Policy Statements and Initiatives
DIUS: People who want to organise their own groups & classes will be supported by a new national campaign for learning, the Government has announced. Public & private buildings all over the country will be open to learners in the evening & weekends, including pubs, shops, cafes, churches, libraries and galleries.
The buildings will be identified by the new ‘Learning Revolution’ logo and at least 7,000 rooms will be available, with the number expected to grow. The campaign is backed by organisations such as the Women's Institute, the Church of England and the National Trust who have all pledged to support this movement and where possible, to open their doors so that groups of adults engage in learning to expand their horizons.
The Government has published its White Paper, The Learning Revolution, which aims to bring to life a new 21st century vision to help adults learn for pleasure and personal and community development. The White Paper outlines what the Government can do to support learning for pleasure, including funding innovative new ideas & projects, helping to broker access to learning (especially for disadvantaged groups and older people) and building a culture of learning across society.
Press release ~ White Paper: The Learning Revolution ~ Informal Adult learning ~ University of the Third Age ~ Informal Adult Learning - DIUS response to the consultation ~ Foresight Report into Mental Capital and Wellbeing ~ LLUK press release ~ LLUK
Defra: A new taskforce has been launched to help the government and the not-for-profit sector tackle climate change & environmental issues. The group aims to identify specific actions that Government and the third sector can take together to tackle climate change, environmental problems and sustainable development.
Applications for membership of the taskforce are now invited from third sector organisations. Specialist contributors will also be invited to participate on an ad hoc basis as required. The recruitment process is being coordinated by Green Alliance and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) who will provide the secretariat for the taskforce.
Press release ~ Green Alliance ~ National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) ~ Defra's Third Sector Strategy
ScotGov: A 13-week pilot awareness raising campaign was launched in Dundee last week to signpost people who are worried about significant changes to their memory, to seek help & advice by ringing the dedicated 24-hour dementia helpline. The campaign adverts will feature bright Post-it notes stuck to fridges, with the words 'Worried About Your Memory?', alongside the dementia helpline number - 0808 808 3000.
As well as a listening ear & emotional support, the dementia helpline staff will offer information on treatments, tips on things to do to manage memory problems, how to get help locally, maintaining independence and rights & entitlements. New research undertaken while developing the campaign found that dementia and Alzheimer's disease are among the most feared conditions within society.
HO: The Home Secretary has announced a new strategy for countering international terrorism. The Government's ‘CONTEST’ strategy ‘builds on the existing policy and provides the basis for a co-ordinated approach to counter terrorism’.
The new strategy retains the framework of the old - four main areas of work entitled Pursue, Prevent, Protect and Prepare. But each of these areas has been updated and the document provides more detail about specific objectives & programmes.
Press release ~ Contest strategy document ~ Accompanying film ~ The Office for Security and Counter Terrorism ~ Leaflet explaining the CONTEST strategy ~ The Security Service (MI5) ~ Preparing for Emergencies ~ Centre for the Protection of the National Infrastructure
ScotGov: Scotland has a proud history as a world leader in the battle against tuberculosis - and now an action plan is being launched to take this into the 21st century. Until the 1950s, TB was a major killer in Scotland, spreading like wildfire through the crowded, damp tenements of the major cities and ruining the lives of victims and their families.
During that decade it was a Scottish-based doctor, Sir John Crofton, who led the fight against the highly contagious disease with his revolutionary 'Edinburgh Method' - a combination of the drugs then available to treat TB, which cured even those whose disease had developed a resistance to the individual medicines.
While now very rare, TB is still with us. So the Scottish Government marked World TB Day by starting work on an Action Plan for tuberculosis. A group bringing together experts in the field, including specialist TB doctors & nurses and representatives from Health Protection Scotland and the UK-wide Health Protection Agency, will now get to work on preparing a draft plan by the end of this year.
Press release ~ ScotGov – Health and Community care ~ World TB Day ~ TB Alert ~ Health Protection Scotland ~ Health Protection Agency
CLG: A football match involving people from different faiths is just one of the activities that could take place in England's first-ever 'Inter Faith Week'. The possibility of the Week being marked in Wales as well as in England is under consideration. An annual 'Inter Faith Week' already takes place in Scotland.
'Inter Faith Week' will run from 15 to 21 November 2009 with a launch the preceding week. Its aims are to:
* strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels
* increase awareness of the different & distinct faith communities in the UK
* increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious belief
Over 75% of people who answered a question about religion in the 2001 Census said they belonged to a particular religious tradition: Christian - 41,014,811 # Muslim - 1,588,890 # Hindu - 558,342 # Sikh - 336,179 # Jewish - 267,373 # Buddhist - 149,157 # Any other religion - 159,167
Press release ~ Inter Faith Network for the UK ~ Inter Faith Week ~ Face to Face and Side by Side: a framework for partnership in our multi faith society ~ UN International Day of Tolerance (16 November 2009)
CLG/CRC: Responding to Matthew Taylor MP's 2008 Review into issues facing rural communities, the government has set out its proposals to help create strong & diverse rural communities which are able to tackle their own unique challenges at a local level. The Government claims that it will give Local Authorities more flexibility to tackle the issues their communities face.
To help underline the important role rural areas can play in delivering economic prosperity, a new single policy statement will be published combining existing planning guidance aimed at delivering sustainable economic development in urban and rural areas and town centres. This new single Planning Policy Statement will be published for consultation soon.
While the Government has accepted almost all of the 48 recommendations of the Taylor Review, they have decided against the proposal of a trial limiting second homes in National Parks, due to issues of practicality.
Commenting on Government’s formal response, Dr. Stuart Burgess Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) and the Government’s Rural Advocate said: “We welcome the Government’s positive response and the hope this will be turned into practical action, resulting in more affordable homes and a welcome boost to rural employment. Maintaining the status quo will not preserve rural life, it will compromise its future”.
CLG press release ~ Government response to Matthew Taylor review of Rural Affordable Housing and Economy ~ CRC press release ~ Taylor Review ~ CRC Response to Matthew Taylor's Review on Rural Economy and Affordable Housing
Defra: Defra is bringing together a range of bodies under WRAP's leadership to provide a one-stop-shop to help businesses, organisations & households become more resource efficient. The decision arises from the 2008 Delivery Landscape Review set up to examine the 7 organisations funded by Defra, which currently work on resource efficiency.
Press release ~ Delivery Landscape Review ~ WRAP ~ The organisations which will come under WRAP are: The National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) ~ Envirowise ~ The Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse ~ Construction Resources and Waste Platform ~ Action Sustainability ~ Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) centre for local authorities
ScotGov: The most comprehensive hand washing awareness campaign ever run in Scottish hospitals has been launched. For the first time, the campaign targets all employees - not just clinical staff - recognising the importance of engaging staff such as porters & cleaners in the bid to stop the spread of bugs.
Another new feature will see posters promoting handwashing feature in shops & businesses near hospitals to ensure staff get the message about the importance of regular handwashing before, during and after their shifts. It will also reinforce the hand washing message for patients and visitors.
Materials will be strategically placed in hospitals to target people from the moment they arrive and throughout the day. The numerous locations to be used will include: above beds, in staff changing rooms, in surgical areas, in toilets and public areas.
Press release ~ Related press release ~
ScotGov: New measures to improve support for disabled students, including procedures for those who do not fall within the existing criteria for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) but may benefit from this help, have been announced by Ministers.
The moves - following the first review of the DSA since it was introduced in the 1970s - will mean that disabled students in Scotland will become the first in the UK to benefit from the introduction of formal procedures for exceptional cases. This will hopefully ensure that if they do not meet the existing criteria for help, but their application is supported by their institution, their case is reviewed as quickly as possible by an expert group.
The Scottish Government also confirmed that Partnership Matters: A Guide to Local Authorities, NHS Boards and Voluntary Organisations on Supporting Students with Additional Needs in College - is to be extended to ensure it also covers universities.
Press release ~ Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) ~ Partnership Matters ~ Review of the Disabled Students Project (scroll down)
DCMS: Nine more seaside towns will benefit in the latest round of funding from the Government's Sea Change programme, which is reinvigorating England's coastal resorts through investment in culture and heritage. From the northern borders to the south coast nearly £2.7m will be handed out across four different regions.
Wave 3 of the open programme commenced in January 2009. For further details and how to apply for the open application grants please visit the CABE website.
DCMS: As part of British Tourism Week Ms Follett attended the 'Best of Britain and Ireland Show' where she officially launched the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's new sustainable tourism framework for England. This sets out 6 key challenges for the tourism sector and honours the commitment made in the Government's tourism strategy for 2012.
Press release ~ Sustainable tourism framework for England ~ Visit Britain - sustainability ~ British Tourism Week ~ 'Best of Britain and Ireland Show' ~ 'Winning: a tourism strategy for 2012 and beyond'
DIUS: The Government has announced a renewed commitment to the further development of the national Science and Innovation Campus at Daresbury and announced a stronger leadership structure to deliver it. This commitment was made in the Government's response to the newly published Manchester Independent Economic Review (MIER) on Daresbury.
In keeping with the Government's strategic 'vision' for Daresbury, published as part of the response to the MIER Review, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham has launched the Knowledge Centre for Material Chemistry.
Press release ~ National Science and Innovation Campus at Daresbury ~ Daresbury Campus Review ~ Manchester Independent Economic Review (MIER) ~ Government response to review ~ Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry (KCMC)
CLG: £170m of funding has been allocated to 29 transport projects that will support the development of new housing. The 29 projects, paid for from the Community Infrastructure Fund, will deliver a range of new transport projects across the regions such as rapid bus routes, pedestrian & cycle bridges and improvements to road junctions.
The government claims that they will also protect & create 2,200 jobs and directly support 40,000 new homes to be built over the next decade, which in turn will further support employment, as part of the Government's fiscal stimulus to support the economy in the current climate.
ScotGov: Washroom ads, on-line gaming ads, internet virals, posters, leaflets and a dedicated website will be used in a hard hitting campaign to warn Scots about the dangers & consequences using of air & replica guns. The adverts spell out the punishments (a fine or jail sentence) and highlight the potential consequences such as injuring or killing a person or animal or being challenged by a police armed response unit.
The campaign follows the refusal by the Home Office to review & update the Firearms legislation, devolve the powers to the Scottish Government, or allow Scotland to pilot a simple licensing system for airguns.
Press release ~ ScotGov - Firearms ~ Crimestoppers Scotland ~ British Association for Shooting and Conservation ~ Gun Control Network ~ Scottish Target Shooting Federation
WAG: Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has launched the Welsh Assembly Government's revised strategy for trees & woodlands - Woodlands for Wales. The strategy envisages increasing the woodland cover of Wales and making the woodlands more diverse by planting a wider range of tree species which will be more resilient to the changing climate.
WAG: Social Justice Minister Dr Brian Gibbons has launched a joint agreement on child poverty and called on public & voluntary sector organisations in Wales to sign up. It sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to reducing child poverty and outlines ways in which other organisations can make their own contributions.
It supports the proposed Children and Families Measure which was laid before the National Assembly on 2 March 2009. If passed, it will place a duty on specific Welsh public bodies to identify and take action to assist in the goal of eradicating child poverty by 2020.
Press release ~ Joint agreement on child poverty ~ Children and Families Measure ~
