General News
ACE: Folkestone based Strange Cargo Arts Company has been recognised by the 5th European Prize for Urban Public Space, for their public art project ‘Other People’s Photographs’. The Prize is awarded every 2 years to projects that promote activities to improve public spaces and the quality of life in towns & cities across Europe.
‘Other People’s Photographs’ involved local communities in collecting photographs of the people Folkestone and the satellite towns of Sandgate and Cheriton. The photographs feature residents outside in the streets, resulting in a collection of 1,650 images representing life in the town over 120 years.
All of the images, together with voice recordings that tell the stories behind them, are included on an interactive 3D map of the town accessible via touch screen units at the Bouverie Place Shopping Centre, Folkestone, the main commissioning body for the project.
Press release ~ Strange Cargo Arts Company ~ 5th European Prize for Urban Public Space ~ Arts Council England
DIUS: Further education institutions in England can now apply for powers to award their own Foundation degrees under new regulations that came into force on 1 May 2008. Foundation degrees are higher education qualifications designed in co-operation between education institutions and employers. Courses combine academic study with workplace learning enabling individuals to develop their careers whilst helping business to retain talent and increase productivity
Colleges interested in obtaining powers to award Foundation degrees must apply to the Privy Council, who will receive advice from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills based on an assessment of the applicant institution made by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Press release ~ Association of Colleges ~ Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education ~ HEFCE report: Foundation degrees: key statistics 2001-02 to 2007-08 ~ National network - Foundation Degree Forward (fdf) ~ High Level Skills Strategy consultation, 'Higher Education at Work: High Skills: High Value' (closes 7 July 2008)
HW&W: Employers who work hard to keep their workforce healthy & happy have the chance to win recognition at this year's National Business Awards. For the second year running, the cross government initiative Health Work and Wellbeing is sponsoring an award to help find the country's best employer when it comes to ensuring the health & wellbeing of its employees. And for the first time this year, it's also sponsoring a similar award for small or medium-sized firms with 250 staff or less.
The HW&W categories aim to build on the momentum created by Dame Carol Black's review of the health of the working age population, Working for a Healthier Tomorrow. To win one of the awards you must be able to demonstrate to a panel of independent expert judges how you've improved the health & wellbeing of your workforce. For example, by maintaining a safe and healthy working environment beyond legal obligations; promoting healthy lifestyle choices; or supporting staff with a health condition to remain in or to return to work.
Press release ~ National Business Awards ~ Health Work and Wellbeing ~ Working for a Healthier Tomorrow ~ SHIFT ~ Health Work and Well-being strategy ~ DWP - Welfare Reform - In work, better off: next steps to full employment ~ HSE - Managing sickness absence & return to work ~ Faculty of Occupational Medicine statement ~ Health and Well-being of Working Age People ~ Workplace Health Connect
ScotGov: Marks and Spencer have been praised by Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead for their policy in reducing the number of single use plastic bags used by their customers. From this week M & S will charge 5p for every single use carrier bag with the profits going to environmental charities.
Press release ~ Ten steps to a greener Scotland ~ Action on carrier bags ~ Household Waste Prevention Action Plan ~ Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG)
CEOP: Children as young as five years old are the focus of a new online safety programme launched by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre. OFCOM research indicates that 59% of 5-7 year olds access the internet at home and that 21% do so unsupervised.
Now building on the success of the organisation's Thinkuknow education initiative, which has already reached over 1.7m children and young people between the ages of 8-16 years, the UK's Centre for tackling the sexual abuse of children is now reaching out to parents of much younger children with vital 'safety first' advice.
Hector's WorldTM comprises five state-of-the-art, animated episodes. It takes children on a journey with Hector and his friends as they explore issues such as personal information, trustworthiness, making positive choices online and how to be open with a trusted adult when they use the internet.
OGC BS: OGCbuying.solutions, an executive agency of the Office of Government Commerce in HM Treasury, has announced the renewal of the framework agreement for:
* Commercial Catering Warewash and
* Kitchen Waste Management equipment
The new framework agreement, which became effective on the 21 April 2008 is for a period of four years.
Defra: Defra has given approval to Leeds University to conduct a research trial this year of GM potatoes. The research is on potatoes that have been genetically modified to resist infection by potato cyst nematodes. The Leeds University application has been evaluated by the independent expert group the Advisory Committee of Releases to the Environment (ACRE).
Reflecting ACRE's advice, precautionary conditions have been attached to the statutory consent for the trial. These aim to ensure that GM potato material does not persist at the trial site. The harvested GM potatoes will not be used for food or animal feed.
Press release ~
