Daily roundup: Self-harm hospital admissions, children's centres and care home concerns

New NHS figures show a surge in the number of children and young people receiving hospital treatment after self-harming. The Times reports that that the number of 10- to 14-year-olds treated in hospital after deliberately hurting themselves has risen by 70 per cent since 2012.

Data obtained by shadow childcare minister Lucy Powell during a Freedom of Information request shows that 628 children’s centres have closed since April 2010. Powell said the loss equates to an average reduction of 2.8 children’s centres per week.

Police were called to 200 incidents at G4S children's homes in Northamptonshire last year, the county’s force has said. The BBC reports that Northamptonshire Police has raised concerns about a new G4S children’s home planned for Wellingborough. A report by the force said police officers had spent at least 90 hours dealing with initial reports of absent or missing persons with the Northamptonshire G4S homes.

An initiative aiming to raise the aspirations and achievements of children living with foster families across the capital has been launched by charity the Fostering Network. London Fostering Achievement will aim to develop the confidence and skills of London’s foster carers and support them to work with schools and help the children in their care to achieve in their education.

Young offenders will have to pay a victim surcharge of £20 if they are sentenced to prison in a magistrates’ court, under government plans to make criminals pay up to £1.5m more per year to help victims recover from the effects of crime. The Ministry of Justice said the money will be used to help victims of rape, domestic violence, families bereaved by murder and fatal road traffic crimes.

And finally, the 40th World Scout Conference begins in Slovenia today. During the four-day conference, 130 national Scout organisations will consider adopting a new strategic vision for Scouting towards 2023, with the aim of recruiting 60 million new members over the next nine years.