Daily roundup 10 August: Coldplay, asylum seekers and driving bans

Pop band Coldplay are in talks over a possible rescue of part of Kids Company. The Guardian reports that the band is considering taking over Treehouse, which offers education and therapeutic help to vulnerable children.


Tens of thousands of asylum seekers with children will be pushed deeper into poverty by “cruel” government cuts, charities have warned. The Independent reports that charities including the British Red Cross have joined forces to claim that a shake-up by the Home Office – which includes a £16 weekly cut in the money they receive to look after a child – will make it almost impossible for refugees to afford to feed and clothe their families.


Rising numbers of children are being banned from driving even before having their license. The Mirror reports that 284 children who are too young to hold a provisional licence have been disqualified by the courts this year alone – a five per cent increase on the same period in 2013.


More than £7m has been cut from Sandwell Council’s children’s services budget, despite it being judged as failing by Ofsted. The Express & Star reports that bosses at the council have said the decision was made before the findings of the inspection were published.


A drop-in centre for young people in Bristol that was previously run by Kids Company will be kept open for the next month, it has been announced. Bristol City Council has commissioned Creative Youth Network to run the service on a temporary basis following the collapse of the children's charity.


Support charity Addaction has signed a five-year contract with Hertfordshire County Council to provide drug and alcohol services for young people. The service will launch at the beginning of December, with the charity looking to expand peer support and mutual aid work, as well as develop links to build on life skills and a voluntary programme.


The Scottish Youth Parliament has called for the views of thousands of young people across the country to help develop its national youth manifesto. Members will consult with young people across Scotland to gain their views on a wide range of policy issues, with the aim of establishing the biggest youth manifesto to date.