Daily roundup: Substance misuse, food poverty, and study support
Neil Puffett
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Data shows the number receiving treatment for alcohol and drug problems has declined; food poverty hits families with children hardest; and poor students missing out on study support, all in the news today.
Numbers of young people receiving help for alcohol or drug problems has fallen. Annual statistics released by Public Health England (PHE), show that 20,032 under-18s received help in 2012/13, compared with 20,688 in 2011/12.
Families with young children are being hit the hardest by food poverty, according to a group of health experts. According to the BBC, six academics have written to the British Medical Journal warning that food poverty in the UK has become a “public health emergency”. They also warn that poor nutrition in childhood can lead to health problems later in life.
Disadvantaged students are missing out on financial support because the government’s hardship funding scheme fails to take account of inflation, according to a group of children’s charities. The charities, including Barnardo’s, want the government to increase the Bursary Fund to £1,350 per student per year in line with inflation.
Parents will be almost £2,000 a year worse off from 2018, because the rising cost of childcare for families with two children will outpace tax relief planned by the government. The Telegraph reports that a study by the Institute for Public Policy Research found that a family with two children aged two and four pays £10,970 for full-time childcare - 25.4 per cent of their disposable income. But by 2018, this will rise to £12,610 in today’s prices – 27.8 per cent of their disposable income.
An attempt to subject plans to close children’s centres in Peterborough to further debate has failed. The Peterborough Telegraph reports that some councillors at the authority tried to “call-in” the decision, meaning it would face further debate among councillors, but their attempt was defeated by a narrow margin. The plans will now go out to consultation.
Grants of £500 are available to fund community projects led by young people living in Affinity Sutton accommodation. The housing association is working with UK Youth to support young people aged 16- to 24-years-old with the Youth4Change Grant programme. Successful applicants will receive training and support from UK Youth. Applications close on 16 December.
