Daily roundup: Care applications, education and youth groups
Laura McCardle
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Care applications fall 12 per cent in February; government rejects calls for life skills strategy; and research will measure impact of youth groups in teaching "soft skills", all in the news today.
The number of children being taken into care is continuing to fall. Figures from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services (Cafcass) show that in February 2014 there were 885 care applications, a 12 per cent decrease compared to those received in February 2013. February's data is the fourth monthly fall in a row compared with 2012/13 figures, with applications five per cent lower compared to the same period last year.
The government has rejected a proposal to introduce a life skills strategy. The British Youth Council, together with the Youth Select Committee, called on the government to introduce a long-term education strategy, including improvements to personal social education that would better prepare young people for life after school.
New research will examine how youth groups help young people develop "soft skills", such as team working and self-esteem. The Youth United Foundation project will track the progress of 13- and 14-year-olds in 40 schools who join youth clubs such as Scouts and Fire Cadets.
A new charter pledging to protect the rights of children and young people living in Tower Hamlets has been launched. The East London Advertiser reports that the Tower Hamlets Mayor’s Charter of Child Rights was developed as part of the council’s new partnership with Unicef UK.
4Children is to take over the running of four children's centres in Swindon after a tendering process run by the council. This is Swindon reports that the charity will take over the running in May of the Penhill and Pinehurst centre from the council, as well as the Moredon, Gorse Hill and Drove centres from other providers.
Youth charity Catch22 has launched an application for mobile phones and tablet devices that will help users organise social action projects. Plan.Do guides young people on how they can make a project happen, from setting goals and milestones through to having something to show and talk about to employers at the end.