Friday 25 June 2004

By Shirley Kumar, Amy Taylor and Alex Dobson

Sure Start scheme ‘improves parenting’

The government’s Sure Start programme is resulting in better
parenting, reveals a study by the University of London’s
Birbeck College.

Researchers looked at 260 Sure Start centres which combine early
learning education, childcare facilities and family support for
children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Edward Melhuish who conducted the study said there were signs of
better parenting skills and interaction with children among
families attending the programme.

Source:- Financial Times, June 24, page 4

Voluntary sector to receive £72m boost

The Home Office has unveiled £72m investment to improve the
ability of the voluntary sector to deliver public services.

The ChangeUp programme was launched by minister for the voluntary
and community sector Fiona Mactaggart as part of a drive to upgrade
the sector’s infrastructure.

The funds over two years is aimed at increasing capacity of
organisations working in services for the aged, hostels for the
homeless, and ethnic minority employment.

Source:- Financial Times, June 24, page 5

Regional boards ‘should set housing
growth’

Author of the government-commissioned review of housing supply Kate
Barker said regional boards rather than local authorities should
make key decisions on housing growth for their area.

Speaking at a New Local Government Network think-tank Barker argued
in her review for an enhanced regional role that will involve the
merger of two recently-formed groups: the regional planning bodies,
which assess the broad needs of communities, and the regional
housing boards, which advise ministers on targeting housing
investment.

Source:-Financial Times, June 24, page 4

Detectives close net on gang you killed boy, 15

Police are closing in on the group of 15-year-olds who stabbed a
teenager to death over a mobile phone.

Kieran Rodney-Davis appears to be the latest victim of feral gangs
responsible for 3,000 personal property robberies a month.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph, June 25, page 2

Baby deaths

A mother has been reported to the procurator fiscal after a
15-month police investigation into the deaths of seven children
between 1961 and 1973.

The children of Roberta Bibby from West Lothian were aged under
three.

Source:- The Times, June 25, page 11

Nurse accused over boy’s death

A paediatric nurse is due to appear before Liverpool magistrates on
Monday charged with the manslaughter of an 18-month year old boy.
The attack is alleged to have happened at Liverpool’s Alder
Hey hospital in July 2001.

Source:- The Guardian, June 25, Friday, page 9

Alzheimer’s drugs a waste of money

Drugs for Alzheimer’s disease previously believed to help
dementia and supplied to large numbers of patients at a cost of
over £39m a year have little effect, are of little benefit
according to a study published today.

The five-year study, paid for by the NHS rather than drug companies
and carried out by Birmingham University, found that donepezil,
which has the brand name Aricept, had hardly any effect on
improving people’s memories.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s and the drugs are the only
available treatment.

Source:- The Guardian, June 25, Friday, page 1

Scottish papers

One in ten parents go hungry so kids can eat

One in five families in Scotland do not have enough money for food,
according to a report published yesterday.

The study, by children’s charity NCH Scotland, found that
almost half of Scottish parents on low incomes have gone hungry in
order let another member of their family have enough food over the
past year.

Source:- The Daily Record, June 25, Friday page 13

Welsh papers

Schoolboy ‘dealer’ is expelled

A teenage boy has been expelled from his school in Bridgend for
allegedly dealing in drugs. The boy who was in a class of 13 to 14
year-olds at Pencoed Comprehensive was apparently caught selling
cannabis to other pupils. Headteacher Dr Elwyn Davies said it was
the latest of several quite serious incidents in the year
group.

Source:- South Wales Echo Thursday 24 June page 1

‘NHS reforms won’t suit us’

Welsh assembly first minister, Rhodri Morgan says that the prime
minister’s model of public service reform does not fit with
Welsh geography and community values.

He said that Wales does not have the same health needs as England
and he ruled out copying English reforms in spite of concerns about
waiting times in the principality.

Source: South Wales Argus, Thursday 24 June, page 2

Mums miss meals to feed kids

More than a third of Welsh parents on low-income wages have
skipped meals to ensure their children are properly fed, according
to a new report.

The Going Hungry report for the children’s charity NCH also
found that one in five families do not have enough money for
food.

Source Western Mail Friday 25 June page 7