Policy Statements and Initiatives
DWP: From 25 October 2010 lone parents with children aged 7 & over will start to get help to look for work rather than stay on benefits - previously it was when their child was aged 10.
Lone parents whose child is aged 7 or over will claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) if they are able to work, rather than Income Support. On JSA they will benefit from a comprehensive range of support including training opportunities, job application advice and other financial grants to help them return to work.
Lone parents whose child is aged 7 or over will claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) if they are able to work, rather than Income Support. On JSA they will benefit from a comprehensive range of support including training opportunities, job application advice and other financial grants to help them return to work.
Those with a health condition or disability which limits their capability for work will be able to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
ScotGov: Barnardo's Scotland (in partnership with the Scottish Child Law Centre) have been awarded the contract to provide free lay & legal advice to families & young people who appeal to the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (ASNTS) against education authorities' decisions regarding the provision of educational support, such as ‘out of area placing requests’.
HMT: The Prime Minister last week announced the publication of the UK’s first ever infrastructure plan, ‘identifying the scale of the infrastructure challenge and the major economic investment that is needed to underpin sustainable growth in the UK over the coming decades’.
DWP: From 25 October 2010, Work Choice will replace the current suite of specialist disability employment programmes (i.e. Work Preparation, WORKSTEP and the Job Introduction scheme). It will ‘provide customers with severe disabilities and more complex support needs with a seamless service covering all stages of the journey into work’.
HMT: Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban, has announced that the Government will create a new tax free children’s savings account. The new account, described as a ‘Junior ISA’, will offer parents a simple & tax free way to save for their child’s future. The Government will now work closely with stakeholders to finalise the structure of the accounts and intends for the new accounts to be available by autumn 2011.
WAG: 265 applications have been received for the Welsh Assembly Government’s Broadband Support Scheme since its launch in July 2010. The scheme enables individuals & groups in remaining Welsh broadband ‘notspots’ to approach internet service providers directly, with support of WAG funding.
Support is available for up to a maximum of £1,000 for individual premises to help with the set-up & installation costs of a broadband connection. Communities that apply for funding can pool money to find the best solution and several around the country are already exploring this route.
The scheme is designed to help everyone from the home internet user to businesses & farmers, to specialist services like mountain rescue groups.
The scheme is designed to help everyone from the home internet user to businesses & farmers, to specialist services like mountain rescue groups.
BIS: Proposals for 24 local enterprise partnerships were given the ‘green light’ by Government last week, in a landmark move that will see local business & civic leaders working together to drive sustainable economic growth and create new jobs in their communities. Ministers also declared the £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund open for business.
The announcements form part of a White Paper on Local Growth published last week, which sets out the Government’s new approach to rebalance the economy & drive sustainable growth by focusing on 3 key themes: Shifting power to local communities & businesses ~ Increasing confidence to invest ~ Focused investment.
DH: Twice as many disadvantaged families and new mums & dads will get help from a programme which provides intensive support & home visits from early pregnancy until a child is 2 years old, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced last week.
So far, around 6,000 families in England have benefited from Family Nurse Partnerships. The Government is committed to doubling that number by 2015. This follows the Government’s announcement last week to recruit an additional 4,200 health visitors over the same period to ensure all families receive the support they need.
Press release ~ Family Nurse Partnerships (includes related evaluation reports)
