Latest News & Information Update

From Julian Harrison:

A round up of news and information:

Government
Department for Work and Pensions: Touchbase – monthly e-zine (February):
Parliamentary Business: New support announced for MPs with mental health problems: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/other-committees/members-estimate/news/new-support-announced-for-mps-with-mental-health-problems/
Department for Work and Pensions: Freud/LGA: Supporting vulnerable claimants on Universal Credit: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2013/feb-2013/dwp020-13.shtml
Department of Health: Government announces care and support reforms: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/07/care-and-support-reforms/
Department of Health: Alzheimer’s Society launches Dementia Friends information sessions: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/02/dementiafriends/
Cabinet Office: New official statistics show resurgence in volunteering as millions more give their time to help others: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/new-official-statistics-show-resurgence-volunteering-millions-more-give-their-time-help-others
Home Office: The Migrant Journey: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/horr69/horr69-report?view=Binary
Department for Communities and Local Government: The fiscal case for working with troubled families: analysis and evidence on the costs of troubled families to government: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-fiscal-case-for-working-with-troubled-families-analysis-and-evidence-on-the-costs-of-troubled-families-to-government
Home Office: This is Abuse – new advert launched: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/news/this-is-abuse-advert
Home Office: Violence against women: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/news/valentine-violence-women
Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Working together we can end violence against women: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/working-together-we-can-end-violence-against-women
Department of Health: Extra funding for NHS dentists announced: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/02/funding-nhs-dentists/
Department of Health: New national pledge to improve children’s health and reduce child deaths: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/02/national-pledge-cyp/

Consultation
Leicester and Leicestershire’s Police Crime Commissioner Plan: http://www.leics.pcc.police.uk/Home.aspx. Members of the public are invited to submit comments on the Plan to be received by 10th March 2013.
Ministry of Justice: Transforming youth custody: Putting education at the heart of detention: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/transforming-youth-custody Deadline date is 30th April 2013.
University of Nottingham: The Last Outing Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/thelastouting

Other Organisations
Mental Health Today: BBC Three to broadcast mental health season: http://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/bbc_three_to_broadcast_mental_health_season.aspx
University of Leicester: The Ripple: In Defence of Asylum Seekers: http://the-ripple.co.uk/2013/02/04/in-defence-of-asylum-seekers/
Christian Aid: IF Campaign: Everyone can have enough food IF world leaders act now: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/ActNow/if-enough-food/take-action/sign-up-central-action.aspx
New Voices Wagon Project: Empowering and breaking barriers through stories: http://www.newvoiceswagonproject.co.uk/
Mencap: Family carers still at breaking point: http://www.mencap.org.uk/news/article/family-carers-still-breaking-point
Carers UK: Confirmation of rise in carer numbers: http://www.carersuk.org/newsroom/item/2976-confirmation-of-rise-in-carer-numbers
Leicester LGB&T Centre: UMUNTU – One-day conference on honour-based violence, forced marriage and sexual orientation. To be held at Voluntary Action Leicestershire on Thursday 25th April 2013.
Leicestershire County Council: Adoption and Fostering – Make Space for a Child: http://www.leics.gov.uk/spaceforachild/

Media Stories
Irish Times: Transgender MP speaks at Dublin conference: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2013/0216/breaking35.html
Sunday Express: Sunday Express victory as mental health sufferers get equal rights: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/376673/Sunday-Express-victory-as-mental-health-sufferers-get-equal-rights
The Independent: MPs get mental health clinic after rises in cases of depression and anxiety: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mps-get-mental-health-clinic-after-rise-in-cases-of-depression-and-anxiety-8493931.html
The Independent: Job applicants with schizophrenia facing ‘discrimination’: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/job-applicants-with-schizophrenia-facing-discrimination-8488994.html?utm_campaign=indynewsletter&utm_medium=email
The Independent: The truth about Romania’s Gypsies: Not coming over here, not stealing our jobs: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-truth-about-romanias-gypsies-not-coming-over-here-not-stealing-our-jobs-8489097.html?utm_campaign=indynewsletter&utm_medium=email
The Guardian: Gay asylum seekers feeling increased pressure to prove sexuality, say experts: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/03/gay-asylum-seekers-pressure-prove-sexuality
The Guardian: Row breaks out between UK and Romania over targeting of migrants: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/03/gay-asylum-seekers-pressure-prove-sexuality
BBC News: Google searches expose racial bias, says study of names: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21322183
Daily Mail: Coronation Street bosses forced to issue anti-homophobia memo around the soap opera’s set: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2276419/Coronation-Street-bosses-forced-issue-anti-homophobia-memo-soap-operas-set.html
The Guardian: Women of the world unite to oppose violence through One Billion Rising: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/14/one-billion-rising-action-worldwide
BBC News: David Cameron marks British 1919 Amritsar massacre: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21515360
BBC News: Campaign reveals ‘wide disparity’ in UK child poverty: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21511583
The Guardian: Child poverty map of the UK 2012: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2013/feb/20/child-poverty-uk-map-2012
The Guardian: Youth unemployment mapped: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/nov/16/youth-unemployment-map
The Guardian Comment: Not everyone is on the Internet, Iain Duncan Smith: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/20/iain-duncan-smith-digital-divide
The Guardian: Single parents: seeing beyond stigma: http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-care-network/2013/feb/21/single-parents-beyond-the-stigma

Interesting Story of the Week:
BBC News: Why have the white British left London? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21511904

Jobs
Action Homeless: Director of Finance and Corporate Services: http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4581670/director-of-finance-and-corporate-services/
Oxfam GB: Fundraising Support Assistant Intern (East Midlands): http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4589969/fundraising-support-assistant-intern-east-midlands-/

Funding
National Lottery Awards: http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
European Integration Fund: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/workingwithus/workingwithasylum/integrating_other_migrants/
Awards for Young Musicians: http://www.a-y-m.org.uk/index.php/awardsfp
Department for Communities and Local Government: Community-based English language competition: stage 1 prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-based-english-language-competition-stage-1-prospectus
Loughborough University Community Donations Fund: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/community/donations-fund/
Provision of HealthWatch Rutland: Procurement opportunity: http://www.sourcerutland.co.uk/contracts/show/id/7944

Today – 22nd February
Feast of the Chair of St Peter (Catholic Christian).
Independence Day (St Lucia): Commemorates independence from the UK in 1979.
Rihanna Day (Barbados): Day of recognition in Barbados for the singer Rihanna who was born in Barbados in 1988.
Washington’s Birthday (USA): George Washington, first President of the United States, was born on this day in 1732 in Westmoreland, Virginia Colony.
World Thinking Day and International Scouts Day: Celebrated by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. 22nd February was the birthday of both Scouting and Guiding founder Robert Baden-Powell and his wife, Olave.

In the Coming Week
Tomorrow (Saturday 23rd February) is Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland in Russia. Formerly known – in the Soviet era – as Red Army Day. Commemoration of members of the Russian armed forces, past and present. Also commemorated in some former Soviet states (Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan).
Sunday 24th February is the Jewish festival of Purim. 14th Adar in the Hebrew/Jewish Calendar. Begins at sundown the day before. Commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from oppression in Persia by the courage of Esther. It is one of the most cheerful and colourful of Jewish holidays.
Monday 25th February is People Power Day (The Philippines). Commemorates the events on this day in 1986, when President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines fled after 21 years of rule. Corazon Aquino became the first Filipino woman President.
Tuesday 26th February is the beginning of Intercalary Days (Bahá’í). Until 1st March. Bahá’í insertion of days into the calendar in order to maintain their solar calendar. Days of spiritual preparation for the Fast, service and gift-giving.
Wednesday 27th February is Independence Day (Dominican Republic). Commemoration of independence from Haiti in 1844.
Thursday 28th February is Kalevala Day (Finland). The Kalevala is the national epic poem of Finland. It was written by Elias Lönnrot and is based on Finnish and Karelian folklore. The author inscribed the date 28th February in his first version of the Kalevala in 1835.

Did you know?
Today is George Washington’s Birthday. The first President of the United States was actually the only President who did not live in the city that bears his name, Washington DC!

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