Policy Statements and Initiatives

CLG: Following the Prime Minister's pledge to increase the number of new homes by 3m by 2020, Department for Transport and Communities & Local Government have been working together to identify further surplus land.
 
470 sites have now been identified following a review with BRB (Residuary) Ltd and the Highways Agency (HA) of their surplus landholdings.  These sites could make a considerable contribution to Government's increased target of 240,000 homes a year by 2016.
Press release ~ BRB (Residuary) Ltd ~ PM’s statement ~ Housing Green Paper: Homes for the future
 
CLG: Communities Minister Iain Wright has launched a network of 10 media training centres which aim to give hundreds of young homeless people the skills to take up jobs in the media and music industries.
 
The media centres, based in hostels for young homeless people run by the Foyer Federation, will give residents the opportunity to develop skills ranging from cinematography, radio and music production.  New partnerships with media organisations will help young homeless people get into careers.
 
BBC Training & Development is sending staff on placements to the media centres to give training, mentoring and practical tips to young people on how to get in & ahead in the media industry.
Press release ~ Foyer Federation ~ Sanctuary Housing
 
Cabinet Office: Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, has announced that a consortium including the Innovation Unit, ACEVO and Headshift has won the £1.2m contract to deliver the new Innovation Exchange pilot - a programme to support the third sector's capacity to innovate, which aims to remove barriers to greater third sector involvement in public services.
 
The Exchange will offer innovators online resources including information, contact with other innovators and contact with appropriate sources of investment.  Beyond this, the programme will offer tailored support to the most promising innovators including training & guidance. Work is starting immediately on the web dimension of the project and the programme is expected to be officially launched in October 2007.
Press release ~ Innovation Unit ~ Innovation Exchange pilot ~ Part nership in Public Services Action Plan ~ ACEVO ~ Headshift
 
DCSF: Young people will have access to new & improved youth facilities in every community under plans unveiled recently in the Government's Ten Year Youth Strategy - Aiming High for Young People: a Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities. Teenagers will also have more of a say over local services and be given the support they need to have their voice heard.
 
The strategy focuses on helping all young people (particularly those in deprived areas) to take part in enjoyable & purposeful activities in their free time, which can help them develop new skills and raise their aspirations.
 
Using money sourced from unclaimed assets that lie in dormant bank accounts, alongside funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, it is hoped that the strategy will radically change the landscape of youth provision.
Press release ~ Aiming High for Young People: A Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities ~ Policy review of children and young people 2007 ~ Youth Opportunity and Capital Funds ~ Positive Activities for Young People ~ Do it 4 Real programme ~ RR445: Exploring the fields of listening to and consulting with young children
 
Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story