NAVCA's Every Child Matters Project

£180 million new bursary scheme to help the most vulnerable 16-19 year olds

The Government has announced a new £180 million bursary scheme to help the most vulnerable 16-19 years olds continue in full-time education.

The scheme is made up of two parts - a guaranteed payment to a small group of the most vulnerable, worth more than anybody got under the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), and a discretionary fund for schools and colleges to distribute

Read the full article.

The future matters for the children's workforce

The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has announced plans to continue beyond March 2012 despite being told the government will no longer fund their workforce development work from April 2012. The final remit letter sets out key areas of work to be undertaken around:

• Social Work reform
• Early Years
• Educational Physchologists
• Those working with families and parents
• Residential care

Read the full article.

Billions could be saved if services for vulnerable young people were overhauled

A report launched Tuesday 29 March 2011 entitled, Improving Services for Young People - an economic perspective, reveals that if a more coordinated approach to services for vulnerable young people were adopted the cost benefits to the state, and improved outcomes for young people, would be to the value of £3.2 billion.

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Child poverty strategy - NAVCA's response

NAVCA has responded to the government consultation ‘Tackling child poverty and improving life chances’. This consultation, along with key reports by Graham Allen MP and Frank Field MP will inform the child poverty strategy which is due to be launched in March 2011.

NAVCA have responded to the proposals with recommendations that highlight the role of local support and development organisations and voluntary and community groups in tackling child poverty in local areas.

We support the suggestion that the strategy should take a broad, multi-dimensional view of poverty and highlight why investment in services provided to local voluntary and community groups is a key factor in the provision of services for those who are most vulnerable.

Education Secretary pledges £82.5m for music education

The Secretary of State for Education has responded to Darren Henley’s review into music in schools with a pledge to end the ‘musical divide’ with access to great musical education for children in disadvantaged areas.

To ensure young people from every background have access to quality music education, Michael Gove has announced that £82.5m will be given to music services across England next year.

See Department for Education website.

Bailey Review on the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood

Reg Bailey, Chief Executive of the Mothers’ Union, is carrying out an independent review to address parents’ concerns about the pressures on children to grow up too quickly.

He has launched a call for evidence to hear the views of parents, industry, and anyone who works with children and young people or has an interest in this area. Deadline: 18 March.

The Munro Review of Child Protection: Interim Report published

Professor Eileen Munro has published her interim report on child protection, which examines the areas of the child protection system where reform needs to take place.

See also Community Care news item.

Grab your 'Ticket to Progress'

There is still chance to take up subsidised training as part of the Progress project, CWDC’s voluntary sector-led partnership delivering 25,000 accredited training places to the young people’s workforce.

Ticket to Progress is CWDC’s online web portal which allows staff and volunteers working with young people to register for the training and record online their skills, training, work experience and volunteering.

ContactPoint replacement could be tried in hospitals

Hospital accident and emergency departments may pilot the national signposting system that will replace ContactPoint, according to children’s minister Tim Loughton.

The minister disclosed the plan in a letter to Professor Eileen Munro, who is undertaking a national review of children’s services,

Loughton said the scale of need for the new database could be assessed through small-scale pilots in busy A&Es as well local authorities.

Read the full article.

Labour loses vote to stop scrapping of EMA grants

The BBC News website reports that Labour has lost its attempt in the House of Commons to reverse plans to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance in England.

Labour’s education spokesman Andy Burnham said it was an attack on the aspirations of young people.

But Education Secretary Michael Gove said the grant had been “poorly targeted” and told MPs “you cannot spend money you do not have”.