Daily roundup 15 April: Gangs, substance misuse, and families

Children in Glasgow can become socialised into gang culture from as young as 12 years old, new research suggests. A study looking at 60 members of 21 of the city's gangs revealed violence was an "accepted part of their lives". Johanne Miller, of the University of the West of Scotland, spent weeks working with the participants as part of her PhD, reports the Herald.


Children who watch films featuring alcohol consumption are more likely to binge drink, a new study has revealed. Scientists quizzed more than 5,000 British teenagers about their drinking habits and the films they had watched from a list of 50, including Bridget Jones' Diary and Aviator. Those who had watched the most films which featured characters drinking alcohol were 20 per cent more likely to have tried alcohol and 70 per cent more likely to binge drink, reports the Daily Mail.


A quarter of all parents admit they spend just 34 minutes per day with their children undistracted – because modern day life is so stressful, the Mirror reports. New research found long working hours, lengthy commutes and getting in from work exhausted led to one in four mums and dads feeling they don't have enough time to spend with their children. Research into the daily life and routines of 2,000 parents found the average family are simply too tired or busy to spend a lot of time together.


An app created to help young people cope with stress has been launched by digital charity YouthNet. Aimed at helping young people between the age of 16 and 25 years old, “Stressheads” is a free to download mobile app, which has been designed as a distraction tool for young people to turn to when feeling under pressure. It has been developed in response to research by the charity, which revealed young people often turn to their mobile phones when feeling stressed, playing games and checking social media as a distraction.


Almost 5,000 of Enfield’s children are living in temporary accommodation, figures have revealed. Statistics show the borough had the fourth highest level in the capital at the end of 2014, reports the Enfield Independent. Enfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing Ahmet Oykener said the figures are “unacceptable”.


Children were left in need and at a risk of significant harm because of management failures, an inspection into Monmouthshire council’s children’s service has found. Although a Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) report found no widespread or serious failures at the council, it found management's oversight of practice was insufficient. It also said senior staff were “insufficiently well sighted on front line work in children’s services” when the CSSIW visited children’s services last November, reports the Monmouthshire Free Press.