Due to me having been away on camp last week this is a bumper list of news stories and articles from the UK children’s and youth sphere:
- 1.2 million young people unemployed: One in five young people in the UK are unemployed and not in full-time education, according to charity the Prince’s Trust.
- Immigration centre source of ‘dismay’: Children’s needs are not being met at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, the chief inspector of prisons has found.
- Animated films to tell refugee stories: Young refugees in Kent are making films about their life and journey to England.
- Coalition set up for young carers: A group of leading charities has formed the first National Young Carers Coalition.
- British Youth Council sets out targets: Votes at 16, equal minimum wages for young people and fair funding for those in higher education are among the priorities for the British Youth Council in 2008/09.
- Youth clubs help curb antisocial behaviour: Youth clubs could play a role in cutting antisocial behaviour, according to research from the network Clubs for Young People.
- Poor children face high risk of death: Children living in poverty are ten times more likely to die as infants than those from well-off families, a report from the Campaign to End Child Poverty has warned.
- Mystery shoppers to curb knife sales: Young people acting as “mystery shoppers” are to help the government catch retailers who illegally sell knives to under-18s.
- Pledge to increase sports activity in schools: All school children will be coached in traditional sports such as cricket, tennis and athletics by 2012, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has announced.
- MPs demand work and training support for young carers: The government should make sure young carers are not held back from education, training and employment, a group of MPs has warned.
- Parents’ guide to gangs released: The Home Office has published a new guide for parents to help them stop their children becoming involved in gangs.