Member Article Archive
What next for young adults leaving care?
Politicians and the public are being asked to focus on the needs of young people leaving care.
Wednesday 24th October 2012
No Games hangover in Olympic Village
Next spring the first of residents of London’s newest neighbourhood will start to move in.
Tuesday 23rd October 2012
Listening to the voice of care leavers
23 year old Scott King has worked for Kent Children in Care Council and A National Voice’s Lilac project and is a member of the Minister’s care leaver advisory group with the Care Leavers’ Foundation. At the beginning of National Care Leavers week he talks to Central Lobby.
Tuesday 23rd October 2012
RSPCA: Good news for badgers
The RSPCA has welcomed the decision to postpone the cull of badgers in England.
Tuesday 23rd October 2012
Disability cuts ‘could be devastating’
A charity has warned that changes to Disability Living Allowance could be “devastating”.
Monday 22nd October 2012
Older people victims of a 'savings scandal'
It is a 'savings scandal', that millions of elderly people are earning a low level of interest on their savings, when there are far better rates available, an MP has said.
Thursday 18th October 2012
The voice of badgers will be heard by MPs
The RSPCA has said it is “delighted” that the Backbench Business Committee has allowed a debate next week on the badger cull.
Wednesday 17th October 2012
Disabled children 'need support now'
The RNIB has said that the new regulations for Universal Credit should be amended to protect groups, like families with disabled children, who need additional support now.
Wednesday 17th October 2012
Mark Pawsey MP: Papering over the economic cracks
Mark Pawsey MP explains how important the paper manufacturing sector is to the UK economy. He is speaking at an event for the Confederation of Paper Industries in London on 'Challenges and Opportunities' for the sector.
Tuesday 16th October 2012
Breast cancer survivors 'to quadruple'
Charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer responds to new research that shows there will be more than one million women over 65 living with breast cancer by 2040.
Tuesday 16th October 2012
Families of disabled kids 'at breaking point'
A chronic shortage of support for families with disabled children has reached a crisis point, according to a coalition of charities.
Monday 15th October 2012
Vulnerable children failed by flawed system
How can local authorities have the confidence to provide early intervention if their long-term funding is not secure?
Monday 15th October 2012
Funding of children’s services requires cross party consensus
Action for Children has published the second addition of The Red Book, our annual report on the real impact of the recession and spending decisions on over 46,000 children that we support, in communities across the UK, writes Graham Bambrough, public affairs officer at Action for Children.
Monday 15th October 2012
Sex abusers 'still able to prey on victims'
Allegations about sexual abuse of children by Jimmy Savile demonstrate how adults fail to protect children, according to a leading child protection charity.
Friday 12th October 2012
The ‘hidden giant’ of the UK economy
The mineral products sector contributes a vast sum of money to the UK economy every year, but it remains ‘virtually overlooked’ by government, a new report has found.
Friday 12th October 2012
New Conservative health team - the jury is still out
It's early days, but the jury is very much still out on this new Conservative health team, writes David Pink, chief executive of the UK Council for Psychotherapy.
Friday 12th October 2012
Greg Barker MP: Green Deal will not be a ‘flash in the pan’
The Green Deal will not be a ‘flash in the pan’ and the government will continue to support it once it has been fully launched, the climate change minister has said.
Thursday 11th October 2012
Celebrating the rights of girls
Development charities have hailed the first International Day of the Girl Child to recognise girls' rights around the world.
Thursday 11th October 2012
War Child: International day of the girl child
Still, girls remain overlooked, under-protected and all too often ignored for all their potential, writes War Child UK.
Thursday 11th October 2012
Conference 2012: Local authorities 'resistant' to planning reforms
Resistance within some local authorities to changes to the planning system is not helping to deliver the new housing that is needed, a Conservative MP has said.
Wednesday 10th October 2012
Conference 2012: Giving is a minority sport
In the UK the giving of both time and money is a "minority sport", the minister for civil society has said.
Wednesday 10th October 2012
Conference 2012: Men five times more likely to be promoted than women
There isn’t just a glass ceiling stopping women from reaching the giddy heights of the company board, but a “veritable labyrinth”, an expert on women on boards has declared.
Wednesday 10th October 2012
Conference 2012: Getting financial education onto the curriculum
The Personal Finance Education Group Pfeg hosted a fringe event at the Conservative party conference. Speakers included Mark Garnier MP, Justin Tomlinson MP and Tracey Bleakley from pfeg.
Wednesday 10th October 2012
Conference 2012: Caring for animals transends party politics
The RSPCA hosted an event at Conservative conference. Speakers included Lord Taylor and Gavin Grant, chief executive of the RSPCA.
Tuesday 9th October 2012
Conference 2012 : Are we still a nation of animal lovers?
The animal welfare charity Blue Cross hosted an event at Conservative conference. The panel included Neil Parish MP, who is a member of the EFRA select committee and chair of the APPG on animal welfare in parliament.
Tuesday 9th October 2012
Conference 2012: New nuclear - engine for growth?
The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) hosted a fringe event at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham with Christopher Pincher MP and representatives from EDF and the Institute of Directors.
Monday 8th October 2012
Conference 2012: Infrastructure is an opportunity not a problem
"If we hesitate for too long, we will be a second rate country with energy interruptions and a transport network that doesn’t allow us to perform", a representative of the Infrastructure Alliance has said.
Sunday 7th October 2012
Vets in practice
As President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Jacqui Molyneux oversees the ethical and clinical conduct of the nation's vets.
Friday 5th October 2012
September bounce in spending
September saw a sharp rise in UK household spending, recording the highest level since May 2009.
Friday 5th October 2012
Conference 2012: Where next for England's Forests?
The President of the Woodland Trust Clive Anderson explains why woodland is so important and needs to be protected. He will be chairing a fringe event for the Trust at Conservative conference.
Thursday 4th October 2012
Conference 2012: Educating and training our way out of recession
The Institute for Learning represent more than 75,000 members in the further education and skills sector. Here they put forward their aims for this year's party conference season.
Thursday 4th October 2012
Luciana Berger: Labour committed to the spirit of the Green Deal
Shadow minister for energy and climate change, Luciana Berger MP has said the Labour Party is “wholly committed to the principle and spirit of the Green Deal”.
Thursday 4th October 2012
Conference 2012: Getting financial education onto the national curriculum
The Personal Financial Education group pfeg hosted a fringe meeting at Labour conference to inform delegates about the success of the campaign to include financial education within the national curriculum.
Wednesday 3rd October 2012
Conference 2012: What contribution can schools make to social mobility?
The NASUWT hosted a fringe meeting at the Labour conference entitled ‘What contribution should schools make to social mobility’. The panel included Kevin Brennan MP, shadow Minister for Schools.
Wednesday 3rd October 2012
Conference 2012: Local politicians need to be empowered
Local politicians need to be empowered to ensure growth and prosperity in their region, the Mayor of Newham has said.
Wednesday 3rd October 2012
Jack Dromey: Housing statistics "speak for themselves"
Despite several announcements from the government on housing, shadow communities minister Jack Dromey has said "statistics speak for themselves" in regard to lack of progress made.
Wednesday 3rd October 2012
Conference 2012: In praise of...honesty about mental health and illness
In cash-strapped times political leaders can't throw money at solving problems, writes David Pink, chief executive of the UK Council for Psychotherapy.
Wednesday 3rd October 2012
Conference 2012: It's innovation stupid
The Big Innovation Centre hosted a fringe meeting at the Labour conference on the potential for innovation to boost the UK economy.
Tuesday 2nd October 2012
Conference 2012: Government’s business bank falls short of what is needed
Chris Leslie the shadow financial secretary has said the government’s business bank initiative “falls short of what is needed”, to increase lending to small businesses.
Tuesday 2nd October 2012
Conference 2012: Are we still a nation of animal lovers?
Blue Cross has hosted an event at Labour conference to discuss the issue of disposable pets. The meeting also discussed dangerous dogs and dog licensing.
Tuesday 2nd October 2012
Jack Straw: Whitehall resistant to law change on young drivers
Former home secretary Jack Straw has said it is “very clear what needs to be done”, to save the lives of young drivers, but the institutional resistance within the Department of Transport is “striking”.
Tuesday 2nd October 2012
Hilary Benn: Bedroom tax is a shameful policy
The government's so-called 'bedroom tax' is a "shameful policy", shadow secretary of state for communities and local government, Hilary Benn has said.
Monday 1st October 2012
Conference 2012: RSPCA speaks out on badger cull
The RSPCA hosted a fringe meeting at Labour conference which attacked the badger cull and promoted the ban on live stock exports from UK ports.
Monday 1st October 2012
Age UK: Development goals must apply to all ages
Population ageing is a major world-wide phenomenon that cannot be ignored, writes Age UK.
Monday 1st October 2012
Conference 2012: Transport’s role as catalyst for growth
Transport Hub is going to seize the opportunity at the party conferences to present its “case for change”, says Luke Pollard, head of public affairs at ABTA.
Friday 28th September 2012
Conference 2012: Seeking a return on investment
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has historically taken a fairly traditional approach to party conference season, writes Chris Norris, head of policy, public affairs and research.
Thursday 27th September 2012
Conference 2012: Increasing employer investment in skills
"It's our mission to increase employer investment in skills', writes Skills for Justice.
Thursday 27th September 2012
Conference 2012: Is the UK still a nation of animal lovers?
There has been a 40% increase in stray and abandoned pets being taken in to Blue Cross centres. They are using their conference events this year to debate this crisis.
Thursday 27th September 2012
Conference 2012: Dickensian choices playing out in 2012
With 27 per cent of children in the UK now living in poverty, families are facing Dickensian choices, a Lib Dem fringe event has heard.
Wednesday 26th September 2012
Conference 2012: Biggest changes to policing since 1829
The Chairman of the Police Federation Paul McKeever paid tribute to his two fallen colleagues in Manchester at a fringe meeting at Liberal Democrat conference.
Wednesday 26th September 2012
Conference 2012: Green Deal announcement envisaged ‘shortly’
Energy secretary Ed Davey has said the Green Deal scheme will open in stages, but he envisages an announcement “relatively shortly”.
Wednesday 26th September 2012
Conference 2012: Lib Dems asked to defend mental health services
It’s great that politicians, pundits and the press are willing to speak up for investment in mental health services, but that does not mean that there is consensus and happiness amongst the professionals delivering NHS care. Far from it, writes David Pink, chief executive of the UK Council for Psychotherapy.
Wednesday 26th September 2012
Conference 2012: Food manufacturing sector can grow by 20% by 2012
The Food and Drink Federation has pledged to double the number of apprentices in their sector and to encourage more young people to enrol on food engineering courses.
Tuesday 25th September 2012
Conference 2012: Young people are banking on financial education
Research shows that more and more young people are calling out for financial education whilst they are still at school. The Personal Finance Education Group (pfeg) brought together a panel including two MPs to discuss this issue at Liberal Democrat conference.
Tuesday 25th September 2012
Conference 2012: Fragmentation of the NHS 'is crazy'
Our NHS is suffering from "institutionalised fragmentation”, the care services minister has said.
Monday 24th September 2012
Conference 2012: Tackling youth unemployment and the strategy for innovation
The Work Foundation and Big Innovation Centre events at Lib Dem conference look at tackling the youth unemployment crisis and creating a 21st century framework for recovery, growth and prosperity.
Monday 24th September 2012
Conference 2012: 0.7 per cent in aid ‘will happen’
A government commitment to give 0.7 per cent of GDP in aid “will happen” a government spokesperson has said.
Monday 24th September 2012
Conference 2012: Coalition is stifling the education system
Rather than supporting children’s aspirations, the coalition government is “stifling the entitlement of many working class children and young people”, the general secretary of the NASUWT has said.
Monday 24th September 2012
Conference 2012: Lib Dems to debate assisted dying
Sunday of Liberal Democrat conference will provide an opportunity for delegates to reaffirm their support for a change in the law on assisted dying, says Dignity in Dying.
Sunday 23rd September 2012
Conference 2012: We want a firm commitment on social care
As we get ready for this year's conference season to commence, we're clear about what the Government should be focussing on for older people, writes Age UK.
Friday 21st September 2012
Conference 2012: Raising the profile of food and drink manufacturing
The Food and Drink Federation will be using this conference season to highlight the work of their sector which has a turnover of £76.7bn and explain how it is still growing despite the downturn.
Friday 21st September 2012
Police Fed question if Mitchell should hold office
The Police Federation has said it is "hard to fathom" how Government Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell can continue as a minister after he reportedly verbally abused police officers outside Downing St.
Friday 21st September 2012
Conference 2012: Infrastructure investment should start now
Dr Diana Montgomery has one key message for the government this conference season, “just get on with things”.
Friday 21st September 2012
Conference 2012: Transport failed by 'political short-termism'
Transport is quite often a victim of the 'short-termist' span of British political life, according to Transport Hub.
Friday 21st September 2012
Conference 2012: Financial Education - Let’s Make It Count
The Personal Finance Education Group (pfeg) has been campaigning for 12 years for financial education to become part of the National Curriculum. They are holding fringe events entitled 'Lets make it count' at the Labour and Conservative conferences.
Friday 21st September 2012