CYP Now's top 10 stories of 2015
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
With a general election, new policy announcements, ongoing austerity measures and high-profile charity closures, 2015 was another busy year in the children and young people sector. Here is a rundown of the most-read stories published on the CYP Now website over the past 12 months.
1. Manchester set for UK's first LGBT school
CYP Now exclusively reveals plans to establish the UK’s first ever school for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people in Manchester.
2. Government plans to fast-track 30-hour childcare pledge
Following the general election Prime Minister David Cameron outlines plans to fast-track legislation to expand the free entitlement to early education from 15 hours a week to 30 hours a week.
3. Scotland raises leaving care age to 21
Legislation that means young people in Scotland who are in residential care, foster care, or kinship care will be able to remain in their placement up until the age of 21 comes into effect.
4. Troubled Families programme ‘wastes millions of pounds’
A study by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies concludes that the government's flagship Troubled Families programme is "working with the wrong families in the wrong way" and is likely to be wasting millions of pounds.
5. BAAF to close as Coram assumes its key functions
The British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) closes with immediate effect due to "significant changes and prevailing economic conditions".
6. Cameron earmarks children’s services as priority reform area
Prime Minister David Cameron identifies children's services as a “standout area” for reform ahead of the autumn Spending Review. He states that the government will adopt a “smarter” approach to public services, running the state more like a business.
7. Entire health visiting service under threat at London council
It emerges that the London Borough of Harrow is considering axing its entire health visiting service. The council immediately backtracks on the proposals following a vote by elected councillors.
8. Staff speak out after more than 50 jobs go in shock BAAF closure
Former staff at the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) hit out at their treatment following the surprise closure of the organisation. One former employee claims that staff are "being supported" was not true. Another says staff received no redundancy or notice pay.
9. Exclusive: Batmanghelidjh speaks out on Kids Company closure
In the wake of the collapse of children's charity Kids Company, the organisation's founder Camila Batmanghelidjh tells CYP Now there had been a concerted campaign against her by civil servants and sections of the media.
10. BAAF closure: the factors behind its demise
CYP Now looks at the challenges faced by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) prior to its shock closure.