Wednesday 19 March 2003

Blunkett fails to reverse ruling on asylum
benefits

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, has lost his fight to
overturn a High Court judge’s ruling against new laws that deny
food and accommodation to refugees who don’t apply for asylum as
soon as they arrive.

The Court of Appeal yesterday ruled that those in six test case
had been unfairly treated by the system.

However, it upheld the measure of ending benefit payments to
people who don’t apply for asylum on arrival.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 19 March page 18

Deaf community wins recognition for sign
language

The Government recognised British sign language as an official
language yesterday.

The announcement comes after 20 years of campaigning by deaf
people’s organisations.

The recognition will bring better access to sign language
interpreters and to information.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 19 March page 18

Disgraced baby broker hands out surrogacy
advice

Agency employs woman criticised by judge for role in ‘evil’
international trade in babies.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Wednesday 19 March page
16

Guardian Society

Shunted aside

Social services departments are accused of hijacking funding
under the government’s new Supporting People regime.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page 2

Compact solution

The Department for Culture Media and Sport has backed down on
moves to merge two national lottery grant distributors without
consulting the voluntary sector, marking the first victory for the
sector’s “compact” with government.

There is to be a 12-week consultation period with the sector on
the merger of the community fund and the new opportunities
fund.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page 4

Harsh draft excluded

Drugs minister Bob Ainsworth, has shelved government guidance
which could have resulted in social care managers working with
recovering drug addicts being prosecuted for allowing drug abuse on
the premises.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page 4

Fair fighter

The radical campaigner Ed Mayo has been appointed as chief
executive of the National Consumer Council (NCC).

He is set to put the rights of poor households at the centre of
the policy agenda.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page 4

Pride of place

A decade after being rocked by IRA bombs, Warrington town centre
has been revitalised – with the help of public art.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page 5

Voice squad

Maggie Brown on a report out today that says it’s time to sit up
and listen to community radio.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page 6

A fair chance – Lottery funding

How come some places are big hitters with bids, but other
struggle to get off the mark?

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page
10

The price of bad planning – Lottery funding

Confidential notes reveal a catalogue of weak applications

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page
11

Free thinkers

John Carvel reports on why, despite devils in the detail,
foundation status for hospitals can still break Whitehall
shackles

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page
13

Sound and fury

Profile: Paddy Ladd, pioneer and activist, taking ‘deaf culture’
to a wider audience

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page
14

Vote of low confidence

Social workers trail behind in survey on role importance

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page
119

Second city choice

Change of mind over Birmingham’s top social care job

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page
119

Without walls

Paul Dinsdale on a collaborative scheme that unblocks hospital
beds and provides a high standard of home care

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 19 March page
120

Scottish newspapers

Dunblane families demand
release of further 100 files

Families of the victims of the
Dunblane massacre last night called for further evidence relating
to mass murderer Thomas Hamilton to be made public after it emerged
that more than 100 documents relating to the death would remain
secret.

The demands came as Scotland’s
Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC, released only four police reports on
Hamilton in the wake of criticisms against the Crown Office for
allowing 110 documents on the case to be kept from public view for
100 years.

Source: The Scotsman
Wednesday 19th March page 4

Adoptions plunge to 20-year
low

Hundreds of Scottish children are
being left without permanent families as the number of applications
to adopt plunged to the lowest point for at least 20 years.

One Scottish social worker is
reported as saying he had to place children as far away as Hull
because no-one in Scotland was willing to look after them.

Source: The Herald Wednesday 19th March page 11

Welsh newspapers

Estate to have activity centre

A new 250,000 community centre is to be built on a troubled
housing estate in south Wales.

Residents of the Bettws estate in Newport have met with police
to discuss the problem of anti-social behaviour on the estate and
have complained that they are effectively kept under a curfew. Many
residents say they are frightened to venture out of their homes at
night as a result of yobbish behavior.

The new project will provide facilities for a range of
activities for people living in the area.

Source: South Wales Argus Tuesday March 18 page 6

Backing for couple told they can’t offer respite
care to teenagers

A couple with a range of qualifications have been told that they
cannot offer respite care to teenagers with learning
difficulties.

Alan Hill holds two degrees and three postgraduate diplomas
while his wife Fiona is a respected head of a mental health charity
branch.

But their plans to open a three-bed respite facility have been
shattered because they do not have an NVQ Level 4 in care
management as required by the Care Standards Act.

Alan Hill who currently teaches 11 to 13-year-ols with severe
behavioral difficulties said that he had become increasingly
disillusioned by the cutbacks in services and he had planned to set
up a facility to cater for what he considered to be an urgent
need.

Source Western Mail Wednesday 19 march page 3

High prices, poor transport and scant work – the
reality of rural life

Many rural families are facing a bleak future as they struggle
with poverty in Wales.

And two Welsh charities, Barnardo’s and NCH Cymru are
calling for a radical rethink of policies to address the
problem.

More than half the households in rural Wales have an income of
less than £10,000 and unemployment levels are significantly
higher than in urban areas.

The charities want to see a minimum income for people in rural
areas to take into account the increased cost of basic living and
better access to leisure and youth facilities.

Source Western Mail Wednesday 19 March page 7