s senior’s population is expected to double by 2036. By 2051, one in four Canadians is expected to be 65 and older.

“It’s troubling that ageism is so pervasive, in a time when society needs to evolve to meet the needs of an aging population,” said Jeff Lozon, Revera’s president and CEO.  “Canada’s baby boomers are growing older. Building an age-inclusive society must be a top priority for all of us as our demographics change. We can’t allow misconceptions and prejudices to get in the way of excellence in service to older people nor recognizing their social and economic contributions.”

Ageism in Europe too is rife. A recent survey covering 28 countries there found that 46 per cent of respondents said they were victims of age discrimination.

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The question put to respondents was, “Do you, personally, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender?”

Gallup says their survey is the largest single study of its kind regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.

The exact number of those polled was 121,290.

The University of Chicago’s General Social Survey asked a question regarding sexual orientation back in 2008 and 2010 of roughly 2,000 adults each year. Another survey by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services posed the question to 12,000 young adults between the ages of 18-24.

Gallup nonetheless was cautious regarding the results.

“Exactly who makes up the LGBT community and how this group should be measured is a subject of some debate,” according to a summary of the survey results on Gallup’s website. “Measuring sexual orientation and gender identity can be challenging since these concepts involve complex social and cultural patterns. As a group still subject to social stigma, many of those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender may not be forthcoming about this identity when asked about it in a survey.

“Therefore, it’s likely that some Americans in what is commonly referred to as “the closet” would not be included in the estimates derived from the Gallup interviews. Thus, the 3.4% estimate can best be represented as adult Americans who publicly identify themselves as part of the LGBT community when asked in a survey context.”

The Gallup study further found that nonwhites were more likely to identify as LGBT than their white counterparts.

The poll found that 3.2% of whites identified as LGBT compared to 4.6% of African-Americans, 4.0% of Hispanics and 4.3% of Asians.

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In a by-election in Sydney, Alex Greenwich, the former Australian Marriage Equality national convener won his seat and promised that he wouldn’t be a one-issue MP.

Greenwich and his partner, Victor Hoeld, married in Argentina in May this year.

“We congratulate Alex on his election and for becoming the first Australian MP in a same-sex marriage,” said the current convener of the AME, Rodney Croome.

“We call on the NSW Government to respect Alex Greenwich’s marriage by treating him and husband as married partners for all relevant purposes.”

Croome said that the campaign for gay marriage will continue and he promised to continue Greenwich’s fight as head of the AME.

“Alex’s skills as an advocate, lobbyist, strategist and diplomat helped forge a strong, cohesive and respected movement for marriage equality,” Croome said.

“AME will build on Alex’s legacy in our continuing campaign to achieve full legal equality for same-sex couples and their families.”

During the election campaign, Greenwich was labeled a single-issue candidate, a view he denied.

“I feel passionately about a number of issues, including animal welfare, strata reform, better transport alternatives.

“Yes, I am very proud of my record about progressing the marriage equality debate, and that’s something that is supported across this electorate as well.

“I was encouraged throughout the entire campaign about the amount of support there was out there to keep Sydney independent and the amount of outrage there was out there that our sitting member had been removed.”

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“I had two stones hit me in the head when I went for a throw-in,” Rose, 22, told Sky Sports.

Rose said that the hateful chanting worsened as the match progressed.

“After 60 minutes my mind wasn’t really on the game. I was just so angry and it was so hard to concentrate,” he said.

“Then we scored and after 90 minutes’ worth of abuse, I expressed my emotions as soon as we scored.

“Next thing I know, all the Serbia players were surrounding me, pushing me. I remember getting slapped twice. I got ushered away and that’s when I kicked the ball – and then the referee sent me off.

“I don’t understand – the game had finished. And then there was more monkey chanting. They should be banned.”

Prime Minister David Cameron has called on Uefa not to tolerate racism and impose “tough sanctions” if need be. Sports minister Hugh Robertson wrote to Uefa president Michel Platini following the match.

Rose was sent off during the match for reacting to the abuse, something Clarke Carlisle, the chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, found outrageous.

“Serbia should be banned because it’s a repeat offence,” Carlisle told BBC 5 Radio live.

“Banning them for a start, from any tournament, would be progress but I think if it’s significant – if it’s a couple of tournaments – then that would cause that nation to address the issue that has deprived them of international competition.”

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NHS officials point their fingers at the European Working Time Directive as the reason why 21 causality or maternity units have closed or are in the works of closing since 2009.

According to the EWTD, doctors can work a maximum 48 hours. Hospitals say that departments are forced to shut down because of inadequate staff to run them due to the work-hour limit.

The EWTD was introduced in 2009 and even includes time on call.

Five maternity wards – in addition to the 21 closures – have been reduced to “midwifery” centres and can only manage “low-risk” cases, writies the Sunday Telegraph.

“European legislation is reducing the number of hours that doctors are allowed to work each week,” say the NHK Kirklees about a proposal to turn a Dewsbury maternity unity into one led by midwives. “Given the additional doctors needed by every organisation to maintain safe levels of service provision, hospitals are in competition with each other to attract staff.”

The president of the Royal College of Surgeons, Prof Norman Williams, who opposed the directive, said patient safety is being compromised.

“There is little doubt that the EU restrictions are having an impact on patient care,” he said, according to the Sunday Telegraph. “Instead of seeing familiar faces at their bedside, the patient gets a conveyer belt of doctors on different shift patterns.”

Maternity units that have closed include Rochdale Infirmary, in Greater Manchester; Queen Elizabeth II, in Welwyn Garden City; Maidstone, in Kent; and Salford Royal, in Greater Manchester.

Proposed maternity ward closures include Chase Farm, in North London; Dewsbury, in Yorkshire; and Royal Shrewsbury, in Shropshire.

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According to the report, between 2000 and 2010 fewer than one in 1,000 births led to legal action and claims.

Although stating that the NHS was still one of the safest places to give birth, the report called for more senior staff to be available in maternity wards.

Because errors may result in some children needing care for the rest of their lives, compensation claims can be exorbitant. 

Five and a half million babies were born during the period covered. Over 5,000 claims – including some based on not noticing an abnormal heartbeat in the womb – were made. 

Still, the Litigation Authority remains firm that the NHS remains a safe place for maternity care.

“Having a baby while under the care of NHS doctors and midwives remains very safe,” said Catherine Dixon, chief executive of the NHS Litigation Authority.

“However, because maternity claims are so serious as they involve harm to mothers and their babies, it’s vital that we learn and share lessons from them so that professionals can improve their clinical practice in the future and prevent harm.”

England’s health minister, Dr. Dan Poulter, also praised the NHS.

“The NHS remains one of the safest places in the world to have a baby, but no matter how well our midwives and doctors look after women giving birth, bad things still sometimes happen to a very small number of mothers and babies.

“If these incidents hadn’t happened in the first place, the NHS would have had £3bn more to spend on patient care over the past 10 years.”

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Sandra Pasotti, of the law firm Bracewell Law, recently told politics.co.uk said that the recent media attention and legal implications could see more individuals come forward to bring a fresh flurry of abuse allegations.

Pasotti said: “It just may give adults now who were children then and may have been abused in the past some sort of courage to come forward and make allegations now,” she said.



“If they feel there will be some sympathy, so they can have some sort of closure and justice, that may give them the impetus they need. But who knows what we’re talking about here?”

The 2000 North Wales Waterhouse abuse inquiry resulted in 140 compensation claims, but now that the judge’s investigation is being disputed, it seems, more victims is certain to emerge.

The fact that the Waterhouse inquiry is now being questioned in itself could potentially point to the involvement of powerful people and a potential cover up.

Pasotti added that abuse cases, such as the North Wales and Jimmy Savile cases were more prevalent in the 70s and 80s and added that cases such as these are highly unlikely to take place today due to the current safeguards and controls.

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The commission, after its 2011 inquiry, found that public authorities such as the police and transport operators lacked in preventing harassment of people living with disabilities.  This, according to the commission is highlighted by the 2007 case of Fiona Pilkington who took her own life as well as the life of her disabled daughter, after years of facing harassment by local youths.

The government authorities and transport operators, in a follow up report, have been found to be improving by taking on cyber bullying, anti social behavior and the sharing of information to identify individuals who are considered ‘at risk.’

While there has been improvement, a lot still needs to be done, with some authorities either doing very little, or nothing at all.  This can be seen in the 2011/12 increase of 24.1 percent in disability hate crimes in England and Wales.

The Commission, published 7 strategies areas that need to be focused on to tackle disability hate crime.  The areas are:

1. Improved reporting, recording and recognition of disability relate harassment.
2. Gaps in legislation and national policy to be addressed
3. Adequate support and advocacy to be provided
4. Improved practice and shared learning.
5. Better redress and access to justice.
6. Improved prevention, deterrence and understanding of motivation.
7. More transparency, accountability and involvement of disabled people in developing policies and responses to disability related harassment.

Mike Smith, lead Commissioner for the Disability Harassment Inquiry, Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: We welcome the commitment and leadership shown by government and others in relation to our recommendations, but there is still much that we can and should be doing collectively as a society. The public’s response to the London 2012 Paralympic Games will go some way to creating more positive attitudes towards disabled people. But there is still a discrepancy between this and the day-to-day reality for many disabled people who report abuse and often suffer from a ‘postcode lottery’ in the way their allegations are dealt with.

‘The issue of disability-related harassment might be “out in the open” but it is, most certainly, not yet sorted. It is incumbent upon us all, especially in times of austerity, to work to overcome this blight on our society.’

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Catholic Care wanted to be exempted form the equalities law, but the judge in the case ruled against them.  Appeal judge the Hon. Mr justice Sales, in his judgement said that the charity failed in its argument that children would be left un-adopted, if Catholic Care were to close. The judge added that research further showed that that same sex couples could provide a good source for’ hard to place’ children.

The judge concluded that the Catholic Care failed to show that it had grounds for discriminating against gay couples.

The charity has now lost cases in the Upper Tribunal, High Court, Charity Commission and the Charity Tribunal.

Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society said: “Leeds, to its shame, has been the last remaining diocese to hold out and spend hundreds of thousands of pounds trying to defy equality law and impose Catholic dogma in its adoption agency – regardless of what is in the best interests of the children.

We should not forget that the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, has admitted that his Church has accepted many gay people as adoptive parents – but only provided they are single, and not if they are in, or form legally recognised, loving same-sex relationships. Yet non-catholic adoption agencies usually consider couples in relationships to be better placed to provide a more stable background, and therefore normally this in the best interests of the child. However, such is the extent of Catholic dogma in this particular charity, it takes priority over the best interests of the children in their care, and seemingly over the solvency of their charity and its ability to function.

“We do however recognise that many professionals in Catholic adoption agencies are content to follow the law and many have done so, even if this has meant disassociating themselves or their charities from the Church.”

Catholic Care said: “Without the constitutional restriction for which it applied, Catholic Care will be forced to close its adoption service.

“The reason for this is that the service permitted by the current constitution is in conflict with the aims of the charity.

“It is Catholic Care’s view that this will reduce the number of adoptive parents available and the number of children left waiting for adoptive parents will continue to increase.

“Catholic Care will now take time to consider the decision in detail and decide on its next steps.”

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In a new report, ‘Nobody made the connection: The prevalence of neurodisability in young people who offend, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) draws attention to the large numbers of young people in children’s prison’s in England who have neurodevelopmental difficulties, such as brain injuries, that could result in communication difficulties, cognitive delays, learning difficulties and emotional and behavioural problems.

The Children’s Commissioner’s report is based on a review of published evidence, conducted by the University of Birmingham and the University of Exeter, on the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders in young people in custody. It shows that young people in children’s prisons tend to have a significant degree of neurodeveopmental disorders, and problems related to such issues, as compared to the general population.

•    Young offenders are four times more likely to have a specific reading difficulty – Around 43 to 57% compared to 10% of the wider population
•    Many young offenders have a reading age below the age of criminal responsibility, which is 10 years in England and Wales
•    The vast majority of young offenders (60-90%) have speech and language difficulties and a quarter may have a learning disability
•    Up to three in four young people who commit crimes suffer from the effects of a traumatic brain injury. This compares to fewer than one in four of the general population
•    One in 10 may have Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England, says: “This report raises serious questions about whether significant numbers of children in the youth justice system have the ability to understand the whole process from arrest through to sentencing.

“Our failure to identify neurodevelopmental disorders and put in place measures to prevent young people with such conditions from offending is a tragedy.  It affects the victims of their crimes, the children themselves, their families, the services seeking to change offenders’ lives for the better, and wider society.

“Although children who have neurodevelopmental disorders and/or who have suffered brain injuries may know the difference between right and wrong, they may not understand the consequences of their actions, the processes they then go through in courts or custody, nor have the means to address their behaviour to avoid reoffending.”

On Saturday 20th October, the Deputy Children’s Commissioner, Sue Berelowitz, will present the findings to a key audience of forensic physicians at a conference organised by the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine.

One of the research authors for the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Dr Nathan Hughes, Director of Education and Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Birmingham, said:

“This report consistently demonstrates a youth justice system that continues to punish young people for the risks and vulnerabilities associated with their neurodevelopmental difficulties.

“However, it also offers grounds for optimism in the future development of services and support based on our improved understandings of neurodisability. Improvements in screening and assessment can ensure earlier identification and intervention. Training of key staff can ensure recognition of the challenges facing those with neurodisability in engaging with the youth justice system, including within the youth court. Interventions that respond appropriately to the needs of these young people can ensure more effective and cost efficient support to prevent the onset of anti-social behaviour and break a common cycle of persistent and serious offending.”

The Children’s Commissioner makes recommendations for the Government, local strategic partnerships, the Judiciary, clinical commissioning groups, and managers and practitioners across the youth justice system. She calls on them to make sure neurodevelopmental conditions are more rapidly identified in children and young people and that they receive better and faster treatment.

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Zbigniew Teliga with the help of the Equality Commission took on Murphy’s DAC TV and Hi-fi, since September 2006, after he was dismissed in August 2011 after injuring his hand at work.  His employers claimed that he was a casual worker who worked on an ad-hoc basis and was paid accordingly, though the firm had provided Mr Teliga with a letter in 2008 stating that he had then been employed by them for two years and he was registered under the Accession State Worker Registration Scheme as a result.

Mr Teliga said, “The fact that I was dismissed so suddenly was a shock for me and my wife.  We had no time to safeguard ourselves financially, and we were left with no resources. I had worked hard for them for five years and I believe they were satisfied with my work.  I think I was treated in a way that their Northern Irish workers would not have been treated.”

Eileen Lavery, Head of Legal, Policy and Research with the Equality Commission, said, “People who come to Northern Ireland to work are entitled to be treated fairly and with respect.  They have rights against unfair dismissal, as all workers have, and the Race Relations Order protects them against discriminatory treatment on grounds of their race or nationality. The law on equality in employment is not something that employers can simply disregard.  Unfair treatment can blight the lives of those who experience it and it can also be expensive and damaging for employers.”

Jerome Mullen, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Northern Ireland, said,  “I am very pleased with the outcome of this case taken by Mr Teliga, and I feel he was unfairly treated when dismissed by Murphy’s DAC TV & Hi–fi after five years of loyal service.  It’s very important that employers who act in such a manner without applying proper procedures and due care towards their employees should be challenged and I thank the Equality Commission for supporting this man in vindicating his rights in this case.  This company left Mr Teliga, a Polish national, with no job and no income.  He had no entitlement to benefits and he was left destitute in effect. I am extremely disappointed that the company did not see fit to respond satisfactorily to my own personal contact with them at the outset; had they done so, matters could have been very different.   It should be borne in mind that migrant workers from the European Union are entitled to the same treatment and protection under the law as local workers, nothing more and nothing less. This case shows that employers will not and should not get away such treatment of EU employees.’’

In settling the case, Peter Murphy, on behalf of Murphy’s DAC, has expressed regret for any distress caused to Mr Teliga as a result of having to bring the proceedings and affirmed his commitment to the principle of equality of opportunity. He has given an undertaking to meet the Equality Commission and review company policies and procedures to ensure they comply with the law and the codes of practice, in particular those issued under the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997. He has agreed to consider all reasonable recommendations made by the Commission including amendment of policies and procedures and the training of staff.

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The ESRI report School Sector Variation among Primary Schools in Ireland, published, provides new insight into the growing diversification of types of schools at primary level in Ireland. It focuses on school choice as well as the social, economic and educational characteristics of students enrolled in the three main types of primary schools – Catholic, Multi-denominational and Minority Faith schools.

The report shows that while the population has become more diverse in recent years, student intake in the Catholic schools is still predominantly Catholic. However, where Catholic schools have migrant pupils among the student body, the spread of nationalities is wider compared to the other two types of primary school.

At the same time, while having pupils from other religious denominations or none among the student body, multi-denominational school populations are 50 per cent Catholic. In fact, mothers in multi-denominational schools are as likely to describe themselves as very religious or spiritual as mothers in Catholic schools. A sizeable (30 per cent) Catholic intake was also found in minority faith (mostly Church of Ireland) schools. As many schools are located in the same vicinity as other schools, there is a potential for between-school competition across Catholic, Minority Faith and Multi-denominational schools.

In Ireland, there is evidence that school choice is constrained by the availability of places in the school of parents’ choice. While there has been growth in pupil intake across the three sectors, the growth has been more marked in multi-denominational schools. Schools such as Educate Together schools are more likely than other school types to be oversubscribed, that is, to have more applicants than they can accept.

The report also shows how the three primary school sectors differed in terms of social class background and maternal education levels:

•    Minority faith and multi-denominational schools had higher proportions of children from professional, managerial and technical backgrounds than Catholic schools.
•    Maternal education levels were higher in multi-denominational schools than in minority faith or Catholic schools. This factor had a stronger impact on school selection than social class.

There were no significant differences in pupils’ perspectives on their school experience across the three sectors. The research found that most children across the three sectors liked their school and their teacher and reported doing well in their schoolwork. Furthermore, pupils who were particularly positive about the school and teachers came from a variety of backgrounds.

Speaking about the report, one of the authors Dr. Merike Darmody stated “The report highlights variation across the three primary school sectors in terms of pupils’ social class, parental education and faith background. Importantly, most children across the sectors felt positive about their school, teachers and schoolwork, irrespective of their background.”

Paul Rowe, Educate Together CEO, noted: “This report provides an important objective background to the current debate around school patronage. In particular it demonstrates that many Catholic families choose Educate Together schools, and that they and their children are happy with the experience.”

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BAAF warns that this misconception around the impact of age on eligibility to adopt could cause children to miss out on a forever family by putting many potential adopters off coming forward. The worrying concern about age is just one of a number of perceived barriers to adoption that came through clearly in the research.

Key research findings include:
•    18% thought that being single is a barrier to adoption
•    Almost a quarter (24%) said that having a low household income would rule a person out from adopting a child
•    Well over a third (39%) believed that being unemployed was a barrier to adoption
•    Over two-thirds (69%) thought that a criminal conviction would rule a person out from adoption
•    1 in 5 (19%) believed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are unable to adopt

In fact, you don’t have to be married or in a civil partnership to adopt. Every year many single people and unmarried couples successfully adopt children. You must be over 21 to apply to adopt a child – but there is no upper age limit.

A prospective adopter’s health, financial circumstances and employment status will always be explored as part of an adoption assessment but health conditions, low income or being unemployed will not in themselves automatically exclude a person from being approved to adopt. A criminal record will also need to be considered as part of the assessment process but with the exception of certain specified offences will not necessarily rule someone out.

David Holmes, Chief Executive of BAAF, said: “There are some long-standing myths out there about who can and can’t adopt and we owe it to children in care who are waiting for adoption to explode those myths. These myths may be preventing thousands of prospective adopters from coming forward and in turn making thousands of children in care wait far too long for their new adoptive family. At a time when we are grappling with a national shortage of adopters we can’t afford to let these myths persist.

“If you think you could make room in your home and in your heart for a child or children through adoption, find out the full facts – don’t rule yourself out, rule yourself in!”

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The move will not force transgender people from choosing between binary genders when filling out official city documentation.

The American think tank the Pew Research Centre examined 197 countries and territories in its survey The Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion and found an increase from 2006-2010 of religious intolerance by 6 per cent.

The report states that governments are increasingly becoming intolerant of religion and are committing “crimes, malicious acts and violence motivated by religious hatred or bias, as well as increased interference with worship or other religious practices.”

In countries where governments increased restrictions on faith and worship, the report found a 63 percent rise in intolerance from mid-2009 to mid-2010, compared to a 56 percent rise in its last survey.

“The number of countries where harassment or intimidation of specific religious groups took place rose from 147 as of mid-2009, to 160 as of mid-2010.”

The UK is considered by the survey to be highly intolerant among offending countries and only Russia was ranked worse in Europe.

What are the concerns in the UK in terms of social hostility? Brian Grim, lead researcher, said a number of issues are involved.

“That included Christians voicing concern about being able to talk about their religion, a spike in antisemitic incidents and also anti-Muslim sentiment. It also included concern about issues within the Muslim community itself and honour killings.”

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Thomson, 58, who was paid £300,000 annually before leaving her post last month, said it would take time before a woman would grab the top job of director-general of the news organization.

Thomson lost out on the position to George Entwistle.

“I think it takes time to properly change a culture around,” she told the Telegraph when asked why a woman has yet to nab the top job. “The BBC still needs more time. This was the first time that there were two really serious female candidates [Ms Thomson and Helen Boaden, the director of BBC News]. I am sure the board of trustees chose the best candidate and George [Entwistle] will be really good. You just have to accept that.

“However, despite the BBC having improved as a place to work as a woman – with three female executive directors – it still has a long way to go on the equality agenda for women and ageism. The two go hand in hand and its culture will only change when these issues are addressed. You can’t assume you have done it with women – it’s quite a fragile issue to address.”

Thomson ended her career at the BBC after 25 years when her position was redundant by Entwistle.

“For quite a while I assumed that I would be too old to apply to be the director general, so in some ways I was rather cheered that I was such a serious candidate…That’s one of the problems in the BBC – the media tends to be a young person’s place and the job of being director general is a very demanding one – so to do it in your mid-to-late 50s, you need to make sure you have the energy levels.”

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Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law on September 29.

“No one should stand idly by while children are being psychological abused, and anyone who forces a child to try to change their sexual orientation must understand this is unacceptable,” said Senator Ted W. Lieu, who introduced the legislation. “Governor Brown should be commended for protecting LGBT youth by ending this type of quackery.”

“Reparative therapy” attempts to link homosexuality to early childhood suffering in an effort to “cure” patients. Naturally, the method has been routinely derided by the LGBT community and mental health organizations.

“This bill bans nonscientific ‘therapies’ that have driven young people to depression and suicide,” Brown said in a statement on Saturday, according to the New York Times. “These practices have no basis in science or medicine, and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery.”

The law takes effect January 1 next year.

“If anyone had any doubts such practices were evil, they need only listen to accounts of victims who went through this abusive practice,” Lieu said in a statement. “Some victims, such as Kirk Murphy, committed suicide. This law is partly in remembrance of Kirk.”

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McCririck is well known as the face of racing in the UK, with a career spanning three decades. 

McCririck has been replaced by Care Balding.

The 72-year-old is known for his controversial comments, including a stint on the Ultimate Big Brother back in 2010 in which he made several sexist comments.

McCririck claims that he was only informed that he had been sacked 30 minutes before Channel 4 announced its new team to the public last Thursday.

“I trust those now in power, having shown their macho images as all new producers do by getting rid of their most well-known older performer, don’t forget that racing appeals to all generations,” McCririck said when asked by a reporter about his departure.

“Naturally, I am devastated at being sacked after covering betting, first on ITV and then Channel 4, for 31 years.

“According to Channel 4, I’m being sacked after audience research.”

A Channel 4 spokesperson said in a statement that it was taking a “new approach” to its horseracing coverage.

“The presenting team for Channel 4 racing from 2013 includes a range of experienced broadcasters and racing experts and reflects our desire to give a new approach to covering horseracing as we become the terrestrial home of the sport.”

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Obama previously endorsed gay marriage back in May, although he said the question should be left up to individual states to decide.

Obama is the first sitting president to support gay marriage.

The endorsements for the three states were issued through local branches set up for Obama’s re-election campaign.

“While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the president believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect,” said Paul Bell, the Washington state campaign press secretary.

“Washington’s same-sex marriage law would treat all Washington couples equally, and that is why the president supports a vote to approve Referendum 74,” Bell said.

Maine’s legislature had already legalized gay marriage, but that decision was reversed in 2009 as a result of a voter-driven referendum.

Enough signatures were collected in Maryland and Washington to bring the question to a referendum after gay marriages was already signed into law by both governors earlier this year.

“When I first began fighting in the legislature for marriage equality … I would never have dared to dream that a president of the United States would one day step forward at this crucial moment, in the middle of his own close re-election campaign, to offer his support for our efforts,” said Ed Murray, an openly gay senator in Washington. “But that is exactly what President Obama has done, and it is an example of his courage and leadership.”

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Beth Wilson, the Health Services Commissioner, said pregnant women are being turned away in the Melbourne suburbs of Werribee and Sunshine, where women are asked to book their delivery a mere six weeks into their pregnancy.

A lack of beds leaves some women no choice but to travel outside their local area, leaving many worried about what could arise during an emergency situation.

“The demand is outstripping capacity at the moment,” said Wilson.

“Women want to have their babies close to home if they can. They want family, friends to be able to visit.

“They get very anxious about having to travel because of emergencies.”

“The Government should be looking at the availability of services,” she said.

“It’s not possible for everyone to have their baby locally but to make it as accessible and safe as possible.”

She did say, however, that a woman in labour would never be turned away from an emergency department.

The country’s Health Minister is pointing the finger at the previous Labor government.

“This is a significant challenge and the State Government is determined to have a better outcome for families and put in the resources to turn around the eleven years of neglect that we’ve inherited,” he said.

Victoria Premier Ted Baillieu says Labor insufficiently invested in what are called Melbourne’s “growth corridors,” which are considered some the fastest growing areas in the world.

“This is a classic case of the previous Labor government failing to invest in areas they needed to invest in,” he said.

“We’re acutely aware of this problem.

“We’ve responded to the auditor-general. The minister has set up the taskforce the auditor-general has asked for.”

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The co-ordinator for Noah’s Space, a community outreach program, says there aren’t enough services for trans people in the city of Sudbury located in northern Ontario, a Canadian province.

“I think there needs to be, at this point, something that is very comprehensive, and sort of essentially a one-stop shopping for somebody when they actually start that questioning process,” Catherine Savarie told the CBC.

The group provides services for those who are questioning their gender identity or are in the midst of transitioning. The group would also like to provide workshops on making the move to medically transition in the province, Canada’s most populous.

Savarie also told the CBC that a lack of information exists on the number of trans folks in the north, and having more precise data could help government invest in better services.

“[People say] ‘you’re telling me there’s a need, that’s great, give me a number,’” Savarie continued.

“If we’re talking about one or two people they may say, ‘no, that doesn’t constitute a problem.’ But if we’re talking about hundreds, then yes, that constitutes something to be looked at.”

A study called TransPulse estimates there are 2,000 trans people in the north, and is currently the only available data in existence.

Savarie adds that while collecting data is a must, maintaining privacy is also of utmost importance.

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The move will not force transgender people from choosing between binary genders when filling out official city documentation.  

Councillor Dawn Barnett, a Tory, blasted the move.

“It’s completely ludicrous and shows a lack of respect. How are they going to address letters properly?”

The Trans Equality Scrutiny Panel was created to examine issues such as job opportunities and safety for trans people.

Phelim MacCafferty, a Green Party member, is on the panel which is spearheading the change.

“Trans people aren’t necessarily male or female and sometimes don’t want to be defined by their gender.

“Putting Mr and Mrs on a form is completely useless.”

“This is an issue that concerns most institutions from banks to mobile phone companies.

“Why is Mr on my debit card, for instance?

“I don’t understand why it is there.

Transgender activist Steph Scott said removing the two titles prevents transgender people from boxing themselves into an unfit category.

“Being called Mr or Mrs forces me to choose between genders,” said Scott.

“It’s assuming people live in a binary world and it pigeonholes people.”

A decision on the proposal is set for December.

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The new rules require only a letter from a psychologist or practising physician to be submitted for the change.

Ontario is the first province in the country to take this step.

“We’re going to celebrate this victory — because it is a victory, it’s a giant leap forward,” said Susan Gapka, chair of the Trans Lobby Group.

“Trans people’s identification will more easily match their presentation to the public.”

The change comes on the heels of a Human Rights Tribunal ruling in April, which found the requirement of “transsexual surgery” discriminatory.

According to the Globe and Mail, the tribunal found that a surgery requirement only compounded the stigma felt by the community and failed to understand how trans people experience gender.  

For Gapka, the victory for the trans community illustrates the increased attention trans people are receiving in terms of their rights.

“Finally trans people are gaining access to their legal rights…we’re catching up to other disadvantaged groups,” she said.

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In a bid to establish a central health helpline, the government has cut funding to all helplines dedicated to provide health services.

The HIV helpline will no longer operate during weekends and will run weekday services from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. During offline hours, the THT will direct callers to its website for information.

“No charity is immune from the recession, but Terrence Higgins Trust is committed to providing the best possible service for the thousands of people each year who depend on us for support and advice around HIV and sexual health,” said Genevieve Edwards, director of fundraising, on the charity’s website. “THT Direct has an important role to play in this, and we are determined to raise the money to ensure the helpline stays open.

“With Government budgets under continued pressure, the support of our donors has never been more important. Front-line services like THT Direct can make all the difference to someone in dire need, but its continuation now depends entirely on the funds our supporters raise, whether through individual donations, sponsored challenges or fundraising events. Later this year, on World AIDS Day, our staff and volunteers across the UK will be out there fundraising like never before; we urge you to get involved in whatever way you can.”

An astonishing one in seven gay or bisexual men active in London’s gay scene have HIV. This compares to one in 10 gay or bisexual men living with HIV who generally live in London. For the rest of the UK, the number is one in 20.

The hotline has been around since 2001. According to its website, it covers the following topics:

• HIV testing, STI screening and accessing PEP
• Benefits or housing
• Problems at work or discrimination in any part of your life
• Prosecutions for transmission of HIV
• Reproduction, puberty and contraception

“Maternity leave is creating a great burden on many women and businesses. The legislation puts employers off employing women. Companies are reluctant to give jobs to women of childbearing age,” said Lawlor, writing for the Telegraph Wonder Women.

She said that small firms avoid hiring women of childbearing age because of expensive paid maternity leave.

“We have to abandon what is wrongly called ‘family -friendly’ legislation, including the sole option maternity leave.

“Most ordinary women in most ordinary jobs do badly when they take advantage of family-friendly legislation. It takes longer for them to catch up on earnings when they return and they don’t accrue pension rights while they are away.”

Equality groups were alarmed last year when David Cameron’s former strategic adviser, Steve Hilton, proposed abolishing maternity leave.

“Family-friendly law is really family and female-unfriendly. Current arrangements at maternity too often lead to a downward spiral of earnings and career, a life of near dependency on the state for top-ups of one sort or another and probably an impoverished old age,” Lawlor said.

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Michelle Kosilek, a trans women in an all-male prison, won a court battle in Boston, Massachusetts allowing her to receive gender reassignment treatment in prison. The judge in the case ruled that her legal costs should be covered in addition to the surgery. Kosilek is asking that other expenses be covered.

Those costs are $496.86 for stamps; $156.18 for bulk postage; $26.10 for envelopes; $7.80 for copies; $11.75 for filing fees. Costs incurred by her attorneys totals $806,446.

“Having prevailed, I am asking the court to order the defendant to reimburse me for my expenses,” said Kosilek in a letter to the court.

One of Kosilek’s attorney’s said she justified her steep lawyer’s costs because she defended a client who had an “unpopular diagnosis.

“Prosecuting this case was a huge undertaking by many measures,” her attorney Frances S. Cohen wrote. “Plaintiff’s counsel has borne the burden of keeping an often frantic and distraught client informed.” Her amounts are $644,573 in attorneys’ fees and $161,873 in legal costs.

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The issue came to light when the UK newspaper, Metro, compared the Saudi and Swedish versions of the catalogue, which showed the women being airbrushed out of the Saudi catalogue.

Sweden’s trade minister, Ewa Bjorling said: “For Ikea to remove an important part of Sweden’s image and an important part of its values in a country that more than any other needs to know about IKEA’s principles and values, that’s completely wrong,”

“I regret that there is still such a long way to go when it comes to gender equality in Saudi Arabia, which these images clearly show.

“As long as women are hindered from visibility and work outside home, Saudi Arabia will lack 50% of their human capital.”

IKEA, in the first statement issued by the furniture retail giant, said: “We should have reacted and realised that excluding women from the Saudi Arabian version of the catalogue is in conflict with the Ikea Group values.

They added: “It is not the local franchisee that has requested the retouch of the discussed pictures. The mistake happened during the work process occurring before presenting the draft catalogue for IKEA Saudi Arabia. We take full responsibility for the mistakes made.

“We are now reviewing our routines to safeguard a correct content presentation from a values point-of-view in the different versions of the IKEA catalogue worldwide.”

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A new Plan A employability scheme for people with disabilities and health conditions – Marks & Start Logistics – will be one of the recruitment channels used to recruit for these new roles – which include warehouse operatives, engineers, mechanics administrative staff, transport controllers and management.

Inspired by the successful Marks & Start scheme that operates in M&S stores and offices, Marks & Start Logistics will help recruit, train and employ people with disabilities and health conditions to work at Castle Donington. It will be run in partnership with Remploy Employment Service, which specialises in giving disabled people the support they need to overcome barriers to work.

Darrell Stein, Director of IT and Logistics at Marks & Spencer, said: “Castle Donington is a key part of M&S’ strategy for the future. This new distribution centre will help us deliver our goal of being a leading multi-channel retailer by 2015. It will also allow us to better serve our customers with improved product availability and extended delivery options. We’re delighted to be creating 1000 new roles as part of this plan and we hope it will provide an economic boost for the East Midlands.”

Tanith Dodge, HR Director at Marks & Spencer, said: “We want to support as many people with disabilities into the workplace as possible by taking our Marks & Start scheme to a new scale and a new part of the business. Around 10 million disabled people live in the UK and only 49 per cent are in employment compared to 78 per cent of non-disabled people. It doesn’t have to be this way. Our experience tells us that people who face barriers to the work place are committed, motivated and valued employees.”

Esther McVey, Minister for the Disabled, said: “Although the employment rate of disabled people has improved over the past few years, around half of all disabled people are still not in work and those that are often work far below their potential.

“That is why I’d urge other employers to follow the example of M&S and look hard at their recruitment and work practices to make sure they don’t miss out on the extensive talents of disabled people.”

Beth Carruthers, Director of Employment Services at Remploy, said: “I applaud M&S for this commitment – this wonderful new distribution centre will provide jobs for a large number of disabled people in the East Midlands, allowing them to maximise their talent. The Paralympics was a wonderful example of the achievements of disabled people. Every day at Remploy we see disabled people demonstrate their talents in the workplace and Marks & Start Logistics will give many more an opportunity to shine through sustainable employment.”

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The changing environment has led to a number of schools and services reporting that it is hard to keep up to date and in some cases, has led to uncertainty within the workforce around, for example, vetting and barring procedures and statutory child protection and safeguarding duties.

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) commissioned the NSPCC, with Youthworks, to examine best practice in schools and also how they work with external agencies who help keep children safe, and who intervene when they are at risk or in need of support. The Commissioner’s report, “You have someone to trust” – Outstanding safeguarding practice in primary schools, is based on a sample of primary schools in England and includes case studies from teachers, professionals and children.

The Children’s Commissioner will also publish practical tips for teachers and other professionals based on the NSPCC findings. These are intended to help schools to better identify and support children they are concerned about and develop their whole school approach to safeguarding.

The Children’s Commissioner is recommending that with the pending changes to the statutory guidance on child protection (Working Together), the role of schools in the safeguarding network should become more important than ever.

Maggie Atkinson, the Children’s Commissioner, said: “Most primary schools do a good job identifying and supporting children recognised as vulnerable and at risk of abuse and neglect. Schools are in a unique position to work with other agencies to take action. However, teachers have told us they would value guidelines on developing a range of support strategies because the reductions in networks of local services are directly impacting on children and families in need of greater support and schools’ ability to find quickly locate services for them. The changing guidance, legislation and inspection criteria have left some teachers confused about what to do for a child they are concerned about.

“This report and the accompanying practical tips for schools come at a time when Local Authorities and other support agencies are under financial pressure which is impacting on support services, and many families are facing greater challenges in the current economic climate. As a result, many schools are now dealing with the impact of these changes on children’s lives and their increased need for support. It was important to identify models of good practice for teachers, school leaders and other children’s services professionals to support them with any child protection concerns.  The development of outstanding safeguarding practices is crucial to achieve the best outcomes for children.  Only when they are socially and emotionally secure can children reach their full potential, either academically or personally.”

Julie Mortimer, Education Advisor for the NSPCC, said: “It was a privilege and honour to work with the staff and children who participated in this report which, we are confident, will support the development of outstanding safeguarding in all schools.”

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What further heightened the frustration among teachers and parents is the fact that the free Catholic school bus is subsidised by the council to the tune of £90,000 a year, while non-Catholics have to pay.

A council spokesman said: “Up to the end of the last academic year the school buses that were paid for by the council were larger than required and as such there were plenty of spare seats for non-entitled fare paying children to travel on. Unfortunately, in the interests of making cost savings, these arrangements have had to end.

“The council has no duty to provide additional capacity on its contracted school transport vehicles to carry non-entitled (fare paying) children as well. The council makes transport arrangements for all those children who qualify for free transport only.

“It is not the council’s responsibility to make or maintain any arrangements for non-entitled children attending Northumberland schools. This is in line with statutory and council policy. There is a distinction between those entitled to free transport and those not entitled to free transport which include non-Catholics and also Catholics who live within three miles of the school.”

Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of theNational Secular Society, said: “Parents in Northumberland have suddenly woken up to the fact that school transport is a hotbed of separatism and religious discrimination. We have been saying for years that it is iniquitous that the taxpayer should be funding transport to religious schools for religious families much more generously than that to any schools for non-religious families. It is religious discrimination of the worst and most despicable kind – the sort that keeps children apart and creates needless differences between them.”

“It is a shame that so many councils are stopping this discrimination only because they can’t afford it any more. They should be doing it on the more principled grounds of equality. But, whatever the reason, it is ending an injustice. Northumberland Council should do the same.”

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In an attempt to aid older people in obtaining car insurance, the Government and the insurance industry agreed that individuals be referred to insurance companies who do offer coverage to older people.

A recent mystery shopping survey done of behalf of Age UK has however shown that 1 in every 5 older people above the age of 80 are turned down immediately. Shockingly over 4 in every 5 of those individuals not being redirected as agreed on with Government, rendering the agreement with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) in effective.

The discrimination, which is exempted under discrimination law, could see older people being denied the right to drive and deprived of their independence.

Gordon Morris, Managing Director of Age UK Enterprises commented: “At Age UK Enterprises, our thirty years of experience have taught us that it is feasible to provide successful insurance products to the market without upper age limits or any hidden charges.

“Having access to more products like this is crucial for many older consumers but unfortunately our survey has found that many older customers still struggle to find appropriate car insurance – this indicates that the signposting agreement doesn’t work.”

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The DfE’s investigation concluded that St Philomena’s, which read out a letter against same-sex marriage and encouraged pupils to sign a petition, did not break laws on ‘the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school’. The BHA was the first organisation to suggest that this law may have been broken. However, Mr Gove did write to the Catholic Education Service (CES) and expressed concern at their blurring the distinction between matters of faith and matters of politics.

BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘If St Philomena’s hasn’t broken the law, then why did the Catholic Education Service need a rebuke from Mr Gove at all? And why did the Welsh Government conclude that schools which followed the CES’s advice, like St Philomena’s, would have broken this law? Mr Gove’s conclusion seems to be at odds with the evidence and with itself.

‘However, first and foremost, it is disappointing that there is no sign of compassion from the DfE for gay and lesbian pupils at schools like St Philomena’s, who had to sit through an assembly in which gay marriage and civil partnerships were described as being “unnatural”. Such behaviour will leave pupils feeling isolated from the very body that is meant to be looking after them; it cannot be right that this is an acceptable part of the British school system.’

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In addition, to the ban, the act introduced exemptions, which include age-based concessions, age-related holidays, age verification, financial services, immigration, residential park homes, and sport.

Audrey Williams, head of discrimination law at Eversheds, said: “The new law will involve challenges for service providers. Some policies and practises will have to be adapted, and services redesigned.

“There are some exemptions built into the legislation, particularly for financial services where insurance products often reflect certain increased risks, statistics have shown, tend to be associated with age.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “There are no specific exceptions to the ban on age discrimination for health and social care services,” he said.

“This means that any age-based practises by the NHS and social care organisations would need to be objectively justified, if challenged.”

A spokesman for Age UK called the ban “major opportunity to improve the lives of older people, especially in the context of health and social care.”

He added: “Unfortunately one area in which the ban will not be able to bring about much needed change is financial services.”

“Despite concerted lobbying on the part of Age UK and others, the government does not believe there is sufficient evidence of harmful age discrimination to apply the ban in this area.

“Age UK will continue to campaign to overturn this decision and, to coincide with the introduction of the ban, we have released research which demonstrates that older people still face age discrimination in motor and travel insurance.”

Equalities minister Helen Grant said: “Discrimination can affect people at different times of their lives. Both old and young people may be treated in a different way simply because of their age. This sort of prejudice has no place in modern society and it is right that we introduce legislation that will protect people from unfair treatment.

“Not only are we providing protection against age discrimination but we have been careful to ensure that the law strikes the right balance between protecting older people and allowing business to make sensible decisions.”

Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb, said: “People quite rightly expect dignified care that meets their needs, irrespective of their age. By introducing this age discrimination ban, we are making sure that there is no room for assumptions about age or discrimination of any kind in health and social care.”

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The team out of the University of Otago found that of the 2,079 New Zealanders it tracked who were not hospitalized after receiving an injury, 39.4 per cent faced disability down the road. For the hospitalized group of 673 patients, 53.6 per cent continued to deal with disability. Although the rate is higher for the hospitalized group, the nearly 40 per cent rate for the non-hospitalized group is considered worrisome.  

“Often there is an assumption that people not admitted to hospital, don’t have a serious injury or long-lasting disability,” said lead researcher Dr. Sarah Derrett from the Injury Prevention Unit. “Our study has found a high proportion of those not admitted to hospital have an on-going disability, and that’s important.”

Her research team – the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study (POIS) – is tracking a total of 2856 New Zealanders who suffered an injury and are receiving benefits after either being hospitalized or having been treated without hospitalization.

“Internationally, we don’t know enough about the outcomes of injury long-term – and particularly about outcomes for those not hospitalised. This study is assessing the burden of injury long-term and seeing if any particular groups are at risk of a poorer outcome than others.”

Derrett adds that those who are not hospitalized after injury increase their odds of disability three months later, especially those with spine or leg dislocations.

“These people with injuries traditionally regarded as ‘mild’ are experiencing disability. As well as being concerned about disability borne by those admitted to hospital for an injury, we also need to be aware of what is happening to outcomes for the group not admitted to hospital.”

“Various groups [including] gay rights groups, those defending immigrants, and feminists have commandeered the black civil rights experience,” Coulter said in an interview with George Stephanopoulos, host of This Week.

She said she believes “civil rights are for blacks” because of the legacy of “slavery and Jim Crow laws.”

“We don’t owe the homeless. We don’t owe the feminists. We don’t owe women who are desirous of having abortions, or gays who want to get married to one another,” she added.

“That’s what “civil rights” has become for much of the left.”

The writer also said that Blacks were discarded by the Left, which has turned its attention to other groups.

She went on to say that civil rights are for blacks and not immigrants.

“What have we done to the immigrants? We owe black people something. We have a legacy of slavery.

“Immigrants haven’t even been in this country.”

She has written that a comparison of homosexuality to bestiality is acceptable, calling it an “indisputably true point” and once said that gay men who act on their sexual feelings should “feel guilty” about doing so.

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“The proportion of people by race in professional positions closely mirrors the proportion of people by race with professional qualifications,” said Lucy Holborn of the SA Institute of Race Relations (Sairr) last month.

The data could shed new light on the notion that employers in South Africa largely hire based solely on race.

According to Sairr’s data, 41 percent of black people had degrees, with 36 percent of blacks in professional positions. Forty-five percent of white people had degrees and 42 two percent held professional employment.

“While a degree of racial prejudice exists in all societies, the data suggests that educational achievement will determine the pace of future employment equity progress in South Africa,” she said.

Sairr gathered the information from Statistics SA and the Commission for Employment.

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17 year old Liam, a sixth form student at New College Worcester, who himself is blind and deaf, has risen above his disabilities and worked selflessly in raising £150,000 for charity.

Liam was presented with his award by Paralympian Jody Cundy, after which he said: “I really wasn’t expecting to win, I’m in shock.

“I’m just so pleased and proud to have won.”

Liam’s recent charity work, while impressive, is only the recent in a long list of achievements.  As a 14 year old he had two poetry books published in print, large print, Braille and audio.

The list of achievements does not stop there, with the young man also involved in giving speeches for the charity, Living Paintings, with him also co-running a volunteer training programme with the Children’s Society.

Mardy Smith, principal of New College Worcester, said: “Liam is the perfect example of the ‘can do’ attitude of students at NCW and we are incredibly proud that we celebrate this achievement with him.”

The FA called Terry’s defense ‘improbable, implausible, (and) contrived’ stopping short of calling the football star a racist, they then meted out a £220,000 fine and four match suspension.

Chelsea football club refused to comment on the FA verdict, since the case could be dragged on further if Terry decides to appeal, in accordance with FA protocol.

The incident ignited in October of 2011, when it was alleged that Terry described Ferdinand as ‘black’ as well as using derogatory and extreme sexual swear words.

Terry’s case centred around him repeating words he said he had heard from Ferdinand.  It is this very defence the FA found “improbable, implausible and contrived.”

The FA report added: “His repetition of words that Mr Terry claims were said to him first by Mr Ferdinand is implausible if they were really intended to be a robust denial.

“A much more plausible and likely explanation is that Mr Terry was angry; angry at Mr Ferdinand’s taunting and provocation of him, angry at the way the match had gone, and angry at the way in which it seemed likely to end.

“The much more likely explanation for what he said is that all of this provoked him into saying [the words].

“The commission is quite satisfied that there is no credible basis for Mr Terry’s defence that his use of the words were directed at Ferdinand by way of forceful rejection and/or inquiry.

“Instead, we are quite satisfied, and find on the balance of probabilities, that the offending words were said by way of insult.

“The commission is entitled to use its collective experience of life and people to judge demeanour,” it states.

“We have watched the film footage many times. In the critical phase, during which he uses the words, Mr Terry can be seen to be smiling initially, before his facial expression changes to disdainful and contemptuous.

“At no point is his demeanour and facial expression that of someone who is imploring, injured, or even quizzical in the face of an unfounded allegation by Mr Ferdinand that he had just been racially abusive towards him.

“Anger is a conceivable reaction to such an accusation, but at no time does Mr Terry convey any sense of ‘no, I didn’t’ with his facial expression, or body language.”

The Governor of the U.S. state of Tennessee had declared October Disability Employments Awareness Month, in an effort to draw attention to the talent available among the physically impaired.

“A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?” is the theme of the 2012 National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” Governor Bill Haslam said. “The theme calls attention to a potentially untapped personnel resource in Tennessee and across the country – persons with disabilities.

“Unemployment among persons with disabilities is a challenge that affects all of our citizens. By making a conscious effort, each of us can make a difference.”

Those who are quadriplegic, blind and have suffered traumatic brain injuries have found employment after taking part in rehabilitation programs offered by the Department of Human Services (DHS).

“Businesses that actively recruit qualified employees with disabilities often discover untapped skills and talents. As a group often overlooked, persons with disabilities are committed and motivated employees,” said DHS Commissioner Raquel Hatter. “They also contribute valuable consumer perspectives regarding what the disability market needs and desires.”

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Businesses according to the Economist, are becoming more aware of the benefits of placing disabled people. The reason for this is quite simple – disabled workers’ productivity is very high.

Employing disabled people have been described as the new ‘going green,’ with companies predicted to place more emphasis on placing individuals with disabilities.

Kanchi, a non-profit organization is set to shed light on business who focus on a more inclusive workforce, as it is to hold awards for companies who deal with disabled workers and employees the best.

The London 2012 Paralympics has further pushed the issue into the public and business spheres, with Sainsbury’s reaping the rewards for sponsoring the sporting event.

It was noted: “The plaudits [Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King] and other companies have received for backing what was previously seen as a sideshow could help change corporate attitudes to disability.”

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The launch of the new is expected to be approved by the respective local councils, within the next few weeks. This will be followed by a transitional period, which will last until April 2013, after which the new youth offending team will function in its new capacity.

The merger of the youth offending teams come as a result of the economic crisis spending cuts, which has seen the two teams see a drop of 25 percent in funding.

Gareth Jones, head of Halton and Warrington Youth Offending Team, pointed out that the spending cuts have resulted in a leaner management system after jobs were lost, with the merger needed to ‘improve standards against a backdrop of reducing resources.’

Jones added: “Young people will notice very little difference but we will be able to achieve economies of scale in areas such as court work, restorative justice and volunteers.”

Kath O’Dwyer, director of children’s services at Warrington added: “The development of a YOT across three local authorities aims to support the further development of high quality youth justice services,” she added.

“We are committed to the concept of a multi-agency partnership to address the issues of youth crime and although we plan to manage this on a larger footprint to ensure quality is both maintained and improved, we are teaming this with an approach that maintains a ‘local’ approach to service delivery.”

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The financially strained council is to slash a further 400 to 500 jobs, on top of the 833 of the previous 2 years, with the council aiming to achieve this goal through voluntary severances , early retirements and voluntary redeployment.

Bolton children’s services is to lose out on £5m due to the council having to save a total of £35.6m over the next 2 years.  The council has however been reluctant to say to which extent the 18 children centres and four nurseries will be affected, with an clearer picture expected after the consultation with all the stake holders.

Councillor Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton Council, said, ‘These savings will have a big impact in terms of the services the council is able to provide for local residents. Although there will be reductions in services, the council has worked hard to protect the most vulnerable and to target resources on areas and individuals with the greatest need. We have also prioritised savings that can be made without immediately affecting service quality.

‘We will be also mitigating the impact of these reductions on staff wherever possible by allowing employees to take early retirement or voluntary severance, and offering a comprehensive redeployment period for those who face redundancy.’

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The government hasn’t kept its promises to “enhance” the quality of life for those living with disabilities, said John Dolan, chief executive of the Disability Federation of Ireland, adding the government is “going in the other direction.”

The Government “needs to urgently rebalance its recovery programme to also protect the right and services and strengthen the supports needed by people with disabilities,” he said.

Paddy Connolly, the Inclusion Ireland chief executive, said that cuts would “mark the end of any of this government’s commitment to people with disabilities.”

Dolan said five years of cuts have impaired the capacity of the disabled to “live ordinary lives in the community.”

The organisations came together because of “deep concern” about more than 800,000 people who have had “five years of unprecedented cuts,” Dolan said, adding that Ireland could encounter difficulties from costs related to “sustained social stress” on the part of the disabled.

Cuts would lead to “damaging levels of inequality caused by the running down of the social infrastructure after the recession ends,” Dolan said.

The organizations that came together to denounce further government erosion of disability services were the Disability Federation of Ireland, Genetic and Rare Disorders Organisation, Care Alliance Ireland, CIL Carmichael, Not for Profit Business Association, National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, Neurological Alliance of Ireland, Inclusion Ireland and Mental Health Reform.

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The U.S. Department of Labor dolled out more than $20 million for seven states under the Disability Employment Initiative to aid training and educational opportunities for children and adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed or receiving Social Security benefits.

The seven states – Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Rhode Island – join 16 other states which also receive funding under the program.

“This program represents our strong commitment to assisting people with disabilities in securing good jobs and providing career pathways,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “These Employment and Training Administration grants will expand the capacity of the public workforce system to provide training and employment services to people with disabilities.”

The funding will support a variety of programs geared toward mental health, vocational rehabilitation and business leadership. Other community and nonprofit organizations will also benefit.  

“Everyone should have the opportunity to contribute to today’s workforce,” said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. “Enhancing the workforce system’s ability to provide effective coordinated and collaborative service delivery will help to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the employment training and support they need to achieve self-sufficiency.”

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Oklahoma County district judge Bill Graves said the bible disallowed name changes, according to the The Oklahoman. Other judges have granted name changes for those who have undergone sex-change surgery.

“A so-called sex-change surgery can make one appear to be the opposite sex, but in fact they are nothing more than an imitation of the opposite sex,” wrote Graves in an order last year. He said he consulted a physician in making the decision.

“To grant a name change in this case would be to assist that which is fraudulent,” Graves continued. “It is notable that Genesis 1:27-28 states: ‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…’ The DNA code shows God meant for them to stay male and female.”

An appeal is currently underway by Steven Charles Harvey, who has request a legal name change to Christie Ann Harvey.

Graves also denied a request on August 30 for James Dean Ingram to Angela Renee Ingram. “Ingram recalled that the judge said the name change request was fraudulent because ‘you can’t change what God gave you,’” reports The Oklahoman.

Before becoming a judge, Graves was a Republican state legislature and routinely opposed the advancement of gay rights in the state.

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Ethnically diverse and low-income pregnant women took part in the program in the South Community Birth Program, which involved family doctors, midwives, public health nurses and doulas working together.

“Women who received collaborative, multidisciplinary, community-based care in the South Community Birth Program were less likely to have a cesarean delivery, had shorter hospital stays on average, and were more likely to breastfeed exclusively than women who received standard care,” said Dr. Patricia Jansen of the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, one of the study’s co-authors.

The study in the most recent issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that those women who participated in the program had a 25 per cent lower risk of a caesarean section compared to those treated by a midwife or doctor.

The finding was true for both for first-time mothers and those who had given birth previously.

The study also found that those in the program had a shorter hospital stay by over 20 hours, 50.6 hours compared to 72.7 hours, and twice the number of women breast fed exclusively after returning home.

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The Leeds-based Catholic Care since 2008 has refused to change its policy in excluding gay people from using its adoption services, saying that doing so could cause it to lose funding and shut down.

Mr. Justice Sales is hearing the case, according to The Civil Society, at the Rolls Building in central London. The case should conclude by week’s end.

According to lawyers for Catholic Care, the charity tribunal “misdirected itself” when it ruled against the charity in April of last year.

Secular rights activists have derided the charity’s stance.

“When groups are providing public services, not least vital services such as adoption, it is legitimate to prevent unjustified discrimination, as the law seeks to do, in order to ensure that those services are equal, accessible and operate in the interests of those they are helping,” said Naomi Phillips of the British Humanist Association last year.

Catholic Care says that a portion of the Equality Act 2010 does allow for discrimination against sexual orientation, provided it is “a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.” The charity plans to highlight this exemption – which can be found under section 193 – during its appeal.

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The survey found, that of the respondents:

• 53% said that senior management at their company does provide verbal or visible support for the LGBT workers within the company
• 55.4% said they were not aware of any lesbians in senior management at their company –  38.6% said they were aware of a lesbian at the top, and 6% said they weren’t sure.
• 59% said they felt their manager was supportive of LGBT team members, with 10.8% saying their managers were not at all supportive
• 42.2% said coworkers’ behavior toward lesbian coworkers was fairly mixed, with 13.3% saying they could not talk about being gay at work.
• 13.3% said negative comments or behavior directed toward LGBT people is tolerated by their manager – 43.4% said was uncommon to take place, with  26% reporting managers being intolerant towards negative comments

Recommendations to incorporate LGBT staff more were;

• Set the right tone by having leaders talk about LGBT diversity frequently and publicly.
• Educate the straight majority about how they can support their LGBT colleagues.
• Support affinity groups that allow gay and lesbian employees to network and connect with one another.
• Invite straight allies to participate in LGBT employee networks.
• Highlight senior lesbian employees so they can be role models for others.
• Sponsor external events and organizations to demonstrate corporate support.

CEO of Evolved Employer, Nicki Gilmour, in an interview with HR magazine said: “At many companies, senior management goes above and beyond when it comes to championing LGBT inclusiveness. But in some cases, that message isn’t reaching the grassroots.

“Straight allies are crucial in carrying this message, so it creates an inclusive workplace culture where every individual can thrive.

Diversity and inclusion manager at Lloyds TSB, Val Thorpe, said: “Getting top-level strategy all the way through an organisation for something as crucial as diversity issues, managers must be engaged with all employees and provide excellent levels of communication.

“Through internal networks an organisation can address any LGBT issues they may have and raise awareness.”

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Carol Ann Armstrong from Ballymena; Deirdre Cassidy from Derry and Kellie Quinn from Cookstown were all employed as part-time sales co-ordinators with Topaz Energy.  Each of the three women worked part-time because of childcare responsibilities.  In addition, Mrs Armstrong has a disability as a result of a stroke.

All three women were made redundant on 1 July 2011, following a decision by the company that it wanted their part-time positions to become full-time.  The women were offered the opportunity to apply for full time positions but were unable to take them up because of their circumstances.  They challenged their dismissal on the grounds of sex discrimination because they believed that in selecting only those employees who worked part-time, the company was indirectly discriminating against women with childcare commitments.  Mrs Armstrong also brought a claim for disability discrimination because of the company’s failure to consider a reasonable adjustment to allow her to work part-time.

In settling the cases Topaz Energy has paid £9,500 to each of the women, without admission of liability or of any breach of equality law.  The company re-affirmed its commitment to the principle of equality of opportunity and undertook to review its policies, practices and procedures with the Equality Commission.

The three women have expressed their thanks to the Commission and added in an agreed statement: “We did not know each other before taking this case – each of us was very taken aback when we were just told we were going to be made redundant and when we consulted the Law Centre in Derry they referred us to the Equality Commission.  We all felt that our employer had not given full consideration to arrangements that would allow us to continue to work, such as job sharing. We are pleased that this has been settled and that hopefully this will help ensure that the same thing does not happen to other people who can only work part time.  It was stressful for us and our families, but it was worth doing.”

Eileen Lavery, Head of Legal, Policy and Research at the Equality Commission, said, “When considering changes to employment policies, employers should ensure that there are objective reasons, based on sound evidence, for any decision.

“Where the criteria for selection of staff for redundancy may put part-time workers at a particular disadvantage then this could raise concerns of gender discrimination, as such a large proportion of part-time workers are women.

“Particular care is also needed when considering redundancy criteria which may impact on disabled employees.

“We very much welcome that Topaz Energy has undertaken to work with the Equality Commission to review its policies, practices and procedures and have committed to implement any reasonable recommendations the Commission may make. The Company has also undertaken to provide training to all their staff on their obligations under equality law.”

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In a new report today, ‘Silent Voices – supporting children and young people affected by parental alcohol misuse’, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) highlights the extent of the problem which remains largely hidden. Many affected children never come to the notice of children’s social care services. The Community Research Company, with Lorna Templeton and Jon Adamson, undertook the OCC’s research.

Research already published on the scale of this problem across the UK estimates:

• Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) of children live with at least one parent who is a binge drinker (between 3.3 – 3.5 million children)  
• A fifth (22%) live with a hazardous drinker (over 2.5 million children) 
• Around 79,000 babies aged under 1 years old in England are living with a parent who is classified as a ‘problematic’ drinker (‘hazardous’ or ‘harmful’). This is equivalent to 93,500 babies in the UK 
• Around 26,000 babies under 1 in England are living with a parent who would be classified as a ‘dependent’ drinker. This is equivalent to 31,000 across the UK. 

Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England, said: “The effects of parents’ alcohol misuse on children may be hidden for years, while children try both to cope with the impact on them, and manage the consequences for their families. Our research gives a timely reality check, but more importantly a fresh perspective by drawing attention to what children say about the problems it causes in their own lives, now. It does not concern only child protection professionals, though alcohol abuse can put children’s safety at sustained, serious risk. The problem affects large numbers of children who never come to the notice of children’s social care. They should not need to do so if there are services prepared to support them and their families at an earlier stage.”

“At a time of great changes in health service, to developments in programmes to address ‘troubled families’, of changes to statutory guidance on interagency working and of pressure on all services due to funding cuts, it is essential to highlight the significance of this problem to ensure that services are adequately targeted at this high level of hidden harm.”

The report contains powerful messages from children, which must be heard, and acted on. They say that the casual attitude of British society to the harmful potential of drinking too much (alcohol) must change. If we act on what they say, we might just prevent some children from losing their childhoods, says the Children’s Commissioner.

 Children and young people told the Children’s Commissioner: “My brother who is 10 says he wants to end it all, my mom also says she wants to die. She really needs to talk to someone but there is no one? I am not getting any sleep. I am scared what I will find when I wake up or what might happen whilst I am sleeping.” (Girl aged 10, supported by What About Me (WAM) Project, Nottinghamshire)

“I need somewhere safe to go quickly when mum starts drinking and cutting herself but where can I go?” (Young person in WAM focus group)

“I won’t tell anyone but I write in my notebook and show it to Sharon my social worker. My parents found my book and they were so angry, they said that I had let them down by writing it for everyone to read.”  (Young person in WAM focus group)

The recommendations in the report are directed at Government, policy makers, health and social care professionals, and those who commission and provide local services. Over the last 10 to 15 years there have been improvements in policy in terms of recognising and attempting to respond to children affected by parental substance misuse in the UK. Despite this, there remain limitations to the progress made in respect of alcohol misuse. The improvement in support for children requires a coordinated, collaborative approach. It is a problem with which parents must seek help, and one that needs to be addressed by one and all.

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The study was written by Professor Mark Regnerus of the University of Texas and was published in July’s Social Science Research.

Minnesota for Marriage, a group funded by the National Organization of Marriage, widely known for its national campaigns against equal marriage, cited the research in a video released earlier this month.

“There are very significant, highly negative outcome differences between those raised by a same-sex parent and those raised by their married parents,” said Kalley Yanta, who presents the video. She called Professor Regnerus’ work “important new research.”

“On 25 of the 40 outcomes, young adults raised in a family structure that included a same-sex parent are worse off than those raised in an intact family with married parents.”

Minnesota for Marriage even goes so far as to claim in the video that Regnerus’ research trumps all previous research which has shown that no measurable difference exists in the mental health of children brought up by gay and straight couples.

“It is troubling that gay marriage activists have been attempting to redefine marriage using the now discredited claim that there are no differences for children raised by same-sex parents,” she said.

“The evidence shows that there are many major highly negative differences.”

Those opposed to gay marriage even derided the research, saying the sample mostly includes children who initially came from divorces or separations. Only two children – of around 2,000 – were raised from same-sex couples from the start.

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The pilot will start by helping around 6,000 Londoners who make a new Jobseeker’s Allowance claim with little or no work history with 30 hours of work experience a week for a 13-week period. Placements will be carried out in a wide range of sectors including charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations. All placements are expressly required to deliver clear benefits to the communities in which people taking part in the project live.

Placements, contracted out to providers, will include a targeted package of support, such as CV writing and interview skills, to help people boost their employability in an increasingly competitive jobs market. The trial will be contracted in the next few weeks and will start later this year.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “It’s no secret that work experience can be the key that opens the door to a successful career and more young Londoners need to be given the opportunity to do it. Right now it’s a tough labour market out there and we have to ensure that all young people get the skills they need to succeed and for which employers are crying out.

“Early intervention will reduce the risks of benefit dependency and increase the chances of long-term employment that is good for young people and good for the economic growth of this great city. As we continue to grapple with tough economic times there has never been a more pressing need to help young Londoners into work, which is exactly what this project is designed to achieve.”

Employment Minister, Chris Grayling, said: “Many other countries don’t allow young people to claim any benefits at all until they have made contributions through a job. This trial will give a clear idea of the impact of an approach that says, effectively, you can’t get something back until you have put something in.”

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “If we’re to avoid the creation of a permanent lost generation in the capital, a more sensible approach would be to guarantee decent training or a work trial to all young people from the first day of their claim, with a guarantee of a real experience of paid work being made to every young person who has spent over six months unemployed.”

Labour’s shadow employment minister Stephen Timms said: “Work experience can be invaluable in helping young people find out about life in the work place. But what long-term unemployed young people really need is a job.

“Ministers should bring in Labour’s Real Jobs Guarantee and get over 100,000 young people into real paying work. They could pay for it tomorrow with a tax on bankers’ bonuses.”

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Shirley Chaplin, a nurse with the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust and Nadia Eweida, a check-in desk clerk at British Airways at Heathrow Airport, in their case against the UK Government, clamed that the current UK law “failed (to) adequately protect their right to manifest their religion,” after they were told they could not show the cross around their neck at work.

Lilian Ladele, an Islington Council registrar, and Gary McFarlane, a relationship counselor, felt that their employers unjustly required them to fulfill duties such as marrying and counseling homosexual couples, which were in direct conflict with their religious beliefs.

All four individuals took their cases to an employment tribunal, with Mrs Chaplin, Ms Eweida, and Mr McFarlane all losing their cases and Ms Ladele having her case’s initial outcome overturned by the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

James Eadie QC, for the Government, in his opening argument at the European Court of Human Rights, stated that none of the four Christians were discriminated against.

QC James Eadie argued: ‘There is a difference between the professional sphere where your religious beliefs conflict with other interests and the private sphere.

‘Everyone has the right to express their beliefs, including the right to display religious symbols, but not an absolute right or a right without limits. That does not mean that in their professional sphere anyone can manifest their religious belief in any way they choose.’

The Government’s official stance is however in stark contrast with that of the Prime Minister. Prime Minister David Cameron, earlier this year called the right to wear a cross to work as  ’an absolutely vital freedom.’

In addressing parliament, Cameron said: ‘Employees are free to resign if they find their employment incompatible with their religious beliefs’, adding: ‘They can obtain alternative employment in which they can reflect their religion as they wish.’
In the case of Miss Eweida, 61, from Twickenham, south-west London, wearing a cross was ‘a personal expression of faith and not a response to a scriptural command’.

The Equality and Human Right’s Commission also weiged in on the current case and sided Shirley Chaplin and Nadia Eweida.  But in the cases of Ladele and Mr McFarlane, the courts “came to the correct conclusions”.

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The campaign has taken the form of a film, which contains contributions from the College’s President, Professor Sue Bailey, Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer, Rethink Mental Illness Chief Executive Paul Jenkins, Gavin Barwell MP, and people who have faced discrimination simply due to their mental health conditions.

The Bill received government support last year but ran out of parliamentary time and has been reintroduced to the Commons by Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell.

Mr Barwell said: “The main purpose of the Bill is to send a very clear message that having a mental health problem is nothing to be ashamed of, it’s like any other kind of health problem, and that you shouldn’t be discriminated against on the basis of law.”

The Bill aims to:

▪    Remove the blanket ban that forbids people who suffer or have suffered from a mental disorder or regularly attending for treatment undertaking jury service.

▪    Amend legislation which states that a person might cease to be a director of a public or private company “by reason of their mental health”.

▪    Remove legislation under which an MP automatically loses their seat if they are sectioned under the Mental Health Act for more than six months.

The removal of these regulations will not only ensure equality in specific areas of law but will send a strong message that stigma and discrimination on the grounds of mental ill health is not acceptable.

The Bill is supported by the government and opposition, as well as organisations such as the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and the Law Society, but needs the support of as many MPs as possible when it receives its full Commons debate on 14 September to ensure it progresses.

Professor Sue Bailey, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “The College has worked closely on this Bill and we are proud to be involved in the campaign to tackle these archaic and unfair rules. The fact that you can be turned down for jury service, or be removed from your job as an MP or company director because of mental health problems, is discriminatory and outdated and I would encourage everyone to write to their MP to ensure a message is sent that discrimination on the grounds of mental health is not acceptable.”

The College is working with the voluntary sector and Parliamentarians to ask people to write to their own local MP to encourage them to attend the debate on 14 September and support the Bill.

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Dan Scorer, Senior Campaigns and Policy Manager at Mencap, says: “Mencap welcomes the opportunity to examine these draft clauses before they are introduced into Parliament.

“The emphasis on promoting integration across different agencies is particularly key, as we are aware of a number of instances in the current system where children with a learning disability and their families are experiencing a lack of coordination across their provision.

“However, we are concerned that the single assessment process and Education, Health and Care Plan will only be available to children who need educational support. This could result in those children who have a primary need for health or social care missing out on valuable support.

“We look forward to working with the government to find the best way to meet the needs of SEND pupils in both school and Further Education settings.”

Linda Lascelles, of Afasic’s, a parent-led organization, which helps children and young people with speech and language impairments and their families, said: “ We will look at these draft provisions in detail, discuss them with colleagues from other SEN organisations, and consider how we can ensure that they improve the system that is already in place. This needs to be a system that works for all children and young people with impaired speech and language, and their parents.”

The draft bill clauses highlighted by Afasic were:

•    Legal definition of special educational needs remains the same

•    Right to a mainstream education remains the same

•    Local authorities must produce their ‘local offer’ of available education, health and care services

•    Education, Health and Care Plans (0 – 25) will replace statements of SEN

•    The EHC plan must include the outcomes sought for the child and young person

•    Section 139A assessment (Learning Difficulty Assessments) cease to apply and is replaced by a re-assessment /annual review of the EHC Plan

•    All of the provisions of the Bill will apply to all schools including Academies and Free Schools

•    Parents or young people must take part in mediation before making an appeal to the SEND Tribunal unless the appeal is solely about the school named in the plan.

•    Local authorities must prepare a personal budget for a child or young person with an EHC plan if requested by the parents or young person

There will be a revised Code of Practice

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Researchers from the University of Essex found that in 1993 white people earned an average of 18p an hour more than non-whites, but by 2008 the gap had risen to 43p an hour. This was around 7.5% of the minimum wage for those over 21 in 2008, or 3.6% of median hourly earnings.

In an article published in the latest edition of the journal Work, employment and society, Dr Malcolm Brynin and Dr Ayse Güveli analysed more than 650,000 results from UK’s large-scale quarterly Labour Force Survey.

They say that most of the gap between whites and non-whites was caused because non-whites found it harder to get into well-paid professions and trades.

“The analysis shows not only that the ethnic pay gap varies considerably by ethnic minority but that it is in large measure the result of occupational segregation,” they say.

However, even where the two groups worked in the same profession or trade, there was a gap in pay – by 2008 whites were earning an average of 18p an hour more than non-whites doing the same type of work. This compared to 1993 when non-whites earned an average of 3p an hour more than whites in the same profession or trade.

Dr Brynin and Dr Güveli found that the overall gap had widened despite the fact that the proportion of people in most ethnic minorities groups working in managerial jobs was about the same as whites by 2008 – around 45%. This was probably because non-whites tended to be in lower levels in the job hierarchy.

Dr Brynin works at Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex, and Dr Güveli in the Sociology Department.

“In Britain white people earn more than people from ethnic minorities on average,” they say.

“However, this gap is generally less when the pay of white people is compared to that of ethnic minorities within occupations.

“The wage gap therefore derives in significant measure from occupational segregation. Where a negative pay gap occurs it is because ethnic minorities tend to cluster into low-paying occupations.

“This sorting is due in part to personal factors such as education…but some is almost undoubtedly because minorities find it harder to enter better paid occupations.

“When we try to understand the determinants of wages controlling for a range of factors, it is clear that on this basis most ethnic minorities earn consistently less than white people, if not always by much. One implication…is that some minorities do not earn as much as their education would warrant.”

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In an interview with the Guardian last month, Wonder, 62, told the newspaper that “yeah, I like Frank,” but added that, “honestly, some people who think they’re gay, they’re confused.”

The singer has apologized to the US magazine The Advocate.

He said, “I’m sorry that my words about anyone feeling confused about their love were misunderstood. No one has been a greater advocate for the power of love in this world than I; both in my life and in my music.

“Clearly, love is love, between a man and a woman, a woman and a man, a woman and a woman and a man and a man. What I’m not confused about is the world needing much more love, no hate, no prejudice, no bigotry and more unity, peace and understanding. Period.”

Many in the music industry have responded to Ocean’s coming out. Last month Snoop Dogg said that the hip hop world is ready for an openly gay rapper.

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Last year Burke performed at Bright Pride and said after being chosen as the headline act, “I love coming to Brighton, especially when I have time off as well.

Media personalities and fans alike denounced the performer’s last minute cancellation.

“@alexandramusic not bothering to perform at Pride is disappointing,” tweeted Gaydar Radio presenter Alex Baker. “Her fans were waiting all afternoon in there…Shame on her!”

One fan in Brighton wondered if Burke’s ego was suddenly too inflated.

“How dare she, she’s getting too big for her boots,” said Emma Robinson, speaking to PinkNews.co.uk. “What’s wrong with the woman? What’s wrong with Brighton? It was a great day, she was her last year, so why is she not here today as promised?”

Later that night Burke tweeted a response, saying, “Hey Guys, due to circumstances out of my control I’m unable to perform at Brighton Pride today, so sorry guys.”

Her PR representative, Simon Jones, also responded on the micro-blogging service, saying “Alexandra Burke travelled to Brighton today for Pride, but due to technical & production issues on site, she was sadly unable to perform.”

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Under the current mental health system, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) oversees the publishing of data.  The CQC is however to be replaced by the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCCG) in 2013.

Concerns have been raised that the new commission would not provide the necessary data on ethnic minorities, which are vital for service delivery and further discussion.

Lord Ouseley highlighted this when he openly questioned the Health Secretary.  Lord Ouseley said: “What data on ethnicity are available regarding detention rates, consent to treatment, control and restraint, and Community Treatment Orders under the Mental Health Act 2007? And, if they are not available, whether the Care Quality Commission will be required to provide such data in respect of the past five years in their annual monitoring of the Mental Health Act?

“The Count Me In Census published annually from 2005 to 2010, by the Healthcare Commission and by the Care Quality Commission in 2009 and 2010, included information on detention rates, consent to treatment, restraint and Community Treatment Orders, broken down by ethnicity.”

Matilda Macattram, director of Black Mental Health UK, came out in support of the direct criticism and questioning by Lord Ouseley.  She said: “The Sean Rigg inquest which is currently underway at Southwark Coroners court has again highlighted many of the issues surrounding the way in which people from the UK’s African Caribbean communities in need of mental health care are dealt with by statutory services and the police.

“Sadly, like David Bennett before him Sean Rigg’s experience highlights many of the failings that far too many from this community face. The publication of detailed data on who is where in the system is vital so that commissioners who will be responsible for buying services in the future can ensure that resources are allocated for this group.”

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Jones pointed out that Wales as a nation were supportive and welcoming of cultural diversity, with ‘different cultures and communities’ able to live together in harmony.

Jones said: “I would like to wish all who are celebrating, ‘Eid Mubarak’.

“Eid al-Fitr, known as the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, marks the start of a three-day feast and is a time of celebration for Muslims.

“We can all be proud that Wales is a nation with a strong record of embracing different cultures and communities where we live in peace together.

“I would like to send my warmest wishes to Muslims in Wales and across the world who will be coming together to mark the end of a month of fasting and prayer.”

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Chris Cann, a triple amputee, who is housebound, has been informed by the DWP that he will not be able to continue claiming his current Employment and Support Allowance, unless he undergoes medical tests to determine if he is eligible for work.

The first appointement was scheduled for the end of August, shortly after Cann had his right leg amputated.  Cann’s left leg was amputated at the beginning of the year.

It is felt that Cann is currently being put to task to prove that he is not fit for work, with the DWP not providing support and assistance for Cann and also other claimants who are made to attend the medical reports.

The DWP however responded that the current Work Capability Assessment has been set in place to determine at what people are able to do, even though they cannot perform the duties required of their previous jobs.

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Health Protection Agency (HPA) figures for 2011 show that 6,000 people were diagnosed with HIV, with 3,500 of those affected falling within the 16 to 24 year old age group.

Peter Steinberg, a sexual health expert in an interview with the BBC said: “I think it’s a fair point to say awareness of HIV generally has dropped off the radar for a lot of people in this country.

“If someone is diagnosed with chlamydia then we can give them some antibiotics and they will be cured.

“Although HIV is not a death sentence any more, if someone does get diagnosed it’s a long-term, long-lasting condition.

“It’s not the same as having chlamydia or gonorrhea which can be treated.”

To bring across the message to young people, a campaign called “Life In My Shoes,” is currently being run by charity Body and Soul.  The campaign challenges the fear and misunderstanding surrounding HIV in the UK. The campaign seeks to promote empathy through creative mediums that build understanding of what life is like in someone else’s shoes, someone who is HIV positive.

One such young woman has spoken out against the lack of understanding and awareness among young people.  She said: “I have some friends that were ignorant about it.

“Some people believe you can get it from kissing or even sharing a cup.”

The Department of Health has now set aside £8m, which will be distributed among sexual health charities such as the Terrence Higgins Trust over the next 3 years.

Genevieve Edwards from the Trust said: “There’s a new generation who haven’t had basic training.

“The government is funding us to target our campaigns for those most at risk, which are gay and black and African communities.

“However, it’s true to say much more can be done for the population as a whole and generally young people.”

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Ireland, a country with a rich Catholic history has however stood out in this poll. Forty seven percent of the Irish population consider themselves religious, placing Ireland low on the index of being religious coming in at position 43 out of 57 countries.

The ‘Religion and Atheism Index’ which measures global self-perceptions on beliefs is based on interviews with more than 50,000 men and women selected from 57 countries across the globe in five continents. The survey also provides trend data for shifts in attitudes since 2005.

A worldwide poll conducted by WIN-Gallup International, a network of the world’s top most independent pollsters, asked exactly the same question in 57 countries across the globe.

The poll found that religiosity is higher among the poor. People in low income groups are 17% more religious than those in top income groups. Religiosity seems to decline as worldly prosperity of individuals rises. If citizens of each of the 57 countries are grouped into five groups, from the relatively poor to relatively rich in their own countries, the richer you get, the less religious you define yourself.

The top Atheist populations, according to the poll are: China, Japan, Czech Republic, France, South Korea, German, Netherlands, Austria, Iceland, Australia, and Ireland.

The top religious populations, according to the poll are: Ghana, Nigeria, Armenia, Fiji, Macedonia, Romania, Iraq, Kenya, Peru and Brazil.

Globally, those claiming to be religious, drops by 9%, while atheism rises by 3%. This compares to a drop of 22% among the Irish population claiming to be religious. There is a notable decline across the globe in self-description of being religious. WIN-Gallup International had carried out exactly the same poll seven years ago in 2005. The global average of the 39 countries polled in both waves shows Religiosity Index dropped by 9% during these seven years. Most of the shift is not drifting from their faith, but claiming to be ‘not religious’ while remaining within the faith.

The countries showing the highest decline in religiosity since 2005 are: Vietnam (23%), Ireland (22%), Switzerland (21%), France (21%), South Africa (19%), Iceland (17%), Ecuador (15%), United States (13%), Canada (12%) and, Austria (10%).

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The charter is made up of 12 pledges and forms a central plank of the new Joint Strategy for Learning Disability Services.

Since a Council-led Best Value Review of learning disabilities services in 2007, the local partner agencies have been working to develop and improve services for adults with learning disabilities and their carers.

Over the last five years services for people with learning disabilities have been transformed, driven by the aspirations of service users and their carers.

As part of those continuing improvements the partners, including the Council,  NHS Tayside and other independent care providers, have developed the new Joint Strategy for adults with learning disabilities and autism, which outlines the next three years of service and investment priorities.

The themes for each pledge were formed after consultation with service users and their families about what they felt was needed.

The pledges are:

• Listening to you, your family, carers and other important people in your life. We will ask what you need, how you think we can do things better and provide everyone with information about what is available in our communities.

• We will help you to live independently in your own home, or in a homely setting, with access to enabling and supportive networks.

• You should get the best healthcare, advice and support you need to live a happy, healthy and full life. You will also be supported with your personal spiritual needs.

• In different ways that you will choose, we will help you meet new people and make new friends.

• We will help you stay safe at home, in the community and on the internet.

• You will receive help to move from school to adulthood.

• We will work to help you find the right college course, apprenticeships and further education to help you achieve your personal goals.

• We will provide employability services to help you improve your chance of getting paid work.

• We will support parents and carers to continue in their role, maintaining their health and helping them to have a break when needed.

• We will help you to take control of the community health and social services arrangements in place for you. One of the ways this can happen is for you to control your own budget to pay for the services you need.

• We will help older people to enjoy better lives in older age.

• We will work with all our partners to improve provision for people on the autism spectrum who need social work and health support.

Following prior consideration by the Perth and Kinross Community Health Partnership, a meeting of the Council’s Housing and Health Committee approved the Joint Strategy on Wednesday 15th August.

Committee Convener, Councillor Dave Doogan, said: “Services users and their carers have always been the focus of this service transformation process. This new Strategy has been strongly influenced by what they have told us they want.

“It shows that all the work we do with our clients will be person-centred. It will empower them and allow them and their carers to make more choices about where and how they live, and what services they require.

“The Strategy will continue to shift the balance of care from residential-based care to living in tenancies or more homely settings within the community.

“Since 2007 we have seen some very positive outcomes for our service users and their families, and I am delighted at how the improvement process has helped their lives. We have developed more localised, flexible and specialist services that focus on ability, not disability.

“Our services now give people new opportunities for employment, for leisure and for living their lives in their community and for specialist care. We want to continue to develop that work, so that our clients feel included in their communities and are given the fullest chance to develop their role as citizens of Perth and Kinross.

“This new ambitious Joint Strategy sets out exactly what service users can expect from us, and explains how the Council, along with the NHS and other partners, will achieve our aims.”

Perth and Kinross Community Health Partnership General Manager, Bill Nicoll, added: “These are important pledges about how we will help people with a learning disability in their lives and give them more control over the support and services they need. We are very committed to helping to deliver on the aims and objectives of the strategy and welcome the initiative shown by the council in leading this work with the partners.”

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The Guardian reported that Channel 4 is aiming to have the same amount of able bodied and disabled staff covering the 2012 Paralympics, with experienced reporters and presenters to work alongside each other for the event.

Georgie Bingham, is one able-bodied reporter who has been paired with Arthur Williams, who is paralysed below the waist. Bingham said: “It makes huge sense to me. It’s a brilliant thing. He will be bringing in his wheelchair to explain how it works in the wheelchair races. It is not without a bit of risk, but Arthur is young, enormously bright.”

Rachel Latham, a retired Paralympic swimmer joined the C4 training scheme in 2011. Her training included shadowing Adrian Chiles at ITV.

Latham said: “Athletes are comfortable with me. It is natural to talk about classification, I can explain it with ease. There can be a problem with having too much information, but that’s where the training came in,” said Latham.

In addition to the TV presenter and reported training, Channel 4 will also be unveiling the Lexi Decoder system, help viewers understand how disability conditions are classified.

Giles Long invented the system. The successful Paralympic swimmer said: “There is a gap in understanding. I realised in Beijing people thought the result of one swimming race was unfair because the Chinese athlete had no legs. The way to think about classifications is the weight bands in, say, boxing. You never see a flyweight and heavyweight boxing each other. Grouped together, Paralympic athletes face a common challenge.

“You see diagrammatic figures everywhere – tube, bus, road signs, we are using everyday language but applying it an accessible way. I know the people competing in the Games won’t find them shocking at all. If you want to compete, you have to go through an assessment. It’s integral to sport.”

Image by Ian Holton from Beijing, China

An LPO violinist who publicly singed a letter calling that an IPO Proms performance was as a smoke screen for human rights violations, ended up being suspended for six months on full pay due to the damage this view caused the LPO.

Sarah Streatfield however felt that the suspension surmounted to discrimination based on her ‘humanist beliefs,’ resulting in her bring about a case against the London Philharmonic Orchestra for direct discrimination, victimisation and harassment.

The employment tribunal accepted at Streatfeild’s pre-hearing review that her humanist beliefs were covered under the Equality Act 2010, it however struck out her claim of discrimination as her employer had no knowledge of her humanist beliefs and so the case had “no reasonable prospect of success”.

It also stated that Streatfeild had little chance of winning her claims of victimisation and harassment and ordered her to pay a deposit of £250 if she wished to continue with these aspects of her claim.

Stephen Simpson, of XpertHR, said: “This is the latest tribunal case to consider what constitutes a ‘philosophical belief’ under discrimination legislation, an issue which tends to grab the headlines. It’s actually no surprise whatsoever that the tribunal has found ‘humanism’ to be covered.

“However, to succeed in a direct discrimination claim, the claimant then has to show that he or she has been discriminated against because of the belief. This claimant failed because she couldn’t show that her employer was even aware that she had this philosophical belief.

“As the tribunal suggested, even if the employer had been aware of her belief system, she wouldn’t have succeeded: it is one thing for the employer to discipline someone because of strongly held beliefs; it is quite another to discipline someone for using the employer’s name as a means to peddle political opinion on a controversial subject in a very public form such as a national newspaper.”

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Surrey police sent in under age test purchasers into 15 off licenses in an attempt to address the availability to alcohol to young people. What was meant to catch out lawbreakers however turned into a resounding success for both the police and the off licenses. All the off licenses requested identification and purchasers found to be under age were not allowed to buy any alcohol.

PC Jim Lavery, of the Waverley Youth Intervention section said: “It was an extremely positive operation with every shop and store we visited refusing to sell alcohol to the purchasers.

“By reducing the availability of alcohol to young people – we reduce the reports of crime and anti-social behaviour in the local community.

“Surrey Police is working hard with our partner agencies and licensed premises to ensure that those under age are not served. I am pleased that the shops and off-licences we visited are taking their responsibilities seriously. We will continue to carry out similar operations in the future, in conjunction with plain clothes alcohol patrols, with the joint aim of reducing alcohol-related youth crime and disorder.”

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Give it a Go Day, which was held at Portsmouth Guildhall Square, exposed young people up to the age of 25 to sports such as wheelchair basketball, and boccia.

Tracey Fisher, from Portsmouth Parent Voice, said: ‘The kids had a fantastic day. The wheelchair basketball was really popular – everyone wanted to try that.

‘It was very physically challenging but they all wanted to give it a go anyway.

‘The boccia was popular too. That required a lot more concentration and was more about tactics than anything else, but they all had a lot of fun with it.

‘Children with disabilities often find it hard to join in with sports because the set-up isn’t right for them, or their needs aren’t met in the activity, so this was a great chance for them to try something new in a safe environment where they were supervised by their family and they felt included.

‘We wanted to provide parents with as much information as possible about the services available to them in the city in the one place.

‘Parents often tell us that they know that information is available somewhere but it’s spread across too many different places.

‘We wanted to make it easier for them by having all that in the one place.’

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Just for Kids Law, Haringey Young People Empowered (HYPE) and Art Against Knives are among the charities that have called for the suspension of the use of section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, which allows police to stop and search young people.

The group in an open letter to the Metropolitan Police stated: “Only one in 10 stops under section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act results in an arrest, and 0.4 per cent of stops under section 60 result in an arrest for a dangerous weapon.

“Yet we know that negative interactions with the police destroy trust and make young people more likely to resent police. For every knife section 60 takes off the streets many more young people lose their trust in the police and turn to weapons to make them feel safer.”

Shauneen Lambe, director at Just for Kids Law, said: “The Metropolitan Police recognises that there are serious problems with the use of stop and search,” she said. “It also recognises that it needs help from those it polices to address those problems. But the young people we represent do not feel empowered to feed back their concerns.”

Lucy Ferguson, director of youth organisation Young Hackney World, added: “This every day occurrence dehumanises young people, often with little reason given and no differentiation made between criminal and victim. The breakdown in relations means that young people don’t think about going to the police to report crime or to explain what’s happening in their communities.”

The stop and search policy, in 2009/10, affected 1.3million young people, with 1 in ten leading to arrests.  Figures further showed that black people were thirty times more likely to be stopped than white people under section 60.

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Potential candidates created the recruitment videos, and looks at the different stages applicants go through before and during joining the British Army.

The videos cover from being inspired and the first steps of recruitment; the early joining process to selection; and, finally, acceptance to first phase of training.

In order to reach minorities that are under represented in the British Army, the videos focus on individuals from different faith and social backgrounds, which the Army recognises has untapped potential.

The latest recruitment drive comes in the wake of UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond calling for the British Army to reflect modern British society.

Hammond addressing a Royal United Service Institute conference said: “The British Army needs to reflect British society. This is clearly a challenge now; to recruit from the ethnic minorities within British society in proportions that reflect that society.

“While we are determined to maintain an effective regimental system, it must be based on the realities of today, and the primacy of capability. That means focusing on analysis of recruitment performance, demographic trends and future recruiting needs.”

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Ms Farrah, brought about an unfair dismissal and direct religious discrimination case against Global Luggage Co. after she was moved from the Piccadilly branch, which wanted to maintain a trendy image, to the Oxford branch, after she turned up to work with a headscarf.

The nightmare did however not end there, as Ms Farrah, a few months later, was forced to quit her job at the retailer for taking an extended lunch break.

The tribunal, in its ruling stated that the retailer “seized on the claimant’s admitted misconduct as a pretext for dismissing her”, with the real reason being that of her headscarf.

The employment tribunal ruling did however not all go in favour of Ms Farrah, with her direct religious discrimination claim being turned down.  The judge said that if she had brought a claim for indirect discrimination, she would have been successful.

However, Stephen Simpson, senior employment law editor at XpertHR, said: “The circumstances in this case are pertinent at this time, with two cases about religious symbols in the workplace due before the European Court of Human rights in September and David Cameron’s vow to ‘change the law’ to allow people to wear religious symbols in the workplace.

“The outcome in this case is a good example of how religious discrimination legislation works perfectly well as it is – although the claimant lost because of the way she presented her claim, the tribunal was clear that, had she claimed indirect discrimination, she would have undoubtedly succeeded.”

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A former Barbados international football player has won his racial victimisation and unfair dismissal employment tribunal case against Gillingham Football Club, a ruling the club intends to contest.

Marc McCammon, after being dismissed for misconduct in 2011, decided to take the matter further, as he felt that there was a clear difference in how black and white players were treated at the club.

McCammon pointed out that when he was injured, he was made to pay private medical bills, and docked 2 weeks pay, while a white player was sent to Dubai for private medial treatment without any financial penalties.

The player further showed that during the winter, white players were excused form attending practise, while he was threatened with another pay deduction if he did not arrive at a specific time.  This lead to McCammon accusing club manager Andy Hessenthaler of being ‘racially intolerant’, for which he was dismissed.

The club said in a statement: “We are hugely disappointed, in fact staggered, by this decision. As an organisation, we are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against, nor victimise, our staff.”

The club intends on taking the matter further but is currently mulling their option, “whether that be an appeal against the findings, or another form of action, as deemed appropriate,” according to the statement.

Police in Gwent and Wiltshire will be the first to start piloting the scheme, with forces in Nottinghamshire and Greater Manchester commencing in September. The pilot will end in September 2013.

Under the scheme an individual can ask the police to check whether a new or existing partner has a violent past (‘right to ask’). If police checks show that a person may be at risk of domestic violence from their partner, the police will consider disclosing the information. The pilot will also look at how the police can proactively release information (‘right to know’) to protect a person from domestic violence where it is lawful, necessary and proportionate to do so.

Both processes can be implemented within existing legal powers but new guidance developed for the pilot will help ensure that recognised and consistent processes are in place.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: ‘Domestic violence is a dreadful crime which sees two women a week die at the hands of their partners, and millions more suffer years of abuse in their own homes. That is why we are constantly looking at new ways of protecting victims by giving them the support they need.
 
’This pilot is designed to prevent tragic incidents from happening, such as that of Clare Wood, by ensuring that there is a clear framework in place with recognised and consistent processes for disclosing information to the public.’

Calls for the introduction of a national disclosure scheme gained momentum following the tragic case of Clare Wood, who was murdered by her former partner in greater Manchester in 2009.  Her partner had three previous convictions under the protection from harassment act 1997.
The DVDS pilot scheme follows a successful public consultation which received more than 250 responses from a wide range of high profile statutory and voluntary organisations.

ACPO lead on domestic abuse Chief Constable Carmel Napier said: ‘A key part of policing is to protect people from harm.  The domestic violence disclosure scheme is intended to empower people to make informed decisions to protect themselves and their children when getting involved with a new partner.  It will also allow the police to act in the best interests of people they believe could be at risk of violence by sharing information of a partners’ violent past.’

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Gove, in an interview with the Catholic Herald, said: “Remember, there’s no reason why a new school with only 50 per cent Catholic students shouldn’t have a wholly Catholic ethos. Of course, by definition, free schools are free to choose their own curriculum. Traditionally, Catholic schools have been concentrated in certain parts of the country. But Catholic parents who want a Catholic education for their children now have a way of providing it. Free schools are a way of increasing capacity, not limiting it.”

The Catholic Education Service for England and Wales (CES) has however felt that such a move would undermine parental choice. A spokeswoman for the CES said: “Our chairman, Bishop Malcolm McMahon OP, said before the 2010 General Election that he was interested in the idea of free schools established by local communities but after the election the Coalition Agreement introduced the 50 per cent quota on places for Catholic pupils and this has proved problematic for our sector.

“The 50 per cent quota policy undermines the Government’s own aim of increasing parental choice, since, in the case of an oversubscribed Catholic free school, Catholic pupils whose parents wanted to send them to a Catholic school would have to be turned away because they were Catholic.”

The National Secular Society, weighed in on the matter, calling the Catholic Education Service statement “misleading and manipulative.”

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: “It is clear from this that the Catholic Church is now going to try to change the rules for free schools to its advantage. It is good that Michael Gove is sticking to his guns, but the Catholic Church does not give up easily and the pressure for full, unencumbered control of these state-paid-for schools, with a complete monopoly on places for Catholics, will continue.”

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The young victims’ physical and mental well-being and chances of doing well at school suffer from an abusive upbringing, with them being far more likely to become victims of domestic abuse or to become a perpetrator of such cruelty.

But present policies for tackling the problem tend to concentrate on the needs of the adult victims, but the strategy according to the CJS should strive to incorporate an understanding of why and how negative effects emerge and lead to further cycles of abuse in later years.

The report, Beyond Violence: Breaking cycles of domestic abuse, states: “Living with abuse also makes the rest of their lives much harder because of the way it affects their perceptions of themselves and other people. These shape their self worth, identity and ability to relate to others in childhood and adulthood, making it much for difficult to succeed at school and develop friendships.

“Although it is by no means inevitable, childhood exposure to domestic abuse is one of the most powerful predictors of becoming both a perpetrator and a victim of domestic abuse as an adult.”

The report further points out that:

• Children whose mothers experience domestic abuse in the child’s first year of life have more difficult temperaments at age one
• The mental development of children exposed to domestic abuse during the first two years is particularly affected; they have IQ scores that are, on average, 7.25 points lower than those who were not exposed;
• The psychological impact of living with domestic abuse is no smaller than the impact of being physically abused.

Dr Elly Farmer, a Clinical Psychologist and a co-author of the report, said: “The best way to help these children recover and remain free of domestic abuse is by helping their parents to forge better relationships with the children themselves, new partners, and if at all possible, each other.

“Living with domestic abuse is an incredibly frightening experience for children which communicates that violence is normal, acceptable and an effective way of expressing emotions or resolving conflict.

“Evidence suggests that it harms infants and preschool children the most, but the harmful effects are often only noticed during the teenage years.

“Without early intervention including support to build positive family relationships early in children’s lives, toxic cycles of abuse will keep repeating themselves.

“The evidence for each recommendation set out in the report indicates that their implementation would lead to a dramatic reduction in the damaging effects on children, while drawing substantial savings over the short and long term.”

The second co-author of the report, CSJ Chairman-in-Residence Dr Samantha Callan, concluded: “The impact on children of being a witness of domestic abuse is underplayed even though they are more likely to fail at school, develop anti-social behaviour and going on to harm their own children.”

The report sets out a comprehensive, relationship-based understanding of domestic abuse which forms the basis of identifying the best programmes and approaches.

Christian Guy, Managing Director of the Centre for Social Justice said, “In order to break damaging cycles of domestic abuse we need to support the millions of child witnesses who live as silent and fearful victims caught in the crossfire.

“It is time for concerted cross party action to make them a priority. Too many who need our help are left damaged and devastated by an unchecked legacy of abuse.”

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Mind’s poll of over 2,000 people found:

• 56% of respondents thought that hearing a professional sportsman or woman speaking about their mental health problem made them realise that successful people can have mental health problems too. The same percentage thought it was good that they were being open and honest.
• Over a third (37%) thought that the pressure of being in the spotlight put athletes at increased risk of developing mental health problems, with younger people more likely to think this was the case. When asked about the effects on a sportsperson of having a mental health problem, nearly half the respondents said that they would be likely to perform worse on the field (48%), while 45% thought they would be unable to train properly and 40% thought it would negatively affect team morale.
• If a sporting figure has a mental health problem, 52% think their family should be told and 48% their manager should be informed. Only 5% think fans should be told and just 2% think the media have a right to know.  

These results come following a string of athletes from many different sports speaking openly about their mental health. From Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff in cricket to boxers Ricky Hatton and Frank Bruno and rugby’s own Duncan Bell and Jonny Wilkinson, mental health has never been more prominent in professional sport.
 
Recent research from New Zealand has also demonstrated the importance of focusing on mental health in rugby, with a 2011 survey by the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) finding that 1 in 3 rugby players will experience depression, anxiety or stress once they retire from the game.
 
This partnership, which will run for two-years, will involve London Wasps displaying Mind’s logo on their shirts as well as supporting the charity’s fundraising activities.

Mind will help London Wasps to support the psychological wellbeing of their players, by holding mental health training courses for their coaching staff and playing squad. This work also ties in with the work the RPA is doing to promote its mental health support service for all players.
 
Speaking about the partnership, London Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young said: In a high pressure environment such as professional rugby, positive mental health plays an important role in the lives of players and coaches. We’re very pleased to be part of this charity partnership which will allow us to raise awareness of a crucial issue.

Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer said: “I am delighted that London Wasps will be supporting Mind over the next two years. Mental health has never been higher on the agenda for professional sport and it is clear that hearing sportsmen and women being so open about mental health is a positive development.

“The mental health of players is equally as important as their physical health so it is hugely welcome that both Wasps and the RPA are working on providing help and support for any player experiencing a mental health problem.”

RPA Rugby Manager David Barnes said: “This pioneering partnership between London Wasps and Mind is fantastic for the players and for the game. It is so encouraging to see a club putting players’ welfare, mental and physical, first.

“The RPA looks forward to working alongside Mind as we continue to educate players about mental health issues and provide a confidential counselling service for RPA members through LPP Consulting. This ensures players have support in every area of their life, both during and after their rugby careers.”

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Just for Kids Law, Haringey Young People Empowered (HYPE) and Art Against Knives are among the charities that have called for the suspension of the use of section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, which allows police to stop and search young people.

The group in an open letter to the Metropolitan Police stated: “Only one in 10 stops under section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act results in an arrest, and 0.4 per cent of stops under section 60 result in an arrest for a dangerous weapon.

“Yet we know that negative interactions with the police destroy trust and make young people more likely to resent police. For every knife section 60 takes off the streets many more young people lose their trust in the police and turn to weapons to make them feel safer.”

Shauneen Lambe, director at Just for Kids Law, said: “The Metropolitan Police recognises that there are serious problems with the use of stop and search,” she said. “It also recognises that it needs help from those it polices to address those problems. But the young people we represent do not feel empowered to feed back their concerns.”

Lucy Ferguson, director of youth organisation Young Hackney World, added: “This every day occurrence dehumanises young people, often with little reason given and no differentiation made between criminal and victim. The breakdown in relations means that young people don’t think about going to the police to report crime or to explain what’s happening in their communities.”

The stop and search policy, in 2009/10, affected 1.3million young people, with 1 in ten leading to arrests.  Figures further showed that black people were thirty times more likely to be stopped than white people under section 60.

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The party’s ruling council is expected to come out in favour of same sex marriage, with religious institutions being exempted from having to perform ceremonies.

The Alliance ruling council is expected to vote on 1 September of this year on setting a party policy on same sex marriage.

The policy, according to assembly members, is expected to be passed.

South Belfast assembly member Anna Lo said: “It is a divisive issue in Northern Ireland, but as a party founded on equality, I think we should support equality for all.

“After all, we fully supported civil partnerships a few years back.”

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The Boy Scouts of America has decided to continue it’s current ban that prevents gay, bi and transgender men and women from becoming members of the organisation.

Bob Mazzuca the scouts’ chief executive, in a statement to the Associated Press said: “The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers and at the appropriate time and in the right setting. We fully understand that no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society.”

The Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin said: “This is a missed opportunity of colossal proportions. With the country moving toward inclusion, the leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have instead sent a message to young people that only some of them are valued. These adults could have taught the next generation of leaders the value of respect, yet they’ve chosen to teach division and intolerance.”

The White House, in a statement to The Associated Press, said: “The president believes the Boy Scouts is a valuable organisation that has helped educate and build character in American boys for more than a century. He also opposes discrimination in all forms, and as such opposes this policy that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation.”

The Boy Scouts responded with a brief statement. “The Boy Scouts of America respects the opinions of President Obama and appreciates his recognition that Scouting is a valuable organisation. We believe that good people can personally disagree on this topic and still work together to accomplish the common good.”

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In an exclusive interview with Children and Young People Now, Martin Narey, a government adoption advisor, called for social workers to weigh the pros and cons between splitting up siblings for adoption and delaying adoptions to find families willing to take siblings.

Narey is of the opinion that the current adoption system should allow for more flexibility in separating sibling, for children to experience the advantage of being placed.

During the interview with CYP Now, he said: “We need to be much more circumspect than we have been about separating siblings.

“One of the instances where separation of siblings is probably wise, is where a particular child has started to parent a younger child, where they have compensated for the neglect and abuse they have received by a parent, essentially becoming a parent for the younger child.

“That older child is bound to say that he or she wants to stay together with their brother or sister, but the evidence shows that it’s bad for that brother or sister and it’s bad for the older child who needs to be allowed to be a child themselves and learn that adults can be depended upon and can love them and give them stability.

“We’ve got to look carefully at the presumption in the 1989 Children’s Act, which says that local authorities must endeavour to promote contact between a child in care and their birth family.

“Sometimes, practitioners have told me frequently, we make decisions on contact which aren’t in the interests of the child. Sometimes that’s about the amount of contact. I have met so many practitioners who are, the word I would use carefully, is ‘horrified’. They are horrified at the amount of contact that infants have to undergo.

“Sometimes having contact every day of the week, two or more hours, preceded and followed by a long journey across town, it’s traumatic.”

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They will be given access to the Government’s successful Access to Work scheme, which provides more than £100m to help disabled people into mainstream work by providing specially adapted equipment, support workers and interpreters.

Until now, the scheme has only been available to those in paid work, but the Government has announced today that it will now be extended to those doing work experience placements as well. This will mean more young disabled people can take full advantage of the 100,000 work experience places being offered by the Government each year to help them get the skills they need to find work.

The move follows a review by Liz Sayce, Chief Executive of Disability Rights UK, who produced a series of recommendations on how to use the protected £320m budget for disability employment programmes differently. The Government has accepted all her recommendations.

Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller, said: “We know work experience can make all the difference for young people out there looking for work and it is just the same for a young disabled person.

“For the first time we are giving young disabled jobseekers the support they need to gain vital experience that will help them forge successful careers for themselves in the jobs they want.”

Following Liz Sayce’s review, the Government has invested an extra £15 million in Access to Work to help another 8,000 disabled people in employment. A marketing campaign is also underway to encourage more disabled people, particularly those with mental health conditions and in areas of high unemployment, to find out if they could benefit from the extra cash support on offer through the scheme.

An expert advisory panel to advise the Department for Work and Pensions on the best way to take forward Liz Sayce’s recommendations on Access to Work has been established. They have also been asked to give their own recommendations on how to improve the programme to make it more efficient.

Mike Adams OBE from the Essex Coalition of Disabled People (ecdp) – a disabled people’s user-led organisation – will lead the panel.

Mike Adams said: “This is the most radical review of Access to Work in the programme’s history and it’s great to see that the Government has a real commitment to building on Liz Sayce’s work and delivering disability employment support fit for the 21st century.”

Liz Sayce, CEO of Disability Rights UK said: “I welcome the Government’s plans to implement the recommendations I made on Access to Work so that far more disabled people can get and keep jobs. They are widely supported by disabled people and our organisations – and it’s especially important to improve opportunities for young disabled people who can bring big talents to our economy. The proof of the pudding will be in strong and rapid implementation. Access to Work needs to be transformed so it supports far more disabled people to fulfil potential. I urge the Government to create an action plan and implement change quickly.”

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The UK Government is already recognised to have one of the world’s most comprehensive vaccination programmes and under the new plans will go even further – the UK will become the first country to offer a comprehensive programme to extend the flu vaccine to all children, free of charge.

Children in at- risk groups – such as those with asthma, heart conditions or cerebral palsy – are already eligible to receive the flu vaccine on the NHS. Once the programme is up and running the vaccine will be offered to all children aged two to around 17 years on the NHS.

The decision comes after Andrew Lansley asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a body of independent experts who advise the Government, to look at the evidence around extending the programme.

The experts have concluded that while there are significant challenges involved in extending the programme, but they are outweighed by the health benefits that a comprehensive immunisation programme could bring.

A number of key aspects now need to be looked at. The most significant challenge will be in sourcing enough new vaccine as there is only one manufacturer and they will not have the capacity to deliver enough new vaccine until 2014 at the very earliest.

Once established the new flu vaccination programme will cost more than £100 million each year and will be offered to up to nine million children. Due to the nature of the flu season the vaccine will need to be given to the children during in a six to eight week period.

Even with moderate vaccination uptake we could see around a 40 per cent drop in the number of people affected – that would mean at least 11,000 fewer hospitalisations as a result of flu and around 2,000 fewer deaths a year.

And the benefits could be even greater if we achieve our ambitious plans for roll out of the vaccination programme.

The children vaccinated will receive extra protection but the biggest benefit will be protecting very young infants, older people and those in at-risk groups such as those with asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

Other issues that will be examined before a programme can be rolled out include:

• who will deliver the vaccine – should it be school nurses or others with appropriate qualifications and how will they be trained;
• how should the programme best be delivered in a six to eight week period ahead of the flu season; and
• how best we can talk to parents about why we are offering the vaccine so they feel reassured.

In the meantime, the priority remains to increase vaccine uptake in at-risk groups such as those aged 65 and over and at-risk groups including diabetics, asthmatics and those with neurological conditions and pregnant women.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said: “Severe winter flu and its complications can  make people really ill  and can kill, particularly those who are weak and frail which is why we already offer vaccinations to the most at-risk groups.

“We accept the advice of our expert committee that rolling out a wider programme could further protect children. With even a modest take-up  helping to protect our most vulnerable.

“There are significant challenges to delivering a programme that requires up to nine million children to be vaccinated during a six week period and we will look at the recommendations in detail to decide how best to develop and deliver the programme.”

The programme will use a nasal spray vaccine. It has been available for around a decade in America and has an excellent safety profile.

Last year saw very low levels of flu, and healthy children are amongst the group least likely to develop complications from being infected. However, children’s close contact with each other means they are more likely to transmit the virus to other more vulnerable groups – including infants and the elderly.

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Two claimants who had been placed on two different Government schemes were granted permission to seek a judicial review to challenge the validity of the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme) (ESE) Regulations 2011, which underpin these schemes. The Community Action Programme has been a trial providing mandatory community work for the very long-term unemployed, while sector-based work academies (sbwa) include work experience and training.

Today’s judgement found that requiring participation in the schemes does not breach human rights, that the regulations were lawful and that the Department had provided enough guidance about the policy intentions of the schemes.

The Honourable Mr Justice Foskett said: “it (has) to be said that the sbwa scheme, and indeed the CAP, are a very long way removed from the kind of colonial exploitation of labour that led to the formulation of Article 4. The Convention is, of course, a living instrument, capable of development to meet modern conditions, and views may reasonably differ about the merits of a scheme that requires individuals to “work for their benefits” as a means of assisting them back into the workplace. However, characterising such a scheme as involving or being analogous to “slavery” or “forced labour” seems to me to be a long way from contemporary thinking.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: “We are delighted, although not surprised, that the Judge agrees our schemes are not forced labour. Comparing our initiatives to slave labour is not only ridiculous but insulting to people around the world facing real oppression.

“Thousands of young people across the country are taking part in our schemes and gaining the vital skills and experience needed to help them enter the world of work – it is making a real difference to people’s lives.

“Those who oppose this process are actually opposed to hard work and they are harming the life chances of unemployed young people who are trying to get on.”

While the Judge found in the Department’s favour on the main issues, he did find that the Department should improve the clarity of the letters which warn claimants of a potential sanction should they fail to participate in the schemes without good reason. We do not believe there is anything wrong with the original letters and we will appeal this aspect of the judgement, but in the meantime we have revised our standard letters.

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The Judge also said that the Government’s refusal to say what difference its child poverty strategy will have on child poverty levels was not something the courts can adjudicate on.

All the main political parties supported the Child Poverty Act (2010) which made ending child poverty by 2020 a legally binding target. The Act requires the Government to publish a national strategy every three years. The Act made clear that a national strategy must describe the progress needed in its three year lifetime so that the 2020 child poverty targets are met.

The latest child poverty figures (for 2010-11) show that child poverty is at a 30 year low with 2.3 million children in poverty (before housing costs). The Institute for Fiscal Studies warns this progress will be reversed and that child poverty levels are likely to rise by 400,000 by 2015, and by 800,000 by 2020, as a result of the Government’s tax and welfare changes.

Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Alison Garnham, said: “We welcome the High Court’s decision that the Government has acted unlawfully. With child poverty expected to rise sharply in the coming years as a result of government policies, the weakness of the Government’s current child poverty strategy is absolutely clear to everyone.

“There’s no doubt that had a strategy been produced with the input of an expert Child Poverty Commission, as ministers had initially promised, then some of the weaknesses in the document would have been avoided.

“We will now be writing to ministers to call for the new Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission to subject the current child poverty strategy to expert review as soon as it is up and running in the Autumn.

“The Child Poverty Act was passed two years ago with support from every one of the main parties. We believe it is essential that this and future governments take an evidence-based approach to tackling poverty and are upfront about what difference their policies will make to child poverty numbers – if ministers know their child poverty strategy is going to increase, not reduce, poverty then they need to say so.”

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Abdul Musa’s complaints against coworkers lead to one worker being dismissed, with others being disciplined following his complaints.

He was then sent to Coventry, after his complaints lead to another worker being dismissed.

Abdul Musa, as it came to light during the employment tribunal, was dismissed from the Blackburn depot after his complaints were investigated by management and him being viewed him as a “problem”.

The employment tribunal found in favour of Abul Musa at the beginning ffo the year, with the unspecified settlement being announced this week.

John Wadham, general counsel for the EHRC, said: “The Equality Act protects people from being victimised for making complaints about any form of discrimination in the workplace.

“It also says employers have a responsibility to take complaints seriously and to put a stop to discrimination.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “There is no room in Royal Mail for racism or any other form of discrimination.

“We are committed to investigating any complaint of discrimination fairly and thoroughly.”

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Mr. Wardlow was speaking in the week of the annual Belfast Pride festival, which is seen by many as an occasion of positive affirmation and celebration for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people and their friends. Mr. Wardlow said that “despite the fact that the Pride festival is now a regular event in Northern Ireland’s calendar, we cannot ignore the fact that many members of that community will have experienced hurtful and discriminatory treatment.”

The Commission’s recent Equality Awareness Survey showed that a quarter of people responding expressed negative attitudes to the prospect of having a gay, lesbian or bi-sexual person as a neighbour and 40% said they wouldn’t want a close relative to be in a relationship with a gay person.

The Equality Commission’s legal services staff dealt with 82 enquiries about discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the year just past, and 57 of these concerned cases involving employment or the workplace. Although complaints regarding goods facilities and services had increased from previous years, workplace discrimination is still the most common form of complaint brought to the Commission.

This week the Equality Commission will have staff at Belfast, Newry and Foyle Pride celebrations, both to give advice to those who may be experiencing discrimination and also to hear about first hand experiences so that we can better shape our services. It will also run ‘Your Rights At Work’ events in partnership with the trade union UNISON during the Pride weeks in Belfast and in Foyle.

“At these events we will give advice about discrimination at work, but we also want to hear from those attending about their good and poor experiences, to increase our understanding of the type of discriminatory treatment they receive. If they have not complained about this, we want to know what the barriers are which inhibit them from doing so.”

“We are focused on the issue of under-reporting in this area and will seek to develop partnership projects over the coming period as part of our commitment to ensure that everyone in our society is afforded respect and treated fairly, regardless of their sexual orientation. As a society, we cannot claim to respect people’s dignity while tolerating discrimination against them.”

The Equality Commission provides free and confidential advice to anyone who believes they have been subjected to unlawful discrimination and can be contacted at 028 90 500 600.

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The three charities voice their concern that the scale of cuts in support for some groups of disabled people – including children – has not been properly understood because the changes have been viewed in isolation.

The report looks at the impact on disabled people of the switch from the current complex array of means-tested benefits to a single Universal Credit payment, due to take place in October next year.  It shows that while some disabled people will gain from the changes, tens of thousands will get very much less help than they do now.

In her foreword to the report Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson says: ‘The Government argues that the reforms they propose are designed to improve the system in a way which protects the most vulnerable and redirects support to those who need it most. But under the new system, financial support for some groups of disabled people will be much lower than current support available for people in the same circumstances. Cuts – such as those to support for most disabled children, and disabled adults living alone – are going to make the future considerably bleaker for many of the most disadvantaged households in Britain.’

Baroness Grey-Thompson is today launching an inquiry* into support available for disabled people under Universal Credit in order to find out more about how disabled people will be affected by the changes. She will be taking evidence in person from families who understand from their own personal experience of living with a disability the likely practical impact of the changes. She will also be taking evidence through a survey** of households with people affected by disabilities.

She is urging all disabled people, parents of disabled children, and carers to complete an online questionnaire at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/universalcredit

The inquiry findings and recommendations are expected to be published in October.

Today’s report, Disability and Universal Credit, looks at a number of different scenarios that illustrate the impact of the combined changes on disabled children, adults and their families.

Some of the most startling findings include:
Halving support for disabled children will push many families below the poverty line, resulting in a loss of £1,400 per year for some families with disabled children.
Young carer families could lose up to £70 per week or £3,500 per year in support. Children of an estimated 25,000 disabled lone parents will be under greater pressure to care for them as a result of this cut in their financial support under the new system.
Couples where both partners are disabled – for example with cerebral palsy – will in many cases lose more than £100 a week under the new system – even if one of them is working.
There is a real risk that some single disabled people living alone and working could end up homeless due to the combined impact of cuts to in-work support and housing benefit.
A disabled person who uses a manual wheelchair and can self-propel this 50 metres will be treated as non-disabled and will no longer qualify for any extra support under Universal Credit.
Pensioners with a seriously ill working age partner – for example someone with Parkinsons who has had to give up work – could lose nearly £100 a week.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society said:  ’We welcome the principles behind the Universal Credit benefits system. But we have significant concerns over the negative impact it could have on thousands of disabled children and young carers. This joint report shows disturbing scenarios of how some families will be deprived of the vital support they need.

‘Our own research shows that four in 10 disabled children are already living in poverty because of the many hidden costs to disability. These new cuts may force some families to go without everyday essentials like food and clothing.’

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said: ‘No group will be more affected by these changes than disabled people. The scenarios outlined in our report reveal the combined impact of the welfare changes to come on the incomes of disabled households. It makes disturbing reading. There will be some winners, but many others will find that they lose in several different ways, and it is these compound losses that will result in some enormous drops in already low incomes.’

Disability Rights UK Chief Executive, Liz Sayce said: ‘Universal Credit will remove some disincentives to work and will mean disabled people entering work are made better off – something we have long campaigned for. However, other disabled people will lose vital support. A third of disabled people already live in poverty in the UK. This report and Tanni Grey-Thompson’s Inquiry should provide the analysis needed to put the policy right, before regulations are finalised – so that disabled people are not driven further into poverty’.

The latest child poverty figures showed:

• Absolute poverty fell from 3.4 million children to 1.4 million children, since 1999
• Relative poverty fell from 3.4 million to 2.3 million since 1999
• Material deprivation fell from 2.2 million to 1.9 million since 2005

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: “By measuring whether the poor are getting poorer compared to the rest of society, the relative income poverty measure is the single best indicator of whether ‘we’re all in it together’. It would be shameful if the Coalition’s approach on child poverty was moving the goalposts rather than tackling the problem.

“Britain has set a high standard for our rate of child poverty reduction. David Cameron promised that as Prime Minister he would ‘make British poverty history’ and if he builds on our impressive record so far this century, he could do it.

“The Coalition still has no clear roadmap for how they will continue the child poverty reductions they inherited. Families and children have been made the main target of the Coalition’s austerity agenda and experts now predict child poverty will rise dramatically. If we side-line income poverty it will backfire and we will see an increase in problems like debt, family breakdown, poor health and addiction. What worked is the broad approach required by the Child Poverty Act, focussing on financial support alongside areas like parental employment, childcare, Sure Start, education, health, housing and parenting skills.”

On the new consultation on measuring child poverty, she added: “We welcome the Coalition’s commitment to keeping the income targets and agree that any new ways of measuring child poverty should supplement what we have, rather than moving the goal posts. We should look at how targets could drive progress in areas like social housing supply, living wage jobs, youth employment and affordable childcare. If we create more jobs, pay fair wages and drive up the supply of affordable homes, we can drive down child poverty at a faster pace and control the welfare budget without hacking holes in the safety net.”

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A range of MPs objected to the continued presence of the bishops. Karl Turner MP said ‘Surely if we are trying to increase democracy and legitimacy, having ex-officio religious positions is, in itself discriminatory.’

Thomas Docherty MP’s comment that ‘I do not believe that the Church of England should sit in the House of Lords or the senate’ received audible support in the chamber. Graeme Morris MP said ‘My constituents have been unanimous in their view that this reform is an opportunity to end the automatic right of bishops to sit in the Lords’ and that the members of a reformed chamber ‘should be there because the people have put their trust in them at the ballot box, rather than because they hold a particular religious office’.

Mark Lazarowicz MP agreed with arguments that ‘by giving a privileged place to leaders of one faith group, we discriminate against every other faith group, let alone against agnostics and atheists.’ Willie Bain MP reflected on the fact that ‘the UK would remain one of only two legislatures in the world, along with Iran’s, to continue such religious representation, even though 60% of the public say that bishops should not sit in Parliament’.

Member of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group Nia Griffith MP offered a detailed contribution on why the Church of England is not the established Church of the United Kingdom. She also went on to talk about the Church of England’s record on equalities which went against legislation in relation to discrimination. She concluded her statement by saying ‘I oppose reserving the 12 places for bishops of the Church of England in the second Chamber because it is not the established Church of the whole UK, because the appointment of bishops does not conform to the spirit of equality legislation and because it is high time that we separated Church and state. If this is really a reform for the future, it is a good opportunity not to include bishops. I ask the Government seriously to consider that issue.’

Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs commented ‘The two day debate demonstrated the resounding opposition in Parliament to the presence of the bishops. Our ‘Holy Redundant’ campaign has led to thousands of people writing to their MP’s urging them to speak out against entrenching privilege for people of one religion. As we have maintained from the beginning, it is unfair, unpopular and most certainly unjustified.

‘Moving forwards we hope the government will realise this is a key issue on which to give concessions’

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The Access to Elected Office Fund is to offer individual grants of between £250 and £10,000 to disabled people who want to be considered for selection as candidates for an election, or are standing for election.

The Fund will be open for applications until the end of March 2014.  It will help disabled candidates meet the additional costs they may face compared to a non-disabled person whether these are related to transport, communication, technology or support.

The Fund will only cover additional costs that a disabled person might face.  It does not cover costs that all candidates for elected office have to pay whether or not they are disabled, for example the costs of producing leaflets for campaigning.   It can only be used for costs associated with standing for elected office, not general living costs.

The Fund is part of a wider strategy put in place by the Government; the Access to Elected Office strategy has been developed following last year’s consultation which sought proposals on a range of measures designed to help disabled people to overcome the extra disability-related barriers they face in trying to get elected.

The Strategy will provide support for disabled people who want to stand either for political parties or as independent candidates for the following elections and by-elections: UK Westminster elections, English local authority elections, English Mayoral elections and elections for Police and Crime Commissioners.

Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone, in reaction to the creation of the funds called it “an important step towards levelling the playing field”.



She added: “This is about breaking down the physical, financial and cultural barriers that prevent many talented people from playing their part in political life.”

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The research revealed that close to two-thirds of employees feel they have been left without official advice or support on how to handle sexism in the workplace, while less than half have received guidance on dealing with racism.

A further seven out of 10 employees do not know their employer’s official procedure for dealing with unwanted sexual advances from colleagues – with women more likely to feel unsure than men.

One in five Just employees claim to have been given official guidance on how to cope with workplace stress, despite the fact that it is a leading cause of employee absence. Upon encountering stressful situations at work, over half have taken time off sick due to problems caused by their colleagues or workload, The most worrying data show that one in ten have called in sick because of perceived bullying in the workplace.

Employers not only risk exposing themselves to employee complaints by failing to communicate official practice and procedures on dealing with problems at work, but may find that staff are less motivated. Twenty-seven per cent feel as though they are not getting the support they need, while 18% believe that their employer does not care about their welfare. Just under a fifth feel as though their employer doesn’t listen to their opinions. Women are more likely to feel unsupported by their employer than men.

Paul Avis, Sales and Marketing Director at Canada Life Group Insurance comments: “It is extremely worrying that so many employees are unsure of how to deal with serious problems in the workplace. These issues are not only upsetting and stressful for employees, meaning that they may try to avoid them by calling in sick, but could escalate into potential legal action. Employers should ensure that they communicate with employees about how to handle such problems, in order that they feel supported while at work.”

“From an employers’ perspective, employees who are motivated and feel supported at work, are likely to be happier, more productive and also remain with them for longer. Many benefit packages include support services for employees, such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) which can provide them with counsel in stressful situations – before the problems snowball into something far more serious.”

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Employers can now claim a payment of up to £2,275 – when they recruit a young disabled person through Work Choice, a specialist programme that gives severely disabled people tailored employment support.

Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller said: “Young disabled people tell me they want the same job opportunities as everyone else and in every sector of the economy.  That is why we are encouraging employers to give young disabled people a chance by offering this new wage incentive.

“This will not only help young disabled people gain practical experience in the workplace, but also showcase their talents and give them the edge in a tough jobs market.”

The Government further announced that young disabled jobseekers on work experience will be able to access extra support to help them into mainstream placements through Access to Work.

Access to Work provides more than £100m to help disabled people into mainstream work by providing specially adapted equipment, support workers and interpreters.  Until now, the scheme has only been available to those in paid work, but from the autumn it will now be extended to those doing work experience placements as well.

This will mean more young disabled people can take full advantage of the 100,000 work experience places being offered by the Government each year to help them get the skills they need to find work.

Both initiatives sit alongside the £1 billion Youth Contract which is already improving the employment prospects of this country’s young jobseekers with support on offer to help nearly half a million young people find jobs or do training.

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The 3,410 women officers, who took part in the survey across England and Wales, cited the lack of flexi work hours and childcare support as the main reasons for wanting to leave the police force.

Making matters worse is the fact that close to 75 percent of respondents were pessimistic about their future in the force.

Independent Police Commission chairman Lord Stevens said: “We have learnt that morale is a key issue facing our police service today.

“The police service plays a key role in our society and with evidence showing that where morale is high, best performance is attained, it is crucial that we give due consideration to addressing these concerns.”

Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahey, from Acpo, said: “This survey shows that we need to continue to pursue reform of our pay and conditions and in particular having staff rewarded for their expertise and quality of their work, not just their rank and length of service.

“Other professions such as teaching and nursing, where there is a much higher proportion of women, have adopted such a system and this has helped women to cope with the pressures of child caring and following a career.

“We need to be realistic that morale in all the public services is poor at the moment with the sharp reduction in the numbers of staff and the threats to pay and pensions, and this survey only confirms what forces already know through their own staff surveys.”

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Chicago Ultimate Couch Potato Competition 2009

According to a report published in the medical journal Lancet, lack of exercise is now the fourth largest cause of death, equaling smoking.

The lack of physical activity according to the report leads to one in ten deaths, with researchers and academics calling for inactive lifestyles to be treated as a pandemic.  The number in the UK can potentially surpass that considering nearly two thirds of UK adults did not exercise the required 150 minutes required a week.

Researchers feel that while health and current active lifestyle promotion strategies need to be revised. The public, according to the researchers, should also be made aware of the health implications of inactive lifestyles, not only of the benefits of leading an active lifestyle.

Pedro Hallal, one of the lead researchers, said: “With the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games, sport and physical activity will attract tremendous worldwide attention.

“Although the world will be watching elite athletes from many countries compete in sporting events… most spectators will be quite inactive.

“The global challenge is clear – make physical activity a public health priority throughout the world to improve health and reduce the burden of disease.”

Prof Lindsey Davies, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, agreed.

“We need to do all we can to make it easy for people to look after their health and get active as part of their daily lives,” she said.

“Our environment has a significant part to play. For example, people who feel unsafe in their local park will be less likely to use it.”

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According to the London Mental Heath and Employment Partnership, an estimated 900,000 working age Londoners a year experience mental health issues, highlighting the need for business to support workers.

The London Mental Health and Employment Partnership’s Work, Mental Health and Welfare programme has now been put in place to bring about a coordinated response between the NHS, councils, work programme providers and private business, to curb the spiraling cost.

Michael Bell, chair of the London Mental Health and Employment Partnership, said: “While the NHS and other public services are changing rapidly, they will retain responsibility to support the most vulnerable in society. It is crucial that commissioners do not forget the important effect services which support mental and emotional wellbeing have on individuals and families. Prioritising such services – alongside the promotion of healthy workplaces – really can produce vibrant local economies.”

Haren Patel, vice chair of the London Mental Health and Employment Partnership, added: “A GP’s workload can include as much as 30% of patients with mental illness, and many experience high unemployment, social exclusion and significant physical ill health as a result. The new clinical commissioning groups should make mental health a priority. We need to work with other agencies to support patients’ mental health and employment needs.”

Glenn Laming, employer services director, Legal & General, said: “Investing in management training to improve our capacity and capability to respond to mental health problems at work is important for our business. Not only does it help line managers intervene early it boosts productivity too, and is an important part of a well structured health and well being programme.”

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Sarah Teather

Parents, early years professionals and others with an interest in childcare have been urged to share their ideas and opinions to improve the childcare accessibility and affordability.

Prime Minister, has announced a childcare commission, led by Ministers Sarah Teather and Maria Miller. The Commission is calling for evidence and ideas on how to make childcare more affordable for working families and reduce any unnecessary burdens on providers.

The commission is currently looking at:

• ways to encourage out of hours provision, so that parents are able to access care for their child when they need it;
• identifying any regulation that is not needed to ensure safety or quality; and
• how childcare helps to get parents into work and out of poverty.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I know hard-working families are struggling with the costs of childcare at the moment and we are determined to do more to help; that is why we launched the affordable childcare commission. Today the commission is asking for views from the public, and I urge the everyday experts – the parents, childminders and nursery owners – to get in touch with ideas for how we can make the system better and more affordable.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “For many parents, getting access to good quality, affordable childcare is a real concern. We want to hear from parents and childcare providers, to get their views on how we can continue to provide first-class care without breaking the bank or being too complicated.

“Decent early education makes a huge difference to a child’s future, equipping them to succeed at school and ultimately get on in life. So it’s important we get it right.”

Sarah Teather, Minister for Children and Families, said: “I know at this time of year that parents across the country are concerned about holiday childcare cover. They want an affordable and high quality service. I also want to hear ideas on how we can improve the affordability and quality of childcare in this country.

“Early education can help children advance and catch up, and help them prepare for school. It’s one of the most important and powerful factors in determining a child’s future.

“We have an ambitious programme to extend the entitlement to free hours at a nursery or childminder to those two year olds who most need it. More than a quarter of a million two year olds will benefit from learning through play and stories in just two years’ time.

“So it’s really important that we get this right and I hope we will receive many strong and fruitful ideas.”

Maria Miller, Work and Pensions Minister, said: “Billions of pounds are spent by Government subsidising childcare for families yet many low income families still struggle to make work pay. Universal Credit will help tens of thousands more low income families get help with childcare costs for the first time.

“We want parents and providers to work with us to overhaul the current system of support to make it more effective in supporting families juggle work and family life.”

The call for evidence started on 19 July and will run until 31 August, after which the commission will report to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister in the autumn.

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Frances Colvin, one of few female driving test examiners, has been awarded £9,000 by the Industrial Tribunals for sex discrimination by her employer, after she brought a complaint with the help of the Equality Commission. The Tribunal found that the DVA had discriminated against her on grounds of her sex by failing to afford her the opportunity to go on a training course to be an LGV test examiner.

Ms Colvin said: “I found it very difficult and distressing to take the case against my employers, but I believe that it’s very important, not just for me but for all women, to make a stand against unfair treatment and I’m pleased with the Tribunal’s decision. I’m just looking forward now to progressing my career and fulfilling my ambition.”

Ms. Colvin has been employed by the DVA since September 2000 and is based in Cookstown. She works as a driving test examiner and has held her LGV licence for almost 20 years. She had repeatedly formally expressed her wish to train as an LGV examiner to her employers but was not given this opportunity.

The Tribunal, in finding in favour of Ms. Colvin, found that she was treated differently to a male colleague who was sent on the course, even though he did not meet a course requirement, whereas Ms. Colvin at that stage did.
The Tribunal also found that the DVA had treated Ms. Colvin less favourably on grounds of her part-time working status – she works a 24 hour, three day week.

The Tribunal found that Ms. Colvin was very upset by this act of sex discrimination and awarded £7,500.
 
Frances Colvin had raised these matters with the DVA by way of an internal grievance procedure in May 2011, but a grievance meeting was not held until October 2011. The Tribunal held that this delay, without adequate explanation, was unreasonable and uplifted the compensation award by 20% to a total of £9,000.


”Women are still greatly under-represented among vehicle and driving test examiners,” Mary Kitson, Senior Legal Officer with the Equality Commission, said.

“This decision is a welcome affirmation by the Tribunal that women are not only entitled to work in what were previously predominantly male occupations, but that they must be afforded completely fair and equal treatment for all aspects of their careers within these jobs.”

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The report details stark real-life accounts from families, with experiences often passed from generation to generation, such as domestic and sexual abuse, teenage pregnancies, poor parenting, social care interventions, police call outs and educational failure. It also contains Louise Casey’s early conclusions that a whole-family approach is often best for dealing with multiple and inter-linked problems; rather than approaches that deal with single problems or single individuals within a household.

Key recurring themes highlighted in the report include:

• Dysfunctional and unstable family structures;
• History repeating itself within families and between generations;
• Extended family and antisocial networks within communities which reinforce destructive behaviour; and
• The need for one assertive family worker who offers practical help and support but also sanction in dealing with families.

Head of Troubled Families Policy Louise Casey said: “I am not making excuses for any family failing to send their kids to school or causing trouble in their community. However unless we really understand what it is about these families that means they behave in this way, we can’t start to turn their lives around.

“Conducting these interviews has been an eye-opening experience – to hear first hand about the lives these families lead and the legacy of trouble that’s often been passed down to them. It’s clearer than ever to me now that we cannot go on allowing families to fail their children; none of the parents I spoke to wanted their children to repeat a life of chaos and trouble, but often they couldn’t see how to put things right by themselves – they needed practical and persistent help to do so.”

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said: “I welcome this report as it provides a real insight into these families’ dysfunctional lives and highlights the urgent need to turn them around. The Troubled Families team in my department are not just sitting in an office in Whitehall telling local authorities what to do but seeking to gain a true understanding of the challenges they face.”

Under the Troubled Families programme the Department for Communities and Local Government will pay upper-tier local authorities up to £4,000 per eligible family on a payment-by-results basis if they reduce truancy, youth crime and anti-social behaviour or put parents back into work.

The Government’s £448m three-year budget is drawn from across seven departments in a bid to join up local services dealing with these families on the frontline. All 152 upper-tier authorities in England have committed to engaging in the programme.

Enver Solomon, Policy Director at The Children’s Society, said: ‘It is vital that we do not lay blame for this country’s issues solely at the doors of parents, but look much more broadly at the huge issues affecting this country’s children and their families. While we welcome any additional support to help disadvantaged families, the troubled families unit has a narrow focus. The impact of austerity measures, recession and some other major issues hitting children and their families hard have largely been overlooked.

‘Vast numbers of the country’s vulnerable families are being left without any help, trapped in desperate conditions, struggling with unemployment, disability, poor quality housing and in urgent need of support.

‘Failure to address the impact of the recession and the government’s austerity measures on children will lead to a marked rise in the numbers forced to live in families blighted by deprivation and hardship.’

Family Action Chief Executive Helen Dent said: “We welcome this report . it is good to lift the lid on what is happening behind closed doors with disadvantaged and vulnerable families. We know from our home based family support work that the issues uncovered in the report speak to many of the families we support where there is a prevalence of mental and emotional health issues and domestic abuse.

“The role of a key worker is critical to making this programme work and to keep children safe and support parents to improve parenting. There are too many agencies involved in the most troubled families and all setting priorities without discussion overwhelming families with different targets. Casey’s report shows the complex issues families and children face. For the troubled families programme to succeed Government must make sure that there are sufficient specialist services, such as domestic abuse services, available to back up key workers and help them repair the damage in these families lives.”

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The report compiled by by Cernis, commissioned by the OCC, follows months of research, focus groups with children and young people and in-depth interviews with key health stakeholders such as GPs, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS).

The title of the report itself was taken from a young person’s feedback describing the difficulties faced making a complaint in the health system.  

The report found that some children and young people want to make complaints about vital mental health or sexual health services but are unable to.
 

The research further found:

• Complaints systems being too complicated, taking too long, relying too much on written skills and being overly formal,
• Staff in mental health, sexual health and GP services are not trained to receive and act on complaints made by children and young people,
• These staff often regard complaints as negative rather than something to learn from,
• Complaints are not always treated in confidence and sometimes young people are labelled as troublemakers,
• Children and young people are generally unaware of advocacy and its availability is patchy.

A number of recommendations are made in the report to address these concerns. At a time of major change in the health service it is crucial the receivers of the service are able to give their feedback. Good practice examples are highlighted in the report to show how a responsive service is possible and accessible complaints systems can markedly improve services.

Employers and employees seeking advice on pregnancy or maternity and redundancy issues make more than 15,000 calls a year to Acas’s helpline. Unfair dismissal or detriment related to being pregnant or on maternity leave accounted for 1,900 cases lodged at the Employment Tribunal in 2011-12.

The new guide, ‘Managing redundancy for pregnant employees or those on maternity leave’, outlines what the law says and advice on how to handle the situation correctly. It sets out four important questions the employer should ask when considering which posts to make redundant:

• Is the redundancy genuine?
• How do I consult employees on maternity leave?
• How do I decide the right selection criteria?
• Is there a suitable alternative vacancy?

Steve Williams, Acas Head of Equality said: “There is still a lot of confusion amongst employers about managing an employee who is pregnant when their role is genuinely being made redundant. No redundancy situation is nice, but it can be made a lot worse if an employer is not aware of the law or how to treat a person fairly.

“Supervisors and managers need to know the specific rights of pregnant women and women on maternity leave. We know that employers want easy to understand help to handle these situations correctly.”

Sarah Anderson, Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said:

“Cutting back on their workforce is one of the tough choices facing some businesses in Britain. Prospective and new mothers are not always sure of their rights around redundancy, nor are their employers – especially those running small and medium size enterprises. This can lead to mistakes being made. This guide will help managers get redundancy decisions right the first time. Otherwise an expensive tribunal case could end up costing the business more.”

Rosalind Bragg, Director, Maternity Action said: “Since the recession began, Maternity Action has provided advice to a steady stream of pregnant women and new mothers who have lost their jobs because of unfair – and unlawful – treatment in redundancy situations. This guidance is a useful step towards addressing this serious problem.”

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This comes after government, after a public consultation period, decided that the money spent on disability employment such as Remploy is better spent on disabled people themselves. Maria Miller, minister for disabled people, said: “That is why we have accepted the recommendation from the Sayce review to refocus support on individuals through services like Access to Work, rather than institutions like Remploy, so more disabled people can work in mainstream employment rather than government-funded segregated factories.”

Government has set out a comprehensive £8m package of support has been put in place for employees who are made redundant comprising:

• The Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service which will be available to deliver individual support to all those affected by redundancy including non-disabled employees
• Individual tailored support for every disabled employee through a Personal Case Worker for up to 18 months.
• Personal Budgets – £4 million has been made available for disabled employees to purchase individual back to work support.
• Community Support Fund – £1.5 million has been allocated to support local disabled people’s organisations in providing support to displaced Remploy workers.
• Working closely with Employers Forum on Disability (EFD) to give ex-Remploy employees access to job opportunities with their member employers

Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite union, said: “This is a barbaric decision. The government has sunk to a new low by sacking over 1,000 disabled workers.”

Phil Davies, national secretary of the GMB union, said: “It is a disgrace that a number of large charities, set up to help disabled people and run by very well-paid, able-bodied people, have misled the British public and provided the government with the cover to undertake this act of sacking disabled workers. Shame on them.”

Factories will begin to shut in September, although redundancies may start from August.

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The group in an online statement said: ‘For too long, young disabled people living in residential care have faced having all their earnings taken to pay for their care. This was unfair and left them to live on “pocket money” even though they had a job. Leonard Cheshire Disability has consistently called for this to be reformed and we are therefore delighted at today’s announcement that in the future, disabled adults living in residential care will have the same opportunities to work and keep their wages as everyone else.”

Clare Pelham, Chief Executive of disability charity Leonard Cheshire Disability added: “It is a question of fundamental decency that disabled and older people should be able to live their lives with dignity in Britain in the 21st century.

“We hear a great deal about the need to support older people through dignified social care, but it is important that the needs of younger disabled people are not overlooked.

“Hundreds of thousands of disabled people need social care to live their lives with dignity. From returning soldiers to people who have been disabled since birth, social care is a fundamental necessity.

“Social care often means help with washing and dressing. These are not luxuries. Does anyone think it is acceptable for a young disabled man or woman not to be supported to wash and dress everyday? This is vital help that any country with the right values would be proud to provide to those who need it.

“This is a moment in history. The Government has the opportunity to leave a living legacy, a country where disabled people who need support know that it will always be there for them – a genuine safety net – and taxpayers are proud to have provided it.

“The White Paper is an important first step. The Government should not underestimate the care and compassion of British people to want to provide the funding to make it real. In a time of austerity, it is time to focus on what is important. And nothing is more important than supporting those who need it to live with decency.”

Tom Flanagan said: “Football sometimes appears to cocoon itself from the ‘real world’. This is a case of a senior employee allegedly racially abusing an employee of another business at that employee’s place of work in a high profile and public setting. He appears to accept that he made the remarks and is putting up a technical defence to the specific criminal charge, which he is entitled to do.

“Whilst the FA’s rules and regulations can complicate the situation, the club, as the employer, should still conduct its own investigation and reach its own conclusions about its employee’s conduct as an employee, regardless of the outcome of the criminal trial.

“It would not be unusual for an employee in John Terry’s position to be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. He could also be, disciplined and even dismissed, perhaps for bringing his employer into disrepute, whether or not he was guilty of the criminal charge and even if that case has not yet been heard.”

Flanagan added: “If one wanted to look for a parallel, it could be found in a high value senior employee where the employer is reluctant to investigate or discipline because of the perceived cost to the business of removing that employee.

“If an employer, such as an investment bank, acted in that way, it is likely to attract both public and legal criticism. Why should football be any different?”

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Core Assets was awarded highly commended for its innovative ‘Fostering with Pride’ campaign, developed to recruit foster carers from lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) communities. By implementing a focussed marketing strategy targeting this minority group, the number of LGB foster carers working with Core Assets has subsequently increased by 53%, benefitting Core Assets, LGB communities and the vulnerable children and young people LGB foster carers look after.

Held in London, the ENEI event saw top names and big brands compete for highly regarded recognition from the national employers network. Equality and diversity coordinator, Stuart Bray represented the agency at the ceremony. 

“We are absolutely thrilled to have achieved highly commended for the ENEI Community Impact award,” explained Stuart Bray.

“This level of recognition underpins our commitment to support the LGB community and demonstrates the value we place on promoting equality and diversity across the organisation.”

In addition to Core Assets achieving highly commended for Community Impact the agency was also shortlisted for four other awards including; the Employee Engagement award, Team of the Year, Employee Network Group of the Year and Equality& Inclusion Champion of the Year.

Core Assets is the UK’s leading independent children’s services agency encompassing an extensive portfolio of fostering, disability services, social care recruitment and expert witnesses. Benefitting from 18 years of experience, the company aims to make a positive and lasting difference to the lives of vulnerable children and families.

Of the 734 couples, 448 were men and 286 were lesbian, and there’s at least one record of a civil partnerships in every county.

“That is wonderful. It tallies with the research we have done over recent months and shows that the days are gone when LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) people felt they have to leave for London or New York to be accepted,” Moninne Griffith,  Director of Marriage Equality told the Irish Examiner.

Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore told Dublin Pride that marriage should be extended to all couples regardless of sexual orientation.

“I believe in gay marriage,” he said. “The right of gay couples to marry is, quite simply, the civil rights issue of this generation, and, in my opinion, it’s time has come.”

Alan Shatter, Minister for Justice, agreed.

“I believe individuals should be able to get on with their lives freely, where their circumstances don’t detrimentally impact on others.”

Kieran Rose of GLEN in Ireland said the numbers of gay couples that have entered civil partnerships illustrate the need for equal marriage.

“Civil Partnerships have been a resounding success,” said Rose. “Almost 1500 people have entered civil partnerships in Ireland since they became available just over a year ago.

“Lesbian and gay couples are celebrating their love and commitment in front of family, friends and communities all across Ireland.

“These couples are the pioneers who are transforming the perception of lesbian and gay relationships all across the country. By their public acts of love and commitment they are laying the foundations for further progress towards civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples.”

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Towers Watson’s Global Workforce Study (GWS), which included a survey of 2,628 UK workers, found that one in four UK workers feel ‘stuck’ in their role as their peers put off retirement and eight in ten said that their ability to advance their career has either got worse or stayed the same compared to a year ago. Furthermore, two in five said they would have to leave their organisation in order to advance to a job at a higher level.

Adding to concerns that Britain’s businesses and their workforce have hit a ‘productivity wall’, the survey also found that only about a third (32%) of workers think their organisation does a good job of promoting the most qualified employees, just 33% said their organisation does a good job of providing opportunities for career advancement, and worryingly, only 55% said they have the tools and resources they need to achieve exceptional performance. Many workers (66%) also cannot see a clear link between performance and pay, suggesting that workers have little incentive to push themselves in their role.

Yves Duhaldeborde, Head of Organisational Surveys & Insights at Towers Watson, explains: “The research paints a worrying picture of ‘Standstill Britain’. It suggests that both workers and UK PLC are stuck in a rut, without the tools, inclination or support they need to progress. The post-recession reality is that many people have swapped ambition for stability and are choosing a steady income from their current role over aiming for promotion or looking for a new job entirely.

“We need employers to really inject innovation, creativity and confidence back into their business to ensure that employees feel assured of their career options and can break through the current ambition ceiling we’re seeing.”

The GWS was administered globally to employees across 29 different countries, including those in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. The survey examines how the work environment is changing in response to shifts in business operations, communications and technology and related global trends. The purpose of the survey is to better understand how employees in general feel about their work experience, and what they need and care about to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. The study focuses on what contributes to sustained engagement in the workplace, made up of three distinct elements. One is traditional engagement, defined as employees’ willingness to give effort to their employer.  The second is enablement, defined as having the tools, resources, and support to get work done efficiently.  The third is energy, defined as a work environment that actively supports physical, emotional and interpersonal well-being.

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In the wake of high profile cases of exploitation of runaway children, the society launched a campaign calling on all councils in England to sign up to the Runaways Charter and put a safety net in place to protect the 100,000 children who run away every year.

The Children’s Society found a huge disparity in the amount, and type, of support available for young runaways in different parts of the country. Most local councils don’t have a clear idea of the numbers of children going missing, with only a tiny fraction of children who run away or go missing – as few as one in 20 – seek out help from agencies and those that do often say they don’t feel protected.

One in six young runaways end up sleeping rough, one in eight resort to begging or stealing to survive and one in 12 are hurt or harmed as a direct result of running away.

The Runaways Charter has been co-written with young former runaways with direct experience of being away from home and taking their chances on the streets, often being put at huge risk and struggling to find effective help.

Matthew Reed, our Chief Executive said: ‘Every five minutes a young person runs away from home or care and is at great risk of harm and exploitation. There is no proper safety net to ensure they are protected – this urgently needs to change.

‘We urge the local authorities to sign up to our charter and help these vulnerable young children.’

We want every local authority in England to adopt the Runaways Charter, which includes having a set of protocols for preventing running away and dealing with incidents as soon as they happen.

The Children’s Society has devised a map whereby members of the public can monitor the current situation in their councils, as well petition their council to sign up to the new charter

The charter also asks councils to provide children with information on ‘safe places’ where they can get support and make sure that every professional working with runaways is clear about their role and responsibilities.

In sections written by young former runaways, the Runaways Charter implores agencies and professionals to ‘respect us, take us seriously’. Many former runaways say that most of the time they didn’t feel taken seriously – instead they are often picked up, dropped home and called ‘time-wasters’.

The government arranged a one-off oral evidence session on destitution amongst migrant and asylum-seeking children. The first panel of witnesses gave the Committee the opportunity to explore the issues raised with those responsible for providing local authority and voluntary sector services to such children. This was followed by evidence from the Children’s Minister and the Immigration Minister on relevant Government policies.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, in response to the governmets decision to address the issue, said: ‘The Children’s Society welcomes the Education Select Committee’s decision to examine the issue of destitution among migrant and asylum-seeking children on Wednesday, 4 July.

‘It is unacceptable that thousands of children who have come to the UK seeking sanctuary from violence are being left hungry, homeless and forced to resort to increasingly desperate means to survive. From our services, we know they are being put at risk of abuse, exploitation, violence and long-term health problems because of immigration restrictions on their access to critical support.

‘Asylum-seeking parents are not allowed to work to lift their children out of poverty. And they aren’t provided with the support they need to protect their children’s welfare. This is forcing families to live in severe deprivation during the crucial early years of their children’s lives. Many families are not even able to pay for the basics, including clothing, powdered milk and nappies for their babies.

‘It is vital the government recognises that forced destitution of families is a crucial safeguarding issue. Urgent action is needed so that all children can access support to meet their needs.’

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A payment of up to £2,275 will be made available for employers who recruit young disabled people through Work Choice – a specialist disability employment programme that provides tailored support to help disabled people who have the most complex support needs.

This extra support for young disabled people will sit alongside the recently launched Youth Contract, which is already boosting the employment prospects of this country’s young jobseekers.

Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller said: “In a tough economic climate, addressing youth unemployment is a key priority for this Government. Through this wage incentive we are encouraging employers to hire more young disabled people by providing some money ourselves.

“By creating a partnership between Government and the employer, it will give more young disabled people the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in the workplace, so that the employer will keep that young person on beyond the six months of the subsidy.”

The new wage incentive will be made available in July.

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According to the latest Mumsnet research, close to 1 in every 2 working women who participated in a working mums survey, felt that employers should contribute more to the cost of childcare.

The Childcare costs survey found that close to 8 in every 10 respondents felt that government lacked impetus in supporting working parents when it came to the cost of childcare.

The research further found that close to four in every 10 respondents have considered quitting their job because of spiraling childcare costs, with just over 1 in every 10 respondents actually having quit their jobs. A further 2 in every 10 of respondents have turned down a job due to childcare costs.

Justine Roberts, chief executive officer (CEO) of Mumsnet, said: “Today’s figures show just how serious the impact of high childcare costs is.

“As a nation, we spend more on childcare than most others in Western Europe, yet lots of parents are unable to work because childcare costs make it uneconomic.”

Anand Shukla, chief executive of the Daycare Trust, said: “Affordable, high-quality childcare is good for child development, enables families to be financially self-sufficient, and ensures organisations have access to the widest possible pool of talent.

“This survey clearly shows that, while parents want affordable childcare, they are not prepared for quality to be compromised.”

John Woodward, CEO of Busy Bees Group, added: “It is clear that parents want to work and access affordable childcare without having to compromise on quality.

“It is in the interest of employers to offer a childcare voucher scheme to working parents who have valuable skills.”

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The recent Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (enei) and BT research provided an insight into how fathers view the support given by their employers when it comes to family friendly policies.

The research found, that of the fathers:

• 49 % said they share childcare responsibilities equally with their spouses
• 67 % feel that employers do not provide sufficient family friendly policies
• 90 % want employers to help with parenting responsibilities
• 35 % of fathers now work more than ever before
• 49% of fathers want to be able to work flexibly;
• 21% want to be able to take paternity leave;
• 25% want employers to be understanding of the demands of fatherhood
• 38% would like support with childcare.

Denise Keating, CEO of enei, said: “With traditional family roles having changed significantly in recent decades, a healthy workplace culture treats men and women equally. True gender equality will only happen when it is not only socially and culturally acceptable, but actually expected that fathers will play an equal part in the care and upbringing of their children. If employers do not move with the times and proactively enable this, there is a risk of disengagement, loss of performance or, even worse, a perception of discrimination against the male workforce.”

“While a lot of employers have good intentions and support time off for fathers, there is a need to actually recognise fathers, as opposed to just extending the policies they currently have in place for their female staff.

“The role of the father is vital in achieving gender equality. Employers have a responsibility to help realise this and make it culturally acceptable for those with parental or caring responsibilities to balance these with work, irrespective of gender. Organisations that do achieve this will develop an advantage over those that don’t.”

Caroline Waters, director of people and policy at BT and chair of E4G, said: “Many workplaces have introduced family-friendly work practices; however, men are often reluctant to access these policies due to the cultural expectations of their workplace, and a lack of male role models balancing work and family life.

“The evidence shows that fathers who work flexibly are more committed to their organisation – and feel that it is more committed to them – leading to greater engagement and the increased agility and productivity that comes with it.”

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Vice-President Siim Kallas, European Commissioner responsible for Transport, said: “Dealing with disability in life is a tough enough challenge: things shouldn’t get even tougher when you arrive at the airport”.

The guidelines cover travellers at all EU airports and the operations of EU carriers anywhere in the world. They also cover non-EU carriers within or leaving Europe.

The aim is to clarify existing EU rules on passenger rights for disabled people and people with reduced mobility travelling by air (EC Regulation 1107/2006). They deal with problems in 22 areas on access to air travel without discrimination.

The key concerns, according to the commission, are:

• Pre-notification: The guidelines highlight the importance of pre-notification. In order to allow service providers (airports or airlines) to arrange the required assistance, it is essential that disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility notify their needs at least 48 hours before the published time of departure.
• Unjustified refusals: Passengers report recurring problems with refusals and inconsistent requirements for medical certificates and for passengers to be accompanied.
• Problems with medical and mobility equipment

Commenting on the new guidelines Vice President Siim Kallas said, “My message to disabled passengers is: if you want an easier journey, tell them in advance that you are coming.”

And to the airlines and airport operators I would say, “Disabled and reduced mobility passengers will usually need your assistance. These guidelines are there to help you, in helping them.”

Mr Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum, said: “Quality assistance is very important for persons with disabilities and it is positively addressed into the interpretative guidelines. The European Commission chose a balanced approach and therefore manages to protect the interest of passengers with disabilities as well as passengers with reduced mobility in a proportionate manner”

Xavier González, Chief Executive Officer of the International Paralympic Committee, the organizers of the Paralympic Games, said: “We welcome the publication of these guidelines and hope airports and airlines across Europe take note immediately”.

“Just like the many passengers with a disability who fly on a daily basis, our athletes regularly experience unnecessary problems travelling through airports and with airlines. This should not be the case when we are striving for equality in society”

“This summer 4,200 athletes will be travelling to London for the biggest ever Paralympic Games. The experience they have travelling on airlines and through airports could shape how they view the success of the Games regardless of their athletic performance”

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Older workers, with the scrapping of the Default Retirement Age, almost one year ago, now have the right to continue work till they deem fit to retire.  Pensions Minister, Steve Webb, while supporting this move has however warned that older workers are not automatically safeguarded from being let go and should avoid using age as an excuse to under perform at work.

Webb said: “Where employees are not doing the job adequately the employer should, of course, take action whatever age they are. However, simply because someone is older they should not be treated as though it is inevitable or excusable that they are not performing.

“There is no evidence that older workers block opportunities for younger workers. We have a flexible labour market and the economy is stimulated by having more people in work. Many employers retain experienced workers to maximise productivity and to help mentor and train up their new recruits.”

Acas chief executive, John Taylor, said: “In difficult economic times, this issue may not be high on the agenda. Employers will undoubtedly need support and guidance to respond, but age issues should be embedded at the very heart of an organisation’s culture, and should not be a box-ticking exercise to meet employment legislation.”

Webb advised that employers should make sure workers of all ages know their position on flexible working and ensure that their workers are given the opportunity to discuss their options through formal and informal performance discussions.

“Many employers don’t realise that flexible working is a popular option for older workers, as it allows them to make a gradual transition between full-time work and retirement,” he said.

“Yet, older workers are often hesitant in approaching their employer about reducing their hours or changing their responsibilities. All too often, competent, productive older workers retire, either before or at state pension age, without the employer realising that their skilled worker would have stayed longer if they had been given the chance to discuss and agree a flexible working option.”

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The British Army is to undergo reforms, with numbers to be cut to 82,000 soldiers.  The 82,000, according to Phillip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, should reflect Britain as it is today.

Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said: “This is clearly a challenge now; to recruit from the ethnic minorities within British society in proportions that reflect that society.

“While we are determined to maintain an effective regimental system, it must be based on the realities of today, and the primacy of capability. That means focusing on analysis of recruitment performance, demographic trends and future recruiting needs.”

Currently only 7 percent of the Armed Forces are from ethnic minorities, while minorities make up 15 per cent of the general UK population.

Phillip Hammond advised the army to work harder to recruit new soldier that are reflective of society, but stopped short of setting quotas.

The “recruitment performance” criteria could also be used against Scottish units that recruit many of their soldiers outside Scotland, from England and elsewhere in the Commonwealth. The restructuring of the Army is highly sensitive in Scotland, where politicians of all parties have rushed to defend “historic” battalions like the Black Watch.

Political concerns over the potential consequences have delayed a final announcement on the Army reforms at least once, and could yet push back a final decision until next month.

It is understood that Scottish units will escape relatively lightly, with one infantry battalion being disbanded and one armoured unit being merged.

That risks a backlash among English units and MPs who will argue that they have been unfairly selected.

To make up for the loss of 20,000 soldiers, ministers have ordered an expansion of the Territorial Army.

Now known as “the Army Reserve”, the part-time force has been told to have 30,000 personnel ready to deploy by 2020, a figure that regular commanders say is unrealistic.

Rebecca Raven was let go from her art teacher position after requesting maternity leave.  The teacher, who then took the matter further by complaining to the board of trustees, was informed that sacrifices had to be made.

Robbie Locke, the trustee in question then added: “Maternity leave is very disruptive to businesses and has made businesses go bust.

“We already have a staff member who has worked only four weeks this year and has already been paid for a full year. This is ridiculous as she has not done any work and she is still getting paid. This cannot happen again.

“If some people take out more than they should, then everyone else misses out.”

Mrs Raven, who has been at the £20,000 a year school, received the termination letter 8 days after informing the head mistress of her intent to take maternity leave.

Rebecca Raven said: “I was absolutely stunned. I have never been so shocked in my entire life. It was totally out of the blue.

“There was absolutely nothing beforehand that led me to the fact I might receive a letter saying something like that, with big bold letters at the top saying ‘notice of termination of contract’.

“I was very, very upset because I put so much of my life into the place. Still to this day I can’t get over it. It’s a horrible feeling, the feeling of your world being ripped from under you.”

During the tribunal, a meeting minutes, showed the attitude the school had towards teachers.  The minutes stated: “Money has been wasted in the past on sick pay and maternity pay and we have had to make sacrifices in our own family. You should all just be thankful you have jobs.”

The school later claimed that it didn’t know that Raven was pregnant, and that she was offered a part time position.  The tribunal however ruled in favour of the teacher, with the compensation hearing scheduled for later this year.

The Howell’s School, in reaction to the finding, in a statement said: “We are disappointed by the conclusion of the tribunal and are considering an appeal. Our position remains as it was before the tribunal.”

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The Equality Act 2010 requirement that businesses put in place measures to protect workers from third parties has been called an ‘unworkable requirement’ as employers do not have direct control over the harassment.

Government has now announced a consultation to end the requirements.

Home secretary Theresa May commented: “Bureaucracy and prescription are not routes to equality. Overburdening businesses benefits no one and real change doesn’t come from telling people what to do. Today’s announcement strikes the right balance between protecting people from discrimination and letting businesses get on with the job.”

Bar Huberman, of XpertHR said: “While the Government’s proposals to repeal the third-party harassment provisions under the Equality Act 2010 may be welcomed by some employers, there is still potential for employers to be liable where an employee is harassed by a third party, for example where the employer has control over the third party or the employee makes a personal injury claim.

“Therefore, employers should still put in place means for employees to raise concerns about third-party harassment and raise awareness among third parties that they will not tolerate harassment of their employees.”

Neil Carberry of CB said: “However, it is disappointing that the Government has not had the courage to take bureaucratic and ineffective rules on gender pay reporting and dual discrimination off the statute book. This sends mixed messages to employers.”

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With the current ongoing recession and scrapping of the default retirement age, many older workers now face working through their sixties if not longer, either out of necessity and or out of attraction.

De Valk in an article for hrmagazine.co.uk argued: retiring older workers to make way for younger ones does make business sense; failure to keep the talent pipeline flowing can be disastrous for continued business success. And there are also great benefits both to businesses and individuals in supporting more mature employees. These people have lots of useful experience, can offer senior consultancy, and can mentor more junior members of staff.

“In turn, they may need help with keeping their skills fresh and finding a role within the organisation that best suits them and enables them to add value. With the decline of the ‘job for life’ mentality, 21st century careers will see employees change career more often, building up a portfolio of skills and thriving on variety. This takes time, planning and resilience, yet can produce workers who combine experience with energy and the ability to innovate.

“This resilience can be fuelled by organisations which appreciate employees’ need for seasonality. Taking career breaks or sabbaticals gives employees time for developing new skills and interests, or dedicating themselves to family life. Employees return refreshed and re-motivated, and ready to work further into their maturity in order to complete a full and varied life. Similarly, boomerang workers – those who leave to take up a role elsewhere and return later to their former organisation – combine an in-depth working knowledge of the organisation with fresh insights and energy.”

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Dawkins, did however state that the bible be read as a ‘great work of literature’ and not as a ‘guide to morality’.

In a contribution to The Guardian newspaper, Dawkins wrote: “Ecclesiastes, in the 1611 translation, is one of the glories of English literature (I’m told it’s pretty good in the original Hebrew, too). The whole King James Bible is littered with literary allusions, almost as many as Shakespeare (to quote that distinguished authority Anon, the trouble with Hamlet is it’s so full of clichées). In The God Delusion I have a section called “Religious education as a part of literary culture” in which I list 129 biblical phrases which any cultivated English speaker will instantly recognise and many use without knowing their provenance: the salt of the earth; go the extra mile; I wash my hands of it; filthy lucre; through a glass darkly; wolf in sheep’s clothing; hide your light under a bushel; no peace for the wicked; how are the mighty fallen.”

He further added: “A native speaker of English who has never read a word of the King James Bible is verging on the barbarian. In the week after the 2011 census, my UK Foundation commissioned Ipsos MORI to poll those who had ticked the Christian box. Among other things, we asked them to identify the first book of the New Testament from a choice of Matthew, Genesis, Acts of the Apostles, Psalms, “Don’t know” and “Prefer not to say”. Only 35% chose Matthew and 39% chose “Don’t know” (and 1%, mysteriously, chose “Prefer not to say”). These figures, to repeat, don’t refer to British people at large but only to those who self-identified, in the census, as Christians.”

Dawkins, while highlighting the literature value of the bible, did not view it as a moral guide which is it used in Christianity.  He said: “I have an ulterior motive for wishing to contribute to Gove’s scheme. People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. This mistaken view may have motivated the “millionaire Conservative party donors”. I have even heard the cynically misanthropic opinion that, without the Bible as a moral compass, people would have no restraint against murder, theft and mayhem. The surest way to disabuse yourself of this pernicious falsehood is to read the Bible itself.”

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“It should make things simpler and better for the child if they have a single plan, joining up education, health and social care services – but it’ll only work if all agencies involved have a statutory duty to provide the services.

“It is encouraging to see government aiming to give greater control to disabled children and young people themselves. The proposed young person’s advisory group would be a step towards this, while the views of disabled children should be properly heard when evaluating pathfinders too. These approaches should be integral to the whole system.

“And greater personalisation of services, with individual budgets, will be a further step toward greater control for the disabled young person, providing there is decent support to make it work.

“Joining up services around the child and having a ‘local offer’ makes a lot of sense, but the proposal to hold local providers to a clear set of standards will be critical. No child’s special educational needs should be subject to a ‘postcode lottery’.

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The Muslim officer who joined the force in 2003 has his securiy clearance withdrawn in 2006 after an MI5 investigation found that he might have visited a terrorist training camp in the mid ninety’s.  The loss of his security clearance basically rendered unemployable as a police officer.

The 33-year-old officer, appealed internally, but lost the case.  He then decided to quit his job rather than face dismissal.

Jasmine van Loggerenberg, lawyer for Abdul Rahman, said: “He has never been questioned, arrested or charged under any terrorism legislation.

“This case centres on ensuring questions of national security do not override natural justice.

“It is about balancing the need to protect national security and the need to protect innocent individuals from becoming tangled up in legislation which can have unjust impact on the tribunal process.

“This case also raises issues about whether practices which disadvantage innocent people on the basis of ethnic or religious background can ever be justified.”

Scotland Yard, while not providing any further information, confirmed that the former officer had brought two employment claims against the Met, one for race discrimination and employment equality, under religion or belief regulations of the Equalities Act 2010. The hearing has not yet been listed.

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As he left a nightclub Friday night, the teenager was subject to abuse by five men on his way to Cornmarket car park.

Police are still waiting to speak to the victim, who has warned members of the LGBT community to keep better guard when out at night.

The teenager’s partner, 23-year-old Guy Vann, of Wyld’s Lane, received a suspicious voicemail and reported the attack on his boyfriend soon after.

“If you are out on an evening be careful and if possible stay with a friend or send a text message to a friend. If you are LGBT you open yourself up to more vulnerability,” Vann said.

The police are urging those who are victim of homophobic assaults to come forward as early as possible.

A few weeks ago, Bromsgrove, Redditch and Worcester announced that they will be holding ‘Rainbow Picnics’ in June to celebrate gay pride.

“Rainbow Picnics will bring together folk who perhaps wouldn’t normally get the chance to meet, and are an alternative to the larger Prides,” said Rory Shannon, a Bromsgrove resident and organiser.

The attack hasn’t deterred the Rainbow Picnics, which are scheduled to go ahead.

The various picnics will be held in Bromsgrove on Saturday 9th June in Sanders Park, Redditch on 16th June in Arrow Valley Park, and Worcester on the 23rd June in Gheluvelt Park.

Image by www fotodiscs4u co uk

Story courtesy of www.pinke.biz

Iain Duncan Smith, in a recent interview with the Daily Telegraph, has revealed that close to half a million disability benefit claimants could face losing their benefits, if the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reform is to be implemented.

It was revealed that around 500,000 people currently on Disability Living Allowance but could no longer be eligible for the proposed PIP, resulting in an annual cost reduction of £2.24bn, which currently stands at £13bn a year.

Mr Duncan Smith said “We are creating a new benefit, because the last benefit grew by something like 30% in the past few years. It’s been rising well ahead of any other gauge you might make about illness, sickness, disability or for that matter, general trends in society. A lot of that is down to the way the benefit was structured so that it was very loosely defined. Second thing was that in the assessment, lots of people weren’t actually seen. Third problem was lifetime awards. Something like 70% had lifetime awards, (which) meant that once they got it you never looked at them again. They were just allowed to fester.”

“It’s not like incapacity benefit, it’s not a statement of sickness. It is a gauge of your capability. In other words, ‘Do you need care, do you need support to get around?’. “Those are the two things that are measured. Not, ‘You have lost a limb.’”

The Limbless Association on their website replied to the comments by posting: “As we noted in our original response to the DWP consultation on the proposed PIP, one of its underlying aims was to to address the current levels of fraud and to reduce public spending. While this approach is entirely reasonable, it should not be achieved at the expense of those who have a clear and legitimate requirement for assistance resulting from limb loss.  Mr Duncan Smith takes the view that the loss of a limb does not automatically relate to the need for support.  While, in some instances, this may be true (at least in the short term), it does suggest a worrying lack of understanding of the effects of amputation and what is required on a daily basis to cope with the demands of being an amputee.

“While there are amputees who are very fortunate in being able to carry on with life after amputation without the need for assistance, the fact remains that amputees (even those who do their level best to carry on with life and do not accept that they are disabled), will experience problems due to ill fitting or poorly suited prosthetic limbs.  Older amputees also encounter further issues that arise as a consequence of wearing a prosthetic limb.  These often result in increased joint pain or arthritis and  shortness of breath.  Such problems make even short journeys more difficult. As a general point, it should be noted that the ability to deal with a prosthetic limb tends to lessen over time due to the effects of ageing and to the demands that wearing a prosthesis places on the body.

“Lower limb amputees may be able to walk reasonably well on one day (a good day), but then be unable to walk for the next few days due to sores, abrasions or ulcers on their stump or the part of their limb that abuts the socket of their prosthesis. Without a proper fit, a prosthetic limb cannot be worn with comfort or the necessary degree of control; factors which render even the most advanced prosthesis inadequate.  Some may be able to walk for short distances, but longer trips can prove to be difficult, particularly where inclines, steps, uneven or slippery surfaces are involved.  This is where the Blue Badge scheme that those with DLA are able to access, is a positive help in that it allows amputees to use disabled parking spaces close to the shops and facilities that they need to access on a regular basis.

“The apparent lack of appreciation or awareness by the DWP and the Government is why we sought  to have the needs of amputees recognised in the proposed PIP assessment.  We asked that those undertaking the assessments must be intimately involved in the form of disability under review (i.e. from our perspective – that person would need to be an amputee AND a consultant/surgeon/prosthetist).  Without this level of understanding,  it is unlikely that the situation faced by the applicant will be properly understood.  To that end, we are actively working with the DWP on the proposed assessment criteria to be used in PIP.”

Image author Work and Pensions Office

The Fawcett Society recently published a report looking at equality between women and men in London.
 


‘What About Women in London?’ compared London to the rest of the UK, and found:

• Women in London earn almost 23 per cent less than men. This means that for every £100 men take home, women will take home an average £77
• There is a higher prevalence of sexual offences per capita in London than in any other UK region.
• Childcare costs in London are typically a third higher than the national average.
• London has the lowest level of maternal employment in the country – just over half of London mothers with dependent children work, compared to almost two thirds across the UK.
• London is home to more single parents than anywhere else, with the recent welfare changes affecting this demographic even more.

Ceri Goddard, Fawcett’s Chief Executive, said:
 
“London is not keeping pace with the rest of the country when it comes to equality between women and men.
 


“Women in London are more likely to live in poverty, experience a wider pay gap, and are less likely to work once they have children. Our research also suggests women in London are more likely to experience sexual assault than those living elsewhere.
 


“Combining work and family life is much harder in London than in other parts of the country – there is a dearth of flexible working opportunities, and childcare costs are a third higher than the national average.
 


“Far from getting better, our analysis suggests the gap between women and men in London is set to widen. The toxic combination of rising women’s unemployment, cuts to welfare and the ever increasing cost of living in the capital city means that women in London face a bleak future.
 


“If things are going to change, it is critical that those in positions of influence start considering women as integral to their plans. To this end, Fawcett has joined with the LSE to invite all the leading Mayoral candidates to take part in our What About Women? pre election hustings.
 


“The Labour, Lib Dem and Green candidates have all agreed to attend, but the Conservative Candidate Boris Johnson has thus far declined – sending a representative instead. Our door is always open, and we hope that the Mayor will reconsider his decision not to personally participate in this event.
 


“We, and the four million women living in London, are keen to know what the different candidates will do to defend and progress equality between women and men in the capital city.
 


“With overall responsibility for a budget of fourteen billion pounds, the Mayor’s policy choices can make a real difference to the equality gap between women and men – and today’s research shows just how urgently we need action.”

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Working Families employer members have also voiced concerns about reducing maternity leave to18 weeks and warn of hidden costs to business.

The Netmums survey of 1,500 mothers found:

• Nearly 60 per cent of mothers said it would be hard to ask for more time off, if they had had to request more leave after 18 weeks of maternity leave with 24 per cent of these saying their employer would have made it clear that they wanted them back at that time.
• Asked if they would take advantage of their partners being able to take “shared leave ” , 17% said their partner would be keen to take shared leave; 28% said he might want to but it wouldn’t happen in practice; while a further 41% said the family could not afford fo r the father to take the time off.
• Working Families also asked eleven leading employers what they thought of the 18 week maternity leave proposal. Nine of the eleven said they’d prefer a default of 26 weeks.

Netmums founder Sally Russell said: ”Women are very strongly saying that 18 weeks of maternity leave is not enough.  It is possible to have a system that works for mums and dads but this isn’t it.

”The findings show that an 18-week limit may well push women out of employment and the result will be the opposite of what the Government are trying to achieve.”

Working Families Chief Executive, Sarah Jackson said: ”This isn’t just about what women want: some of our top employers are warning of hidden costs to business if women come back too soon.  We urge the Government to think again: 18 weeks of maternity leave is simply too short for women’s wellbeing and for business success.”

Viv Matthews, Head of Human Resources for Henmans LLP, an Oxford based law firm with 125 employees, said: “These proposals are a retrograde step.  We know that women value spending longer at home bonding with their new child.  Working mums find it hard to return even after six or twelve months, and we want to ensure they are fit and ready when they do.  We support the aim to provide more choice in families but in reality few fathers will take up shared leave. Reducing maternity leave to18 weeks may lead to long-term costs to employers.”

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Claire Lomas, who is paralysed from the chest down, completed the marathon in 16 days by walking 2 miles a day alongside her husband Dan and daughter Joyce (13) in the £43,000 suit.

Lomas raised £80,000 for the charity Spinal Research, which will go towards medical research to develop treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck.

Lomas said: “It was really emotional and I couldn’t believe the support – I’m still in shock really.

“The last half a mile or so was pretty easy to walk because I had everyone just pushing me forward.

“I’ve had a really good group with me and it would have been impossible without them.”

“It’s been very challenging, very hard on my arms, very hard mentally because I can’t feel my legs.”

A spokesperson for the race said competitors had to finish the 26.2-mile (42km) course on the same day to receive a medal, making Clair ineligible. 

Sir Richard Branson has however decided to honour Claire with a medal.

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The 18:18 campaign, launched last year, 18 years on after the death of Stephen Lawrence, who was 18 when he was murdered, aims to build on the work of the Stephen Lawrence Trust in improving the skills and employability of socially-disadvantaged black teenagers and young adults.

Concerns about the under-representation of young black people in apprenticeship schemes and the labour market will be key topics for debate at the conference, which takes place at TUC headquarters in central London, starting today and continuing until Sunday lunchtime.

Doreen Lawrence said: ‘It’s hard to believe that it is 19 years since the racist murder of my son Stephen and 14 years since I founded the Trust set up in Stephen’s name and memory. It is even harder accept that nearly two decades on we are still struggling with the same issues of race inequality and injustice.

‘In 2012 young black people can anticipate poorer education outcomes, poorer life chances, and being black and male has a more negative impact on levels of numeracy than having a learning disability. As we use Stephen’s name to wedge open the door of opportunity for others and challenge injustice, it means that although his life was lost, it wasn’t wasted.

‘We desperately need the financial support of our friends and partners if we are to continue with the work associated with Stephen’s legacy. This is to assist ambitious young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into the professions of architecture, finance and law. With the generous support of TUC members we will be able to continue to fulfil Stephen’s legacy.’

Brendan Barber said: ‘Much progress has been made since I first addressed this conference in the 1990s. But the recession and recovery-sapping austerity measures are putting a severe strain on the services that many communities rely upon.

‘Worse still is the catastrophic jobs crisis facing young black people. The unemployment rate for black youngsters has doubled in the past three years and more than half of all young black men who want work can’t get a job. This is not just a shocking story of hopes denied and talents wasted, nor just a terrible indictment of the government’s policies – it is a scandal that shames modern Britain.

‘As we saw during last year’s riots, the lack of opportunities for young black people – indeed all our young people – is a ticking time bomb for our society. The government must get serious about tackling youth unemployment. We need proper back-to-work schemes and a more inclusive approach to apprenticeships. We also need to support the thousands of voluntary organisations across the UK that support young black people into work, many of whom are facing funding cuts.

‘That is why I am today launching the 18:18 fundraising campaign on behalf of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. It’s an organisation that does some really excellent work. In these tough times for the voluntary sector, it’s vital that the union movement offers all the support it can to secure the Trust’s long term future.’

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Prudential’s Class of 2012 study has revealed that one in six people (16 per cent) planning to retire this year will depend on the State Pension to fund their retirement as they have no other pension.

The figures come from Prudential’s Class of 2012 research, which provides insights into the financial expectations of Britons planning to retire this year.

Women are more than twice as likely as men to have no pension; 20 per cent of women retiring in 2012 will depend on the State Pension compared with just 8 per cent of men.

The average person planning to retire this year will look to the State for 34 per cent of their income, with State Pension payments set to rise to GBP107.45 a week for single people from the 6th April 2012. Company pensions (35 per cent) are the second highest source of income and the remaining 30% comes from a mixture of savings, investments, personal pension savings, part time work and money from family members.

The Prudential research also shows that one quarter (26 per cent) of people retiring this year either overestimate by more than GBP500 a year what the State Pension pays, or simply do not know.

Vince Smith-Hughes, retirement income expert at Prudential, said: “While the State Pension is a safety net for pensioners in the UK, it should only ever be regarded as part of an overall retirement plan.

“For far too many people, the State Pension has become the default income option in retirement. Even those who have some private provision depend so heavily on the State that it makes up a third of their retirement income.

“Although State Pension levels will rise to GBP107.45 for single people per week on Friday, this will still only provide relatively low levels of income to people in retirement. It’s a weak safety net for those without any savings and the real income shock for many retirees will come when the gap between their current earnings and the State Pension becomes apparent.

“If people want to maintain their standard of living in retirement it is important that they start to save as much as possible as early as possible, and the vast majority should join company pension schemes where possible. Seeking early advice from a financial adviser should also be a prerequisite to helping people achieve the level of retirement income they want and need.”

Regionally, people retiring this year in the Midlands are the most likely in the UK to rely on the State Pension (40 per cent). This compares with a quarter (28 per cent) of those in Scotland, who claim that they will be the least reliant on the state for their retirement income.

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The Government further asked that any schools, which promoted the petition now make pupils aware of ‘the converse view’. The British Humanist Association (BHA), who were the first to suggest these laws may have been broken, has welcomed the findings.

Sections 406-7 of the Education Act 1996 forbids ‘the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school’, and requires balanced treatment of political issues. In March, the CES wrote to all Catholic secondary schools in England and Wales, asking them to draw attention to a letter against same sex marriage from the Archbishops of Westminster and Southwark which was read out at Sunday Mass on 11 March, and to a petition against same sex marriage from the Coalition for Marriage.

In a written statement, Welsh Minister for Education and Skills Leighton Andrews sets out that the Education Act has likely been broken, and that he has written to all Catholic secondary address this. In his letter to Catholic schools, Mr Andrews explains that ‘Whilst the petition itself is not directly related to a party political matter it does in my view relate to political matters generally as the petition is seeking to persuade people to lobby the Westminster Government to prevent a change in the law… I trust you will ensure that if your pupils have been made aware of this correspondence they will also be made aware of the converse view in order to give them a balanced perspective.’

The BHA wrote to Mr Andrews on the 26 April about this matter, and welcomed the news later that day of the investigation. BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘We are pleased to see that the Welsh Government is in agreement with our own conclusions on this matter. This seems to us to be one of the most clear-cut examples of political indoctrination in schools that has ever been seen. We hope that the UK Government investigation reaches the same conclusion.’

However, the Welsh Government also concluded that the CES’s communications with schools did not break the Equality Act 2010, as ‘Whilst schools are free to employ the materials provided as suggested, it is incumbent on them to do so in a balanced way’ – and not incumbent on the CES. Mr Thompson continued, ‘It seems to us to be likely that many schools will have stepped across the line and broken equalities law, as well as the law on political balance. The school in the original story, for example, described marriage and civil partnership as “unnatural”. Such behaviour is clearly going to leave LGBT pupils feeling victimised by their schools, trapped in a hostile environment. This is a very sad state of affairs.

Image by National Assembly For Wales / Cynulliad Cymru

The ConstructED initiative is to guide the construction industry in implementing equality and diversity policies, which are in line with the Equality Act 2010, with the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) supporting the new initiative.

The initiative further aims to bring about awareness of construction companies’ obligations and ensure they come into line with the Equalities Act and Equality and Human Rights Commission directives with the www.constructedonline.co.uk website, providing support.

Robert Macleod, managing director of Assessment North East, said: “This is a sector-leading initiative which we are proud to have launched, in an industry where many companies themselves will acknowledge they have a lot of work to do.

“Having E&D policies and procedures in place, which are adhered to and all staff are aware of, is not only important because it’s the right thing to do – but now, more so than ever before, it is a legal obligation to follow these policies and procedures.

“ConstructED will play a very important role in the construction industry going forward, in raising awareness and making sure people and businesses are supported in implementing these policies, and changing their operations for the better.”

James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, praised Assessment North East for its commitment to promoting E&D in the region, and said: “ConstructED is a dynamic initiative, which promotes the hugely important issues of equality and diversity, and offers a means to achieve E&D goals to companies which need it most. We are very pleased to support the project.”

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The Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation report found that that girls in the UK are not getting enough exercise, with schools holding the key to encouraging girls to get active.

The report, based on research carried out by the Institute of Youth Sport at Loughborough University, shows that half of all girls (51%) are put off physical activity by their experiences of school sport and PE.

Figures show that just 12% of 14-year-old girls are reaching the recommended levels of physical activity – half the number of boys at the same age. This is despite three quarters (74%) of girls saying they would like to be more active.

The research, which surveyd 1,500 school children, further found:

• Half of all girls (51%) are put off physical activity by their experiences of school sport and PE.
• 45% of girls say “sport is too competitive” and more than half think boys enjoy competitive sport more than girls.
• Over half of all boys and girls agree that “there are more opportunities for boys to succeed in sport than girls.”
• Half of the girls surveyed (48%) say that getting sweaty is “not feminine.”
• Nearly a third of boys think that girls who are sporty are not very feminine.
• Of the least active girls, 46% say that they don’t like the activities they get to do in PE compared to 26% of the most active.
• 43% of girls agree that “there aren’t many sporting role models for girls.”

Sue Tibballs, Chief Executive of WSFF said: “It is well-known that school children are less active than they should be. This problem is particularly severe for girls. Our research shows that PE and school sport is actually putting the majority of girls off being active, even though three quarters of girls are keen to do more exercise.

 “We need schools and the Government to urgently address this issue, and create policies that will keep our children fit and healthy. The priority needs to be getting all children active not just focusing on the sporty ones.

“We simply cannot afford to keep ignoring the evidence that school sport plays a key role in shaping attitudes to health and fitness.  Some schools are leading the way in delivering exciting and inclusive PE lessons, but there is still a great deal to be done. And, with sport front of mind in 2012, now is the ideal time to do it.”

The poll revealed:

• 57% of the respondents said they would be less likely to vote Conservative.
• 83% of those polled were opposed to changing the law.
• 90% of over 65s saying they were against the proposed law change
• 26% of young Christians aged between 18-34 say they support legalising same sex marriage

The Coalition for Marriage, Campaign Director, Colin Hart, said: “The polling shows the growing opposition to the Government’s proposals to redefine marriage, with the two most recent surveys showing that this is a major vote loser.

“If the PM continues to allow his equalities minister to continue to press ahead with this deeply unpopular and profoundly undemocratic proposal, then he can expect to pay the price for this at the ballot box.

“In addition to the 491,000 ordinary people who have signed the petition, a growing number of MPs including a majority of Conservative MPs now believe that these proposals will be dropped.

“Given the mounting opposition to redefining marriage, including in his own constituency, I hope the Prime Minister will now listen to and trust the British public when they say tinkering with the meaning of marriage is not necessary and not wanted.”

Tory MP, Karl McCartney said: ‘It is clear from both my postbag and the Coalition for Marriage petition… that a significant body of opinion in our city and up and down our country share my views.’

A Home Counties Tory MP added: ‘We’re worried we’ll haemorrhage votes unless Cameron backs down.

‘These protests are not from the usual suspects of complainants. These are from quiet, unassuming Tory supporters telling us, do this and we won’t vote for you again.’

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, however poiniently summed up the debate. He said: “Ultimately it’s about the freedom of a small group of people to be treated in exactly the same way as everyone else.”

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The BHA came to this conclusion following a series of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted to the Department for Education, resulting in a new report recently published.

The BHA pointed out that the 100 percent success rate contrasts the results of other schools trying to open outside of competition. It was reported fewer than half of proposals were successful.

Further BHA data showed that when ‘faith’ schools faced competition from non-religious proposals, barely one-third succeeded.

The report also found that almost two-thirds of the state-maintained ‘faith’ schools to open in the last five years have done so outside of competition, whilst for schools without a religious character, the number is less than one in six. The BHA says that the findings reveal a biased system, in which religious organisations are uniquely privileged and local democracy is subverted.

The report examines the period from May 2007 (when new rules were established) through to February 2012 (when they were amended), and also looks at school closures. Other findings of the report include:

• 23% (23/101) of mainstream school proposals through competition were faith-based, versus 55% (17/31) of maintained proposals outside of competition. 58% (23/40) of faith-based proposals were in competition, versus 85% (78/92) of other proposals.
• The Catholic Church is a particular offender when it comes to avoiding competitions. They submitted only one bid for a school in competition – compared with 14 by the Church of England – whereas both groups had the same number of bids to open schools outside of competition.
• Many schools are closing and re-opening to acquire a religious character, but no schools are doing so to lose one and become inclusive. And no schools lost a religious character through amalgamation, but 32 without a religious character gained one.

Recently the BHA announced that it is to take on a legal case against just such proposals for state-funded Catholic schools in Richmond – challenging the attempt of the Council to open a ‘faith’ school without competition under new rules introduced by the Education Act 2011 on 1 February.

BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, ‘If further proof were needed that the system is tilted in favour of state-funded religious schools which discriminate in their admissions and against inclusive schools, this is it. When asked, the public do not want religious schools – they want more inclusive schools. But religious organisations continue to open schools by the back door, collaborating with local authorities to avoid competition entirely. This option has been phenomenally successful, and as a result, the proportion of all schools that have a religious character is rising alarmingly fast. Taken together with the preference shown in government guidance for community schools to close rather than religious ones, we see a system which militates against inclusion.

‘We hope that our legal case in Richmond will challenge this practice. We believe the system of school organisation should instead be promoting new schools that are inclusive of all pupils and staff, regardless of their religion or belief.’

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Research revealed by City & Guilds has shown that 88 percent of 16-18 year olds said that a visit to an employer was extremely useful to them. The harsh reality is however that only little over a quarter of learners are actually given this opportunity.  For unemployed16-24 year olds unemployed the figure drops to 22.2 percent. The result: young people want better access to employers, to help bridge the gap between education and work.

Work experience placements are more common yet the research highlights that irrelevant and poor quality placements being offered in schools are not equipping young people for meaningful employment. The study of over 3,000 young people (aged from 7-18 years), shows that only a third (33%) of 14 – 18 year olds consider work experience to be necessary when it comes to getting their dream job.

The study entitled, Ways Into Work: views of children and young people on education and employment, is the first comprehensive analysis of young people’s views around education and employment since the economic crisis began. It provides the voice of young people in a debate that has previously been dominated by politicians and employers.

The findings were announced at a parliamentary reception hosted by City & Guilds CEO and Director General Chris Jones last night. The reception brought together over 100 politicians, businesses and education stakeholders to call for collective support to tackle youth unemployment.

As the latest jobless figures show more than one million young people are out of work, the UK’s leading vocational awarding organisation urges Government to adopt a more cohesive strategy to boost employment that recognises and responds to the needs of young people. 

During the parliamentary reception, City & Guilds’ CEO and Director General Chris Jones called for the creation of an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to get to grips with the root causes of youth unemployment. The APPG already has the backing of David Milliband MP.

The findings of the Ways Into Work report show that strengthening the links between education and employment will be central to tackling youth unemployment and will provide the foundation for the APPG’s work.

Chris Jones, CEO and Director General of City & Guilds said: “Our research has gone some way towards identifying the gaps between education and employment; now we have to plan how we are going to close those gaps and stop our young people from slipping through the system. We are calling for an All-Party Parliamentary Group to bring together key stakeholders across education, business and the Government to tackle this problem – working together, to get young people working. We believe more needs to be done to ensure young people get the advice and experience they deserve and we believe we are ideally placed to help realise this goal.”

The Ways Into Work report findings shed light on the hopes and aspirations of young people and includes the following findings:

• 61% of 7-11 year old respondents are optimistic they will be successful in life, rising to nearly three quarters (71%) of 16 – 18 year olds, who feel they will be successful in whatever they do.
• The report shows that young people today are ambitious and entrepreneurial with almost half (49%) of 16 – 18 year olds saying they would one day like to run their own business. 
• Young people remain optimistic that they can have a bright future, with all age-groups showing an appreciation for the hard work that is needed to get their ideal job.
• However, pessimism among those approaching employment age increases, with 23% of 16-18 year olds worrying about not being able to find a job when they leave school or college and 63% citing finances as a concern.

Stephen Howard, CEO of Business in the Community, comments: “City & Guilds’ call for an All-Party Parliamentary Group is a move that BITC fully supports. Through our own ‘Work Inspiration’ campaign, we are supporting businesses to reduce the gap between young people’s expectations of work and what business expects of new recruits. It is very important to bring businesses and young people closer, so that together we can tackle the issue of youth unemployment. Enthusing young people about the exciting possibilities of the world of work is vital for our future workforce and UK competitiveness, and businesses will benefit from attracting new talent from every possible source.”

Public domain image: David Miliband

In 2009, around 40,800 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, rising from around 14,000 in 1989. 

The increase has been linked to greater use of PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing method, which measures a chemical produced by the prostate that may be raised when a man has prostate cancer.

PSA testing first started in the UK around 1989. Since then prostate cancer incidence rates have more than doubled in Britain from 47.4 to 102.9 per 100,000 men1, though the rates have been fairly stable since around the turn of the millennium.

PSA testing is not currently used as part of a national cancer screening programme. This is because high PSA levels are not a good indicator of whether or not a man has prostate cancer.

Research suggests that up to two thirds of men with high PSA levels do not have prostate cancer. The test, and later investigations, also cannot reliably distinguish between aggressive prostate cancers that need treating or slow-growing cancers that may not. This can then lead to unnecessary treatment. 

Instead of a national screening programme, men who ask for a PSA test are given information by their GP to help them understand the pros and cons before they decide whether they want to go ahead with the test.  

Professor Malcolm Mason, Cancer Research UK’s prostate cancer expert, said: “Accurately diagnosing and predicting the need for treatment of prostate cancer is fraught with difficulties and there is no escaping the fact that we need a better tool than PSA to help detect prostate cancers that actually need treating. Men need to be counselled about the upsides and downsides of having a PSA test and the uncertainties that it can raise.

“We urgently need to find better tests that tell us more about a man’s prostate cancer. Is the disease going to sit quietly in the background and never cause a problem or do we need to treat it aggressively? If we can accurately answer these questions, we could spare thousands of men unnecessary treatment that can lead to side effects like impotence and incontinence.”

During the last ten years UK death rates from prostate cancer have fallen by 11 per cent – from 26.8 to 23.8 per 100,000 men2. This is due to a range of factors, including improvements in the treatments available for prostate cancer, such as new drugs like docetaxel and more effective radiotherapy, and possibly men having their prostate cancer being picked up earlier. Due to this fewer older men are being diagnosed with the disease and so not dying from prostate cancer.

For aggressive prostate cancers, early diagnosis remains crucial, as swift treatment offers the best chance of successful treatment.  Symptoms men should be aware of include passing urine more often than usual, especially at night, or difficulty in passing urine. These are common symptoms, which usually turn out to be something much less serious for most men, but it’s important they get them checked by their doctor.  

Professor Peter Johnson, Cancer Research UK’s chief clinician, said: “Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of the progress that has improved treatments for prostate cancer. Our researchers developed the first man-made hormone to treat the disease and played a pivotal role in improving radiotherapy techniques that are more accurate and effective, saving more men’s lives.

“But we also need new treatments for men with advanced prostate cancer. Cancer Research UK supported the initial development of a drug called abiraterone that is currently going through NICE approval and could be an effective drug for men who have advanced prostate cancer that has come back after chemotherapy.

“We’re also funding projects to improve our understanding of the disease. As part of the International Cancer Genome Consortium – supported by the Dallaglio Foundation – we’re funding a project to sequence all the genes in 250 different prostate cancers, which we hope will pinpoint the genes that are driving them.  This could help us identify men who are more likely to have the aggressive form of prostate cancer.”

Public domain image: Photomicrograph of invasive Prostate Adenocarcinoma

The report, which was published in the Diabetic Medicine journal further, predicted that in the next twenty years, the NHS would spend close to £16.8bn on diabetes, which would account for close to 20 percent of the entire NHS budget.

The current budget however stands at £9.8bn per year, with Diabetes two accounting for 90 percent of the budget.

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: ‘This report shows that without urgent action, the already huge sums of money being spent on treating diabetes will rise to unsustainable levels that threaten to bankrupt the NHS.

‘But the most shocking part of this report is the finding that almost four-fifths of NHS diabetes spending goes on treating complications that in many cases could have been prevented.

‘The failure to do more to prevent these complications is both a tragedy for the people involved and a damning indictment of the failure to implement the clear and recommended solutions. Unless the Government and the NHS start to show real leadership on this issue, this unfolding public health disaster will only get worse.’

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: ‘We agree that diabetes is a very serious illness and one that has a big impact on the NHS.

‘That’s why we are tackling the disease on three fronts. First, through prevention of Type 2 diabetes – encouraging people to eat well and be more active. Second, by helping people to manage their diabetes through the nine annual health care checks performed in primary care. And by better management of the condition in hospital.’

Karen Addington, from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) – which was also commissioned the report – said: “It’s the first time that we have been able to see the cost of the unavoidable autoimmune condition Type 1 diabetes separately.

“This is important because the causes of Type 1 and the challenge it presents are very different to Type 2, and only medical research can lift this burden on families, the NHS and the economy.”

General Yves Leterme, from the Organisation for Economic and Co-operation and Development said: “Preventing and treating diabetes and its complications costs about 90bn euros (£73bn) annually in Europe alone.

“With health budgets already under great pressure and national budgets severely strained, for the sake of our health and the health of our economies we must find ways to prevent and manage diabetes in a cost-effective manner.”

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The authors from King’s College London carried out a study on just over a 1000 pairs of twins at five, seven, 10 and 12 years of age. All children were born in 1994-1995 in England and Wales. The children were assessed on the risks of self-harming in the six months prior to their 12th birthday. Self-harm data was available for 2141 children.

237 children were victims of frequent bullying: 18 (8%) of them self harmed. Of the 1904 who had not been bullied, 44 (2 %) had self harmed.

Approximately one quarter of all school-children in the UK are bullied at some point during their school lives. Victimisation is associated with behavioural problems during adolescence, but few studies have tested the assumption that exposure to bullying increases the likelihood that a child will self-harm. The authors hope this study will help to identify those at greatest risk of self-harm.

The authors found that several factors increased the risk of self-harm amongst children who were bullied, including: a family history of self-harming; maltreatment; behavioural and emotional problems. And although the likelihood was slightly higher for girls (1.6%), the association was evident amongst both sexes.

Bullying was defined as when another child: says mean or hurtful things; completely ignores or excludes the victim; hits, kicks or shoves the victim; tells lies or spreads rumours and / or does other hurtful things, all on a frequent basis. Examples of self-harm included: cutting and biting arms; pulling out clumps of hair; banging head against walls; attempted suicides by strangulation.

The authors suggest that while “more effective programmes to prevent bullying occurring […] are required”, there should also be efforts in place to help children cope with emotional distress arising from bullying. And although alternative coping strategies should be provided, the effectiveness of these does need to be investigated.

In conclusion, bullying during early years can have damaging consequences by adolescence, especially if children are also exposed to family adversity or have mental-health difficulties. The authors suggest that schools and healthcare professionals should aim to further “reduce bullying and introduce self-harm risk-reduction programmes” in order to prevent the risk of bullied children hurting themselves in later life.

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The latest financial recruitment research done by Marks Sattin, has revealed that one in two female accountants feel that their gender is a barrier to workplace.

The gap has closed by 4 per cent over the past 2 years, with women currently get paid 81 percent of the average of current male salaries. According to the latest ONS’ Annual Survey, female accountants earned an average salary of £32,080 last year, while men received £38,500.

The research further revealed that half of the women interviewed still view their gender as a barrier to career development, compared to ten percent of interviewed men.

Dave Way, managing director of Marks Sattin said: “The accountancy industry must be proud that the gender pay gap is being narrowed, but the fact that women working full-time are still receiving a fifth less than their male peers reminds us all of the vital work that needs to be done to ensure female accountants operate on a level playing field.

“Received wisdom has been that pay disparities have been because female employees are generally less willing to demand pay rises from their employer. But the narrowing of the pay gap over the last year demonstrates women are increasingly aware they shouldn’t settle for smaller salaries. The lesson for those who think their gender is preventing them from enjoying career success is to consider the opportunities available elsewhere”.

On gender equality Dave Way said: “True gender equality can’t be achieved through pay parity alone. While employers in the accountancy industry are bringing in roughly equal numbers of men and women at graduate level, only a very small proportion of women seem to be able to reach the top.

“One of the biggest drivers of the conspicuous absence of women in top positions is a sense of disenfranchisement among female employees from the tops of companies. The fact that so many more women than men consider themselves at a disadvantage in terms of career development is testament to this. It’s essential employers work hard to encourage and develop female talent for the top roles, but also that women actively push themselves forward for senior roles and don’t allow the historical precedent to determine the future composition of board rooms”.

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He wrote: “A year ago, the coalition Government introduced additional paternity leave for fathers of children born on or after 3 April 2011.

“This law gives fathers a right to up to six months extra leave, which can be taken once the mother has returned to work, paid at the same standard rate as Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) – currently £123.06 per week.

“The progressive legislation is designed to give working families greater choice and options about how to manage working and bringing up a baby in the early months of life. If a woman is the main breadwinner in a family, it might make financial sense for her to return to work and her partner to take over the child care responsibilities, or parents simply might wish to share the leave and both spend time bonding with the baby.

“Last year, Talking Talent surveyed 100 expectant dads to gauge their views about the new legislation. Nearly half (46%) said they would take advantage of the new shared parental leave; however, this has not translated into actual numbers.

“Over the past year, we have run seminars for approximately 300 new fathers through our ‘New Dad’s Programme’ coaching programme, but during that time we witnessed only a couple of men keen to take up the additional paternity leave.

“Similarly, from what we are hearing from clients, there have been very low levels of take-up of the extended paternity leave across UK organisations. There are several reasons for this.

“Unsurprisingly, one of the main barriers to adoption is financial pressure – the economy is still very uncertain and many men don’t feel secure enough in their jobs to take an extended leave of absence. Secondly, the extended paternity leave isn’t being promoted within many companies, so people aren’t aware of their rights and options. Thirdly, as the extended paternity is new, there aren’t precedents in organisations. Consequently, men fear going against traditional cultural stereotypes, where the responsibility for childcare traditionally falls to a women and don’t want to be the first to pioneer this policy. Men also fear it could damage their earning potential or promotional prospects or send out the wrong message to their employer that they aren’t committed to their career. All these factors have created barriers to adoption of the new legislation.

“However, there is a great deal that organisations can do to support new fathers who might want to take up the additional paternity leave.

“Here are a few thoughts for line managers and fathers opting to take the extended parental leave.

“Managers:

• Work towards emulating the best practice around maternity – treat this new legislation in the same way.
• Be aware of what the changes in legislation mean in practice, and how your organisation should respond in terms of policy and practice.
• Be aware of the unconscious bias you may have around what the ‘right family model’ is. Are you behind men taking this? Or do you veer towards the traditional model?
• How you manage and communicate activity around paternity leave is key. Always keep in mind who the key stakeholders are: the father, other members of staff who work closely with them, their clients and business suppliers.
• If in doubt, always refer to the HR department.

“Fathers opting to take the leave:

• Manage both your own and others’ expectations around how long you will take off.
• Always remember to communicate how committed you are to your career; that way, people won’t make assumptions around your or your partner’s career. Keep in mind who your key stakeholders are: line managers, other senior managers, immediate team members etc.

“In spite of the low levels of adoption of the legislation, we have seen a greater number of companies putting in place policies and supporting working mothers and fathers over the past year. We have also seen great interest from corporate for our ‘New Dad’s Programme’ coaching programme that supports new fathers and helps them create the right work/life balance.

“And, while the adoption of extended paternity leave has been disappointingly low, it is not surprising. Until we see a major cultural change in the British work environment, with family-friendly working policies being embraced and supported throughout the business, very little will change.”

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The report Age, gender and the jobs recession, which is based on official statistics from the Labour Force Survey, found: 

• There are 271,000 (8%) more women aged 50-64 in the labour market than at the start of the recession and 200,000 (6.2%) more in work. The number of men in this age group in employment has risen by only 3,000.
• Women aged 50-64, and men and women aged 65 and over are the only age groups to have registered an increase in both the number in work and employment rates since the start of the jobs recession and have also registered the smallest increases in unemployment.  
• People aged 25-34 are the only other age group to see a rise in employment over the course of the jobs recession, with the number in work increasing by 249,000 (4%), much of the increase likely to be due to inward migration.
• Across all age groups there are 387,000 fewer men in work (a net fall of 2.4%) than in the first quarter of 2008. By contrast the number of women in work is only 8,000 (0.05%) lower.
• Although the number of unemployed women has increased by almost half a million, to reach a record level of 1.12 million, this is not primarily due to fewer jobs for women but instead to a relatively large rise (of 438,000) in the number of women participating in the labour market. Even accounting for this, the gender unemployment gap (i.e. the difference between the male and female unemployment rate) has increased from 0.8 percentage points to 1.3 percentage points.
• The relatively stronger employment outcome for women is mainly the result of a substantial rise of 172,000 (16.3%) in the number of women in self-employment. The number of women working full time as employees has fallen by 220,000 (3%), partly offset by a small rise in part-time employment (up 44,000 or 0.9%).
• Women have seen relatively strong net employment growth in managerial, professional and technical occupations but have done much less well in traditionally feminised occupations.  The number of women in administrative, secretarial, sales and customer services roles has fallen by almost 400,000 since the start of the recession. Somewhat surprisingly, the number of men performing this kind of semi-skilled white collar work has increased, the net fall in male employment resulting from substantial job loss in skilled and semi-skilled blue collar occupations – skilled trades and plant, process and machine operation – and unskilled work.  
• The older people get the more likely it is that they will remain out of work for longer when unemployed, although long-term unemployment rates have increased more for younger than older people since the start of the jobs recession. Men have much higher rates of long-term unemployment than women in every age group although the share of women who are long-term unemployed has increased in all age groups. 

Dr John Philpott, Chief Economic Adviser at the CIPD, comments: “When it comes to work, older people have clearly fared better than young people during the jobs recession.  But what’s also clear is that older women have done best of all.  While a combination of population ageing and fewer people wanting to retire early, either for financial reasons or because of a broader desire to prolong their working lives, is boosting the older workforce, it is older women that are getting most of the available jobs. Just why this is happening requires further examination, though with the modern generation of 50 something women more likely to view Madonna than Grandma Grey as a role model, the economically active older woman is well on course to be ever more prominent in British workplaces in the coming years.

“However, the relatively good outcome for older women during the recession is no cause for complacency about the need to continually stress the business case for an even more age diverse workforce as the economy starts to recover, especially with so much public policy action understandably focused on cutting youth unemployment. Simplistic talk about older people staying in jobs at the expense of the young must not be allowed to put a brake on progress toward nudging employers to do even better in coping with demographic change. An ageing workforce presents both challenges and opportunities for employers, who at some point in the not too distant future will struggle to fill vacancies unless they recruit and retain older workers, women and men, in even far greater numbers.

“While policy measures such as the removal of the Default Retirement Age in October 2011 are helping to maintain progress, lingering opposition to that positive move demonstrates just how difficult it can be to change the business mindset. It’s vital therefore that the relative fortunes of old and young people during the jobs recession is used to stimulate discussion about how best to improve employment prospects overall, so as to avoid pointless and unnecessary talk of an ‘intergenerational jobs war.’  This is precisely why the CIPD recently published guidance, Managing a healthy ageing workforce, which helps organisations to respond appropriately to the ageing workforce in order to gain competitive advantage in terms of recruiting and retaining talent and supporting the well-being and engagement of employees of all ages.”

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Children who go missing from care are in great danger of being physically or sexually abused. Research from The Children’s Society  reveals that a quarter of the 100,000 children who run away from care or home each year have been the victims of significant harm or abuse.

The opening session, led by Ann Coffey MP, focuses on trafficked children who are disappearing from local authority care.Frontline practitioners are very concerned by the numbers of child victims of trafficking going missing from care and never being found.

Chair of the APPG for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults, Ann Coffey MP, said:inquiry will provide the evidence needed to improve the safety and welfare of extremely vulnerable children affected by this terrible crime and aims to find concrete solutions for how we can prevent this from happening in the future. It is vital we unite in providing the support these children need and deserve.’inquiry comprises four oral evidence sessions; the first day focuses on child trafficking; following sessions examine issues around runaways. It will hear evidence from ministers, local authorities, service providers and specialist organisations and the police. A report is set to be published in the summer. 

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Time to Change is held an event for journalists from top women’s lifestyle magazines. It is hoped that the evening will encourage journalists to talk about how mental health is covered in magazines and find out more from people with direct experience.

Held at The Hospital Club in central London, the night will be hosted by author, former magazine editor and columnist Sally Brampton, who will talk about her experiences of mental illness and give her insider view of working in the magazine world.

There will be other top speakers including the Editor of Glamour magazine Jo Elvin, who will tell all about their new campaign about depression ‘Hey, it’s Ok’ fronted by The Saturdays singer Frankie Sandford . Finally a debate will be held with a panel of people who have mental health problems followed by networking opportunities.

Jenni Regan, Senior Media Advisor at Time to Change, said: “A key aim is to get journalists and programme makers talking about mental health. We believe media portrayals and reporting of mental health problems are an incredibly powerful tool for educating and influencing the public, when they are done accurately and sensitively.

“We hope that all of our guests enjoy the night and leave with a view of how they can make a difference to people living with mental health problems through the copy they write.”

The issue started when the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) resolved the complaint that Time to Change partner charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, along with the Samaritans, Sane and PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, lodged against The Sun about a Jeremy Clarkson column about rail suicide.

Following proceedings The Sun wrote to the PCC to confirm that it accepted that parts of the column had overstepped the mark and apologised for the offence caused.

The Sun has also agreed to support the Time to Change programme and to offer training to its staff on mental health reporting.

Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, said: “The way that mental health is portrayed in the media can be exceptionally powerful in educating and influencing the public. When done insensitively it can encourage stigmatising attitudes towards people with experience of mental illness. Although we have worked with The Sun on numerous features over the years and believe their coverage of mental health issues has much improved, we will still challenge any comment that we consider to reinforce stigma about mental illness.

“We are pleased to see that the complaint has now been resolved and we look forward to working with The Sun on how to report on mental health problems. Their pledge of support is a great start and we look forward to delivering a training event for their staff.”

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Opportunity Now’s nine Excellence in Practice Awards recognise private and public sector organisations that have put gender issues at the core of their business agendas and are committed to creating inclusive workplaces for women at all levels. More than 500 business leaders gathered at The Brewery in the City of London for the awards ceremony, which is generously sponsored by Santander.

This year, the 17th year of the Opportunity Now Awards, the campaign has partnered with the Home Office to create a new ‘Transparency Award’ to acknowledge the organisation that is committed to transparency and fairness, which was presented by Rt Hon Theresa May MP.

The 2012 winners list:

• Inclusive Culture Award – PwC
• Transparency Award – in partnership with the Home Office – BT
• Female FTSE 100 Award – in partnership with Cranfield School of Management – Diageo
• Advancing Women in the Workplace Award Credit Suisse
• Agile Organisation Award – Dell
• Directing Diverse Talent Award – in association with the CIPD -
Roshni Haywood, Senior HR Manager for GE Capital EMEA 
• Global Award
Deutsche Bank

• Santander Award – Goldman Sachs

Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Theresa May said: “Tackling barriers that hold women back makes companies stronger and more attractive places to work. These awards recognise some of the businesses leading the way on gender equality and I congratulate the winners. The government is encouraging firms to be open about any obstacles that might affect women by adopting our ‘Think, Act, Report’ initiative.  I want to urge others to seize the opportunity to shine a light on the issues and the action they are taking to address them.” 

Alison Platt, CMG, Divisional Managing Director, Europe and North America for Bupa and Chair of Opportunity Now, said: “This agenda is about utilising the best talent to gain competitive advantage, it is not about tokenism. For more than two decades Opportunity Now has been working with leading businesses that recognise the tangible benefits of a diverse and fully engaged workforce. These employers understand that creating workplaces that work for women is a commercial imperative, not a women’s issue. All the Opportunity Now Awards winners should be commended for the innovative and impactful way they are embedding diversity and equality into their long-term business strategy.”

James Leigh-Pemberton, Managing Director & CEO of Credit Suisse and keynote speaker at the Awards presentation, said: “Much has been achieved in the quest for equality in the workplace already. I believe that everyone in business can do something to continue making a difference to grow a truly talented and diverse workforce, and help reduce the incidence of group-think.  We need the most capable and competent workforce in a highly competitive world.  Opportunity Now has built its case and advocacy around good business practice, continuously seeking to address business people on this issue every day. These Awards recognise those businesses and champions that are aware of the need to build sustainable, long-term businesses which reflect the societies in which we work.”

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It is a fast-growing problem, particularly with workers becoming increasingly concerned about their futures in the economic downturn, and costs Britain more than £30billion every year in lost production.

Acas chief executive John Taylor said: “The stumbling block at the moment is that many employers and managers shy away from dealing with mental illness at work because it can be hard to pin down and it is a very sensitive matter to deal with.

“People tend not to want to talk about mental illness because they think it is something disturbing that it is easier to avoid.

“But we all need to develop a new way of looking at mental health and break down the taboo. There needs to be a willingness to discuss mental health and a culture where employers understand it and try to help their employees recover from mental illness.

“Our mental well-being is as much a part of health as our physical health. And we need to take into consideration that one in four of us will suffer a mental health problem at some point in our lives.”

The step-by-step guide shows employers and managers how to:

• Spot early the signs of mental ill-health
• Raise awareness of mental health issues among managers and staff
• Develop a culture where an employee feels comfortable disclosing their condition
• Approach an employee who may have a mental health condition
• Try to help them cope with it or overcome it so they can work effectively again

It also explains how to be aware of patterns of behaviour, build a rapport with an employee, talk to them in a range of scenarios, and what practical steps can be taken.

Mr Taylor added: “Managers are not expected to become professional counsellors. They should start by handling mental ill-health in the same way they would a physical illness by focusing on good communication, becoming aware of the issues and empathising.”

The key for managers is to identify factors they can control and those they cannot.

“Managers can control workloads, work variety and relationships, communication and bullying, and strategies for the employee to cope at work, and they may be able to have some influence over financial rewards, status, sense of purpose and levels of stress.

“But there can be circumstances outside an employer’s control, such as childhood experiences, family relationships, addiction problems and bereavement. However, an employer, by creating a supportive environment at work where people feel able to disclose their problems, can help them address their issues and remain productive at work.

“Also, there may be times when an employer will need to refer an employee to outside, specialist sources for help and advice.”

Acas has compiled the guide with NHS agency Workways, which specialises in advising on dealing with mental ill-health at work.

Another mental health organisation, charity the Centre for Mental Health, says a total of 91 million work days are lost to mental ill-health every year. But the lost days account for only half the £30billion cost of reduced productivity, with the rest taken up by employees turning up for work when unwell and not performing at their best.

The Government’s Department of Health estimates that one in four people will suffer a mental health problem, while a new government-funded study says almost one in three workers now suffer anxiety or panic attacks due to work pressures.

Another survey by Europe’s largest development body for professionals, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and healthcare insurance company Simplyhealth found that stress is now the number one cause of long-term absence.

The guide comes during the Time To Change campaign run by charities Mind and Rethink to end the stigma of mental ill-health. The campaign is backed by the Government and runs until March, 2015.

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Dr Zowie Davy and Dr Michael Skey shared the prize of £1,000 awarded by the British Sociological Association at its annual conference in Leeds.

Dr Davy, of the University of Lincoln, wrote Recognizing Transsexuals: Personal, Political and Medicolegal Embodiment (Ashgate), which draws on interviews with transsexuals at various stages of transition.

It explores the reasons why transsexuals want to modify their bodies, and examines political, medical and legal issues. It explores the ways that transsexuals are accepted by their families and others.

Dr Davy has also worked on a project looking at the implementation of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and was the co-editor of Bound and Unbound: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Genders and Sexualities, published by Cambridge Scholars Press.

Dr Michael Skey, of the University of East London, wrote National Belonging and Everyday Life: The Significance of Nationhood in an Uncertain World (Palgrave Macmillan).

It examines the views and attitudes of the ethnic majority in England and discusses their anxieties about the future and their relations with minority groups.

Dr Skey has published work in a range of journals including Nations & Nationalism, Sociological Review, Journal of Cultural Geography, Ethnicities and Cultural Sociology.

The BSA prize is for the best first and sole-authored book within sociology, and was established in honour of the memory of Professor Philip Abrams, whose work contributed substantially to sociology and social policy research in Britain. He is remembered for the encouragement and help he provided to many sociologists at the start of their careers.

The other authors shortlisted for the prize were: Dr Michaela Benson, of the University of Bristol, who wrote The British in Rural France: Lifestyle Migration and the Ongoing Quest for a Better Way of Life (Manchester University Press) and Dr Paul Thomas, University of Huddersfield, who wrote Youth, Multiculturalism and Community Cohesion (Palgrave Macmillan).

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The TUC analysis looks at industries including construction, manufacturing, retail, hotels and restaurants, and the finance and business services sector.

The analysis finds that the types of jobs that account for over half of all youth employment – manufacturing, construction and retail, hotels and restaurants – have shed nearly a million jobs since 2007.

The number of manufacturing jobs fell by 14 per cent between the last quarter of 2007 and the last quarter of 2011, a loss of 406,000 jobs. The construction sector had the next biggest fall losing 281,000 jobs (12 per cent of all construction jobs).

The retail, hotel and restaurants industry has lost 221,000 jobs since the end of 2007, a fall of three per cent. Four in ten young workers are employed in this sector, compared to just one in six workers over the age of 25.

Finance and business services is the only sector to have expanded since 2007, gaining 98,000 jobs (up two per cent) over the last four years.

The relative health of finance and business services has helped to boost pay for workers in this industry. Wages have increased by 11.3 per cent since 2007, compared to an increase of just 0.2 per cent in construction and 6.7 per cent in retail, hotel and restaurants.

However, with RPI inflation increasing by 13.5 per cent over the same period, the wages of all workers have fallen in real terms.

The TUC analysis comes ahead of the latest inflation figures published later this morning, as well as pay and jobs figures published tomorrow.

Independent market forecasters are predicting a small rise in CPI inflation and a further fall in wage growth, which would mean that prices have been rising nearly three times as fast as wages in recent months.

And with the Office for Budget Responsibility now forecasting that wages will continue to fall in real terms until mid-2013, three years on from when wages last rose, the outlook is looking tough for both job seekers and those already in work.

While those earning over £150,000 can look forward to a tax cut as a result of last month’s Budget, families on low and middle incomes are being stung by the combination of tax credit cuts, low wage growth and tough competition for the few jobs out there, says the TUC.

The TUC wants the government to make investment in jobs its top priority by introducing a guarantee of a paid job or training for any young person out of work for six months or more, and giving more incentives for businesses to invest rather than sit on their record cash piles.

Most of all, says the TUC, the Chancellor should heed the growing economic warning signs and end his self-defeating austerity strategy that is stifling the UK’s economic prospects, putting people out of work and failing to bring the deficit down.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: ‘The manufacturing sector experienced heavy job losses during the recession and has failed to recover during the UK’s admittedly weak recovery. While the retail and construction sectors have gained jobs in the last 12 months, they are still a long way off their pre-recession health.

‘A recovery in retail, hotels and restaurants is particularly important for young people as this is where they are most likely to find work. Unfortunately these jobs are heavily dependent on people’s disposable incomes and falling wages are forcing people to rein in their spending.

‘The UK economy desperately needs more jobs and the return of decent pay rises. Our hopes of a sustainable economic recovery depend on this.

‘The government should make jobs and fair pay its top priority, rather than carrying on with its ill-advised austerity plan that’s making a tough economic climate even worse.

‘Ministers can start by introducing a guarantee of paid work or training for every young person who has been out of work for six months or more, as well as a new youth credit to boost access to training, work placements or progression into better jobs. This would go some way what towards redressing the harsh cuts in EMA and jobs support that young people have suffered under this government.’

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Janet Bowstead, of London Metropolitan University, examined the journeys made by every woman seeking temporary housing in women’s refuges or hostels, or help from housing support teams, after suffering abuse.

She used a national database for England to examine journeys made from April 2008 to March 2009 to create the first picture of where victims of domestic abuse go, in what she calls a “forced migration”.

Ms Bowstead told the BSA conference in Leeds that the 18,812 women were aged between 15 and 88 and that 54% took children with them, a total of 18,819, as they escaped. One per cent had five children with them when they fled.

Around 4% of the women were disabled – including some with mobility problems, learning disabilities, and hearing and visual impairment – 4% had mental health needs, and 2% needed help with alcohol or drug issues. The women came from all ethnic origins and 67% were white British.

Of the 18,812, over 60% went to women’s refuges, 10% went into supported housing, 20% were helped by housing support workers and the rest found a variety of accommodation and support.

Women travelled from all of the 354 local authorities in England, and also from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to their destinations, though almost half of the journeys – 46% – were within the same local authority in England. Women did not travel to some of the local authorities in England as these did not have services available to help them.

Ms Bowstead found that the women travelled an average of 20 miles, and an average of 37 miles if they went to a different local authority. However, some had travelled over 400 miles from Scotland.

She found that women tended to travel to the same type of area – urban or rural, wealthy or deprived – that they had left, though poorer areas saw a higher proportion of women leaving and arriving than richer ones.

The effect was that the numbers of women seeking housing support tended to remain similar across local authorities in general.

“Overall, therefore, a process of spatial churn is identified across the country, with the thousands of individual journeys tending to cancel each other out on the national scale,” said Ms Bowstead.

“Whilst tens of thousands of women and children are forced to migrate due to domestic violence within the UK every year, it is a migration that does not look like a migration because it is not a net migration on the regional or national scale.

“Overall, this forced migration has no strong net flows, and most local authorities experienced similar numbers of women arriving and leaving due to domestic violence each year.”

She said that one striking fact from the database was that the journeys women made were similar in length and destinations regardless of their age or ethnicity. However women with children tended to travel slightly further than those without, and women who needed help for mental health or drink and drug problems tended to travel slightly less far.   

Ms Bowstead, a PhD research student at the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit at London Metropolitan University, used a national database compiled by Supporting People, a national government programme set up to help people with housing, which ran from 2003 to 2011 before its work was devolved to individual authorities.

She called for national statistics to continue to be kept, and for women not to lose rights to social housing if they fled from one council area to another.

“Women leave their local authority because they are forced to, and the large number of short migration journeys and journeys of residential mobility within a local authority suggests that if women can stay local they tend to do so. 

“It should not necessarily follow from that initial force from the perpetrator that they should also be forced to lose their housing tenure rights, and their service support, because of crossing an administrative boundary.

“However, a more seamless provision would require greater cooperation between local authorities, and a more robust national overview. Such a national responsibility can also be argued for in terms of a governmental responsibility to protect the rights of and provide protection for women who are forced to migrate.”

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A study just published on-line by the journal Sociology says that the proportion of adult Muslims actively practising the faith they were brought up in as children was 77%, compared with 29% of Christians and 65% of other religions.

The study, by academics from Cardiff University, also found that 98% of Muslim children surveyed said they had the religion their parents were brought up in, compared with 62% of Christians and 89% of other religions.

The team analysed data from the Home Office’s 2003 Citizenship Survey data, using 13,988 replies from adults and 1,278 from young people aged 11 to 15.

In the study the researchers, from Cardiff’s School of Social Sciences and Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, suggest reasons for the higher rate of transmission of religion. “There is more involvement of Muslim young people in religious organisations,” they say. “It is well known that there is considerable supplementary education for Muslim children such as the formal learning of the Qur’an in Arabic.

“The apparently much higher rates of intergenerational transmission in Muslims and members of other non-Christian non-Muslim religions are certainly worthy of further exploration and may in fact pose a challenge to blanket judgements about the decline of British religion.

“These higher rates might suggest support for the theory that for minority ethnic populations, religion can be an important resource in bolstering a sense of cultural distinctiveness.”

The research team was Professor Jonathan Scourfield, Dr Sophie Gilliat-Ray, Asma Khan, Dr Sameh Otri, Dr Graham Moore and Dr Chris Taylor. The paper is entitled ‘Intergenerational transmission of Islam in England and Wales: evidence from the Citizenship Survey’ and Sociology is published by the British Sociological Association.

Professor Scourfield later said of the research: “Muslim children tend to lead busy lives, often attending religious education classes outside school three or more times each week on top of any other commitments they have.

“They typically learn to read the Qur’an in Arabic. They also learn a great deal about their faith from parents and other family members. Religion can have an especially important role for minority communities in keeping together the bonds between families from the same ethnic background.”

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The first 3,490 young people who took part in the Government placements were 16% more likely to be off benefits 21 weeks after starting than those in a similar group who did not take part.

The findings are revealed in an early impact analysis of voluntary work experience placements published by the Department for Work and Pensions today.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: “These early figures show our voluntary work experience scheme is making a big difference to the prospects of our young people, helping them get off benefits and into work.

“Work experience gives young people vital skills they will need to get a job and a chance to shine in front of a potential employer. Those who criticised the scheme have got it badly wrong.”

Researchers looked at what happened to young people who started a work experience placement between January and May 2011. The results, which have been reviewed by independent experts, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, were compared to a group of similar individuals who did not start a placement.

Work experience placements lasting up to eight-weeks are available to 16 to 24-year-olds on Jobseekers Allowance. The programme aims to give young jobseekers experience in the workplace, providing them with the vital practical skills and experience that will make a real difference to their prospects of finding a job. Hundreds of companies are providing placements across Great Britain.

Between January and November 2011, 34,200 people on Jobseeker’s Allowance undertook a work experience placement. Another 250,000 places were announced over the next three years as part of the Youth Contract. This will ensure a place is available to every eligible 18 to 24 year old that wants one.

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According to The Children’s Society, support for children seeking protection in the UK can be as little as half of that received through the mainstream benefits system. In some cases children and families would need nearly three times more than they currently receive in order to be pulled out of poverty.

Many families are not even able to pay for the basics, including clothing, powdered milk and nappies for their babies.

Rates of support for asylum seekers mean that children are living in severe poverty on less than 40% of average incomes.

Parents are forced to rely on asylum support to meet their needs because they are generally not permitted to work because of immigration restrictions.

Asylum-seeking children and families are further disadvantaged by lower rates of support for 16- and 17-year-olds than that provided for younger children.

This is despite the fact that they are considered children under domestic and international law as well as under the mainstream benefits system.

There is also no standard additional cash support for families affected by disabilities, as provided by mainstream benefits, which is vital for coping with the additional costs of living with a disability.

The Children’s Society’s Policy Director Enver Solomon said: ‘The support levels for asylum seeking families are unacceptably low, forcing thousands of very vulnerable children to face severe hardship every day, denying them even the basics needed to survive and thrive.

‘Children of asylum seekers are no less deserving and have the same needs as all children in the UK, yet by giving them less financial help they are being treated as though they are inferior.

‘As the government reviews levels of asylum support, it is vital it takes into account children’s needs and its commitment to tackling child poverty for all children by ensuring asylum support does not put children’s health and well-being at risk.’

The British Sociological Association’s annual conference in Leeds heard today [Friday 13 April] that during the last three recessions unemployment among black British men was up to 19 percentage points higher than among those in America.

Professor Yaojun Li, of the University of Manchester, told the conference that in Britain it reached 29% in the recession in the early 1980s, 36% in the recession in the early 1990s, and stood at 22% in 2011. By contrast the unemployment figures for black men in the US were 22%, 17% and 22%.

The highest unemployment figures for black women in Britain in the three recessions were 25%, 26% and 17%, compared with 20%, 12% and 13% for those in the US.

Between recessions the figures for UK unemployment among black people were higher than in the US, although the gap had narrowed over the past few years, he said.

Professor Li, who analysed responses from 4.7 million people to the most authoritative social surveys in the two countries, told the conference: “Overall, there is greater ethnic inequality in Britain than in the USA for both sexes.

“This gives a fairly strong indication that the flexible labour market policies adopted in Britain in the last few decades did not protect the minority ethnic groups against the repercussions of recessions.”

He believed that it was America’s affirmative action programme and federal procurement policy, requiring public institutions to have staff compositions representative of the population, that had helped reduce the unemployment rate among black people there.

Britain’s unemployment was also higher among the young, he said. The highest figures for unemployment among 16-24 year old men in Britain were 27% in the 1980s recession, 27% in the 1990s and 23% in 2011. By contrast the figures were 21%, 17% and 22% in the US.

The highest figures for unemployment among 16-24 year old women in Britain were 25% in the 1980s, 19% in the 1990s and 18% in 2011. By contrast they were 16%, 12% and 15% in the US.

For black men aged 16-24, the unemployment figures reached 47%, 62% and 39% in the three recessions in Britain, compared with 38%, 35% and 37% in the US. And the figures were 45%, 51% and 44% for young black women in Britain as against 35%, 25% and 24% in the US.

Professor Li also found that Great Britain was a more unequal society than the US. Unemployment rates in 2011 varied from 6% among men aged over 50 to 21% among 16 to 24-year-old men, a gap of 15 percentage points. In the US they varied from 8% to 20%, a 12 percentage point gap. Among women the gap was 14% for Britain and 8% for the US.

“This may be due to the fact that in Britain the mid 1980s and the early 1990s recessions were accompanied and exacerbated by a process of deindustrialization and restructuring of the economy, and by the retrenchment of the state, which happened much more abruptly in Britain than in the USA,” he said.

“The much-vaunted flexible labour market as espoused by the then Conservative government in Britain from 1979 to 1997 does not seem to have solved the problem of stimulating economic activity and unleashing human creativity. As amply shown in the analysis, the so-called flexible labour market in Britain was not actually all that good at evening out the peaks and troughs, let alone in protecting the most vulnerable social groups.

“The overall smaller social inequalities in the USA, with particular regard to gender and ethnicity, suggest that the affirmative action programme in the USA did play a positive role in protecting the vulnerable groups, in comparison with the British data.”

Professor Li spoke about his fears for the future. “The current recession has already taken its toll with nearly three million being unemployed and a similar number being inactive. Yet, worse is still to come. As a large proportion of the disadvantaged group, particularly black people, tend to find employment in the public sector, if they can find a job at all, the current Coalition Government’s stringency plan to cut public sector employment is most likely to hit the most vulnerable groups even harder.

“Economic cycles are largely beyond the control of individuals, families and even national governments. The three recessions in the last 40 years in the two archetypical liberal economies have all claimed victims by penalising the most vulnerable groups, in both countries and those just entering the labour market.

“The overall disadvantages were more salient in Britain than in the USA, suggesting that the flexible labour market policies adopted by the British government failed to protect the most vulnerable groups and that the affirmative action programmes helped reduce minority ethnic disadvantages in the USA.”

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The best practice report also found that good relationships between employers and trainers were crucially important in capturing evidence of apprentices’ skills.

The National Director for Learning and Skills Matthew Coffey said: “There has been much concern lately about the quality of apprenticeships. When looking at the national picture we can see that around 70% of apprenticeships are good or outstanding but more needs to be done to improve provision further. The Apprenticeships for young people best practice report will provide a vast pool of knowledge and examples on how to deliver apprenticeships successfully and will act as a useful guide for trainers, assessors and educational leaders wishing to improve.

“When preparing post-16s for apprenticeships schools need to provide meaningful work experience. While the majority of learners are completing their apprenticeships around a quarter are dropping out. It is clear that more work experience, vocational study and course tasters are needed to ensure learners are on the right apprenticeship for them and that they understand the demands of work.”

Apprenticeships have a key role in the government’s strategy to develop the skills of the workforce and to promote the growth and rebalancing of the nation’s economy. The government’s ambition that all young people will participate in learning up to the age of 18 will rely critically on the sector’s expertise in designing and delivering high quality programmes, including pre-apprenticeships and intermediate and advanced apprenticeships.

As seen in this best practice report it is important for employers and teachers to work together and understand how the apprenticeship is delivered so learners can show evidence and be readily assessed on both their practical and theoretical skills.

Work experience in the area that interested the young person was seen as a positive force in equipping young people with an appropriate work ethic and basic employment skills. Despite the benefits of work experience, the employers in the survey said that the number of students they could accommodate on placements was restricted. This was because too many local schools tended to ask for placements during the same short period at the end of the academic year.

Providers and employers felt that the most important attributes of a potential apprentice were the right attitude and commitment to employment.

Employers and trainers who worked together and had a good understanding of how the apprenticeship was delivered were better placed to help learners capture evidence of the skills they learnt during their apprenticeship. This way they had a wide base of evidence to link their workplace training with the training they had done with their provider, marrying both their practical and theoretical skills.

The most effective teaching was well planned, engaged learners and enabled them to put quickly into practice what they learnt in theory lessons. The strong vocational backgrounds of the staff together with small group sizes ensured good and sometimes outstanding skills development.

Providers surveyed in this best practice report said that good training in key and functional skills such as English and maths was seen as more relevant by young people when it was put into context and used in relation to the skills associated with the young person’s apprenticeship. Linking key or functional skills training to the area of learning being studied meant that young apprentices did not view it as more of the same ‘English and maths’ they studied at school and could see the real benefits of improving these skills. Those who had not done well at school said that they could see the point of mathematics in particular when they would be using it as part of their jobs.

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 The minister stated that if employers make use of performance discussions and fair dismissals in a responsible manner then the management of their workforce without the default retirement age would not cause any issues.

Minister Webb said: Where employees are not doing the job adequately the employer should, of course, take action whatever age they are. However, simply because someone is older they should not be treated as though it is inevitable or excusable that they are not performing.”

Over claims that younger workers are denied access to the labour market, Webb stated: “There is no evidence that older workers block opportunities for younger workers. We have a flexible labour market and the economy is stimulated by having more people in work. Many employers retain experienced workers to maximise productivity and to help mentor and train up their new recruits.”

Acas chief executive, John Taylor, added: “In difficult economic times, this issue may not be high on the agenda. Employers will undoubtedly need support and guidance to respond, but age issues should be embedded at the very heart of an organisation’s culture, and should not be a box-ticking exercise to meet employment legislation.”

“Many employers don’t realise that flexible working is a popular option for older workers, as it allows them to make a gradual transition between full-time work and retirement,” he said.

“Yet, older workers are often hesitant in approaching their employer about reducing their hours or changing their responsibilities. All too often, competent, productive older workers retire, either before or at state pension age, without the employer realising that their skilled worker would have stayed longer if they had been given the chance to discuss and agree a flexible working option.”

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Bolton Police Station

The ‘I’m Not Laughing’ campaign which aims to put a stop to disability hate crime in Bolton, has won the Greater Manchester Police’s annual excellence award for outstanding communication.

The disability hate crime campaign, which was launched in June 2011, is now set to be presented to other authorities to see if the campaign would be successful in their areas.

Sgt Paul Ellis started the campaign after receiving a letter from a young woman who had suffered verbal abuse over a physical disability during a night out in the town centre with her partner.

Sgt Paul Ellis, who was the recipient of the letter said: “The launch night was a huge success – the Bar was packed out and those who attended heard some very poignant speeches from those affected by disability hate crime.

“The campaign aims to put the issue in clear and simple terms, disability hate crime is unacceptable, no one deserves to be subjected to it and nobody deserves to get away with it.

“Hopefully, we can continue to gather support and promote this message. Remember – everyone can play their part in stopping this.”

Bolton Council’s Executive Member at the launch of the campaign said: “We want everyone to feel welcome when they visit Bolton town centre and having a disability should not mean that you fear being verbally or physically abused when you come into town. This campaign will raise awareness of disability hate crime and educate people that it’s totally unacceptable and we’re fully behind it.”

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The first report draws attention to breakdowns in continuity of care inside hospitals. Analysis of inpatient surveys cited in the report shows that measures of continuity of care – that is, the effective planning, communication and co-ordination of care – have remained static or slightly worsened between 2005 and 2010:

• nearly half of all patients thought they were not at all involved or only to some extent involved in the decisions that affected their care
• one in five said they could not find a member of staff to talk to about their worries and fears
• two-fifths said that their discharge was delayed.

Older people make up the majority of hospital patients, accounting for 70 per cent of occupied beds. They often have multiple health needs, which make continuity of care especially important. The report shows how pressure to maintain high bed occupancy, reduce lengths of stay and meet access targets in hospitals leads to patients being assigned the first free bed, often in the wrong ward, before being transferred again. Transfers of the same patient can happen more than once and often occur late at night.

Researchers found that the most distressing failures of continuity of care for patients and carers is the breakdown of communication and relationships with frontline staff. Failing to communicate can leave patients and carers feeling isolated and frustrated. Terms such as ‘bed blocker’ are often used to describe older patients, highlighting a more entrenched problem where specialising in the care of older people is perceived as unattractive. This is often accompanied by a sense of ‘therapeutic nihilism’ whereby staff, unable to see beyond the age of the patient, leave treatable conditions undiagnosed.

The report finds that the barriers to improving continuity of care in hospitals are deep rooted and systemic. The physical environment and daily routines are unsuitable for many older patients who need supportive care and rehabilitation, and who may spend a period of weeks as an inpatient. It calls for a revolution in the way that older people experience care in hospital. For example, there needs to be a named key worker available 24/7, complete medical records should be held electronically and all staff should be trained in the care of older patients.

Jocelyn Cornwell, Director of The Point of Care programme at The King’s Fund and lead author of both reports, said: ‘A health care system should be designed with its principal users centre stage, but this isn’t currently the case for frail older people with multiple conditions, particularly in relation to hospital. The health and social care system has failed to keep pace with changing health needs. It needs a radical rethink from top to bottom, a new definition of excellence in care and a realisation that quality depends entirely on relationships between patients and people who look after them. It is time to turn the rhetoric of personalised care into the reality of everyday care and practice.’